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Family of teen killed by stray bullet honors her life, advocates for gun reform during community gathering

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO — In 2014, an 18-year-old girl was killed after she was struck by a stray bullet in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. Alexandria Imani Burgos had just graduated high school and was starting college when her life was cut short. Now her family is using their pain to help save lives.On Saturday afternoon, her family brought the community together to remember her life and ignite hope for the future."Kids always gravitated with Alexandria. I guess they knew her humbleness and her beautiful heart," Alexandria's mother, Milagros "Millie" Burgos, said.Tragically, Alexandria, a Von Steuben High School graduate with aspirations to become a social worker, was fatally hit by a stray bullet on Oct. 19, 2014. Evanston community reacts after release of mother, daughter taken hostage by Hamas "By Telling her story, people will know her and they won't forget her as well," Milagros said.Along with honoring Alexandria, her parents, Millie and Rafael Burgos, also recognized several other famil...

What to know about Speaker candidate Kevin Hern

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

(The Hill) — The House GOP is in chaos amid attempts to elect a Speaker after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost his third attempt at securing the gavel in a floor vote Friday.Nine congressmen have stepped up for the job, or have signaled they may. The new nominee will be the third in as many weeks after Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) withdrew his Speaker bid before Jordan.The caucus will meet to find a new nominee in a closed-door meeting on Monday evening. DeSantis, Scott vow sanctions on colleges, students over Hamas support Amid the crowded group is Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who officially announced his candidacy just after the meeting where the caucus abandoned Jordan.Here’s what you need to know about him:McDonald's magnateHern made his start as a McDonald’s operations manager outside Little Rock, Ark., in the late 1990s. He later purchased a franchise there, before moving to Oklahoma in the early 2000s. Hern quickly built a small empire of McDonald’s franchises, own...

Daily rain chances next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After two days of record-breaking, summer-like heat, a change in weather pattern begins to take hold Sunday (and it couldn't come soon enough!)Our Saturday night will favor warm and quiet conditions with overnight lows bottoming out in the upper 60s. Clouds will thicken through the day tomorrow, helping to keep us out of the 90s, but not enough cooling to break out the jackets.Sunday forecastA few weak showers may develop late Sunday night but much better rain chances will come Monday with the remnants of Hurricane Norma passing through the state.This will quickly be followed by a deepening storm system to our west, fueling another few days of rain chances across the region. There are some discrepancies between computer models as to how quickly this storm will cross / exit our area, but given recent data, it is likely that spotty showers will stick around through at least the end of the upcoming work week.Daily rain chances begin Monday and continue through the star...

Ramsey County Lawsuit says new law violates disability pay for disabled first responders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

An organization that represents police, firefighters, paramedics, corrections workers and other first responders disabled in the line of duty has filed a lawsuit against the state’s public pension system, the Public Employees Retirement Association, or PERA, over a new law that it says will heavily impact its members’ pension benefits and eligibility requirements.The lawsuit was filed within the past week in Ramsey County District Court by attorney Marshall Tanick of the Minneapolis law firm Meyer Njus Tanick. The state has filed a motion to have the requested injunction dismissed.The crux of the new law requires disabled first responders to be recertified as occupationally disabled each year by a medical doctor or Ph.D.-level psychologist, rather than a therapist or another mid-level medical provider. Law enforcement in general has seen an uptick in officers claiming post-traumatic stress disorder following racially-tinged riots after the May 2020 murder of George Floyd...

Gophers bounce back from self-inflicted errors to shut down Iowa in 12-10 win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Gophers defense fell apart late in the first half against the Hawkeyes on Saturda, but rebounded in the second half to help produce a 12-10 win at Kinnick Stadium.Minnesota was flagged four times on one drive as Iowa was able to go 46 yards to take a 10-3 lead at the break.“As undisciplined as we’ve ever been,” P.J. Fleck said at halftime on KFAN.But the U defense kept a struggling Hawkeyes defense down with only 12 yards and no points allowed in the second half.The Gophers had average only three penalties per game this season, which is one of the lowest rates in the country, and a lack of flags have been a standard under Fleck. That’s what made the issues so alarming.On third and four with three minutes left in the half, the Gophers had wrapped up Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill for a no gain, but defensive end Danny Striggow was flagged for a face-mask penalty.“That was just a dumb mistake,” Striggow said.Later on in the series, the Gophers had...

