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Banker involved in big loans to Trump’s company testifies for his defense in civil fraud trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

When Deutsche Bank loaned Donald Trump’s company hundreds of millions of dollars, the bank always followed its own guidelines that include checking out information that would-be borrowers provide, an executive testified Tuesday at the former president’s civil fraud trial. The loans — for projects in Florida, Chicago and Washington, D.C. — are a focus of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit contending that Trump and his company deceived lenders and insurers by giving them financial statements that baldly overstated his asset values and overall net worth. The defendants deny the allegations.Deutsche Bank reviewed the financial statements before making the loans through its department that works with rich individuals — a pathway that allowed for more favorable interest rates than likely available from the commercial real estate division, according to the lawsuit. The deals came with conditions about Trump’s net worth and, sometimes, liquidity, and they oft...

Saskatchewan starts tribunal to review Ottawa’s clean electricity regulations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

REGINA — The Saskatchewan government is using its autonomy legislation for the first time to review the federal government’s proposed clean-electricity regulations.Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre says she’s implementing the Saskatchewan First Act to establish a tribunal to study the economic effects of the rules.The regulations would require provinces to work toward an emissions-free electricity grid by 2035. Eyre says the tribunal’s members are to submit a report outlining the costs. She adds the report could also be used as evidence in court, should the province file an injunction application in the future.On Monday, Alberta used its sovereignty act for the first time tabling a motion to empower Alberta officials and regulators to not co-operate with the federal rules.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2023.The Canadian Press

Storm closes schools in Cleveland, brings lake-effect snow into Pennsylvania and New York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — An early blast of cold and snow shut down shut down schools in Cleveland and other areas Tuesday and the blanket of snow made driving on heavily traveled Interstate 90 in northern Ohio treacherous.A lake-effect snow warning was issued by the National Weather Service for areas from Cleveland eastward into Erie, Pennsylvania, and parts of western New York were bracing for the first significant snowfall of the year. Forecasters said they expected up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) of snow in the greater Cleveland area. Just before 11 a.m. Tuesday, the weather service said observers had reported 13 inches (33 centimeters) or more in Ashtabula County in Ohio and Erie County in Pennsylvania along with 11.6 inches (30 centimeters) in Lake County, Ohio.In Erie, forecasters said snow accumulation in some areas could amount to 8 inches (20 centimeters), blown by with winds up to 30 miles per hour (48 kmh) before the snow warning is set to expire Wednesday morning.The Cleveland ...

'Merry Swiftmas!' Naperville family goes viral with Taylor Swift-themed holiday lights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Merry Swiftmas, Swifties! A family's house in Naperville has gone viral for their enchanted Taylor Swift holiday light display.Amy Scott and her daughters, Rebecca, 18, and Emily, 21, have been longtime fans of the pop icon. Unfortunately, like many of us, the family did not go to the 'Eras Tour.' But after seeing Swift's concert movie in theaters, the ladies were inspired.Amy told WGN News that her family has been doing huge light displays for years, but this is the first time they would pay tribute to T. Swift.She said the decorating began in early November and ended late last week after her daughters came home from college for Thanksgiving break."We made almost everything. My husband, Brian, is a printer. We thought of and then he created our vision. The girls and I did all the glittering, of course," Amy told WGN.And oh, what a vision! The two-story Naperville house, located near Atlas Lane and Tupelo Avenue, has completely transformed into a Taylor Swift...

Winter overnight parking rules in Chicago start Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

CHICAGO — 'Twas this 'dibs' season, a reminder for locals who park on Chicago streets.The city's winter overnight parking rules begin on Friday, Dec. 1 at 3 a.m. As a result, no parking is allowed from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. on 107 miles of streets, regardless of whether it snows.  Johnson unveils plan to move migrants into churches as tent camp construction to begin The rule remains in place until April 1.Last year, the city towed 242 vehicles on day one. Drivers face a minimum $150 towing fee and a $60 ticket.  There is also the two-inch rule on 500 miles of city streets, meaning that no parking is allowed — day or night — if snow accumulates more than two inches.  Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Click here for a map of streets impacted by the ban. 

