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Grocery, gas taxes set to rise in Illinois next month

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KTVI) -- Two weekly tasks - going to the grocery store and filling up your gas tanks - are about to get more expensive in Illinois. By July 1, Illinois will reinstate a 1% tax on grocery purchases and bump up the state's gas tax another 3.1 cents per gallon. Last year, Illinois suspended its grocery tax as part of a $46.5 billion state budget plan to combat inflation. The state also paused a plan to raise gas taxes for six months, though that came with a 3.1-cent increase per gallon on New Year's Day and another 3.1-cent per gallon in July. State officials estimated last year the suspended grocery store sales tax would save taxpayers up to $400 million. The freeze came at a time when the consumer price index for groceries rose around 7%. That could rise another 4-8% by the end of 2023. Illinois hospital links closing to ransomware attack SuperMarketNews.com says Illinois is one of 13 states with a grocery sales tax, though it has the lowest one among states tha...

Trump speaks out against 'heinous' classified document charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Former President Donald Trump publicly responded to the historic federal criminal charges he's facing related to classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort.On Tuesday night, Trump delivered a speech to his supporters in New Jersey in which he insisted he is innocent and called the charges fake and fabricated.“Today, we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country,” Trump said.Hours after leaving his arraignment for federal criminal charges, former President Trump hurled insults at President Joe Biden and the Justice Department.Trump forcefully defended himself from the charges he's facing of illegally retaining classified information.“I had every right to have these documents,” Trump argued.Before his speech, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents.Most Republicans in Congress continue to defend Trump as well.“When the president's main opponent for his reelec...

Illinois hospital links closing to ransomware attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

SPRING VALLEY, Ill. (NewsNation) — An Illinois hospital will close its doors this week due in part to a cyberattack two years ago, which analysts said makes it the first hospital to publicly link criminal hackers to its closure.St. Margaret’s Health in Spring Valley fell victim to a cyberattack in 2021. It was unable to submit claims to insurers, Medicare or Medicaid for months, which led to a financial spiral. Now, St. Margaret's will close its doors on Friday.Sister Suzanne Stahl, who is the chair of the hospital’s parent organization SMP Health, said the cyber attack, coupled with being a rural hospital with staffing shortages, was too much for it to overcome. “Rural hospitals have been struggling throughout the nation and many have already closed," Stahl said. “It has become impossible to sustain our ministry. This saddens us greatly.” Most expensive home for sale in Michigan at $18M built for next level lake life Ransomware attacks on hospitals aren't uncommon. Fede...

Social Security COLA increase may be smaller than previously estimated, senior group says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The next cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients is likely to be the lowest in years, the Senior Citizen’s League predicts.The Senior Citizen’s League (TSCL), a nonpartisan senior advocacy group, says the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 2024’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is likely to be somewhere around 2.7% — the lowest increase since 2020.The group’s previous estimate, released in May, had put that number slightly higher at 3.1%. 5 takeaways from the steep May inflation decline The reason for TSCL’s revised estimate concerns cooling inflation — or at least the appearance of cooling inflation presented by the Labor Bureau’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W). But analysts with TSCL have said that these numbers — which are ultimately used by the Social Security Administration to determine the annual COLA — don’t reflect the “stubbornly high” prices that seniors continue to pay on key items.“Inflation i...

Bud Light no longer top-selling beer in US, first time in over two decades

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

(AP) - After more than two decades as America’s best-selling beer, Bud Light has slipped into second place.Modelo Especial, a Mexican lager, overtook Bud Light in U.S. retail dollar sales in the month ending June 3, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Bump Williams Consulting. Modelo controlled 8.4% of U.S. grocery, convenience and liquor store sales; Bud Light fell to 7.3%.It's a milestone in the months-long sales decline Bud Light has experienced since early April, when critics vowed to boycott the brand after it sent a commemorative can to Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer. Bud Light has also faced backlash from Mulvaney’s fans, who think the brand didn’t do enough to support her. Hungover? Avoid your cravings — try these foods, drinks instead Dave William, Bump Williams’ vice president of analytics and insights, said Bud Light has been the top-selling U.S. beer since 2001, and it could still retain that crown this year. He noted that Bud Light’s year-to-date market sh...

