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Verdict reached in 'ComEd Four' bribery trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

CHICAGO -- After several days of deliberations, jurors have reached a verdict in the "ComEd Four" bribery trial.WGN-TV will update the story once the verdict has been announced. Watch WGN News at 5 in the video player above as we wait for the trial verdict. A former prosecutor said federal lawyers would start worrying about a mistrial in the "ComEd Four" bribery trial if jury deliberations stretched into a second week.The “ComEd Four” on trial are former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty. All have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including bribery conspiracy.Potential jail time and fines for the “ComEd Four,” includes a guilty conspiracy verdict on Count 1 could lead to a maximum  $250,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment or both, according to the US Attorney’s office. Pritzker...

Toddler found unresponsive at suburban daycare, dies at hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

ISLAND LAKE, Ill. — A toddler is dead after being found unresponsive at a daycare in the Northwest suburbs, according to police.Island Lake Police Department was called to the 200 block of West Burnett Road at around 8:46 a.m. on April 25 on reports of an unresponsive toddler at a daycare facility.On arrival, officers found a 23-month-old male from Island Lake unresponsive and not breathing.The toddler was taken by the Wauconda Fire Department to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and later transferred to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.Four days later during the morning of April 29, the toddler was pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed Monday by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office and results will be released upon pending forensic pathology results. 3 people beaten, robbed in Little Village "Our hearts are broken and our deepest condolences go out to the grieving family of one of our very own Island Lake residents," said Island Lake Police Chief Jennifer Paulus...

Skilling: Partly sunny, milder Tuesday for Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

Tuesday marked the 11th consecutive day of below normal temps. Temps only reached 54 at O'Hare amid 30+ mph wind gusts and with just 18% of our possible sun.But, big changes are coming and warming will result.Temps surge to the low 60s inland Wednesday (the lakefront will stay in the 50s); the mid 60s Thursday and low 70s Friday.Even warmer air is on tap next week with temps likely to flirt with 80-deg by Tuesday and Wednesday.Lake breezes in coming days will produce cooling typical of this time of year along Lake Michigan. And the easterly flow will become better organized over the weekend. But east winds will become more southeast Sunday meaning the inland penetration of cool air will be present—but less pronounced then.Temps this week, with the milder readings expected in coming days, are likely to average almost 5-deg milder than last week. But next week's average temp is to surge nearly 15-deg warmer than this week—and that should be quite noticeable.May is a month of more freq...

Chicago man sentenced to 40 years for carjacking pregnant woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Chicago man has been sentenced to 40 years for carjacking a pregnant woman's car from her Downers Grove driveway.According to the DuPage County State's Attorney, the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a carjacking on Hawkins Street just before 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2019. Further investigation showed that the victim, a pregnant woman, was sitting in her vehicle in her driveway when two masked and armed individuals approached her. The suspect's allegedly ordered her out of the vehicle and drove off. FBI: Armored truck robbed in Homewood; bank robbed on North Side A friend of the victim witnessed the carjacking and followed the stolen vehicle. Authorities report that when the vehicle stopped in traffic, the victim's friend approached the vehicle and the suspect's exited the vehicle and fled.As the victim’s friend moved the victim’s vehicle off the roadway, one of the suspects entered the victim’s friend’s car and drove away.Authorities later identified Chicago ...

Tenn. child given new teddy bear with late mom's heartbeat after accidental donation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Thanks to a group effort between Build-A-Bear, a radio station and Goodwill, a 4-year-old girl has received a new teddy bear with her mother's heartbeat after her bear was lost last month.In mid-April, the girl's father told WATE that the bear belonging to his daughter was accidentally donated to a Goodwill Store in Tazewell, Tennessee. The girl's mother passed away, and her grandmother made her a bear with her mom's heartbeat in it, he explained. Father asks for help finding daughter’s lost teddy bear with heartbeat recording from late mother Local radio station WRIL said that the father went to the Goodwill to see if the bear was still there, but it was not, so a sign was placed at the store. The radio station shared a photo of that sign and the bear on social media, which garnered national attention. During the search for the bear, Build-A-Bear contacted WRIL for a description of the custom stuffed animal, and Public Relations Director Jamie Ludwig sha...

