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Japan aims to refocus its foreign aid on maritime and economic security and national interests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan approved a major revision to its development aid policy Friday to focus on maritime and economic security and its national interests while helping developing nations overcome compound challenges amid China’s growing global influence.The revision to the Development Cooperation Charter, approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet, comes two years early since the last was in 2015 and updates are usually on a 10-year cycle. That underscores the sense of urgency in addressing widening China concern and other global challenges such as the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine.Japan in December adopted a new National Security Strategy, setting a goal of doubling defense spending to 43 trillion yen ($310 billon) over the next five years to fund a military buildup. That means Japan, with fiscal conditions already tight, must use development aid more effectively and strategically.Under the new security strategy, Japan’s Foreign Ministry has launched official ...

The bill closing the Illinois property tax loophole may help residents buy abandoned homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

Governor Pritzker is expected to sign a bill that would close a property tax loophole that many have complained about for years. It’s known as the “sale in error” approach and is often used by large institutional investors looking to profit from holding on to a delinquent tax bill. Ianna Kachoris is with The Chicago Community Trust."What we hope for the bill to accomplish is that it unlocks all of these properties that have been stuck in a cycle of tax sales for the last several decades and allows them to be redeveloped for community wealth building purposes,” she said.Florence Spann is hoping the legislation allows her to purchase one of the lots next to her South Side home. She’s been maintaining the land for years but has been unable to purchase it. Studies show that only about 6% of abandoned properties end up in the hands of individuals like her."We would make probably a garden or a playground for my grandson,” she said. More Coverage: WGN Investigates The Chic...

1 dead, 2 injured after driver crashes into parked semi-truck on Bishop Ford Freeway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

CHICAGO — One person is dead and two others are injured after a rollover crash Thursday evening on the Bishop Ford Freeway.The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. near 115th Street. Arrest warrant issued for Northwest Indiana man who set fire to jail lobby Illinois State Police said a driver struck a semi-truck parked on the shoulder.The car then flipped over and the driver was thrown from the car, state police said.Another car was also struck during the crash.Two people inside of the car that was struck were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injures, state police said.

Celia Israel announces run for Travis Co. Tax Assessor Collector

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Celia Israel, former Texas state representative and mayoral candidate who ran against Mayor Kirk Watson in Travis County, announced Thursday she filed paperwork to run for Travis County Tax Assessor Collector, according to a statement via Action Network.This announcement comes after Bruce Elfant, current Travis County Tax Assessor, announced he would not seek re-election, Israel said in the statement."This office has a direct impact on every member of our community. The Tax Assessor Collector works on issues that affect affordability, our transit infrastructure, and voter registration, some of the most important issues facing our community," Israel said in her statement.Celia Israel's mayoral run in Travis CountyIsrael lost in a mayoral runoff election in December 2022 to Mayor Kirk Watson. KXAN projected Watson led with 50.39% of the votes and Israel 49.61%. That’s a lead of 886 votes, or 0.78%, with 100% of the votes counted.“From the pandemic to the legislative a...

Texas junior Leo Neugebauer sets NCAA record in decathlon, wins national title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was time for Texas junior Leo Neugebauer to do something amazing, and he knew it.Neugebauer set an NCAA record in the decathlon with an eye-popping 8,836 points to win the national title Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.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/newslettersNeugebauer held off Georgia's Kyle Garland, the previous NCAA record holder at 8,720, with strong second-day performances in the discus and pole vault. Neugebauer's throw in the discus sailed 180 feet, 8 inches to score 976 points, and that's where he separated himself when Garland scores 782 points with a throw of 150-1. Neugebauer went from trailing by 52 points to leading Garland by 142 with the big throw.Neugebauer tacked on 63 points to his lead after a mark of 17-1 in the pole vault, and then 30 more in the javelin with a throw of 188-6. Neugebauer led by 21 points after the first five events Wed...

