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West Virginia’s Huggins agrees to $1M pay cut, 3-game suspension for homophobic slur

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

Bob Huggins has agreed to a three-game suspension and a $1 million salary reduction and will be required to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders for using a homophobic slur during a radio interview, the university announced Wednesday.The agreement allows Huggins to keep his job as the school’s basketball coach, but the blunder will leave a lasting mark on his Hall of Fame career.West Virginia University President Gordon Gee and athletic director Wren Baker said in a joint statement that the university has “made it explicitly clear to Coach Huggins that any incidents of similar derogatory and offensive language will result in immediate termination.”Under the agreement, Huggins and all current and future athletics coaching staff will be required to undergo training that will be developed by the university’s LGBTQ+ Center to address all aspects of inequality, including homophobia, transphobia and sexism. Huggins also will be required to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders from across the state.“W...

Pakistan deploys troops to halt unrest after ex-Prime Minister Khan is ordered held on new charges

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s government called out the military Wednesday in areas roiled by deadly violence following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was dragged from a courtroom and ordered held for another eight days on new corruption charges that outraged his supporters and deepened the country’s political turmoil.In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the unrest by Khan’s supporters “damaged sensitive public and private property,” forcing him to deploy the military in the capital of Islamabad, the most populous province of Punjab and in volatile regions of the northwest.After Khan was arrested Tuesday, crowds in Islamabad and other major cities blocked roads, clashed with police, and set fire to police checkpoints and military facilities in violence that left six people dead and hundreds arrested. On Wednesday, protesters stormed a radio station in the northwestern city of Peshawar.“Such scenes were never seen by the peopl...

4 charged with murder of CPD officer Aréanah Preston; no bail

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

CHICAGO — Three men and a juvenile have been charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 24-year-old Chicago police officer Aréanah Preston.Trevell Breeland, 19, Joseph Brooks, 19, Jakwon Buchanan, 18, and a 16-year-old Jaylan Frazier have all been charged with first-degree murder. Frazier has been charged as an adult.In bond court, all four were held without bail — with the judge saying he could not ensure the public safety of the community after their alleged "violent crime spree."Their next court date is scheduled for May 30.Interim Supt. Eric Carter said the group was responsible for several robberies and motor vehicle thefts prior to the shooting.In bond court, an assistant state's attorney alleged the group conducted five robberies in approximately a two-hour time frame."She was a beloved daughter, sister and friend who wanted to make a difference in this world," Carter said during a Wednesday morning news conference.On early Saturday morning, Preston had just returned ...

2 Chicago buildings make US 'Most Endangered Historic Places' list

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

CHICAGO — Two vacant buildings along Chicago's State Street in the Loop are among the country's most endangered historic places. On Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation unveiled its 2023 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list, an annual ranking that spotlights significant US sites at risk of destruction or irreparable damage.The Century Building and the Consumers Building, just east of the Dirksen Federal Building in the 200 block of S. State Street, have been targeted for demolition by the federal government's General Services Administration.  Bally’s could offer stakes in Chicago casino to residents The government repurchased the buildings in 2005 to expand federal office space, but the buildings have sat vacant since then. The city also dropped plans to buy and sell them to a private developer for residential use, worrying that it would give occupants a direct line of sight into the courthouse. As two iconic ea...

Video shows comedian chase away burglar in Los Angeles

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

(KTLA) – Surveillance footage captured the moment a father fought off a burglar at his home, but only after the thief made off with thousands of dollars in recording equipment. Video of the burglary shows the thief, his face covered, wiping his fingerprints off Daniel Lobell’s school-bus-turned-mobile-recording-studio. Lobell, a comedian, owns the bus, which he parks behind his home in Los Angeles. The bus is Lobell's office, where he records his popular podcast “Modern Day Philosophers,” a show that features comics talking about philosophy. The mobile recording studio, which he also uses for other productions, is his livelihood, he said. “I worked my a-- off to build this business so that I could stand on my own two feet and do something, a business that I know I'm good at, that I know I can help other people with,” Lobell said.   Ray Liotta’s cause of death revealed 1 year later: report On May 4, the alleged thief climbed a wall into Lobell's yard and broke into the bu...

