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EU executive chides Poland, Hungary for democratic deficiencies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive on Wednesday chided Poland and Hungary for democratic deficiencies that have been accerbated by measures taken or left unaddressed by the current governments. While the EU Commission’s annual rule of law report noted a smattering of improvements in the two nations, it also underscored many remaining shortcomings that highlight the standoff between the Brussels-based EU institutions and the two east European nations. It constitutes one of the fundamental problems within the 27-nation bloc that has always sought to be a beacon of Western political liberalism in a world where autocracies sway ever more power. In the 35-page report, Poland came up time and again, specifically on legal issues that haven’t been fully addressed despite years of wrangling between Brussels and Poland, and EU action to deny Poland access to some EU funds. The report said there were still “serious concerns” related to the state institution ...

Several garages damaged in fire on Southwest Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

CHICAGO — Several garages were damaged in a fire early Wednesday on Chicago’s West Side.Chicago fire officials said the fire started in the 5700 block of West 64th Place around 1 a.m.Police and fire crews responded to the call and found six garages on fire.Firefighters extinguished the fires.No injuries were reported. No homes were damaged.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesOfficials said the fire started in one garage and spread to adjacent garages.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Man dies after being pulled from Lincoln Park lagoon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has died after he was pulled from the lagoon in Lincoln Park on the Fourth of July.According to Chicago Fire Department officials, emergency crews responded to the lagoon at 2200 North Cannon Drive around noon Tuesday. Several robberies reported in Lincoln Park The man was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital in critical condition where he later died.The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the man as 61-year-old Raymond Hopson.No other information has been provided.

Showers, storms possible Wednesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

Sunny start t o Wednesday with hot & humid weather and building clouds. An Air Quality Alert is in place for Chicagoland. High near 90, 80s lakeside.Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon. The biggest threats look to be heavy downpours and strong winds in localized spots. SW 10-15 mph/gusty. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Wednesday night will see scattered showers and thunderstorms tapering off overnight. Low 67Thursday will be mostly cloudy and a few showers with some afternoon clearing. High 74Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Extended outlook delivers more sunshine for Friday with highs getting to near 80. Pleasant on Saturday with highs near 80. Increasing late-day clouds and a chance of showers/t'storms late that last into some showers on Sunday. 

Best chance of rain for a week comes today and tomorrow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We continue our "mini" stretch with highs below 100º that began on Sunday and should continue through the end of the work week.Early clouds will give way to a mix of sun and clouds today as high temperatures push into the upper 90s.Our best chances for rain for at least a week come today and tomorrow with rain chances at 30% both days.GRAF Model at 3pm WednesdayDuring the afternoon showers look to generally be developing and moving from southeast to northwest with the highest rain chances east of I-35. That said, some spotty storms are possible even in the Hill Country. Rainfall amounts will range from nothing to isolated amounts over half an inch or more. We're not looking for widespread wet weather, but it's our best chance of rain in a while.Rain chances wrap by mid-late evening and then we'll do it all over again on Thursday.By Friday, rain chances drop back to near zero as more sunshine pushes us closer to 100.7 day forecast highsTriple digit heat looks set to ...

Construction project causing frustration in east Austin neighborhood

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A storm water improvement project overseen by the City of Austin's Capital Projects Delivery Department is raising concerns for neighbors who live in the path of the construction site. The neighborhood, located between Manor Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and situated west of Alexander Avenue, is surrounded by new developments and construction. Recently, large dump trucks and construction noises are the typical sights and sounds of the area. For the past month, neighbors said they have dealt with the Boggy Creek & MLK storm water improvements project.Boggy Creek and MLK storm water improvement projectThe City of Austin is digging up 22nd Streets between Alexander and Walnut avenues to install new storm drain pipes, underground units to filter and treat storm water, as well as relocate water and wastewater lines to make room for new storm drain infrastructure, according to a Watershed Protection Department spokesperson. KXAN NEWS TOP STORY: Body of e...

Recipes: The best summer desserts are the classics

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

Plopping pints of mint chocolate chip or cherry vanilla onto the table after a laid-back dinner is a time-honored summer tradition. Effortless and crowd-pleasing, store-bought ice cream is the beloved finale to countless hot-weather meals.But, with some advance planning and a smidge more work, you can transform purchased pints into the kind of nostalgic frozen desserts that satisfy the kid in all of us — as well as any actual children at the table.Banana splits were a fixture in the comic books I read growing up, and this version looks exactly like something Betty and Veronica might have gobbled up at Pop’s, Archie looking on longingly.There’s a bittersweet hot fudge that turns taffy-like when it hits the scoops of cold ice cream. The homemade wet walnuts — a mix of honey, maple and freshly toasted nuts — are a lot more intensely flavored than the jarred kind, lending just the right syrupy crunch. The two are poured over ice cream and whipped cream nestled in sliced ripe bananas for...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Shouldn't My Mom Have to Pay for Grape Juice Spill on White Carpet!

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Greg and it's about responsibility. Here's his email. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. Here's my situation. We vacationed with my parents at a resort a few weekends ago. I took my family and paid for all my family's expenses and my parents' expenses too. While we were there, my mom carelessly handed my 3-year-old a tall glass of grape juice, while my child was standing on a white carpet. I'm sure you know how it went. We tried to wash the stain out, but it didn't clean up at all. Last night, I get the bill for the carpet. The resort wants $1500 to replace the carpet. After what I spent on this family vacation, the last thing I need is an additional $1500 bill. I want to ask my parents to pay half that bill. My wife thinks I'm being cheap, but I think it was my mom's fault it happened at all. What do you think? Thanks so much.GregWell, as annoying as...

Opinion: Colorado’s anti-discrimination case, 303 Creative, was a sham and Gorsuch fell for it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

After this Supreme Court term, there can be little doubt that its 6-member conservative supermajority is using its power to travel backward in time to our less enlightened past.We are headed back to a past where women didn’t have a right to control their reproduction; a past where discrimination based on race, gender, and sexuality was rampant; and a past where questions of ethics were often ignored even in the judiciary.Historians who will write of this lag in progress have their eyes on this Court.Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office argued the 303 Creative case decided last week, aptly told me that our “radical Supreme Court is rolling back protections that have been relied on and are part of our democratic fabric.”Colorado’s own Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority in 303 Creative vs. Elenis, grants a business open to the public — for the first time in our nation’s history — a constitutional license to discriminate and ref...

Ask Amy: Real estate agent won’t stop cold calling

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:18 GMT

Dear Amy: A real estate agent helped us through numerous deals within a short 18 months — expertly, deftly and patiently.In the end she closed a total of five local sales, all through us.Because of this, she won an award from her prestigious agency and became their No. 1 regional agent.She still texts/calls/emails often, wanting to get together for lunch, coffee, dinner, etc.While working together, we took her out several times to thank her for her efforts, but it has been a year since we closed everything. We are maxed-out, both emotionally and financially.After declining her invitations many times, I am at a loss. I avoid her calls. This leads to her texting, which I also now ignore. When all else fails, she SHOWS UP at our house.If we are not home, she will just ring the doorbell (knowing that because my elderly father-in-law lives with us there will be at least one adult at home at all times).Last time she showed up with chocolates and candy, which my father-in-law ate. I asked ...