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Brazil’s Lula unveils $200 billion infrastructure plan as skeptics caution about spending spree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday unveiled a plan to spend 1 trillion reais (nearly $200 billion) on infrastructure, energy and transportation over the next four years, part of a larger effort to boost economic growth and employment in Latin America’s largest nation.The Growth Acceleration Program, known under its Portuguese acronym PAC, has been met with skepticism from analysts and investors, who say previous, similarly ambitious programs have included projects that never saw the light of day and opened the door to vast corruption schemes.Funding included in this year’s PAC is expected to go towards infrastructure projects including new highways and ports as well as energy efficiency and urbanization programs in slums.“More than a public investment portfolio, the new PAC is a collective compromise (…) born out of many conversations with governors and mayors,” Lula said at an event in Rio de Janeiro attended by governmen...

Chicagoland residents work to help impacted family members in Maui

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Wildfires on Maui have now killed at least 55 people and wiped out the historic town of Lahaina in the state’s deadliest natural disaster since the 1960s.The devastation on the island is impacting people here in the Chicagoland area and how they’re working to help.As Hawaii’s governor announced residents can return to their homes following the evacuations many don’t have a place to go home to. Latest on deadly wildfires on Maui As wildfires rage across Maui, many lost their homes and personal belongings, including Juliet Amano’s family.“It’s not only my family, it’s the whole community,” Amano said.The impact so significant, it’s almost impossible to put into words. “My mom – it was so good to hear her voice,” Amano said. “She said, ‘We lost everything. But I said, ‘You didn’t lose your hope.”It’s hope, they’re hanging on to as they work to navigate where they go from here.Amano grew up in historic Lahaina but has lived in the Chicagoland area for around 20 years. ...

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at gun safety conference in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris was back in Chicago on Friday to speak at a conference on gun safety.The Vice President was the headline speaker at the Everytown for Gun Safety’s annual training conference.At the conference, Harris discussed how leaders are working together in the fight against gun violence."Gun violence is the leading cause of death of the children in America. It's the number one cause of death, not some kind of disease," Vice President Harris said.Speaking to thousands of gun violence survivors, volunteers and student leaders, Harris spoke about what she described as the need for more common-sense gun safety laws and told the crowd that the activist work they do is making a difference."You are putting the pressure on the folks who are on the inside to act, it matters,” Harris said.Many of those who attended the conference were Moms Demand Action members and Students Demand Action volunteers from across the country.Audience members asked the vice president q...

Video shows postal carrier robbed at gunpoint on West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are investigating after a postal service worker was robbed at gunpoint in the city’s Austin neighborhood.The 53-year-old carrier was in the 1500 block of North Long around 1:15 p.m. Thursday when two people got out of a parked car and robbed the carrier of personal items and post office property.The carrier was not injured.Home surveillance videos captured the incident and shows two people getting out of the car and displaying firearms.Police and postal inspectors noticed on the video what sounds like an adult voice coming from the car directing the two robbers what to do. $100K reward offered for information on USPS mail carrier shooting suspect On Thursday, U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects involved in an armed robberies of mail carriers earlier this monthThe armed robbery and shooting took place on the 3200 block of North Kildare Avenue in C...

Skilling: 80s, but possible showers this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

The showers which swept through the area earlier Friday (during the morning hours) "worked over" the atmosphere generating a more stable environment which has thwarted t-storm development. The storm-suppressing atmospheric CAP left in the wake of the morning rains, has defeated major thunderstorm development despite the day's 86-deg high and mid 60-deg dew points indicating "moderate" humidity levels.  An isolated t-storm may still "pop" as the cap weakens this evening and early tonight---but it's in the predawn hours—the hours beyond midnight, particularly the period from 2am to 8am time frame—that modeling suggests some gusty 40% coverage t-storms may develop.These storms will form beyond the period of peak heating, which is the time of each day most likely to render the atmosphere MOST buoyant and therefore MOST prone to develop t-storms. But ,moderately high humidities and somewhat elevated atmospheric energy (CAPE) levels plus the fact ANY storms that DO develop will ...

