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ACLU sues South Dakota over its vanity plate restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota announced Monday that it is suing South Dakota over a state law that restricts content on vanity plates.The ACLU said in a press release that it filed the lawsuit on behalf of Lyndon Hart, whose application for a plate that said “REZWEED” was initially denied by the South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division for allegedly being “in poor taste.” Hart runs a business called Rez Weed Indeed, which he uses to support the legal selling and use of marijuana on Native American reservations. Hart intended for the personalized license plate to refer to his business and its mission of promoting tribal sovereignty, the news release said. According to the complaint filed Friday, the state Department of Revenue denied Hart’s application in 2022. Under state law, the department has the authority to “refuse to issue any letter combination which carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency.” The department later ...

Chicago police officer wounded, suspect killed in shooting on South Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer was shot and wounded Monday on the city's South Side.The shooting happened just before 12 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood.According to Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling, four officers of the 3rd District Tactical Team made an investigatory stop when the subject ran away. Officers briefly chased them on foot when shots were fired at the officers, Snelling said. Three of the officers returned fire. One officer was shot in the arm and taken to a hospital by fellow officers with non-life-threatening injuries, Snelling said. The person who was shot by officers was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and later died. 11-year-old girl shot while inside home on South Side All of the other officers involved were taken to a hospital for observation, Snelling said.A firearm was recovered at the scene, Snelling said.The officers were in uniform at the time of the stop and ...

Veteran's Voices: Largest Vietnam veterans parade held in Chicago in 1986

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

CHICAGO — A small band of Chicago veterans believed it's never too late to welcome home American soldiers from Vietnam.Little did they know, the project would affect thousands of veterans. Purple Heart returned to Illinois veteran’s family In 1986, Navy Pier served a much different purpose than it does today.It was the starting off point for a parade to honor Vietnam veterans and it would become known as the largest parade of its kind in the nation.It was held on June 13, 1986."It was kind of controlled chaos," Harold Beyne, one of the parade's co-organizers, said. "It was amazing we were able to pull it off with very little money. Chicagoland veterans take part in Habitat for Humanity build Beyne and Roger McGill were part of the small group.Inspired by New York's parade the year before, they believed Chicago could do one better. They had the backing of then Chicago Mayor Harold Washington."Without him, no parade," Beyne said. "I mean, he was behind us."Relying solely on invita...

Attacks on US troops in Middle East rise over the weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

(The Hill) -- U.S. troops were attacked again over the weekend across the Middle East amid Pentagon fears that Iranian-backed groups may seek to undermine the American presence alongside the Israel-Hamas war.The total number of attacks has now risen to 38, according to the Defense Department, including 20 in Iraq and 18 in Syria. That's up from 32 at the end of last week.Iranian-backed militant groups have launched drone and rocket attacks at U.S. bases, injuring several people but not killing anyone. US bolsters Middle East presence as attacks rise Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters the attacks are "harassing" troops while resulting in 45 injuries of varying degrees. That includes at least 24 servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries and the rest with minor injuries such as shrapnel wounds, rolled ankles or headaches.The rise in the overall number shows U.S. forces were attacked six times over the weekend alone, indicating that militant groups are not...

Iowa man charged with threatening Niles police, village officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

NILES, Ill. — An Iowa man has been charged with threatening Village of Niles police, school resource officers and elected officials over a series of bizarre incidents amid the month of October.Adam T. Provost, 31, of Council Bluffs, Iowa faces multiple felony charges, including threatening a public official and disorderly conduct. According to police, Provost made a string of threats via posted mail, e-mail and telephone. Provost was taken into custody in Iowa on Oct. 16 in connection with Niles police's ongoing threats investigation.SEE ALSO: FBI-Chicago warns of charity fraud amid ongoing conflict between Israel, HamasAuthorities first learned of a threatening e-mail sent to a Village of Niles elected official on Oct. 6. Provost also allegedly made phone threats toward members of the Niles Police Department. Police said their investigation revealed the suspect was located in the area of Council Bluffs, Iowa.Days later, on Oct. 11, Niles police said the department received a threat...

