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Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson details plan heading into inauguration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

CHICAGO — Next month, 47-year-old Brandon Johnson, a teacher turned activist, turned Cook County Commissioner, will be sworn in as the 57th Mayor of the City of Chicago.He is inheriting a city that seven-in-ten voters say is on the wrong track, especially when it comes to public safety."Well again, public safety is something that we are all deeply impacted by. It’s a problem, it’s a serious one, and it’s one that I live every single day," Johnson said during an interview with WGN. "As much as I love living on the West Side of Chicago in Austin, in particular. I might be the first mayor elected in a long time who will live in one of the most violent neighborhoods in the entire city of Chicago."While not everyone buys into Johnson's comprehensive crime strategy, Johnson said there are points in his plan that few have disagreed with. Brandon Johnson elected Chicago mayor, defeating Paul Vallas "Here’s what I’m confident in. No one disagrees with youth employment, no one disagrees wit...

Man allegedly uses AirTag to track down stolen truck, fatally shoots person inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KVEO) — A Texas man has been accused of tracking down his truck, which he said was stolen, and shooting the person he found inside of it, police said.According to the San Antonio Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting on March 29 at a shopping center. Responding officers found a man standing near a vehicle, who told them he had been involved in a shooting. Suspected catalytic converter thief crushed to death at Georgia car lot The man explained to police that his vehicle had been stolen earlier that afternoon and that he was able to track it down. A department spokesperson told KENS the man had used an Apple AirTag, a small tracking device made by Apple, to find his vehicle.According to police, the man followed the AirTag to the shopping center and saw another man sitting in the vehicle in a parking lot. While he did call police to report his vehicle as stolen, an agency spokesperson told MySA he did not wait for officers before confron...

Florida among states loosening gun laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Florida this week became the 26th state to allow carrying a firearm without a permit. While the move infuriated parents of children killed in school shootings and drew derision from the White House, Republicans who backed it argue it will make people safer.The bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in a private ceremony Monday allows residents to carry a concealed loaded gun without a permit or training. It goes into effect July 1.Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, said he fears the rule change will lead to more carnage."I'm angry about it," Guttenberg said. "We become a more dangerous state. That's what the implication is."The White House slammed Florida, Tennessee and 24 other states for passing similar measures."What we're seeing from Florida to Tennessee … are Republican officials who are doubling down on dangerous bills," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "Republicans legislators want to...

KFC releases official statement over ‘appalling’ sign at Texas location

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas (KLBK) -- A Texas location of fast-food chain KFC released an official statement on Wednesday morning in regards to a sign that some people referred to as racist. A spokesperson for KFC said the location on the 1200 block of 50th Street in Lubbock, Texas, was "vandalized with an appalling message." The sign featured a racial slur about people getting sold for two cents. Hyde Park girls boxing program looks to change perceptions According to KFC, the sign was discovered by employees when they arrived to open the store on Tuesday and was "immediately removed." KFC asked the public for "kindness and understanding" for the sake of the employees because, "This act of hate is felt heavily by the restaurant team." Texas Tech freshman works to make her dream of being Disney’s next CEO come true In addition to the official statement, KFC also posted another statement on its door that said, "Overnight on April 4th the sign at a local KFC restaurant was vandalized with ...

LSU's Angel Reese blasts Jill Biden's 'apology,' says 'we'll go to the Obamas'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

(The Hill) – Louisiana State University (LSU) star forward Angel Reese called out first lady Jill Biden’s “apology” after initially suggesting that the Iowa Hawkeyes, the runner-ups of the NCAA Division I women’s basketball national championship game, should also get a White House visit.“If we were to lose, we would not be getting invited to the White House,” Reese said. “I remember she made a comment about both teams should be invited because it’s sportsmanship. And I’m like, ‘Are you saying that stuff because of what I did?’ Stuff like that, it bothers me,”  Resse said during an appearance on the “I Am Athlete’s “Paper Route” podcast published Tuesday. “You are a woman at the end of the day and you’re supposed to be standing behind us before anything.” Reese also told co-hosts Brandon Marshall and Ashley Nicole Moss that her team refused to meet with the first lady before the championship game, noting their dissatisfaction that her husband, President Biden, had chos...

