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Illinois is first state to eliminate cash bail, a penalty affecting low-income communities most

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate cash bail as a condition of pretrial release from jail on Tuesday when the state Supreme Court upheld the constitutionally of the law abolishing it. The 5-2 ruling overturns a Kankakee County judge’s opinion in December that the law violated the constitution’s provision that “all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties.” Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, writing for the majority, decreed that the law honors the constitution’s balance between the rights of victims and defendants. Proponents of eliminating cash bail describe it as a penalty on poverty, suggesting that the wealthy can pay their way out of jail to await trial while those in economic distress — particularly people of color — have to sit it out behind bars. A pandemic-era increase in crime spurred debates on bail reforms. While other states and municipalities have enacted changes to cash bail, notably New Jers...

Louisiana youths held at adult prison’s old death row suffer heat, isolation, advocates say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Juveniles held in a former death row building at a Louisiana prison for adults are suffering through dangerous heat and psychologically damaging isolation in their cells with little or no mental health care, inadequate schooling and foul water, advocates say in a federal court filing asking a judge to order that the youths be moved.The document, filed in Baton Rouge and dated Monday, says state officials have broken promises to provide constitutionally acceptable facilities for young people housed at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola — a remote prison farm with a notorious history of violence. With a spring target date for moving the youths to other facilities having passed, advocates for the juveniles are asking for an order ending the housing of juveniles at the Angola facility. The state Office of Juvenile Justice did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and other inmate advocates accompanied the ...

After court ruling, Alabama GOP criticized for rejecting 2nd majority-Black congressional district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Republicans on Tuesday advanced proposals to boost the number of Black voters in one of the state’s seven congressional districts, but critics said the plans flout a court order to create a second majority-Black district or something close to it.Lawmakers must adopt new maps by Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld a finding that the current state map — with one majority-Black district in a state that is 27% Black — likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act.Republican-controlled legislative committees on Tuesday voted down proposals to create a second majority-Black district and advanced separate GOP plans that would increase the percentage of Black voters in the 2nd Congressional district from about 30% to either 38% or 42% That is short of the 50% sought by plaintiffs who won the Supreme Court case.Republicans said their plan complies with the court’s directive to draw a district where Black voters are present in enough number...

‘His life was cut way too short’: Canadian soldier killed in Quebec gondola crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

MONTREAL — The Ontario man who died in Sunday’s gondola crash at the Mont-Tremblant resort was a selfless military member who was devoted to his family, his brother said Tuesday.Sgt. Sheldon Johnson, 50, of Kingston, Ont., was a member of the 5th Canadian Division with 20 years of service, the military confirmed in a statement offering condolences to Johnson’s colleagues, family and friends.Shawn Johnson wrote in a statement on behalf of the grieving family that his brother’s life was cut too short. He described his brother as “a loving father to three beautiful children — two surviving who are missing him terribly, and one angel in heaven he is now cuddling.”He remembered Sheldon Johnson as “devoted to his family, a caring wonderful brother, a friend,” and someone “always thinking about others before himself.”“His life was cut way too short, he had so much more love to give,” the brother wrote. “He will be trul...

Filmmaker James Cameron calls Titan submersible implosion ‘extreme outlier’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

Canadian filmmaker and deepsea explorer James Cameron said Tuesday that the implosion of the Titan submersible that killed five people last month was an extreme outlier in decades of safe exploration.The “Titanic” director told reporters in Ottawa that faulty engineering was to blame for the incident, which happened as the submersible was on its way to visit the site of the ship’s wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean. “The ocean can be a very unforgiving environment,” said Cameron.The Titan’s owner, OceanGate, has now ceased commercial and exploration operations. Remotely operated vehicles have retrieved parts of the Titan from the ocean floor, as well as what are believed to be human remains.The submersible broke apart as it neared the Titanic wreckage on June 18, killing all five people aboard, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Also killed in the implosion were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawoo...

