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High court upholds cash-free bail in Illinois, takes effect in September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of a state law ending cash bail, ordering implementation in mid-September. The ruling overturns a Kankakee County judge’s opinion in December that the law violated the constitution’s provision that “all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties.”Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann Theis delivered the court’s opinion, approved 5-2, saying that the constitution “does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public.”The General Assembly dominated by Democrats approved the plan in January 2021 as part of an expansive overhaul of the state’s criminal justice system known as the SAFE-T Act. It followed the police-involved murders of George Floyd in Minnesota the previous spring. The Kankakee County judge’s ruling did not block implementation of the law, set to take ef...

Tourists and residents warned to stay inside as deadly heat hits Europe during peak travel season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Officials warned residents and tourists packing Mediterranean destinations on Tuesday to stay indoors during the hottest hours as the second heat wave in as many weeks hits the region and Greece, Spain and Switzerland battled wildfires. In Italy, civil protection workers monitored crowds for people in distress from the heat in central Rome, while Red Cross teams in Portugal took to social media to warn people not to leave pets or children in parked cars. In Greece, volunteers handed out drinking water, and in Spain they reminded people to protect themselves from breathing in smoke from fires.“Heat waves are really an invisible killer,” Panu Saaristo, the emergency health team leader for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said during a Geneva briefing. “We are experiencing hotter and hotter temperatures for longer stretches of time every single summer here in Europe.”The new heat wave in several parts of southern Europe is expected to p...

Stock market today: Wall Street is mixed as earnings reporting season gears up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is drifting Tuesday following some mixed reports on the economy and corporate profits.The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher in morning trading, with the majority of the stocks in the index on the upswing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 237 points, or 0.7%, at 34,823, as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% lower.Charles Schwab jumped 11.7% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the spring than analysts expected. Several other financial giants also reported stronger results than forecast for the latest quarter, including Bank of America and Morgan Stanley.On the losing end was Masimo, which makes medical sensors and patient monitors and also runs a consumer audio business home to the Bowers & Wilkins and Denon brands. It tumbled 21.8% after it said it expects to report weaker-than-expected revenue for the spring in part because of fewer patients at U.S. hospitals. It also said a decline in demand for audio products ...

The search for children lost in a Pennsylvania flash flood continues into a fourth day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) — The search for a missing 2-year-old girl and her 9-month-old brother who were swept away from their car during flash flooding over the weekend carried into a fourth day, with officials acknowledging people seeking to volunteer to help but saying they won’t be needed. Upper Makefield Township police in a social media post Tuesday thanked the countless volunteers who’ve come forward to help but said their assistance isn’t necessary. Some 100 officials, as well as drones and cadaver dogs, combed the area near the creek that drains into the Delaware River. A news conference has been set for Tuesday afternoon. Missing are Matilda Sheils, 2, and her 9-month-old brother Conrad Sheils, members of a Charleston, South Carolina, family who were visiting relatives and friends when they got hit by a “wall of water” Saturday, according to Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer.The children’s father, Jim Sheils, grabbed their 4-year-old son, while t...

Illinois Supreme Court rules cash bail can be eliminated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of a state law ending cash bail, ordering implementation in mid-September.The ruling overturns a Kankakee County judge's opinion in December that the law violated the constitution's provision that “all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties."Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann Theis delivered the court's opinion, approved 5-2, saying that the constitution “does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public.” Illinois’ SAFE-T Act explained The General Assembly dominated by Democrats approved the plan in January 2021 as part of an expansive overhaul of the state's criminal justice system known as the SAFE-T Act. It followed the police-involved murders of George Floyd in Minnesota the previous spring.The Kankakee County judge's ruling did not block implementation of the law, set to take effect on ...

COPA to provide update on Chicago police sexual misconduct investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

CHICAGO — An update is expected Tuesday on an investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability into sexual misconduct allegations at the 10th District police station.The press conference will be held at 10 a.m.According to a spokesman with the Chicago Police Department, an internal investigation was launched into allegations that several officers engaged in sexual relationships with migrants who were living at the West Side police station.One of the migrants is now pregnant and officials are investigating if some of the women involved were minors. CPD officers under investigation for sexual relationship with migrants living at station Migrants at the station were removed and relocated after the accusations, but other districts are still serving as temporary shelters.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Family looking for missing Lyft driver last seen in Harvey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

HARVEY, Ill. — Family is looking for a missing mother of three who was last seen Lyft driving early Monday morning in Harvey.Lachion Pierce, 36, of Washington Heights in Chicago, contacted her daughter just after 4:15 a.m. Monday saying she was on her way home. She has not been seen or heard from since.Family said Pierce's last Lyft ride was around 3:20 a.m. in Harvey.Pierce was driving a black 2023 Toyota Corolla with plate number DW27225. Family said she leases it from Lyft in order to make money. ‘Not going to cut it’: Suburban boy thriving in national mullet contest Pierce has a 17-year-old, a 16-year-old and an 11-month-old.Anyone with information can call 911 or family at 773-524-1997.

Marilyn Manson, accused of blowing his nose on videographer, to enter plea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Marilyn Manson will plead no contest to blowing his nose on a videographer at a 2019 concert in New Hampshire, according to a filing by his attorney.The rocker, whose legal name is Brian Warner, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault stemming from the encounter at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on Aug. 19, 2019.A notice of intent filed Monday says that Manson is expected to plead no contest to only one charge and that prosecutors would dismiss the other in the fully negotiated plea. A no-contest plea means Manson will not contest the charge and does not admit guilt. Billy Baldwin went to same high school as suspected Long Island serial killer, he says: ‘Mind-boggling’ Manson would face a sentence of a $,1,200 fine with part of it suspended and 20 hours of community service within six months. Manson also would need to remain arrest-free and notify local police of any New Hampshire performances for two years.A judge ...

These are the best, worst states to win the lottery in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - It’s hard not to imagine what you’d do if you won the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot, especially when either reaches record levels like they have recently. But, if you’re lucky enough to win, you won’t exactly be lucky enough to take home the full jackpot. There are a couple of reasons why, the first being the payout options. In both Powerball and Mega Millions, you can opt for either an annuity option — where you receive an initial payment followed by 29 annual payments that grow by 5% each year — or a cash payment. While the second option is the most common, it is also typically smaller than the annuity option in the end. For example, the record-setting Powerball jackpot won last year was advertised as $2.04 billion, but the winner received only $997.6 million.  Why the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot winner only received $997.6 million as his payout Regardless of the payout you choose though, winners also see their prizes decrease thanks...

Biden student loan repayment changes could cost around $475B: economic model

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

(The Hill) -- President Joe Biden’s changes to the income-driven repayment (IDR) plans could cost around $475 billion over a 10-year budget window, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model. The administration introduced the Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE) plan earlier this year to transform the IDR system in a move that could save thousands of dollars for student loan borrowers. The final changes to the plan, such as cutting discretionary income for repayments from 10 percent to 5 percent, raising the federal poverty guidelines from 150 percent to 225 percent and covering the interest on loans that are not covered under the plan, will be implemented over the next year. The changes would make it so a single person making less than $32,805 a year or a family of four making less than $67,500 a year will pay $0 a month on student loans. But, this will come at a price.  White House: Texas, California, Florida have most borrowers eligible for student loan forg...