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Jury selection begins in ComEd bribery trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

CHICAGO — Jury selection began Tuesday in the ComEd bribery trial.The four defendants, charged in November 2020, are former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; former ComEd Vice President and lobbyist John Hooker; Jay Doherty, a former ComEd contractor and President of the City Club of Chicago; and Michael McClain, a former ComEd lobbyist and consultant who, for decades, has been a close confidant of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.Federal prosecutors allege the four defendants “conspired with outside consultants to corruptly influence and reward” Madigan, who, as House Speaker, exerted heavy influence on legislation at the state capitol. Four plead not guilty in ComEd bribery scheme It is alleged that, in exchange for legislation favorable to the utility, the four defendants arranged for jobs and contracts for Madigan’s allies, “even in instances where those people performed little or no work that ComEd purportedly hired them to perform.”The trial is expected to last two mo...

Youth hockey team from Ukraine in Chicago area to play, raise funds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — A youth hockey team from Ukraine arrived in the Chicago area this week to raise money to rebuild their ice rink that was destroyed by Russian bombs.Most of the players on the team are 12 and 13-years-old. One is young as 7 and one is celebrated his 18th birthday Tuesday.The team arrived in Chicago Monday after three days traveling from Ukraine.It is the first time they’ve been outside of their country since the Russian invasion a year ago.Their home ice rink in Kharkiv was destroyed early on in the war, so many of these players have not been able to practice the way they normally would.Tuesday, they practiced ahead of a three day tournament that begins on Friday in Romeoville. They’ll be playing against teams from the United States, Canada and some others from other parts of the world.The main focus is not only the playing but also the fundraising.The entry fee for the tournaments will go toward rebuilding that ice rink in Kharkiv. They will also be taking do...

Henry Winkler spotted in Central Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

UPTOWN NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) -- There's been another celebrity sighting in Central Illinois. Actor Henry Winkler was spotted in Uptown Normal on Monday. According to the Uptown Normal Facebook page, Winkler was in town for a speaking engagement, then he grabbed some refreshments at The Coffeehouse in Uptown after he shopped at the Children's Discovery Museum's store in Normal. Will Ferrell spotted in Central Illinois This Central Illinois celebrity sighting comes one week after actor-comedian Will Ferrell was spotted in Pekin.

Chipotle adds new protein option to menus worldwide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

(KTLA) – Chipotle customers can now customize their tacos, burritos, salads and quesadillas with a new protein option.The chain announced Tuesday that restaurants worldwide will be adding chicken al pastor to menus for a limited time. The debut of chicken al pastor marks the first time Chipotle launched a new menu innovation globally, a news release said.Chicken al pastor is a new, craveable protein at Chipotle featuring the savory, satisfying flavor of adobo, Morita peppers and ground achiote with a splash of pineapple and fresh lime. (Chipotle) The company didn’t announce how long chicken al pastor would be available. Chipotle has been testing the item since at least Sept. 2022, when customers at restaurants across Denver and Indianapolis were given a preview of the new protein, Nexstar's KDAF reported at the time. Chipotle gives in, will allow customers to order viral quesadilla ‘hack’ “Guests are looking to restaurants for unique menu items they cannot make at home, and al pas...

Cartel Twitter use spiked after Musk takeover: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

(NewsNation) — Elon Musk’s reduced Twitter safety oversight has allowed Mexican cartel members to flaunt their lifestyles online, post violent content and recruit new members, according to a new study.Several previously banned accounts of known cartel members are again open and active on Musk’s Twitter, according to a report published last week by the Alliance to Counter Crime Online (ACCO). Online, cartel members will often flaunt their crimes, at times boasting publicly that they’re wanted by the FBI while glamorizing their “gangster lifestyle,” according to the report. Illegal crossings at the US-Canada border rising: Official Additionally, high-profile cartel members use the platform to recruit new members and post violent videos, said retired ICE Special Agent Victor Avila. Some accounts are used to send threats to government officials, civilians and rival gang members. "They're terrorizing the rest of the people that are watching these videos — the citizens, the government o...

