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Former CEO denies wrongdoing in 'ComEd Four' trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

CHICAGO -- The former ComEd CEO was back on the witness stand Monday to testify in her own defense.Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore took the stand Monday for questions by the federal prosecutors office in the "ComEd Four" bribery trial.Pramaggiore and three defendants, charged in November 2020, are former ComEd Vice President and lobbyist John Hooker; Jay Doherty, a former ComEd lobbying contractor and President of the City Club of Chicago; and Michael McClain, another former ComEd lobbying contractor and consultant who, for decades, has been a close confidant of Madigan. All have pleaded not guilty.The federal prosecutors allege Pramaggiore, Hooker, McClain, and Doherty engaged in a criminal conspiracy from 2011 to 2019.The four, facing bribery conspiracy and falsifying records charges, are accused of funneling jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars to Madigan-approved consultants. In exchange, investigators said for the speaker's support of the giant utility's legislative agen...

One Bulls player is up for a 2022-23 postseason award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Despite an inconsistent season where they are on the outside of the playoffs looking in, the Bulls have one player who is up for an end of season award by the National Basketball Association. Oddly enough, it was in a category the team struggled in, but not this one player in particular.Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan has been named a finalist for the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year. .He’s nominated along with Jimmy Butler of the Heat and De’Aaron Fox of the Kings..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/472DA4pceM— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) April 14, 2023Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan was named a finalist for the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year just before the team's play-in game against the Heat on Friday. A brand new honor for the 2022-2023 season, he's the only member of the team who is a finalist for an NBA award.It's given to a player who "best comes through for his teammates in the clutch" and is named after Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West. DeRozan is a finalist along with Jimmy...

Armie Hammer sex assault allegations reportedly under review by LA prosecutors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

(KTLA) - The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is reportedly reviewing claims of sexual assault against actor Armie Hammer. During an interview with CNN, a spokesperson for the D.A.'s Office did not specify the identity of the complainant or complainants. “I can confirm that the LAPD has presented a case regarding Armie Hammer to the L.A. D.A. The matter is currently under review,” Tiffiny Blacknell, the office’s communications director, told the outlet. DeSantis floats building prison on land next to Disney World Hammer has been under investigation for sexual assault since February 2021, after a woman accused him of raping her back in 2017. Armie Hammer attends the 2016 GQ Men of the Year Party on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)Armie Hammer, right, and Elizabeth Chambers arrive at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Grants Banquet at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, in Beverly Hills, ...

'The Office' cast members reuniting for fan convention at Navy Pier

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Calling all fans of 'The Office!' There's an opportunity to meet some of your favorite cast members of the beloved sitcom this weekend at Chicago's Navy Pier. A fan convention for the hit sitcom called “The Reunion,” will host guests that include Dwight himself, Rainn Wilson, who will appear only on Saturday, Brian Baumgartner (Kevin), Kate Flannery (Meredith), David Koechner (Todd), Matt Jones (Zeke) and Creed Bratton. Creed Bratton from ‘The Office’ joins WGN Morning News During the April 22-23 event, cast members will participate in Q&A panels and interviews, photo opportunities, trivia and more. Cosplay is encouraged. General admission starts at $49.95. VIP tickets begin at $249.95.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesInterested? Click here for more information.

Apple unveils savings account

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

(The Hill) – Apple on Monday launched savings accounts for its Apple Card users, which can be accessed and tracked through the Apple Wallet app on iPhones. In a news release, the company said users can deposit cash back on purchases into Goldman Sachs savings accounts, without any additional deposit feed. It said the accounts have an annual yield (APY) of 4.15 percent. That is significantly higher than the national average APY of 0.35 percent, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. But other large credit unions and banks offer similarly high rates, noted CNBC. These airlines have lost, damaged the most luggage: data “Savings helps our users get even more value out of their favorite Apple Card benefit — Daily Cash — while providing them with an easy way to save money every day,” Apple Pay and Apple Wallet vice president Jennifer Bailey said in a statement. “Our goal is to build tools that help users lead healthier financial lives, and building Savings into Apple C...

White House warns Biden would veto GOP's trans sports ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

President Biden would veto legislation to bar transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams if it reaches his desk, the White House warned Monday, denouncing House Republicans' bill as “unnecessary” and discriminatory.“If the President were presented with H.R. 734, he would veto it,” the White House said Monday in a Statement of Administration Policy. The measure, known as the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” would amend Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, to recognize sex as that which is “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”The measure was introduced in February by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who said in a statement at the time that transgender female athletes have “no place in women’s sports.” This is Steube’s third attempt at passing the bill, which failed to advance during the last two Congresses, when Democrats controlled the House.While Republica...

Austin police identify body found in Lady Bird Lake Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin police have identified the man recovered from Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam Saturday.APD officials said police responded to a call in the 2700 block of Canterbury Street around 1:21 p.m. Saturday. First responders arrived and rescued the man from the water, identified as 30-year-old Christopher Hays-Clark. He was pronounced dead on the scene, officials said. Texas expert explores why conspiracies swirl around Lady Bird Lake deaths APD is investigating his death but said preliminary findings indicate no foul play or suspicious circumstances are involved, adding no other information is available at this time.

Texas expert explores why conspiracies swirl around Lady Bird Lake deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Saturday, the Austin Police Department launched an investigation after public safety personnel recovered a body from Lady Bird Lake, near the Longhorn Dam. On Monday afternoon, police identified the man as 30-year-old Christopher Hays-Clark. At this time, officials said there are no indications of suspicious activity or foul play related to the death. But that hasn't stopped rumors from circulating in recent months that hypothesize criminal activity is tied to these cases. RELATED: Austin Police investigating body found in Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam The rumors have been fueled, in part, by two drownings this year. While both cases remain under investigation, officers have said preliminary evidence indicates they aren't rooted in foul play.Dr. Carsten Andresen, an associate professor of criminal justice at St. Edward's University, told KXAN these are the latest of a string of conspiracies he's seen crop up in cities across the country within recent months....

1 injured, several cats rescued after east Austin fire, AFD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person suffered non-serious injuries, and several cats were rescued after a structure fire in east Austin Monday, the Austin Fire Department confirmed in a tweet.Shortly after 1:30 p.m., AFD responded to the fire at 1100 Reinli St., the tweet said. The response was later upgraded to a second alarm, but AFD was able to get the fire knocked down.According to AFD, one person was taken to the hospital by Austin-Travis County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.Furthermore, a total of seven cats were rescued and reunited with their owners, AFD said.The incident remained under investigation Monday.

Tour the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft in Houston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- If you have ever wanted a personal tour of the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft, you have a chance next month.The aircraft that fly into the world's strongest storms and their crews are coming to Houston on May 1 as part of Hurricane Awareness Week.The aircraft, NOAA’s WP-3D and the U.S. Air Force Reserve WC-130J Hurricane Hunter, gather data inside of tropical storms and hurricanes via sensors mounted all over the plane -- from a weather radar to a wing-mounted scatterometer that can derive wind speed by sensing the exact wave height.WC-130J Hercules (credit: NOAA)The aircraft also carry instruments called dropsondes crews deploy from a tube that radio back weather data as they slowly descend to the ocean surface.The data these crews gather is crucial to forecasting the intensity and track of the storms and keeping people safe.Lockheed WP-3D OrionWhen and where you can see the Hurricane HuntersThe 2023 NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour will come to Houston, Texas, with a...