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'Tectonic shifting' possible in SCOTUS consumer case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- After the 2008 financial crisis, Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers from things like excessive and predatory fees. But a new case before the US Supreme Court could gut the CFPB.The agency regulates things like the fees payday lenders can charge borrowers. Now the payday lenders are pushing back by claiming the CFPB's funding is unconstitutional."In practice, it could be rendered inoperable," said Aram Gavoor with George Washington Law. "It's actually drawn from a discretionary amount that the CFPB selects."During arguments before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the lawyer representing the payday lenders argued the CFPB budget doesn't have enough congressional oversight."At a bare minimum the appropriations clause requires Congress to determine how much the government should be spending," a lawyer for the payday lenders said.Without that appropriations oversight, the payday lenders say other agencies and even the White...

Millions in grants obtained by Joliet Township draws criticism from some city officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

WILL COUNTY, Ill. — Millions of dollars in grants obtained by Joliet Township is drawing criticism from some city officials.Last week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s administration announced Joliet Township would receive $8.6 million in grants to provide housing and services to asylum seekers from Central and South America.Since late August, over 15,000 migrants have been bussed from Texas to Illinois. Many of them have been sleeping at Chicago police stations and shelters. Chicago Migrant Crisis: 17K asylum seekers transported since August 2022 A spokesperson for Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy said the mayor and other decision-makers in the city did not approve or have knowledge of the grant request, which was made by Joliet Township Supervisor Angel Contreras.The township operates independently from the City of Joliet."If the township accepts this grant and individuals arrive in our city, it will be a tremendous strain and overtaxing our existing infrastructure impacting our Jolie...

Pritzker warns against book censorship as Illinois libraries deal with threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois leaders warn that the effort to pull more books off library shelves across the United States is growing. The warning comes as the nation celebrates Banned Book Week, which runs from Oct. 1-7.Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton spoke about the dangers of book bans at the University of Chicago's Regenstein Library. Gov. Pritzker signs Illinois anti-book banning bill into law "There's a mob mentality that's taking hold, based on the misguided notion that everyone's personal taste in books ought to be codified so that no one else may access the books that each person may find distasteful," Pritzker said. “Illinois continues to stand on the right side of history, refusing to censor educational and social reading material that celebrates our diversity and the richness of the human experience," Lt. Gov. Stratton added. “As we celebrate Banned Books Week, our administration is committed to protecting the voices and stories ...

Delphi defense team believes state has reopened investigation into Odinism theory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

DELPHI, Ind. — In a new court filing, the defense team for Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen says it believes investigators have reopened their investigation into the theory that Abby Williams and Libby German were killed in a ritualistic sacrifice. Allen's attorney laid out their reasoning in a motion filed on Monday asking Judge Fran Gull to set a deadline for the prosecution to turn over all of the evidence it has against their client. Attorneys for Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen want search warrant evidence thrown out The defense team says it has recently received several audio files of interviews conducted by Indiana State Police this past August with numerous people who they say are members of an Odinist cult.Lawyers for Richard Allen first floated the Odinism theory in a more than 130-page memo filed in mid-September. Odinism itself is an ancient Nordic religion sometimes known as Asatru. While often peaceful, some adherents practice animal sacrifice and ritualistic ...

Who is the new speaker of the House? It's complicated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — In a historic move on Tuesday, the House voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his seat. Stillness fell as the presiding officer gaveled the vote closed, 216-210, saying the office of the speaker "is hereby declared vacant.” This was the first time since 1910 that such a vote has been held, and the only time such a motion has been approved, according to The Hill. Now, what comes next is largely uncertain. That includes who will become the new leader of the House Republican majority. House makes history, removes McCarthy as Speaker What we do know is who will serve as the speaker pro tempore, filling the office until a new speaker is chosen: a top McCarthy ally, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC).McHenry was one of many Republicans who voted against ousting McCarthy. He was chosen from a list McCarthy designated and shared with the House clerk earlier this year, following a process started after 9/11. He is serving his tenth term as the representative for North Carolina's...

