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What led Capitol Police to stop a youth performance of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

Video of a children’s choir singing the national anthem in the U.S. Capitol, only to be unceremoniously cut off by federal authorities, spread across social media on Friday.Capitol Police say singers from Rushingbrook Children’s Choir from Greenville, South Carolina, were stopped May 26 because of a miscommunication. Musical performances in the hallowed seat of Congress require permission, and police said officers had been unaware that the choir had approval from the House speaker. Capitol Police denied choir leaders’ claims that the performance was stopped because it might be found offensive. Choir director David Rasbach and Micah Rea, a choir leader who helped organize the trip, told The Associated Press that they worked with the offices of Reps. William Timmons, Joe Wilson and Russell Fry, all Republicans from South Carolina, to get permission for the performance. They said they were informed the visit was approved by the office of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.Afte...

DeSantis signs Bible, Pence hops on motorcycle at ‘Roast and Ride’ event in Iowa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Amid plates of sliced pork, statement-making leather ensembles and piles of political T-shirts, eight Republican presidential hopefuls descended on Iowa to pitch themselves to voters and, in Mike Pence’s case, hop on a motorcycle.The former vice president and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were among the White House contenders appearing at a rally at the state fairgrounds near Des Moines hosted by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Her annual political event, the “Roast and Ride” — a combination barbecue-rally and motorcycle ride — kicks off a busy summer campaign season heading into the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses early next year.Former President Donald Trump, the leading GOP presidential candidate, was notably absent after spending two days in the state this past week. He has largely avoided any events that have him sharing the stage with his 2024 rivals.DeSantis, with his wife, Casey, and three young kids in tow, chatted with voters, gave out autographs...

10th annual 'Party 4 Peace' held in Hadiya Pendleton's memory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Friends, family and community members gathered Saturday to celebrate Hadiya Pendleton, a young life taken too soon.It's been more than a decade since 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed at a park in the Kenwood neighborhood in 2013. 4 MONTHS AGO: Sunday marks 10th anniversary of Hadiya Pendleton’s death Pendleton would have turned 25 this weekend so, in her honor, the annual party was thrown for members of the community, which included good food, entertainment and conversation, alongside the Pendleton family's continued advocacy speaking out against gun violence."Every year for her birthday, I try to celebrate the fact that she lived," said Cleopatra Crowley-Pendleton, Hadiya's mother."Today is about happiness, today is about partying today is about forgetting our griefs," said Nate Pendleton, Hadiya's father.The family hopes the annual party continues to keep the memory of Hadiya alive, and encourages the community to come together when it's needed most. ...

Businesses, fans excited for Taylor Swift in Chicago this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Businesses in the South Loop are feeling good this weekend as thousands packed the downtown area, a majority of which were there to see the one-and-only Taylor Swift."We've had these tickets for six months and I've been waiting for this for a long time," said Eva Lynch, a Taylor Swift fan from Mount Pleasant, Michigan."Oh my gosh I love her," said Avery Wilson, another Taylor Swift fan from Mount Pleasant. "I love all the eras and how she's been able to put out music for so long." Chicago’s Willis Tower antennas light up for Taylor Swift While fans like Lynch and Wilson are living out their dreams of seeing one of their favorite artists perform, businesses in and around the South Loop are excited about the influx of business, and have prepared Taylor Swift-themed food and drink items for the occasion.Triple chocolate shake and a patty melt on a brioche bun — one of Taylor Swift's favorite meals — served at Burger Bar Chicago."We actually have a triple chocolate shake. It...

Faith and Mental Health: A South Side church hosts suicide prevention workshop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A South Side Church was at the intersection of faith and mental health Saturday, as they hosted a workshop with the intention of helping educate Chicago clergy and other religious leaders on how to save lives in marginalized communities.Soul Shop for Black Churches was the force behind the workshop held at Trinity United Church of Christ in Washington Heights Saturday. The non-profit gives tools to those in ministry so they can be positive forces in preventing a growing concern in Black communities across the country:Suicide."It’s not only about information—it’s about overcoming the emotional parts of the conversation," said Tandra Rutledge, Director of Healthcare Systems Initiative at the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP). "The fear, the stigma, the shame, and it’s about helping our faith leaders develop the strategies they need to really incorporate into ministry, into bible teaching, into bible preaching—ways to help individuals talk about suicide, talk a...

