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Brandon Johnson elected as Chicago Mayor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

CHICAGO -- 35 days after the February election, Chicago has finally elected their next mayor.Brandon Johnson, 47, the current Cook County Commissioner, has been elected as the next mayor of the City of Chicago.The Associated Press called the election for Johnson just after 9:30 pm. Tuesday night. See all City of Chicago election results from April 4 here Before being elected to be a Cook County Commissioner in 2018, Johnson has touted his work eliminating Cook County’s version of a gang database and his work combating housing discrimination in Chicago.Before public office, Johnson was a CPS teacher and paid organizer with the Chicago Teachers’ Union, through which he helped organize the 2019 CPS teachers strike.Johnson jumped into the Chicago mayor’s race early and got the backing of several unions and sitting lawmakers. Of note, the CTU, American Federation of Teachers, and SEIU have put nearly $3 million into his campaign so far.One of his sticking points during his campaign whe...

$20,000 reward offered for info on California mother missing since 2015

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

(KTLA) - Monique Figueroa was last seen leaving her Littlerock, California home to visit the Florence area on May 19, 2015, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Her father watched her drive away from their home around 4 a.m. that day. Authorities say she hasn't been seen since.Now, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is offering a $20,000 reward as the search for Figueroa, 27 at the time of her disappearance, continues nearly eight years later.Her disappearance is being investigated as “suspicious” and as a possible kidnapping, the sheriff's department said. Investigators also note a strong likelihood that foul play was involved.Monique Figueroa is seen in photos provided by her family.Monique Figueroa is seen in photos provided by her family.Monique Figueroa is seen in a flyer distributed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.Monique Figueroa is seen in photos provided by her family.Monique's daughter was 2 years old at the time and family memb...

'Record number' of new apartment units coming to Austin market in 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Popular west campus bar Cain & Abel's is turning into a new housing high rise after a new demolition permit was filed with the City of Austin. "It's kind of sad. You would think places like this would stay here forever," said University of Texas student Jimmy Lahey. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Popular UT West Campus bar Cain & Abel’s moving to new location soon It's just another example of more apartments coming to the area. While the demand for housing in Austin continues to grow, students like Lahey worry more high rises on UT's campus will change the area. "Everything old is getting torn down and going straight up," Lahey said. How many apartment units are coming?"Growth is taking place right now at a level that, that that we haven't really seen before, in the Austin Metro," said Senior Research Associate Rob Warnock. Warnock works with Apartment List, an online apartment rental site. He said in 2022 Austin permitted a total of 43,000 new housing units. "A littl...

Ryan Mountcastle’s 3-run blast, Kyle Gibson’s efficient start lead Orioles to 7-2 win over Rangers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

Ryan Mountcastle’s first at-bat Tuesday was similar to many from his 2022 season.The first baseman put an excellent swing on the ball, roping the pitch 102.3 mph to the warning track in center field, only for it to be caught by Texas Rangers center fielder Adolis García. The unlucky out — Statcast had the batted ball with an expected batting average of .670 — was an all-too-common occurrence for Mountcastle during his average 2022 campaign.That type of at-bat didn’t define Mountcastle’s night, though, as the Orioles’ No. 3 batter hit a three-run blast in the second inning to propel Baltimore to a 7-2 win over the Rangers.The homer came on a fastball at the top of the zone from Rangers left-handed starter Andrew Heaney, as Mountcastle roped the pitch off the right field foul pole.Mountcastle recorded an exit velocity of 91.8 mph or faster in each of his five at-bats. He also doubled, grounded out and lined out, ending his night 2-for-5 at the ...

St. Paul man charged with murder in fatal 2019 shooting outside Johnny Baby’s bar

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

A St. Paul man who is currently incarcerated on a firearms conviction is accused of fatally shooting another man outside a former University Avenue bar nearly four years ago.Devante Lattrele Jennings, 28, was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder in the May 2019 death of 33-year-old Michael Gray of St. Paul, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County district court.Jennings, who was convicted in 2021 of illegally possessing a firearm, is serving a prison sentence in a Minnesota Department of Corrections facility, the complaint said.No attorney was listed for Jennings in court documents.Devante Lattrele Jennings (Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Corrections)St. Paul police responded to reports of a shooting outside Johnny Baby’s bar about 2 a.m. on May 4, 2019, where they found Gray lying in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to his head, according to the complaint. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Investigators learned a Kia sedan wit...

