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EU’s Ukraine ammo failure means looking elsewhere, says Latvian president

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

Because the EU has failed to provide the ammunition to Ukraine according to the timetable promised earlier this year, it’s time for the bloc to look abroad for shells to deliver to Kyiv, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs told POLITICO. EU leaders pledged to deliver 1 million rounds of ammunition by March. It was a target that always looked difficult to achieve for a bloc created as a peace project, and so it has proved; only 300,000 rounds have been shipped since early this year under a program to send shells from national stockpiles to Ukraine.“We have to assume that the 1 million will not be achieved,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at the start of a summit of EU defense ministers on Tuesday. What makes it worse is that North Korea has exported 1 million rounds to Russia since August, according to media reports.The EU will deliver a million artillery shells to Ukraine — but not by the March deadline, the CEO of the European Defence Age...

Firefighters battle fire at home in Westwood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

Firefighters were on scene in Westwood Thursday night after a fire broke out in a home on Mill Street. Crews were seen hosing down hot spots while smoke still rose from the building. The front of the home was visibly charred. The scene remained active around 10 p.m. No further information was immediately available. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Mattapan youth football team fundraising for trip after clinching spot in national tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

They are the 14U Mattapan Patriots and for the first time in 40 years, they have made the national tournament in Naples Florida. The team recently clinched its spot as one of two teams from New England headed to the American Youth Football League’s tournament in Florida. While they don’t currently have enough funding for their trip, they are not giving up hope, now working hard to raise the money they need to play. “I was at a loss for words,” said coach Mick Brunache, describing the moment he learned the team had qualified for the tournament. “I couldn’t believe it. Brunache has been coaching the Mattapan Patriots for the past three years. Speaking with 7NEWS, he said the moment he broke the tournament news to his players kicked off “pandemonium.” “Guys running around the field, guys saying that they can’t wait to go swimming,” he said. “I’m like, ‘You got to focus on football,’ but whatever.” The team has been putting in the work. Just ask its defensive phenom,...

REVIEW: May December is an actor’s dream, and a family’s nightmare

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

To be an actor is to inhabit a character. That could be a fictional person, a character simply created for a production. But an actor can also play real people, which can be a huge challenge. To capture their charms and quirks, their essence. To represent them in a way so that those close to them and those who know nothing of them can understand who this person is. Whether Chadwick Boseman in Get On Up, Liam Neeson in Schindler’s List, or Meryl Streep in the Iron Lady it’s a fine line to walk between imitation and character creation. But what if the person an actor is playing is someone who committed a terrible crime?May December. (L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry and Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in May December. Cr. Francois Duhamel / courtesy of NetflixMay December isn’t about any real people, but it does run with this question as its premise. It stars Natalie Portman (from Black Swan) and Julianne Moore (from Still Alice). Portman plays Elizab...

Lawsuit filed hours after CTA Yellow Line crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

CHICAGO — Of the dozens of people injured in the CTA Yellow Line crash Thursday, one is now a client of Clifford Law Offices, who have filed a lawsuit against the CTA on his behalf."It’s not something anyone would ever want to go through," Henry Simmons told WGN's Jenna Barnes in a sit-down interview Thursday evening.The lawyers — Simmons and Joseph T. Murphy — said 52-year-old Cleon Hawkins was seated in the second car of the Yellow Line train when the collision sent him flying into one of the metal poles in the car, injuring his shoulder and leg."Metal and the human body when there’s force," Simmons said. "Metal usually wins."Murphy and Simmons filed the lawsuit just hours after the crash and said that time is of the essence to figure out what went wrong."This isn’t just some random piece of equipment that was on the tracks, it was another CTA vehicle," Murphy said. "One hand should be talking to the other, and that’s not what happened." At least 23 injured after CTA train crash...

