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UAW strike displays tensions between Biden’s goals of tackling climate change and supporting unions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two of President Joe Biden ‘s top goals — fighting climate change and expanding the middle class by supporting unions — are colliding in the key battleground state of Michigan as the United Auto Workers go on strike against the country’s biggest car companies.The strike involves 13,000 workers so far, less than one-tenth of the union’s total membership, but it’s a sharp test of Biden’s ability to hold together an expansive and discordant political coalition while running for reelection.Biden is trying to turbocharge the market for electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent China from solidifying its grip on a growing industry. His signature legislation, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, includes billions of dollars in incentives to get more clean cars on the roads.Some in the UAW fear the transition will cost jobs because electric vehicles require fewer people to assemble. Although there will be new opportunit...

Boston City Council looks to get better read on number of firearms illegally trafficked into city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

The Boston City Council is looking to get a better read on the number of firearms being illegally trafficked into the city to help law enforcement and policymakers stem the increasing trend.To that end, the council’s Committee on Government Operations is set to hold a hearing on Monday regarding a study and report that the Boston Police Department would be required to submit annually pertaining to the flow of illegal firearms.“A comprehensive study and review of the flow of firearms into the City of Boston would help law enforcement and policymakers better understand the impact of illegal gun trafficking, and this data will help craft strategies to reduce gun violence,” a city document states.Councilors say gun trafficking and the illegal flow of firearms is a major contributor to gun violence. Last year, Boston Police recovered more than 900 firearms, city figures show, but the number that were illegally brought into the city is unclear.“In 2021, of the firearms recovered at crime ...

El Chapo’s son extradited to the US to face drug trafficking, other charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

MEXICO CITY — Mexico extradited Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the United States on Friday to face drug trafficking, money laundering and other charges, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.“This action is the most recent step in the Justice Department’s effort to attack every aspect of the cartel’s operations,” Garland said.The Mexican government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Mexican security forces captured Guzmán López, alias “the Mouse,” in January in Culiacan, capital of Sinaloa state, the cartel’s namesake.Three years earlier, the government had tried to capture him, but aborted the operation after his cartel allies set off a wave of violence in Culiacan.January’s arrest set off similar violence that killed 30 people in Culiacan, including 10 military personnel. The army used Black Hawk helicopter gunships against the cartel’s truck-mounted .50-caliber machine guns. Cartel gunm...

Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner removed from Rock Hall leadership after controversial comments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jann Wenner, who founded Rolling Stone magazine and was a co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has been removed from the hall’s board of directors after making comments that were seen as denigrating Black and female musicians.“Jann Wenner has been removed from the Board of Directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation,” the hall said Saturday, a day after Wenner’s comments were published in a New York Times interview.A representative for Wenner, 77, did not immediately respond for a comment. Wenner created a firestorm doing publicity for his new book “The Masters,” which features interviews with musicians Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend and U2’s Bono — all white and male. Asked why he didn’t interview women or Black musicians, Wenner responded: “It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest. You...

Blue Jays grind out 13-inning win over Red Sox to keep playoff hopes alive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

Whit Merrifield’s RBI single in the 13th inning gave the Blue Jays a badly needed 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday to keep Toronto’s playoff hopes alive.Rafael Devers had a two-run homer in the sixth inning to back Chris Sale’s superb start for Boston (74-75). Pablo Reyes had an RBI single in the 12th inning.Sale flirted with a no-hitter, but ultimately allowed a run on two hits, striking out 10 over six innings. Relievers Josh Winckowski, Brennan Bernardino, Chris Martin John Schreiber, Nick Robertson, Zack Weiss and Mauricio Llovera (1-3) followed Sale to the mound.Daulton Varsho’s RBI triple with two outs in the bottom of the ninth tied the game for Toronto (82-67) and Bo Bichette’s sacrifice fly in the 12th tied it again. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a solo home run in the seventh.TIE BALL GAME pic.twitter.com/5OcFanLPZ5— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 16, 2023The win – which took four hours, one minute to record – moved...

