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Colorado GOP selects combative, election-denying new leader

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Republican Party on Saturday selected a combative former state representative who promised to be a “wartime” leader as its new chairman, joining several other state GOPs this year that have elected far-right figures and election conspiracy theorists to their top posts.The move in Colorado comes as the party totters on the brink of political irrelevance in a state moving swiftly to the left.Former State Rep. Dave Williams, who unsuccessfully tried to insert the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon” into his name on the party’s primary ballot last year and insists — incorrectly — that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election, was selected by the party’s executive committee out of a seven-person field.Williams crossed the required 50% threshold on the third ballot after being endorsed by one of his competitors, indicted former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who had failed to surpass 10%. Peters faces seven felony charges for her alle...

2 more children die after a Montclare house fire at a firefighter's home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Two more children who were critically injured in a house fire at a firefighter's home in Montclare earlier this week died Friday evening, further echoing the pain and grief being felt throughout the Northwest Chicago neighborhood."It’s very sad," said Perla Martinez, a Montclare resident. "We’ve never had something like this happen before and it just caught us off guard ... It’s really sad."A family member told WGN the two children who died Friday evening were 2-year-old Emery Stewart and 9-year-old Autumn Stewart. Emery and Autumn's mother, Summer Day-Stewart, died from her injuries earlier in the day, while 7-year-old Ezra Stewart died in the fire Tuesday. Family tells WGN that Summer's memory will live on through organ donation, while the Chicago firefighter community comes together to help pay for the family's funerals. Memorial services begin Wednesday for fallen Chicago officer "I hope they are okay in this time of their loss," Martinez said. "And we're always here...

Local business 'Cloud Cookie' blows up on TikTok, orders from across nation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

CHICAGO — A small-owned cookie shop just outside of Wrigleyville would have never expected to take off the way it did with just a post of a TikTok.Cloud Cookie, located on North Clark Street, has received more shipping orders in the past week than they have in the past seven to eight months, the owner says.“We’re stretched a little thin right now, but we’re handling it.  We’re not rushing anything. We’re keeping the quality which is what’s important to me and always has been,” Morin said.Anne Marie Morin, the owner of Cloud Cookie, says the shop took off in quarantine, just getting off the ground, amid a global scare and is now grateful for the abundance of love.Her dedicated staff is working night and day to cater to their now national reach.“The orders are coming in, I’ll look at my phone, my email and every ten minutes, we’re getting more shipping orders.” Weekend Break: St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at Old St. Pat’s Church She has also gone live from the kitchen, a recen...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

CHICAGO — The renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is gracing the stage in Chicago once again.“For me it’s always a giving back to me and thanking the city for bringing me forth,” Ailey dancer Vernard Gilmore said.Gilmore went from dancing at Chicago’s Curie High School to the world-famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He joined the New York-based theater in 1997.“Now being there for a quarter of a century it really is a tradition in itself as far as a spiritual moment for all of our audiences,” Gilmore said.He is one of the several current Ailey dancers originally from the Chicago area.Alvin Ailey founded the company in 1958, preserving and sharing Black cultural experiences through dance.His masterpiece, “Revelations,” is considered the mostly widely seen modern dance work in the world. It’s always the finale but this year’s program also features works from other acclaimed choreographers ranging from Kyle Abraham to Twyla Tharp.  “Our audiences are just as excite...

Weekend Break: St. Patrick's Day celebrations at Old St. Pat's Church

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Chicago is at Old St. Pat's Church. St. Patrick’s Day Chicago 2023: See a schedule for big events in the city The Sheila Healy Irish Dancers started Saturday morning off at Shamrock'n the Block.Of course it wouldn't be St. Patty's Day without them, or the Shannon Rovers or the bagpipes and drums. Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Jason Derulo leaves server large enough tip to cover college semester

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (WJW) — On a recent visit to Omaha, Nebraska, one pop star made a server's day, night and semester. Jason Derulo reportedly left a $5,000 tip at Charleston's Restaurant, with server Jordan Schaffer taking to TikTok Tuesday thanking him for his generosity. Here to stay: Resident wins battle over giant St. Patrick’s Day skeleton display "Hey Jason, thank you, you just paid for a semester of my college. I can't say thank you enough," Schaffer said in the post. "I hope you and your family have a wonderful time in Omaha, and I hope you see us again. Thank you so much."Showing off the receipt in the video, Schaffer pointed out the tip was on top of a bill for $795.The 33 year-old "Want to Want Me" singer even later commented on the post thanking Schaffer "for taking such great care of our fam. Keep spreading the love bro."Derulo has recently invested in a professional women's volleyball franchise in Nebraska, TMZ reported, which is why he's been spending more time in the st...

SXSW attendees brave the heat on day two of festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Palpable excitement cut through the heat on day two of this year's South by Southwest festival.Along South Congress Avenue, film screening attendees lined up outside the Paramount Theatre.Among them was Justine Kraemer, an online media blogger from Toronto visiting Austin for the first time.Her biggest hope for the fest was to attend the screening of the new Dungeons & Dragons movie, that wish coming true Friday night.While this is her first time at SXSW, Kraemer said the vivacious energy of the fest was undeniable, especially after the pandemic."I think there's a real energy that people are just wanting to come back and get into as much as they can. I think that just comes across every minute we've been here," Kraemer said.Also catching the SXSW spirit was pedicab driver Thomas Romero.Romero said the first couple days of the event have been the most lively he's witnessed in years and that he's glad to be part of it.He said an autoimmune diagnosis kept him out of...

State of Texas: 'Education freedom' bill brings praise and concern

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — State Senator Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, filed Senate Bill 8 Friday evening, giving a detailed look into top Republicans' priority to use state money to subsidize private education.Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick chose Senate Bill 8 to carry one of his top 30 priorities of "empowering parental rights — including school choice." Governor Greg Abbott has advocated for creating state-funded "education savings accounts" that will give money to Texans to pay for education-related expenses, including private school tuition.Sen. Creighton said the goal is to provide as much as $8,000 to families with education savings accounts."I think we're in a different day and time in the outlook on educational opportunities than we even were five years ago. And I think that's why there's been a grassfire across this nation for parental choice and educational empowerment," Sen. Creighton said. "This is education freedom, this is making su...

Grandview, paced by Sienna Betts, beats Monarch for 6A girls title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

Grandview entered the Class 6A girls’ state basketball tournament with nine losses on its resume, a humbling No. 11 seed, and a giant chip on its shoulder.Now they can say, “I told you so.”Or, as senior point guard Isa Dillehay put it: “I think everybody doubted us, but look where we are now.”Grandview defeated No. 4 Monarch, 38-28, Saturday afternoon at the Denver Coliseum for its second consecutive championship and fourth in six years. Sophomore center sophomore Sienna Betts, the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year, led the way with 20 points and 20 rebounds.“When we got to this point, there was no way we were going to lose,” Betts said.And coach Josh Ulitzky, who has guided the Wolves to all four state championships, figured his team peaking at the right time.“We have kids who are composed and we played the toughest schedule in the state,” Ulitzky said. “That made a difference. Every single one of these girls came throu...

3 hospitalized after shooting in Azusa, police investigating

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:42 GMT

Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa early Saturday morning.The victims were two men and one woman, according to the Azusa Police Department. Their identities have not been released.Officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 600 block of North Glenfinnan Avenue around 1:28 a.m.When police arrived, they found three victims with gunshot wounds, authorities said.Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three people were hospitalized after a shooting in Azusa on March 11, 2023. (Key News)Three...