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Southwest fined record $140M over 2022 holiday meltdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

(The Hill) -- Southwest Airlines settled a federal lawsuit over its holiday meltdown last December that caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays for millions of travelers for $140 million, the airline announced Monday. The agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOT) marks the largest penalty levied against an airline for violation of consumer protection laws, the government said. Southwest agreed to pay $35 million in cash to the DOT over three years, while the majority of the settlement — about $90 million — will go toward compensation of future passengers to avoid similar issues. In a consent order announcing the settlement, the DOT said it found Southwest "violated the law on numerous occasions," including failing to help stranded travelers. Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Monday he hopes the lawsuit provides an incentive for airlines to prevent similar travel debacles in the futur...

Chicago bringing back 'Name a Snowplow' contest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is bringing back its "You Can Name a Snowplow" contest after the inaugural event last year.The contest has two phases. First, the city will gather names from the submissions, which are limited to one per person and 50 characters in length.When the submission period closes on Jan. 12, or when there's 20,000 submissions, whichever comes first, staff members of the Department of Streets and Sanitation will choose 50 finalists.Six finalists will be chosen. Then beginning on Jan. 22, residents can vote for their favorite. Previous: Chicago snowplow naming contest concludes: Seven winning names unveiled Due to a near-tie for sixth place, seven winning names were chosen last year.Mrs. O’Leary’s PlowDa PlowSalter PaytonSears PlowerSleet Home ChicagoHoly Plow!Jean Baptiste Point du ShovelLast year, the officially named snowplows enjoyed a mini-parade where those who originally submitted the winning names had a photo opportunity.“We were thrilled with the Chica...

Missing 26-year-old man located

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

CHICAGO — Police have located a missing 26-year-old man who went missing on Saturday.Police did not provide details on where or when the man was located.

Recording reveals Granite Shoals committee proposed euthanasia of feral cats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

GRANITE SHOALS, Texas (KXAN) — The Hill Country Humane Society announced Friday it had discontinued its partnership with the City of Granite Shoals after recordings from a November city committee meeting captured members advocating for mass euthanasia of feral cats living in the community.The Hill Country Humane Society shared with KXAN an audio recording of the City of Granite Shoals' Wildlife Advisory Committee meeting from Nov. 6. During the meeting, members discussed ongoing issues with feral cat colonies in the city, with one member saying "the formation of feral cat colonies should be discouraged and trap, neuter and release programs should not be considered a long-term, viable option for the maintenance of feral cat colonies."Committee members said Nov. 6 there are approximately four feral cat colonies in the city, with roughly 400 cats in total.During the hour-and-a-half-long discussion Nov. 6, committee members discussed several options for managing the feral cat population...

LBJ graduate Andrew Mukuba transferring from Clemson to Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former Austin high school football standout is returning home.Andrew Mukuba, an LBJ graduate and three-year starter at defensive back for Clemson, announced his transfer to Texas via social media Monday. Scores, stats for the 2023 Texas high school football state championships Mukuba will reunite with his high school coach Jahmal Fenner who is now on the Texas staff as the director of high school relations. Mukuba was named the 2021 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and to the Freshman All-America team that year. He made 149 tackles with 20 pass breakups in 35 games with the Tigers.Mukuba's recruiting journey to Clemson was unique. Head coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's first "COVID commit" after Mukuba enrolled in January 2021 having not met the coaching staff in person due to COVID protocols.Mukuba is Texas' second transfer commitment during the current transfer portal window. Houston receiver/returner Matthew Golden announced his commitment to Texas on S...

I’ve watched dozens of cheesy holiday rom-coms this year. Here are 5 good ones.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

Kayla Samoy | Chicago TribuneSince November, I’ve been watching the season’s new Christmas romantic comedies basically nonstop. There were many mediocre movies, but also a few that hit the right balance of cheesy, cringy and Christmas charm.‘The Santa Summit’It’s a Christmas hater’s absolute nightmare: the annual Santa Summit. What began as a bar’s seasonal promotion for discounted drinks has turned into a crazy barhopping gathering of hundreds of people dressed as jolly old Saint Nicholas. Teacher Jordin (Hunter King) drags her two besties out for the night of holiday fun.At the start of the event, Jordin loses her wallet and stumbles across Liam (Benjamin Hollingsworth) in her hunt. They strike up a conversation and somehow start to tell their life stories to each other in the span of just minutes. They discover they both love “Casablanca” and tacos! It’s instant love.But when they go into the bar to get a drink, they get separated in the crowd full of red suits and beards. Of cou...

St. Paul schools’ Joe Gothard finalist for national superintendent award

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Joe Gothard is one of four finalists for the national Superintendent of the Year award from the American Association of School Administrators.The award is presented to school system leaders who make a positive difference in students’ lives and ensure the safety and wellness of their communities. Other evaluation criteria include professionalism, community involvement and communication.St. Paul Public School superintendent Joe Gothard (John Autey / Pioneer Press)In October Gothard was named Minnesota Superintendent of the Year by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, qualifying him for the national award. The state association noted Gothard’s  “transformative change for SPPS with American Rescue Plan (ARP) spending” to create an Innovation Office that supported initiatives across the district.“It is an honor to congratulate these four innovative and future-driven superintendents who are setting the bar for what high-quality leaders...

Body recovered from submerged car in Greene County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

LEEDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An individual has passed away after their vehicle was swept into the Catskill Creek on Monday morning. The Greene County Sheriff's Office says the driver entered a blocked-off part of Cauterskill Road that was closed due to flooding. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to the National Weather Service, a car can lose traction in as little as six inches of water. A regular-sized car can be swept away by 12 inches of water and SUVs can be carried away by 2 feet of rushing water. The Greene County Sheriff's Office is closing flooded roadways throughout the county. Police are working to identify the victim. No other information is available at this time.This is a developing story. Stay tuned to NEWS10 for updates.

New training aims to cut down on wrongful arrests in Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

Illinois leads the country in prison exonerations, according to the National Registry of Exonerations and the Center for Wrongful Convictions.In Illinois, the number one reason for wrongful arrests is police misconduct.To solve the problem, the Illinois Police Training Institute has started a new training program.I dug a bit deeper into this new training, what it includes and the particular challenge Illinois faces, beating out Texas, New York and California in wrongful convictions.The majority of people who are wrongfully convicted are mainly young black men.“I’m always humbled because I can’t imagine going into a room with 102 police officers after being incarcerated by that system for something that I didn’t do,” Wrongful Conviction and Awareness and Avoidance Training Director Marcus Beach said when introducing exoneree Antione Day to a group of trainees.“I have 14 years in the system,” said Day, who was sentenced to more than 60 years for a crime he did not commit.Attorney and ...

Suspect jailed after Illinois hotel standoff

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:02 GMT

A 29-year-old Rock Falls man is in custody after police allege he was involved in a standoff Sunday at a hotel in Lee County, according to a news release. Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Lee County Dispatch received a 911 call from the Magnuson Hotel, 443 Illinois Route 2, that a man had just threatened him with a gun at the location.Lee County Deputies, Dixon Police and the Illinois State Police responded to the scene. Through the investigation, the suspect was identified as Steven M. Armoska of Rock Falls, who was staying at the hotel. Steven Armoska (Lee County Sheriff's Office) Armoska was discovered to have a lengthy criminal history with numerous prior weapons offenses and felony convictions, the release says.The determination was made to activate the Joint Operations Group, which is a group of tactical officers from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Dixon Police Department, and medics with the Dixon City Fire Department. A perimeter was established around the room where Ar...