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Senate Democrats launch new effort to surpass China's government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced a new effort Wednesday to find ways for the U.S. to stay ahead of China."We're in a large very important, very crucial competition with the Chinese government," Schumer said.Schumer is asking lawmakers from both parties to work together a find ways to limit the flow of advanced technology to the Chinese government while increasing investments here at home."The Xi regime is working every day to catch up and surpass the United States," Schumer said.Democrats say they want to build on the momentum generated by last year's Chips and Science Act."China is a pacing threat and we have to pick up our pace," Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said.Reed said meeting these goals will require international cooperation."Showing the Chinese that they would be up against the world if they tried anything," Reed said.Schumer said it's important for Congress to take action as quickly as possible.Schumer, asked if he expected to have ...

Kane County attorney, sheriff warn public of fake treasurer website

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

KANE COUNTY, Ill. -- Don't fall for it Kane County.Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Sheriff Ron Hain are warning the public about a fake website that claims to be the Kane County Treasurer’s site."Anyone who encounters this site should not attempt to make a payment through it," Kane County State's Attorney Jamie L. Mosser wrote.The Kane County State's Attorney's Office wants to ensure the public that the authentic site is secure, but the fake site is not. Teamsters oust suburban board after more than $1M in questionable expenses The authentic Kane County Treasurer’s site, www.kanecountytreasurer.org, has Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen pictured in the upper left.Additionally, the authentic website has a tab to make an online payment has the Kane County seal in the upper left, the treasurer’s office address and telephone number in the upper right, and users must click on a terms of use agreement before they can search for their tax bill or make a payment.The fake...

Putin assassination attempt? What to know about the Kremlin drone attack

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

(The Hill) – An apparent drone attack on the Kremlin has spurred a global whodunit. Moscow quickly accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin, a claim that was met with skepticism among Western officials and defense experts — and denied by Ukraine.Unverified videos that circulated online Wednesday purportedly show the aftermath of the attack, which Russia says it thwarted by shooting down the drones.The attack will likely have a “rally around the flag” effect in Russia, leading some to speculate it may be a “false flag” operation staged by the Kremlin to bolster support ahead of Victory Day on May 9, an annual holiday to celebrate the Soviet defeat of Nazis in WWII. “It looks to me like Putin and his handlers are constructing a fake provocation with this so-called terrorist attack that Russia can use as an excuse to rain down even more pain and suffering on the Ukrainian people or possibly use to justify an assassination at...

Counties with the lowest cost of living in Illinois

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

With inflation still eating into American household budgets, middle-class Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.Nearly three-quarters of Americans surveyed by financial services provider Primerica at the end of 2022 said they are not able to save for their future due to rising costs. Home prices, rent, and food inflation as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before.Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Illinois using 2022 rankings from Niche.#30. Marion County- Overall Grade: B-- Public School Grade: B-- Cost of living grade: A-- Population: 37,781#29. Schuyler County- Overall Grade: B-- Public School Grade: C+- Cost of living grade: A-- Population: 6,953#28. Franklin County- Overall Grade: C- Public School Grade: C+- Cost of living grade: A-- Population: 38,068#27. Fayette County- ...

Texas counties spend millions on ice-storm recovery, when will they be reimbursed?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Central Texas leaders say they're relieved now that President Biden has approved federal reimbursement for millions spent on ice storm recovery.Travis County Judge Andy Brown said recovery efforts from the city and county level have reached a cumulative $56.8 million. That number is made up of expenses for things like debris cleanup, overtime for Austin Energy employees, and first responders being on the job.With this approval Bastrop, Blanco, Burleson, Burnet, Hays, Henderson, Kendall, Lee, Leon, Milam, Robertson, Travis and Williamson counties could be reimbursed for 75% of the money spent on storm recovery.This federal relief has only been approved for these government bodies, not individual home or property owners that experienced damage from the ice storm.Judge Brown said county emergency leaders think Travis County is unlikely to meet the threshold to qualify for such relief. He also said it could take anywhere from 2 to 5 years for the county to be paid back f...