Blood-covered man hitting himself walked Highway 183, stunned by APD, dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An officer stunned a man early Tuesday morning after police said he kept striking himself with a metal object. The man later died at a local hospital. Looks like he's got a pipe on him…he's got blood all over him…he's carrying a pipe."Broadcastify AudioPolice said they began receiving multiple 911 calls at about 3:05 a.m. about a pedestrian on U.S. 183 near the 12300 block of Research Boulevard. The callers told police the man had obvious injuries to his body. Police said they arrived on the scene at about 3:09 a.m. and attempted to speak with the man and de-escalate the situation. The man, however, would not respond to officers, and police said he began seriously injuring himself with a metal object in front of them. One officer used a Taser on the man, which police said then allowed them to render aid. Austin-Travis County EMS then took the man to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 4:05 a.m. "I think that's seriously crazy," Sydney Ellis a neighbor...

Call-A-Ride service should be back to normal Wednesday, Metro says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Metro is still recovering after a cyberattack shut down parts of the transit system on Monday.According to Metro, the breach has been contained, and they were safely able to run their transit services on Monday. However, some of those folks who use the paratransit system Call-A-Ride were unable to get where they needed to go.“That’s terrible,” Tammy Porter said. “A lot of people really depend on Call-A-Ride—people less fortunate—and that’s a shame that this is happening to them.”Progress is being made Tuesday to resolve the computer network affecting Bi-State Development, Metro Transit, St. Louis Downtown Airport, ticketing at the Gateway Arch and the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, and the St. Louis Regional Freightway. House makes history, removes McCarthy as Speaker A Metro spokesperson said their IT teams froze their computer system to protect it from further damage and to protect customer information.No customer information was compromised in the attack, according...

Empty building now, cannabis microbusiness later? Missouri awards first licenses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Cannabis microbusinesses: That's the buzzword in Missouri after the state's Department of Health and Senior Services revealed their first round of license-winners across the state.And wouldn't you know it, the Kansas City metro had the most applications for dispensaries compared to all the other Show-Me State congressional districts. Parkville asks voters to approve local recreational marijuana tax FOX4 went to a handful of the addresses listed on the successful applications and found them to be empty (or mostly empty) buildings.However, the licenses were just announced Tuesday, and marijuana advocates said in this situation, the license really does come before a lot of other work.On U.S. 40 Highway in Independence, a former Steak 'n Shake is listed in state paperwork as the potential future home of a dispensary microbusiness.On Troost Avenue, a former car lot is the address listed on the application for a winning wholesale grow operation.And in the belly of the...

Man fatally shot by police in Anaheim

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

Police in Anaheim fatally shot a man during an encounter at a gas station Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The incident unfolded around 1:10 p.m. near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue, according to Anaheim Police. The circumstances were not immediately available.The scene of a fatal police shooting in at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2023. (KTLA)The scene of a fatal police shooting in at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2023. (KTLA)The scene of a fatal police shooting in at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2023. (KTLA)"The first police cars were at the apartments about a half a block east," a witness who was driving through the area told KTLA's Chip Yost. “I drove further west on Orangewood and heard gunshots … and I could see the body on the ground in the parking.”A large crime scene perimeter encompassed the ARCO gas station and several lanes ...

California transit agencies offering free rides for 'clean air day'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:14 GMT

California's most prominent transit agencies are coming together to offer free public transportation rides to celebrate California Clean Air Day.On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Californians and visitors alike can ride on public transit systems free of charge in honor of the event.L.A. Metro, Metrolink, BurbankBus, Orange County Transit Authority, Foothill Transit and more will be participating by offering riders free trips throughout the day.The California Clean Air Day website asks organizations and individuals to take the pledge to reduce pollution in honor of the holiday."California suffers from some of the worst air quality in the country. Collectively we have the power to change the world and can choose to do so in ways that help, not harm, all Californians," the website reads.A Metrolink train is shown at the Fullerton station in this undated promotional image. (Metrolink) One of the most effective ways to help reduce poor air quality is by reducing the number of vehicles on the road an...