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Canadian family of Hamas hostages calling for their release at any cost

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

As the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt opens to people for the first time since the war between Israel and Hamas began, families of Hamas hostages are calling on the Canadian government to secure their release. At least 20 Palestinian patients and 110 dual nationals have left so far and over 200 have been approved to leave. None of them are Canadian citizens.It’s been 25 days for families of the Hamas hostages as they continue waiting for word on their loved ones.  Canadian Aharon Brodutch is speaking out about the violent kidnapping of his close relatives, including children and the desperation to get them homeA non-stop roller coaster of emotion is how Brodech described the last three weeks. The Toronto resident’s sister in-law Hagar, 10-year-old niece Ofri, two young nephews Yuval and Uriah, were taken by Hamas during a rampage at their Kibbutz near the Gaza border. “My niece, hopefully, she’s just an incredible child. So fun-lov...

Israel criticizes South American countries after they cut diplomatic ties and recall ambassadors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Israel criticized Bolivia, Chile and Colombia on Wednesday after the South American countries undertook a series of diplomatic moves to protest Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza.Other Latin American countries, including Argentina and Brazil, have also increased their criticism of the impact that Israel’s military operations are having on civilians.Israel on Wednesday called on Colombia and Chile to “explicitly condemn the Hamas terrorist organization, which slaughtered and abducted babies, children, women and the elderly,” according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The call came hours after Chile and Colombia both recalled their ambassadors to Israel on Tuesday evening amid criticism of the killing of civilians in Gaza.“Israel expects Colombia and Chile to support the right of a democratic country to protect its citizens, and to call for the immediate release of all the abductees, and not align themselves with Ve...

Off-duty CPD officer under investigation after shoving 8th grader

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer is under investigation after allegedly shoving an eighth grader at a South Side school.According to the child's mother, the incident happened before the first bell rang outside of Gresham School of Excellence in the City's Auburn Gresham neighborhood back in May, and was caught on the school's security cameras.The security footage shows eighth grader Jaquwuan Williams walking into school with a black sweatshirt and jeans on, having just wrapped up a game of basketball with his friends before heading in to get ready for school.Video shows as he approaches his teacher, the man standing next to her, an off-duty Chicago police officer, turns to him and shoves him by the neck."The casual violence, the completely unprovoked attack would be shocking if it was anyone," said Jordan Marsh, the victim's attorney. "There's no question about it. This was a battery and the fact that it was on public property makes it an aggravated battery." Des Plaines man cha...

2 cousins charged after Carpentersville shooting leaves teen dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

KANE COUNTY, Ill. -- Two cousins face first degree murder charges after a shooting left a teenager dead and two others injured last week in Carpentersville.According to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, 19-year-old Alan Medina and his 16-year-old cousin, Jimmy, were driving on the 60 block of Robin Road in Carpentersville around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25.While driving on Robin Road, one or both of the Medina's fired multiple gunshots towards a vehicle with multiple individuals inside. Venezuelan migrants accused of stealing nearly $3K in merchandise from Oak Brook Macy’s A 17-year-old from Carpentersville was discovered by police laying in the road with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Another victims was shot and continues to recover from their injuries. A third victim was grazed by a bullet, but recovered. Two other occupants were not injured in the shooting.The Medina's were taken into custody on Fr...

New approach to stopping spread of hepatitis C helping to protect babies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

There is a new approach to stop the spread of hepatitis C and help protecting babies from a common virus striking their mothers.Hepatitis C cases are on the rise – fueled by the opioid epidemic and the use of needles. Born from the crisis – there is an uptick in women of child-bearing age who learn they have the virus during pregnancy.Dr Lynn Yee is a maternal fetal medicine physician with Northwestern Medicine.“We’re seeing a dramatic increase of Hep C in the United States because it’s a hidden epidemic that really parallels the opioid epidemic,” she said.It’s a virus – often spread by needle drug use -- that impacts the liver.“Hepatitis C can cause chronic liver scarring and fibrosis,” Yee said. “It can eventually contribute to liver cancer and liver failure and lots of long-term complications we hope to prevent.”Learn more at Northwestern Medicine's Women’s Infectious Disease Program sitePregnant women who test positive have a 5 to 15 percent chance of passing hepatitis c to thei...