Coors Light launches beer-flavored popsicle in time for March Madness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

(WFLA) — Just in time for the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, Coors Light is unveiling its new non-alcoholic "Coors-icles" — a frozen beer-flavored treat for basketball and Coors Light fans ages 21 and older.Starting Tuesday, March 14, customers can buy Coors-icles online, while supplies last. The brand said it will release a limited number of Coors-icles every weekday at noon ET through March 24.(Credit: Coors Light)The company said Coors-icles will only be available during the tournament season.Coors Light is also giving away six-packs of Coors-icles now through April 3. One hundred winners will be selected after the final game on April 4, according to the brand. Find out how to enter here."For passionate basketball fans, March is pure chaos," the beer maker said in its announcement. "It's an emotional rollercoaster, and it's hard to keep your cool when your bracket goes up in flames."The popsicles will also be available at 800 bars nationwide throughout the tournament, ...

Novo Nordisk to cut prices of several insulins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

Novo Nordisk will start slashing some U.S. insulin prices up to 75% next year, following a path set earlier this month by rival Eli Lilly.The Danish drugmaker said Tuesday that pre-filled pens and vials of long- and short-acting insulins will see list price reductions. They include Levemir, Novolin, NovoLog and NovoLog Mix70/30.Novo also will drop the list price of unbranded products like Insulin Aspart to match the lower price of the branded insulins.The price cuts go into effect Jan. 1. A vial of NovoLog and NovoLog Mix 70/30 will drop 75% to $72.34 from $289.36. FlexPen options will fall to $139.71 from more than $500. Russian jet intercepts US drone over Black Sea, forcing it down Levemir and Novolin vials and FlexPens will drop 65% from their current list prices.List prices are what a drugmaker initially sets for a product and what people who have no insurance or plans with high deductibles are sometimes stuck paying.Patient advocates have long called for insulin price cuts t...

From spring storms to a potential of winter-type precipitation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Morning lows were all in the 40s, including 49° at Camp Mabry and 46° at Austin-Bergstrom. The afternoon will be mostly cloudy to overcast with most highs in the low to mid 60s. We'll see more of the sun Wednesday that will combine with breezy south winds sending most highs to the low to mid 70s. NEW BLOG: How a switch to El Niño could affect hurricane season First Warning: Severe weather threat, colder weatherSpringtime thunderstorms return to the area as early as Thursday afternoon and night. The West Texas Dry Line, a boundary between moist air from the Gulf and dry air from the west, will lead to an increase in showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. An upper-level trough passing north of our area will send a strong cold front that will enhance thunderstorm development Thursday night.The severe risk facing the area Thursday afternoon and night comes from the potential of strong, damaging winds and hail. The Slight Risk will also include a low threat for ...

Dreamland reopens to public after business revamp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — An outdoor entertainment center in Dripping Springs has reopened its doors to the public after a business model revamp earlier this year. Dreamland posted on its Instagram account over the weekend that it has reopened to the public and has a new team. This comes after an announcement earlier in the year that the center was revamping to a pickleball-centered business model. Previous story: Dreamland announces pickleball-centered business revamp Dreamland first opened in spring 2021 as an entertainment venue offering miniature golf, disc golf, pickleball and live music along with its kitchen and bar offerings. In January, company officials announced on Facebook it’d be pivoting to pickleball open court and private lessons for the time being.The center reopened to the public this week. It's hosting an event March 18 to "celebrate all the changes," the Instagram post said. From 4-9 p.m., there will be a crawfish boil, glow in the dark dance party and ...

Vikings agree to re-sign Garrett Bradbury, restructure Kirk Cousins contract for cap room

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:11 GMT

Center Garrett Bradbury will be snapping the ball again to Kirk Cousins in 2023. But it remains to be seen how much longer after that the combination will remain intact for the Vikings.Minnesota on Tuesday agreed to re-sign Bradbury to a three-year, $15.75 million contract after he became a free agent. But while Cousins is under contract for 2023, the sides did not reach any deal on an extension behind then. So the Vikings have done a simple restructure of Cousins’ deal to create $16 million of cap room for this year.The Vikings took Cousins’ $20 million roster bonus, which was due Friday, and added two voidable years to his contract beyond the two already on his deal. So that $20 million was spread out over the maximum allowed five years, and Cousins’ cap number goes from $36.25 million to $20.25 million for 2023.It now appears that Cousins, 34, will be bound for free agency next March. So it remains to see if he still will be with the Vikings in 2024.Bradbury, ta...