Timberwolves pull out needed win in Brooklyn for play-in positioning

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

With its season hanging in the balance Minnesota reverted back to its roots in the final minutes Tuesday in Brooklyn.Timberwolves coach Chris Finch put Rudy Gobert on the bench and Minnesota put the ball in the hands of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns — largely in clear-out situations against Brooklyn’s small-ball lineup.The franchise pillars delivered, combining for 13 of the team’s 14 points over the final 3 minutes, 45 seconds to rally Minnesota past the Nets for a much-needed 107-102 victory.“Wanted to get as much shooting out there as we could,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters. “Just a little bit more comfortable guarding everyone out there on the perimeter. … We have that luxury right now. We have a lot of options to finish games. We don’t always just react to what the other team is doing, but we felt that we had an offensive matchup that we could also exploit.”With just two games remaining in the regul...

With state audit looming, Jennings officials approve raises for city council and mayor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. – The Jennings City Council recently passed a measure giving raises to council members and the mayor.The city is facing the possibility of a Missouri state auditor over spending. Jennings residents, aided by allies on the city council, succeeded in gathering 800 signatures to bring in the state auditor.The names will be verified by elections officials to ensure they have enough. But in the meantime, council members will now be paid $9,600 per year, while the mayor receives a 20% raise, going from $25,000 to $30,000.The raises will take effect in their next terms. Top story: Crash survivor claims St. Louis firefighter took wallet Terry Burford, one of the citizens who collected signatures requesting an audit, opposes the raises.“I disagree with it right now,” she said. “I think no one should be getting a raise at this time, until we can get the progress done to the dilapidated homes, and the street work, and everything else we need in Jennings.”Jennings Councilman Gar...

North St. Louis church is cornerstone for affordable housing effort

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Zaviera Taylor was walking with her grandson on the sidewalk along Salisbury Street on Tuesday afternoon. They were all smiles.“I love the area,” Taylor said.She lives in housing developed by the not-for-profit Better Living Communities. Single-family homes give renters a path to ownership and sense of community.“You get to know everybody,” Taylor said.The effort began years ago with Bethlehem Lutheran Church serving as a cornerstone in the Hyde Park community. Better Living Communities board member Jack Gerber recalls seeing some residents living in deplorable housing conditions, and he wanted to help.“How can any good Christian not want to do something to help them?” Gerber said. Top story: Crash survivor claims St. Louis firefighter took wallet He said a loan from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund helped get the project rolling. Lots were purchased and homes built in phases. What began as a dream, turned into 96 living units.“Who but God could have done all that?” ...

Nuggets fumble chance at clinching No. 1 seed, fall flat against lowly Rockets

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

HOUSTON — Nikola Jokic wandered over to his chair on the visiting bench and tossed his towel down in frustration.It was at that moment, with 5:33 remaining in the fourth quarter and Denver facing a 15-point deficit, that the Nuggets threw in the towel as well. A full five-man sub trickled in to play out the rest of Tuesday’s ugly, dispiriting effort against Houston. The final score, 124-103, got marginally worse against Denver’s reserves.With a chance to clinch the first-ever No. 1 seed in their NBA history, the Nuggets fell flat on their face. The magic number remained at one, with another chance to seal it on Thursday in Phoenix. But another showing like Tuesday’s won’t work.Jokic was responsible for eight of Denver’s 20 turnovers. Collectively, they yielded 25 points in Houston’s favor.The Nuggets also couldn’t keep the Rockets off the boards. Houston ended the night with 22 second-chance points off 20 offensive rebounds.Adding insult to injury, Jamal Murray left the game m...

Family of teen killed by Long Beach school officer reaches $13 million settlement with district

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:45:54 GMT

A Long Beach family will receive a record $13 million settlement after a teenager was fatally shot by a school officer in 2021.The family of Manuela Mona Rodriguez, an 18-year-old mother, was shot and killed by a Long Beach School District safety officer during a fight with another girl.The victim’s family announced the settlement with the Long Beach Unified School District during a press conference on Tuesday.“It’s been the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in my life,” said Oscar Rodriguez, Mona’s brother. “I miss my sister. There’s no money, nothing in this world would ever replace that.”On Sept. 27, 2021. Mona was shot by Long Beach school safety officer Eddie Gonzalez, 52, while she was fighting with another girl near Millikan High School. As Mona and two others were driving away from the scene, surveillance video shows Gonzalez shooting twice at the vehicle's passenger window, striking Mona in the head, authorities said. No one inside the vehicle was armed at the time, accor...