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Americans’ faith in institutions has been sliding for years. The chaos in Congress isn’t helping

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — For many Americans, the Republican dysfunction that has ground business in the U.S. House to a halt as two wars rage abroad and a budget crisis looms at home is feeding into a longer-term pessimism about the country’s core institutions.The lack of faith extends beyond Congress, with recent polling conducted both before and after the leadership meltdown finding a mistrust in everything from the courts to organized religion. The GOP internal bickering that for nearly three weeks has left open the speaker’s position — second in line to the presidency — is widely seen as the latest indication of deep problems with the nation’s bedrock institutions.“They’re holding up the people’s business because they’re so dysfunctional,” said Christopher Lauff, 57, of Fargo, North Dakota.Part of that business, he said, is approving money for Ukraine to continue its fight against Russia’s invasion, something he says ultimately helps the U.S. — a point President...

Montreal-born singer Rêve on astrological signs and the elements of pop success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

TORONTO — Early in a conversation around her new album “Saturn Return,” Rêve tips to being fascinated by the intangible. She’s a Pisces – a water sign known for its romance, mysticism and love of dancing and writing, all traits that indisputably fit her character. And she takes astrological signs quite seriously.“I get that from my mom,” the 27-year-old pop singer-songwriter attests while lounging at her record label’s Toronto office wearing a Def Leppard shirt and a leather jacket.“She called my lawyer last year and was like, ‘You can’t let (my daughter) sign a contract during this retrograde. I will show up at your door and be very angry.’”The Montreal-born performer, whose stage name is French for “dream,” isn’t quite so rigid on the rules of celestial magic. But she believes in it enough to name her album for the spiritual energies.In some ways, the stars have aligned to bring her to this point. Her debut full-length album, released on Friday, comes nearly a de...

Ukrainian officials say civilians were killed, wounded in Russian overnight attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

At least two civilians were killed and others wounded across Ukraine as Russian forces continued to shell frontline areas and other parts of the country, local Ukrainian officials reported Saturday.In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown in central Ukraine, a 60-year-old man died on Friday evening when a Russian missile slammed into an industrial facility, according to Telegram posts by Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. Vilkul added that the man’s wife was hospitalized with serious shrapnel wounds.Early on Saturday, Vilkul reported that Russian missiles and drones overnight hit the same site again, causing unspecified damage and sparking a fire that was put out by morning. Vilkul did not elaborate on the site’s nature or whether it was linked to Ukraine’s war effort. He said nobody was hurt in the second strike.Hours later, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters that Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian military’s fue...

Saturday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, breezy, few showers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

Saturday: Mostly cloudy & breezy with a few showers. NW 10-20, G30 mph. Air quality is in the Good to Moderate range. High 62Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy & a chance of showers. WNW 5-10 mph. Low in the lower 40s.Sunday: Mostly sunny, breezy & seasonal temps. W 10-15, G25-30 mph. High: 58Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for a few scattered showers on Monday with a high of 63. Warmer for Tuesday with highs in the mid to low 70s with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of showers/thunderstorms. Near 70 on Wednesday with clouds and a chance of showers along with falling afternoon temps. Temps finish out the week in the mid to low 60s with lots of clouds and a few showers. 

Unseasonably hot today, rain on the way

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It will feel like late August this afternoon with a forecast of low to mid 90s areawide. The record high at Camp Mabry for October 21st is 92°, first set in 1934 and tied in 1979. The record at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is also 92°. It was set in 1953.Saturday's normal high is 81°Those headed to the Circuit of the Americans for Formula One events should follow summer safety precautions by staying hydrated, using the sun screen liberally, and dress accordingly. It was reported that some people were overcome by the heat during Friday's opening day.A hot afternoon at COTAThe Clean Air Force of Central Texas has issued an Ozone Action Day for today. The sun, the hot air, and the light winds factor together to lead to increasing amounts of ozone this afternoon.Air Quality Alert for SaturdayHigh clouds will be increasing today. Moisture from Hurricane Norma in the eastern Pacific will be moving in for the southwest leading to a mostly cloudy sky after noon. T...

