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Voter rolls are becoming the new battleground over secure elections as amateur sleuths hunt fraud

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A group has been impersonating government officials, harassing New York residents at their homes and falsely accusing them of breaking the law, state officials have warned.But what sounds like a scam aimed at people’s pocketbooks is actually part of a shakedown with a much different target: voters.State prosecutors have sent a cease-and-desist order to a group called New York Citizens Audit demanding that it halt any “unlawful voter deception” and “intimidation efforts.”It’s the type of tactic that concerns many state election officials across the country as conservative groups, some with ties to allies of former President Donald Trump and motivated by false claims of widespread fraud in 2020, push to access and sometimes publish state voter registration rolls, which list names, home addresses and in some cases party registration. One goal is to create free online databases for groups and individuals who want to take it upon themselves to try to fin...

Nearly 4 million people in Lebanon need humanitarian help but less than half receive aid, UN says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Lebanon faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 4 million people in need of food and other assistance, but less than half getting aid because of a lack of funding, a U.N. official said Thursday.Imran Riza, the U.N. humanitarian chief for Lebanon, adds that the amount of assistance the world body is giving out is “much less than the minimum survival level” that it normally distributes.Over the past four years, he said, Lebanon has faced a “compounding set of multiple crises ” that the World Bank describes as one of the 10 worst financial and economic crises since the mid-19th century. This has led to the humanitarian needs of people across all population sectors increasing dramatically, he said.Since the financial meltdown began in October 2019, the country’s political class — blamed for decades of corruption and mismanagement — has been resisting economic and financial reforms requested by the international community.Lebanon started talk...

Family of Myrtle Simmons-Brown look for answers in homicide investigation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

MAYWOOD, Ill. — The family of Myrtle Simmons-Brown is seeking answers in the investigation of the 73-year-old's homicide outside of her Maywood home in mid-September.According to the Maywood Police Department, Simmons-Brown's body was discovered in a creek behind her residence on Sept. 16. In the nearly three weeks since, family said a person of interest has been identified, but no one is in police custody.A letter shared with WGN News on behalf of the family Thursday demands an update on the case and justice for Simmons-Brown, who family described as being a beautiful, loving and inspirational soul who made everyone around her feel like they mattered.The full letter can be read at the bottom of this article. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Search for former NFL player continues as police scour home of slain mother A few days after Simmons-Brown's body was found, videos of her son — former NFL player Sergio Brown — surfaced on social media, where he appeared to be outside of the United States....

Dick Butkus: Reactions to the death of a Chicago Bears legend

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Those in and around the sports world are offering their memories and condolences to the family of Dick Butkus — one of the most iconic sports athletes to ever come from, and play for the City of Chicago — after he died in his sleep overnight Wednesday, according to a statement from the Butkus Family.Dick Butkus wasn’t just one of the greatest football players to ever play the game, he was a remarkable man. He was always there for me when I needed him. Now, these 3 #Bears legends are in heaven, sharing a drink, getting ready to watch the #TNF game from the best seats. Here's… pic.twitter.com/dzKa8n5p7x— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) October 5, 2023Jarrett Payton, son of Walter Payton and WGN sports anchor and reporter, offers his condolences to the family of Dick Butkus after his passing Thursday. Approaching 80, Dick Butkus reflects on how Chicago’s ‘no bull—- people’ shaped his legendary Bears career "Dick was the ultimate Bear, and one of the greatest players i...

Bears vs. Commanders: 5 Keys for a Chicago victory

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. — After an off-season of optimism, the Chicago Bears have offered anything but four games into the year, but here are five things they can do to notch their first win of the season tonight against the Washington Commanders. Can the Bears still save the 2023 season? At least time is on their side 1. Let Justin Fields run wildChicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Bears quarterback Justin Fields is fresh off the second best rushing season by a QB in NFL history (1,143 rushing yards in 2022), and is facing the team who has given up the third-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks in professional football so far this year (131).Chicago needs to drop the emphasis they've had on developing Fields as a pocket passer, and go all-in on designed runs, RPO's, roll outs and anything else that highlights the most ...

