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Russian militia maintains ruthless role in Africa after failed rebellion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

BIRAO, Central African Republic (AP) — The Russian mercenary group that briefly threatened President Vladimir Putin’s authority has for years been a ruthless force-for-hire across Africa, protecting rulers at the expense of the masses. That dynamic is not expected to change now that the group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been exiled to Belarus as punishment for the failed rebellion.The Wagner Group brutalizes civilians in the Central African Republic, Mali and elsewhere to crush dissent and fend off threats to their leaders’ power. In exchange, Russia gains access to natural resources and ports through which weapons can be shipped, and receives payments that enrich the Kremlin and help it fund operations elsewhere, including the war in Ukraine.Neither Russia nor the African leaders dependent on Wagner’s fighters have any interest in ending those relationships. But many questions linger in the aftermath of Wagner’s stunning revolt, such as who will lead its thousands...

Mother in deadly Maxwell Street Express shooting files lawsuit against City of Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

CHICAGO — The mother who was arrested for murder at a Far South Side hot dog stand, but later had the charges dropped, filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago Tuesday morning. At the beginning of the press conference, attorney Ari Williams thanked Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx before Carlishia Hood spoke out for the first time."On June 18 of this year my life changed, my son’s life changed, I've experiences pain in many ways that I would have never have thought, what happened to me was totally," Carlishia Hood said.Hood and her 14-year-old son were released from Cook County Jail Monday after prosecutors dropped first-degree murder charges in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Jeremy Brown.Hood and her son had been charged with murdering Brown at a Maxwell Street Express restaurant, located near the corner of 116th Street and Halsted in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood on June 18.Store surveillance captured the moment Hood and 32-year-old Brown got into an argument. At ...

Chicago has worst air quality in the world due to wildfire smoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

CHICAGO —  Wildfire smoke from Canada has brought air quality levels to unhealthy levels in Chicago and much of the Midwest.Chicago currently has the worst air quality in the world right now.An Air Quality Alert has been issued for the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana though Wednesday night. Counties include Cook, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle, Lake and McHenry in Illinois.People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep outdoor activities short. Others should choose less strenuous activities limit active time outdoors. Here’s how you can check the air quality in Illinois Chicago now has the worst air quality of any major city in the world right now. #Chicago #AirQuality @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/BG0tZfWe8E— Bill Snyder (@billyweather) June 27, 202311:30 AM: AQI index has reached VERY UNHEALTHY levels. Illinois EPA has finally issued an Air Quality Alert through tomorrow nig...

Jimmie Johnson's in-laws, nephew reportedly killed in apparent murder-suicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

(WGHP) — A NASCAR star's family has been killed in what appears to be a murder-suicide in Oklahoma. According to TMZ, Jimmie Johnson's mother- and father-in-law, 68-year-old Terry and 69-year-old Jack Janway, and his 11-year-old nephew, Dalton, died in a fatal shooting on Monday, and law enforcement sources are investigating it as a murder-suicide. Death of Texas airport worker ‘ingested’ into plane engine ruled a suicide A police report obtained by Nexstar's KFOR says a 911 dispatcher received a call just after 9 p.m. Monday from a female reporting "a disturbance" and saying someone had a gun. The caller then hung up.Police searching the home found one body in the hallway inside the front door and then heard another gunshot. While searching the rest of the home, they found the other two bodies. "There's no threat to the community, so it's looking very likely that it's a murder-suicide," Muskogee police officer Lynn Hamlin told the Muskogee Phoenix.Police say they believe Terry J...

Frustrations mount over lack of answers in Stevenson Expressway hit-and-run that killed mother of 2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Two groups are demanding insight into a hit-and-run on the Stevenson Expressway that claimed a woman's life and left another person injured. Despite the Interstate 55 in Bolingbrook tragedy occurring early on Friday, June 27, the family says there has been little to no communication with investigators following the death of Perla Andrade. In response, two dozen family friends and community members on Tuesday protested at the exit to the Stevenson Expressway near Little Village. The group called on Illinois State Police to provide more information about their investigation.  Suburban man accused of striking 2 horses, fleeing scene The 28-year-old mother of two was on her way back to the city with a friend when their car ran out of gas near Bolingbrook. Police said a vehicle was pulled over onto the right shoulder of the road when the driver and a passenger exited the car. They were standing close to the third lane when they were both struck by a semi-truck....

