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Illinois Supreme Court to rule on SAFE-T Act, ending cash bail

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on the controversial state law that could make Illinois the first to eliminate cash bail.The SAFE-T Act passed back in 2021. Since then, the law's future has been on the fence with the supreme court making a final ruling Tuesday.The issue at hand is getting rid of cash bail for Illinois. Multiple state's attorneys, including Kankakee County, have found issues with eliminating the cash bail system, saying the lawmakers needed to propose a constitutional amendment because the state constitution guarantees bail by sufficient sureties — which means sufficient enough that someone will come back to court. Illinois’ SAFE-T Act explained Lawmakers are saying the constitution says nothing about those sureties being cash. So under the SAFE-T Act, people would only be detained based on the offense they are accused of committing and their prior record, instead of posting bail.The supreme court will release their deci...

End of AIDS could happen by 2030, UN says  

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

(The Hill) - The United Nations agency focused on ending the AIDS epidemic released a new report that claims there is a clear path to end the epidemic by 2030. The report titled “The Path that Ends AIDS,” states the ending of the epidemic is a political and financial choice. “The data and real-world examples in the report make it very clear what that path is. It is not a mystery. It is a choice. Some leaders are already following the path – and succeeding,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima wrote in the report’s executive summary released last week. According to Byanyima, the report breaks down how countries “that put people and communities first in their policies and programs are already leading the world on the journey to end AIDs by 2030.” Byanyima pointed to Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, who have already reached the “95-95-95,” targets and at least 16 other countries who are close to reaching the benchmark. The “...

Phoenix set to break heat record 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

(The Hill) -- Phoenix is slated to break its heat record as the city approaches its 19th consecutive day of hitting 110 degrees or hotter in the area.  Phoenix tied the record for the most consecutive days with a high temperature of 110 degrees or more on Monday at 18 days, which ties it with the record previously set in 1974, the Phoenix National Weather Service (NWS) said.“As of 12:15 PM MST today, we hit our 18th consecutive day of high temperatures at or above 110F in Phoenix," the weather service tweeted Monday. "This ties the previous record set back in 1974. We are very likely to break the record tomorrow."Phoenix also broke its record for the highest overnight low temperature ever on Monday with a low of 95 degrees, which surpassed the 2009 record of 93 degrees. It was the eighth consecutive day of overnight lows being above 90 degrees, which was another record for the area. Dangerous heat wave expected to move eastward The NWS issued an extreme heat advisory for the re...

Peacock to raise prices starting in August

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

(WXIN) - Peacock subscribers are set for a price increase.Effective Aug. 17, the streaming service will go up by $1 for Premium subscribers (from $4.99 to $5.99) and $2 for Premium Plus subscribers (from $9.99 to $11.99). The Premium subscription includes advertisements, while the Premium Plus subscription gets rid of most ads and allows viewers to download content for offline viewing. Premium Plus also grants access to livestreaming of local NBC affiliates. Paramount+ to raise subscription prices This marks the first price increase for Peacock, which dropped its free plan for new subscribers earlier this year. The service from NBCUniversal launched in July 2020.The annual Premium plan will increase from $49.99 to $59.99, while a Premium Plus annual subscription will go from $99.99 to $119.99.Current customers will see the new rates during the next billing cycle starting "on or after" Aug. 17, while new customers will pay the new rates when they sign up. The revised pricing struct...

Austin's weather extremes: Record heat and cold

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — At KXAN, we're keeping track of Austin's weather extremes.Have you ever wondered what the hottest temperature ever recorded in Austin is? What about the longest stretch of below-freezing temperatures? The answers are all below!We have created several interactive charts to help break down Austin’s weather records. Scroll down to explore all the data, or jump to a specific question using these links:What is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Austin?What is the hottest month on record in Austin?What is the most 100° days Austin has had in a single year?What is the most 100° days Austin has seen in a row?What is the most 105° days Austin has seen in a row?What are the earliest and latest 100° days on record in Austin?What is the longest period Austin has stayed above 80°?What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Austin?What is the coldest month on record in Austin?What is the most freezes Austin has had in a single winter?What is the most freezes Austin has ...

