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From Melrose Park to Memphis: Native suburban boy's Halloween costume pays homage to Cubs' Harry Caray

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

CHICAGO — At age 14, Anthony Alfano has already developed quite the reputation just this side of Harry Caray and his 'Holy Cow.'  It's a family tradition rich in Halloween lore for the Alfano's.Anthony has cerebral palsy and is dependent on a wheelchair. For years, Anthony’s dad, Tony, a lover of Halloween, would start designing his son's Halloween costume in July. This year, however, the Alfanos had much less time to get things together after the family moved from Melrose Park to Memphis. Chicagoland’s Halloween Houses: Ausumtism Lair in Dyer, Indiana Their new neighbors noticed, too. “When Tony would be in the garage late at night...our neighbors were used to it," Deanna Alfano told WGN News. "Luckily, we are in a new development where we don't have too many neighbors yet but the ones that are there were definitely like, 'What is happening across the street?'"Naturally, the one who notices it most is Anthony."You can tell the excitement really starts to build," Deanna added. "Th...

City Council approves 'Bring Chicago Home' referendum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Celebrations took place after a committee meeting at City Hall Tuesday, where the majority of City Council members approved the submission of the "Bring Chicago Home" campaign for public referendum, which if approved by city voters, would provide a permanent revenue stream to tackle homelessness in Chicago. TSA confiscates record number of firearms at Midway airport this year WGN's Bronagh Tumulty goes further in depth on the story, covering the implications the legislation has for 68,000-plus homeless persons in Chicago, and what can happen next.

'General Hospital' actor Tyler Christopher dead at 50, co-star announces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) -- Tyler Christopher, known for his roles in "General Hospital" and "Days of Our Lives," has died from an apparent "cardiac event" in his San Diego apartment on Tuesday. He was 50.The soap star's death was confirmed by "General Hospital" co-star Maurice Bernard in a post on Instagram Tuesday night honoring his late colleague."It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher," Bernard wrote. "Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting. Tyler was a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him.""We are beyond devastated by the loss of our dear friend and pray for his children and his father," he continued.LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 01: Actor Tyler Christopher speaks onstage at the 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel on May 1, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Get...

Enough fentanyl to kill 5 million people seized in Florida drug bust: sheriff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida deputies seized enough fentanyl that could kill 5 million people after a weeks-long investigation, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.The sheriff's office said three people were arrested for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation that transported fentanyl from the Sinaloa Cartel to Compton, California, before making it to Florida."They tried to treat us with fentanyl, and we tricked them with an arrest," Sheriff Grady Judd said during a Tuesday press conference. Meth found in seafood boil at New Orleans airport: TSA According to the sheriff's office, the investigation into the drug trafficking began in September as undercover detectives investigated three men living in Hillsborough County, two of whom were said to be Mexican nationals who entered the country illegally.The three suspects were identified as Juan Manuel Gutierrez Medina, 55; Ruperto Rocha, 65; and Juan Gutierrez Contreras, 25.Detectives said they conducted controlled ...

FBI investigators return to Idaho house where 4 college students were killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

MOSCOW, Idaho (NewsNation) — FBI investigators will return to the Idaho college killings house Tuesday to gather additional evidence and measures as the trial of suspect Bryan Kohberger has been delayed indefinitely, according to a press release. Investigators are returning to the home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, to "get documentation to construct visual and audio exhibits and a physical model of the home" where four university students were killed. The prosecution explained to the university that the original timeline to create visual displays and models of the home was not enough time. The FBI is using an extended trial timeline to gather additional measurements and images of the home now that all personal items from the building have been removed, the release said. Report: 2 survivors awake, texting during Idaho college killings The house will be resecured once officers complete this step in their investigation.The Goncalves family released the following statement: “As...