'Brutal and violent' stabbings shake California college town as police probe possible connection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

DAVIS, Calif. (KTXL) — Two men are dead and a woman is in critical condition after three separate stabbing attacks that occurred in the late hours across several days in Davis, California. Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel described the attacks as "brutal and violent," and that they do not have the characteristics of an attack that would occur during the course of a robbery or a similar crime. Local law enforcement says that it has received similar descriptions of the suspects in at least two of the attacks, but that they are not able to "positively link the three crimes," and federal authorities have now joined the investigation. "These attacks were violent and brazen ... we ask that the public be vigilant and completely aware of your surroundings," Pytel said at a news conference, adding that people should move about the city in groups at least until there is an arrest in the case. Below is what officials have shared so far about the attacks. Stabbing at Central ParkOn the morning o...

Biden calls for banking safeguards after feds seize First Republic Bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – First Republic Bank was seized by regulators early Monday, marking the third bank failure in 2023 and the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history.President Biden is trying to reassure Americans that the U.S. banking system is strong but at the same time, the administration says more action is needed to safeguard the banking industry.Government regulators stepped in by taking control of First republic bank and quickly selling off most of its assets to JP Morgan Chase. As part of the deal, the FDIC provided $50 billion dollars in financing to Chase.“These actions are going to make sure the banking system is safe and sound and that includes protecting small businesses across the country who need to make payroll for workers and their small businesses,” President Biden said.While the Biden administration says all is well with the U.S. banking system, First Republic is the largest bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis. Rules that were put into place after...

Cash App founder used cocaine, 'Special K' before homicide: toxicology report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Cash App founder Bob Lee had multiple "party drugs" in his system when he was slain, according to a San Francisco coroner's autopsy and toxicology report obtained by Nexstar's KRON. A chief forensic toxicologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completed a toxicology test on Lee using blood samples. The blood tests detected: cocaine; ketamine and norketamine, also known as "Special K"; alcohol; and Levocetirizine, an antihistamine.The 43-year-old tech executive called 911 at 2:36 a.m. on April 4 and told dispatchers that someone stabbed him in the chest, the autopsy report states. San Francisco police officers found Lee bleeding from three stab wounds, unconscious, and lying in a street. Body of missing MMA fighter found in Schaumburg Paramedics rushed Lee to San Francisco General Hospital where surgeons battled to save his life. "The subject was found to be pulseless and massive transfusion protocol began. The subject then underwent an e...

Daily rain and thunderstorm chances begin on Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Mostly cloudy, dry weather continues overnight as we enjoy a quiet start to May in Central Texas. But soon, a change in the weather pattern will lead to daily rounds of scattered thunderstorms.As we await the pattern change, morning fog and afternoon sun are again predicted on Wednesday. Afternoon highs climb into the lower 80s.An upper-level low pressure system lumbering down the West Coast will slowly break down the ridge of high pressure over Texas, sending bits of atmospheric energy our way starting Thursday evening. While there is some disagreement among our best computer models regarding the track of these daily disturbances, scattered rain and thunderstorms will be possible every day beginning Thursday.The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of our area under a slim risk of severe weather late Thursday.Risk of strong to severe storms Thursday eveningWhile no one day in particular will be a rain-out, as daily rounds of scattered rain and storms conti...

Should I get another COVID-19 booster?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – COVID-19 continues to circulate in the U.S., but it is no longer as big of a threat to most healthy individuals as it was months ago. Currently, the community risk of COVID-19 in Travis County is low, as is the case in most jurisdictions around the country, per the CDC.  In fact, last week, the CDC recorded the lowest number of COVID-19 deaths since March 25, 2020.  If you already received a bivalent booster shot, are healthy and living in an area with low risk, the Texas Department of State Health Services does not recommend getting another booster shot until an updated vaccine is released, likely towards the end of the year, said Chris Van Deusen, spokesperson for the Texas DSHS.  MORE: KXAN is ending most of our COVID-19 data reporting. Here’s why “If you are 65 or older or if you have a condition that would mean you are moderate to severely immunocompromised – it's a good idea to talk to your doctor [about] whether getting an additional dose...