LIVE: 2 dead after crash on SH 71

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

GARFIELD, Texas (KXAN) – The Department of Public Safety said Tuesday two people died after a crash between a tanker truck and a Chevy Tahoe on State Highway 71 late Monday night. According to Austin-Travis County EMS, the crash happened around 11 p.m. in the westbound lanes of 71 near Albert Brown Drive in Garfield in Eastern Travis County.DPS told KXAN the Chevy Tahoe was crossing westbound lanes of 71 to go to Albert Brown Drive. According to DPS, the Tahoe failed to yield right of way to the Mack tanker truck and the truck's front end hit the Tahoe's right side. DPS said both the driver and the passenger of the Chevy Tahoe were pronounced dead the scene. ATCEMS said a third patient refused transport. ATCEMS said paramedics, Travis County Fire Rescue and the Austin Fire Department responded to the crash. DPS said westbound lanes of 71 were shut down overnight. A KXAN photographer at the scene said the highway reopened at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Fayette County traffic stop nets $850,000 worth of cocaine in ice chest, sheriff's office says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) – The Fayette County Sheriff's Office said a recent traffic stop led to the discovery of $850,000 worth of cocaine hidden in the walls of an ice chest. According to the sheriff's office, Sgt. Randy Thumann and his K9 partner Kolt stopped a Toyota truck on Interstate 10 about 2 miles east of Flatonia on July 7 for a traffic violation. The department said Sgt. Thumann became suspicious the truck was smuggling drugs after talking to the driver.After getting consent to search the truck, Sgt. Thumann deployed the dog to sweep the truck's exterior. The department said Kolt was alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics in an ice chest in the bed of the truck.Ice chest involved in $850K drug bust in Fayette County (Courtesy: Fayette County Sheriff's Department)Ice chest involved in $850K drug bust in Fayette County (Courtesy: Fayette County Sheriff's Department)Ice chest involved in $850K drug bust in Fayette County (Courtesy: Fayette County Sheriff's Department)Accor...

Man charged with robbery at Halfmoon farm

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

HALFMOON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A man has been charged after allegedly robbing a farm in Halfmoon. The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said Michael Hepp, 34, of Troy was arrested on July 17. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Monday morning, the Sheriff's Office was notified by an employee of a robbery at the Hayner Farm. Hepp is accused of forcibly stealing money from the business and threatening to use a gun. The victim was not injured. A vehicle matching the employee's description was found in the area a short time later, said the Sheriff's Office. The investigation is ongoing. Lake George man arrested twice in six hours Hepp was charged with first-degree robbery, which is a felony. He was arraigned in the Townof Malta Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $30,000 cash bail, $60,000bond, and a $300,000 partially secured bond.

North St. Louis street storm damage concerns locals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A north St. Louis street that's already seen more than its share of trouble was recently hit by storm damage. The storms uprooted a big tree pushing up the sidewalk. It’s blocking people from walking down the street.Local Gregory Allison told Elliott Davis it’s been like this too long.”It’s been 15 days since this happened and after 15 days I would expect it to be cleaned up," Allison shared. "I was expecting it to be cleaned up a lot sooner than that. It's dangerous I did report it as being a dangerous situation.”He says he’s not ready to point fingers or assign blame.”When I talked to Forestry Division last, the gentlemen I spoke with said that they are understaffed, and I’ve talked to other people that worked for the city, and they’re saying the same thing that the city is understaffed and if you go on the city’s website it does say they are hiring, so it could be a personnel issue.”That’s just the latest problem on this block with a lot of troubles. Clerk sho...

Sentencing today for man who ran over girlfriend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:44 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. - Sentencing is Tuesday morning in the Metro East for a man found guilty of first-degree murder.Richard Mayor, 60, intentionally drove his pick-up truck into his girlfriend on Highway 111 in Pontoon Beach last February, then drive away. A couple who witnessed the murder gave dramatic testimony during the trial in June. House explosion in St. Charles injures 3 adults, 2 children Mayor faces a possible sentence of 60 to 100 years in prison.