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Survivors of Mexico’s worst migrant detention center fire stuck in limbo, unable to support families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Four months after a fire at an immigration detention center near the United States border, eight badly burned survivors are stuck in their rooms at a Mexico City hotel. They eat in the hotel restaurant and have regular medical check-ups and make calls home.The Mexican immigration agency covers the daily costs and medical care for survivors of the fire that killed 40 migrants. Advocates call that a conflict of interest for an agency whose officials now face criminal charges, including negligence and even homicide, in Mexico’s worst migrant detention center fire.Before the fire, some migrants incurred large debts to the smugglers who were supposed to deliver them to the United States. There, the migrants were supposed to immediately begin working to pay off the debts and support their families.The survivors of the March 27 fire now feel trapped, with no money to move. Seeking U.S. asylum is a lengthy process but the migrants say that none of them want to return to h...

Buying at the deadline: 4 trade targets for the Cubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Once gasping for air earlier in the month, the Chicago Cubs have come alive and the idea of them being buyers at the upcoming trade deadline is no longer inconceivable.That became clearer Wednesday night as the Cubs battled back from being down 7-2 going into the 5th inning against the Sox. The North Siders scored eight unanswered runs to win 10-7.After selling at the last two deadlines, buying is the right thing to do — not just for fans but for the upcoming free agent market and beyond. Selling veterans and free agent signings for the third consecutive year could send a bad message to agents and players.You'll remember two years ago when the Cubs traded massive names from their World Series core in Rizzo, Baez and Bryant. Without top brass ever calling it as such, the second rebuild since 2011 actually started on Dec. 29, 2020 when they traded Yu Darvish to San Diego for four prospects.Two years later, the Cubs' farm system has the depth multiple clubs dream about and ar...

Hammond gas station shooting leaves man critical days after vote on overnight closures was tabled

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

HAMMOND, Ind. — A man is in critical condition following a shooting Wednesday night at a gas station in Hammond. The shooting is the latest in a series of crime-related events at Hammond-area gas stations. It also comes days after councilmembers in Hammond declined to vote on a proposed ordinance that would have closed gas stations overnight in an effort to combat violent crime.Around 9:15 p.m. July 26, Hammond police responded to the Speedway gas station in the 6800 block of Calumet Ave. Arriving officers located a 22-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach.MORE NORTHWEST INDIANA NEWS: Person struck and killed by hit-and-run driver on interstate in Northwest IndianaAccording to police, the victim met with another person at the gas station before the shooting. No one is in custody. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (219) 852–2982.The ordinance would have mandated the closure of any gas station in city limits between midnight and 5 a.m. Gas sta...

Bronny James discharged from hospital after cardiac arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bronny James has been discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is resting at home, three days after the 18-year-old son of LeBron James went into cardiac arrest.Dr. Merije Chukumerije, a consulting cardiologist for Bronny James, said in a statement issued by the hospital Thursday that James was “successfully treated for a sudden cardiac arrest” thanks to “the swift and effective response by the USC athletics’ medical staff” after the incident Monday at the University of Southern California's Galen Center, where James was participating in basketball practice.“He arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center fully conscious, neurologically intact and stable. Mr. James was cared for promptly by highly-trained staff and has been discharged home, where he is resting. Although his workup will be ongoing, we are hopeful for his continued progress and are encouraged by his response, resilience, and his family and community support.”Earlier Thursday, LeBron James said...

Windy City Riot: Longest running street rollerblading contest in the world held in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Aggressive Inline Rollerbladers have been coming to Chicago every summer since 2002 to compete in what has become the longest running street competition in the world.On a recent Saturday, hundreds of participants, attendees, and spectators roamed the streets of downtown Chicago to watch and enjoy the Windy City Riot."The Windy City Riot is an iconic competition," Nate Buck, of Murdah Militia Skate Company, said. "It has opened up so many doors to people, involves an entire city, and exposes rollerblading to thousands of people every year."With a small but tight knit community, aggressive inline rollerblading has stood the test of time even without a successful financial gain as the skateboarding industry has had over the past two decades. Yet, that hasn't affected those who are or have been apart of the rollerblading's history.HistoryIn 2008's Barley Dead: The Saga of Modern Rollerblading documentary by Doug Urquhart, the film highlighted the "underground culture that has ...