Ken Paxton’s securities fraud trial will remain in Houston, court rules

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas’ highest criminal court ruled Wednesday that the securities fraud case against now-suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton should remain in Houston, settling a key issue in the 8-year-old case as Paxton faces an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate this summer.The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in a 6-3 ruling, overturned lower-court decisions that said Paxton’s trial had been improperly moved from Collin County, where he lives, to Harris County because the trial judge had lost jurisdiction over the matter.However, the Texas Constitution and state law protected the judge’s authority over the case, the court ruled.“We’re gratified but not surprised that the Court recognized that this defendant must stand trial before a Harris County jury and a judge who will follow the law,” prosecutor Brian Wice said.Paxton’s defense team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.In 2015, a Collin County grand jury indicted Paxton on two counts of securitie...

Minneapolis man gets 3-year sentence in deadly St. Paul funeral home shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

A Minneapolis man who police say fired the first shot leading to a deadly gun battle outside a St. Paul funeral home last year has been sentenced to three years in prison.Bryan Lara-Saavedra, 26, pleaded guilty in April to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the Feb. 21, 2022, shooting at Simple Traditions by Bradshaw funeral home on the West Side, which prosecutors say involved three other gunmen.A charge of attempted murder was dismissed at Tuesday’s sentencing as part of the plea agreement. Lara-Saavedra received credit for two days already served in custody.The shooting, which claimed the life of 28-year-old Agustin Martinez of Crystal, happened as mourners were gathered for the funeral for Casanova Carter, 26, who was fatally shot at his West Side St. Paul home on Feb. 1, 2022.Lara-Saavedra and three other men were wounded in the gun battle.The man who shot Lara-Saavedra, 41-year-old David Nicholas Garcia, was sentenced to 27 months in prison ...

Class 3A baseball semifinal: Mahtomedi 3, Grand Rapids 2

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

JORDAN, Minn. — “FERDA” is across the back of the Mahtomedi warm-up t-shirts.A takeoff of For the Boys can now be upgraded to playing for ‘da state title.The slogan is about oneness, said Zephyrs pitcher Seth Nelson, who went the distance for Mahtomedi on Wednesday.“Basically, it’s just everybody play for each other, do something selfless about it,” he said. “Put the team first and everything will go after that. The team has really stepped up and everybody has kind of found their role. It’s just so much fun to be a part of.”And each was needed as the Zephyrs escaped a couple of potential late-game perilous situations and held off Grand Rapids 3-2 in a Class 3A baseball state tournament semifinal game Wednesday afternoon at the Mini Met.“When I think of state baseball, this is what I think of right here — close games, good competition and just a great time,” said Nelson, who allowed six hits and struck out six. “So much fun to be a part of.”Mahtomedi will face New Prague ...

Class 4A baseball semifinal: East Ridge 4, Minnetonka 3

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

Caden Stern doesn’t get to bat much for East Ridge, but with the way he plays defense, the junior outfielder has still made an impact for the Raptors.“If he’s not the best outfielder we have, he’s definitely one of the best defensively,” outfielder/pitcher Luke Ryerse said.Never was that more evident than on Wednesday at CHS Field.Playing left field while Ryerse took the mound, Stern made two crucial plays in left to help No. 2 seed East Ridge beat three seed Minnetonka 4-3 and advance to the Class 4A baseball state tournament championship game on Friday against the winner of the afternoon game between Edina and top-seeded Rosemount.Alex Mazzetti started the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning, and Joe Merschlewitz drove in the winning run with a two-out single to cap a three-run third inning for East Ridge (19-8), which last season lost to eventual 4A champion Stillwater in the Section 4 championship.“A lot of talent on that field there,” Mazzetti recalled. “It hurt, and...

New York State Police welcomes over 200 new troopers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) — Two hundred thirty-eight new troopers were honored for their perseverance and dedication Wednesday morning. Governor Kathy Hochul said when disaster strikes, you'll be grateful for that hard work. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "You're the car that's going to pull up," Hochul said while addressing the graduates. "Not knowing what lies ahead. Putting yourself in danger on a dark, rainy night. But when you open the door, you'll be the face of hope." Hochul added the families and friends in the audience "put a spark in you that brought you to this place today. Because this is available for everyone to apply to, but so few stand up and raise their hand and say, 'I want to be a member.'" New York State Police commits to getting more female troopers on the force Members, worth protecting. "Watch over with your divine care, those who wear the grey," said Father Carrera of Our Lady of Grace Church in his o...