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US again renews protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and top aide over Iran threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has once again renewed taxpayer-funded protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and one of his top aides, who have been the target of persistent threats from Iran.The State Department notified Congress late last month that the threats against Pompeo and Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook remain “serious and credible” and continue to warrant government-provided security details.The notifications are dated Dec. 19 but were not transmitted to Congress until Dec. 22. They were obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.Tensions in the Middle East have soared since the outbreak of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and escalated further Wednesday after dozens of people were killed in blasts in Iran at a memorial service for Iran Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad on Jan. 3, 2020. Pompeo and Hook were the public faces of the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign ag...

Gov. Pritzker announces next director of DCFS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Gov. Pritzker announced Wednesday the next director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).He is appointing Heidi Mueller, who currently serves as the director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).“The work Director Mueller has done at the Department of Juvenile Justice over the last several years has been transformative for the juvenile justice system in Illinois, and I am thrilled that she will bring her unique experience and talents to DCFS,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Heidi’s care and compassion for the most at-risk young people in our state and her exceptional leadership are hallmarks of her career, and I know that her passion and expertise will be a significant asset as we continue to improve our state’s child welfare system.”Mueller has served as director of DJJ since 2016. In 2020, she helped launch the 21st Century Illinois Transformation Plan."As someone who has devoted my career to supporting children and families, I a...

Opioid overdose deaths in Cook County remain steady in 2023, homicides down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

CHICAGO — A preliminary, year-end report shows opioid deaths in Cook County remained steady while homicides were slightly down in 2023. The Cook County Medical Examiners report shows 1,540 people died of an opioid overdose last year. While the figure is less than the 2,001 deaths in 2022, the report suggests the 2023 number will likely rise, pending final toxicology test results, pitting last year's numbers on par with 2022. A missing person with no memory: How local investigators solved the cold case of Seven Doe Of the 1,540 confirmed opioid deaths, 90% involved fentanyl, slightly down from the 91% reported in 2022. Last year, men made up 80% of overdose deaths, of which 56% were African American males. Caucasian males made up 27% and Latinos were 15%. The age group most impacted is 50- to 59-year-olds, accounting for 27% of the overdose deaths. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cook County sees record 2,000 opioid deaths in 2022; 91% fentanyl-relatedThe youngest death involved...

Ground beef distributed to 4 Midwest states recalled over E. coli concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

(NewsNation) — More than 6,000 pounds of raw ground beef products distributed in the Midwest have been recalled over possible contamination with E. coli.Valley Meats, LLC, based out of Illinois, has recalled 6,768 pounds of raw ground beef products after a third-party test confirmed the presence of E. coli in samples of the meat. The ground beef was originally shipped to distributor locations in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan for further sale. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) suggested the beef, which was sold in large packages, was distributed largely to restaurants and institutions, and not sold directly to consumers. Outlets that may have purchased the beef are being urged to throw away or return the beef. COVID, flu and RSV cases likely to peak post-holidays: CDC The recalled packages can be identified by an establishment number reading “EST. 5712” inside the USDA mark of inspection.The full list of recalled products, as post...

What is AD Mark Coyle looking for with Gophers men’s basketball in Big Ten play?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

Gophers Athletics Director Mark Coyle has a simple math equation written in the corner of the white board in his office.36 + 1 = 37That’s the total available spots for the Gophers men’s basketball team to make the 68-team field for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Showing the math: that’s 36 at-large bids plus the one (out of 32) automatic qualifier going to the Big Ten winner.“There’s a reason why I have that written up there,” Coyle told the Pioneer Press in an interview inside Athletes Village on Dec. 18.“In my opinion, there’s no reason why Minnesota should not be one of those 37 teams,” he continued. “So what do we have to do to put ourselves in position to get there? That’s what we’ve got to do now.”Minnesota (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) restarts conference play against Michigan (6-7, 1-1) at 8 p.m. Thursday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. It’s the first of 18 consecutive league games to finish head coach Ben Johnson’s third regular season.After two s...

With six weeks until spring training, here are five Twins questions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

The calendar has flipped and in just six short weeks, Twins pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers, Fla., to prepare for the upcoming season.The beginning of the Twins’ offseason has been slow — the only addition they’ve made to their major league roster is reliever Josh Staumont, whom they signed to a one-year deal in late December — meaning many of the questions we had about the 2024 Twins at the beginning of the offseason have yet to be answered.While this front office has shown its willingness to stay patient and make additions even into spring training, we should have answers to most, if not all, of these questions by the time pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14.How and when will the Twins’ television deal be resolved?The end of the long-term television deal with Bally Sports North has cast some uncertainty on the Twins’ offseason, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has admitted. The Twins’ payroll is expected to decrease, as is the amount the Twin...

Minnesota Capitol among several affected by bomb threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

Minnesota’s Capitol building was one of several across the U.S. affected by bomb threats Wednesday morning, according to a spokesperson with the State Patrol.Around 9 a.m., Minnesota State Patrol Capitol Security learned of an email bomb threat to the Capitol and locked it down so security officers could search the building, State Patrol Lt. Jill Frankfurth said in a statement. The threat disrupted activities at the building including a hearing of the Minnesota Supreme Court.Minnesota’s Capitol building wasn’t the only one affected by the threat. Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana also evacuated office buildings Wednesday morning, the Associated Press reported, noting the threats come after a spate of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials in recent days.Troopers, security officers, and an explosives-detecting dog did multiple searches between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., according to the patrol. Authorities did not find any “suspici...

Police respond to reported shooting on Hudson Avenue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department has confirmed that a man sustained a gunshot wound in the area of 400 Hudson Avenue. The victim was treated on scene and taken to the Albany Medical Center. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! This is a developing story. Follow NEWS10 for updates as more information becomes available.

Hannity announces move to Florida from New York

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

(The Hill) — Fox News host Sean Hannity announced Tuesday he moved from New York to Florida.“Finally for the first time that I can think of in my adult life,” Hannity said, "I actually have representatives in the state that I'm living in that share my values." Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “I've been threatening now to do this for quite a while, but we are now beginning our first broadcast from my new home and that is in the free state of Florida,” he said on his iHeartRadio show on Tuesday. “I am out. I am done. I'm finished.”Sean Hannity after the first Republican Presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 23, 2023. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty)Hannity said his move to the Sunshine State was motivated by the conservative policies and elected officials in the state, pointing to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) as examples. He said he already “feels a lo...

Man accused of kidnappings, sexual assault in Denver may have more victims, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:30 GMT

A man accused of kidnapping two women and sexually assaulting one of them could have more victims, according to the Denver Police Department.Adrian Alamillo-Gonzales (Courtesy of Denver Police Department)The Denver District Attorney’s Office in March 2023 charged Adrian Alamillo-Gonzales, 40, with second-degree kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact with no consent and force/threats after two separate incidents that happened in downtown Denver in fall 2022 and spring 2023, the Denver Police Department stated in a news release.In one incident, Alamillo-Gonzales allegedly forced a woman into his vehicle; the woman fought with him for several blocks before he dropped her off and left the scene, police said.In the second incident, police said he posed as a rideshare driver to pick up a woman, then he refused to let the woman out of his vehicle and groped her in an alley.Following a recent case review involving the Denver District Attorney’s Office and Den...