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Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi reinstated to India’s Parliament days after top court’s order

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Parliament on Monday reinstated top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker three days after the country’s top court halted his criminal defamation conviction for mocking the prime minister’s surname.His reinduction as a member of Parliament is likely to strengthen the opposition’s effort to corner Narendra Modi’s government ahead of a no-confidence motion this week over deadly ethnic violence that has roiled India’s northeastern state of Manipur for more than three months.A fierce critic of Modi and his main challenger in the 2024 polls, Gandhi was ousted from Parliament after his conviction by a magistrate’s court in March. The Supreme Court stayed his conviction Friday, which means it is temporarily halted while the court goes into Gandhi’s appeal in detail before issuing a final ruling.The court’s order also means that Gandhi will be able to contest next year’s general elections unless a final court decision goes against him.The defamation case invo...

Carcinogens found at Montana nuclear missile sites as reports of hundreds of cancers surface

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force has detected unsafe levels of a likely carcinogen at underground launch control centers at a Montana nuclear missile base where a striking number of men and women have reported cancer diagnoses.A new cleanup effort has been ordered.The discovery “is the first from an extensive sampling of active U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile bases to address specific cancer concerns raised by missile community members,” Air Force Global Strike Command said in a release Monday. In those samples, two launch facilities at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana showed PCB levels higher than the thresholds recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.PCBs are oily or waxy substances that have been identified as a likely carcinogen by the EPA. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a blood cancer that uses the body’s infection-fighting lymph system to spread.In response, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, has directed “immediate measures to be...

Archdiocese of Chicago: Dozens of families paid company for memorial headstones they didn’t receive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

CHICAGO – A northwest suburban family has been waiting for about a year and a half for a memorial headstone, which records show they paid for, but never received.WGN has learned, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Cemeteries, the problem is even bigger than just this family. Approximately 45 to 50 families are believed to be impacted.“We’re just trying to get this to an end, but it’s not going away,” said Joseph Weissmann.Joseph’s mother, Anna Weissmann, is buried next to her husband at St. Joseph Cemetery. She asked her children they wait until she passed to install a headstone, so she didn’t have to see her name on it when she visited the cemetery to mourn her husband.That wish has turned into an 18-month battle for the siblings, just trying to find some peace and closure.“She left it up to do that after she passed, and that’s all we’re trying to do, is see to her wishes,” said Mary Ann Shesek.Financial records provided to WGN show a payment of $1,711 was made, in fu...

Remembering a fun Steve McMichael moment at Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Some more good news concerning "Mongo" came on Monday, which happen to fall on a memorable anniversary for the former Bears' defensive tackle.Another positive update on former Bears’ defensive tackle Steve McMichael from family today..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/TyRy4GrxJq— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 7, 2023According to a release from his family, Steve McMichael's health continues to improve after being placed in ICU dealing with sepsis and pneumonia. While he's battled off the former and continues to take antibiotics for the latter, he's expected to be released from the ICU soon and return home. That was announced on August 7, 22 years to the day in which McMichael had one of his most replayed moments since being in the public eye in Chicago. What's unusual is that this didn't occur at Soldier Field or any Bears' event. Instead, it was at a Cubs' game at Wrigley Field in the WGN-TV broadcast booth. Viewers on Channel 9 watched as McMichael took the microphone ...

White Sox refute claims of 'no rules' by former reliever Middleton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox management on Monday refuted claims by former reliever Keynan Middleton that the downtrodden team had a culture with “no rules,” allowing a rookie reliever to regularly fall asleep during games and other players to miss meetings and practices.Middleton, dealt to the New York Yankees for minor league pitching prospect Juan Carela just before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, made the statements in an ESPN report published on Sunday.Before Monday’s game against the Yankees in Chicago, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and first-year field manager Pedro Grifol said Middleton’s claims were inaccurate. But both admitted their disappointing team had faced its share internal issues, centering around building a winning culture.“I’ve been talking about culture here since Day One and brought it up again about three or four weeks ago,” Grifol said. “I feel like we’re not even close to where we need to be, but we’re heading in the right direction.”The White Sox, expe...

