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Wisconsin Republican leader opposes GOP bill to disband bipartisan elections commission

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin legislative leader said Wednesday that he opposes a bill from fellow Republicans that seeks to give the GOP-controlled Legislature the ultimate power to oversee elections, taking it away from an independent bipartisan commission.Republican state Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu told The Associated Press in an interview that he “wouldn’t imagine” that the bill introduced this week will come up for a vote. The proposal would put the secretary of state in charge of elections, rather than the Wisconsin Elections Commission, but the Legislature would have the final say over any decisions.LeMahieu, despite being a critic of how the elections commission works, said he didn’t want to turn over its responsibilities to the secretary of state.“I think that would just make that position way too partisan, frankly, which would be unfortunate,” he said.Introduction of the bill comes amid ongoing attempts from some Republicans to oust the head of th...

Cyberactivity targeting elections on rise, says report from Canada’s e-spy service

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

OTTAWA — A new federal report says cyberthreat activity targeting elections is increasing worldwide, and is now more likely to be seen in Canada’s next federal ballot.The report by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security found that in 2022 slightly over one-quarter of all national elections globally had at least one reported cyberincident.The centre says state-sponsored cyberthreat actors with links to Russia and China carried out most of the attributed activity aimed at foreign elections since 2021.Russia and China’s cyberthreat activity includes attempts to conduct  denial-of-service attacks against election authority websites, accessing voters’ personal information and scanning for vulnerabilities in online election systems.However, the centre cautioned that online perpetrators are getting better at covering their tracks, and most cyberthreat activity targeting elections remains unattributed.The report also highlights the emerging phenomenon of generative artificial in...

CPD: Construction workers robbed at gunpoint in Roseland

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- Three construction workers were reportedly robbed at gunpoint while working in the Roseland neighborhood Wednesday morning.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to the 9700 block of South Martin Luther King Drive in the city's Roseland neighborhood on reports of an armed robbery just after 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Inbound Kennedy work nearly done, IDOT says A dark-colored vehicle reportedly pulled up and three men exited the vehicle and approached the victims on foot while armed with guns. The men demanded the construction workers property and took multiple tools and personal property.The suspects returned to the vehicle and fled northbound on Martin Luther King Drive. Four possible offenders were placed in custody.The investigation is ongoing.

Chicago White Sox select Red Sox LHP in Rule 5 Draft

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

NASHVILLE — The Chicago White Sox have selected a left-handed pitcher from the Boston Red Sox organization in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft.Shane Drohan, 24, went 10-7 with a 5.06 ERA and 129 strikeouts over 27 appearances (25 starts, 123 IP) between Class AA Portland and Class AAA Worcester in the Red Sox farm system in 2023. Drohan won each of his first five starts of the season with the Sea Dogs, posting a 0.62 ERA over 29 innings pitched with a .140 opponents average, six walks and 30 strikeouts during that span. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf meets with Nashville mayor during Winter Meetings The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Drohan has gone 24-19 with a 4.32 ERA (164 ER/341.1 IP) and 372 strikeouts (9.8 per 9.0 IP) in 77 appearances (73 starts) over three career minor-league seasons.The Fort Lauderdale-native originally was selected by Boston in the fifth round of the June 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University.With the move, the White Sox 40-man ...

Survey shines light on risks of buying medicine online

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

Online pharmacies became extremely popular during the pandemic with many Americans left with few choices to get their medications.But there are risks with buying medicine online. A new survey shines a light on the online system that may not work the way you think. Read the full survey here.Libby Baney is a senior advisor to the alliance of safe online pharmacies. She joined the WGN Evening News to talk about the survey.

Biden pushes for more Ukraine aid

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - President Joe Biden urged Congress to push forward his more than 100-billion-dollar national security package.Republicans are vowing to block the plan until the package includes more firm immigration reform.Biden says he's willing to make some changes to the U.S. immigration system if Republicans green light funding for Ukraine."We can't let Putin win," he said.He warns Ukraine’s defense will be "kneecapped" in a matter of weeks without more military aid."It's important to see the long run here, he's going to keep going."Biden accused Senate republicans of holding hostage billions in national security funds for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan while demanding what he calls extreme border policies."I'm calling on Congress to do something and do the right thing."But republicans insist their demands are reasonable and a matter of national security.West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said the plan which includes billions for border security does not go...

UNLV shooting: Here's what we know about the victims, suspect

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – There are at least three victims in the active shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, law enforcement confirmed Wednesday. In a brief press conference at 1:30 p.m., less than two hours after the first shots rang out, law enforcement said the suspected shooter was dead and there was no further threat to the community, but didn't give many additional details.Here's what we know so far. When and where did the shooting happen?The shooting started at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday on UNLV's campus, said Adam Garcia, the vice president and director of the school's police services. The university said on X, formerly Twitter, the shooter was at the Beam Hall, Frank and Estella Building, home of UNLV’s Lee Business School. The school also said police were responding to an additional report of shots fired at the nearby student union. Massive police response to shooting on UNLV campus, students told to run, hide, fight “This is not a test,” the university wrote. “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.”Offi...

6 people dead after shooting spree in Austin, double homicide in Bexar County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man accused of killing six people and injuring three others doesn't appear to have a connection to the Austin victims, a law enforcement source told KXAN Wednesday.Austin Police identified the man Wednesday as Shane James, 34. Travis County Jail records show a man with the same name was booked into the jail at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and was charged with capital murder of multiple people. What we know about the suspect in Tuesday’s shooting spree in Austin, San Antonio James was arrested in connection with several homicides as well as the shootings of an Austin Independent School District officer and an Austin police officer, the Austin Police Department said early Wednesday morning.Based on the current state of the investigation, the deadly incidents in Austin appear to be random, the law enforcement source said.According to police, both officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries in Tuesday's shootings.Mugshot of Shane James (APD photo) Interim Chief Robin Hen...

Both officers injured in Tuesday shooting spree released from hospital

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Both officers injured in Tuesday’s shooting spree have been released from the hospital.  Austin Police arrested Shane James, 34, in relation to multiple shootings across Central Texas that killed six people and injured three, including the two officers and a biker.  TIMELINE: How Tuesday’s shooting spree in Austin, Bexar County unfolded Austin Independent School District Sergeant Val Barnes, who works as a supervisor supporting school resource officers, went on a daily check of Northeast Early College High School Tuesday morning. Barnes called out to report at 10:40 a.m. that he was taking on gunfire from someone and was hit in the leg. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas — a law enforcement union — posted on social media Tuesday that the officer is a CLEAT member and that his injuries were not life-threatening.Barnes has served AISD for 29 years. A spokesperson from AISD told KXAN that Barnes is in stable condition and was released from th...

Tracking Saturday cold front bringing a chance of rain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Pleasant weather continues as high clouds stream into the area from the southwest. Low temperatures Thursday morning will be a bit warmer than recent days due to the blanket of clouds, but high temperatures Thursday will be similarly comfortable.South winds ramp up Friday, warming temperatures to unseasonable levels. With afternoon sun, some areas may reach 80 degrees.Weekend cold frontA windy cold front is slated to move into the area during the daytime Saturday. The front will bring isolated rain showers, gusty north winds, and much cooler weather for the second half of the coming weekend.High temperatures may struggle to reach 60 degrees even under sunny skies on Sunday, then a widespread freeze is possible outside of Central Austin on Monday morning.Another chance of rain is on the horizon during the middle of next week, when there is optimism for more widespread rain in the area. Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice ri...