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Illinois now allows trans residents to change gender on birth certificates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Transgender residents of Illinois will now be able to change the gender listed on their birth certificates without documentation from a doctor.The new law effectively allows a person to self-determine their own gender.Previously, a doctor could only give the certification if the individual had undergone gender reassignment surgery or other clinical treatment.Gov. JB Prtizker signed HB0009 in February. Bravo to debut show that takes place in small-town Illinois "Following this year’s Pride Month, I couldn’t be happier that we are making it easier for Illinoisans to change the gender listed on their birth certificate,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our trans, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and intersex neighbors deserve to have documentation that affirms their identity without having to jump over dozens of bureaucratic hurdles. After all, this is the Land of Lincoln and Obama—and here, we welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community as they are.”For informatio...

Missing Illinois man's bones found in forest over 10 years later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. (WTVO) — The remains of an Illinois man have been found after he was reported missing over a decade ago.Investigators reported that they had found two bones inside of the Will County Forest Preserve back on March 24, according to the Miami Herald, almost to the day of when Marcus Wright, 24, was reported missing out of Joliet back on March 21, 2013.The county coroner said that the bones “were found to be consistent with originating from a tall male subject." Wright had stood at 6-foot-2. Glen Ellyn woman faces 132 counts of animal cruelty charges A bone and DNA sample from Wright's mother was compared to the bones found. They were found to have a close genetic relationship. The coroner said on Monday that this indicates that the bones found belonged to Wright.“This part is a painful one,” Kimberly Perdue, Wright’s cousin, said. “I feel both like a wound has been reopened (and) I’m grateful that this MAY bring just a little bit of closure to my Auntie. I don’t understa...

Southwest flight diverted to Oakland after AirDropped bomb threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

(KRON) — A Southwest Airlines flight (#3316) from Las Vegas to Maui was diverted to Oakland on Monday after photos suggesting a bomb was on board were sent to a flight attendant, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department confirmed. The images were sent to the flight attendant using Apple's "AirDrop," according to ACSO. Woman, 63, dies after being pushed by unknown person in SF Oakland Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airport Police Services evacuated the plane once it touched down in Oakland. All of the plane's passengers and their luggage was searched, and no explosive materials were found, per ACSO. The plane later continued to its intended destination in Hawaii. Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident, ACSO said. The FBI has an investigation ongoing. Southwest Airlines sent the following statement regarding the diversion: "We can confirm flight 3316 on Monday afternoon diverted to Oakland from its intended path, Las Vegas to ...

AUS, Copa Airlines celebrate new nonstop service to Panama City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Copa Airlines on Thursday celebrated the first flight from Austin to Panama City. In February, AUS announced the Latin American airline would be joining the airport with a new, nonstop service to Panama City starting July 6. 4 new routes announced for Austin airport, including 2 new international destinations This comes after what AUS said was a "years-long effort by city leaders and airport business partners" to connect Austin and Central Texas to Panama, which offers connections to over 55 destinations in Latin America, according to AUS. The airport and airline held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning, where remarks were made by airport, airline, and city leadership as well as government representatives and airport business partners. How many passengers have flown out of AUS so far this year? There was also a gate celebration to welcome passengers arriving and to say farewell to them departing on the firs...

62-year-old dies after being hit while riding in motorized wheelchair on FM 969

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 62-year-old man died at the hospital after being hit by a pickup truck while he was riding a motorized wheelchair on FM 969. The crash happened on June 26 shortly before 1:30 p.m. in the 6600 block of FM 969. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? Austin Police Department officers responded to the crash, which involved a pickup truck and a man on a motorized wheelchair. The man, later identified as Victor Hunter, 62, was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The driver of the truck stayed on scene and was not impaired, APD said.This incident is being investigated as Austin's 49th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 49 fatalities for the year.