Progressives invigorated after wins in Chicago, Wisconsin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

Progressives got a big boost of momentum following major victories in the Midwest on Tuesday in what could have national implications heading into 2024.Brandon Johnson’s upset mayoral win in Chicago gave liberals confidence in their approach to big cities after doubts mounted over the handling of policing and crime in New York. And in Wisconsin, judge Janet Protasiewicz used a vacancy on the state’s Supreme Court to send an abortion-rights message to voters who won Democrats control of the judicial body for the first time in years. The results come as progressives are seeking new ways to gain traction ahead of the next election cycle. The practical barriers of a Republican-controlled House and President Biden’s pre-campaign pivot to the center have blunted their influence in Washington, but the latest results show left-wing candidates are finding new ways to make headway at the state and local levels as their focus shifts beyond D.C. “Moderate Democrats are playing to a my...

Tallest building in Austin will be home to Elon Musk's brother's restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin’s tallest tower is scheduled to open in the Fall and will host the first Austin restaurant owned by Elon Musk’s brother, Kimbal Musk. The 66-story skyscraper – located at the corner of 6th Street and Guadalupe – is nearing completion and is already pre-leasing a number of its 349 luxury apartments. The building, aptly named 6G, is a million square feet of mixed-use space –combining office, residential, retail and outdoor space. The tower is currently the tallest in Austin and the fifth tallest in the state. Kimbal recently signed a lease, securing nearly the entire ground-floor retail space of the new tower. There, he will open another location of his popular American bistro restaurant, The Kitchen, which started in Boulder, Colorado, but has expanded to Denver and Chicago.  MORE: 80-story tower plan unveiled in downtown Austin The building has several pools and the tallest pool deck in Austin. It will also 24-hour health club with virtual fitness ...

Liberty Hill ISD school apologizes for delay following student's 'inappropriate' comment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 5, 2023.LIBERTY HILL, Texas (KXAN) — A Liberty Hill ISD elementary school apologized to parents in a letter after a delay in communication led to misinformation about a student's "inappropriate" comment, according to a letter from the school.A student at Santa Rita Elementary School told a student there was a gun in their backpack, and the letter said the student then told a teacher.After a three-hour investigation involving Liberty Hill ISD police, the student did not have a gun or access to a gun at home, the letter said. Furthermore, the school said, "at no time did this student threaten to harm anyone.""We apologize that the lack of communication in this incident led to misinformation and created concern for the SRE community," the letter said.To read the letter in full, see the document below:Santa Rita ES Statement 04.05.2023_1680726643DownloadThe student was then turned over to the administration ...

Daniel Perry murder trial almost over, attorneys prepare for closing arguments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The courtroom was at capacity with some people waiting in an outside hallway on one of the final days of the Daniel Perry murder trial.Soon, a verdict could be reached. A diverse group of a dozen jurors will decide whether Perry, an Army sergeant, is guilty or not guilty of murdering a protester, Garrett Foster, in July 2020 in downtown Austin. Murder trial: Expert says Daniel Perry slowed down as he made turn into crowd of protesters During opening statements last week, state attorneys said Foster was out protesting police violence every day in the summer of 2020. Foster was shot and later died while out protesting the night of July 25, 2020. The defense’s argument from the beginning is that Perry — swarmed by protesters — had to defend himself. Several witnesses admitted they kicked, hit and even banged on Perry’s car.Perry’s attorneys released a statement during jury selection, saying, “We just ask people to put themselves in the position of being trapped in a c...

Texas lawmaker responds to former staffers' allegations, House investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas lawmaker responded Wednesday to claims made in a joint resignation letter submitted by three senior staff members that have now apparently led to an investigation by state leaders. Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, posted a statement on her Facebook page addressing accusations raised in her former staffers' resignation letter, including about her son's mental health and an alleged relationship he had with an intern. One week ago, her chief of staff Kory Haywood, legislative director Catherine "Cat" Mouer and district director Yesenia Wences shared a list of claims in their joint resignation letter that ranged from Jones covering up that aforementioned relationship to her creating a toxic, abusive work environment. One of these staffers shared the letter in question with KXAN. "A week ago today, three members of my staff released a statement making numerous allegations regarding the work environment in my office," Jones said Wednesday. "This letter that was sent ...