Metro city tows cars from driveways with expired tags

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A mother of two is without her car after a Missouri city towed it away from her driveway for having expired temporary tags.Christina Reise lives in Calverton Park, located in St. Louis County, and feels like she's losing everything."I just don't know how they can come into my driveway and take my car," Reise said.FOX 2 uncovered an administrative search warrant signed by a Calverton Park judge on May 22. It allowed the city to tow and impound Reise's car because her temporary tag expired two months prior.Reise said she's been saving up to pay the taxes."I've just been taking a little bit out of every paycheck and setting it aside -- the taxes are close to two grand," she said. Revisting Mike Shildt’s comments on his Cardinals departure Calverton Park Police/Code Enforcement Lt. Sean Gibbons said a warning was sent to Reise that gave her 10 days to remove the vehicle or have a hearing with him before taking action.Gibbons said it comes down to two things."[I...

Unpredictable weather causing major peach shortages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - As Chris Eckert walks through his Belleville peach farm, he sees the same thing every peach farmer is dealing with across the country."The damage this year was more than we anticipated,” Eckert said on Thursday.Unpredictable weather throughout the U.S. is causing major peach shortages.“All of the peach growers here have suffered some kind of damage,” Eckert said.In Georgia, more than 90 percent of the state’s crop was lost. In Belleville, Eckert considers his loss this season significant."It definitely is a belt-tightening year for us here at Eckert’s," he said. Revisting Mike Shildt’s comments on his Cardinals departure A major shortage that Eckert believes will likely cost you more at the grocery store, where finding homegrown peaches will likely be a challenge."You can already see higher prices for peaches in the grocery store,” Eckert said. "Getting homegrown peaches is going to be very difficult to find in the Midwest this year as well."Eckert’s Farms is de...

New Illinois bill bans license plate reader for those seeking abortions from Missouri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

GRANITE CITY, Ill. - Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign a new measure into law soon to protect women in Missouri who seek abortions in Illinois.The Democratic-controlled Illinois legislature passed a bill that forbids the use of license plate readers (LPRs) to enforce Missouri's abortion ban at the urging of Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.Illinois lawmakers are concerned about women being prosecuted for going to Illinois, where abortion remains legal, from states like Missouri, where abortion is now illegal.“It’s scary for patients who fear they could face persecution or prosecution when they return home,” Jennifer Welch, president, and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said at a news conference on Thursday.LPRs are mounted on streetlights, stoplights, and police cruisers. It records the rear license plate numbers of passing vehicles. Police in Missouri and Illinois use them to track criminals. Giannoulias calls them a useful crime-fighting too...

Busy season for traveling as summer heats up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Summer travel kicked off with plenty of people traveling for the Memorial Day weekend. Almost two weeks after the busy weekend, things showed no sign of slowing down at St. Louis Lambert International Airport."This is our first time out traveling in a little while. So we're very excited," said Jackie Kessler.Kessler and her family were on their way to Florida for a summer getaway. AAA expects a busy summer for family vacations, like Kessler's."That's even despite travel prices in general hotels, rental cars, flights, all those prices are up just like everything else we've seen," said Nick Charbarria, a spokesperson for AAA. "Yet we've still seen people take trips in numbers that they haven't done since 2019." Revisting Mike Shildt’s comments on his Cardinals departure The TSA reported nearly one million more passengers this Memorial Day weekend compared to last year. AAA said more people are out on the roads too."This time last year, gas prices were headed for an all-t...

Thunderstorms, some with hail, rolling through the Denver area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:12 GMT

Severe thunderstorm warnings now include Strasburg, Bennett and Watkins. High winds and nickel size hail is possible.Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Strasburg CO, Bennett CO and Watkins CO until 10:15 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/ezGv68VWsU— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) June 9, 2023A thunderstorm warning for Denver International Airport, Brighton and Henderson until 9:45 p.m.Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Denver Intl Airport CO, Brighton CO and Henderson CO until 9:45 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/tDztUTQKTv— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) June 9, 2023Thunderstorm warnings have been issued for Foxfield and Watkins.Related ArticlesWeather | Rain hitting Cameron Peak burn area where a flash flood warning is posted Weather | Denver weather: Cloudy with possible afternoon thunderstorms that could help clear pollution Weather | Flash flood warnings in place for burn scars in northern Colorado Weather | Thunderstorms, some w...