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In Mexico, accusations of ‘communism’ and ‘fascism’ mark school textbook debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — There are few places where the debate over school textbooks has gone so ballistic in such a short time as in Mexico, where opponents are hurling cries of “communist” and “fascist’ at each other.The series of about three dozen government-written, free textbooks will be required reading for first through ninth grades in every school nationwide, starting on Aug. 28.News anchor Javier Alatorre claimed the new schoolbooks written by the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador are trying to inject “the virus of communism” into kids.Government supporters, meanwhile, have compared the opposition to Hitler, after opposition party leader Marko Cortes suggested some of the texts should be destroyed. Temperatures have run so high that López Obrador has instructed officials to hold a series of news conferences to answer questions about the new texts.The debate reveals how starkly divided Mexico is between die-hard supporters of López Obrador, and those wh...

Chicago native DJ Casper, creator of the 'Cha-Cha Slide,' dies at 58

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago native DJ Casper, the creator behind the classic hit "Cha-Cha Slide," has died, according to multiple news outlets.Casper, whose real name is Willie Perry Jr., passed away Monday following a years-long battle with cancer.He was 58-years-old.The DJ, who was born and raised in Chicago, was reportedly known as "Casper" due to frequently wearing all white attire while on stage.He allegedly created the party hit "Cha-Cha Slide" in 1998 for his nephew who who was a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness. Casper then created "Casper Slide Pt. 2" in 2000.The DJ joined WGN Morning News for an interview back in 2020 to promote his cancer foundation.

24-year-old woman critical after Bronzeville shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A 24-year-old woman was critically injured following a shooting in Bronzeville Monday night.Just before 8:50 p.m., police responded to a shooting in the 4800 block of South Drexel. At the scene, officers found a 24-year-old woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.She was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. 24-year-old woman critical after Bronzeville shooting Police believe the woman was involved in a verbal alteration with a man who shot her and then fled in a black sedan.No one is in custody.

Suspected burglar arrested after breaking into Florida church, 'baptizing himself' during attempt to steal electronics, money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) — A Georgia man who broke into a Florida church on Friday morning had an unusual encounter in the baptismal, deputies said.The suspect, identified by the Bay County Sheriff's Office as Derek Porter, was attempting to steal from the Emerald Beach Church of God in Panama City Beach when he stopped to baptize himself, according to officials.Shortly before, Porter had used a cinderblock to smash a window at the church and gain entry on Friday morning. A woman working in the church heard the sound and fled, deputies said. "While inside, Porter caused approximately $8,000 worth of damage to the church. Porter then loaded several electronics including a television and a computer into his truck along with the church’s money bag," deputies wrote. Deputies and officers with the Panama City Beach Police Department descended on the church and arrested Porter. They say he was found meth and drug paraphernalia. Hundreds attend church service generated by ChatGPT ...

Wait not worth it for the Cubs on Monday in New York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

NEW YORK — If you weren't up for waiting up for the end, you didn't miss much, especially if you were a Cubs fan.In a strong stretch of play in the second half of the season for the team, this one was a dud. Losing to the Mets before a lengthy rain delay at Citi Field, things only got away from the Cubs even more on a forgettable night for the club. New York added four more runs after it to pull away for an 11-2 win. The Cubs are now 2 1/2 games behind the Brewers for first in the NL Central but just one in back of the Reds for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.It's the most lopsided loss for the team in the second half of the season, besting their 8-0 defeat at the hands of the Braves on Friday. The Cubs rallied to take the final two games of that series at Wrigley Field this past weekend and will try to do the same when they play the final pair the next two days.Drew Smyly struggled on a big night for the Mets, who had lost six straight following a major trade deadli...

