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Biden in Ireland encourages nations to “dream together”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — Holding up his own family history as an example, President Joe Biden on Thursday told lawmakers in a packed parliament building that the story of Irish immigrants setting sail for the U.S. is at the very heart of “what binds Ireland and America together.”“Like so many countries around the world, though perhaps more than most, the United States was shaped by Ireland,” Biden said in address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas in Leinster House. “And the values we share remain to this day the core of the historic partnership between our people and our governments.” In his address, Biden stressed the importance of economic ties, a united front on the war in Ukraine and a shared urgency to manage climate change. Biden addressed the parliament as part of his four-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where he also met with political leaders and took a whirlwind tour of his ancestral homeland.Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaí l, speaker of the Dail, parliament’s lowe...

3 men charged after allegedly stealing $6,000 worth of jewelry from Naperville home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

WHEATON, Ill. — Three men have been charged for burglary for allegedly stealing over $6,000 worth of jewelry from an elderly Naperville couple's home. Lawrence Miller, 29, Sam Mason, 26, and Christopher Nicholas, 36 were all charged with one count of residential burglary.Miller and Nicholas are charged with an extra misdemeanor. According to police reports, the couple was in the driveway of their Naperville home when they were approached by a man wearing a yellow vest, who was later identified as Miller. It is alleged that Miller told the couple that there was a problem with their water and that he was there to resolve the issue. It is further alleged that Miller convinced the man to let him into the house and show him where the utility boxes were. Update on 1-year-old girl found dead in 2017 house fire in Markham Police reported that when Miller took the man away from his residence, Miller's accomplices entered the home and stole $6,000 worth of jewelry then fled the scene.Polic...

Millennium Park's summer concert, film season announced

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

CHICAGO — The annual lineup for Millennium Park's summer concert and film series was released on Thursday.Taking place most Mondays and Thursdays, the music series kicks off Thursday, June 22 and runs through Aug. 216/22 — Tribute to Ramsey Lewis: A Gentleman of Jazz, with special surprise guests6/26 — Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, El Laberinto del Coco7/13 — Big Freedia, "The Femmergy" feat. Mister Wallace & Friends + VITIGRRL7/17 — Yemi Alade, Son Palenque + DJ's TopDonn & Dee Money7/20 — Stephen Marley, Skanking Lizard & Jump Up Records' 30th anniversary with DJ Chuck Wren7/24 — Kurt Vile and the Violators, Finom7/31 — Shemekia Copeland, Martha Redbone Roots Project8/10 — Vieux Farka Touré & Cedric Burnside8/17 — PJ Morton, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio8/21 — Carla Morrison, Girl Ultra + DJ Roxyo SoundsThe Millennium Park Summer Film Series will take place every Tuesday from July 11 through Aug. 29. Films are shown on a 40-foot LED screen from the Pritzker stage with...

Mother charged after 1-year-old girl found dead in 2017 house fire in Markham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

MARKHAM, Ill. — Markham police announced an arrest Thursday in the yearslong investigation into the death of one-year-old Ana Marie Townsend.Melody Townsend, the mother of the murdered toddler, was arrested for felony child endangerment and concealing and aiding a fugitive. More charges could be forthcoming.Authorities located Townsend in California and she arrived in the state of Illinois on Tuesday. She is set to go before a judge on Thursday.Melody TownsendAna Marie Townsend's body was found July 3, 2017 at the scene of a house fire at 155th and Hamlin. She was located inside a plastic bag on the upstairs floor of the abandoned home. Her identity was initially unknown. Man, 18, charged with killing CPD Officer Andres Vásquez Lasso faces arraignment Wednesday Two years later the Cook County Medical Examiner's office announced her identity through the use of DNA and officially ruled her death as a homicide, noting physical trauma had occurred unrelated to the fire.Community activ...

1 killed, 3 injured in an off-campus shooting near Northwestern University: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Three people were shot, one fatally, Wednesday evening in a shooting near Northwestern University at Clark Street Beach, according to police.The medical examiner's office identified the victim as 18-year-old Jacquis Irby.Evanston police said the incident took place in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road at Clark Street Beach, just a few steps from the Evanston campus. Three people, who are not Northwestern University students, were shot, according to the Evanston Police Department.Commander Ryan Glew said the 18-year-old man was killed, one boy, 15, is in critical condition and another boy, also 15, suffered a minor gunshot wound.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThe suspects involved in the shooting went north towards campus, police said. Evanston police said the shooting was not affiliated with the university and there was no indication of an active shooter. No one has been taken into custody yet and police are looking for four people who went north on Sheridan ...