Bumblebee and the Cookie Monster: Virginia man dons costumes to make people smile

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

A woman balanced a toddler on her hip while standing on the porch of the Jump’n Jellybeans daycare on a recent Thursday morning. She stared at what was walking down the sidewalk on the other side of Portsmouth Boulevard.So did the toddler. Then he leaned forward, frantically waving an outstretched arm at the slow-moving creature.It was Bumblebee, the bright yellow, friendly, talking robot from the “Transformers” comic books, TV show and movies.Aaron Jackson, the 24-year-old inside the Bumblebee costume, saw the toddler and knew he’d accomplished what he’d set out to do that morning: Make people smile.Aaron Jackson walks along Portsmouth Boulevard in Portsmouth, dressed as Bumblebee from Transformers on June 23. Jackson began walking around Portsmouth in costume in 2020 as a way to cheer people up during the pandemic. His love for costume was born out of his involvement in Comic-con conventions.  (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)Sometimes two or three times a week, Jackson step...

Parson vetoes bill that includes 'Blair's Law' on celebratory gunfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Gov. Mike Parson has vetoed a Missouri bill that includes "Blair's Law," aiming to criminalize celebratory gunfire. The governor said he signed over 30 bills Thursday, but he also vetoed Senate Bill 189, which included several new laws on public safety and crime. One of those was Blair's Law, which Missouri lawmakers passed in the final hours of session in May. In 2011, someone shot into the air on the Fourth of July, killing 11-year-old Blair Shanahan Lane. The bullet traveled across a lake before hitting Blair. Since then, Blair’s mom Michele Shanahan DeMoss has been urging lawmakers to strengthen the state’s law.  What is causing the mysterious St. Louis County hum? Under Blair’s Law, it would be a crime of unlawful discharge of a firearm to shoot a gun with criminal negligence instead of just a city ticket. Parson said he supported Blair's Law and other pieces of S.B. 189, but there were other components he didn't support. The governor said one provision "co...

6 days after storms, Ameren Missouri scrambling to restore power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Some residents across St. Louis County and City are still without power after last weekend’s powerful storms.Homeowner Ken Wright says a generator is his only source of power, and it’s been that way for almost a week. While the generator is helpful, it can’t power everything.“Two freezers, refrigerator, one TV. And sometimes the microwave and coffee maker. But you can’t run it all at one time,” he said.Wright said getting their power restored is imperative. What is causing the mysterious St. Louis County hum? “This is a crisis. People are without equipment. People in their homes got life support equipment at home. Trying to keep people alive,” he said.Ameren Missouri is making a strong push to get those remaining customers reconnected.“We’re making really good progress. Progress in the right direction. As of yesterday, as we mentioned we were a little bit over 12,000 of our customers that were out. Today, we’re down to a little bit over 2,000 customers. And...

East boat ramp at Cherry Creek State Park reopens Thursday after months-long closure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

After being closed for months due to high water levels from record-breaking rain, the east boat ramp at Cherry Creek reservoir reopened Thursday.Cherry Creek State Park received 6 inches of rain over three days in early May, raising the reservoir level by 10 feet. The storm washed out park roads and closed both boat ramps, the swim beach and picnic areas.State officials announced the reopening of the west ramp just in time for Memorial Day weekend, but kept the east ramp closed because of high water levels submerging the area.But in good news for Cherry Creek, the east boat ramp has been reopened! Boating from east rampSwimming in the swim area https://t.co/iOpCfVvnk1— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) July 6, 2023Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

Britney Spears addresses being struck by Victor Wembanyama's security guard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:57 GMT

Britney Spears is speaking out after she was struck by an NBA star's security guard. Spears took to social media to release a statement after she was allegedly assaulted by a member of Victor Wembanyama's security team while in Las Vegas Wednesday night. "Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them," her statement started. "I was not prepared for what happened to me last night."She then explained her side of the story."I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the player's statement where he mentions 'I grabbed him from behind,' but I simply tapped him on the shoulder.""His security then back-handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd," she continued. "Nearly knocking me down and causin...