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South Carolina gets closer to lethal injection secrecy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After an unintended 12-year moratorium on the death penalty in South Carolina, the state House gave key approval Wednesday to allow the name of any company that sells lethal injection drugs to remain secret, as well as members of the execution team.A shield law has already passed the Senate, and if the two bodies can work out their minor differences, the proposal will head to the desk of Gov. Henry McMaster, who has been adamant about restarting executions with several inmates having reached the end of their appeals.Supporters said the bill isn’t about a debate on whether the death penalty is moral.“The Department of Corrections has been unable to carry out lawfully imposed sentences. The families of the victims cannot get closure,” Republican Rep. Weston Newton said.Opponents said hiding any part of the state-sponsored death of an inmate is wrong. “We want to be able to throw the rock and hide our heads,” Democratic Rep. Jermaine Johnson said.Rep. Will W...

Biden to huddle with donors next week as 2024 launch nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is summoning top Democratic donors to Washington next week as he prepares to launch his 2024 reelection bid, according to two people familiar with the matter.The event, which is being organized by the Democratic National Committee, is not a fundraiser, but is meant to energize the top party donors for Biden’s campaign, the people said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Biden is expected to meet with the assembled donors, who are also set to hear from some of his top political advisers.Biden has repeatedly said he intends to run for reelection, but aides say he feels little pressure to formally launch a campaign, especially since he’s warded off any serious challenge from within his party for the nomination.Biden in recent months has been focused on implementing the massive infrastructure, technology investment and climate laws passed during his first two years in...

Biden, McCarthy in different worlds on debt standoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Washington slow-walks toward a crisis over the national debt, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are talking to two very different Americas.The GOP congressional leader kicked off the week by heading to Wall Street to outline his conditions for raising the country’s borrowing limit. The Democratic president planned to offer his rebuttal on Wednesday at a union hall in Maryland, where he was set to lambaste Republicans for “holding hostage” the country’s ability to pay its debts.“While I’m here in this union hall with you, the Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy went to Wall Street two days ago to describe the MAGA economic vision,” Biden planned to say, according to speech excerpts released in advance. “Folks, it’s the same old trickle-down dressed up in MAGA clothing. Only worse.”The two men, who need to come together for the sake of the U.S. economy, are playing out diametrically opposite strategies to different audiences, e...

Trump, DeSantis compete for support from congressional GOP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Ron DeSantis has yet to enter the 2024 presidential race, but former President Donald Trump is aiming to drum up support in the Florida governor’s backyard, securing endorsements already from more than one-third of the Republicans in the state’s congressional delegation.Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 U.S. House districts, and eight of those lawmakers have announced their support for Trump. They include Rep. Byron Donalds, who introduced DeSantis at his reelection party last year. Earlier this month, Donalds called Trump the only leader “at this time in our nation’s history who can seize the moment and deliver what we need.”Rep. John Rutherford backed Trump on Tuesday shortly after leaving a Washington meeting with DeSantis. Others going with Trump are Reps. Vern Buchanan, Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Brian Mast, Cory Mills and Greg Steube, In all, Trump has won the backing of more than 40 House Republicans across the country. His team, ...

In 4th year with Chicago Fire FC, Bolingbrook's Mauricio Pineda's desire remains the same

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

CHICAGO — While the club is going to have to go outside the organization to bring in some players to help at the moment, it's important to have players who have roots in the Chicago area. That's especially the case when it's a homegrown Chicago Fire FC players who've come up through the franchise to the main club. Manager Ezra Hendrickson has gotten to know those players who've been with the club for a number of years since he was hired ahead of the 2022 season. That includes a native of Bolingbrook, whose pride in playing with the hometown club particularly stands out."He's a Homegrown player that really bleeds Fire," said Hendrickson of Mauricio Pineda, who came up through the Fire system and is in his fourth year at the MLS level.Of the nine homegrown players listed on the Fire's roster, Pineda has been there the longest, making his debut in March 2020. The defender was in the Fire's system in 2015 and 2016 before going to the University of North Carolina for four seasons before ...

