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Gary Police Department overhaul: Agencies provide an update

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

GARY, Ind. — Multiple law enforcement agencies are highlighting a "violent crime reduction strategy" in Gary following what the mayor called a hard reset of the department.The Gary Police Department, Indiana State Police, Lake County Prosecutors Office, Indiana State Excise Police, and the U.S. Attorney's Office all gathered together Friday in Gary to discuss their collaboration as well as changes within the Homicide Task Force. Gary police names interim chief from ISP partnership Interim Chief of the Gary Police Department Jerry Williams described some of the changes he has helped to make within the department since taking the position on Jan. 6. His appointment followed eight months of studying the department to identify needed changes as a part of an Indiana State Police led task force.The Gary Police Department has had nearly a dozen chiefs since 2006, and it has been without a permanent police chief since 2020.Williams will hold the interim role until at least July and Gary M...

Friday Forecast: Temps in mid 30s with scattered flurries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

The weather for Friday is looking mostly cloudy, with morning rain/snow, decreasing clouds and flurries, with gusts of 40 mph. High: 35Morning winds Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Friday Night: Partly cloudy, increasing clouds, flurries, near & below 0 chills, W 10-20 G30. 15Saturday's weather is mostly cloudy with a slight chance snow showers and flurries, W 10-20 G30. High: 28Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Republicans from Northern Border Security caucus to address drug, human trafficking concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Lawmakers say they are concerned about an increase in human and drug trafficking across the border between the U.S. and Canada.Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) says it's time to expand the discussion about border security."There's a lot more to the borders of the United States than just the southwestern border. We also have a northern border," Kelly said.That's why Kelly and other house republicans created the Northern Border Caucus."We have big borders but we've always kind of trusted that there's going to be oversight. The thing we're finding out now is there really not as much oversight as we need," Kelly said.Kelly says all the current attention on the southern border is opening a door for human and drug trafficking up North."I do know in those New England states, the amount of drugs coming in through that area is having an incredible effect on the lives of people," Kelly said.The U.S.-Canadian border stretches across more than 5000 miles and is more than double...

New study cites Wuhan raccoon dogs as possible origin of COVID-19

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

(The Hill) - A new analysis of genetic information conducted by an international group of researchers has found evidence to suggest that COVID-19 originated from infected animals sold at a market in Wuhan.As was first reported by The Atlantic, French evolutionary biologist Florence Débarre recently uncovered genetic data from the global virology database GISAID. The data had been submitted by Chinese researchers who collected the genetic sequences from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which has been scrutinized as being the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite the name, thousands mammals were found to have been sold at the market, where they were kept in cramped and unhygienic spaces.The genetic data suggested that raccoon dogs being sold at the market could have been carrying and shedding the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the time. The analysis, which is not conclusive, is being led by researchers Kristian Andersen, Edward Holmes and Michael Worobey.In communications with Atlantic ...

Strawberries recalled over possible health risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) - Strawberries sold at many major stores are being recalled over a Hepatitis A outbreak.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said two recalls were announced Thursday connected to the recall. The recalled strawberries were sold at Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choise Seafood, PCC Community Markets and Trader Joe's. The locations vary by brand, but overall impact the entirety of the United States.Photo//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAPhoto//FDAThe recall was initiated due to an outbreak of Hepatitis A. However, Hepatitis A has not been detected on any of the recalled products. The companies are recalling them out of an abundance of caution.People usually get sick from Hepatitis A within 15-30 days of exposure. It is a contagious liver disease that can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. Trader Joe’s fruit product recalled, potentially contaminated with Hepatitis A Sympto...

Hunter Biden files countersuit against laptop repair shop owner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

(The Hill) – Hunter Biden filed a countersuit on Friday against the computer repairman who said he distributed the contents of a laptop that Biden left behind at his Delaware shop.The 42-page filing in federal court includes six privacy-related counts against John Paul Mac Isaac, the repairman. It takes aggressive aim at Mac Isaac, saying he violated Hunter Biden's privacy by viewing the salacious contents and then distributing them in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election both to members of his family and an attorney for Rudy Giuliani. “Mac Isaac knowingly and willfully shared with others the personal data of Mr. Biden that he came to possess (regardless of how he came to possess the data), despite it being reckless and unreasonable for any computer repairman to make copies of another’s personal and sensitive information and to then send that data to third parties without the authority to do so,” Biden’s attorneys wrote in the filing. You should change your password now o...