Man sentenced to 25 years for wife's murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced to prison for the murder of his wife in 2021 at a south Austin hotel, according to court and police records. Michael Wells, 47, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday, according to court documents. In 2021, police said Austin 911 received a call from a man who said his wife was dead and that he killed her. Officers found the man, identified as Wells, and his deceased wife in a south Austin hotel room. Wells surrendered to police without incident, APD said. APD identified the victim as Amanda Morris. Wells has a 973-day jail credit and is currently in the Travis County Correctional Complex, according to jail records.

How to check voting records for Austin mayor, city council members

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austinites can use a new tool to track their Austin City Council members' voting history at council meetings. The city clerk's office created a council voting history webpage to allow Austinites to check the voting history of the mayor and council members, a city release said Friday. The online tool will show how each elected official has voted on all council items starting in 2023. The city said the voting records will be updated after each meeting's minutes are approved.The database filters votes by council member, date of meeting, vote cast, agenda item and other criteria. The voting history page aims to increase transparency by "reinforcing the trust and relationship council members have created with the communities they represent," a city release said.

Karl W. Smith: Biden’s revival of factory jobs isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

President Joe Biden has been traveling the U.S. touting a manufacturing revival that he no doubt hopes will help his chances for re-election. Unfortunately, there is much less substance to this “Biden Boom” than the White House would have Americans believe. Even under the rosiest of projections, the administration’s signature programs will do little to increase manufacturing employment — and even less to uplift the overall economy.Construction spending on manufacturing facilities more than doubled from an annualized rate of $81 billion this time last year to an all-time high of nearly $200 billion in August. Some of that increase can be attributed to the incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act, both championed by the president.But there are more relevant factors. Shortages caused by COVID, backlogs at major ports in 2021 and a three-year-long (and continuing) surge in retail sales created a compelling case for reshoring production...

It is 'Hillbilly Mango' season in Missouri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – 'Tis the season for Hillbilly Mangos. The Midwest boasts its unique fruit, known as the "Paw Paw" or the Hillbilly mango. These fruits are in season from September to October. Pawpaws offer a blend of banana and mango flavors with a custard-like texture. They are typically found near rivers and streams, most commonly along the Mississippi River. Pawpaw plants resemble small shrubs or trees, belonging to the tropical plant family. Their large leaves cluster near the branch tips, giving them an umbrella-like appearance. These plants can reach a height of up to 30 feet. In deep shade, they form thickets and rarely flower or bear fruit unless the canopy opens. When their leaves are crushed, they emit a bell pepper-like odor.  Brittish Williams – From ‘Basketball Wives’ to guilty plea Native Americans have a long history of using these fruits. They often cultivated pawpaw trees to ensure a reliable food source in the fall. For instance, the Cherokee utilized the i...

Illinois lottery players check tickets for unclaimed $100,000 Powerball prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:51 GMT

CHICAGO, IL - A $100,000 Powerball ticket purchased last month remains unclaimed and is set to expire next month. The winning ticket was acquired during the drawing on November 7, 2022. The fortunate winner has just three weeks left to claim their prize.  The winning Powerball ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven located at 1680 Montgomery Rd. in Aurora. The winning numbers for the November 7, 2022, drawing were 2-11-22-35-60, with the Powerball number being 23. The unclaimed ticket successfully matched four winning numbers and the Powerball number, along with utilizing the game's 'Power Play' feature, resulting in a $100,000 win. Winners typically have one year from the original drawing date to claim their prize, and the expiration date is fast approaching on November 6, 2023. Illinois currently has six unclaimed lottery ticket winners: A $225,000 Lucky Day Lotto ticket was purchased on April 19, 2023, in Bellwood, IL, at the Mobile gas station located on 2418 S...