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Man charged in series of renovation scams in Mississauga, Brampton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

A man is facing fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a series of renovation scams across Mississauga and Brampton.Peel Regional Police said that between Sept. 2021 and Feb. 2023, the accused, who went by Sunny of Weaver Home Improvement and North Side Renovations, signed five renovation contracts and collected deposits totalling $37,000.Investigators claimed 42-year-old Hardish Khinda of Norval, Ont., promised to provide a service, signed a contract, collected a deposit, and failed to provide said service or return the deposit. On Nov. 24, 2023, Khinda was arrested and charged with defrauding the public. He appeared in court on Dec. 18, 2023.In a news release, a police spokesperson said authorities are reminding the public to be meticulous in vetting their contractors by asking for personal referrals, checking online reviews, and verifying their credentials.

Voters file an objection to Trump's name on the Illinois ballot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A petition filed by five voters on Thursday seeks to bar former President Donald Trump from the Illinois Republican primary election ballot in March, claiming he is ineligible to hold office because he encouraged and did little to stop the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.The petition, similar to those filed in more than a dozen other states, relies on the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits anyone from holding office who previously has taken an oath to defend the Constitution and then later “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the country or given “aid or comfort” to its enemies. The Supreme Court is expected to determine whether Trump can keep running for president. Here’s why The 87-page document, signed by five people from around the state, lays out a case that Trump, having lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden, fanned the flames of hardcore supporters who attacked the Capitol on the day Congress certified the ...

'Having fun with it': Meet the Chicago-style hot dog croissant by Daisies, The Wieners Circle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

CHICAGO — The Logan Square restaurant and café Daisies has teamed up with The Wieners Circle to create a concoction you may not initially think about when dreaming of a pastry — a Chicago-style hot dog croissant.The collaboration kicked off Tuesday and the amount of attention it's already received is "wild," according to pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky. Starting last September with Paulie Gee's, Daisies produced croissant collaborations with Kasama and GG's Chicken Shop as well.Omilinsky sat down with WGN News to explain how the fourth edition, the Chicago-centric pastry, got off the ground with the help of a legend — Poochie from The Wieners Circle.As the series was rolling along, one of her team members light-heartedly asked, "so what's next? Wouldn't it be so funny if we did Wieners Circle?""They should know not to joke around about things back there or I'll make it happen," laughed Omilinsky.Omilinsky, courtesy Dave YakirThe other partners at Daisies got a production agency to work ...

Wilmette woman in Indiana toll road crash struck, killed by alleged intoxicated driver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A woman who was involved in a crash on the Indiana Toll Road was struck and killed by an alleged intoxicated driver on the expressway.Indiana State Police were dispatched to eastbound I-90, at the .9 mile marker near the state line, on the report of a multi-vehicle crash Friday at around 4:45 p.m.Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the a gray Nissan SUV may have hydroplaned and struck the concrete barrier that separates the east and westbound lanes.A driver in a white Lexus saw the crash, which blocked the left and center lanes, and pulled over. The woman in the SUV, later identified as Sarah Herd, 23, of Wilmette, asked him to call 911 and began to walk across the roadway toward the Lexus.Police said a blue Ford F250 was traveling eastbound and approached the scene. The driver, Scott Schuch, 55, of Porter, allegedly made a sudden lane change and struck Herd. She died at the scene.Schuch's pickup truck then crashed into the Lexus. Two occupants ...

U.S. Secretary of State heads back to Middle East

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to the Middle East Thursday night to work on preventing the war in Gaza from spreading into a wider conflict.Blinken will visit Israel and other nations important to maintaining some stability in the region.This is Secretary Blinken’s fourth trip to the Middle East since war began and the State department says his top priority is de-escalation.State department spokesman Matthew Miller says the U.S. remains focused on easing tensions in the Middle East.“Even if it’s tough, sometimes it’s the job of the United States to do that,” said Miller.Blinken's trip to the region comes just days after a drone strike killed a senior Hamas leader in Lebanon.“It is no one’s interest--not Israel’s, not the regions, not the world’s--for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza,” said Miller.Israel did not claim responsibility for the attack, but both Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah military group immediately blamed them and vowed a "s...

