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‘Shrink the room’: How Biden and McCarthy struck a debt-limit deal and staved off a catastrophe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was advice that Mitch McConnell had offered to Joe Biden once already: To resolve the debt-limit standoff, he needed to strike a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy — and McCarthy alone. But after a first meeting of the top four congressional leaders with the president in early May, the Senate minority leader felt the need to reemphasize his counsel.After returning from the White House that day, McConnell called the president to privately urge him to “shrink the room” – meaning no direct involvement in the talks for himself, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.That, McConnell stressed to Biden, was the only way to avert a potentially economy-rattling default. A week later, Biden and McCarthy essentially adopted that path, tapping a handful of trusted emissaries to negotiate a deal that would lift the debt limit. It was a turning point in an impasse that until then, seemed intractable. Having lived through the debacle...

2 teens charged for killing of Waukegan volleyball coach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. -- Two teenagers were arrested Thursday in connection to the shooting death of Niolis Collazo.The Waukegan Police Department executed two arrest warrants around 8 a.m. Thursday at two different locations for two teenagers who are believed to be involved in the shooting death of 23-year-old Niolis Collazo last month. ORIGINAL: Waukegan High School volleyball coach shot and killed while driving: police Collazo, 23, of Waukegan, was killed in a shooting on 10th Street and Lewis Avenue in Waukegan around 10:45 p.m. Saturday, May 8. Police said Collazo’s car was one of two vehicles struck by gunfire.According to officials, a man, who occupied the first vehicle that was hit, was not injured. The second vehicle was occupied by Collazo, who was struck by the gunfire.She was transported to Vista East Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Wood Dale man arrested after leading police on hour-long, 100 mph chase On Thursday, Waukegan police arrested two teens, 16 and ...

King James Bible to be removed from Utah school library shelves in younger grades

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

FARMINGTON, Utah (ABC4) — Copies of the King James Bible are being removed from school library shelves at elementary and junior high facilities in Davis County, Utah, after a complaint that the scriptures feature material inappropriate for younger children.The complaint was filed by an unknown person in March after a statewide law passed in 2022 allowed residents to challenge the books found in school libraries. As of March, the law was used 81 times with Davis County having removed 33 books for material found to contain sex, vulgarity, and violence. Bible ban? School district reviewing the religious text after parent’s request A book removal request can be made on the district’s website, however, the requester must include reasoning. For example, the request for the Bible’s review included 49 pages of Biblical verses that could be deemed inappropriate under the law, including instances of murder, sex, and incest. Davis County School District Communications Director Christopher Wi...

Wisconsin lawmakers vote to spend $2 million to stage 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin lawmakers voted Thursday to approve spending $2 million to help stage the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay.The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee voted along party lines to include the funding in the two-year state budget it is drafting. The budget will need to be approved by the full Legislature, likely to happen later this month or early in July, and signed by Gov. Tony Evers before taking effect.The three-day 2025 NFL draft will take place in and around Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Chamber of Commerce estimates that the event could attract 240,000 people to the state, generating an estimated $20 million for Green Bay and $94 million for the state. RELATED: A Bears’ NFC North rival will host the 2025 NFL Draft Green Bay-area lawmakers, Republican Sen. Rob Cowles and GOP Rep. David Steffen asked for the funding.The committee also voted to increase funding for tourism marketing by $20 million and create ...

NYS Legislature recognizes 50 years of messenger services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Legislature is celebrating 50 years of messenger services. Messengers make hundreds of deliveries throughout Empire State Plaza and neighboring buildings each day.They also answer phones, track packages, and more. Many messengers have disabilities, and on Thursday, they were recognized with a banquet in the Senate Hall focusing on what they can do. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "We know that this group of employees has really given incredible value to us as a body in addition to making sure our messages get to where they're supposed to be on time, and also bring a spirit of friendliness and just willingness to do so much," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.Some messengers have served for more than 30 years and were issued a plaque in honor of their dedication. State leaders hope the success of the program will inspire other employers to give opportunities to peo...

