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Mandatory paid time off: ‘a strain’ for Illinois business

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Doug Knight’s family has owned Springfield amusement park Knight’s Action Park since 1930, himself for 43 of those years.The pandemic was a bear — Knight fought to keep his doors open, and when they closed for COVID-19, he pushed to reopen as soon as possible. Inflation, too, has been an obstacle. From inflatable inner tubes to chlorine for the pools, prices have risen for “everything we buy,” and now a new Illinois law represents “another bump on the road” for business owners, he says.On Monday, Illinois became one of three U.S. states to mandate paid time off “for any reason,” up to 40 hours per year for full-time employees. Small business owners in Illinois say they know the importance of taking care of their workers, but some view the paid leave requirement as a government-imposed burden.“When you hit the big bump and go off the cliff, what does that do for ya?” Knight said.The legislation takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Employees will accrue one h...

Police: One year later, Oswego man still missing as search continues

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

OSWEGO, Ill. — The whereabouts of a man from Oswego remain unknown one year after family members reported him missing, police said Tuesday. Edward Gardner was last seen in Chicago on the evening of Sunday, March 13, 2022. Family members reported seeing the 22-year-old at this residence in Bolingbrook one day prior, on March 12. Edward Gardner (Photo provided by police)Edward Gardner (Photo provided by police)Edward Gardner (Photo provided by police)Edward Gardner (Photo provided by police)According to Oswego police, Gardner was driving a 2021 white Dodge Charger with Florida license plate No. QMND02. On March 29, 2022, Garnder's vehicle was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in Hammond, Indiana."The Charger’s occupants ran from the scene of the crash and based on information obtainedduring the investigation, it is not believed that [Gardner] was one of the occupants," police said. Despite numerous attempts at tracking Gardner's movements, police say he has not been seen or hear...

Free-to-public training academy offers Chicagoans insight into COPA

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

CHICAGO — The Civilian Office of Police Accountability hopes to provide locals with a better understanding of what they do by opening their doors to the public as part of a new six-week training program. “This is the first time we’ve ever taken our training academy and broken it down for the public,” said Andrea Kersten, COPA’s chief administrator. “People know about COPA releasing a video or they may know about an investigation but a lot of times, our work goes on in silence.” COPA is tasked with investigating complaints against CPD officers, ranging anywhere from alleged excessive force to coercion.  COPA’s chief administrator Andrea Kersten (Photo: WGN)“This is our opportunity to explain that process, to communicate to the public the why behind when we can and can't share information, Kersten said.  To explain how they get the job done, COPA is launching the People’s Academy on Tuesday, March 21. The multiweek program will be taught by experts in the fiel...

Man fatally shot while inside car in Chicago's Greater Grand Crossing

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A male adult is dead following a shooting Tuesday afternoon in Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood.Police said the shooting happened just before 2:10 p.m. in the 7100 block of S. Eberhart in the area of Greater Grand Crossing. The male victim was inside a vehicle when someone approached and shot the male adult in the chest.SEE ALSO | 1-year-old boy found dead in Grand Crossing ApartmentThe shooting victim crashed into a nearby vehicle in the 7200 block of S. Eberhart. He was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead. The age of the shooting victim is unknown, police added.No one is in custody. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

DOJ suing Rite Aid for missing 'red flags' in opioid epidemic

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

(The Hill) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing pharmacy giant Rite Aid for allegedly filling hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances that had “obvious red flags” amid the country’s opioid epidemic. The DOJ is arguing that Rite Aid violated the federal False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act, submitting false prescription claims to government health care programs and knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, according to a Tuesday release.“We allege that Rite Aid filled hundreds of thousands of prescriptions that did not meet legal standards," Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said. "According to our complaint, Rite Aid’s pharmacists repeatedly filled prescriptions for controlled substances with obvious red flags, and Rite Aid intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers."“These practices opened the floodgates for millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illega...

