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Dick Butkus, fearsome Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker, dies at 80

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A photo of Dick Butkus sneering behind his facemask filled the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 1970 NFL preview, topped by the headline, “The Most Feared Man in the Game.” Opponents who wound up on the business end of his bone-rattling hits could testify that wasn’t an exaggeration.Butkus, a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears whose speed and ferocity set the standards for the position in the modern era, has died, the team announced Thursday. He was 80.According to a statement released by the team, Butkus’ family confirmed that he died in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, California.Butkus was a first-team All-Pro five times and made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine seasons before a knee injury forced him to retire at 31. He was the quintessential Monster of the Midway and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. He is still considered one of the greatest defensive players in league history.Trading on his i...

4 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in fresh West Bank violence. Clashes erupt in flashpoint town

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen in West Bank violence on Thursday, Palestinian health officials said, in the latest deaths in a monthslong surge of violence in the occupied territory.In video circulated on social media, a lone gunman opened fire at an Israeli car in broad daylight on a busy street in Hawara, a flashpoint town in the northern West Bank. The gunman fired at least 10 shots, pursuing the car as it tried to escape by driving over a barrier in the middle of the street.No one in the car was injured, the army said. It said troops hunted him after the attack and shot him. The identity of the gunman, whose death was confirmed by Palestinian officials, wasn’t immediately known. Hawara has seen repeated attacks, including a deadly shooting early this year that triggered a rampage by Jewish West Bank settlers who torched Palestinian property.Early Friday, dozens of Israeli settlers entered Hawara, and clashes erupted with Palestinian residen...

Voter rolls are becoming the new battleground over secure elections as amateur sleuths hunt fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A group has been impersonating government officials, harassing New York residents at their homes and falsely accusing them of breaking the law, state officials have warned.But what sounds like a scam aimed at people’s pocketbooks is actually part of a shakedown with a much different target: voters.State prosecutors have sent a cease-and-desist order to a group called New York Citizens Audit demanding that it halt any “unlawful voter deception” and “intimidation efforts.”It’s the type of tactic that concerns many state election officials across the country as conservative groups, some with ties to allies of former President Donald Trump and motivated by false claims of widespread fraud in 2020, push to access and sometimes publish state voter registration rolls, which list names, home addresses and in some cases party registration. One goal is to create free online databases for groups and individuals who want to take it upon themselves to try to fin...

Nearly 4 million people in Lebanon need humanitarian help but less than half receive aid, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Lebanon faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 4 million people in need of food and other assistance, but less than half getting aid because of a lack of funding, a U.N. official said Thursday.Imran Riza, the U.N. humanitarian chief for Lebanon, adds that the amount of assistance the world body is giving out is “much less than the minimum survival level” that it normally distributes.Over the past four years, he said, Lebanon has faced a “compounding set of multiple crises ” that the World Bank describes as one of the 10 worst financial and economic crises since the mid-19th century. This has led to the humanitarian needs of people across all population sectors increasing dramatically, he said.Since the financial meltdown began in October 2019, the country’s political class — blamed for decades of corruption and mismanagement — has been resisting economic and financial reforms requested by the international community.Lebanon started talk...

Family of Myrtle Simmons-Brown look for answers in homicide investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

MAYWOOD, Ill. — The family of Myrtle Simmons-Brown is seeking answers in the investigation of the 73-year-old's homicide outside of her Maywood home in mid-September.According to the Maywood Police Department, Simmons-Brown's body was discovered in a creek behind her residence on Sept. 16. In the nearly three weeks since, family said a person of interest has been identified, but no one is in police custody.A letter shared with WGN News on behalf of the family Thursday demands an update on the case and justice for Simmons-Brown, who family described as being a beautiful, loving and inspirational soul who made everyone around her feel like they mattered.The full letter can be read at the bottom of this article. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Search for former NFL player continues as police scour home of slain mother A few days after Simmons-Brown's body was found, videos of her son — former NFL player Sergio Brown — surfaced on social media, where he appeared to be outside of the United States....

