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Illinois Supreme Court upholds state's ban on semiautomatic weapons

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the state's ban on the sale or possession of the type of semiautomatic weapons used in hundreds of mass killings nationally.In a 4-3 decision Friday, the high court found that the Protect Our Communities Act does not violate the federal Constitution's guarantee of equal protection of the law nor the state constitution's bar on special legislation.The court also decreed that state Rep. Dan Caulkins, a Decatur Republican, and like-minded gun-owners who brought the lawsuit had earlier waived their claims that the law infringes on the Second Amendment to own firearms and could not raise it before the Supreme Court.The Second Amendment claim is alive, however, in several federal lawsuits filed in southern Illinois, later consolidated and awaiting appeals court action.The law bans dozens of specific brands or types of rifles and handguns, .50-caliber guns, attachments and rapid-firing devices. No rifle is allowe...

Riot Fest releases 2023 aftershow lineup

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

CHICAGO — It'll be another explosive weekend of music at Riot Fest next month, but in case you aren't going there's plenty of great aftershows recently released.The annual festival takes place in Douglass Park from Sept 15-17 with Foo Fighters, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie and The Cure headlining.Some highlights:Kim GordonRock and Roll royalty has always come through The Empty Bottle and Saturday, Sept. 16 will be no different when Kim Gordon, of Sonic Youth, graces the stage.Listen in: Sonic Youth's Teenage RiotNEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Musician Kim Gordon performs live at 'A Night Of Improvised Round Robin Duets' during the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy at Brooklyn Masonic Temple on May 1, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images)The Black AngelsFans of the first season of "True Detective" will recognize The Black Angels from their excellent "Young Men Dead" being selected for the end of the credits. They also play Saturday, Sept...

Dunkin' teases line of 'Spiked' iced coffees, teas

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

(WJW) – Tired of spiking your own morning coffee from Dunkin'? There may be hope on the horizon.The Massachusetts-based coffee chain is teasing plans to release its very own line of hard iced coffees and teas to be sold under the "Dunkin' Spiked" name. Experts warn about ‘bed rotting’ trend As first reported by VinePair, the company has re-teamed with Harpoon Brewery — with whom Dunkin' previously collaborated on a line of Dunkin' Harpoon beer — to produce the spiked beverages. Dunkin' had also previously received approval for its Dunkin' Spiked product labels from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the outlet reported. A Dunkin' Spiked website touting the new beverages has since gone live, previewing a menu of canned iced coffees in "original," "caramel," "mocha" and "vanilla" flavors, each with an alcohol content of 6%. The spiked teas, at 5% ABV each, come in "slightly sweet," "half and half," "strawberry dragonfruit" and "mango pineapple" varieties.The products are ...

Dean's reviews: 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter'

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

Check out Dean's Reviews on the new The Last Voyage of the Demeter' movie in theaters.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Grand jury indicts Raul Meza on murder, capital murder connected to woman's 2019 death

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A grand jury has indicted Raul Meza, Jr., 62, in the 2019 death of his neighbor Gloria Lofton according to the Travis County District Attorney's Office. Online court records show he's being held on $1,000,000 bond. He was arrested by the Austin Police Department in May for capital murder. TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza’s criminal history In May, he was also charged with murder in the death of his roommate Jesse Fraga, 80.A grand jury also indicted Meza in that case on charges of murder and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. According to indictment documents for Lofton's case, the grand jury ruled that Meza strangled Lofton "in the course of committing and attempting to commit the offense of aggravated sexual assault."Indictment documents for Fraga's case, the grand jury ruled Meza knowingly caused Fraga's death by cutting, stabbing and strangling him. On May 24, Meza called the APD 311 line and was transferred to the homicide line, police said. Meza told a...

