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ACLU sues a Tennessee city over an anti-drag ordinance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against a Tennessee city that passed an ordinance designed to ban drag performances from taking place on public property.The legal challenge is the latest development in the ongoing political battle over LGBTQ+ rights inside Tennessee, where the state’s conservative leaders have sought to limit events where drag performers may appear, restrict classroom conversations about gender and sexuality, and ban gender-affirming care. Friday’s latest lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Tennessee Equality Project, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and has previously hosted a Pride event in Murfreesboro — located about 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of Nashville — since 2016. However, according to the 67-page complaint, the organization has faced recent opposition from Murfreesboro leaders after conservative activists alleged that drag performances that took place duri...

Chicago man arrested in connection with deadly beating of 53-year-old woman in West Pullman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with the beating death of a woman in the city's West Pullman neighborhood in late September, according to police.Chicago police said Jermaine Phelps, a 22-year-old man from the city's Southwest Side, was arrested by officers in Chicago Lawn on Thursday.According to police, Phelps is accused of fatally beating a 53-year-old woman in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Downers Grove man accused of secretly recording videos of 2 women, 13-year-old girl Police said Phelps has been charged with one count of murder in the first degree.Authorities have not yet identified the victim killed and what led to the deadly beating.Phelps is set to appear in court for a detention hearing on Friday, Oct. 6.

Search underway for 36-year-old man missing from Bronzeville

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

CHICAGO — A search is underway on a Friday for a man missing from Bronzeville, according to Chicago police. Officers said they are searching for 36-year-old Andre Cheaton, who was last seen by family members on Sunday, Sept. 17.According to police, Cheaton is known to frequent the Downtown Chicago area. Downers Grove man accused of secretly recording videos of 2 women, 13-year-old girl Officers said Cheaton, who stands 5-foot-7 and weighs around 170 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. Police said it is not clear what Cheaton was wearing at the time of his disappearance. Chicago police notified the public about Cheaton’s disappearance in a news release on Friday morning.   Chicago man arrested in connection with deadly beating of 53-year-old woman in West Pullman Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 36-year-old Andre Cheaton is asked to call CPD Area One SVU Detectives at 312-747-8380.Tips for police can also be filed at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

Why the NFL cares about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

Eager as the National Football League has been to cater to the recent public fixation with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, it’s certainly not taking any credit for creating the outsized storyline that has emerged around the pop superstar and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.“Not orchestrated by the NFL,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy assured The Associated Press with a chuckle during a chat on the phone about what is becoming known as “ Tay Tay and Trav,” a topic few seemed to be able to get enough of initially, whether football diehards or Swifties, whether via TV or TikTok. There’s a conspiracy theory about Taylor Swift attending the Jets game The protagonists largely have remained mum about their actual status since Swift began attending Kelce’s games 1½ weeks ago, though Kelce did admit after practice Friday in Kansas City that “everybody is having fun with it.”“You've got a lot of people that care about Taylor and for good reason," he said, without getting into the details o...

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce opens up about Taylor Swift, getting older

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — It's been a whirlwind 2023 for Travis Kelce. After the Kansas City Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in four years that featured the Kelce family in the lead-up, Travis spent almost the entire offseason building his brand. That included a lot of commercials and attention with his brother Jason and his mom Donna, his own "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig, and a Vanity Fair profile that explained how he's setting himself up for life after football. His offseason also featured a seemingly failed attempt at courting pop star Taylor Swift at her The Eras Tour show. Travis Kelce responds to Aaron Rodgers ‘Mr. Pfizer’ comments That attempt turned out to not be a failure since she returned to Arrowhead Stadium for a Chiefs win against the Chicago Bears after headlining two sold-out concert dates in July. The duo were even seen walking out together after the game, and reports of their Sunday night in Kansas City ruled headlines afterward. Then Swift showed up fo...

