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Transcript: Biden’s first campaign speech of the 2024 election year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Transcript of President Joe Biden’s campaign speech delivered Friday, Jan. 5, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, as prepared by the AP. —Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Please, thank you.Please, thank you very, very much.Today, the topic of my speech today is deadly serious and I think it needs to be made at the outset of this campaign.In the winter of 1777, it was harsh and cold as the Continental Army marched to Valley Forge. General George Washington knew he faced the most daunting of tasks, to fight and win a war against the most powerful empire in existence in the world at the time. His mission was clear: liberty, not conquest. Freedom. Not domination. National independence. Not individual glory.America made a vow: Never again would we bow down to a king.Months ahead would be incredibly difficult. But General Washington knew something in his bones. Something about the spirit of the troops he was leading. Something, somethin...

Washroom advocacy group says there’s not enough places to ‘go’ in T.O.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

An advocacy group says Toronto continues to lag far behind other international cities in terms of access to public washrooms, especially in the winter months.In November 2021, Toronto city council approved a Washroom Enhancement Program to allow for more public park washrooms to stay open in the winter months.The program, implemented by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) department involves upgrading the plumbing, insulation, heating and other electrical equipment in existing park washrooms. It’s also meant to guide investment in new year-round washrooms in future parks.Toronto Public Space Committee (TPSC) — – a volunteer run collective that advocates for the improvement of public spaces — has been keeping track of the progress.“It’s just something that the city has been very slow to act on,” says Jessie Ye, head of the TPSC’s public washroom subcommittee.When the program first began, only 17 of the 187 standalone washrooms maintained...

Judge rejects lawsuit to disqualify Georgia’s lieutenant governor for acting as Trump elector

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A judge rejected a lawsuit Friday that sought to disqualify Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones from holding office because of the Republican’s participation as an elector for Donald Trump in 2020.Butts County Superior Court Judge Thomas Wilson ruled that the four voters who sued couldn’t use the kind of legal action they filed to attack actions Jones took in 2020 while he was a state senator.The suit echoed other efforts elsewhere to keep Trump and some of his supporters off ballots and to prosecute people who falsely claimed to be valid Trump electors in states Joe Biden won. Richard Rose, a civil rights activist who is one of the plaintiffs, said Friday that he had expected Wilson to rule against him and that he anticipates an appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.Jones “violated his oath of office, because he lied and said he was a duly qualified elector from state of Georgia, which is not true,” Rose said. Jones says the suit is an illegitimate effort by Democrats to...

Women's Jazz Festival returns to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

CHICAGO — The Women's Jazz Festival is making a return for its second year in a row at the Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.The festival kicked off on Thursday with a performance from Yoko Noge’s Jazz Me Blues and will feature several performances from various artists through Sunday. The festival works to highlight contributions by women to jazz and features ensembles led by female artists for masterclasses and jam sessions. It is the second year in a row the festival has been held and organizers say this year's event will be bigger and better than last year, thanks to a grant from the Live Music Society. Illinois iLottery player rings in new year with $583K jackpot prize The Live Music Society is a nonprofit with a mission to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms around the U.S. Hey Nonny was one of a handful of venues across the United States that received a "Music in Action" grant in 2023. According to the Live Music Society, th...

Nude man nabbed by police after 'cannonball' plunge into giant aquarium at Bass Pro Shop in Alabama

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

LEEDS, Alabama (AP) — A man crashed his car outside a Bass Pro Shop in Alabama, stripped down to his birthday suit and plunged into the giant aquarium inside the store, police said.The ordeal happened Thursday night in front of shocked shoppers in the town just outside Birmingham, Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said.The 42-year-old Alabama man did a “cannonball” leap into the aquarium and then stood under a waterfall. He left the water to yell at two officers, then dove back into the aquarium, police said. Video: Judge attacked in Las Vegas courtroom during sentencing The man eventually climbed over the side of the aquarium and fell to the concrete floor below. Police then apprehended him, the news site Al.com reported.He faces several charges including public lewdness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.The man was in the water for about five minutes before officers arrived, Irwin said.

