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Biden thanks ‘Tennessee three’ for ‘standing up’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday thanked three Tennessee lawmakers for “standing up” after they faced expulsion for participating in gun control protests at their statehouse.“You’re standing up for our kids, you’re standing up for our communities,” Biden told Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Gloria Johnson during an Oval Office meeting. Flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden described the expulsion votes as “shocking” and “undemocratic.”“Nothing is guaranteed about our democracy — every generation has to fight for it,” he said.The episode has turned the lawmakers, known as the “Tennessee three,” into Democratic heroes. Harris already visited Nashville earlier this month to show her support.The statehouse protest took place days after the shooting at the Covenant School, a private Christian school where three children and three adults were killed. The three lawmakers — Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Gloria Johnson — approached th...

Beth Murphy, owner of Murphy's Bleachers, has died

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

CHICAGO — The owner of an iconic bar in the shadow of Wrigley Field has died.Beth Murphy, the owner of Murphy's Bleachers on the corner of Sheffield and Waveland Avenues, passed away on Monday, WGN News has confirmed. A spokesperson for the establishment said she had been battling cancer on and off for the last five years.She also ran Murphy's Rooftop Company along with Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistrolocated at 3905 North Lincoln Avenue."We will miss you Beth," was posted on the sign outside the bar on Monday morning.The Cubs have also put a tribute to Murphy on the marquee at Wrigley Field on Monday afternoon. The Murphy family has owned the bar since 1980, when former Chicago Police officer Jim Murphy, Beth's husband, purchased what was then Ray's Bleachers at 3655 North Sheffield Avenue. He owned the bar till his passing in 2003, and it was then that Beth took it over. Murphy's Bleachers has remained a familiar gathering place for Cubs fans through the years, enduring as many...

'Jackass' star Bam Margera charged with punching brother

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — “Jackass” star Bam Margera punched his brother in the face during an altercation at their home in the Philadelphia suburbs, then took off on foot, Pennsylvania State Police said Monday in announcing criminal charges.An arrest warrant was issued for Margera, 43, and police said they were looking for him.State police said they were called to the Chester County home in response to a reported domestic disturbance shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday. Margera's brother, Jesse Margera, told police that Bam Margera had pounded on and kicked his locked bedroom door that morning, and punched him in the eye, nose and ear during a later confrontation in the kitchen, according to court documents.Jesse Margera said he’d also found a threatening handwritten note signed “Bam," a police affidavit said.Margera, who also starred in the MTV reality series “Viva La Bam,” fled the property on foot through dense woods before troopers got there, the affidavit said.Bam Margera is charged ...

Democrats celebrate Fox-Carlson split: 'A sewer of countless lies and hate’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

Democrats are celebrating Monday’s shocking news that Tucker Carlson and Fox News have parted ways, going after the controversial cable news figure who frequently used his prime-time program to rail against liberal lawmakers and policies and, more recently, promote former President Trump's claims about the 2020 election.In a brief statement Monday morning, Fox News announced that Carlson’s final show had taken place the previous Friday. Harris Faulkner, the host of Fox News’s “Outnumbered,” read the news on air Monday, saying that the network and Carlson “mutually agreed to part ways.”While details of the media divorce remain unclear, Democrats were quick to respond.“Glad to hear that one of the most divisive, racist and destructive forces on television is off his prime time show,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) wrote on Twitter. “Tucker Carlson will not be missed.”“This program was a sewer of countless lies and hate spewed out every single night. One of the leading election deniers ...

Biden says teaching should not be 'life-threatening' job

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden honored the nation's best teachers Monday, saying they go above and beyond by providing food and supplies out of their own pockets and often find themselves “explaining the unexplainable, from banned books to duck-and-cover drills.” “Teaching should not be a life-threatening profession,” Biden said, referencing deadly school shootings that plague the United States. "And educators should not need to be armed to feel safe in the classroom." He spoke at a Rose Garden event that honored the Council of Chief State School Officers' 2023 teachers of the year from each state. Tulsa, Oklahoma, math teacher Rebecka Peterson was named overall teacher of the year. Biden spoke of the challenges of the modern-day teacher, including gun violence and a growing movement from the right to ban books in classrooms, particularly those that reference gender and sexual identity. Attempted book bans hit an all-time high in 2022.“I never thought, as a student of histor...