Hall of Fame hopeful Devin Hester helping son Dray follow in his footsteps

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

The moment Devin Hester retired, he traded in his cleats for a clipboard after watching his kids' coaches struggle to grasp the game."Parents were like, 'I'm sorry, we don't know football, but we'll volunteer when there's no one else to volunteer' type of people," Hester told WGN's Jarrett Payton. "So, I was like aahhhh! This is how you do it and this is how you do it — and after a wild two days — they were like, ‘we need you on the staff!’”Hester has three sons — Devin Jr, Denali and Drayton — who goes by Dray, or another nickname he earned at an all-star combine following 3 undefeated seasons in AAU flag football.“This one kid that they had was pretty good that played in another league," Hester said. "When they found out he was coming, it was one of the biggest, quote-on-quote, matches to see, and [Dray] put a clinic on for them.”“After that, they gave him the nickname ‘Ankle Bully’ and [Dray] took that name and ran with it,” Hester added.Dray's left a lot of tacklers in his dust,...

Gas bill hikes expected for Peoples, North Shore customers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

CHICAGO -- Gas bills will be going up in Chicago, but consumer advocates are applauding the scaled-back plan.Peoples and North Shore Gas customers can expect higher bills, but a decision by the Illinois Commerce Commission cut back on some of the companies requests."The residential customers nowadays are paying $50 in fixed costs before they even use any gas and a lot of this is the result of Peoples Gas mismanaged pipeline replacement program," Sarah Moskowitz said. Illinois electric vehicle rebate program out of funds Moskowitz is the Executive Director of the Citizens Utility Board, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group fights for better policies and lower utility rates in the state.She said the initial $400 million request from Peoples Gas to increase rates was unnecessary.Moskowitz said cleaner and more affordable options have been developing, which make this decision by the ICC a win for consumers."They really sent a signal that this is not going to be a return to business a...

Cook County Crime Stoppers present civilian award for bravery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two men who helped catch one of the brothers charged with killing Chicago police officer Ella French were honored Thursday with an award for bravery.The men were attending a family cookout when they heard a series of gunshots. A man carrying a gun ran their way and tried to climb a fence to get away. The two wrestled him to the ground and held him until police arrived. Illinois releases monarch butterfly license plates Ella French’s partner, Carlos Yanez, Jr., who was also severely injured that night as well as the two people who are receiving the Crime Stoppers Civilian Award for Bravery.Thursday night awards were presented by Cook County Crime Stoppers, which also honored local and federal law enforcement for their work. WGN’s Ben Bradley emceed emceed the event.

Ed Burke trial resumes, opening statements begin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

CHICAGO — After a week-long interruption because of COVID-19, the Ed Burke trial is set to resume Thursday.The judge in the high-profile case wants jury selection wrapped up by noon on Thursday and opening statements took place in the afternoon.She got her wish with 12 jurors and four alternates being selected after lunch Thursday.One week ago, Judge Virginia Kendall announced this trial would be delayed after a defense attorney tested positive for COVID-19. At the beginning of Thursday, she addressed all parties saying she hoped everyone was feeling well.One potential juror was excused after testing positive for COVID-19.Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and his wife Anne arrived at the Dirksen Federal Building around 8 a.m. on Thursday. This is the second week of his high-profile corruption trial.He is charged with 14 counts of racketeering, bribery, and extortion. Prosecutors say he abused his public office for private gain, but withholding permits unless business owners used...

TikTok 'aggressively' removing content praising Osama bin Laden after letter goes viral

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:18 GMT

(The Hill) — The social media platform TikTok said it is “aggressively” removing content that praises Osama bin Laden’s 2002 “Letter to America.”The letter, published about a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, was bin Laden’s attempt to justify the targeting and killing of American civilians. It has been recirculating online recently.Bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in 2011. Long-haul carrier Emirates orders 15 Airbus A350 after engine dispute during Dubai Air Show Many videos supported bin Laden’s argument and urged others to read the letter in the wake of the United States’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas.“Content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism,” TikTok Policy posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “We are proactively and aggressively removing this content and investigating how it got onto our platform.”TikTok said the number of videos supporting bin Laden’s message is small, altho...