Bojangles headed to Chicago area, opening 3 stores over next 3 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

CHICAGO — An east coast staple known for its fried chicken, biscuits and sweet tea is coming to the Chicago area. Bojangles has announced plans to open three stores in the Chicago area over as many years as part of the chain's continued expansion throughout the Midwest. “Our launch into Chicago is a tremendous step for Bojangles as we continue to expand across the country. We are beginning to build a powerful brand presence throughout the Midwest, where consumers have fallen in love with our products, and we’re confident this will hold true with new customers in Chicago,” said Patricia Halpin, Vice President of Growth at Bojangles, on Monday.SEE ALSO: White Castle offering 20% off on 4/20The fast-food chain already has an Illinois presence with restaurants in Marion, Mt. Vernon and Normal. Chicago native Ron Harper of RMS Family Restaurants, LLC spearheaded the multi-unit franchise development deal.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines“There’s certainly a desire for chicken conce...

Chicago man sentenced to over 4 years for bribing city officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Chicago man who bribed two city officials was sentence to more than four years in federal prison on Friday.Roberto Caldero, 70, plead guilty to one count of wire fraud after he admitted to bribing a City of Chicago alderman and a Chicago Public Schools employee for actions to benefits his clients.Caldero's clients were reportedly seeking a custodial services contract at Chicago Public Schools, an honorary street designation, and the renaming of a Chicago Park District park. Video shows Cook County correctional officer beating inmate ‘more than 30 times’ According to the United States Attorney's Office, Caldero offered the CPS employee the prospect of future employment, champagne, discounted event space for a family event, and admission to an annual benefit for a museum.He reportedly tried to arrange for campaign contributions to be made to political organizations affiliated to the Chicago alderman and his ward, but the alderman was cooperating with the FBI.Caldero was...

10-year-old dies after trampoline center fight in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A 10-year-old boy died after a fight Thursday at a trampoline center in California's Central Valley. When reports first came out about the incident, officials said a boy, later identified as Anthony Duran, passed out while he was at the Rockin' Jump trampoline center in Merced. First responders performed CPR and Duran was transported to a regional trauma center. Duran was listed in critical condition. The Merced Police Department then announced on Monday that he had died.An investigation has since revealed there was an altercation leading up to the boy passing out.According to the police department, Duran was playing basketball inside the trampoline center when he and another child got into a fight. Police said Duran collapsed and the other kid ran away. Investigators said the incident was captured on the business's security video and statements were received from 35 people, including staff, parents, and children who were at the scene. They have als...

Submarine found in Long Island Sound nearly 80 years after it sank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WTNH) — A maritime mystery dating back almost 80 years has been solved. Divers in Connecticut say they have finally found the wreck of The Defender, an experimental submarine that sank in Long Island Sound in 1946. The 92-foot-long (28-meter-long) boat was found Sunday by a team led by Richard Simon, a commercial diver from Coventry, Connecticut.Under the surface of Long Island Sound, there are mysteries, and divers like Simon, with Shoreline Diving, love finding them. "As a kid, I grew up diving in Long Island Sound," Simon said. "As a diver, it was one of those myths, 'Hey, there's a submarine lost in Long Island Sound.'"Simon (center) surrounded by members of the team on April 16, 2023(Left to right: Steve Abbate, Austin Leese, Kevin Ridarelli, Rick Simon, Eric Simon, Jennifer Sellitti, Joe Mazraani | Photo courtesy Jennifer SellittiGeneral Dynamics Electric Boat is a well-known shipbuilder, but more than 100 years ago, there was another submarine maker. A mi...

UT Austin launches pilot housing scholarship program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The University of Texas at Austin launched a pilot housing scholarship program to offset student housing costs up to $1,800 per academic year, with a priority on first-year students. Eligible students are those qualified for free or reduced tuition through Texas Advance Commitment (TAC) and elect to live in the university residence halls.“We have already made progress in reducing and, in some cases, eliminating the cost of tuition for our students who can least afford it, through programs such as the Texas Advance Commitment,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. “Now we are actively working to identify new and more expansive solutions to mitigate the rising cost of Austin’s housing market, which has become a more acute financial barrier. This pilot program is the next step in our strategic effort to support our students in new ways.” The scholarship is available to offset housing costs for an estimated 3,500 eligible students. Scholarships will be awarded in order...