More than 150,000 catalytic converters were replaced in 2022, and theft may be underreported, data suggests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

(KTLA) – The rise in catalytic converter thefts in America has been a nuisance for law enforcement agencies and car owners for the past several years. Now, new data from Carfax shows just how bad the problem has gotten.The vehicle data company, known for tracking repairs and accidents on vehicles across the country, looked at service records to come up with an estimated number of converters needing replacement in 2022: 153,000 — a 2% increase from the year prior.Carfax says its data scientists, when looking at service records, also excluded replacements due deterioration, defectivity or recalls.The number is pretty alarming, and Carfax suggests theft — specifically — has been underreported in the past. Thieves steal Oscar Mayer Wienermobile’s catalytic converter in Las Vegas Carfax said it believes theft numbers reported to media outlets are vastly underestimating the full scope of the problem, because many car owners don't file insurance claims. The possible explanation for that ...

PHOTOS: Severe storms light up the skies above Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe storms swept across Central Texas Thursday evening, bringing with them large hail and a lot of lightning.Hundreds of KXAN viewers sent in pictures and videos of the storms. We've compiled some of our favorites in the gallery below.Storm clouds as seen from a field of bluebonnets in Horseshoe Bay on March 16, 2023. (KXAN Viewer Photo)Storm clouds as seen from Marble Falls on March 16, 2023. (Courtesy Shawn Faulkner)Storm clouds over Lockhart on March 16, 2023. (KXAN Viewer Photo)Storm clouds over Lockhart on March 16, 2023. (KXAN Viewer Photo)Lightning in south Austin on March 16, 2023. (KXAN Viewer Photo)Lightning over Buda on March 16, 2023. (Courtesy Dalton C. Aarness)Lightning over Buda on March 16, 2023. (Courtesy Dalton C. Aarness)Lightning over Steiner Ranch on March 16, 2023. (Courtesy Todd Sellars)In the wake of Thursday's cold front, temperatures are much cooler. With highs in the 50s, this will likely be one of the coolest St. Patrick's Days in Austi...

Renters in 'crisis' after Texas Rent Relief shutdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Just 52 hours after Texas opened applications for rent relief, the state was forced to shut down the portal due to extraordinary demand.The Texas Rent Relief program saw an influx of more than 100,000 applications just one day after the system opened, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs said. Prior to this week, the most applications seen in a single day were fewer than 20,000.The department had $96 million in available funding to distribute for rent assistance, but within one day, "requests for assistance far exceeded available funding."The portal is closed as of 11:59 a.m. on Thursday, March 16."It's disappointing, but not surprising," Ben Martin, the research director at Texas Housers, said. "There's an incredible, extraordinary need for assistance from renters in the state of Texas right now. We've seen evictions rising throughout 2022 and into 2023. Renters are really experiencing a crisis right now."TDHCA will prioritize renters facing evic...

Who will jump into Texas Senate race next year against Ted Cruz?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Democratic voters will head to the polls in less than a year to decide which candidate they'd like to see challenge Sen. Ted Cruz in his reelection bid, but at the moment the field remains empty because no one has jumped into the race yet. Cruz already announced his intention of seeking a third term representing Texas in the Senate, which will almost certainly clear the path for the well-known Republican to secure his party's nomination. Chuck DeVore, the chief national initiatives officer at the conservative thinktank Texas Public Policy Foundation, said issues like border security and rising inflation could help push Cruz past any challengers during the 2024 general election."If you just look at the environment within which the election is going to be run, then 2024 is going to be much more favorable for Sen. Cruz and getting reelected than was 2018," DeVore said. He also said another factor possibly benefiting Cruz is the lack of a clear Democratic frontrunn...