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Web designer in Supreme Court gay rights ruling cited client who denies making wedding site request

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado web designer who the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday could refuse to make wedding websites for gay couples cited a request from a man who says he never asked to work with her.The request in dispute, from a person identified as “Stewart,” wasn’t the basis for the federal lawsuit filed preemptively seven years ago by web designer Lorie Smith, before she started making wedding websites. But as the case advanced, it was referenced by her attorneys when lawyers for the state of Colorado pressed Smith on whether she had sufficient grounds to sue.The revelation distracts from Smith’s victory at a time when she might have been basking in her win, which is widely considered a setback for gay rights.Smith named Stewart — and included a website service request from him, listing his phone number and email address in 2017 court documents. But Stewart told The Associated Press he never submitted the request and didn’t know his name was invoked in the lawsuit until he was ...

Possible B.C. port strike will spare cruise ships, employers say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

VANCOUVER — A possible strike by British Columbia port workers will not disrupt cruise ships docked in Vancouver, Prince Rupert or Vancouver Island, employers say.The BC Maritime Employers Association says it and the union representing cargo loaders have “confirmed” that cruise ships will continue to be serviced if a strike starts Saturday morning.The association says in a statement the exemption was a result of the federal “mediation and conciliation service process.”The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada issued a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday and is scheduled to go on strike at 8 a.m. Saturday unless a deal is reached or progress is made in negotiations.The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s schedule shows three cruise ships docked, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, Seabourn’s Odyssey and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority also shows three cruise ships in port, The Royal Princess...

Highland Park prepares for 4th of July one year after mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. -- Residents of Highland Park bracing for next week’s 4th of July holiday, which marks the one-year-anniversary of the mass shooting.But the community is somehow finding a way to stand strong while the victim’s families are facing a difficult few days as we draw closer to the anniversary.Among those who suffered harm is the family of Cooper Roberts, the courageous little boy who was left paralyzed following the mass shooting.9-year-old Cooper, despite being paralyzed from the waist down with the help of specialized equipment, playing tennis, his mom says. While preparing for a national championship competition for adaptive swimmers.But Keely Roberts, still struggling to come to terms with the tragic 4th of July shooting in Highland Park where seven people died and 48 others were injured. While looking ahead to the future, the Roberts family are facing an enormous challenge.“And the beauty of that is the love," Highland Park business owner Marlena Jayatilake said....

Report: Whole Foods coming to downtown St. Charles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — Whole Foods is moving into a former market in downtown St. Charles, according to a new report from the Daily Herald.The company has purchased the building where Blue Goose Market used to be, according to the report. 7 award-winning Chicagoland breweries to check out this summer Blue Goose Market closed back in March 2022 after more than 90 years in business.According to the Daily Herald, the deal was finalized on Thursday.The store will be one of just a few in the western suburbs of Kane and DuPage counties.According to the Whole Foods website, the closest stores are currently in Naperville, Wheaton and Schaumburg.Whole Foods is a subsidiary of Amazon.

How important are the Chicago Street Races to NASCAR?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

Jordan Bianchi, a NASCAR beat reporter for The Athletic, discusses the upcoming Xfinity & Cup Series races in downtown Chicago on "9 Good Minutes" on WGN News Now on Friday.CHICAGO — While the event has been debated in Chicago since it was announced in July 2022, the consensus has always been the same for the event for NASCAR. It's a major moment for the stock car company to shine with a unique event in a big media market in hopes of growing its visibility along with a new audience. That's what makes the Xfinity Series' The Loop 121 and Grant Park 220 critical events for NASCAR as they approach this weekend. They'll put their best drivers on a 2.2-mile street course that's like no other in the history of the sport.It starts then ends in front of Buckingham Found as it goes around Grant Park with time on DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue among other streets downtown. Chicago's iconic skyline will be the backdrop for a pair of races NASCAR is counting on to be a success...