Republican candidates make final push ahead of Iowa caucuses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The first critical contest in the 2024 presidential race is less than two weeks away and the Republican candidates are fighting to win over Iowa voters. With Donald Trump still far ahead in the polls, the other candidates are making a last-minute push to show they can compete. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held an event in Iowa on Wednesday night."I'm asking for your support. I'm looking forward to January 15th." DeSantis said. Although the former president seems to have a commanding lead, the other Republican candidates are still making their case to voters. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley told people at a New Hampshire rally that her campaign is gaining momentum. "President Trump's given me some attention these days. I'm kind of flattered. I'm flattered because I know he sees what we're seeing and that means we're surging and he is getting uncomfortable," Haley said. DeSantis is going after both Trump and Haley. "Donald T...

Biden to speak at Valley Forge on 3rd anniversary of Jan. 6th attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Friday President Biden will mark the third anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol with a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.The historic landmark was a turning point in the Revolutionary War."Where Americans came together to fight for our democracy hundreds of years ago," said Kevin Munoz, a representative of the Biden campaign.The President plans to talk about what he calls threats to democracy.  Munoz says we can expect Biden to go after what the campaign calls extreme Republican policies. The Biden team says democracy's future is on the ballot in November."We want to make sure every American has the freedoms that we've fought for," he said.Conservatives say President Biden and Democrats are the real threat to democracy."I think when he's talking about a threat to democracy, he must be looking in the mirror because if there's any threat to democracy, it's the actions of his administration and his supporters, " said Hans von Spakovsky of ...

White House asks ‘when will enough be enough’ following Iowa school shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The White House says President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest developments following a school shooting at Perry Middle and High School in Perry, Iowa on Thursday.“It’s only the fourth day in the new year and we are already faced with yet another horrific school shooting, and the question that we ask is when will enough be enough?” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asked during a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.The shooting happened Thursday morning before classes started on the school’s first day back following winter break. Police said multiple people were shot and the extent of their injuries were unclear at the time.The Associated Press reports the suspect died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.The White House said senior staff have been in touch with the governor’s office and federal officials are working with local law enforcement to support the investigation.“Our students and teachers deserve to know that their schoo...

Texas water provider files lawsuit against Hays groundwater district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A Central Texas water provider has filed a federal lawsuit against a groundwater district in Hays County amid ongoing permitting issues and alleged overproduction of groundwater.Aqua Texas, Inc. filed the suit against the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, alleging the district has provided "unlawful and unequal treatment of Aqua Texas" as well as a "complete disregard for Aqua's state law duty to provide 'continuous and adequate' water service to its customers," per court filings.Currently, Aqua Texas services three systems within the district: Woodcreek Phase 1, Woodcreek Phase 2 and the Mountain Crest area. It also operates wells within the Jacob's Well zone.What led up to the lawsuit?The filing marks a continuation of ongoing tension between the two entities. The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District claimed over the summer that Aqua Texas ov...

City of Buda launching new bill pay service in January

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:33 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) -- Buda residents will soon have a new way to pay their bills.The City of Buda will be launching a new bill pay system in mid-January through the software company InvoiceCloud. According to the city, the new platform will feature a user-friendly portal and more features than before to view and pay bills online.Customers will be able to schedule payments, set up autopay, and more.The city said there will also be reduced convenience fees for customers: Credit/Debit Processing: Customers should be able to save $0.31 if processing online payments through a credit/debit card based on the average bill amount today.E-Check Processing: InvoiceCloud is adding a much-needed payment option for customers. One-time e-check (ACH) payments will have a flat fee of $1.95 but will provide significant cost savings to customers, saving over $4 per transaction. If customers enroll in an auto-pay e-check. The processing fee is waived.Customers who are set up using auto-pay with a credi...