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Claims of political targeting spark drama in Dolton

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

DOLTON, Ill — It’s a town in turmoil. Village Board meetings erupt into chaos amid allegations of misspending and harassment. And lawsuits accuse officials of targeting political opponents.It’s becoming a regular occurrence in south suburban Dolton.It seems no one agrees on who to blame, though many concede it’s the residents and business owners who are suffering.“It’s all a very big abuse of power,” Stephanie Wiedeman, director of the Dolton Park District, said. Take the case of Lawrence Gardner. The Dolton truckyard owner claims he’s been repeatedly harassed for not supporting Mayor Tiffany Henyard.“I’m suffering,” Gardner said. “They destroyed my trucking company. They shut my store down.”Gardner said the village wrongly revoked his business license. Village records, however, show he’s been accused of throwing illegal parties.Where his allegations are concerned, he’s not alone.Others in town share similar stories of alleged retaliation for not backing Henyard, a former trustee wh...

Investigation underway after woman carjacked outside home on Far South Side

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

CHICAGO — An investigation is underway after a robbery and carjacking on the city's Far South Side last week, police say.According to Chicago police, it all unfolded just before 9 p.m. on Thursday in the 9300 Block of South Pleasant Avenue in the city's Beverly neighborhood.  Chicago crime experts offer tips on how to avoid carjackings, minimize harm Police say a 46-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl were exiting a black Audi A7 in the area when they were approached by two men on foot. The two men then held the victims up at gunpoint and pushed the older woman to the ground before demanding her car keys.According to police, the two men then took the victim's belongings and fled the scene in the stolen car, heading eastbound. Neither of the victims were injured in the robbery and carjacking and police say no arrests have been made.  Tips from Chicago crime experts on how to avoid robberies, minimize harm Anyone with information that could help authorities in the...

Lockport freshman to be bused to another high school due to campus repairs

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

LOCKPORT, Ill. -- Freshman at Lockport High School will be bused to a different building days after an old, plaster ceiling collapsed at the schools Central Campus.Students from Lockport Central have attended classes online for the past several days, which some students and administrators said is not sustainable. But repairs to the current building are expected to take longer than originally thought.The Lockport Township High School Board of Education held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the decisions made surrounding the challenges posed by facility usage at Central Campus and how it will impact school operations.On Friday, Superintendent Robert McBride issued a letter to parents updating parents that the Central Campus will remain closed following a plaster ceiling collapsing on the third floor. The historic Lockport Central High School was built in 1909. ORIGINAL: Students evacuated after partial ceiling collapse at Lockport Township HS The temporary option discussed...

Brighton Park residents voice opposition to migrant camp in 12th Ward

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Brighton Park residents were fired up Tuesday evening, voicing their displeasure at a public meeting over City plans to set up a temporary migrant camp in the 12th Ward.According to City officials, a temporary camp that could house as many as 2,000 migrants is on the cards for a site near West 38th Street and South California Avenue to get folks into temporary, warm locations as winter fast approaches.Although the site is officially located in the 12th Ward, 15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez said his residents will be affected too."Brighton Park is represented by the 12th and the 15th ward," Lopez said. "I have no impact on the decision, but [residents] should have the opportunity to publicize their concerns or, in writing, we’ve had over 200 email responses already to this location." Keeping yourself safe: Chicago crime experts offer tips on how to avoid carjackings, minimize harm Dozens took to the mic at the meeting, where most emphasized they are not against migrants ...

House GOP attempts to cut Buttigieg salary to $1 via spending bill

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

(The Hill) -- House Republicans moved to reduce Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s salary to $1, as lawmakers debate spending bills ahead of the government funding deadline next week.The salary cut for Buttigieg was put forth by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and adopted by voice vote as an amendment to the 2024 Transpiration and Housing and Urban Development spending bill.“Pete Buttigieg doesn’t do his job. It’s all about fake photo ops and taxpayer-funded private jet trip to accept LGBTQ awards for him,” Green posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “I’m happy my amendment passed, but he doesn’t deserve a single penny.”The underlying bill needs to be approved by the full House and is unlikely to be approved by the Senate. Ohio passes Issue 1 ballot measure enshrining abortion protections The Holman Rule — which gives members the ability to propose amendments for appropriations bills that decrease the salaries for specific federal workers or programs to $...