These airlines have the most satisfied customers, survey shows

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — These days, flying the skies can be anything but a pleasure. New data from J.D. Power shows that while overall airline customer satisfaction is still a bit bumpy, some particular airlines boast happier flyers.For the second year in a row, overall flyer satisfaction is down, with costs and fees being the biggest factor for consumers. That's according to J.D. Power's 2023 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, which ranked airlines based on responses from 7,774 people who flew between March 2022 and March 2023. Factors in the 1,000-point score include aircraft, boarding, check-in, cost and in-flight services. So who came out on top? The 10 ‘worst’ airports in US, according to analysts Here are J.D. Power's 2023 rankings:Premium economy (average score of 820)Delta Air Lines (848 points)JetBlue Airways (840)Alaska Airlines (823)American Airlines (821)Air Canada (797)United Airlines (784)Economy/basic economy (average score of 782)Southwest Airlines (827)Delta Air Lines ...

Texas House considers removing drag mention from ban bill

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas House of Representatives' State Affairs committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 12, which would ban sexually explicit or suggestive performances while minors are present. Its proposed substitutions to the bill, though, would remove mention of drag performances or gender non-conformity.SB 12 passed in the Senate on April 5. It went to the House, but was referred to the committee after its first hearing. A related bill, SB 1601, is also currently being deliberated by the House State Affairs Committee. Previous: Two drag restriction bills approved by Texas Senate A draft version of the House's substitution can be read below:senate-bill-12-draftDownloadWednesday morning's public hearing on SB 12 lasted nearly three hours before Committee Chair Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, ended the hearing so that the committee could have time to consider other matters and let members attend the House legislative session. The hearing will resume for an addition...

Tang Museum to offer free admission for military personnel and families

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Starting on May 20, currently-serving U.S. military personnel and their families will be able to visit the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College for free. Tang Museum joins many others across the nation as part of the Blue Star Museums initiative. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “We thank the 2023 Blue Star Museums who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art, or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community.”Free admission is available for those currently serving in the United States Mili...

St. Charles, Ameren Missouri sign monitoring agreement for Elm Point Wellfield

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The City of St. Charles and Ameren Missouri have reached an agreement granting the utility company access to city-owned property in order to monitor groundwater contamination at the Elm Point Wellfield.The deal comes weeks after the Environmental Protection Agency directed the two sides to reach an access agreement. City officials and Ameren Missouri had been in negotiations since November 2022.Ameren will conduct monitoring and sampling work under the oversight of the EPA, which previously ordered the utility to submit a plan for cleaning up the contamination by June 30. It's unclear if that deadline will be pushed back.Meanwhile, the city is setting up an eight-tank assembly to decontaminate and clean the water from the pumps. The price tag is expected to be $18 million. However, the city may not have to take on that financial burden alone. Parents: Kids tied up in classroom, state cut corners during investigation The Missouri Legislature is weighing giving S...

Thousands of American families scammed into buying sick, dying puppies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:02:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Thousands of American families are scammed into buying sick or dying puppies, according to a report from the Humane Society of the United States, with Missouri dog breeders generating the most complaints in the country.From 2007 to 2022, the HSUS received nearly 7,900 puppy buyer complaints via the organization's puppy mill tip line, or by email or online form. However, the Humane Society says those are just a fraction of all sick puppy complaints filed nationwide, since many buyers file grievances with the seller, local animal control or law enforcement, or consumer advocacy groups. Others simply don't file a complaint at all.Puppy buyers complained of illnesses like parasites, skin disorders, various infectious diseases, some of which can be deadly, and respiratory issues. Buyers also reported congenital defects and temperament problems.Pet buyers reported getting a puppy from a pet store or breeder, only to see their animal fall ill and die weeks after purchase, accor...