Schumer announces agreement to pass debt ceiling bill late Thursday 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced a deal on the Senate floor Thursday evening to vote on amendments to legislation to raise the debt limit until the start of 2025, and get it passed before markets open Friday morning.  Schumer announced the Senate would vote on 11 amendments to the bill — 10 sponsored by Republicans and one sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) — and that votes would be limited to 10 minutes to speed the process.  The chamber would then vote on final passage.The breakthrough came after a multi-hour standoff with defense hawks, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who demanded commitments from Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to protect defense spending from a potential 1 percent rescission later in the year and to promise action on a defense supplemental spending bill.  The Democratic leader entered a joint statement with McConnell into the congressional record before announcing the deal to move forward...

NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Altitude/Comcast impasse blacking out Nuggets games: “It makes no sense”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has a brother in Boulder, so he hears all the time about the blackouts that continue to prevent Nuggets fans from watching Nuggets games.Silver said Thursday night before Game 1 of the NBA Finals that he’s frustrated by the “terrible situation” that is the ongoing standoff between Comcast and Altitude TV, the regional sports network that broadcasts Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games.“It makes no sense,” Silver said, “and it’s on us to fix it.”Altitude sued Comcast shortly after its carriage deal lapsed in September 2019, accusing the cable giant of violating antitrust laws. The two parties reached a settlement in March, but they remain at an impasse that kept Avalanche and Nuggets games blacked out in Colorado for the remainder of the 2022-23 seasons. Local Comcast customers have been unable to watch the two Kroenke Sports & Entertainment franchises since the 2019 contract expiration.“The league...

Canoga Park woman dead, husband missing after boat capsizes in Alaska

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

A Canoga Park woman died and her husband is missing after a boat capsized in Alaska during their family vacation, officials and family members confirmed.The woman's sister also died. The incident occurred around 10:20 p.m. May 28 when a 30-foot charter vessel carrying five people capsized in the area of Low Island in Sitka Sound, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.One person, 57-year-old Maury Agcaoili of Hawaii, was eventually found unresponsive in the water near the boat. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, two bodies were recovered from the sunken boat and are believed to be sisters Danielle Agcaoili, 53, of Hawaii, and Brandi Tyau, 56, of Canoga Park.Robert Solis and Brandi Tyau are seen in an undated Facebook photo provided by a family member. Brandi’s husband, Robert Solis, 61, of Canoga Park, is still missing, along with the boat's captain Morgan Robidou 32, of Alaska.Michael Tyau told KTLA that he was on vacation ...

Long Beach police on alert after 12-year-old girl is grabbed by stranger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

Long Beach police are conducting additional safety patrols in the city after a 12-year-old girl was grabbed by a stranger as she walking near her school.It happened around 8:30 a.m. near Washington Middle School in the area of E. Anaheim Street and Cedar Avenue.According to the Long Beach Police Department, the girl was approached by an adult man who wrapped his arms around her and "attempted to move her."The girl managed to free herself, run away and report the incident. She was uninjured, but shaken up, police said.The investigation is ongoing and is being treated as an attempted kidnapping. Police are continuing to work to identify and locate the suspect in the case. In the meantime, Long Beach police officers and the neighborhood safety bike team are conducting additional patrols and passing through the area with more frequency. Police say the incident is a good reminder to walk with other people when possible, stay in high-traffic areas and always look out for one another.Resid...

Orange County businessman arrested in alleged $1.8 million fraud scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

An Orange County businessman who allegedly portrayed himself as one of the richest men in Africa has been arrested in a $1.8 million fraud scheme.Amadou Kane Diallo, 44, a Senegalese national living in Laguna Niguel, was arrested Thursday on federal charges alleging he solicited investments under false pretenses while using the funds to support a lavish lifestyle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Officials said Diallo fraudulently obtained more than $1.8 million from at least 11 victims who were told their “investments would allow them to reap the benefits of Diallo’s supposed business successes while facing little to no risk,” officials said.As the CEO of two Newport Beach-based companies – Virtual Advisors LLC and Liquide, Inc. — Diallo allegedly used the companies to solicit investments for business opportunities in various sectors including technology, healthcare, real estate, home ownership and service to the African diaspora.Diallo allegedly made false claims to his vic...