Family donates life-saving AED to Cottage Grove park where son died, and they’re raising money for more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

Teddy Dowdle collapsed and died of sudden cardiac arrest a year ago after going up for a rebound while playing basketball with his older brother and friends at Woodridge Park in Cottage Grove.He was 22.Teddy Dowdle gives a thumbs-up at the Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in April 2022. (Courtesy of the Dowdle Family)His family believes Teddy might still be alive had there been a medical device called an automated external defibrillator in the park. “CPR was administered, but there was no AED readily available,” his father, Craig Dowdle, said. “If there had been an AED applied within the first three minutes of his collapse, instead of when the EMTs showed up eight or nine minutes later, there would have been a much greater chance of his survival.”On Thursday, the first anniversary of Teddy’s death, the Dowdles will install an AED in Woodridge Park — the first outdoor AED device in Cottage Grove.The couple, along with son Carter and daughter Olivia, formed Teddy...

Feds charge 45 people in sweeping takedown of two Minneapolis gangs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

Federal authorities announced racketeering and other charges Wednesday against 45 members or associates of two major Minneapolis street gangs for crimes including seven homicides, plus numerous drug trafficking and firearms violations.U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said at a news conference that the takedown targeted the Highs, who are based in North Minneapolis, and the Bloods, who operate primarily on the South Side. As for a third gang, the Lows, from a different part of North Minneapolis, he said charges against them are coming.“Today’s announcement marks a fundamental change in how we address gang violence. Starting with these charges, we are prosecuting street gangs as the criminal organizations they are,” Luger said. He contrasted that with what he called a traditional local approach to prosecuting gun violence of charging offenders “crime by crime, shooting by shooting, case by case.”All but two of the suspects are in custody, Luger said. Around two dozen of them were arrested in ...

Hate passwords? You’re in luck – Google is sidelining them

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

By DAVID HAMILTON (AP Business Writer)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Good news for all the password-haters out there: Google has taken a big step toward making them an afterthought by adding “passkeys” as a more straightforward and secure way to log into its services.Here’s what you need to know:WHAT ARE PASSKEYS?Passkeys offer a safer alternative to passwords and texted confirmation codes. Users won’t ever see them directly; instead, an online service like Gmail will use them to communicate directly with a trusted device such as your phone or computer to log you in.All you’ll have to do is verify your identity on the device using a PIN unlock code, biometrics such as your fingerprint or a face scan or a more sophisticated physical security dongle.Google designed its passkeys to work with a variety of devices, so you can use them on iPhones, Macs and Windows computers as well as Google’s own Android phones.WHY ARE PASSKEYS NECESSARY?Thanks to clever hackers and human fallibility, passwords ar...

Serious crash closes Northway at Exit 9

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Northway northbound is closed at Exit 9 due to a serious crash. The crash took place around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, and at least two people were injured, police said. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The exact number of vehicles involved and the number of people injured remains unclear as several other motorists stopped to help, according to police.The roadway will be closed at Exit 9 for an unknown amount of time. Traffic is being rerouted.

Missouri AG continues attacks on St. Louis Circuit Attorney

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:52 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Wednesday accused St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner of neglecting her duties as a prosecutor while she took nursing classes.It was the latest salvo in Bailey's efforts to remove Gardner from her office, which has struggled to keep up with prosecutions of criminal cases in St. Louis after several assistant prosecutors resigned.Gardner is the city’s first Black prosecutor and a Democrat. Bailey, a Republican, began legal proceedings in February to force her to resign or be removed. He said too many cases, including homicides, are not being prosecuted by an understaffed office.During Wednesday's news conference, Bailey said Gardner's decision to take nursing classes at St. Louis University violated a state law that requires her to focus her full energy and time on her prosecutorial duties. As legal battles mount, Kim Gardner takes nursing classes “Obtaining a nursing degree is not one of her off...