Kiszla: Sorry, Bron. The Nuggets are champs and good luck with old King James getting his crown back.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

You ain’t the King no more, James. When the Nuggets get those shiny rings Tuesday night and raise their first championship banner in the face of 38-year-old LeBron James, his once-mighty Lakers might be so envious they turn a royal shade of purple.After years of being the cute little rainbow warriors from the lost time zone, the Nuggets are not only the team to beat. Nikola Jokic and his pals are the reigning NBA champs everyone wants to beat into submission.“We get it, y’all won,” forward Anthony Davis said when the Lakers opened training camp, still smarting from the broom taken to their buns by the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. “But me and Bron had some conversations like, ‘We can’t wait (to play them again).’”Would this be a good time to remind Davis that Joker did the Sombor Shuffle all over him in the conference finals, averaging 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists in the four games required to send L.A. packing?The Lakers will show up for vengeance Tuesday...

4A softball: Lutheran claims third straight title with win over Riverdale Ridge as Hailey Maestretti goes out on top

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

AURORA — Facing a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning and leading by just two runs against No. 2 Riverdale Ridge in the Class 4A softball final, Lutheran junior catcher Malea Yoxsimer believed in her pitcher.After all, she and Hailey Maestretti have been the state’s most lethal pitcher-catcher battery since under-10s club ball.“I was nervous to say the least, but it didn’t matter,” Yoxsimer said. “I’d seen how she was going. (Riverdale Ridge) were on her at first and then she got on a roll. Her pitches were dropping, her fastball was unhittable at that point. I just knew that bases loaded? Didn’t matter.”In classic Maestretti fashion, she got out of the jam just fine. The Lions added three more runs late and won a third consecutive state championship with a 6-1 win Saturday at Aurora Sports Park.The University of Utah-bound pitcher, who came back from a broken arm suffered in the preseason, struck out 11. She did s...

Motorcycle rider killed in Aurora crash Friday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

A 27-year-old man riding a motorcycle in Aurora Friday night died after a crash.Alcohol is being investigated as a possible contributing factor in the crash near Joplin Street and East Seventh Avenue.NEWS RELEASE: Aurora Man Dies Friday Night in Single Motorcycle Crash #APDNewshttps://t.co/ASgQ9Cv3pe pic.twitter.com/vLTOnQPCkV— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) October 21, 2023The man was riding west on a 2020 black Harley Davidson when he struck a parked trailer about 10 p.m. Friday, the Aurora Police Department said in a Saturday news release.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist killed in late night Denver crash, police investigating The man was seriously injured and was “flung from the motorcycle,” police said, and he died later at a hospital. 

3-year-old boy missing from Fountain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

The city of Fountain is asking for help in locating Jackson Gibbons.Please contact El Paso County Communications Center at 719-390-5555 if you have seen Jackson or know where he is located. pic.twitter.com/SZBguTZGDD— City of Fountain, CO (@cityoffountain) October 21, 2023Jackson is four feet tall and weighs 35 pounds.He was last seen wearing a gray shirt with a race car on it.Anyone who may have seen Jackson is asked to contact the El Paso County Communications Center at 719-390-5555.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Missing Indigenous teen girl found safe Crime and Public Safety | Colorado Springs teen missing since Oct. 4 found safe Crime and Public Safety | Jefferson County deputies find missing boy Crime and Public Safety | AI project imagines adult faces of children who disappeared during Argentina’s military dictatorship Crime and Public Safety | Two missing Indigenous children in Colorad...

San Fernando Councilwomen, environmental justice advocate Cindy Montañez dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

San Fernando Councilmember and former California State Assembly member Cindy Montañez died on Saturday in her San Fernando home at the age of 49, officials confirmed. “It is with inconsolable grief and deep sadness that we announce the passing of Councilmember Cindy Montañez, current CEO of TreePeople, and former California State Assembly Member,” San Fernando officials said in a statement. The cause of death was not released, but Montañez had recently been diagnosed with aggressive and terminal cancer.Montañez set historical records as a public official including being the youngest person elected to the San Fernando City Council at the age of 25, the youngest woman ever to serve in the state legislature at 28, and Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee at age of 30.To honor her legacy and commitment to service and education, the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education announced the renaming of a local elementary school. Gridley Street Elementary will become Gridley-Montañez...