Home

Appeals court allows Biden asylum restrictions to stay in place

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An appeals court Thursday allowed a rule restricting asylum at the southern border to stay in place. The decision is a major win for the Biden administration, which had argued that the rule was integral to its efforts to maintain order along the U.S.-Mexico border.The new rule makes it extremely difficult for people to be granted asylum unless they first seek protection in a country they’re traveling through on their way to the U.S. or apply online. It includes room for exceptions and does not apply to children traveling alone.The decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals grants a temporary reprieve from a lower court decision that had found the policy illegal and ordered the government to end its use by this coming Monday. The government had gone quickly to the appeals court asking for the rule to be allowed to remain in use while the larger court battles surrounding its legality play out. The new asylum rule was put in place back in May. At the time, t...

2 men killed in Villa Park fatal wrong way crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

VILLA PARK, Ill. -- A 35-year-old man was driving the wrong way on Route 83 in Villa Park when his car collided with another killing both drivers early Thursday morning.According to the Villa Park Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Route 83 and Washington Street on reports of a multi-vehicle crash just before 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, August 3. Deadly shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 critical in South Shore Investigators report that a Hyundai Elantra was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Route 83 when it crashed into a Honda Odyssey which was traveling northbound on Route 83.The driver of the Hyundai, a 35-year-old man from Chicago, was transported to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead.The driver of the Honda, a 69-year-old man from Bensenville, was pronounced dead at the scene.Villa Park police believe that speed and alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.The investigation is ongoing.

What it was like inside the courtroom for Trump's arraignment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

Courtroom 22 at the D.C. federal courthouse has seen its fair share of defendants over the years. But never a former president.That changed Thursday afternoon, when former President Trump entered and proceeded to be arraigned on four criminal charges stemming from his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election.The Hill was one of a few outlets selected by a random drawing to have a seat in the courtroom and witness the proceeding in person.Reporters were ushered into the second-floor courtroom about an hour and a half before the arraignment began. Law enforcement officers required all electronics be turned off before entering the room, cutting the reporters off from the outside world. "As the wait began for Trump’s arrival from New Jersey, the four-row public gallery in the back of the courtroom and the jury box filled up with law clerks, court staff, sketch artists and even a few members of the public."Yosi Zelalem, 22, a George Washington University student,...

Jeep Wrangler graphics pack celebrates 'Jurassic Park' anniversary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

(Motor Authority) -- It’s been 30 years since “Jurassic Park” first hit theaters and forever changed the aesthetic of dinosaur movies.Jeep has decided to celebrate the milestone by offering a Jurassic Park-inspired graphics pack that will enable owners of the current Wrangler to turn their off-roaders into something resembling the 1992 Wrangler Saharas that featured in the film. The graphics pack can also be used for the Gladiator, Jeep said.The packs are available via the website www.JeepGraphicStudio.com, but only to customers in North America. They are also limited to just 100 units, each uniquely numbered.Two versions are available. The first costs $550 and includes the famous Jurassic Park logo on the doors, plus hood and fender graphics, a swing gate handle graphic (Wrangler only), and a shifter insert. The second pack costs $650 and includes all of the items of the first package, plus a second shifter insert for the transfer case.Jurassic Park Package by Jeep G...

Joe Ryan lands on injured list, paving way for Dallas Keuchel to join Twins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS — Joe Ryan was in the midst of his pregame stretching in late June in Atlanta when he first felt a pull in the groin that radiated downward. Ryan said he was in shock, unsure of what to do in that situation, being that it was the first time something like that had happened.He went out and pitched, giving up five home runs in a loss. The nagging injury, which the Twins have diagnosed as a left groin strain, has affected him since then, through a period that’s been the toughest on the mound since Ryan debuted in 2021.Ryan finally mentioned something on Wednesday night after yet another rocky start, prompting the Twins to put him on the 15-day injured list and select the contract of veteran lefty Dallas Keuchel, who will slide into his spot in the rotation and make his first start as a Twin this weekend.“The communication on this certainly has to be better and he knows that,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We talked about that with Joe. It was something that he thought he coul...

