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James Watt, sharp-tongued and pro-development Interior secretary under Reagan, dies at 85

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — James Watt, the Reagan administration’s sharp-tongued, pro-development interior secretary who was beloved by conservatives but ran afoul of environmentalists, Beach Boys fans and eventually the president, has died. He was 85.Watt died in Arizona on May 27, son Eric Watt said in a statement Thursday.In an administration divided between so-called pragmatists and hard-liners, few stood as far to the right at the time as Watt, who once labeled the environmental movement as “preservation vs. people” and the general public as a clash between “liberals and Americans.”In that sense, Watt foreshadowed combative Interior secretaries like Ryan Zinke and David Bernhardt, who, like Watt, aggressively pushed to grant oil, gas and coal leases on public land, increase offshore drilling and limit expansion of national parks and monuments. “While no one’s death should be celebrated, he was the worst of MAGA before it was invented,” tweeted David Donger of the environmental...

Utah man sues Alaska troopers, says his job offer was yanked after revealing HIV status

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Salt Lake City man who says his job offer to become an Alaska State Trooper was rescinded after he disclosed he was HIV positive filed a lawsuit in state court Thursday to get his position on the statewide police force and to prevent others from suffering similar alleged discrimination.The lawsuit was filed electronically by Anchorage civil rights attorney Caitlin Shortell on behalf of a man only identified as John Doe, whose HIV is undetectable and untransmissible. “There are no reservations about his ability to do the duties of the job, and he is completely fit,” Shortell said, adding he can work without accommodations. Doe “seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the Alaska State Troopers’ rescission of a job offer based on his being a person who lives with HIV, in light of medical advancements that render HIV status irrelevant to a person’s ability to meet the criteria for entry and service at Alaska State Troopers in any capacity,” the lawsuit sta...

Future interest rate decisions will be taken one at a time, says BoC deputy governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

OTTAWA — After announcing a rate hike this week, Bank of Canada deputy governor Paul Beaudry says the central bank plans to take future interest rate decisions one at a time. Beaudry made the comments in a news conference on Thursday, which followed a speech he delivered to the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.The deputy governor’s public appearance comes one day after the central bank announced it was raising its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, ending its pause on rate hikes and bringing the rate to 4.75 per cent.The move fuelled speculation among economists that another rate hike is on the way next month, but Beaudry said nothing is predetermined.“Every decision is taken one at a time at this point,” Beaudry said.“There’s a set of data that we’ll be looking at, we made that clear. And then we let the markets make their bets.”The decision to raise interest rates again wasn’t completely unexpected, given a rec...

RECALL: Chocolate snacks sold at Dollar General may contain peanuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

(WGN-TV/NEXSTAR) — Chicago-based Regal Health Food International, Inc., is recalling some tubs of its chocolate-covered raisins over concerns they may contain undeclared peanuts, a known allergen. The item was sold at Dollar General stores.The affected items are: Regal Gourmet Snacks Milk Chocolate Raisins in 16-ounce clear tubs, Regal says. Labels on top of the lids contain UPC 028744201002, while a Best By date of 4/7/24 can be found on the container bottom. Red Lobster Crabfest back after 4 years — with $5 martinis According to Regal, the products were distributed through Dollar General Distribution Centers in Scottsville, Kentucky; Jonesville, South Carolina; Blair, Nebraska; South Boston, Virginia; and Ardmore, Oklahoma. Customers who have the recalled products should throw them away or return the items to the location of purchase.Regal Gourmet Snacks Milk Chocolate Raisins, which were sold at Dollar General stores across the U.S., are being recalled over concerns they may co...

Thief caught on camera stealing plants from porch of Ravenswood home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A brazen theft caught on camera in Ravenswood has puzzled some plant lovers. Video obtained by WGN News shows an unidentified man stealing potted herbs — not once, but twice — from the porch of a home in the 4900 block of N. Winchester Ave. last Friday around 3:10 a.m. ‘We will destroy you’: Northwest Indiana man accused of showing up to Taylor Swift’s residence, stalking Security footage captures a man sitting on the home's front steps and seemingly scanning the surrounding area before snatching two potted plants. The man later returns to the house to steal two more plants. Block Club Chicago reports the man made off with potted basil, dill, thyme, and lettuce.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesCPD detectives are investigating.