Spread of latest COVID-19 variant is moving faster than estimated — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

For Tuesday, Nov. 28, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Spread of latest COVID strain increasingThe BA.2.86 variant has caused nearly one in 10 new COVID-19 cases in the US. This is about triple what it was just two weeks ago. The World Health Organization also noted a substantial rise in cases but the symptoms did not appear to be worse or different from previous strains. Unusual cluster of eye syphilis casesHealth officials are concerned about what could be a new strain of syphilis. The concern follows the case of five women ages 40 to 60 whose eyes became infected with syphilis after encounters with the same man. While the pathogen can affect the eyes, it usually happens among people with late-stage syphilis, those over 65, intravenous drug users, and those who are HIV positive. None of the women matched those categories, however.It's also the first reported cluster linked to heterosexual transmission. The CDC i...

Sandy Hook families offer to settle Alex Jones' $1.5 billion legal debt for a minimum of $85 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

Sandy Hook families who won nearly $1.5 billion in legal judgments against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for calling the 2012 Connecticut school shooting a hoax have offered to settle that debt for only pennies on the dollar — at least $85 million over 10 years.The offer was made in Jones' personal bankruptcy case in Houston last week. In a legal filing, lawyers for the families said they believed the proposal was a viable way to help resolve the bankruptcy reorganization cases of both Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems.But in the sharply worded document, the attorneys continued to accuse the Infowars host of failing to curb his personal spending and “extravagant lifestyle,” failing to preserve the value of his holdings, refusing to sell assets and failing to produce certain financial documents.“Jones has failed in every way to serve as the fiduciary mandated by the Bankruptcy Code in exchange for the breathing spell he has enjoyed for almost a year. His time is up," lawyer...

Georgetown ISD proposes new attendance zones to keep up with growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Georgetown ISD began a series of meetings this week to gain input from parents about the rezoning of 7 elementary and middle school campuses.According to GISD, the addition of two campuses next school year are the catalyst for the rezoning. The district has proposed creating attendance zones for San Gabriel Elementary School in the Santa Rita Ranch neighborhood, and the new Benold Middle School in the Parmer Ranch neighborhood.The campuses that may be impacted by this zoning are Wolf Ranch Elementary, Williams Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, Cooper Elementary Forbes Middle, Tippit Middle, and Wagner Middle School.Superintendent Devin Padabil said these new attendance zones are in an effort to accommodate the rapidly growing population of Georgetown.This summer, estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed Georgetown to be the fastest-growing city in the nation. Several local cities are among the fastest-growing in the country, new population estimates...

Downtown Austin Alliance discusses proposed light rail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The future of how Austin moves its people around the city and its downtown was the main topic of a panel discussion Tuesday on transportation.The Downtown Austin Alliance said it would host leaders from Austin Transit Partnership to talk about the proposed Austin light rail.The alliance said ATP planned on talking about how it is designing the rail system to move people around downtown better. Peter Mullan is ATP’s executive vice president of architecture and urban design. Mullen said the new infrastructure "can make us all feel more connected." "If we do our jobs right, this’ll be a community-building opportunity for Austin,” Mullen said. ATP was also expected to talk about how the rail system will focus on “the user experience that puts people first,” the alliance said. What does next year look like for Project Connect's light rail development? ATP sent the following three representatives to the panel, according to the announcement...

APD identifies person killed in Nov. 20 crash on Ben White Boulevard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department has identified the driver who died in a crash on Ben White Boulevard earlier this month. According to APD, a sedan and an SUV crashed in the 1000 block of West Ben White Boulevard shortly after midnight Nov. 20. The driver of the sedan, identified by APD as Ugochukwu Mbakwe, 35, died at the scene. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? APD said the driver and a passenger that were traveling in the SUV were not injured and are cooperating with the investigation.This incident is being investigated as Austin's 79th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 82 fatalities for the year. Anyone with any information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.