KXAN projects voters approve $500 million bond for Travis County roads and parks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Travis County residents approved two bonds worth $509 million, helping to fund park and roadway projects across the region, according to KXAN projections. Travis County officials said the bond will support growth and improve safety in the region. This is the largest bond package to ever be approved by voters in the county's history. ELECTION DAY BLOG: Texans vote on 14 state constitutional amendments, local propositions "I think the statement that the voters of Travis County have made is that they understand we need to invest in our future," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said. "That's what they did today and over the last two weeks is make sure that Travis County is going to be a beautiful place for years and years to come – for my kids and future generations to enjoy the parks and the safe roads and all the great things that Travis County has to offer," Brown continued. Proposition A costs $233 million and funds ten roadway capacity projects across ...

Lexington ISD proposes $51 million bond

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

LEXINGTON, Texas (KXAN) — Lexington Independent School District voters will decide on a $51 million bond. The two propositions named in the district’s proposal focus on classroom additions, instructional and stadium renovations. Prop A is the most expensive proposition, at the cost of $47.7 million. It would allow the district to build new classrooms in the elementary, middle and high school, and create additional space for libraries and science labs. The AG building will go through a renovation to reconfigure the classroom layout, upgrade shop equipment, add restrooms and air conditioning, and an additional outdoor covered space. The AP Kleinschmidt Gym will expand with three gym floors with new bleachers, locker rooms, weight rooms, restrooms and showers, and new parking. This is to accommodate the growing number of students. Prop B costs $3.3 million and centers around the athletic facilities. The stadium will increase its capacity to 4,000, install new lighting and a new perimet...

Caldwell County proposes a fifth emergency services district

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — With Caldwell County rapidly growing, residents will vote on a proposition that will provide funding for more local emergency services. The city of Lockhart contracted with the Seton Family of Hospitals for EMS services in 2015, but it expired at the start of October 2023. This requires another means of obtaining EMS services, so residents in the county started a petition and gathered enough signatures.Because of this, the Caldwell County Commissioners ordered an election to create Emergency Services District No. 5.This would provide only emergency medical ambulance services and associated emergency medical services. Existing police and fire departments will remain the same. If ESD No. 5 is approved, residents will owe up to 10 cents per $100 property valuation tax to the ESD. For example, a property valued at $500,000 will cost the owner $500 per year. Five commissioners govern each ESD in the state of Texas, and according to the county’s w...

Feds: 3M worker’s death in Wisconsin preventable

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

A 3M Co. employee was helping set up a plastic extrusion line when they became caught in the machine’s rotating rollers and died, according to federal authorities.Maplewood-based 3M reported the May 2023 worker death at its facility in Prairie du Chien, Wis., prompting the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate, according to a news releaseTuesday.Investigators determined the worker’s death could have been prevented by 3M, described as “one of the world’s best known manufacturing companies,” according to the release.“The safety and health of all our employees is our top priority, and we are deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to McClatchy News. “Over the last six months, we have worked closely with federal workplace safety and health regulators in connection with their inspection of our Prairie du Chien worksite. In addition, 3M has continued to implement improvements and investments to ...

A diverse new St. Paul City Council to be seated in January

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:45:50 GMT

St. Paul voters headed to the polls Tuesday to elect what stands to be the most racially diverse city council in city history, one likely to be led by a progressive female majority and immigrant and ethnic voices indicative of the capital city’s changing demographics.In all, 30 candidates filed for seven seats on the nonpartisan council, which with four open seats will turn over a majority of council members in January. Results in some council races may not be available before a manual ballot reallocation process begins Friday, given the city’s ranked-choice election system, which involves hand-tallying races where no candidate breaks 50% of the vote on Election Day.Overall voter turnout appeared mixed, with the 5,945 absentee ballots cast by Monday evening trailing totals in 2019 and 2021 by several hundred ballots. Voter turnout throughout the day Tuesday seemed about on par with or slightly below recent off-year elections, according to a spokesperson for Ramsey County...