A public health response helped reduce fatal car wrecks in Texas. Can it do the same for gun deaths?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- When Mark Rosenberg started a branch of the Center for Disease Control to study violence in 1983, he decided to model his work on existing research about another rising cause of injuries and death — motor vehicle crashes.At the time, wrecks were replacing infectious diseases as a leading cause of death in America. The federal government invested roughly $200 million a year to identify specific causes — and potential solutions.That investment helped bring about a wave of innovations that made driving safer. Rosenberg pointed to several: Steering columns were redesigned so they no longer impaled drivers in front-end crashes. Airbags became standard features. New road design standards helped to reduce injuries and deaths across the country.“With guns,” Rosenberg said, “we had hoped that we could do the same thing.”But his CDC branch hit resistance from gun rights advocates, whose initial skepticism evolved into a calcified opposition. A congressional amend...

Stillwater school district error leads to late notice of new Marine polling place

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

Stillwater Area School District officials are calling it one of the worst pre-election mistakes that could happen.A district employee mistakenly left Marine on St. Croix households off of an initial required mailing alerting residents of a change to their polling place. Instead of voting in the special election at Marine Village Hall on Tuesday, residents must drive to the May Town Hall in neighboring May Township.A postcard alerting the 630 Marine households of the polling place change wasn’t sent out until Oct. 25 – 10 days after required notices were sent to the 3,344 other affected households in the district.Polling places also were combined in Afton and Lakeland – at the request of election officials in Washington County – based on “manageability of the precinct due to the number of registered voters, voter experience and proximity to the even-year precinct for the voter,” county officials said.State law requires that the district send out a notice 25 days prior to the election...

Two school buses involved in Afton collision; no serious injuries reported

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

A school bus carrying 15 students and a smaller bus with no students on board collided Tuesday in Afton.The crash occurred around 2:40 p.m. at the intersection of Neal Avenue and 15th Street South when the driver of the school bus, traveling eastbound on 15th Street South, pulled out onto Neal Avenue into the path of the mini school bus, which was traveling northbound on Neal, said Laura Perkins, public information manager for the Washington County sheriff’s office.The mini school bus ended up vertical in the ditch; the driver reported minor aches and pains, Perkins said. No injuries were reported by anyone on board the eastbound bus, which was carrying students from grades 6-10 from Stillwater Area School District, she said.“Everyone was evaluated by first responders on scene as a precaution,” she said.Stillwater Area School District officials notified parents, and a second bus was sent to pick up the students and take them home; the district has a contract with Lakeville-bas...

Supreme Court weighs whether government officials can block people on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The Supreme Court is diving into the controversial debate over whether public officials should be allowed to block constituents on their social media accounts. On Tuesday, the justices heard two different cases exploring the free speech clash between public officials and critical commenters. The cases center on lawsuits filed by people who were blocked by government officials after posting numerous critical comments on their social media pages.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Georgetown Law professor Caroline Fredrickson says there are First Amendment issues on both sides of the argument. "You have the right not to be harassed on your private social media accounts. But you have the right to criticize your government and criticize public officials," Fredrickson said. Pamela Karlan is one of the lawyers representing the side of the blocked constituents. She insists being blocked violated the...

Homeless man arrested in monthslong string of thefts totalling more than $35K

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:28 GMT

A homeless man from the Moreno Valley area was arrested by Redlands Police Department officers last week in connection with more than two-dozen thefts at a local Nike store.Police arrested Creushon Lee Bernstein, 35, after he was identified as the suspect in 32 felony thefts at the Nike store located in the Mountain Grove Shopping Center on SanBernardino Avenue in Redlands. Police say Bernstein stole merchandise totaling more than $35,000 over a three-month period.Bernstein was eventually identified as a suspect and on Oct. 26 he was located at an unspecified location and taken into custody. He's since been booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and is being held on $200,000 bail.He faces charges for grand theft and shoplifting and is due in court on Nov. 6, jail records indicate.As part of their investigation, police also identified a second suspect involved in at least four of the thefts. That person is already in jail on unrelated charges, police said.Th...