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Court hearing to discuss contested Titanic expedition is canceled after firm scales back dive plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A federal admiralty court in Virginia has canceled a Friday hearing to discuss a contested expedition to the Titanic after the salvage firm scaled back its dive plans. But a looming court battle over the 2024 mission is not over yet. RMST Titanic Inc. owns the salvage rights to the world’s most famous shipwreck. It originally planned to possibly retrieve artifacts from inside the Titanic’s hull, informing the court of its intentions in June. In August, the U.S. government filed a motion to intervene, arguing that the court should stop the expedition. U.S. attorneys cited a 2017 federal law and an agreement with Great Britain to restrict entry into the Titanic’s hull because it’s considered a grave site. Lawyers on each side of the case were set to discuss the matter Friday before a U.S. District Judge in Norfolk who oversees Titanic salvage matters. But the company said this week that it no longer planned to retrieve artifacts or do anythi...

The approved multistate wind-power transmission line will increase energy capacity for Missouri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Regulators on Thursday gave the go-ahead for a multistate wind-energy power line to provide the equivalent of four nuclear power plants’ worth of energy to Missouri consumers. At issue is the Grain Belt Express, a power line that will carry wind energy from Kansas across Missouri and Illinois before hooking into a power grid in Indiana that serves eastern states.Invenergy Transmission, the Chicago-based company attempting to build the Grain Belt Express, last year proposed expanding the high-voltage power line’s capacity after years of complaints from Missouri farmers and lawmakers worried that the line would trample property rights without providing much service to Missouri residents. Under the new plan, approved 4-1 by Missouri’s Public Service Commission, Grain Belt Express plans to bring as much as 2,500 megawatts of power to Missouri. Previously, state utility regulators approved a line that would have brought only 500 megawatts of energy ...

Unpublished works, manuscript by legendary Argentine writer Cortázar sell for $36,000 at auction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — A buyer from Argentina paid $36,000 for a manuscript of works, including seven unpublished stories, by legendary Argentine writer Julio Cortázar at an auction Thursday in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo.The bundle of 60-year-old sheets bound together with metal fasteners bearing the inscription “Julio Cortázar. Historias de Cronopios y de Famas. Paris. 1952” was the basis for the writer’s iconic “Cronopios and Famas” book, published in 1962.The typewritten manuscript contains 46 stories that make up the heart of what ended up becoming one of Cortázar’s most famous works.Of the total stories, 35 were published in “Cronopios and Famas.” Some were printed exactly as found in the manuscript that was once thought to be lost forever. It was discovered in Montevideo last year, while others underwent editorial changes. Three other stories were published in magazines before Cortázar’s death in 1984.The seven unpublished works are: “Inventory,” “Letter from ...

5 drug task force officers and a man have been hurt in a gunbattle at a home in rural Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

FOLEY, Minn. (AP) — Five drug task force officers and a 64-year-old man were injured in an exchange of gunfire Thursday as the officers served a search warrant at a property in rural Minnesota, authorities said.Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said at a news conference that the officers announced their arrival at a home in Glendorado Township around 7 a.m. and immediately came under fire. He said they returned fire and retreated. The officers’ injuries were not life-threatening, Heck said. Karl Thomas Holmberg was taken into custody around 10:45 a.m. after several hours of negotiations, the sheriff said. Aerial video from KARE-TV showed officers in tactical gear surrounding a shirtless male, then officers and EMTs escorting him on a stretcher to a hospital helicopter. Heck said he didn’t know the extent of Holmberg’s injuries.“This has been a difficult day for us in Benton County,” Heck said. “We are grateful that the incident did not result in loss of life or further inj...

Chicago to open new migrant shelters weekly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

CHICAGO -- As the city grapples with the ongoing migrant crisis, there are now more than 3,000 asylum seekers waiting for shelter in Chicago police stations across and hundreds at O'Hare airport.Since May, the number of migrants arriving in Chicago has picked up drastically, prompting city and state leaders to continue demanding more money and resources from the federal government.City leaders say they are now opening up a new shelter for asylum seekers every six days.In spite of a funding gap in the hundreds of millions the number of new arrivals is picking up rapidly."Just in the last week alone we welcomed 63 buses and so even though we are working every single day to open up these shelters we just can’t get in front of it," Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Deputy Chief of Staff, said.As of Thursday, more than 10,800 new arrivals are living in 25 shelters in neighborhoods throughout the city. More than 3,700 people are living inside and outside of police stations and at O'Hare waiting for...