Where have the most Powerball, Mega Millions jackpot tickets been sold?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - A pair of record-setting lottery prizes are growing, one Powerball and the other Mega Millions. While your odds of winning either are slim (1 in 24.87 and 1 in 24, respectively), it seems where you live could have an impact on your luck. Since both lottery draw games began in the 1990s, jackpots have been hit hundreds of times — sometimes more than a dozen times in certain states. All but five states participate in Powerball and Mega Millions. Of those participating states, three have never sold a jackpot-winning ticket for either game: Mississippi, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Maine was also on that list until January of this year when a $1.348 billion Mega Millions jackpot was hit. It currently stands as the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history, and the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. Maine is the only other state that hasn’t sold a winning Powerball ticket. There are also four states that have only had one Powerball jackpot...

Carnival ride dangers: What to look for, who to call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

In the wake of the accident in Antioch that's left a 10-year-old in the hospital, many families are wondering what can they look our for when taking kids to a carnival.Huntley Daniels was flung from the Moby Dick ride on Sunday at the taste of Antioch. He suffered multiple facial and jaw fractures and has significant leg injuries.The Department of Labor regulates rides the Moby Dick.Jason Keller is the assistant director with the Illinois Department of Labor.When something goes wrong, Keller says an initial inspection is then carried out with pictures and video, before a physical one gets underway. Family speaks out after 10-year-old boy flung from Antioch carnival ride Keller adds all such amusement rides are inspected and permitted annually in Illinois.He said there is a visual indicator on rides that carnival-goers, riders and parents should look for.“When you're getting on a ride there should be a State of Illinois sticker,” he said. “I believe it says the ‘Department of Labor...

Austin ties record for most days at or above 105° in a row

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Yet another heat record has been tied in Austin, Texas.As of July 18, Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has hit 105° or higher every day for nine days. That ties a 100-year-old record, set in August 1923. Weather Extremes: What are the hottest and coldest temps in Austin history? The KXAN First Warning Weather team is currently forecasting at least seven more days of 105° heat or higher, meaning the record will be extended even further. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Temperatures above 105° are becoming more common. Austin has weather records dating back to the 1890s. Since then, 105° has been reached a total of 194 times.While we did see a surge in the cumulative total number of 105°+ days in the 1920s, the majority have been much more recent than that. In fact, 62% of all days at or above 105° have been since the year 2000.Put another way, the total number of 105° days in Austin has doubled...

Record heat continues with little relief in sight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are forecasting the hottest Jul. 18 ever observed in Austin as temperatures today surge past the current record high of 107°, set most recently in 1923.The record that will be tied will be for consecutive high temperatures of 105° and higher. The record is 9 set in August, 1923. We're at 8 now with a forecast of 13 by Saturday.Due to the intense heat, Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in place through 9 p.m. tonight.Heat alerts in effect through 9 p.m. The strongest heat dome we've been dealing with is over New Mexico this afternoon, centered just south of Albuquerque. It's going to remain to our west for the rest of the week into the weekend. Afternoon highs will still be in triple digits going out to at least Monday. Keep in mind the average high temperature this time of the year is the upper 90s.Record-setting heat dome is coming our wayClosing this section of today's discussion with heat number. Monday afternoon's high temperature of 108° bro...

Travis and Williamson Counties now under mandatory burn bans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — This latest heat wave in Central Texas, along with a definite dearth of rain, has created a worsening fire danger for the entire area, especially the area along and west of Interstate 35. The drought in Central Texas is anywhere from severe to, as is the case in far southwest Gillespie County, exceptional.Soil moisture continues to be depleted each day. The lack of atmospheric moisture during the day with the relative humidity, a measure of that moisture, dropping into the teens and 20s in our moisture-starved area is causing more issues.Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday voted to put a burn ban in effect for the county's unincorporated area. For now, the ban is in effect until Aug. 16. This could change if authorities feel it needs to be expanded.Williamson County Commissioners Court also issued a county-wide burn ban that started at noon Tuesday. Their ban will be in effect for no longer than 90 days, meaning it can be canceled or expanded based on ongoing c...