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After 3 years, COVID-19 public health emergency ends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO — After three years, the COVID-19 public health emergency is officially over Thursday.But because Covid is still a threat, both Chicago and Cook County are taking the next steps to ensure care continues.One big change people will notice is that Medicaid recipients will now have to renew their coverage with the state, which they did not need to do for the past three years.Members will need to complete their paperwork by their individual date. Cook County has set up resources to help through it's website and help line. Also, vaccinations and tests may no longer be fully covered. Stroger Hospital and Cook County health clinics, however, will continue to offer community COVID-19 vaccinations and tests. Arwady on COVID public health emergency ending: ‘It doesn’t mean it’s gone’ In Chicago, public immunity is up and hospitalizations are down, but public health officials warn Covid did not go away.“I am the happiest person out there that COVID doesn’t need to be the top of mind a...

Man, 63, robs ice cream shop on Northwest side: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is in custody after he robbed an ice cream parlor on the city's Northwest side overnight. Police reports said they responded to a burglary at an ice cream parlor near the 4800 block of West Diversey Avenue around 12:44 a.m. Woman charged in series of baseball bat attacks on Northwest Side According to police, the 63-year-old man was seen walking on Diversey with proceeds from the burglary. The man was placed into custody and charged are currently pending.

Man dead after being shot in neck and chest in Bronzeville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 34-year-old man is dead after he was shot in the neck and chest in Bronzeville Thursday morning. According to police reports, the man was outside near the 700 block of East 38th Street around 6:35 a.m. when a red sedan approached and an unknown offender exited and fired shots at him. Man, 63, robs ice cream shop on Northwest side: police Police said the offender returned to the vehicle and fled eastbound. The man was shot in the neck and chest and was pronounced dead shortly after. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Trump snaps at CNN's Kaitlin Collins: 'You're a nasty person'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump snapped at CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a contentious town hall event in New Hampshire on Wednesday night, calling her a "nasty person."As Collins repeatedly asked Trump about his handling of classified documents, Trump paused and asked the network's star anchor: "Can I talk? Can I answer the question." "I want you to answer the question, that's why I asked it," Collins said. "You're a nasty person," Trump responded. Five takeaways from Trump’s CNN town hall During Wednesday's town hall event, Trump largely talked over Collins and refused to concede that he lost the 2020 election. Earlier in the town hall, he praised her as someone "I know very well" before saying "you're not stupid" but suggesting "maybe you've been given an agenda." Being chosen by CNN President Chris Licht to moderate Wednesday's town hall is widely seen as a big moment in Collins' ascendant career. She was recently tapped by Licht to host its revamped flagshi...

5 takeaways from Trump’s CNN town hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- The biggest event so far in the 2024 election cycle took place in New Hampshire Wednesday evening. Former President Donald Trump participated in a town hall event hosted by CNN, with Kaitlan Collins serving as moderator.The fact that the event was happening at all had drawn some criticism beforehand — mostly, but not exclusively, from liberals and the left.On the other hand, a ratings bonanza was forecast by many media-watchers.After all the hype, here are the main takeaways.A disaster for CNNTrump did not so much win the event as CNN lost it — catastrophically.Not all of the blame can be placed on Collins, though there were clearly moments when she could have pushed back faster or more strongly.A far bigger problem was a decision, presumably taken by producers, to have a live audience “made up of Republicans and undeclared voters who tend to take part in New Hampshire’s Republican primary,” as Collins put it in her introductory remarks.What that meant was an audience ...

Best practices: North Texas tollway's human-centered approach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.PLANO, Texas (KXAN) — The mood is romantic, lights are dim, soft music plays in the background.A couple dressed up laughs as the waiter drops off their check. It's a first date. "This was great, and you even look like your profile," she says as her date takes out a 25% off coupon clipped from a newspaper. "Is that a coupon?" she asks. "Yeah — well... " he responds shyly."I love ...

Tollway fixes once again face bumpy ride at Texas Capitol

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — As state lawmakers wrap up their work for the 88th regular legislative session, it appears efforts to address drivers' continual complaints about tollway operations in Texas will meet the same fate as previous proposed reforms: not gaining much steam. Texas legislators only have 140 days to wade through thousands of bills filed this year, and the issues that emerged as the main prio...

State's largest refugee resettlement agency lays off 45% of staff, closes offices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Refugee Services of Texas, the state's largest refugee resettlement agency, announced it is laying off almost half of its staff and closing its offices in Fort Worth and Houston because of a budget shortfall. The agency is asking local Texans for donations as it puts a pause on accepting new refugee arrivals for the next 120 days. It is trying to raise $4 million by June 1. A budgetary shortfall Refugee Services of Texas (RST) helps people who have been granted refugee, or asylee status, resettle into Texas. The agency was busy after the mass evacuations of Afghan refugees from their home and continues to help people from that country. The agency said it has helped resettle 10,594 Afghans since September 2021, the most of any state. The past 18 months the agency has resettled the most refugees it has seen in its 45-year history, helping more than 4,700 people. It far outpaces what the agency was expecting and what it had budgeted for. The agency only expected to set...

Crime ring based in St. Charles targeted small towns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - News first broke last month about the St. Charles arrest of Romanian jewel thieves, but newly released court documents explain the magnitude of the organized crime operation. The court documents also offered a few surprises involving the group that was hiding in plain sight.It’s hard to believe the ring settled on St. Charles, specifically North 3rd Street, in a short-term rental. The operation is believed to be on such a massive scale that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is involved. Before the bust, police warned people around the country about a group of young Romanians targeting small towns. The men and women range in age from their late 20s to early 30s. One of their reported targets was Miramar Beach, Florida, where they reportedly got away with more than $1 million in jewelry in December 2022. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ meets St. Charles yet again At the end of April, the suspects drove to St. Charles, where they reportedly rented the home on Nort...

Opinion: Colorado rancher is tired of paying a corrupt federal fee for meat-packing lobbyists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

Does the phrase “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” ring a bell? Many Americans still remember this catchy slogan from a 1993 advertisement. But here’s a lesser-known detail about this campaign: It’s the product of checkoff programs, one of the most corrupt institutions in American agriculture.Until Congress reforms these programs, farmers’ and ranchers’ hard-earned dollars are being used to fund their own demise. The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act is our opportunity for checkoff reform.Once a voluntary fee, today’s checkoff is a mandatory tax that U.S. farmers and ranchers like me pay when we sell certain commodities, including beef. Since the beef checkoff was established in 1985, more than $1 billion in checkoff fees have been collected by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), which manages the government checkoff program.As a rancher paying the beef checkoff since its beginning, I’m angry it continues to be invested against my interests. It’s like being force...