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California faces record $68 billion budget deficit, nonpartisan legislative analyst says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is facing a record $68 billion budget deficit, state officials announced Thursday, a consequence of a cooling economy and delayed tax filings because of last winter’s damaging storms.Californians didn’t have to pay their 2022 taxes until November this year, meaning Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and his legislative allies had to come up with a budget over the summer without knowing how much money the state had to spend.It turns out, they badly misjudged how much taxes people and businesses would pay. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office said tax collections were off by $26 billion, a major driver of the deficit. When combined with the economic slowdown California has been facing since last year, it leads to a predicted deficit of $68 billion.That’s the biggest deficit by dollars in state history. Previous deficits have been larger as a percentage of total state spending. California’s current budget tops $300 billion, t...

Carrie Underwood a headliner for this year's Windy City Smokeout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's annual Windy City Smokeout, the outdoor country music and BBQ festival, is set to return to the United Center parking lot next summer. Organizers announced Thursday the festival will be held July 11-14, 2024. This year's festival features some of country music's biggest names – highlighted by Carrie Underwood – and up-and-coming talents, along with BBQ and craft beer from around the country.The music lineup was also announced Thursday and was handpicked by Ed Warm, co-founder of the Windy City Smokeout. The festival was named the 2022 "Festival of the Year" at the Academy of Country Music Awards.In addition to Underwood, an eight-time Grammy award winner, this year's Windy City Smokeout lineup includes CMA award-winner Cody Johnson, CMA nominee and ACM's 2022 New Male Artist of the Year Parker McCollum and five-time Grammy Award nominee Thomas Rhett, the opening-night headliner.Each headliner will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. on their respective nights. Here is th...

Faith, community leaders gather to discuss Chicago's welcoming city ordinance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

CHICAGO -- Faith and community leaders gathered with the Committee on Migrants and Refugees Thursday morning to say migrants will always be welcome in Chicago -- calling the federal government to pass immigration reform. "The reality is, there is enough of Chicago for everyone," Pastor JeVon Moore from Bryn Mawr Community Church said. 3 Chicago aldermen call for resignations over failed Brighton Park migrant site Even before the Brighton Park site at 38th and California was shut down by the state, the city had increasingly been looking to faith-based organizations and churches to help house migrants. The base camp now being torn down, could have housed up to 2,000 migrants. The contractors may have to put the bill instead of the state. Since the site was deemed unsuitable, the city will not have to pay the $91,000 a month to lease the land. Three critics of the mayor call for some of his top aids to resign over the Brighton Park base camp. The mayor has since dismissed those calls...

Lawyers lay out plan for final stages of historic Ed Burke trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

CHICAGO — In the corruption trial of former Chicago Aldermen Ed Burke, lawyers laid out their plans for the final stages of the historic case.Ed Burke's defense attorneys told Judge Virginia Kendall Thursday morning that they do indeed plan to call former Alderman Danny Solis to testify as early as next week, after prosecutors rest their case.Solis is the former Chicago alderman who wore a wire, and undercover cameras, to secretly record conversations with Burke, revealing the rarely seen back rooms of Chicago politics.Those recording make up some of the key evidence in this trialDefense attorneys said they plan to ask Solis about the specifics of what was said on those tapes, and give the jury more context about the dealings surrounding the development of the Old Main Post Office.They also plan to delve into Solis' motivations for cooperating with the government.Solis was confronted by FBI agents with evidence of his own crimes, and took a deal to avoid prosecution. Ed Burke tria...

Delphi murder suspect moved downstate from Northwest Indiana prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

DELPHI, Ind. – Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen has been moved from Westville Correctional Facility to another prison in the state.According to court documents, Allen has been transferred to Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle, Indiana. That’s in Sullivan County.The order to move Allen was signed by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and is dated Dec. 6, 2023. Trial for Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen pushed back to October 2024 "The Indiana Department of Correction anticipates continuity of services and care provided to Mr. Allen at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility," the order said.Allen is charged with two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi.His case has been working its way through the court system for more than a year following his arrest in October 2022. His trial is currently scheduled for October 2024.Allen's previous defense attorneys, who are fighting to stay on the cas...

Dean's Interviews: Mark Ruffalo in 'Poor Things'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

Check out Dean's A-List Interview with Mark Ruffalo as he stars in the new Yorgos Lanthimos film, 'Poor Things.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Teen charged with intoxication assault after injuring officer, causing vehicle fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 17-year-old was charged with intoxication assault in Travis County following an incident that injured an Austin police officer off State Highway 71, according to court documents filed Tuesday.KXAN reached out to the teen's attorney. This story will be updated if a statement is received.Documents said around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, a transmission was sent over the police radio for an officer down.“It was apparent by the radio traffic that the Officer, and/or their vehicle, had been struck by a civilian vehicle,” documents said.Records showed a Drug Recognition Officer responded to investigate the incident.According to documents, an APD officer was working on a separate crash that occurred on Highway 71 and had the entire service road closed for traffic.“The highway closure included lit flares, traffic cones, and marked patrol vehicles with emergency lights activated,” documents said.According to the court documents, a vehicle drove toward the blocked road and tried to vee...

Austin-Travis County health leaders urge testing as STI rates increase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County leaders are urging residents to utilize local low-cost and free testing and treatment options for sexually transmitted infections, as the number of reported infections has risen recently. According to Austin Public Health, the Austin area is following a national trend of increasing levels of many STIs, including gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia. Amid soaring rates of STIs, the CDC has a new recommendation to reduce them “Anyone can get an STI, but many don’t show symptoms,” said APH's Dr. Desmar Walkes. “At the same time, many STIs can be treated, and early detection can prevent major complications and spread. With the rate of infection rising nationally and locally, we urge everyone to get tested regularly and treat any infections as soon as possible.” The most current data available from the Texas Department of State Health Services show what APH called alarming statistics, including: The number of new chlamydia infections per per...

Austin City Council could vote on initial land development code changes Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council is expected to vote on phase one of its HOME initiative Thursday, a series of proposed changes to Austin's land development code. HOME, which stands for Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment, is a proposal brought forward by Council Member Leslie Pool. In a conference Tuesday, she said the changing landscape in Austin has made single-family homes inaccessible, with Pool calling for diversified housing options. Austin leaders pitch ‘HOME’ initiative 2 days before city council vote At Tuesday's conference, those against HOME asked for a delayed vote on phase one to allow for more community engagement first. They said they worry affordable single-family homes could be torn down to make way for more expensive, luxury townhomes.Supporters said more dense housing permitted in Austin will help with affordability. They pointed to cities like Houston and Portland that have seen some success since similar land development code changes were made.You c...

Minnesota flag finalists to be on display at Mall of America this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:59 GMT

Six finalists for the Minnesota state flag design as selected by the State Emblems Redesign Committee in St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Courtesy of the State Emblems Redesign Commission)Debate over Minnesota’s next flag has mostly taken place on screens, but this weekend Minnesotans will have a chance to see the finalists in person.Fabric versions of the six finalists selected by the State Emblems Redesign Commission will be on display at the Mall of America on Saturday and Sunday. They’ll appear in the mall’s Huntington Bank Rotunda.On Nov. 21, the 13-member commission narrowed down finalists from the more than 2,000 flag design submissions it received in October. State lawmakers earlier this year passed legislation to change the state’s symbols, and created the commission to handle the process.The commission started its work in September and must choose new designs no later than Jan. 1, 2024. Minnesota will adopt the new symbols on May 11, 2024, unless the ...