'A week of blessing:' Kids battling cancer set health challenges aside at Illinois camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

INGLESIDE, Ill. — Each summer, dozens of kids battling cancer set their health challenges aside for one week to head to camp.Every year, a group of kids gets the chance to trade hospital rooms and chemo treatments for summer fun at Camp Quality Illinois in Ingleside. For these kids, the memorable 'five days of freedom' is the best part of their year."I remember when I first got diagnosed. The doctor came and told my mom, my grannie and my dad," camper Taveon Wodward said.Now, 10 years later, Taveon is still pushing, one foot at a time."My grandson had 194 rounds of chemo, nine weeks of radiation, surgeries up the yazoo and this camp is heaven-sent for a lot of these kids,” Taveon's Grandma, Iyonna Wright, said.More From Erin: Chicago’s first para archery tournament shows off skills, heartFor five days each summer, campers are free to just be kids."Peaceful. It's peaceful here,” said Wodward. "It's a good place to get your mind off stuff."For 29 years, Camp Quality Illinois has given...

Pressure cookers sold at JCPenney, Target recalled due to possible burn hazard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — New York-based Sensio Inc. is recalling about 860,000 of its pressure cookers, which were sold under various brand names at several major retailers across the U.S. The company says it's received 63 incident reports, including 61 burn injuries — some injuries included second and third-degree burns to faces, torsos, arms and hands.According to the recall, the lids of the electric and stovetop pressure cookers can unintentionally unlock and be removed during cooking, "causing the hot contents to unexpectedly splash out." What caused the Maui wildfires? The recalled electric pressure cookers were produced under the brand names Bella, Bella Pro Series, Crux, and Cooks, while the recalled stovetop pressure cookers were made under the Bella brand name. Item and model numbers should be found on labels or stamps on the bottom of the cookers.BrandElectric pressure cooker item no.SizeStovetop pressure cooker model no.SizeBella144676 qt.JY-PC20US-5P5 qt.145706 qt.JYPC24US-8P8 qt.1...

Scorching heat, critical fire danger during weekend plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Heat and fire danger warnings continue this weekend during Austin's longest heat wave ever recorded. As fire danger remains critically high, make sure you don't accidentally spark a dangerous situation this weekend.Excessive Heat Warnings and Fire Weather Warnings continue. Friday was Austin's 51st 100-degree day so far this year (8th most), and our 35th-consecutive triple-digit heat day (longest stretch on record).Little changes this weekend and next week with record high temperatures in jeopardy and breezy winds. Very high fire danger continues.We are seeing hints of at least a chance of rain beginning somewhere around Aug. 23rd, along with temperatures that may finally drop below 100°, but this is not yet a guarantee. Stay with KXAN and the First Warning Weather team for updates as the heat drags on. Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) KXAN Summer Fan Drive continuesStaying cool is paramount in this heat wave but many of your fellow citizens still have a di...

MAP: More than 2,800 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 2,800 acres have burned in wildfires across Central Texas so far this year, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.A total of 30 fires have burned 2,897 acres in the 15-county KXAN viewing area, as of Aug. 11. How far behind normal are rainfall totals this year? KXAN is keeping track of wildfires this year. Follow along with the map and database below. We'll keep them updated as new information becomes available. Fires that are still uncontained are red on the map. Evacuation checklist: What to grab when evacuating The table below ranks all the fires in our area this year from largest to smallest. Click on one of the column headers to change how the fires are ranked.We're also keeping track of which counties have burn bans in effect. Click here to see the latest update.

Golden Thyme coffee shop in St. Paul to get a new owner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:52 GMT

When Mychael Wright’s brother Thomas came home from Europe with an idea to open a coffee shop his brothers laughed.“{This} was well before Starbucks, Caribou, all those,” Wright said.Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe on Selby Avenue in St. Paul is seen Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. (Pioneer Press: Andy Rathbun)A few years later as he was preparing the first location for Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe he drew ridicule for the idea.Mychael Wright opened Golden Thyme on March 1, 2000 and, despite doubters along the way, it’s approaching its 24th year in operation.In 2019 it moved to the current location on Selby Avenue. On Sept. 9, he will announce the new owners during JazzFest, the music event the shop has long sponsored.His plan after leaving the coffee shop is to start consulting to help others grow businesses. He said he also wants to work with people to improve the service industry through better retention and benefits like insurance and paid sick leave.When “To...