Bastrop County identifies woman killed in 1979

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) – The Bastrop County Sheriff's Department said officials will hold a press conference on Thursday afternoon to update a case from the 1970s. According to Wednesday's announcement, the case involves a woman's body found on U.S. Highway 290 near FM 696. That is just southeast of Elgin. The department said she was found on June 21, 1979, and authorities were not able to identify her at the time.Forensics allowed officials to identify the woman in the 44-year-old cold case. She was identified as 22-year-old Kathy Ann Smith.Officials said Smith's body was exhumed in 2019 and 2022 in order to collect DNA samples, which ultimately led officials to her family tree.During a news conference, officials said the main suspect in the investigation was Henry Lee Lucas, a convicted serial killer who was sentenced to prison. Lucus died while serving his sentence.

1,500 miles of sidewalks are missing citywide. Here's what Austin's doing about it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin has approximately 1,500 miles of missing sidewalks citywide -- and disabilities commission members are encouraging city staff to speed up that work as much as possible.Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department (ATPWD) is poised to bring updates to its sidewalks, crossings and urban streets plan before council in September. Heading into fiscal year 2023-24, ATPWD will lay out its list of priority sidewalks in need of creation or refurbishments, largely using equity determinants to see where the needs are greatest.What does the city's sidewalk network look like right now?There are approximately 2,800 miles' worth of existing sidewalks within the city network, with roughly 1,500 miles of gaps existing. Since the department's last update six years ago, the city has increased its sidewalks network from 2,400 miles to 2,800 miles -- but members of the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities said at July 14 meeting that a robust, connect...

Nearly a quarter of suicide hotline calls in Texas going unanswered, data shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Over the past three months, as many as a quarter of calls being made to 988 -- a suicide and crisis hotline launched almost exactly a year ago -- go unanswered in Texas every month, according to data from 988.Here's what the data shows: In April, Texas 988 call centers received just north of 14,000 calls. The answer rate was 75%In May, the number of calls jumped up to more than 15,000 calls. The answer rate was 76%In June, Texas call centers got more than 14,200 calls and answered 80% of themThe hotline, formally known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, was shortened to make the number easier to remember more than a year ago. Shortly after its launch, 988 reported it saw a roughly 45% increase in calls. PREVIOUS: 988 mental health hotline gets funding to expand, enhance services Earlier this year, ...

MAP: East 5th improvements planned for CapMetro rail, trail access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin and CapMetro are collaborating on two projects' worth of improvements planned along the Red Line Trail and rail lines between Navasota and East 7th streets.The two-project uphaul aims to improve trail and sidewalk access, rail transit services and intersection safety within the project scope. CapMetro is recommending double-tracking the rail in two project zones:Project 1: Navasota Street to Robert T. Martinez Jr. StreetProject 2: Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street to East 7th StreetAs part of the proposed initiative, the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department is analyzing East 5th Street between Navasota Street and Pedernales Street "to support bicycle, pedestrian and vehicular access and safety with these rail improvement projects." This specific area features the intersection of five trail networks:Plaza Saltillo crosstown bikewayEastLink TrailRed Line TrailMoKan/Southern Walnut Creek TrailU.S. Hwy. 183 shared-use pathways(Courtesy: CapMe...

Lakeville star swimmer Regan Smith bumps medal count to three at world championships

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

Regan Smith continues to collect medals at the World Championships in Japan.The Lakeville swimmer added a silver and a bronze to her total on Thursday, finishing second in the 50-meter backstroke and third in the 200-meter butterfly.Smith swam the 50 back in 27.11 seconds, just three hundredths behind Australian Kaylee McKeown. That time was also just one hundredth of a second off Smith’s personal best in the event.“I’m really happy with that race. I think it was a really tight race and really fast,” Smith said. “I’m really pleased with my time.”Particularly because the swim came so closely after Smith’s swim in the 200 fly, a race she finished in 2 minutes, 6.58 seconds. Canada’s Summer McIntosh won that race in 2:04.06.The bronze comes after Smith failed to medal in the event at the 2022 World Championships.“So I’m making my way back up,” Smith said, “and I’m very proud of that.”The final race for the 21-year-old Mi...