How a Chicago Latina is emphasizing diversity leading into the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A well-known Chicago Latina shared her story Thursday, one where she will be a key figure in organizing the upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention.This week, Lisa Hernandez — born and raised in the Petrowski Park area of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood — sat down with WGN News' Lourdes Duarte to talk diversity for what's expected to be one of the largest political events of next year.Hernandez took over as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party about a year ago, becoming the first Latina to do so, and her new role comes as Democrats around the country tackle a number of issues, including immigration — a problem Chicago has struggled mightily with on its own, as thousands of migrants have been forced to live at local airports and police stations as City leaders scramble for a solution.Already, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration has brought up the possibility of more migrants being bused to the City leading up to the 2024 DNC as a way for Republicans ...

'Our first home': Woodstock family speaks after explosion, fire destroys home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

WOODSTOCK, Ill. — A family that has lost everything after a gas explosion earlier this week in Woodstock is speaking out.Their house was among the 20 structures destroyed. It leveled one home and has made two neighboring buildings inhabitable. Tom Skilling announces retirement "I'm heartbroken," Armani Peralta said. "That was our first home. Our established home and all my baby's things."Peralta, her three-month-old baby girl Alanie, and her partner who shares the same first name as Armaine, lived in the two-unit building that went up in flames Monday afternoon after the home next door exploded."I came home from work around 12ish, 1 o'clock," Armaine Bannister, said. "Everything was blocked off. I drove around the block to see if I could come from that way to pick them up, couldn't do it. There was an officer there so I talked to him. He said to just grab the baby, grab the wife and just get out. There's a gas leak." 20 buildings damaged, 22 displaced after home explosion in Woo...

Missed Taylor Swift's Era's Tour? Shake it Off. Concert movie now showing in theaters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Even if you did - or didn't - get to see her in concert, Chicagoans can now experience Taylor Swift's 'Era's Tour' in a new way. Following the world premiere of Taylor Swift's movie last night in Los Angeles, the concert movie is opening a day early. It's why the Swifties were out in force Thursday evening at AMC River East to talk and see all things Taylor. Beyoncé vs Taylor Swift vs NASCAR: Who’s was the biggest boon to Chicago this summer? "I've been a big Taylor Swift fan for the past 13 years or so, maybe 15 years," said Mauricio Gonzalez. "I got to see the 'Era's Tour' five times, actually. Twice here in Chicago. So I'm looking forward to seeing it on the big screen." Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The movie runs two hours and 40 minutes, considerably shorter than her concert. The tour could gross $2.2 billion in North American ticket sales by some estimates.Click here for theaters and showtimes in your area.

Colorado officer found guilty of homicide in Elijah McClain case, 2nd officer acquitted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) – A jury has returned a split verdict in the case against two Aurora, Colorado police officers charged with Elijah McClain's death in 2019. One officer, Randy Roedema, was found guilty of criminally negligent reckless homicide and third-degree assault. The other officer, Jason Rosenblatt, was acquitted of all charges.Sentencing for Roedema is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.Roedema has been on suspension from the Aurora Police Department during the investigation while Rosenblatt had been fired by the department.Aurora Police Chief art Acevedo released the following statement on X, formerly known as Twitter:“I know many have been waiting a long time for the involved parties to have their day in court. As a nation, we must be committed to the rule of law. As such, we hold the American judicial process in high regard. We respect the verdict handed down by the jury, and thank the members of the jury for their thoughtful deliberation and service. Due to the additiona...

Texas Republicans divided over US Speaker fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Congress is moving further away from electing a speaker to lead a paralyzed House of Representatives, and some Texas congressmen are leading the charge of opposition against U.S. Rep Steve Scalise, their party's designee for speaker."I'm not going to be with Steve on the floor," Central Texas Republican Congressman Chip Roy said Thursday. "We need to figure out what to do. Let's pick the right speaker, let's unite, and let's move forward."Roy is calling for stronger assurances regarding federal spending cuts, border security legislation, and safeguards placed on aid to Israel.Victoria-area Congressman Michael Cloud is also opposing Scalise.Other Texans, however, are calling on the House to swiftly approve Scalise as Speaker to address urgent issues like aid to Israel and border security legislation. "We need to immediately come to the floor, vote in a speaker, because the world is on fire," South Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales said. "You see what's happening in ...