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Police in Alaska say bodies of 3 family members found weeks after their deaths

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Police found the bodies of three family members in a Fairbanks home when conducting a welfare check, officials said Monday.The bodies appeared to have been there weeks until their discovery Sunday evening after an apparent homicide-suicide. The deceased were identified as Linda and Wesley Dunbar, both 64, and their 36-year-old daughter, Nancy Dunbar, police spokesperson Teal Soden told The Associated Press. Autopsies will determine the causes of death, but police said the preliminary investigations indicates they were all shot. A suicide note was found at the scene, the statement said.Police believe they know which family member was responsible, but aren’t releasing that information at this time. The investigation is ongoing, Soden said.The welfare check was requested by someone who knew the family but hadn’t heard from them in a while, Soden said.“We have unfortunately, just like the rest of the nation, seen instances like this before where several pe...

Riot Fest makes 2 big announcements for 2023 event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

CHICAGO — Fans of one of the biggest music festivals of the year in Chicago got a pair of major announcements from the event's organizers on Monday. One is a tease of what's ahead the next day.Riot Fest announced that their lineup for the 2023 event will be released on Tuesday, May 16, at 10 a.m. central time for the event that will take place in Douglass Park from September 15-17. At the same time, they also announced that pre-sale tickets will go on sale on Monday night at 7 p.m. central time as well. Three-day passes for the event will start to be sold on Tuesday at 10 a.m. central time. See the day-by-day lineup for Lollapalooza 2023 The punk rock music festival was established in 2005 in Chicago, rotating through a number of indoor venues before going outdoors to Humboldt Park in 2012. Riot Fest remained for three years until it was moved to Douglass Park, where it has remained ever since.In 2022, the event was headlined by My Chemical Romance, the Original Misfits, and Nine...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Back to an old treatment for women with menopause — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

For Monday, May 15, WGN’s Medical Reporter Dina Bair has the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Long-term research reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests HRT should be a first-line treatment to improve the quality of life for suffering women. Why taking Vitamin D may offer some protection against long Covid.Synthetic hormones, meant to mimic testosterone, are used to increase muscle mass and boost athletic performance, but researchers say there is a high cost. 

Trump reacts to Durham FBI report: 'Scammed'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

Former President Trump on Monday hailed the findings of Justice Department special counsel John Durham, whose final report after a four-year investigation was deeply critical of the FBI's investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign."WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In other words, the American Public was scammed, just as it is being scammed right now by those who don’t want to see GREATNESS for AMERICA!" Trump wrote on Truth Social in his first reaction to the 305-page report.In a subsequent interview with Fox News Digital, Trump called the FBI's investigation of him a "disgrace" and argued former FBI Director James Comey and others should face consequences."I, and much more importantly, the American public, have been victims of this long-running and treasonous charade started by the Democrats — started by Comey," Trump told the outlet. "There must be a heavy price to pay for putting our coun...

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson addresses DPS, APD partnership being put on hold

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety will temporarily cease its partnership with the Austin Police Department so that troopers can focus their attention on border cities in the wake of the expiration of Title 42.In March, the Austin Violent Crimes Task Force, which called on DPS to help patrol Austin, was formed as a way to assist APD. DPS temporarily halts partnership in Austin "The partnership between APD and DPS was definitely successful in the city of Austin," Austin City Councilmember Mackenzie Kelly said. Kelly represents District 6 in northwest Austin. "Especially in bringing down violent crime and also decreasing response time."A city memo sent on April 13 stated there was an overall 25% decrease in violent crime and a 58% decrease in high violent crime in areas DPS was deployed to, but the move did not come without criticism."I was not in agreement I did not think it was necessary," Esmeralda Hernandez, who grew up in Austin, said. "I think we see a lot o...

School voucher bill tied to ending STAAR test in Texas House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A Texas House committee rewrote a bill that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition. The substitute legislation debated Monday is getting major pushback, including a veto threat from the governor, for significantly limiting who can access what are known as "education savings accounts." Additionally, this committee substitute for Senate Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test and some other high-stakes testing for Texas students. Rep. Brad Buckley, the Salado Republican who serves as chair of the House public education committee, told a crowded hearing room Monday morning that he sees the proposed testing changes as part of a larger push to improve the accountability system for schools. Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to veto pared-down school choice bill, warns of special sessions "Before I go into the specifics of the substitute, I want you all to know that I do not take this task light...

San Marcos CISD school board considers teacher pay raise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Teachers with San Marcos CISD could be getting more money. On Monday night, the school board is discussing and possibly voting on a pay raise. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin ISD looking to fill over 200 vacancies for 2023-24 year, holding career fair Saturday "Not only a percentage increase, but we're also looking at longevity increases. So the longer you stay in San Marcos, we want to take care of you," SMCISD Chief of Communications Andrew Fernandez said. SMCISD said it's just one of the ways it's trying to recruit and retain teachers as several districts across Central Texas deal with vacancies. Another way the district is addressing openings is through a program with Texas State University. "They come in and take over some of our classrooms, and it gives them a first-year experience while they're still seniors in college," Fernandez said. Fernandez said they've hired a dozen of those "student-teachers" this school year, including Angelina Escalante."I'm g...

Austin hosts disaster simulation to train for future emergencies, pandemics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin joined regional leaders, public health officials and hospital professionals to host a disaster simulation Monday, in an effort to build up emergency responses to pandemics and natural disasters.The simulation follows the COVID-19 pandemic and takeaways government officials and health organizations made regarding emergency responses, according to a release.The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff participated in a disaster simulation May 15, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff participated in a disaster simulation May 15, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff participated in a disaster simulation May 15, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff pa...

Final version of universal paid leave bill caps benefits at 20 weeks, delays implementation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

The final version of legislation creating Minnesota’s new paid family and medical leave program will cap benefits at 20 weeks in a year and delay the start of taxes and benefits six more months.Those were the two biggest compromises made by a joint committee of House and Senate lawmakers that finished rectifying differences in the two versions of the bill this past weekend.The changes are unlikely to ease the concerns of Republicans and businesses leaders who’ve said the new program is unnecessary, costly and will make the state less competitive. Democrats and workers groups have made essentially the opposite argument — that a government-run leave program is needed, affordable and will draw workers to the state.“This is something that Minnesotans want,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, the primary House sponsor of the bill. “We recognize that there are so many benefits that come with access to paid family and medical leave.”Richards...

‘Sick and safe time’ requirement closer to becoming MN law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:26 GMT

A jobs and labor package up for a vote in the Minnesota Senate on Monday would require all employers to provide workers with more than a week of paid sick time each year.Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers say their 274-page jobs and labor package is aimed at protecting worker safety and economic well-being. To that end, their bill creates a sick time mandate and new workplace safety regulations for warehouse and meatpacking workers, as well as a new nursing home work standards board.The “sick and safe time” provision in the bill requires employers to offer 48 hours of paid time each year for illness, medical appointments, child care or seeking help for domestic abuse. Around 900,000 workers in Minnesota do not have any paid time off, and most of them are low-wage, supporters say.“The ability to take care of yourself when you’re sick or to take care of a sick kid or go to the doctor without forgoing a paycheck should be a basic, fundamental expectation,” said Rep. Liz Olso...