Aaron Rodgers' time with the Packers is coming to an end

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the greatest quarterbacks of this generation will be starting a new chapter of his professional football career - and that's a relief to Bears fans. Per multiple reports, the first from Adam Schefter from ESPN, the Packers are finalizing a trade that will send Aaron Rodgers to the Jets. New York will get the quarterback, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, and a 2023 fifth round selection. Green Bay will get the 13th overall pick in the this year's draft, a 2023 second round pick, a 2023 sixth round pick, along with a conditional 2024 second round pick that could become a first rounder if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays next season.The teams have yet to confirm the move. This will be the first time that the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player and Super Bowl XLV will play for another team in his 18-year career. That's good news for Bears' fans since Rodgers has tormented the team during his career, sporting a 24-5 record against them in the regular season.I...

Packers reportedly trade QB Aaron Rodgers to Jets for draft picks

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - It's the end of an era in Green Bay as the Packers have reportedly traded four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets and Packers are in agreement that they will send the future Hall of Fame quarterback to the Big Apple.Trade details are as follows:Green Bay Packers receive:2023 First Round Pick (#13)2023 Second Round Pick (#42)2023 Sixth Round Pick (#207)Conditional 2024 2nd Round PickUpgraded to 1st Round Pick if Rodgers plays 65% of the plays for New York.New York Jets receive:QB Aaron Rodgers2023 First Round Pick (#15)2023 5th Round Pick (#170)Aaron Rodgers was selected 24th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Green and Gold. He has built up a Hall of Fame resume with four All-Pro selections, four MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP, and a Super Bowl ring.The California native holds the record for the most passing touchdowns in Green Bay history with 475.This is a developing story.

'Sad and devastating': Austin teacher raises money to stop hogs from destroying school garden

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After wild hogs destroyed an Austin school garden over several nights, a teacher is asking the community for help to stop the hogs. Austin Discovery School, a charter school in east Austin, has a school garden where students can grow food, learn about nutrition and broaden the taste buds of "picky eaters." "Even those kids that are like, 'I don't like carrots' are then all of a sudden eating a carrot that they just pulled out of the ground. They're like, 'Oh, actually, this was pretty good,'" Thora Gray, the school's EcoWellness teacher, said. PREVIOUS: Feral hogs causing headaches for some people living in northeast Austin Unfortunately, wild hogs have wrecked the garden several times over the past two years — most recently uprooting carrots and tomatoes. "We had such a nice crop of carrots this year, and we had just put our tomatoes on the ground for the season," Gray said. "And they came through, and they just destroyed everything. They uprooted everything, and...

City says May election to cost $1.3M, Alter looking to overlap elections for better turnout

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On your ballot this election, two measures that could change what happens after a complaint is filed against a police officer. One is back by community advocates, the other by the police union. Early voting started Monday. The election is Sat., May 6. Why your vote on Austin police oversight measures will matter Despite controversy surrounding the competing -- and some say misleading or even illegal -- propositions, voter turnout is expected to be low. "We are expecting overall around 5-7% voter turnout in this election. So a pretty small turnout relative to our presidential, gubernatorial elections," said Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Clerk. Some Austin city council members want to examine how we do elections like these so more people can be involved. That process is already underway. Earlier this year, council voted to create a group of residents to look at the city's official election rules. It's called the charter review commission. Members are being sel...

Winona State president one of two finalists for Minnesota State chancellor

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:48 GMT

Winona State University President Scott Olson is one of two finalists to be the next chancellor of the Minnesota State college and university system.Scott OlsonOlson and Tonja Johnson, the University of Alabama System senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, will interview with select system leaders later this week.After that, back-to-back public forums with the candidates will be held from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at the system office in St. Paul, with Johnson going first.The Board of Trustees is expected to name the next chancellor May 9.Devinder Malhotra, the former provost of St. Cloud State University, came out of retirement in 2017 to become interim chancellor following a failed national search. He stayed on without the interim tag a year later after a second failed search but is retiring again this summer.The system is made up of 26 state colleges and seven universities, including Winona State.The latest search yielded 30 applicants, nine of whom were chosen for intervie...