Dick Butkus: Reactions to the death of a Chicago Bears legend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Those in and around the sports world are offering their memories and condolences to the family of Dick Butkus — one of the most iconic sports athletes to ever come from, and play for the City of Chicago — after he died in his sleep overnight Wednesday, according to a statement from the Butkus Family.Dick Butkus wasn’t just one of the greatest football players to ever play the game, he was a remarkable man. He was always there for me when I needed him. Now, these 3 #Bears legends are in heaven, sharing a drink, getting ready to watch the #TNF game from the best seats. Here's… pic.twitter.com/dzKa8n5p7x— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) October 5, 2023Jarrett Payton, son of Walter Payton and WGN sports anchor and reporter, offers his condolences to the family of Dick Butkus after his passing Thursday. Approaching 80, Dick Butkus reflects on how Chicago’s ‘no bull—- people’ shaped his legendary Bears career "Dick was the ultimate Bear, and one of the greatest players i...

Bears vs. Commanders: 5 Keys for a Chicago victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. — After an off-season of optimism, the Chicago Bears have offered anything but four games into the year, but here are five things they can do to notch their first win of the season tonight against the Washington Commanders. Can the Bears still save the 2023 season? At least time is on their side 1. Let Justin Fields run wildChicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Bears quarterback Justin Fields is fresh off the second best rushing season by a QB in NFL history (1,143 rushing yards in 2022), and is facing the team who has given up the third-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks in professional football so far this year (131).Chicago needs to drop the emphasis they've had on developing Fields as a pocket passer, and go all-in on designed runs, RPO's, roll outs and anything else that highlights the most ...

MedWatch Digest: New hope in preventing miscarriages and birth defects — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

For Thursday, Oct. 5, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Vaccine could protect women during pregnancy A virus that plagues pregnant women can lead to devastating results, including the loss of a pregnancy or severe birth defects. Tulane University doctors say they have made a discovery that could stop the virus from ever taking hold. Women who are exposed early to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) have a reduced threat when they become pregnant. The common herpes virus can be contracted before women become pregnant and causes no side effects. But it can be passed to a developing fetus. Knowing prior exposure can protect the mother and baby. Researchers say they have a target for developing a CMV vaccine.  The full study is in the journal PLOS One.Study: Diabetes drugs used for weight loss can pose serious threatWeight loss drugs that have become a craze for celebrities and anyone hoping to shed pounds, could cause serious stomach da...

City, state officials working with Homeland Security to manage Chicago migrant crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

CHICAGO -- From Chicago to Springfield, the effort has intensified to lobby Washington to assist with the city's migrant crisis.On Thursday, the Biden Administration promised to slow the surge at the US border, with federal assessment teams on the ground in Chicago looking to help. With the dramatic surge of new arrivals this week, Mayor Brandon Johnson and City Hall are preparing for a trip to the southern border to better assess the crisis that’s being felt so acutely here in Chicago.  Lawsuit filed against city to end inhumane conditions for Chicago residents, migrants The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assesses the city’s migrant crisis grappling with limited shelter space for the more than 17,000 asylum seekers who’ve arrived since the summer of 2022, including 2,300 migrants, according to city reports.The DHS announced they plan on deploying a military personnel surge to support border efforts that's expected to support the 2,500 National Guard personnel...

Hutto PD gets $500K boost for officer salaries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:10 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — The Hutto Police Department was allocated an additional $500,000 which it will put toward raising pay for its officers and civilian staff.Hutto Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough said the raise has now made officer pay more comparable to salaries seen in other Central Texas cities. He also said this will help the department's recruitment efforts.This raise also comes with a nightside differential for officers, which provides an additional 15% per shift for officers who work after 6 p.m."During all my years of law enforcement, I've learned that when officers who are public servants can come to a place where they feel valued - that is priceless," Yarbrough said.Yarbrough said city officials and leaders were very receptive to this additional funding. He said the raise is a sign that the city is investing in public safety for its rapidly growing community."We're not only competitive, we're exceeding some of the salaries that are provided by some of our other law enforc...