Pentagon report explores possibility of alien ship visits

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – A new government report is raising eyebrows across the country -- especially among anyone interested in extraterrestrial -- as physicist and Harvard professor Abraham “Avi” Loeb says there's a possibility humans aren't the only civilization in the universe.“Whether we live in such a reality or not is not a philosophical question, we just have to look out,” Loeb said.Loeb teamed up with the Pentagon office that investigates unidentified aerial phenomena, and they came up with a draft report that says it's possible alien ships have already visited our solar system. La Niña is over: Here’s what that means for Oregon Specifically, Loeb thinks the first interstellar object spotted passing through our solar system in 2017, given the name Oumuamua, could be an extraterrestrial mothership.Loeb says it didn't have the characteristics you'd find in meteors or other known objects.“We consider a possibility where an object as big as Oumuamua, which was a football f...

Part of mall roof in Minnesota collapses under heavy snow

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Part of the roof at a shopping mall in Duluth, Minnesota, collapsed early Tuesday as workers were removing several inches of snow that had fallen over the weekend, authorities said.No one was injured when the roof fell in at Miller Hill Mall about 9 a.m. Tuesday, when most of the mall's stores were still not open. Everyone in the building at the time has been accounted for, Duluth city spokeswoman Kelli Latuska said.The building was evacuated and is closed. La Niña is officially over, NOAA announces: What does that mean? Authorities did not say exactly what caused the collapse but it came after the Duluth area received about 12.5 inches of snow over the weekend. Duluth International Airport has recorded more than 116 inches of snow this season — more than 40 inches above normal.Barnes & Noble manager Scott Skar said he heard a loud noise, “like something rolling across the roof" before another employee said the roof had collapsed, MPR News reported. ...

Visitor finds 3.29-carat diamond at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Ark. (KARK) – An Arkansas Crater of Diamonds State Park visitor hit a sizable jackpot during a dig on March 4.Murfreesboro resident David Anderson, a regular park visitor, discovered a 3.29-carat brown diamond while sifting gravel. The site was in the West Drain of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. Gov. Sanders kicks off 100 years of Arkansas State Parks with event at Petit Jean State Park Anderson mistook the diamond initially.“At first I thought it was quartz but wondered why it was so shiny,” he said. “Once I picked it up, I realized it was a diamond!”Murfreesboro resident David Anderson is a regular to the park and said he has found more than 400 gems during his visits. (Courtesy: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism)A park spokesperson said Anderson has found more than 400 diamonds in the park over the past 16 years, adding that 15 of the diamonds he recovered have been more than one carat. Arkansas State Parks kicks off centennial celebr...

First Warning: Subfreezing wind chills, a few wet snowflakes for some

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A stretch of unseasonably cold temperatures is forecast to begin Friday and last through SXSW Music Festival weekend into early next week. Light precipitation is mainly expected to fall as cold rain Sunday and Monday, but a few wet snowflakes may mix with rain in the Hill Country.Temperatures Wednesday and Thursday will be on the rise as humidity returns ahead of a large storm system. That system is expected to bring the threat of severe thunderstorms late Thursday into early Friday. The cold front moves through Thursday night, kicking off a stretch of dramatically colder weather.Some storms could be severe Thursday nightAfter storms clear, howling north winds transport significantly colder air into our area by Friday morning. With air temperatures in the 40s and a Wind Advisory potentially in effect, wind chills fall below freezing in some communities.Wind chill temperature forecast early FridayAir temperatures remain cold through the weekend. Temperatures are expec...

Severe storms possible Thursday, then a significant cold snap blows in

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:51:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A light disturbance passing overhead generated cloudy skies Tuesday afternoon with a few very isolated sprinkles. As that system exits overnight, clouds break up with cool, comfortable temperatures and light winds.As a powerful western storm approaches, south winds ramp up beginning Wednesday, bringing the return of heat and humidity. Highs rise into the 70s Wednesday, then the 80s Thursday in most areas. NEW BLOG: How a switch to El Niño could affect hurricane season First Warning: Severe weather threat, colder weatherSpringtime thunderstorms return to the area on Thursday, some of which may be severe with wind damage, hail and isolated tornadoes. The west Texas dryline -- a front bringing a drop in humidity instead of temperatures -- brings a low threat of an afternoon severe storm, though these storms may not fire at all.The more significant threat of storms comes late Thursday evening into Thursday night as a strong cold front plows through the area.Severe thu...