Blackhawks, Athanasiou agree to 2-year, $8.5 million contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks locked in one of their top scorers, agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million contract with forward Andreas Athanasiou on Thursday.The 28-year-old Athanasiou tied for the team lead with 20 goals and ranked third with 40 points in his first season with Chicago. He matched career highs with four game-winning goals and three power-play goals.The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Athanasiou has 125 goals and 111 assists in 459 games with the Detroit Red Wings (2015-20), Edmonton Oilers (2020), Los Angeles Kings (2020-22) and Blackhawks.Chicago went 26-49-7 and finished last in the Central Division. The Blackhawks dealt Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers prior to the trade deadline and announced in April they would not re-sign Jonathan Toews, parting with two players who led them to Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015.___

APD investigating deadly accidental shooting in northwest Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating a deadly accidental shooting that occurred early Wednesday morning in northwest Austin, the agency said in a news release Thursday.Shortly before 3 a.m., officers responded to the shooting at a home in the 6800 block of West Courtyard Drive, the release said. Austin-Travis County EMS also responded to the scene, and along with on-scene officers, found the victim, Parsa Danesh, with "obvious trauma to his body," police said.Danesh died on the scene, according to police. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? Investigators believe Danesh's death resulted from an accidental shooting, the release said. Additionally, police said no charges will be filed at this time after consulting with the Travis County District Attorney's Office.The case remains as an open investigation, police said.Anyone with any information should contact APD's Homicide Unit at (512) 974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through ...

Austin City Council votes to extend Downtown Austin Community Court services to entire city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The Austin City Council approved starting the process to expand the service area of its Downtown Austin Community Court, and possibly increase its funding. The court serves as a homeless diversion program and would serve the entire city not just downtown.A memo from the City of Austin earlier this month shared recommendations the DACC submitted for consideration in the next fiscal year.The recommendations formed at a DACC Advisory Board meeting in March included adding two clinical case managers to its staff, securing a permanent facility for the DACC, and providing ongoing funding for its currently employed clinical case managers as well as maintaining the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program.The total cost of these budget recommendations as listed is $2,856,400.Natasha Harper-Madison, Austin City Council member for District 1, said the expansion would support homelessness prevention efforts in the city."We will ensure that no matter where you live, downtown Pleasant Val...

APD: Woman dies 2 days after east Austin crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Austin Police Department provided an update in connection with an east Austin crash where one person, previously reported with serious injuries, has died.APD said 28-year-old Angelica Delgado was taken to a local hospital after the June 3 crash but died two days later. Related — ATCEMS: 1 taken to the hospital with serious injuries after vehicle rescue in east Austin Austin Police said officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 200 block of Bastrop Highway, and a preliminary investigation revealed a sedan driven by Delgado crashed into a retaining wall.APD said the investigation was ongoing, and the incident was being investigated as Austin's 44th fatal crash of 2023.

Obituary: Mounds View Mayor Al Hull ‘enjoyed shooting the breeze’ with residents, who became his friends

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:27 GMT

Al Hull was so popular in Mounds View that he ran for mayor in 2004 — despite no local government or political experience — and nearly won.Then-Mounds View City Council Member Al Hull and his girlfriend, Tasha Kimaiga, in July 2016. (Courtesy photo)He was so well liked that when he went for mayor again last fall — after 16 years on the city council — no one challenged him.“Nobody has ever done that in Mounds View — ran unopposed in an open seat,” City Administrator Nyle Zikmund said this week. “That fact alone speaks volumes to who Al was … nobody thought they could do better.”Hull, who was also known as the chatty manager of the neighborhood gas station along County Road I, died May 20 at age 58.Doctors diagnosed Hull with leukemia in March, his second stint with cancer in seven years. He went through a month of chemotherapy before returning home. He soon contracted pneumonia, which led to sepsis and caused heart and respiratory failure, said his wife,...