Lawmakers sound alarm on threat of government shutdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A federal shutdown is on the horizon with Congress at odds over how to fund the government. Right now, lawmakers are out on recess, but once they return to Capitol Hill the race to pass a budget is on. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is one of the lawmakers sounding the alarm about the possibility of a shutdown.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "I'm incredibly concerned.," Spanberger said. She says a government shutdown would be crushing for the millions of federal employees, like those living in her Virginia district. She adds that beyond that, a shutdown would hurt people across the country who rely on federal services like social security, Medicare or VA healthcare. "When those agencies shut down in the case of a shutdown that work gets delayed and so the impact is significant no matter where you live," Spanberger said. The government will shut down if Democrats and Republicans fai...

Trump pleads not guilty to Jan. 6 charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

Former President Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday on charges he faces stemming from his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. It was the second time this year Trump was face-to-face with special counsel Jack Smith, this time facing four counts, including on efforts to defraud the U.S. and obstruct congressional proceedings, as the Justice Department contends his plot to remain in power was “fueled by lies.” His motorcade arrived around 3:15 p.m. at Washington's federal courthouse, blocks from the U.S. Capitol, where a mob of his supporters rioted on Jan. 6, 2021, as a result of those efforts. Trump walked into the courtroom wearing his signature blue suit and red tie with a stony expression on his face, a look that changed little during the brief proceedings. The former president spoke little during the hearing, answering questions about his name and age, while rarely glancing at prosecutors. When asked whether he understood that his words c...

It's back! World Naked Bike Ride set for Saturday in St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Hundreds of cyclists are expected to take on several streets of St. Louis on Saturday for the 15th annual World Naked Bike Ride.First held in St. Louis in 2007, the World Naked Bike Ride has drawn more than 2,000 cyclists at a time in previous years. Cyclists generally cover more than 10 miles of ground in highly-visible areas within St. Louis City.Riders will meet at 4 p.m. at HandleBar, a bicycle-themed bar in The Grove neighborhood of St. Louis. The ride starts at 6 p.m. and is expected to end around 8 p.m. Organizers tell riders to go as "bare-as-you-dare,” so some may choose to participate in the ride without any articles of clothing.World Naked Bike Ride organizers released the following map of planned routes around St. Louis City: The World Naked Bike Ride was first recognized as a protest against oil dependency in Canada in 2004. It has since expanded its footprint to dozens of U.S. cities and at least 20 countries. St. Louis is one at least 12 U.S. cities planni...

Rockies’ Michael Toglia, Elehuris Montero getting their chance at first base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

Nearly a decade after Todd Helton retired, the Rockies are still searching for their next great, long-term first baseman.For now, Colorado simply needs a temporary solution, with the hope that someone might eventually develop into both a solid defender and a consistent force at the plate.When veteran C.J. Cron was traded to the Angels on Sunday, the door of opportunity swung open for Michael Toglia and Elehuris Montero. Rookie Nolan Jones, currently playing in the outfield, will likely get his chances, too, when veteran outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Kris Bryant return from the injured list in the next couple of weeks.What Toglia, Montero and Jones do over the final two months of the season will provide the Rockies with a better read on what they’ll have at first base for 2024, and possibly beyond.“It does create opportunity for some young players — that’s what we’re looking to do here the last two months of the season,” general manager Bill Sch...

Business owners, residents meet with elected officials to discuss RVs cluttering streets in Gardena 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:57 GMT

Local business owners and employees are frustrated with the growing number of RVs housing homeless people and cluttering streets in Gardena. A meeting between local law enforcement, business owners and elected officials took place on Thursday to discuss health and safety worries and potential solutions to the crisis that is starting to affect the daily lives of people in the neighborhood.“They pull up in vans, RVs, trucks, whatever it is, and pull out their hoses and just dump all their waste,” said Ivan Montes, who works in the area. “It’s horrible...sometimes you can’t even work [because] the smell is so bad.” Workers in the impacted areas say that the residents of the RVs are not the friendliest neighbors. “It’s very hard to load trucks, and there’s theft going on,” said John Norby, who works close to the RVs cluttering city streets. “They steal batteries – whatever they can steal, they will steal.”  Some residents refuse to leave illegal RV encampment in Sylmar RVs seen p...