Health alert: Mushroom risotto bites sold in 10 states may actually contain hot dog

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The government has issued a public health alert over a potentially mislabeled frozen mushroom product sold in nearly a dozen states that could be dangerous for people with allergies.The outside of the box reads "Wild Fork Porcini Mushroom Risotto Bites," but inside consumers may actually find hot dogs in puff pastry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a news release Friday. Sesame, a known allergy and ingredient in the puff pastry bites, isn't declared on the packaging, according to the FSIS. These were the most on-time US airlines, airports of 2023: report The 7.5-ounce cardboard boxes were shipped to retailers in California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.   If you think you may have one of the boxes in your freezer, check to see if it has a lot code of 101231, a "best by" date of 10/11/2024 and EST. 39896 on the side of the box. If ...

Michael Bolton says he had brain tumor, needed 'immediate surgery'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Michael Bolton is recovering, the singer said Friday, after discovering he had a brain tumor that required an emergency operation. "Just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery," he said on Instagram. "Thanks to my incredible medical team, the surgery was a success." Bolton said he planned to take a break from touring for the next few months as he focused on recovery. At the time of his announcement, his website still showed tour dates planned for Florida, California, Ohio, Illinois and Ontario, Canada, in February, as well as additional concerts through spring. It's not clear how many shows Bolton will cancel or reschedule. US actor Christian Oliver and his 2 daughters died in a plane crash in the Caribbean, police say "It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon," he wrote. FI...

'I hope he made it through': Child hospitalized after fire breaks out in West Side apartment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

CHICAGO — A young boy was hospitalized on Friday morning after a fire on the city's West Side.As soon as Terrell Perkins heard about a fire at his mother's two-story apartment building at the corner of West Huron Street & North Laramie Avenue in Austin, he rushed to the scene."I just took off down Laramie and I just had to get here to make sure my mom was okay," Perkins said. Chicago man sentenced to over 5 years in prison for COVID relief fraud scheme While Perkins' mother was able to escape the blaze uninjured, a young boy who was pulled from the burning apartment by firefighters was in need of immediate medical attention."When I got here, there was a kid on the ground being resuscitated by the EMT. I'm not sure how it went," Perkins said. "I know they did rush him in an ambulance and took off. He was unconscious."The boy, who officials say is under 10 years old was rushed to a hospital on the Near West Side in serious-to-critical condition.Residents in the damaged building ...

Despite recent rain, Buda enters Stage 3 drought restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) – The City of Buda officially entered Stage 3 drought restrictions Monday. According to the city's water conservation page, the rain that fell in December was not enough to keep the region out of extreme drought conditions. LIST: What are the curent water restrictions in your city? "We are just not seeing inflow into the rivers, into the creeks, so our lakes aren't filling back up," said Blake Neffendorf, City of Buda public works director.Despite the recent rain, it hasn't made a dent for many communities hoping to end water restrictions."It's definitely a serious issue," Neffendorf said. "We are at about 20 inches of rain behind over the past two years."Neffendorf said the majority of the water comes from Canyon Lake where the lake is about 60% full, but they rely on the Edward's Aquifer as well. Exceptional drought declared by Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District "We get about 25% of our water from the Edwards Aquifer so there is an impact ...

Viking rule out right tackle Brian O’Neill after ankle injury setback

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

Unless the Vikings make the playoffs, right tackle Brian O’Neill won’t play again until next season. After missing practice this week with an ankle injury, O’Neill has officially been ruled out by the Vikings for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.This is a direct result of O’Neill pushing himself to stay in the game against the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve. Never mind that he was battling an ankle injury as the Vikings were getting smoked in what ended up being a 33-10 loss. No amount of pain was going to be enough for O’Neill to leave the field.“He very easily could have and nobody would have questioned it,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Just battled through it. He wanted to be out there with his guys regardless of at any point in time of that game what the score was. That’s why he’s our captain.”Though he tried to get enough treatment to be available, O’Neill will ultima...