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Bill to legalize sports wagering clears Kentucky House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky won House passage on Monday, setting up a potential Senate showdown on a proposal that creates divisions among the Republican supermajorities.Past efforts to legalize sports wagering in the Bluegrass State garnered House support but died in the Senate. It’s a reflection of how divisive gambling is in the state that’s home to Churchill Downs in Louisville, where the Kentucky Derby is run.After several years of coming up short, supporters said it’s time for Kentucky to accept a form of wagering already available in most bordering states.“You literally just have to drive across the county line or cross the river to go take part in their programs.” said Republican Rep. Michael Meredith, the bill’s lead sponsor.The measure cleared the House on a 63-34 vote, but its prospects in the Senate are uncertain, with a higher procedural hurdle to overcome this year. It needs a three-fifths vote in each chamber to pass, sinc...

Lightfoot signs executive order for city audit on pay equity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

CHICAGO  —  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is prioritizing equal pay for women for Women's History Month. The mayor signed an executive order calling for a public audit of city workers' pay twice a year, stating that the move is meant to root out causes of inequity."Why this audit, I think, is so important is because we will be a public measuring stick of whether or not we are making progress...to make sure that women have equity in the workforce," Lightfoot said. "They can hold this administration accountable and every future administration accountable for the goals and the standards that we have set. SEE ALSO | Federal indictment says suburban man stole over $83 million in COVID-19 testing schemeAll told, the pay equity executive order will see the city:Conduct a pay audit of the City workforce to identify gender and racial inequities in employee compensation. Publish a report compiling the findings of the audit including, at a minimum, a comparison of pay by job titl...

16-year-old critically injured following South Side shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy was critically injured after being shot multiple times Monday evening on the South Side, Chicago police said.At around 6:50 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of E. 88th Street in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood.A 16-year-old boy was discovered with gunshot wounds to the left arm, chest and chin. He arrived at the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAccording to police, the victim is being uncooperative with their investigation. No one is in custody. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Bears add to their offensive line early in free agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

LAKE FOREST - On the first day that NFL teams could talk to unrestricted free agents, the Bears made two major splashes on defense.While the reported agreements with linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards dominated the headlines, the team also made an addition at another major position of need: Offensive line.Per numerous reports, the first from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Bears are signing former Titans guard Nate Davis to a three-year, $30 million contract. The team cannot confirm the move until the beginning of the new league year on Wednesday. Bears will sign LB Tremaine Edmunds, reports say A third round pick out of Charlotte by Tennessee in the 2019 NFL Draft, Davis established on a Tennessee line that has seen success the last four years. He's started in 54 of the 55 games he's played in during that time, including 12 contests in the 2022 season. Davis was part of the offensive line that blocked for running back Derrick Henry, who has become one of the best ...

Missouri seeing record numbers after voters make recreational marijuana legal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri is on track to set a record for cannabis sales in the United States. Sales are skyrocketing after weed was made legal in Missouri and people were allowed to purchase the drug from dispensaries."Pretty incredible that we would see those type of sales in Missouri," Tony Patton, co-founder of Fresh Karma Dispensaries, said. Trending: Battlehawks set attendance record, win in home-opener Missouri is on track to be the fastest state to reach $1 billion in cannabis sales. Dispensaries, like Fresh Karma, believe it after seeing high sales themselves in the last month."If we had to guess, I would say sales would continue to grow in the state," Patton said.Since adult use became legal in Missouri and dispensaries have been able to sell starting Feb. 3, 2023, he said business has been booming."We expected a two to three times the sales," Patton said. "And we're seeing approximately five times the sales."He anticipates even more growth and more green over the next...

Yet another storm headed for Southern California; heavy rain expected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

Rinse. Repeat.Another atmospheric river “event” is expected to bring heavy amounts of rainfall to Southern California on Tuesday into Wednesday, and the National Weather Service is warning that more flooding is possible.“We’re not just talking about a little shower passing through. We’re talking about a significant 24-hour storm,” said KTLA weather anchor Kacey Montoya.After a relatively dry Monday, rain begins to arrive early Tuesday morning and will increase in intensity throughout the day.“During peak rainfall around midday, some areas of the Los Angeles metro area will receive a half-inch to an inch of rain per hour,” Montoya said.Metropolitan Los Angeles can expect 2-4" of rainfall with the next storm. March 13, 2023.The NWS is forecasting rainfall totals of two to four inches for coastal areas and valleys, and three to six inches in the foothills. The mountains of southeastern Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County may see as much as seven inches of rain. California...

EPA looking to shut down 2 cesspools at L.A. County mobile home park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has filed a complaint against the operator of a mobile home park in Acton, alleging that the park is using two large unlawful cesspools to collect untreated raw sewage.The complaint identifies Eric Hauck as the operator of Cactus Creek Mobile Home Park in Acton. He's also identified as a trustee of Acton Holding Trust.The EPA alleges that Hauck has two illegal cesspools on the property, despite large capacity cesspools being banned by the environmental agency more than 15 years ago.Cesspools, according to the EPA, collect and discharge waterborne pollutants like untreated raw sewage into the ground. The practice of using cesspools can lead to disease-causing pathogens to be introduced to local water sources, including groundwater, lakes, streams and oceans.They were banned by the EPA in April 2005 under the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control program.EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said ...

LAPD asking for public's help regarding killing of man in North Hollywood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for the public’s help in providing information that would lead to the arrest of the person or persons involved in the killing of a 44-year-old man in North Hollywood.  The incident occurred on Mar. 12, at around 1:20 a.m., when officers responded to the 7200 block of Bellaire Avenue on reports of a traffic collision.  When police arrived at the scene, they discovered the victim, identified as Artak Agababyan, in the driver’s seat of a newer model white Jeep Wrangler.  Agababyan was suffering from a "sharp-force injury" to his upper body, LAPD said in a news release.  Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and Agababyan was declared dead at the scene.  Authorities have no suspect information at this time.  Valley Bureau Homicide detectives are asking anyone who may have observed activity in the area of Raymer Street, between Coldwater Canyon and Bellaire Avenue, to come forward. ...

California bill aims to provide more protection for employees facing layoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

Amid mass layoffs in the tech industry, a new California bill aims to give impacted workers better advance notice.The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), would require California employers to alert employees of mass layoffs 90 days before they happen and prohibit employers from forcing employees to sign their rights away in exchange for severance pay.Twitter, for example, allowed employees to receive severance pay if they signed notices that prohibited them from speaking out against or suing the company, owner Elon Musk, or Twitter management, the Los Angeles Times reported. California lawmaker proposes bill to limit the risk of homelessness for state renters “Innovative industries like tech are a critical part of our state’s economy, and we know that tech companies start here and grow here because of our highly skilled workforce,” Haney said in a statement.  “This bill is about protecting that workforce, from the engineers to the janitors, and ma...

Victim identified in Los Angeles hit-and-run; driver still at large

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:12 GMT

Authorities continue to search for a driver who allegedly plowed into two pedestrians in Pico Rivera late Sunday night, killing one of them, and then fled the scene.The crash occurred around 11:20 p.m. near the intersection of Rooks and Rose Hills roads, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Two women were walking southbound on the curb of Rooks Road when they were struck by a vehicle traveling in the same direction. The driver took off, continuing south and out of view, officials said.Los Angeles County firefighters responded and provided life-saving measures, but one of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Coroner identified her as Yesenia Sanchez, 36, of Los Angeles.The other victim was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.No further details about the incident, including information about the suspect vehicle, were released.Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Pico Rivera sheriff’s station at 562-949-2...