Oh, Captain! A look at Jonathan Toews' Blackhawks career

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the icons of the Blackhawks, who captained the greatest on-ice era in franchise history, will go a different direction with the rest of his career.After 16 years with the team, Jonathan Toews will not be re-signed by the Blackhawks when his current contract expires at the end of the 2022-2023 season.It's a sad moment for the player, franchise, and especially the fans, who bid farewell to one of the greatest to don the team's iconic sweater. Toews played for the Blackhawks for 15 seasons, made ten playoff appearances, and won three Stanley Cups as the well-respected captain of the team.Thursday's regular season finale against the Flyers at the United Center will be his 1,067th and last game of his time in Chicago as he's scored 371 goals and 511 assists in those contests. In 137 playoff games, he netted 45 goals and 74 assists, a few that helped the team to those three championships. Here's a look at Toews' long and successful career with the Blackhawks, starting wit...

Taco Bell to resurrect discontinued item after fans vote to bring it back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Taco Bell is holding up its end of the deal after promising to bring back a discontinued item of its fans' choosing.In March, Taco Bell announced plans to resurrect one of two items from its not-too-distant menu: the Beefy Crunch Burrito, made with seasoned beef, sour cream, rice and Fritos Flamin’ Hot corn chips; or the Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco, which comes in a taco shell seasoned with Doritos Cool Ranch flavoring.After nearly a million votes, Taco Bell announced Thursday that the Beefy Crunch Burrito came out on top, with 59.9% of the vote.“It’s a great day for our movement as devoted Beefy Crunch Burrito fans everywhere have made their voices heard,” Richard Axton, the founder of a so-called "Beefy Crunch Movement" on social media, said in a press release issued by Taco Bell. Taco Bell bringing back Nacho Fries with a fiery twist The item, which was previously a fixture of the Taco Bell menu from 2010 to 2018, will be available for a limited time starting some...

Chicago Animal Care and Control hosting fee-waived adoption event Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago Animal Care and Control is hosting a spring adoption event this Saturday.The "Spring Fling" event is scheduled to be held April 15 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 2741 S. Western Avenue.According to the CACC, the adoption fees will be waived and all pets will be fully vaccinated, microchipped, spayed and neutered. For more information, go to: www.chicago.gov

DPS: Nearly 200 arrests made since patrols started in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nearly three weeks into the Texas Department of Public Safety's increased patrols in Austin, Austin Police said the initiative is helping with violent crime, but some community members have expressed concerns about the presence of troopers in certain neighborhoods. So far, DPS reports its made nearly 200 arrests. PREVIOUS: Texas DPS to send resources to help with Austin police staffing DPS started assisting the Austin Police Department last month after a request from Gov. Greg Abbott in late March, through the creation of the Austin Violent Crimes Task Force, or AVCTF. According to DPS, the AVCTF is a data-driven violent crime suppression task force composed of troopers, special agents and intelligence-level policing.Since the launch of the AVCTF on March 30 through April 10, DPS personnel have conducted over 5,202 traffic stops and 38 crash investigations, the agency said.DPS making arrests in AustinDuring that time, the task force has also made 117 felony and 81...

Who can get medical marijuana in Texas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas House approved Wednesday a bill that would expand eligibility to people who suffer from chronic pain to the state’s medical marijuana program. If the bill passes into law, it will go into effect on Sept. 1.  MORE: Texas House passes bill to expand medical marijuana program Who is currently eligible?Texas lawmakers passed the Compassion Use Program in 2015. Lawmakers then passed bills further expanding the program in 2019 and 2021. The program initially only applied to patients with intractable epilepsy. After the two subsequent bills passed into law, the program became open to all patients who live with the following conditions: epilepsy, a seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder and incurable neurodegenerative disease. How to get medical marijuana?In order to get medical marijuana in the state, you must have one of the aforementioned medical conditions, be ...