Relative of slain Black teen calls for white Kansas teen to face federal hate crime charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A relative of a slain Black 14-year-old is calling for a white Kansas teen to be tried on federal hate crime charges in the shooting death, noting recent testimony about threatening racial slurs.Michael Berry, a cousin of Kamarjay Shaw, called for federal involvement in a letter to the U.S. attorney for Kansas, Kate Brubacher, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.Derrick Del Reed was 17 when Shaw was killed in March but is charged as an adult with first-degree murder. The trial is set to start on Nov. 27, and the now-18-year-old is jailed on $500,000 bond. During the preliminary hearing in August, a detective testified Reed used threatening racial slurs in Snapchat messages sent the morning of the shooting. Reed said in the messages he was tired of fighting with Shaw and his friends and was ready to start shooting, the detective testified.The hearing ended with the judge finding enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.Reed’s defense attorney didn’...

Mexican Independence Day parade brings festive energy to Little Village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Thousands lined 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood Saturday for the 52nd annual Mexican Independence Day Parade."The reason I like it so much is cause it's where I live and we always like coming here because it's a fun time for my whole family," said Brian Martinez, a spectator at the parade.Vibrant colors featured in the Mexican flag — red, white and green — coated the streets along the parade route, which have drawn spectators from all across the country for years due to the reputation of their decorative designs."This is the first time we've come," said Inez Carrizales, a spectator visiting from Florida. "We've seen [the parade] on TikTok [before], so we decided to come."This year's parade is extra special for those celebrating. This year's Mexican Independence Day celebration marks the first time in Chicago history the parade has been held on a Saturday, while also taking place on the actual date of Mexican Independence Day. Mexico gained independence from ...

Riley Leonard runs for two touchdowns to lead No. 21 Duke over Northwestern 38-14

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — It all looked routine for No. 21 Duke on Saturday. Just the way the rising Blue Devils like it.Riley Leonard ran for two touchdowns and threw for 219 yards to lead Duke to a 38-14 win over Northwestern.“We started fast. We got a lead,” Duke coach Mike Elko said. “That’s what you want to do in a game like this.”Jordan Waters also ran for two touchdowns and Jalon Calhoun caught five passes for 112 yards as the Blue Devils (3-0, 1-0 ACC) opened the season with three straight wins for the second year in a row.Duke hasn’t been threatened in the strong start to Elko’s second season.“If we keep playing how we are, I think we’re going to be fine,” cornerback Chandler Rivers said.Leonard rushed for 97 yards and completed 15 of 20 passes in just over three quarters.Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant was 17-for-34 for 123 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) had 267 yards of total offense, with 90 of those in the fourth quarter.“It’s ...

Research examines restorative practices in Chicago high schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

CHICAGO — New research examines the effectiveness of restorative practices in Chicago high schools.Bessie Alcantara is the executive director of Alternatives Inc., a provider shaping restorative programming in Chicago Public Schools. Chicago-based company provides free house cleanings to cancer patients "We have a school that had a ton of other conflict resolution, 17 fights in one school year to three fights," Alcantara said.This week, the University of Chicago Education Lab released results of a study examining outcomes for students for CPS high schools, before and after, the district started implementing restorative practices in the 2013/2014 school year.It encourages self-reflection, empathetic listening and safe spaces for conflict resolution.The study found a 35% drop in in-school arrests and a 15% drop in arrests out of school."Students report having a better school climate so they feel an increased sense of belonging, they feel school is safer, teachers trust them and they...

'O Block' to 'Opportunity Block:' South Side community center construction underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The road to New Beginnings Church is about to expand with the help of Project Hood -- transforming an old motel into a community center. Along King Drive at 66th Street, Pastor Corey Brooks once transformed a former skating rink into the now, New Beginnings Church along King Drive at 66th Street. "I got to tell you; the emotions are high. Everyone's really excited and I am tremendously thankful and grateful," Pastor Brooks said. ‘It’s been a blessing’: Police K9 and handler part of more than 300 rescues, apprehensions Pastor Brooks started his journey more than 15 years ago to reinvent the stretch of King Drive, near the infamous 'O-Block,' dubbed by the Sun-Times in 2014 as 'Chicago's Most Dangerous.'"We wanted to change that, and we have changed that," he said. Project Hood, a nonprofit dedicated to ending violence and providing opportunity on the South Side, purchased the old motel across the street and demolished it. "The old motel is now gone, and a great community ...