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Minnesota panel chooses new state flag featuring North Star to replace old flag seen as racist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s new state flag should feature an eight-pointed North Star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, with a solid light blue field at the right, a special commission decided Tuesday as it picked a replacement for an older design that many Native Americans considered offensive.The State Emblems Redesign Commission chose the final version on an 11-1 vote after finalizing a new state seal that depicts a loon, the state bird. Unless the Legislature rejects them, the new flag and seal will automatically become official April 1, 2024, when Minnesota observes Statehood Day.The star echoes Minnesota’s state motto of “Star of the North.” The commission’s chairman, Luis Fitch, said that to him, the light blue represents the Mississippi River, “the most important river in the United States,” pointing to the North Star. But he acknowledged it could mean other things to other people. Symmetry and simplicity won out over other versions, ...

Do more to address hate, Jewish groups say, as Ottawa youth faces explosives charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

OTTAWA — Jewish groups are calling for more to be done to address hate after the arrest of an Ottawa youth in an alleged plot against the Jewish community.The RCMP confirms the youth arrested last week on terrorism charges has been charged with three additional offences after police executed a search warrant, including possession of explosives with intent to endanger life.Police say they found materials used for creating explosive substances, and a source close to the case says court information indicates the explosives were acetone and an oxidizer.Jewish Federation of Ottawa interim CEO Sarah Beutel says in a statement that the charges are a staggering development of unchecked antisemitism, and school leaders and governments must address hate speech.The federal public safety minister announced an additional $5 million in funding today for a temporary program to help communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes, citing a rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia.The Centre for Israel an...

Cook County homeowners to receive $30.5M in property tax refunds: Here's how to check if you're getting one

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

COOK COUNTY — Thousands of property owners in Cook County will soon receive a financial boost this holiday season.Beginning this week, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is sending more than $30.5 million in automatic refunds to about 9,000 property owners who overpaid their first installment taxes last year.“This service is a huge convenience for homeowners who have overpaid their property taxes,” Pappas said. “Most will not have to file an application, fill out any forms or deal with any paperwork. They will get their money automatically.”About half of the refunds will be deposited directly into property owners’ accounts over the next three months. Most of the refunds will go to those who get tax exemptions, which include: Homeowner, Senior Citizen, Senior Freeze and Disabled Persons. According to the Cook County treasurer's office, the breakdown of automatic refunds shows:About 1,900 homeowners who paid their property taxes online will see a total of $13.1 million elect...

Reduce Waste Chicago expands locations to recycle holiday lights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Have any of your holiday lights gone out?If so, the group Reduce Waste Chicago wants you to bring the strands to an expanded list of recycling locations this holiday season.You can now take the strands to 22 locations, up from 12 spots last year.The new locations include the Rebuilding Exchange in Evanston, Forest Glen and the West Loop.You can drop off your broken lights until Jan. 31, but be sure to call ahead of time.For light collection locations, check out Reduce Waste Chicago's list of locations, or visit Block Club Chicago for more information.

This is the safest town in Illinois: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Small towns have a reputation for tight-knit communities, charm and safety. At least one in every state lives up to the last part of the stereotype, an updated analysis finds. MoneyGeek, a personal finance site, had researchers analyze last year's FBI crime data of smaller towns and cities where the population is between 30,000 and 100,000. They used the crime data to calculate the cost of crime in each area.The cost of crime includes impacts to victims, like the loss of stolen property and medical bills, MoneyGeek explained, as well as the cost to the justice system. Violent crimes typically result in a higher cost than nonviolent crimes, MoneyGeek said. Is crime going up in America? Some types are, new FBI data shows Many of the safest small communities, according to last year's crime data, are found in the Northeast. Monroe Township, a New Jersey community about 50 miles from Manhattan, ranked No. 1 thanks to its low property crime and even lower violent crime rate....

