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Railroad industry sues to block new locomotive pollution rules in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The railroad industry on Friday sued to block new environmental rules in California, arguing they would force the premature retirement of about 25,000 diesel-powered locomotives across the country long before their zero-emission counterparts are ready to take their place.California’s aggressive strategy to fight climate change by weaning the state off fossil fuels has produced some of the world’s toughest environmental regulations in the past few years. Since 2020, the state has OK’d rules that would ban the sale of new gas-powered cars, lawn equipment and trucks by the middle of the next decade.Those rules are designed to slowly phase out gas- and diesel-powered products by banning the sale of most new combustible engines. But the rules governing railroads would ban the use of locomotives more than 23 years old starting in 2030 and would force railroads to start setting aside more than $1 billion a year starting this fall solely to purcha...

City of Toronto to open 10 outdoor pools on Saturday. Here’s where they are

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

Just in time for Father’s Day and coinciding with a stretch of beautiful summer weather, the City of Toronto announced it will start to open up some of its outdoor pools this weekend.Ten of the 59 city-operated pools will open Saturday on a partial schedule, while the remaining outdoor pools will open on Saturday, June 24 — also on a partial schedule.10 pools opening on Saturday, June 17Alex Duff Memorial Pool – 779 Crawford St.Kiwanis Outdoor Pool – 375 Cedarvale Ave.Heron Park Community Centre – 292 Manse Rd.Grandravine Community Centre – 23 Grandravine Dr.McGregor Community Centre – 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.Monarch Park Outdoor Pool – 115 Felstead Ave.Parkway Forest Community Centre – 59 Forest Manor Rd.Sunnyside – Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool – 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.West Mall Outdoor Pool – 370 The West MallWest Grove Park Outdoor Pool – 15 Redgrave Dr.Reservations are available for Aquafit only, the city said, noting that new reservation spots are released Thursdays at 8 a....

German police appeal for images taken of an attack in which U of I grads were pushed down a steep slope

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Police in southern Germany are appealing for photos and videos taken by witnesses of an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which an American man allegedly pushed two University of Illinois alums down a steep slope, killing one of them.A suspect was arrested following the attack. Mayor’s office says Johnson wasn’t aware e-signature would be used for $10 million ShotSpotter contract extension German news agency dpa quoted police as saying Friday that they have so far received about a dozen submissions on a specially created website, but assume many more images were taken by tourists present at the site.“We are looking for photographs which, by chance, show two young women and a man (approx. 30 years old) who were staying east of the Marienbruecke,” Kempten police said on their website. “These persons may have been walking together or separately.”The Marienbruecke, or Mary's Bridge, is a popular vantage point for photos of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castle...

Sail GP makes Lake Michigan a raceway this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

CHICAGO — The world’s greatest sailors are preparing to battle out on Lake Michigan.  The Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix will take place Friday and Saturday.This is the second consecutive year the race is making a stop here in Chicago.  It’s described as NASCAR on the water.  The tight course will take place inside of the outer harbor break wall between Navy Pier and the Planetarium.  The 10 F50 catamarans of Sail GP are capable of reaching speeds up to 60 miles per hour.  This weekend’s event kicks off the season which will stretch through next summer with 12 events at stops all over the world.  While in Chicago, there will be three 12 to 15 minutes races that will take place on each day.  The city’s two-day race has brought in fans from near and far, all the experience the adrenaline in person.  While tickets are available for people who would like a front row seat to the action, you can take in the view from just about anywhere along the la...

Pleasant, dry for Father's Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

It took a while—but the sun broke from the clouds temps more like those of late April than mid June. The high near 69 Friday is a reading 11-deg below normal.It was cool enough to rank among the coolest 20% of June 16's on the book in Chicago since 1942.We head into the Father's Day weekend with slow warming bringing daytime temps closer to seasonal norms. Lake breezes are likely to limit warming on area beaches.  Highs Saturday reach 77 inland and 83 on Sunday—but air temps on Chicago's beaches will remain in the mid 60s to low 70s.SMOKE OFF CANADIAN WILDFIRES (446 of them—half burning out of control) will ease a bit—but NOT disappear. So weekend skies will continue to boast a HAZY APPEARANCE due to lingering smoke aloft.A disturbance slips southeastward from Iowa and Missouri into downstate Illinois and Indiana largely bypassing the Chicago area with its rains—and allowing the region's abysmal rain tally since April to stand.  Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Cent...

WGN, WGN Radio and NewsNation volunteer on Nexstar Founder's Day of Caring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

WGN Radio, WGN-TV and NewsNation partnered together for the 27th annual Nexstar's Founder's Day of Caring, a day when employees volunteer as a group at an organization in their community.This year, staff volunteered at Cradles to Crayons Chicago and donated blood at a Vitalant Blood Drive. At Cradles to Crayons, the morning and afternoon volunteers sorted clothing into various age groups, stuffed back-to-school backpacks, and cleaned shoes in keeping with the organization's cornerstone value: With Quality = Dignity. By the numbers, here is how WGN Radio, WGN-TV and NewsNation helped the organizations: The morning shift at Cradles to Crayons packed 774 backpacks, cleaned 70 shoes, and sorted clothes for 62 kids. The afternoon shift at Cradles to Crayons packed 784 backpacks, cleaned 41 shoes and sorted clothes for 54 kids. Online donations resulted in over $1,352 raised for Cradles to Crayons which provides 188 new backpacks filled with all the supplies kids need to start the next sc...

Marcus Leshock on meeting Skilling as a kid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Morning News’ Marcus Leshock talks about him and his mom meeting Tom Skilling as a kid, and what makes WGN-TV truly special.For more great WGN at 75 stories check out WGNtv.com/stories

When Toomey’s ‘Batman’ met the real Batman 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Mike Toomey’s earliest appearances on WGN Morning News was impersonating the Adam West-era Batman. What did the real Adam West think when he met his alter ego? For more great WGN at 75 stories check out WGNtv.com/stories

DOJ investigation finds dangerous policing tactics from Minneapolis police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – An investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department, which began the day after the murder conviction of the officer who killed George Floyd, found that the police department used dangerous tactics and weapons, particularly when dealing with minorities.The damning report from the Justice Department says that for years the Minneapolis Police Department regularly used excessive force, particularly in Black and Native American communities.“George Floyd should be alive today,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “The patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible.”On Friday, DOJ officials laid out the troubling pattern they say was entrenched in the department's practices.“Neck restraints are lethal force and we found MPD officers often use neck restraints without warning on people suspected of only minor offenses and on people who posed no threat,” Assistant Attorney General Kristin Clarke said. “An off-duty officer fired his...

Excessive heat for Father's Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another day, another day with triple digits and feels-like temperatures over 110º in many areas. Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by climate change' An Excessive Heat Warning continues for the Austin-metro and eastern counties until Sunday 8 p.m. Heat index values could reach up to 115°+. A Heat Advisory is in effect for all of the Hill Country until Sunday evening as well where feels-like temperatures will only be slightly lower.Extreme Heat Warning issued for all of the Austin-metro & eastern counties until Sunday 8 p.m.Dangerous heat and humidity will continue to be the top concern areawide - be sure to frequently check in on friends, family and neighbors, particularly seniors, children, those working outdoors, etc.A few isolated storms will attempt to develop late this afternoon into the evening hours. Although the storm count will likely be low (less than a handful), storms that do develop could be strong to severe. There is a low risk of severe storms in ...