MedWatch Digest: New hope in preventing miscarriages and birth defects — and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

For Thursday, Oct. 5, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Vaccine could protect women during pregnancy A virus that plagues pregnant women can lead to devastating results, including the loss of a pregnancy or severe birth defects. Tulane University doctors say they have made a discovery that could stop the virus from ever taking hold. Women who are exposed early to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) have a reduced threat when they become pregnant. The common herpes virus can be contracted before women become pregnant and causes no side effects. But it can be passed to a developing fetus. Knowing prior exposure can protect the mother and baby. Researchers say they have a target for developing a CMV vaccine.  The full study is in the journal PLOS One.Study: Diabetes drugs used for weight loss can pose serious threatWeight loss drugs that have become a craze for celebrities and anyone hoping to shed pounds, could cause serious stomach da...

City, state officials working with Homeland Security to manage Chicago migrant crisis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

CHICAGO -- From Chicago to Springfield, the effort has intensified to lobby Washington to assist with the city's migrant crisis.On Thursday, the Biden Administration promised to slow the surge at the US border, with federal assessment teams on the ground in Chicago looking to help. With the dramatic surge of new arrivals this week, Mayor Brandon Johnson and City Hall are preparing for a trip to the southern border to better assess the crisis that’s being felt so acutely here in Chicago.  Lawsuit filed against city to end inhumane conditions for Chicago residents, migrants The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assesses the city’s migrant crisis grappling with limited shelter space for the more than 17,000 asylum seekers who’ve arrived since the summer of 2022, including 2,300 migrants, according to city reports.The DHS announced they plan on deploying a military personnel surge to support border efforts that's expected to support the 2,500 National Guard personnel...

Hutto PD gets $500K boost for officer salaries

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — The Hutto Police Department was allocated an additional $500,000 which it will put toward raising pay for its officers and civilian staff.Hutto Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough said the raise has now made officer pay more comparable to salaries seen in other Central Texas cities. He also said this will help the department's recruitment efforts.This raise also comes with a nightside differential for officers, which provides an additional 15% per shift for officers who work after 6 p.m."During all my years of law enforcement, I've learned that when officers who are public servants can come to a place where they feel valued - that is priceless," Yarbrough said.Yarbrough said city officials and leaders were very receptive to this additional funding. He said the raise is a sign that the city is investing in public safety for its rapidly growing community."We're not only competitive, we're exceeding some of the salaries that are provided by some of our other law enforc...

New Texas law aims to give Black, Latino students better access to advanced math classes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — There's a new state law requiring all middle school students who test in a certain percentile to automatically be put in advanced math classes.The goal? Eliminating the equity gap. And it's already made an impact on Central Texas school districts.There was high energy in Mr. Kevin Taylor's 8th grade pre-algebra advanced math class on Thursday."Regular math is boring!" a student shouted from the group eager to learn. This was in response to Reporter Jala Washington asking why the students wanted to take an advanced math course.Mr. Taylor's class is perhaps a bit more diverse than a few years ago, after some Central Texas School Districts—including Hays CISD—their policies."Their local policy shifted from teacher recommendation counselor recommendation, or using STAAR as a cutoff score, to looking at top 40% quintile of students performance, and then automatically enrolling them in advanced math in sixth grade," Jennifer Saenz with the organization, Education Equals Ec...

Earthquake-detecting AI algorithm finds success in early trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm which aims to one day predict earthquakes before they happen, according to a press release by UT’s Jackson School of Geosciences.  Using real-time seismic data paired with previous earthquakes, the release said researchers trained the AI algorithm to identify statistical bumps which it used over a seven-month trial period in China to forecast 70% of earthquakes a week before they happened.   MAP: What’s the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Texas? The international competition held in China pitted the UT-developed AI against 600 other designs. It came in first place by successfully predicting 14 earthquakes. The predictions estimated where the earthquakes would occur within approximately 200 miles and almost exactly calculated their strength, with only one missed earthquake and eight false warnings, according to researchers.  Although it is u...