Body found wrapped in chains at bottom of Kentucky lake in 1999 ID'd as fugitive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

MAYFIELD, Ky. (WDKY) — A body discovered nearly 25 years ago at the bottom of a Kentucky lake has been identified thanks to the help of DNA technology.On May 6, 1999, two fishermen found human remains in Kentucky's Lake Barkley. State police said that the remains were wrapped in heavy tire chains and anchored by a hydraulic jack. “At the time, investigators were unable to identify the male using traditional investigative techniques,” KSP officials said in a news release. Police: Man hits pedestrian, drives 38 miles after body crashes through windshield The body was exhumed in 2016, and examiners exhausted their options for identification. A profile was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Person System (NAMUS).In early 2023, Kentucky State Police said it began a partnership with Othram Inc., a private forensic lab that specializes in forensic genealogy. Through advanced DNA testing, a relative of the unidentified person was located, which allowed investigators to ide...

This Christmas classic was first published 180 years ago today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - When you think about movies and television programs that are universally Christmas, what do you think of?Is it a movie about a man who learns what it would be like if he were never born, or a little boy's pursuit of a BB gun? Is it a movie about a little girl learning Santa is real, a boy accidentally left behind by his family when they go on a trip, or a man who becomes Santa Claus?All of those are certainly iconic Christmas stories, along with many others. However, there's one story older than them all, that has spawned more versions of itself and inspired countless other similar stories.On December 19, 1843, Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" was first published. It was an instant best-seller, with every single copy selling out by Christmas Eve that year.Its full title is actually "A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas." Not only was it incredibly popular, but it's credited with helping to "save Christmas." 4 embarrassing mista...

On the way to a wet forecast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The start of the afternoon was mostly sunny to partly cloudy. This after a morning that saw, at times, a partly to mostly cloudy sky. Low fell to the 30s and 40s.The afternoon's highs will be the lowest over the next seven days. Many maximum temperatures this afternoon will rise to the low to mid 60s. There may be a few upper 60s in some of our southeastern viewing area.Seven days of warmer than normal highsSoutheasterly winds have returned to Central Texas. The surface wind flow will come off the Gulf for the next five days bringing moisture back to the area. This will be marked by increasing humidity and the rain forecast.An upper-level low is found this afternoon in the eastern Pacific moving slowly to the southeast. It's offshore from the northern coast of California and the southern coast of Oregon. It will travel to the southeast bringing in moisture from the Pacific for us. This Pacific storm system will give us some rain Thursday and FridayThe rain could sta...

Texas-Nebraska title match was the most-watched NCAA volleyball match ever

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns volleyball team was part of history in multiple ways when they claimed its second consecutive national championship Sunday.Not only did they capture the program's fifth title with a dominant 3-0 victory over Nebraska, but by playing in the game, they made television history by participating in the most-watched college volleyball match in history.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersAccording to ESPNPR, the Longhorns-Cornhuskers title tilt averaged 1.7 million viewers and peaked at 2.1 million on ABC, an increase of 115% year-over-year and 151% in female viewership in the same time frame. Approximately 51% of the viewership was female, ESPNPR said. It was the first time the national championship match was aired on a national network available over the air.The 3 p.m. ET start time for the match was sandwiched in between the usual 1 p.m. ET ...

Shoreview: Investigators looking for hit-and-run Mercedes-Benz driver who seriously injured woman, 76

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:45:50 GMT

The Ramsey County sheriff’s office asked for the public’s help Tuesday to find a hit-and-run driver who seriously injured a 76-year-old pedestrian in Shoreview.The vehicle was likely a 2003-2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK with a W209 body, similar to the pictured, but the color isn’t known. (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)A witness reported the woman was crossing Lexington Avenue North at the intersection of Ingerson Road, traveling east to west, when a vehicle southbound on Lexington Avenue struck her and kept going, said Steve Linders, sheriff’s office spokesman. It happened about 4:45 p.m. Friday.The Arden Hills resident remained hospitalized Tuesday with a head injury and broken bones, Linders said.The vehicle is described as a Mercedes-Benz of unknown color. It was likely a 2003-2009 CLK coupe with a W209 body. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to call 651-266-7331 and said tipsters can remain anonymous. Related Ar...