APD investigating homicide in central Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Oct. 6, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police officers are investigating a suspected homicide in central Austin Friday afternoon, APD said on social media.Police said the investigation is happening in the 10100 block of Middle Fiskville Road, which is near Interstate 35 between Braker Lane and Rundberg Lane. APD said there isn't an ongoing threat to the public.This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.

'The Austin Chronicle' cofounder sued by former employee alleging forced sexual relationship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lawsuit filed on Tuesday alleges that "The Austin Chronicle" co-founder Louis Black sexually harassed and abused a former employee.The lawsuit, brought by local reporter and artist Ariel Cassone, claims Black coerced Cassone into a "state of sexual servitude under the guise of mentorship" while she was employed by Black.The two were introduced in 2008, according to the lawsuit, but Cassone started working for Black in 2016. "Over the course of many years, Mr. Black carefully manipulated Ms. Cassone and her working relationship into a forced sexual relationship that preyed on Ms. Cassone’s desperate financial situation. Mr. Black routinely withheld or delayed payment of Ms. Cassone’s salary," the complaint states.Black's attorney Jacob T. Smith provided a statement to KXAN: Mr. Black has been made aware of the article published October 5, 2023, in the Austin Chronicle.Mr. Black categorically denies the allegations asserted in Ms. Cassone’s complaint. Theallegations ...

Austin woman has gone to ACL every year, 'As long as I live here, I will go.'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Thousands of festival goers flooded the Austin City Limits gates Friday afternoon. Among the crowd was Denise Cavness, 64, who hasn’t missed a day of ACL since its first year in 2002. Cavness was born in Austin and has worked at the Paramount Theatre for more than three decades. “I figure as long as I live here, I don't really feel like it's an option not to go,” she told KXAN.  MORE: Hotels, short-term rentals face high demand during ACL through end of the year “It's a party in the backyard,” she added. “One of the things about ACL is it's always been a time where all your friends get together. Whether at a house beforehand or at the festival at a flagpole – everybody meets up [and] you might only see those people once a year.”Growing up in Austin, Cavness naturally attended many live music events over the decades. She said it came as no surprise when stakeholders announced the ACL festival at the turn of the century. Like the city of Austin, Cavness said the...

I-94 lane closure set for overnight Tuesday in Oakdale and Woodbury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

Eastbound Interstate 94 will be reduced to single-lane traffic Tuesday night in Oakdale and Woodbury.Part of the I-94 Oakdale to St. Croix River project, construction crews will start resurfacing the pavement at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, between Highway 120 and Century Avenue in Oakdale and Woodbury Drive and Keats Avenue North in Woodbury, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.(Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation)Resurfacing work and the lane closure are projected to last until 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.After this closure, three-lane traffic will resume through the winter, according to MnDOT, and the merge lane between the northbound I-494 ramp to eastbound I-94 and Radio Drive will also be reopened.The Department of Transportation said in a release that the work will improve “safety, traffic flow and ride smoothness.”For more information, visit the project webpage at mndot.gov/metro/projects/i94oakdale-stcroix.Related ArticlesLocal N...

Chiefs at Vikings picks: Somebody’s likely to get barbecued, and it’s not Kansas City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:58 GMT

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings forecast Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium:DANE MIZUTANIChiefs 31, Vikings 20After completely overwhelming Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young last week, the Vikings will quickly find out that superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a different beast. As hard as the Vikings try, they won’t be able to keep up with the Chiefs.JOHN SHIPLEYChiefs 42, Vikings 24The Vikings ended a three-game skid to start the season with a road win at Carolina last Sunday, which was great. Anyone watching that game, however, left with the distinct impression that the Panthers aren’t very good. The Chiefs are good.CHARLEY WALTERSChiefs 35, Vikings 21Even a Taylor Swift appearance at U.S. Bank Stadium can’t disrupt the Chiefs. Meanwhile, pay attention to the glaring difference between QBs Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Vikings center Garrett Bradb...