Construction on south I-35 could impact your back-to-school commute

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Over the last few months, the quiet summer traffic conditions and lack of rain allowed the construction crews working on the I-35 Capital Express South Project to ramp up work between Ben White Blvd and State Highway 45 Southeast.That's where two non-tolled High Occupancy Vehicle, or H-O-V lanes are being built in each direction in South Austin.Construction on I-35 Capital Express South Project near William Cannon DrTxDOT is also reconstructing bridges there, adding pedestrian and bicycle paths, and making additional safety and mobility improvements. PAST COVERAGE: TxDOT breaks ground on I-35 Capital Express South Project If this is where you commute, plan accordingly for your drive to take even more time than it did the last time school was back in session in the spring.And remember that speeding through a construction zone can result in a ticket that's at least $350.With back to school underway adding to the delays, the fine for not following the laws in school ...

ABJ: Austin's future may depend on these farmers

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- About 70 miles north of Austin, in a 20-acre agricultural manufacturing site, scores of lettuce seeds are evenly sowed by machines into dirt rows in palettes. Those palettes are then shuttled through a labyrinth of machines and conveyor belts, before coming to rest floating in water in a humid greenhouse.Over the next 20 days, their exposure to sun is varied by a retractable roof and potential contaminants are meticulously measured. When the plants are ready to harvest, the palettes are moved back along conveyor belts into a frigid room, where machines and humans work hand-in-hand to pick them, wash them, package them and send them to grocery stores throughout the South.It's a process that might be the future of farming and it's happening daily at Revol Greens Inc.'s new indoor greenhouse in Temple. ‘World’s largest lettuce greenhouse’ opens in Temple, Texas The company — which has brought its headquarters to Austin and its largest farming facil...

Life Made Simple Boutique in Burnt Hills closing its doors

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

BURNT HILLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Life Made Simple Boutique, located at 772 Saratoga Road in Burnt Hills, is closing. Owner Nicole Wilson made the announcement on the boutique's Facebook page on August 3. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "It’s been an amazing run," said Wilson. "I’ve met the most amazing people and had the pleasure of hand-selecting everything in the boutique. I helped many small-owned USA businesses by selling their amazing products. I’ve had so much support from friends, family, and the community."Wilson attributes the closure to a lack of business and said people are still shopping online. At one point, Life Made Simple also had a location in the Wilton Mall. New eatery opens at former TJ’s Cafe location in Colonie "Please continue to shop at your local stores and eat at the mom-and-pop restaurants," said Wilson. "Not every small business owner has to have a sad ending to their dream. Let’s really support local...

Neighborhood garage sale coming to Whitehall

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

WHITEHALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The streets of Whitehall are set to be full of garage sale goods this September. The 2023 Whitehall Neighborhood Garage Sale is setting up tables and getting to selling on Saturday, Sept. 9. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Organized by the Whitehall Road Neighborhood Connection, the sale invites neighbors across the village to join the movement and sell whatever they have lying around. Streets with sellers include, but may not be limited to:Whitehall RoadNew Scotland AvenueDartmouth StreetEdgecomb StreetRose CourtHolmes CourtS. Main AvenueS. Manning BoulevardHackett BoulevardCrestwood area Whitehall student selected as SADD national president A Facebook post on the Whitehall Road Neighborhood Connection includes comments from many village residents announcing specific addresses where sales will take place.

Emily Manley's path to covering Missouri politics

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:21:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS – You've seen her cover some of the biggest stories in Missouri. Emily Manley is the Missouri Chief Capital Bureau reporter for Nexstar Media, and her job is to cover state politics. She works for eight stations in different parts of the state, and has been in this role for more than three years.Why did you want to become a journalist?Manly became interested in journalism after first developing an interest in meteorology in the fourth grade. Her fascination with weather led her to watch Dave Murray on FOX 2 in St. Louis and create forecasts using markers on her bedroom mirror."I would pretend that I was pointing to the weather and talking to myself," said Manley. "This continued in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. I was the weird middle schooler who would make sure I was home in time, so I could watch the CBS Evening News. I loved that people got to tell other people's stories. So then, when I got to high school, it switched a little bit more into sports."She develo...