Trippie Redd to perform in Chicago this fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- One of hip-hop's top artists will be heading to the Chicagoland this September.Trippie Redd will stop at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park during his "Take Me Away Tour" on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The Ohio-native rapper will be joined by LUCKI at all stops during the "Take Me Away Tour." G-Eazy heading to Chicago this summer Trippie Redd has over 18.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with almost 500 million plays for his "Taking A Walk."This tour comes as his "A Love Letter To You 5" studio album is set to drop in July.The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5.General public tickets go on sale on Friday, June 30. For ticket information, click here.

Gary names new police chief as reform partnership with State Police ends

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

GARY, Ind. — The city of Gary, Indiana named its new police chief on Friday, one day before it ends its reform process with Indiana State Police. Commander Anthony Titus was named chief at Friday's ceremony. The newmy-named police chief was involved in reform discussions over the last year.  Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, says state constitution gives only limited protections "We could've said, 'Well, enough is enough and we are doing what we can.' But that was not the case. And we appeciate that. I appreciate that as a son of Gary. I appreicate that as a police officer."Indiana State Police had partnered with Gary police to restructure and improve the department. "I'm very proud of the work product, I'm very proud of the outcome. I'm proud of the City Council members that challeneged it. That challenged the change and ordinance that we have proposed and we have sugested," said ISP Supt. Doug Carter. Delphi documents: Richard Allen told wife he killed girls; investi...

Swarm of gnat-like insects spotted all over NYC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — New York City seems to have been overtaken by a swarm of gnat-like insects, leaving people puzzled as to where the bugs came from. New Yorkers have taken to Twitter to document the mob of insects buzzing through the air in subway stations, plazas, and bike paths. The bugs were spotted flying around in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Here’s how you can check the air quality where you live "These swarms of bugs are taking over the city. They are in the subway platform too. The city just keeps getting worse. What’s next?" one New Yorker tweeted, with a video depicting the horde.Some folks report the bugs look white, while others say they are green.The gnat-like insects aren't actually gnats, according to American Museum of Natural History entomologist Dr. David Grimaldi. They are known as aphids, and there appears to be two species flying around, Grimaldi said."They may be native species or species that were introduced years ago (doubtfully recent)," Grimaldi told PIX...

Fire breaks out at Warner Bros. lot in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

BURBANK, Calif. (KTLA) — A burning transformer at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California caused a thick cloud of black smoke to fill the air Friday afternoon. The fire was first reported around 1:40 p.m. at the movie studio lot located at 4300 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank.The fire was knocked down about 20 minutes after fire crews arrived, officials said. The source of the smoke appeared to be an electrical transformer located atop a studio building. Smoke emanates from a piece of electrical equipment that caught on fire at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank on June 30, 2023. (KTLA)Helicopter video from KTLA showed firefighters on the roof of the building with light smoke emanating from what appeared to be the burned transformer. Before the fire was extinguished, large clouds of black smoke were visible across much of the San Fernando Valley. These employees were let go from ESPN No injuries were reported and no buildings were damaged, according to fire officials. The cause of the f...

Lookingglass Theatre to cut staff, pause production until Spring 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:16 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Chicago's most prominent theaters is pausing production and laying off more than half its staff.Lookingglass Theatre announced Friday that it is cutting its full-time staff from 24 to 10 and halting programming until late spring of 2024. Clydesdales circle Wrigley Field for ‘Folds of Honor’ The ensemble theater at the Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue has produced original work for three and a half decades.  In a letter, director Heidi Stillman announced the pause is an effort to "re-imagine" the theater's future. "While the pandemic has been declared over, theatres in our country are still feeling the effects of needing to shut down for so long," Stillman said. "Since re-opening, audiences and donations have not returned to 2019 levels, and the American Theatre is struggling to survive."Stillman told the Chicago Tribune that subscriptions have dropped off, and surveys revealed some audience members were reluctant to come downtown in recent sea...