Missing 15-year-old girl last seen 2 weeks ago on Chicago's Near West Side, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police seek the public's help locating a 15-year-old girl who has been missing for two weeks.Kennedi Showers was last seen in the 2100 block of W. Jackson Blvd., on the city's Near West Side, on Oct. 18. The missing girl is also known to frequent the area of 69th and Dan Ryan.Police described Kennedi as 5-foot-5-inches, weighing 118 pounds with brown eyes, brown eyes and a dark skin complexion. She was last seen wearing black clothing with white shoes. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Anyone with information on Kennedi's whereabouts is asked to contact police at (312) 744-8266

Confusion, frustration and hope at Gaza's border with Egypt as first foreign passport-holders depart

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of foreign passport-holders and dozens of other seriously wounded Palestinians desperate to escape Israel's bombardment of Gaza crowded around the black iron gate on the Egyptian border Wednesday, hoping to pass through the enclave’s only portal to the outside world for the first time since the war began.Restless children pressed their faces against the wire mesh as families with backpacks and carry-on suitcases pushed and jostled. The air was thick with apprehension.Everyone was waiting for the Hamas authorities to call their names over the scratchy loudspeaker. Each name represented another individual with a chance to escape the punishing war that has killed over 8,800 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and forever altered the enclave they had called home. “We are relying on God and hoping that we get out,” said Rania Hussein, a Jordanian resident of Gaza, as she breathlessly described the horrors she had fled — en...

Suburban farm offers unique camping experience

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

BARRINGTON, Ill. — A unique northwest suburban campground is combining camping and furry animals — just in time for fall.Forty alpacas that call SafeHouse Farm on West Chatham Road home along with 11 chickens, one donkey,  two geese, six rabbits, one miniature horse, 12 ducks, three mini heifers and two turkeys.For former schoolteacher, Linda McGill, SafeHouse Farm is a classroom — just a little louder and muddier. More from Erin: CPS student’s STEM project making an impact in the world of wildfires Kids never want to leave after the hour-long tour is over. And that got Linda's son Ryan McGill thinking."Having this open space we figured it would be a good way (to) utilize the space and incorporate camping,” he said. “And it would allow people to also have access to the farm."Two sites, a couple firepits, picnic tables and a porta potty later, SafeHouse Farm became one of the coolest campgrounds around.WGN’s Erin McElroy has more.

Donald Trump Jr. testifies in his father's civil fraud trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump Jr. testified Wednesday that he never worked on his father's financial statements, the documents at the heart of the civil fraud trial that threatens former President Donald Trump’s real estate empire.The ex-president's eldest son is an executive vice president of the family's Trump Organization and has been a trustee of a trust set up to hold its assets when his father was in the White House. But when the son was asked whether he had ever worked on his father's “statement of financial condition” in any year, the scion said: “Not that I recall.”The lawsuit centers on whether the former president and his business misled banks and insurers by inflating his net worth on the financial statements. He and other defendants, including sons Donald Jr. and Eric, deny wrongdoing.Donald Trump Jr. said he signed off on statements as a trustee, but had left the work to outside accountants and the company's then-finance chief, Allen Weisselberg. What is a dry promoti...

IRS announces changes to 2024 retirement contribution limits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The Internal Revenue Service delivered good news for retirement savers Wednesday, announcing that the limit on contributions to 401(k) and other popular accounts will be higher in 2024.The IRS, citing the rising cost of living, boosted the annual individual contribution limits for 401(K), 403(b), most 457 plans and the government's Thrift Savings Plan by $500, to $23,000.People who are 50 or older can contribute another $7,500 to those plans in 2024 as part of the catch-up contribution program, which will have a limit of $30,500.These plans are typically created for employees to stash tax-deferred dollars in retirement accounts, also lowering their overall taxable income in the process.IRA plansIRA contributors will be able to invest up to $7,000 in 2024, up from $6,500, with the catch-up contribution limit for those 50 or older set at $8,000.Raising contribution limits allows savers to put aside more money to meet retirement goals, something that is especially helpful f...