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House Republicans grill Mayorkas on ‘disastrous’ border policy and renew calls to impeach him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced a barrage of criticism Wednesday from House Republicans who, in recent months, have floated impeaching him over what they say is his dereliction of duty in securing the southern border. Mayorkas’ appearance before the House Judiciary Committee comes as the Biden administration’s immigration policies are facing legal attacks from across the political spectrum, despite a steep drop last month in the number of border crossings.“I know that today Secretary Mayorkas is going to try to paint a rosy picture of this disastrous mismanagement of our border,” Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the Judiciary Committee, said in his opening statement. “But the numbers don’t lie.”Jordan and other Republicans attributed the sudden falloff in migrant crossing to a new Biden administration asylum policy that allows migrants to use a Customs and Border Patrol app when seeking asylum. The new technology is att...

NATO will step up security in Black Sea region after Russia declares parts are unsafe for shipping

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

NATO said Wednesday it was stepping up surveillance of the Black Sea region as it condemned Russia’s exit from a landmark deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.The announcement came after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which was launched at a NATO summit in Lithuania earlier this month to coordinate cooperation between the military alliance and Kyiv.The Kremlin doubled down on terminating the grain deal by attacking Ukrainian ports and declaring wide areas of the Black Sea unsafe for shipping.“Allies and Ukraine strongly condemned Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and its deliberate attempts to stop Ukraine’s agricultural exports on which hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend. … NATO and allies are stepping up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones,” read the NATO statement.Last week, Russia halted the breakthrough wartime deal that a...

4 arrested in break-and-enters targeting GTA auto shops, linked to street racing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

Peel Regional Police announced the arrests of four people connected to break-and-enters targeting automobile shops across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).Investigators said the break-and-enters involved car parts believed to be linked to illegal street racing rings. Peel Regional Police said search warrants were executed throughout the GTA with the assistance of York Regional Police and Toronto Police.Stolen items were recovered, including two vehicles, in what authorities called Project Erange.Peel Regional Police identified four people — three men and one woman — charged in the investigation. They include 27-year-old Devante Donaldson of Bowmanville, Ont., 26-year-old Vernacio Gardener of Brampton, 20-year-old Brishawn Zaydeek Mills of Brampton and 22-year-old Taylor Lee of Bowmanville, Ont.Donaldson faces the most charges, including 11 counts of break-and-enter, 27 counts of failing to comply with a release order, 14 counts of operation while prohibited and four counts...

Riquna Williams barred from WNBA’s Aces after felony domestic violence arrest in Las Vegas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Riquna Williams, a veteran WNBA player and member of last year’s championship-winning Las Vegas Aces, has been barred from the team after her arrest on felony domestic violence charges involving a person authorities say is her spouse.A judge on Wednesday allowed Williams, 33, to be freed from jail without bail less than a day after her arrest, but said she can have no contact with her alleged victim and must comply with alcohol monitoring pending another court appearance Aug. 2.The Aces issued a statement acknowledging Williams’ arrest and saying that she is “precluded from participating in team activities.” The Aces were traveling Wednesday and are scheduled to play in Dallas on Sunday. “We condemn domestic violence of any kind,” the team said. “Our thoughts are with the parties involved in this situation.”The league issued a statement saying it was gathering more information.Williams faces five felony charges including multiple counts of domestic...

Former Crown Point teacher sentenced to 1 year in jail for child seduction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

CROWN POINT, Ind. — The former head of Crown Point High School's theatre department received one year in jail following pleading guilty for child seduction.Christopher “Kit” Degenhart, 51, entered guilty plea in May to child seduction involving sexual intercourse, a level 5 felony. As a result of the plea agreement, the state dropped the other child seduction charge, which was a level 6 felony.According to the sentencing agreement, Degenhart will spend one year behind bars while participating in a work release program. After one year, he's scheduled to move into home detention while working in the program for six more months.After the year and a half in the work release program, Degenhart will be on two and a half years of probation.Conditions of the probation including obtaining employment and attending sex addiction meetings. Additionally, he also must register as a sex offender.Degenhart taught at Crown Point High School beginning in 1995 and ran the theatre department for severa...

I-65 closed both directions in NW Indiana after Hazmat situation involving tanker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — I-65 near Merrillville is closed in both directions until further notice after a crash involving a tanker led to a hazmat situation Wednesday afternoon.According to Indiana State Police, traffic is being diverted at U.S. 30 (exit 253) and S.R. 2 (exit 240). Stay with WGN News as this article will be updated once more information becomes available.

Disneyland reaches settlement in $5M lawsuit filed by annual pass holder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

(KTLA) – Disneyland has reached a settlement with a Magic Key Holder who claimed people were misled into thinking the most expensive annual pass would get them unlimited access to parks, only to be unable to secure reservations on certain days.The $5 million lawsuit was filed by California resident Jenale Nielsen in 2021 after she bought the $1,399 Dream Key, the highest tier pass, shortly after the company launched the Magic Key program.In the lawsuit, Nielsen claimed that Disney’s advertising of the Dream Key having no blackout dates made her think she could go to the Anaheim theme park any day she wanted.However, not long after her purchase Nielsen noticed that she couldn’t make a reservation for most days in November, including each weekend date that month, according to the lawsuit.“As a frequent Disneyland visitor, Ms. Nielsen thought it was unlikely that all tickets and/or reservations for both Disneyland and California Adventure had already been sold for 17 of the 30 calendar...

Whistleblower tells Congress US is concealing UFO 'retrieval' program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims.Retired Maj. David Grusch's highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress' latest foray into the world of UAPs — or “unidentified aerial phenomena," which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs. While the study of mysterious aircraft or objects often evokes talk of aliens and “little green men,” Democrats and Republicans in recent years have pushed for more research as a national security matter due to concerns that sightings observed by pilots may be tied to U.S. adversaries. Lawmakers call for centralized reporting, more investigation on UFOs Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task force...

Federal Reserve announces interest rate hike as inflation nears target

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The Federal Reserve announced another small interest rate hike, saying that while inflation has dropped to almost the target rate, the hike is needed to finish the job.Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced the quarter percent hike, explaining, “we understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bringing inflation back down to our 2% goal.”Although the Federal Reserve has knocked inflation down to 3% as of June, Powell says that's still too high.“Without price stability, the economy doesn't work for anyone,” Powell said.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says with inflation well on its way to stabilizing, the U.S. economy is strong. He also credits the work of Democrats and the Biden administration.“As the new jobs are being created, wage growth continues to go up. It's now exceeding inflation,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley say Democrats are to blame for high inflation ...

Man, 57, fatally struck in Waukegan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:34 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Waukegan over the weekend, police said Wednesday. Just before 9:30 p.m., July 22, officers were called to the area of North Lewis and Roger Edwards for a male pedestrian in the roadway. Police learned that moments prior, the driver of a white 2014 Cadillac XTS hit the male in the road while traveling northbound on Lewis. 18-year-old charged after 2 women found shot to death inside vehicle in Waukegan The driver involved pulled over and contacted police.Emergency personnel in Waukegan rushed the pedestrian to Vista East Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 53-year-old John D. Rutledge of Waukegan. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesNo charges are pending at this time.