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Inflation drops to a two-year low in Europe. It offers hope, but higher oil prices loom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation that has plagued Europeans declined sharply in September to the lowest level in two years, strengthening hopes that consumers will get relief from costlier groceries, vacations and haircuts — and that the European Central Bank won’t have to further restrict the economy by raising interest rates from already-record highs.The annual rate was 4.3% this month, a drop from 5.2% in August, and the lowest since October 2021, the European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, said Friday. But recently higher oil prices are casting a shadow over prospects for quickly beating inflation down to the central bank’s target of 2%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, fell more than analysts expected — to 4.5% from 5.3%. The ECB closely watches this figure to assess how inflation is coming down.The fall in core inflation “reinforces our view that the ECB has finished raising interest rates,” said Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief eurozone ...

3 dead after being found unresponsive in Edgewater building: CFD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

CHICAGO -- A death investigation is underway after three people were found unresponsive in an Edgewater building Friday morning, CFD said.Police found the three adult victims unresponsive in the 5800 block of North Broadway Avenue around 6:30 a.m. 14-year-old boy shot in South Shore One person was pronounced dead on the scene and the two others were transported to Weiss Hospital in critical condition. The victims succumbed to their injuries.WGN is actively investigating the incident and will update as more information is recovered.

UAW strike expands to Ford plant in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says its two-week strike against Detroit automakers will spread to 7,000 more workers at a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors assembly factory near Lansing, Michigan.Union President Shawn Fain told workers on a video appearance Friday that negotiations haven’t broken down but Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress. Jeep maker Stellantis was spared from the third round of strikes.Last Friday, nearly 200 workers between the Stellantis facility in Naperville and General Motor’s facility in Bolingbrook walked off the job — union workers saying they are fighting for the “American Dream.” UAW strike expands to GM, Stellantis plants in suburbs THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers strikes against Detroit’s three automakers that spread to dozens of parts distribution centers one week ago could deepen Friday.The union has vowed to hit automakers harder if it ...

Oxford High School shooter will get life in prison, no parole, for killing 4 students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A teenager who killed four students at Michigan’s Oxford High School will be sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole, a judge said Friday.Judge Kwamé Rowe announced the decision over video conference, weeks after hearing from experts who clashed over Ethan Crumbley’s mental health and witnesses who described the tragic day in 2021 in sharp detail.Crumbley heard the decision with his lawyers while sitting in a room in the county jail.The 17-year-old will be formally sentenced in Oakland County court on Dec. 8, a day when survivors and families can tell the judge about how the shooting affected their lives.First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence for adults in Michigan. But the shooter was 15 at the time, and the judge had the option of choosing a shorter term that would mean an eventual opportunity for freedom.“Even if the defendant changes, and he finds some peace and some meaning in his life beyond torturing and killing, does not me...

WATCH LIVE | Committee on immigrant and refugee rights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

A press conference is being held with the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee rights to address the migrant crisis.

17-year-old, 18-year-old shot during attempted robbery in Belmont Cragin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

CHICAGO — A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were shot Thursday night during an attempted robbery in Belmont Cragin.It happened just after 11:05 p.m. in the 2200 block of North Parkside, according to police.CPD said a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were in the backyard of a building when an unknown male attempted to rob them at gunpoint. A struggled ensued and shots were fired.The 18-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg and the 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm. Both were transported in fair condition. 14-year-old boy shot in South Shore No one is in custody.

Angry customer, auto shop owner killed in Florida shooting 2 years after service, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — Two people were killed, including the suspect, at an auto repair shop in Florida after a disgruntled customer, angered by a car repair from two years ago, stormed into the business and shot the owner, according to police.Officers were called to Stout's Automotive in Largo around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday after several callers reported an active shooting."I saw a bunch of police cars pulling up, rapidly, coming down the road. I heard the sirens," said Arden Dittmer. "I saw the cars pulling in and police officers rushing towards the building."Officers with the Largo Police Department found two people suffering from gunshot wounds in the shop's office area. Both were rushed to area hospitals where they later died from their injuries. Jack-In-The-Box employee shot at drive-thru customers over curly fries, court docs say Dittmer, who owns a business across the street, said he texted Jodie Stout, the owner of Stout's Automotive, after seeing police arrive. Stout didn'...

Wawa to add around 60 stores in Indiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS -- Wawa announced Thursday that it will further expand its convenience store chain throughout the state of Indiana and throughout the Midwest and expects to open its first stores in mid-2025. According to a news release, the company's expansion into Indiana includes plans to open around 60 stores across the region over the next eight to 10 years. The company has 15 sites throughout the state of Indiana already under contract. Hoosier Lottery Cash4Life ticket set to expire Monday This comes after Wawa locations were previously announced in two locations near Indianapolis, including one in Westfield and another in Noblesville. The sites under contract include: Veterans Pkway & Veterans Pkwy Court in Clark CountyEads Pkwy & Doughty Rd. in Dearborn CountyCommerce & CR 1000 W in Delaware CountySpring Mill Rd. & SR 32 in Hamilton CountyHwy 32 and Hazel Dell in Hamilton CountyUS Hwy 40 & CR 600 W in Hancock CountyN. State Street & W. New Road in Hanc...

Supreme Court to hear cases on Florida, Texas social media laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Supreme Court on Friday announced it will hear two cases stemming from controversial laws in Texas and Florida regulating social media platforms’ content moderation decisions.The laws aim to prohibit social media companies from banning users based on political views, even if users violate platform policies, essentially limiting companies from being able to enforce their own policies.The high court will consider whether the laws’ content moderation restrictions and their “individualized-explanation requirements” are compliant with the First Amendment.Any outcome at the Supreme Court could have resounding implications for online speech after two lower courts, the 5th Circuit and 11th Circuit appeals courts, had conflicting opinions on blocking and upholding the two states’ similar laws. The laws were challenged in court by two tech industry groups, the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice. They said the social media laws violate ...

'Rooted deep inside': Meet the two women who led charge, saving site of Austin's first Black school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Myrtle Robinson and her daughter Carol Williams took a walk down memory lane on the grounds of Austin's first all-Black school. Robinson attended The Montopolis School. She and Williams have led efforts for years to protect the school through their group called Montopolis Strong. The Montopolis SchoolThe Montopolis SchoolThey're thrilled after the City of Austin recently voted to dedicate the land to protect the old school building. It said it is committed to preserving it as a historical and cultural landmark."Oh, man, if I could have shouted up in that city council, would say, 'oh, mommy,' while I shout. The neighborhood has changed, and this is the only thing we really have left," Williams said.The land used to be privately owned before 2019 and almost became a site for mixed-use housing and retail spaces.Old photos from The Montopolis SchoolOld yearbook photos from The Montopolis SchoolIt wasn't until a tense eminent domain process that the city took possession o...