Resident: Willowbrook shooting scene has been a problem for years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

WILLOWBROOK, Ill. — The first meeting of the DuPage County Board included only brief mentions of a mass shooting that killed one person and injured more than 20 others earlier this month.“We value them - as we do all of our residents - and we want them to know the county is here to help them with the challenges in their neighborhood,” DuPage County board chair Deborah Conroy (D) said in prepared remarks at the beginning of the meeting. Conroy said she met with people who live near the shooting scene in unincorporated Willowbrook earlier this week. Family, attorney of man killed in Willowbrook shooting hold news conference DuPage officials have been tight-lipped about the shooting and subsequent investigation, issuing limited press releases but not responding to other media inquiries. “Once our investigation is completed, we are committed to full and complete transparency with everyone,” read a statement attributed to the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.Sheriff James Mendr...

7 award-winning Chicagoland breweries to check out this summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

While plenty of Chicagoans love to kick back with a cold Miller Lite or Modelo during 'Summer Time Chi,' there are more than a half-dozen Chicagoland craft breweries who recently took home awards from the 'Olympics of Beer' that could step up to the plate and be the beer in your hand this summer.The World Beer Cup (WBC), often known as the Olympics of beer competition, was founded in 1996 and every year since, brewers from around the world have come together to determine the best brews across a number of growing beer categories.In 2023, more than 10,000 beers from nearly 2,400 breweries in 51 different countries competed in the competition, with seven craft breweries from the Chicagoland area medaling in their respective categories.Here are each of the breweries, a little bit on their history, and the story behind each of their their award-winning beers:Sketchbook (Skokie & Evanston)Sketchbook Brewing exterior in Evanston.Sketchbook Brewing interior in Evanston.Sketchbook Brewin...

Suburban man accused of striking 2 horses, fleeing scene

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — A man was charged after striking two horses and then allegedly driving away from the scene.At around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, authorities responded to the 18400 block of West Casey Road in unincorporated Grayslake on the report of two dead horses in the road.Police at the scene noted that the horses were struck by a Nissan pickup truck, which had parts left behind, that fled the scene.A short time later, police said a Park City officer discovered a man, later determined to be Nabor Carrillo, 56, of Park City, removing items from a damaged Nissan Frontier.Carrillo was transported to a hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.He was charged with driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of an accident. CPD issues alert after 10 apartments ransacked downtown Following an investigation, police determined four horses escaped from an enclosed farm in the area. The other two horses were located and safely returned.

CPD issues alert after 10 apartments ransacked downtown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

CHICAGO — Police issued a community alert after 10 apartments were recently ransacked downtown.In each of the incidents, residents had their front doors pried open with a tool to gain access to the apartment. The apartments were ransacked, police said. Five of the incidents happened on the morning on June 20 in the 300 block of West Ohio Street. 25-year-old woman dies after South Shore shooting A timeline of the incidents is below.500 block of North Michigan Ave., Thursday, June 15 during the afternoon hours.500 block of North Michigan Ave., Thursday, June 15 in the afternoon hours.300 block of West Hubbard St., Saturday, June 17 in the afternoon hours.300 block of West Ohio St, Saturday, June 17 in the afternoon hours.700 block of West Jackson Blvd., Saturday, June 17 in the afternoon hours.300 block of West Ohio St, Tuesday, June 20 in the morning hours.300 block of West Ohio St, Tuesday, June 20 in the morning hours.300 block of West Ohio St, Tuesday, June 20 in the morning hou...

Ford planning to lay off hundreds of workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:17 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Ford Motor Co. is planning to cut at least 1,000 employees in North America, largely from its engineering department. A company spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that the company began informing some salaried employees that their jobs will be cut in the following weeks. The spokesperson also told the media outlet that managers informed employees that layoffs were coming in meetings on Monday, asking the affected teams to work from home for the rest of the week. The Hill has reached out to Ford for comment and more information.  Americans are hiding their credit card debt The news comes nearly a week after initial reports of another round of layoffs happening at the company. The latest cuts impacted employees who worked in the company’s electric vehicle (EV) and software division, as well as those who work in Ford’s gas-engine side of the business. Ford also had a round of layoffs last August, cutting about 3,000 white...