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Illinois joins antitrust lawsuit against Google

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill. — Illinois is one of several states joining in a lawsuit against Google, alleging the company abused its dominance of online advertising. The lawsuit is in collaboration with the Department of Justice and 15 other states. The antitrust suit was initially filed in January. "The complaint alleges that over the past 15 years, Google engaged in anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct that neutralized or eliminated competitors by pursuing acquisitions, relying on its dominance in digital advertising markets to force advertisers to use its products and preventing the ability to use competing products," a press release stated. "As a result, Google established its dominance in tools relied on by website publishers, online advertisers and the digital advertising exchange that runs advertising auctions." Judge tentatively OKs $725M Facebook settlement: How to apply for a payout Google has denied any wrongdoing and has asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit. “Google has ...

Lawmakers propose stock trade ban for members of Congress

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers want to prohibit members of Congress from owning stocks because they say it create conflicts of interest and ethical problems.Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley says stock trading by members of Congress is wrong and should be banned.“It's corrupt because members use advantageous access to information -- information not available to the general public -- to win stock market returns that beat the market year after year,” Sen. Merkley (D-OR) said.Moves by some lawmakers to sell off stock just before the pandemic lockdowns created concerns and Senator Sherrod Brown says there are more recent examples of potentially problematic trading.“As Silicon Valley Bank was closed, even during that period there are reports that members of Congress were trading bank stocks. I mean, imagine that,” Sen. Brown (D-OH) said.Supporters of a trading ban say there's too much temptation for lawmakers and say owning stocks can also create other conflicts of inte...

Largest-ever Fast Play jackpot in Illinois won by iLottery player

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

ILLINOIS — An online Illinois iLottery player has broken the $1 million winnings mark.The state's newest lottery millionaire officially won $1,000,052 playing Fast Play Twenty 20s on Saturday, according to the Illinois Lottery. It's a draw-style game where the jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide until it's won. Mega Millions mints millionaire in Elgin The previous Fast Play jackpot win record was set in Feb. when a winning Twenty 20s ticket was purchased at a Shell gas station in Chicago, netting that lottery player $979,168.Twenty 20s is one of 20 different Fast Play games available in Illinois at varying prices and play styles. Each can be purchased in-person or online.

Man accused of robbing same Lakeview business 11 times since December, police say

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

CHICAGO — A man who allegedly robbed a Lakeview business more than 10 times since December is now behind bars, Chicago police said Tuesday. Donte Elbert, 36, of Chicago faces 12 felony counts of retail theft and one misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing. Authorities linked Elbert to 11 retail thefts of a business in the 3200 block of N. Clark. The alleged incident spanned from December 2022 through April. Cook County correctional officer charged; accused of beating inmate ‘more than 30 times’ Elbert is also charged in connection with stealing from a business in the 3200 block of N. Broadway on Monday.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesElbert was due in court on Tuesday.

Best public high schools in Illinois

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.5 million students enrolled in public PreK-12 schools in 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools...

Dean Richards chats with Star Trek: Picard star Jonathan Frakes & gets details on the upcoming PanCAN’s PurpleStride event

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

Jonathan Frakes - Actor and Spokesperson for PanCAN’s PurpleStrideEvent:PanCAN’s PurpleStrideThe PanCAN event in Chicago is taking place at Soldier Field on April 29.  Details are HERE.8:30am Opening CeremonySoldier Fieldhttp://PanCan.org/Chicagohttps://purplestride.org/teamtrek

SWAT scene cleared at Round Rock home, police say

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- The Round Rock Police Department said a SWAT situation was contained Tuesday after officers tried to serve an arrest warrant, RRPD said on Twitter.Furthermore, RRPD planned to hold a media briefing to provide more details into the incident, the agency said via tweet.Previously, police said the person was armed and was not coming out of the residence, located near 1900 Denfield Drive.RRPD said the suspect was wanted on felony assault-family violence charges. The suspect also has a previous conviction.Police said there was no threat to the public.This developing story will be updated.

Texas softball rising in polls, Morgan named Big 12 pitcher of the week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ahead of a top-10 Big 12 Conference showdown with Oklahoma State, voters in the four national softball polls moved the Texas Longhorns up in their rankings.The Longhorns moved up one spot to No. 7 in two of the polls — ESPN/USA Softball and NFCA/USA Today Coaches — stayed at No. 9 in the D1Softball.com poll and moved up three to No. 10 in the Softball America poll.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersMac Morgan was named the Big 12 pitcher of the week for her efforts against the Jayhawks, tossing 15 consecutive scoreless innings to help the Longhorns bounce back from a bad loss April 14 to win the next two. Morgan didn't allow an extra-base hit in appearances against the Jayhawks and Texas State last week. She threw her first complete game shutout against the Bobcats.Texas plays six of its last eight regular season games at McCombs Field with Big 12 series a...

Woodbury works to clean up ‘forever chemicals,’ as federal, state agencies eye regulations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

The city of Woodbury is working to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — known as PFAS — from its drinking water supply as potential federal and state regulations loom.The Environmental Protection Agency released a proposed maximum contaminant level for PFAS of four parts per trillion last month, but Woodbury is waiting to hear from the Minnesota Department of Health on the matter, said Jim Westerman, assistant public works director for the city.The standards proposed by the EPA are likely to be finalized at the end of this year or early next. However, Westerman said the city is more focused on what the state will say because they enforce the drinking water standards and may have more stringent regulations.PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” including PFOA and PFOS, do not break down in the environment and can build up in the human body, according to the MDH. Immediate risks are believed to be low, but long term exposure to the chemicals can result in immune s...

PB&J, Gatorade and Red Bull: What exactly fueled Wild to their double-OT win over Stars in Game 1

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:19:02 GMT

DALLAS — It’s common practice for NHL teams to bring provisions to games. This is completely separate from the pregame or postgame meal.Maybe it’s few loaves of bread. Maybe it’s some packets of mixed nuts. Maybe it’s an allotment of protein bars.The remnants of what exactly fueled Wild to their double-overtime victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Monday night were scattered about the locker room in the immediate aftermath. Not even 15 minutes had passed since center Ryan Hartman lifted the Wild to a 3-2 win and some uneaten peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches were still sitting out.The trainers for the Wild prepared the literal midnight snack in between the extra sessions. They also offered some bananas at intermission to provide an energy boost if a player felt the need for it. At that point, the Wild had already logged 80 minutes of ice time, and there was no telling how much longer the game was going to go.“T...