FBI warns of charity fraud amid conflict between Israel and Hamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) — The FBI is warning the public about scammers working to siphon off some of the donations people are giving during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.Robert Wheeler Jr., the special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago Field Office, said criminals are using the tragedies unfolding in the Middle East to solicit fraudulent humanitarian donations. Instead of donating to charities, Wheeler said these criminals are using the money for their own expenses or to support criminal enterprises.What is charity fraud?According to the FBI, charity fraud, which is also known as "disaster fraud," can come in many different forms.  US bolsters Middle East presence as attacks rise Special agent Wheeler said some perpetrators taking part in these types of crimes may prey on victims within the local community by claiming to collect funds for victimized families abroad. Foreign terrorist organizations may also take part in these types of crimes by establishing fake chari...

2 in custody in connection with deadly south suburban shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Police say two people are in custody in connection with a deadly shooting that unfolded in the south suburbs over the weekend.According to Worth Police, the shooting happened in the 6800 block of West 111th Street on Saturday afternoon. Chicago City Council committee holds hearing on Peoples Gas rate hike request Officers were called to the scene on reports of someone "in need of assistance," but when police arrived on the scene, they found a person who had been fatally shot. The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force then began an investigation into the deadly shooting.Officers say the next day, two people from Harvey, Ill., who police believe are linked to several armed robberies in Chicagoland and northwest Indiana, were taken into custody.Police say several firearms were recovered during their arrests, including a gun that officers believe was the weapon used in the fatal shooting. The weapon is now undergoing ballistics analysis. FBI-Chicago warns of cha...

Dog rescued as AFD crews responding to structure fire on Guadalupe Street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A dog was rescued by fire crews and reunited with its owner as the Austin Fire Department is working a structure fire at an apartment complex on Guadalupe Street, just south of Martin Luther King Boulevard, the Austin Fire Department said on social media Monday.Shortly before 6 p.m., AFD crews responded to the fire in the 1800 block of Guadalupe Street for the fire, where smoke and flames could be seen from the third floor, the agency said. Austin Fire Department crews are responding to a structure fire on Guadalupe Street | Courtesy Austin Fire DepartmentAustin Fire Department crews are responding to a structure fire on Guadalupe Street | Courtesy Austin Fire DepartmentAustin Fire Department crews are responding to a structure fire on Guadalupe Street | Courtesy Austin Fire DepartmentAustin Fire Department crews are responding to a structure fire on Guadalupe Street | Courtesy Austin Fire DepartmentAFD previously said a person may have been trapped in the building....

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick diagnosed with 'viral pneumonia'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An announcement on Monday from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's office said he was diagnosed with "viral pneumonia" last week.The announcement said Patrick is recovering and working from home. Furthermore, Patrick canceled all his scheduled meetings, which included "both official and political engagements."Members of the Texas Senate "are fully prepared to address any issues" Gov. Greg Abbott may have, including a fourth special session, and will "move promptly to pass substantial legislation in the House," the release said.

Tupac Shakur has an California street named for him 27 years after his death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:13 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. — A stretch of street in Oakland, California, was renamed Friday for Tupac Shakur, 27 years after the killing of the hip-hop luminary.A section of MacArthur Boulevard near where he lived in the 1990s became Tupac Shakur Way, following a ceremony that included his family members and Oakland native MC Hammer.“Let his spirit live on the rest of these years in these streets and in your hearts,” Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur told the crowd, wiping away tears at the end of a nearly two-hour ceremony. The sign for Tupac Shakur Way was unveiled moments later.MC Hammer, the “U Can’t Touch This” rapper who spent many of Shakur’s final months with him before his 1996 shooting death at age 25, said in his remarks that Shakur was, “hands down, the greatest rapper ever, there’s not even a question of that.”Shakur collaborator Money-B and Oakland hip-hop legend Too Short also spoke at the ceremony.Shakur was born in New York and was raised there and in Baltimore, but he move...