95-year-old barber has 'no plans to stop' 5-decade career

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

GREENVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — A barber in Greenville, Michigan is celebrating his 96th birthday on Aug. 13, and he is still up on his feet, cutting hair. William Henry Brown, or Bill to many people, has been cutting hair for more than 50 years. Before he became a barber, Brown wanted to go into the military. But when he tried to join the Navy at 17, he was seen as physically unfit due to a heart condition that he received after being ill as a child. The next year, he tried again, and it was the same result: physically unfit. "I felt bad, being a draft dodger, and all my buddies and everyone were in. (My) cousins, nephews ... So, no, it didn't feel right," Brown said. On his third attempt, he finally was drafted into the Army and sent to Germany during the Korean War. Watch: Walrus calf needs 'round-the-clock cuddling’ after being rescued "I put two years over there. Then in December of 1952, they sent me home," Brown said. After coming home, he worked in Detr...

Thousands lose Medicaid coverage in Illinois after pandemic provision ends

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) -- More than 47,000 people in Illinois have lost their Medicaid coverage after a pandemic-era extension on their eligibility ended last week.The federal government paused the yearly renewal process because of the public health emergency, keeping people on Medicaid throughout the pandemic. But now, the renewal process is restarting, and people have to show they are still eligible."Everybody kind of has to get back in the groove again, of knowing that they need to watch for letters from the state, have their eligibility checked again," said Stephanie Altman of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. "And a lot of people have either never done it before, so they don't know how, or have forgotten." Millions at risk of losing Medicaid coverage as pandemic provision ends The Illinois Department of Family and Health Services started to send out renewal notices as the pause came to an end. Of the 47,000 who lost coverage, 13,000 were no longer eligible, but 34,000 eith...

Oak Grove wildfire estimated at 400 acres, 90% contained; 1 home destroyed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — At least one home and numerous outbuildings were destroyed along with multiple homes evacuated after a wildfire in Hays County started Saturday. Officials said no more evacuations were in place Sunday. Officials started responding to the fire, named the Oak Grove Fire, shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services website. PHOTOS: Oak Grove Fire burns in Hays County The fire was first reported to be near Oak Grove Road near San Marcos. It is estimated at 400 acres and 90% contained according to an update to the Texas A&M Forest Service wildfire map just after 7 p.m. Monday.Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hay...

‘It’s been a helluva ride’: Matt Dumba reflects on past decade with Wild

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

Not long after his 1-year, $3.9 million deal with the Arizona Coyotes became official on Monday morning, Matt Dumba got a phone call from Jonas Brodin.The pair grew up together with the Wild — literally and figuratively — and the news signaled the end of an era in Minnesota.Now, after more than a decade together, on the ice as defensive partners and off the ice as best friends, Dumba and Brodin have to navigate life apart.“He was kind of putting it in perspective,” Dumba said. “You know, from 17 or 18 years old, we did everything together.”That’s going to be the most difficult part for Dumba moving forward. As excited as he is about what lies ahead, a big piece of his heart will always be in Minnesota. That won’t change even now that he’s in Arizona.“It’s been a helluva ride,” Dumba said. “I’m so thankful for it.”After being selected by the Wild in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Dumba quickly established himself as a fan favorite. He...

Once non-tendered by Tigers, Willi Castro showing his value for Twins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:47 GMT

DETROIT — Willi Castro was surprised, he admitted this spring, when the Detroit Tigers non-tendered him. He allowed himself to feel bad for a couple of days. And then he assessed the other opportunities in front of him, knowing he would have to come into spring training fighting for a roster spot.He chose Minnesota, and if not for a couple of injuries — Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff began the season on the injured list — Castro would not have been in line to make the Twins’ Opening Day roster.And if he hadn’t, it’s very possible that he never would have turned into such an important member of the team.“They told me I was obviously going to go and fight for a spot,” Castro said. “I knew I had to go prepare. I just think I worked a lot in the offseason to get to that spot and just focus on … wherever they’re going to put me, I’m going to get the job done.”The switch hitter has become a jack of all trades for the Twins. One day he might be in left field. The next day he ...