'SBEV:' School enrichment program opens to help youth excel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, or SBEV for short, is officially open with programming designed to help young people excel. "SBEV is an amazing program for students k-8th grade we have an extended after school enrichment program," said Rasheika Singleton, the director of SBEV Chicago. The SBEV Chicago Impact Center opened their doors at 54th and State Street on the second floor of a former school, owned by the neighboring XS Tennis. Later this month, the organization will launch a six weeklong summer program that’s completely free. "Our goal here is to improve the community [and] offer the opportunity to explore a variety of programs," Singleton said. ‘Wear Orange Day’: Peace March and Rally held on National Gun Violence Awareness Day The Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village was named after an activist from Flint Michigan — where the first location opened in 2015 in the middle of the Flint Water Crisis.The organization is affiliated with Insight Hospital that t...

50 Cyclists 'Bike Across Chicago' to benefit after-school programs in underserved communities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Fifty cyclists embarked on a 50-mile tour across Chicago Saturday to raise money for an after-school program committed to helping children in underserved communities.By The Hand Club For Kids is an after-school program designed to "take kids by the hand" and help them navigate their educational journey, from kindergarten all the way to college. 10th annual ‘Party 4 Peace’ held in Hadiya Pendleton’s memory The club's roots began more than two decades ago with 16 children from Cabrini Green. Now-a-days, it serves more than 1,700 kids at club facilities on the City's South and West Sides.In addition to raising money for the organization Saturday, cyclists also stopped at 'By The Hand' sites across the City in an effort to highlight different programs run by the club.

Some Apple customers frustrated by new savings accounts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

(NewsNation/NEXSTAR) — In April, Apple teamed up with Goldman Sachs and offered new high-yield savings accounts to its Apple Card customers.But some of those customers are finding it difficult to transfer money from their accounts. Some customers say they've had to wait weeks to get their money.Hedge fund manager and "The Drill Down" business podcast host Cory Johnson joined "NewsNation Now" to discuss the case. Do airline gate agents have an incentive to say your bag is too big? "It's possible here that Apple and Goldman Sachs, their partner, are victims of their own success," he said. "So many people rushed to open up these accounts when they were offered back in the end of April ... transactions at any new account at a bank can sometimes trigger problems when you transfer money."Goldman Sachs, however, told members of the media that "the vast majority of customers see no delays in transferring their funds. In a limited number of cases, a user may experience a delayed transfer ...

Homemade bomb found in Florida neighborhood, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (WFLA) — Residents of one Florida neighborhood were asked to the avoid the area on Saturday while deputies disabled a homemade explosive device. In a Citrus County Sheriff's Office Facebook post, deputies urged residents to stay away from the area of northeast 10th Street in Crystal River, Florida. The sheriff's office sent out an alert saying deputies blocked off the road at around 12:45 p.m. 3 children pulled from burning car while woman shoplifted from Florida mall: police Deputies responded to a call about a suspicious device. A photo provided by the sheriff's office showed what appeared to be a box with its lid open, sitting near a mailbox at the end of a driveway.The suspicious item was confirmed to be a homemade explosive device. The bomb team sent out a robot to disable the device so it can be hauled off and destroyed. "At this time there, is no further threat to public safety and the roadway has been reopened," the sheriff's office wrote in an update,...

State of Texas: 'I will not step back,' Abbott and Patrick clash over property tax plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After five months of discord and a now a special session, top Republican leaders remain at a tense impasse over how best to lower property taxes.The Texas Legislature, which finished its regular session Monday, already set aside $17.6 billion from the state's budget to give Texans property tax relief. However, ideological differences between the two chambers about how to deliver that stalled lawmakers Monday from adjourning. They inevitably gaveled out that evening sine die, or indefinitely, without a deal. Less than three hours later, Governor Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session with demands for property tax relief and border security bills.The next day, Senators quickly passed a property tax plan that included steps to expand the state's homestead exemption, the amount of a home's value that is exempt from property taxes. The Senate then recessed until Friday.Hours later Tuesday, the House Speaker Dade Phelan said House lawmak...