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'Everyone loved him': Father of 3, limo company owner fatally shot in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man who emigrated from Jordan, started his own limo company, and a father of three was shot and killed by passengers while driving on the city's West Side Sunday evening.Funeral arrangements are underway after 39-year-old Muhammad Al Hajoj of Jefferson Park, a father to an infant, was fatally shot in Austin around 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 inside his black Cadillac.Al Hajoj was driving his black Cadillac near the 1700 block of North Lotus St. when shots were fired. Police said witnesses heard the gunfire and then saw individuals leave the Cadillac and flee the scene. Employee shot inside store in Gary Al Hajoj sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was transported to Loyola Hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead.A handgun was recovered a few feet away from the vehicle where he was shot. No one is in custody. Police say an investigation is ongoing."He was everything to me. He was like a brother to me. His soul will be here in my heart," s...

Chicago resident accused of fatally shooting man in Roseland charged

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago resident accused of fatally shooting a man on the city's Far South Side in late April has been charged, police say. According to Chicago Police, Daeshawn Hill, a 21-year-old Roseland resident, has been charged with first-degree murder.Police say Hill allegedly shot and killed a 40-year-old man in the 100 block of West 113th Street just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Hill was taken into custody in Park Forest, Illinois, on Friday in the 400 block of Miami Street in Park Forest, Illinois, police say.Authorities have not identified the victim or provided details on what led to the fatal shooting.Hill appeared in court for a detention hearing on Sunday.

White House urges Congress to act quickly on Ukraine aid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The White House sent an urgent message to Congress: time is running out and lawmakers need to approve more funding for Ukraine. White House officials say no approved funding before the end of the year will increase "the likelihood of Russian military victories.""A vote against supplemental funding for Ukraine will hurt Ukraine and help Russia," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.In a letter from White House Budget Chief Shalanda Young, she warned Congress that not taking action will threaten Ukraine's ability to fight."Congress has to act now to take up the president's supplemental request which advances our own national security and helps a democratic partner in Ukraine fight against Russian aggression," Sullivan said. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate As of November, the Department of Defense used 97 percent of the more than $60 billion set aside for Ukraine. The State Department has also used all of its nearly $5 billion in ...

Supreme Court appears divided over Purdue Pharma bankruptcy deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

Supreme Court justices appeared divided over Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy deal Monday, questioning whether it can immunize the Sackler family from civil lawsuits for their role in the opioid crisis. Described by experts as among the most important corporate bankruptcy cases in decades, the dispute will dictate the fate of the years-in-the-making settlement and more broadly how companies can use bankruptcy to resolve mass injury claims. An overwhelming majority voted to approve Purdue Pharma’s settlement, but the Supreme Court on Monday wrestled with objections lodged by the Biden administration and a relatively small group of creditors concerning the liability releases for the Sacklers, who previously controlled the company.During a nearly two-hour argument that transcended ideological lines, several justices raised concerns about how the administration’s position would effectively unravel the settlement.Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted a 30-year history of bankruptcy courts ap...

Seasonably cool weather returns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Lovely December weather blew into the area behind the recent cold front. Expect brisk nights and mild, sunny days early this week.Tuesday morning low temperatures dip into the 30s in many rural areas and suburbs.Forecast low temperatures Tuesday morningHigh temperatures for the next several days will be very comfortable, in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Breezy south winds return late this week ahead of a broad western storm, raising Friday's high temperatures locally to near 80 degrees.The next cold front brings only a slight chance of light rain when it arrives on Saturday. Rain totals locally are forecast to remain under 0.25" as an unusually dry start to an El Nino December continues for now. Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date w...

Emergency responder describes fatal crash that killed 4 dead on SH 130 service road

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- KXAN is learning more about a deadly crash in southeastern Travis County Sunday afternoon that killed four people. It was the worst crash a state emergency services employee said they've ever seen. "I've responded to probably a couple of hundred crashes in my lifetime," the employee said. "This was by far the most serious. Absolutely horrendous scene." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4 dead after multi-vehicle crash in southeast Travis County We're concealing the person's identity at their request. The crash happened near the State Highway 130 Northbound service road intersection with Maha Loop Road. The emergency services employee said numerous calls came in regarding a large commercial vehicle striking a sedan. "The van was catching fire with numerous occupants," they said. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a driver and four passengers had been driving east on Maha Loop Road at the same time a Peterbilt dump truck drove north. The two crashed...

One person dead after drowning in Lake Travis, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

LAGO VISTA, Texas (KXAN) -- One person is dead after officials said they drowned in Lake Travis over the weekend.Shortly before 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the Travis County Sheriff's Office assisted Austin-Travis County EMS in responding to a water rescue in the 1200 block of Dusk Street in Lago Vista, according to TCSO.The Lake Travis Task Force also responded to the water rescue, which was later changed to a drowning call, medics said. According to TCSO, the person was pulled from the water by family, and resuscitation efforts were performed by medics, which were unsuccessful.The adult was pronounced dead on the scene by officials.TCSO said it is investigating the incident, but it will be up to the Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death. Furthermore, officials said this is not being investigated as a suspicious death.The incident remained under investigation Monday.

Austin to roll out Safe Place training for parks, library staff next year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin announced plans to provide training for all Austin Public Library and Parks and Recreation Department employees as part of the city's Safe Place program. AUSTIN NEWS: District attorney drops 17 police officer indictments tied to 2020 protests The Safe Place program created designated places "to address low reporting of anti-LGBTQ+ crimes," city officials said in a Friday memo. The goal of the program was to help improve reporting on criminal activities, improve public trust in law enforcement and promote "feelings of safety in the community," the memo added.1201-Safe-Place-Program MemoDownloadAll APL and PARD employees are required to complete Safe Place training before both departments' facilities will be deemed program participants, the memo said. Trainings will be led by the Austin Police Department on a quarterly basis.City officials anticipate in-person training for APL and PARD will launch in January 2024, once the program outline completes...

Who should start at QB for the Vikings? The case for Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

After leaving the door open for speculation heading into the Vikings’ bye week, head coach Kevin O’Connell has yet to announce who he plans to start at quarterback when the Vikings travel to play the Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.On that note, it’s worth analyzing the options the Vikings have at their disposal, with journeyman Josh Dobbs, veteran Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall all in the quarterback conversation.There are pros and cons to each player as the Vikings try to hold on to a playoff spot. Let’s make a case for Dobbs, Mullens and Hall before an official announcement is made in the coming days.Case for Josh DobbsThere is undoubtedly the highest ceiling with Dobbs at the helm. There also might be the lowest floor.The past month has been variance personified as Dobbs quickly became a leaguewide sensation, then regressed to the mean something nasty while turning the ball over at an alarming rate. He has eight turnovers...

Grand Avenue’s Pottery Barn to close in early 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:57 GMT

The Pottery Barn, one of the largest retailers on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue, will close its doors for good by the end of January, leaving the Grand Place mall at Grand and Victoria Street devoid of retailers or public-facing tenants.Employees of the furniture and home goods store were recently informed of the pending closure, which they said store managers plan to make public by Dec. 8. A call to the store on Monday afternoon was referred to a manager, scheduled to be in on Tuesday.Employees said the St. Paul location was the only Twin Cities Pottery Barn scheduled to close.The mall, owned by the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio — Columbus-based STRS Ohio — has steadily lost commercial tenants since the start of the pandemic, including an M Health Fairview clinic and national clothing chains J. Crew and Lululemon.The departures have raised concerns among small business advocates who note that rather than reduce rents and negotiate with homegrown mom-and-pop r...