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Kidnapping charge tossed out against ex-mayor in case of missing Mexican students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The former mayor of a southern Mexico town where 43 students were abducted and disappeared in 2014 has been cleared of a kidnapping charge in the case, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed Wednesday.José Luis Abarca, who will remain in prison for other crimes, had been considered one of the key figures in the students’ disappearances on Sept. 26, 2014 in Iguala.The students from a rural teachers’ college at Ayotzinapa had hijacked buses — a common method for students from poor schools to obtain transportation — and were in Iguala that day. Iguala municipal police were among the first authorities to stop the buses and take the students off. More than eight years later, only small bone fragments of three of the students have been recovered and positively identified.Investigations have been riddled with flaws, and courts have tossed out cases against other potential suspects. Some charges didn’t hold up because evidence was obtained through torture.W...

UN envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer to leave post in June

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Noeleen Heyzer, the U.N. special envoy for conflict-torn Myanmar, will be leaving the job in June, the United Nations announced Wednesday.She took on the job in October 2021 following the military coup in February of that year that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and has led to widespread armed resistance.U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Heyzer, a former U.N. undersecretary-general, will leave on June 12 at the end of her contract. Her nearly 20 months in the post is less than half the time of her predecessor, Christine Schraner Burgener.On her first trip to Myanmar last August, Heyzer met the head of the military-installed government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and called on him to urgently halt all violence, support a political path back to civilian rule and democracy, and allow the imprisoned Suu Kyi to return home and to meet with her.But the military took no action, and in a grim assessment Heyzer told the 193-member...

Chicago City Council approves $51M aid for migrant care

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

CHICAGO — BREAKING NEWS: Chicago City Council approved a $51 million proposal Wednesday to help with the growing costs of the city's migrant crisis.The vote was 34 "yes" and 13 "no." After passionate debate and loud outbursts by demonstrators, Chicago City Council approves using $51 million to help influx of migrants coming to city. pic.twitter.com/6zh4fEhGZG— Tahman Bradley (@tahmanbradley) May 31, 2023More than 8,000 migrants have been bussed to Chicago from Texas since August.Around 800 migrants are sleeping in police stations across the city.The $51 million is money the city received from opioid and vapor court settlements. One alderperson said it would only last about two months. 6 teens arrested after fight outside Six Flags Great America Last week, protestors packed the hallways outside the council chamber and their chants could be heard inside. Many demonstrating said the city should not be prioritizing migrants when so many communities have dealt with decades of di...

Pitbull, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias to bring 'Trilogy Tour' to Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Latin music superstars Pitbull, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias announced Wednesday they are joining forces for the "Trilogy Tour."The tour will run across North America starting this fall and will feature unique headlining sets from each artist. The 19-city tour is scheduled to make a stop at Chicago's United Center on November 1.Tickets for the Trilogy Tour will be sold through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program. Registration is open now through midnight Sunday. Fans who are selected will receive an access code to participate in the presale starting June 7.For more information, go to: www.livenation.com

Missing 15-year-old girl last seen in Hermosa, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old girl last seen by her family in Hermosa is missing, Chicago police said Wednesday. Shaira Rivera's last known location at around 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, at Palmer and Kildare on the city's Northwest Side.  Shaira has brown eyes and black hair, with a light skin complexion. She stands 4-foot-9-inches and weighs 90 pounds. She also has multiple facial piercings.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAnyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after Adidas cut ties with Kanye West

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of Adidas' remaining Yeezy shoes are back on sale — months after the German sportswear company cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.Adidas ended its yearslong partnership with Ye in late October, in light of his antisemitic remarks and other harmful behavior. In the months that followed, the fate of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) worth of unsold Yeezys remained unknown — until earlier this month, when Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden announced the company would be selling a portion of the remaining inventory and donating some of the proceeds to social justice organizations.The first batch of Adidas' remaining Yeezys went on sale Wednesday. At this time, the sneakers appear to be available through Adidas' app “Confirmed,” according to the retailer's website. Part of the profits will be donated to organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, Adidas says.Wednesday's release marks...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Overweight kids turning to weight-loss reduction surgery as a solution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

For Wednesday, May 31, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Weight-loss surgery on the rise in teens and childrenNew research shows more overweight children and teens are turning to weight-loss surgery as a solution.  The number of metabolic and bariatric surgeries for young people has steadily increased since 2016.  Those surgeries alter parts of the stomach and intestines to affect how the body absorbs food. Previously these surgeries have been underutilized in children because of low referral rates from pediatricians and poor insurance coverage.  Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics published new guidelines for treating obesity, urging quick use of behavior therapy and lifestyle changes and, for the first time, recommending surgery and medications for some young people. Heart attack speed up cognitive decline?Having a heart attack could speed up your cognitive decline. A new stu...

Weight loss surgeries rise substantially among adolescents: research 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

(The Hill) – Weight loss surgeries are on the rise among American teenagers and children, according to new study.  A new research letter, published in JAMA Pediatrics journal, said that metabolic and bariatric surgeries among adolescents ages 10-19 jumped by nearly 20 percent between 2020 and 2021 as severe obesity rates among the age group also increased. The research also found that severe obesity is the fastest-growing subcategory og obesity in the United States pediatric population, with a rising rate from 5.6 percent in 2015 to 6.5 percent in 2018.  This increase in severe obesity rates is about 4.8 million youths, the letter said. The researchers also noted that metabolic and bariatric surgery is a “safe and effective treatment” for severe obesity, saying that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a statement last year calling for increased pediatric access to these surgeries when it is medically needed.  They found that more adults and children and teenage...

Furries have 'nothing to do' with Florida law, senator says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

(NewsNation) — Furries in Florida are feeling the impact of a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans children from attending live adult entertainment. A large furry convention set in the Sunshine State for the fall has decided that in order to comply with SB 1438 or the “Protection of Children Act,” it will no longer allow anyone younger than 18 to attend.The law prohibits people from “knowingly admitting a child to an adult live performance.” Those breaking the law could face criminal punishment.A study published on the National Library of Medicine defines furries as “individuals who are especially interested in anthropomorphic or cartoon animals” and who “often strongly identify with anthropomorphic animals and create fursonas, identities of themselves as those anthropomorphic animals.” FBI won’t hand over docs requested by committee, Comer says Megaplex cited “legal reasons and protection of our attendees, our venue, and the overall convention” as reasons for the change ...

Man catches more than fish at Kansas lake; fire department helps reel in a big one

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:42 GMT

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) – A man fishing for crappie at Cheney Lake in Kansas got more than he bargained for on Memorial Day: He found a Jeep more than 16 feet below the surface. (Courtesy John Mounce)John Mounce calls himself a big-time crappie fisherman. He has all the newest, high-tech sonar gear, including a live scope.On Monday, he was about 130 feet from the dam at the lake, just west of Wichita, when he saw something on one of his monitors. He dropped down his live scope to get a better look. Bowfisherman scores world record fish in Missouri "As soon as I put my live scope on it, I knew immediately it was a vehicle. I saw the tires and the fender wheels really clear," he said.He also noticed a couple of crappie on the hood of the vehicle. Naturally, he caught the fish first, then packed up and called the authorities about the Jeep.Deputies with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office met Mounce at his house and took a look at his pictures. Mounce said authorities then beg...