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UN warns of lab risk, more displacement amid Sudan conflict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — U.N. officials said Tuesday that one side in the Sudan conflict has seized control of a national health lab in the capital of Khartoum that holds biological material, calling it an “extremely dangerous” development.The announcement came as officials warned that more refugees could flee Sudan despite a cease-fire between rival forces.The fighting has plunged Sudan into chaos, pushing the already heavily aid-dependent African nation to the brink of collapse. Before the clashes, the U.N. estimated that a third of Sudan’s population — or about 16 million people — needed assistance, a figure that is likely to increase.Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the World Health Organization’s representative in Sudan, expressed concerns that “one of the fighting parties” — he did not identify which one — had seized control of the central public health laboratory in Khartoum and “kicked out all of the technicians.”“That is extremely, extremely dangerous because we have polio isola...

Germany arrest Syrian suspected of planning Islamist attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities have arrested a Syrian man on suspicion of planning to carry out an explosives attack motivated by Islamic extremism, officials said Tuesday.Federal police said officers arrested the 28-year-old man early Tuesday in the northern city of Hamburg based on a court-issued warrant for suspected terrorism financing offenses.Investigators say the man is suspected of trying to obtain substances online that would have allowed him to manufacturer an explosive belt “in order to carry out an attack against civilian targets.”Police say the man was encouraged and supported in his action by his 24-year-old brother, who lives in the southern town of Kempten. German news agency dpa reported that the younger man was also detained.The brothers, whose names weren’t immediately released, were described by federal police as being motivated by “radical Islamist and jihadist” views.Authorities said they had no information indicating a concrete target for the planned a...

Dutch leader pledges to repay debt to quake-hit region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized Tuesday to residents of the northern province of Groningen who have suffered for years from earthquakes caused by gas extraction that damaged thousands of homes and ruined lives.Rutte’s apology and a pledge to fund a generation-long program to revitalize the remote region came as his government published its official reaction to a damning parliamentary commission report issued in February that said the government owed the Groningen region a “debt of honor” after putting gas profits before people for decades.“We stand here, cap in hand,” Rutte told residents in the northern village of Garmerwolde. “We can’t take away all the suffering from the past. We can’t undo what has gone wrong since gas extraction started. But we are determined to do things differently, working closely with the people here. And that means a commitment of years, an approach for an entire generation.”The government pledged ...

Kim Foxx expected to make announcement on her political future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is expected to discuss her political future during an address to the City Club of Chicago Tuesday.Foxx won a second term as Cook County state’s attorney in 2020.Her tenure ushered in sweeping changes in how the Cook County prosecutor handles crime and punishment.For several years, amid a rise in crime in the City of Chicago, critics have labeled her social justice reform as failing the community.Foxx has faced criticism from the Chicago Police Department, and from Mayor Lori Lightfoot on charging decisions, home monitoring, as well as the handling of high profile cases like Jussie Smollett. Previous Coverage: Police: Officers called to Kim Foxx’s home for report of domestic dispute Those close to her also say that changes in her personal life may also be factoring into her announcement.More on this story as it develops.

1 dead, another injured after Lemont petroleum plant explosion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

LEMONT, Ill. — One person died and another was injured following an explosion Tuesday morning at a petroleum plant in Lemont.At around 9:30 a.m., authorities issued an alert for the public to avoid the area of New Avenue and 127th Street as they responded to Seneca Petroleum.The Will County Sherriff's Office said initial reports indicated the explosion may have been from an asphalt tank and there is no active danger to the public. The fire has been controlled, authorities said.One person died as a result and another person was transported to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet. Their condition is not available at this time.OSHA and ComEd have been called to the scene. Authorities said the explosion caused from power lines to come down.WGN News has a crew at the scene and will update this story once more information becomes available.

Chance the Rapper celebrates 10th anniversary of 'Acid Rap' with concert at United Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Chance the Rapper is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his mixtape "Acid Rap" with a concert this summer at Chicago's United Center.The anniversary show is scheduled for August 19 at the arena located at 1901 West Madison Street. Tinley Park’s music venue gets a new name Presale tickets for the concert go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday at livenation.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting at 10 a.m. Friday.The concert will be Chance's first show at the United Center since 2019.

Chicago Fire FC breaks ground on practice facility Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the biggest projects in the 26-year history of Chicago's Major League Soccer franchise took another major step on Tuesday. That's when executives of Chicago Fire FC along with the City of Chicago are expected to break ground on the club's new 53,000-square-foot practice facility in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood. A ceremony is being held on Tuesday morning at the Jane Addams Family Resource Center, with remarks from Fire and city leaders expected around 10:30 a.m. The official groundbreaking ceremony is expected at 11:15 a.m.Being built at a reported cost of $80-to-$90 million, which will be financed by the Fire, the club signed the ground lease for the property that used to be ABLA homes for the Chicago Housing Authority back in March.It's a 23.3-acre site that borders Roosevelt Road, Ashland Avenue, 14th Street, and Loomis Street.Plans call for the two-story performance center, two-and-a-half hybrid grass, and three synthetic turf fields to be built on that lan...

Family looking for missing man with autism last seen near Midway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Family is looking for a missing 30-year-old man last seen Sunday night near Midway.Jonathen "Johnny" Cruz, 30, was last seen at his home near 55th and Kenneth at around 8:45 p.m.He has autism and schizophrenia and family said he had an episode at home and disappeared.Cruz is known to frequent Jewel Osco near 55th and Pulaski, but family has not located him there at this time.Johnny CruzHe is 5'8", 170 lbs., with brown eyes and black hair. Cruz was last seen wearing a grey sweater, black baggy pants and black shoes.If located, call 911.

Connecticut nursing student helps save man's life at JFK airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — A nursing student from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut submitted a paper on the importance of training the public in CPR before leaving for spring break. Just 12 hours later, she was administering CPR at an airport to help save a man's life. Senior nursing major Natalie Davies was waiting for her flight at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, where she was set to head to New Orleans to begin her spring break trip, when she heard someone scream. SHU school officials said Davies saw a man lying on the ground, and her instincts took over. Along with another passenger, whom she later learned was a cardiologist, Davies began to respond to the unconscious man. "With my clinical experience, plus my work in the emergency room at Yale New Haven Hospital, I just reacted," Davies said. Davies and the cardiologist couldn't find a pulse, so she began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compressions. Someone nearby brought the pair an automated external defibrilla...

Where will Gophers players be picked in NFL Draft?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:52 GMT

The Gophers football program is producing NFL draft picks at a rate unseen for Minnesota in decades.Eleven U players have been selected over the past three drafts (2020-22), and this is the foundation for what can happen this week. If three more players are drafted from Thursday to Saturday, those 14 total across four consecutive drafts would be the most since 1988-91.If four or more prospects come off the board in Kansas City, Mo., it would be the most since 19 were picked from 1971-74. That stands as the program record in the common draft era (post-1970).“That is a really healthy program,” head coach P.J. Fleck said.All-America center John Michael Schmitz is most likely to be the first Gophers player to hear his name called, likely in the second round but possibly in the first. Cornerback Terell Smith and safety Jordan Howden are the next top U draft prospect forecast to go in the middle to late rounds.The Gophers’ other draft hopefuls are All-American running back Mo Ibrahi...