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Court pauses federal policy allowing abortion clinic operators to get grants — but only in Ohio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

A federal appeals court has paused enforcement of a federal government regulation that allows abortion providers to receive federal family planning money — but only in Ohio, where state health officials said the policy took money away from them. Since 1981, federal policy has changed several times regarding whether programs receiving family planning funds can provide abortions or refer patients to such services. Soon after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, the administration made rules to allow groups with abortion services to receive the funding again.A dozen states with Republican attorneys general challenged the rule.A U.S. District Court judge ruled last year that the Biden administration’s version of the rules could remain in effect while the challenge moves through the court system.A majority of the three-judge panel from the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled that in a decision Thursday — but only as it applies to how the federal governm...

Protester critically injured after setting self on fire outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A protester was in critical condition Friday after setting themself on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, authorities said. A security guard who tried to intervene was also injured.A Palestinian flag found at the scene was part of the protest, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference.He added that investigators did not believe there was any connection to terrorism and none of the consular staff was ever in danger.“We do not see any threat here,” he said. “We believe it was an act of extreme political protest that occurred.”Authorities did not release the protester’s name, age or gender. The person set up outside the building in the city’s midtown neighborhood on Friday afternoon and used gasoline as an accelerant, Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick Smith said. The protester was in critical condition, with burn injuries to the body. A security guard that tried to stop the person was burned on his wrist and leg, Smith said.Schierb...

Truck strikes overpass, causing crash and blocking of all lanes on OB Bishop Ford

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

CHICAGO — All lanes are blocked on outbound Bishop Ford Expressway near 134th Street after a truck struck an overpass, causing an ensuing crash, Illinois State Police said Friday. Traffic is getting by on the right shoulder, however.Just before 4 p.m., troopers responded to the area following reports that a truck tractor struck an overpass and caused an attached shipping container to become dislodged. As a result of the crash, the shipping container is blocking all southbound lanes on the Bishop Ford Expressway. ISP said a pickup truck also struck the shipping container. No injuries were reported.Troopers add that the truck tractor did not immediately stop at the scene but was later located by troopers farther south on  I-94.SEE ALSO: ‘Sick customer’ delays transit on CTA Blue LineMotorists are urged to seek alternate routes. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Florida woman accused of posing as student, assaulting boy she met online

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— A Tampa woman was arrested last week after she allegedly posed as a child and sexually battered a boy she met online, police say. A tip on Oct. 19 accused Alyssa Zinger, 22, of an "inappropriate relationship" with a child, according to Tampa police. What is the ‘card draining’ scam? Beware ahead of holidays The victim was identified by police as a middle school boy between the ages of 12 and 15, according to the arrest report. Zinger was accused of posing as a 14-year-old home-school student when she met the boy on social media. The child reported believing Zinger was 14 during their four-month relationship and "stated she physically seemed much older than her age," according to Tampa police. Detectives also learned Zinger lied to police about her age when the pair was caught shoplifting at Nordstrom in July. The tipster told Tampa police that Zinger sent child exploitation material involving the victim and another middle schooler to several other children on...

Abortion: Where do GOP presidential candidates stand on the issue?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

NewsNation will host the Fourth Republican primary debate on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. E.T. The debate will be aired and streamed live on all NewsNation platforms. Not sure how to find us on your TV? Use our ChannelFinder app. If you have a question for the candidates, submit it here. (NewsNation) — Abortion has become a big motivator at the polls with a record-high number of voters saying they will only vote for candidates who share their stance on abortion. During the two elections since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, voters have shown up in droves when abortion has been on the ballot, both directly and indirectly. In September, 7% of respondents in a NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll said abortion was the most important issue they'd consider while deciding who to vote for in the 2024 general election. Meanwhile, when weighed against other important issues, abortion followed the economy, immigration and climate change. Ahead of the 2024 election, Nexstar's NewsNation is committed to coveri...

More on White Lung Syndrome and the rise of childhood pneumonia cases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

There is a health warning out of Ohio this week after a rise in childhood pneumonia cases. Some are calling it "White Lung Syndrome.”Dr. Todd Florin is an emergency medicine pediatrician at Lurie Children's Hospital. He joined the WGN Evening News to discuss the warning.

Border and immigration: Where Republican candidates stand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

NewsNation will host the Fourth Republican primary debate on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. E.T. The debate will be aired and streamed live on all NewsNation platforms. Not sure how to find us on your TV? Use our ChannelFinder app. If you have a question for the candidates, submit it here. (NewsNation) — With an unprecedented surge in migrants coming across the southern border in the last two years, states in the U.S. have had to spend tens of millions of dollars to deal with the escalating crisis. Pressure has been amped up from both Democrats and Republicans for President Joe Biden's administration to react to the crisis and while he recently reversed his stance and gave the go-ahead for a section of the border wall to be completed, some border state governors have been taking matters into their own hands to stem the flow of migrants. In fiscal year 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered over 2.2 million migrants at the southern border, a significant increase from the 1.9 mi...

'Sick customer' delays transit on CTA Blue Line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

CHICAGO — CTA Blue Line trains are running but will not be stopping at Montrose station amid a rainy rush hour, transit agency officials said Friday. The news comes after CTA officials said service was temporarily suspended between O'Hare and Jefferson Park after a customer became sick.There is not yet any word on when the Blue Line will return to full service. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines This is a developing story. Check back with WGN for updates.

Texas must remove floating barrier from Rio Grande, Fifth Circuit Court orders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Texas on Friday to remove the floating barrier it deployed in the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass this summer, affirming a lower court’s ruling.In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the court found that the river is navigable where the barrier was placed and that it is “an obstruction,” meaning that Texas needed to receive permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — which regulates activities in waterways and wetlands under federal law — before deploying it.Judge Don Willett, a Trump appointee, was the dissenting vote in the ruling, arguing that the Rio Grande cannot accommodate commercial boat traffic and is therefore not navigable.Texas argued that the barrier was also meant to save lives and force migrants to cross the border at ports of entry, but Willet said Texas hasn’t proved that’s the case.“At this stage, however, Texas has not offered concrete evidence that the barrier has saved lives or reduced illegal cross...

Extended stretch of dry, pleasant weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An extended stretch of dry, comfortable weather starts now in Central Texas and looks to last for a full week.While other parts of the country are dealing with rain and snow, these storm systems will have little impact on our local weather. Cooler nights in the 40s are expected this weekend with pleasant daytime highs in the 70s.Next week, a weak cool front knocks temperatures down slightly on Monday, but a steady warming trend takes hold through the remainder of the week.No rainfall is expected for the next week, so now may be a good time to wash your vehicle if you have been holding off. Wetter weather is expected to return in our 8-14 day outlook. NEW BLOG: NOAA updates December, winter forecasts Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-...