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Biden hosts Live Nation, SeatGeek and Airbnb execs to showcase push to end hidden ‘junk fees’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hosting executives from Live Nation, Airbnb and other companies at the White House on Thursday to highlight his administration’s push to end so-called junk fees that surprise consumers.Biden prioritized the effort to combat surprise or undisclosed fees in his State of the Union address and has called for legislation, regulation and private sector action to end them. Biden, at Thursday’s event, was set to announce actions by companies that have eliminated or plan to eliminate those surprise fees. The consumer advocacy push is part of the Democratic president’s pitch to voters ahead of his 2024 reelection bid that government can help improve their lives in big and small ways. At the White House, Live Nation, which is based in Beverly Hills, California, is announcing that it will provide customers with upfront all-in pricing — meaning the actual purchase price including service charges and any other fees — for its owned venues ...

Donor nations commit $10.3 billion for millions of Syrians at home and as refugees abroad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — International donors Thursday committed $10.3 billion in aid for millions of Syrians battered by war, poverty, and hunger, both at home and as refugees abroad. The funding pledges by 57 nations and 30 international organizations at an annual European Union-hosted conference in Brussels for Syria fell about $800 million short of a United Nations humanitarian appeal.Funding from the conference will help provide aid to Syrians in the war-torn country and to some 5.7 million Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries, particularly Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.Syria’s uprising-turned conflict, now in its thirteenth year, has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of its prewar population of 23 million.Amid pressing needs across the globe from Ukraine to Sudan, the annual donor conference hosted by the European Union in Brussels has had even more political overtones as Syrian President Bashar Assad is slowly carving his way back from being an internation...

Landmark home built before Great Chicago Fire severely damaged in Austin blaze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Chicago's oldest homes was severely damaged in a fire early Thursday morning. The fire started around 1 a.m. on the top floor of the Seth P. Warner House in the 600 block of North Central in the Austin neighborhood.Jim Bowers and his wife, the homeowners, were able to make it out safely and no other injuries were reported. The 150-year-old home's attic and roof were destroyed in the fire. "My wife smelled smoke I went up to the attic and I saw flames. I tried to put it out and it was just too much for me," Bowers said.The house was designated landmark status by the city last year. It was built in 1869 and is one of only 13 homes still standing that predate the Great Chicago Fire. It is said to be the oldest home in the Austin neighborhood.The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1992. ‘I had 6 surgeries’: Chicago teen, family speak out after hit-and-run incident near Midway Seth Warner was one of Chicago's earliest settlers. He was a...

Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen made 'incriminating' statements, attorneys say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

DELPHI, Ind. – Defense attorneys and prosecutors made arguments in court Thursday about statements previously made by Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen.Allen faces two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German.Allen, looking gaunt, appeared in court Thursday in a yellow jumpsuit. During the hearing, defense attorneys indicated that Allen had made self-incriminating statements linking him to the girls' deaths. Prosecutor Nick McLeland agreed Allen had “made admissions.” Attorneys challenge method linking Richard Allen to unspent round at crime scene However, Allen's attorneys argued the statements couldn’t be trusted because of their client’s mental state. They want him moved out of Westville Correctional Facility to a county jail for his mental health and wellbeing. Allen's statements, which he made previously and revealed for the first time in public, are expected to dominate the rest of Thursday's hearing.The ...

Man faces several felony charges after hitting, critically injuring boy riding his bike in Batavia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

BATAVIA, Ill. — An Aurora man is facing several charges after Batavia police said he struck and critically injured a teenage boy riding his bike last month.On Wednesday, Batavia police said Cesar Gandarilla, 38, is charged with three counts of Aggravated DUI/great bodily harm, three counts of aggravated DUI/ no valid driver's license, DUI combination drugs, aggravated use of communications device great bodily harm, unlawful use of cannabis/ driver and numerous traffic violations. Man arrested after hitting boy riding bike in Batavia On May 31, police said Gandarilla struck the boy while he was riding his bike near Union Avenue and South Batavia Avenue. The boy was taken to a hospital in critical condition.The Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team assisted the Batavia Police Department with the investigation.

Dean tries out Chris Hemsworth's stunt double act

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

Dean tries out Chris Hemsworth's stunt double act.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Wrigley Field will sell beer-flavored pizza this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

CHICAGO — With the help of a Major League Baseball team, a Chicago company is combining two favorites for a unique food this summer.This week, Home Run Inn announced that they're joined with the Cubs to create a "Beer Pizza" that will be sold at Wrigley Field during the rest of the 2023 season. (Courtesy: Home Run Inn)It will be an eight-inch, non-alcoholic sausage pizza with a wheat ale flavor and will be available at a few concession stands throughout the ballpark. It was sold for the first time on Wednesday when the Cubs defeated the Pirates 10-6. “A great beer and a great pizza are so often enjoyed together, we thought it would be fun to create that favorite taste all in one bite,” says Home Run Inn senior vice president and Gina Bolger in a statement. “The Home Run Inn family of 75 years is excited to celebrate all things Chicago.”This new "Beer Pizza" will also be available at Home Run Inn restaurants in all varieties for a limited time as well.As of Thursday, the Cubs have 48...

Here's the richest person in your state, according to Forbes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Can you name the richest person in your state? Unless you have a billion dollars in your bank account, we can promise it isn’t you. As of 2023, nearly every state has a billionaire resident, according to Forbes, which released its list of the wealthiest people in the U.S. for the first time since 2019 on Thursday.Only three states are without a billionaire, as of June 2023: Alaska, Delaware and West Virginia. This wasn’t always the case for the latter, the outlet explains, pointing to Gov. Jim Justice, who lost his status as the result of heavy debts two years ago.Lacking a billionaire isn’t a problem for other states, especially California, Florida, New York and Texas. According to Forbes, there are 179 billionaires in California, 130 in New York, 92 in Florida and 73 in Texas.  These are the wealthiest people in your state, according to Forbes Texas earns an extra jewel in its crown, considering the richest person in the U.S. and the world -- Elon Musk -- n...

Gov. Abbott expected to sign bill restricting college sports teams transgender athletes can join

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Governor Greg Abbott will be holding a bill signing ceremony Thursday afternoon to sign legislation designed to "protect women's sports," according to an office press release. While it does not specify which legislation, it is highly likely one of those bills is Senate Bill 15 — which bans collegiate-level transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not align with their biological sex assigned at birth. SB 15 would expand similar restrictions that were signed into law two years ago, applying to sports play for Texas public schools grades K-12. During the regular legislative session, Republican women like bill sponsor Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring said the bill is to ensure competition is fair for female athletes. “This legislation is not about participation. This legislation is not about restricting anyone’s opportunities,” Swanson said in May. “It is not fair that young women are watching their records get broken, accolades taken and sc...

CapMetro offers complimentary rides to cooling centers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — CapMetro said it would offer free rides this summer to anyone in need of going to a cooling center in Austin.“CapMetro is here to assist our community, especially during these weather events that leave people vulnerable to harsh conditions,” the public transit system said.The metro system said anyone seeking a cooling center without the means to pay the fare would still be given a ride.“No one will be denied service to a cooling center,” CapMetro said. “Nothing is more important than your safety and serving our community.”The City of Austin said due to extreme heat, all parks and library facilities would serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours.