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Bike ride across Iowa puts vibrant small-town America into sharp focus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

COLFAX, Iowa (AP) — In the small central Iowa town of Colfax, thousands of cyclists participating in the largest and oldest recreational bike ride in the world were stopped along its historic main street, staring ahead at a daunting climb that would lead them out of town.The hill, coupled with soaring temps and the vibrant downtown, made a morning sitting in the shade quite appealing.It’s become almost simplistic to say that “small-town America” is slowly dying. That opportunities for young people have dried up, just like businesses and main streets. That the only way forward in life involves moving to a big city. But the reality is towns such as Colfax are flourishing, and that was especially evident on RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across the state, where dozens of small towns dotting the 500-mile route welcomed some 50,000 riders with open arms.Colfax is a prime example. It experienced a nearly 8% increase in population from the 2010 census to the most recent in 2020, turni...

Historically Black fraternity drops Florida for convention because of DeSantis policies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The oldest historically Black collegiate fraternity in the U.S. says it is relocating a planned convention in two years from Florida because of what it described as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration’s “harmful, racist and insensitive” policies towards African Americans.Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity said this week that it would move its 2025 convention from Orlando to another location that is yet undecided. The convention draws between 4,000 and 6,000 people and has an economic impact of $4.6 million, the fraternity said.The decision comes after the NAACP and other civil rights organizations this spring issued a travel advisory for Florida, warning that recently passed laws and policies are openly hostile to African Americans, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.Willis Lonzer, the fraternity’s general president, said in statement on Wednesday that the decision was motivated in part by Florida’s new education standards that req...

The ‘Few and the Proud’ aren’t so few: Marines recruiting surges while other services struggle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Not long ago, Marine Col. Jennifer Nash, a combat engineer with war deployments under her belt, made a vow to fellow officers as they headed to a dinner in Atlanta: She would get two new recruiting contacts by the end of the evening.She admits recruiting is not the job that she or other Marines had in mind when they enlisted. But after stints as a recruiter and senior officer at the Eastern recruiting command, she has become emblematic of the Corps’ tradition of putting its best, battle-tested Marines on enlistment duty. They get results.Marine leaders say they will make their recruiting goal this year, while the active-duty Army, Navy and Air Force all expect to fall short. The services have struggled in the tight job market to compete with higher-paying businesses for the dwindling number of young people who can meet the military’s physical, mental and moral standards.On that night, Nash achieved her own goal. She had gotten the valet at the hotel ...

Minister’s tweet raises spectre of federal action as B.C. port workers vote down deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has responded to British Columbia port workers’ decision to reject a mediated contract offer overnight, raising the spectre of more federal intervention in the months-long dispute.O’Regan says in a tweet this morning that he “will have more to say very soon,” adding Canada must “bring stability back” to B.C. ports for the workers and businesses that depend on them.The response comes after the approximately 7,400 workers represented by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada voted down a tentative agreement that was presented to them by union leadership on Tuesday.Union president Rob Ashton did not disclose in his statement the details behind the final vote tally, only that the workers are now calling on port employers to come to the negotiating table to talk directly instead of going through the BC Maritime Employers Association.The BCMEA issued a statement saying it is now awaiting further d...

Summer travelling tips with Natalie Preddie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

Travel expert Natalie Preddie joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share tips for travelling in the summer.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.

Fogo de Chão at 'Taste of River North' this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

Check out Fogo De Chão in the studio Saturday morning to hear more on what to expect from lamb chops, pichana and more.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.

New 'X' logo atop Twitter building in San Francisco prompts complaint, investigation from city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant “X” sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters.The complaint comes as Twitter owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons. Musk explains Twitter rebranding, vows to add features The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand's iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn't taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure “consistency with the historic nature of the building” and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspe...

Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce: Mint problems, clover invasions and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

Check out Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce where 'plant daddy' shares more tips on saving mint and avoiding clover invasions.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.

Mother of Uvalde shooting victim to run for mayor of town

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) – Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter Lexi was killed last year in the Robb Elementary School shooting, is planning to turn her grief into action, after announcing Thursday she will run for mayor of Uvalde, Texas, in an upcoming special election.“This past year, it's been so frustrating navigating our country's political system, and sometimes you have to be the change you seek. So, here I am running for mayor,” Rubio told Nexstar. James Cameron says he cut footage including firearms from new ‘Avatar,’ regrets past use The 34-year-old mother is looking to fill the soon-vacant seat held by Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin in an upcoming special election on Nov. 7. McLaughlin has served as the South Texas town’s mayor since 2014, and has reached his term limit. He is now running to succeed Rep. Tracy King, D-Uvalde, in the Texas House. Mata-Rubio shared news of her run for mayor Thursday. On social media, she addressed her daughter directly, explaining why she ch...

More student loan forgiveness coming for longtime borrowers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:43 GMT

(NerdWallet) - On July 14, 804,000 longtime student loan borrowers began receiving word that their $39 billion in remaining debt would be forgiven as the result of the Education Department’s income-driven repayment (IDR) account adjustment. This one-time program, first announced in April 2022 to repair past missteps in the IDR system, is counting more past repayment periods toward income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness. Many borrowers will be at least three years closer to IDR forgiveness — and some will automatically see their loans forgiven altogether.“At the start of this Administration, millions of borrowers had earned loan forgiveness but never received it. That’s unacceptable,” Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal said in a July 14 press release announcing the news. "Today we are holding up the bargain we offered borrowers who have completed decades of repayment.”This is just the tip of the iceberg. More than 4.4 million borrowers have been repaying their loa...