On National Whataburger Day, walk through the Texas-founded business' history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

TEXAS (KXAN) — Tuesday marks the inaugural National Whataburger Day, an ode to the orange and white stripes that have been a part of Texas history for more than 70 years. As customers and enthusiasts of the beloved chain enjoy their free burgers Tuesday, here's a walkthrough of the company's 73-year history.Harmon Dobson's introductory vision for what was to become Whataburger was one idea: serving a burger so large that it took two hands to hold, according to Whataburger's historic documents. His hope was that those who would taste his burger would say "what a burger!" in response, inspiring the future business' namesake.On Aug. 8, 1950, at a burger stand on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Whataburger was born. Since that lone stand along the coast, the business has grown to nearly 900 locations across the United States.The business saw strong success, and Harmon expanded it to other markets in Texas. At the end of the decade, Dobson opened the 21st Whataburger in Pensacola, Florid...

Biden announcing historic Grand Canyon monument designation during his Arizona visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and TERRY TANG (Associated Press)TUSAYAN, Ariz. (AP) — President Joe Biden will use his visit to Arizona on Tuesday to formally announce a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, making Native American tribes’ and environmentalists’ decades-long vision to preserve the land a reality.Biden is expected to announce plans for a new national monument to preserve about 1,562 square miles (4,046 square kilometers) just outside Grand Canyon National Park, national climate adviser Ali Zaidi confirmed. It will mark the Democratic president’s fifth monument designation.Tribes in Arizona have been pushing Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a new national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. “Baaj Nwaavjo” means “where tribes roam,” for the Havasupai people, while “I’tah Kukveni” translates to “our footprints,” for the Hopi tribe.Arizona is a key battleground state that Biden won narrowly in 2020, becoming the first...

2nd Truck Park shooter receives nearly 37-year prison sentence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

A St. Paul man was sentenced to nearly 37 years in prison Tuesday for the murder of Marquisha Wiley and the attempted murder of other bystanders in a shootout with another gunman inside the Seventh Street Truck Park bar in 2021.Jurors on June 14 found Terry Lorenzo Brown Jr. guilty of all counts against him: second-degree intentional murder, four counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.Ramsey County District Judge Carolina Lamas  sentenced Brown to 441 months on the murder conviction and 220½ months for each of the four attempted murder counts. The sentences will run concurrently.Family members and friends of Wiley, a 27-year-old veterinary technician from South St. Paul, filled one side of the courtroom. Most of them wore orange T-shirts with her photo on it. Orange was Marquisha “Kiki” Wiley’s favorite color and it’s the color for gun violence awareness.Terry Lorenzo Brown Jr., left, and Devondre Trevon Phillips. (Courtesy of the Ramsey County s...

US inflation has steadily cooled. Getting it down to the Fed’s target rate will be the toughest mile.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

WASHINGTON — Over the past year, inflation in the United States has tumbled from 9% all the way to 3%, softening most of the price pressures that have gripped the nation for more than two years.Now comes the hard part.Squeezing out the last bit of excess inflation and reducing it to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate is expected to be a much harder and slower grind.A measure called “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is even higher than overall inflation. It, too, seems likely to slow only gradually. The Fed pays particular attention to core prices as a signal of where inflation might be headed. In June, core prices were up 4.1% from a year earlier, according to the Fed’s preferred gauge.“We see some challenges in getting that all the way back to 2% quickly,” said Michael Hanson, senior global economist at J.P. Morgan.The stickiness of inflation could endanger the possibility that the Fed will achieve a rare “soft landing” — a scenario in which it man...

What to expect at the Whitehall Sasquatch Festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:55:41 GMT

WHITEHALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Every year, a special festival gathers in the Washington County village of Whitehall. More than 2,000 people come to town for a chance to call and talk about the folklore favorite Sasquatch. This September, they'll do it again. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Whitehall's annual Sasquatch Festival & Calling Contest returns to town from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30. The calling contest is split into kids and adult categories, with pre-registration open now. In addition to competing for the title of best Sasquatch caller, visitors can expect vendors, Sasquatch-centric authors, games, food, and a full beer garden.Speakers will lead talks all day on Sasquatch evidence, hoaxes, and more. The full schedule for the day includes:11:45 a.m.: Hoaxes with Steve Kulls12:30 p.m.: Hominoids & Handprints with Karac St. Laurent1:15 p.m.: Field Work with Mike Anne2 p.m.: Local Evidence with Paul Bart...