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Taliban want control of more Afghan diplomatic missions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban government is trying to take charge of more Afghan embassies abroad, a spokesman said Saturday, amid their continued international isolation because of restrictions on women and girls.The Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule after their takeover in August 2021, but instead imposed sweeping bans and other measures curtailing basic freedoms.The U.N. and foreign governments have fiercely condemned the restrictions on female education and employment, and the international community remains wary of officially recognizing the Taliban, although some countries retain an active diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, including Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and China.“The Islamic Emirate has sent diplomats to at least 14 countries and efforts are underway to take charge of other diplomatic missions abroad,” the government’s main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a video. “Diplomats of the former government are continuing their activities in coordination with t...

Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project to celebrate black dance in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

Director of Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Princess Mhoon, joins us in the studio to share more about the project its legacy to celebrate Black dance in Chicago and help the project grow.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Idaho Republicans block proposal to provide free tampons in schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

(The Hill) – Republicans in the Idaho House blocked a bill that would provide free menstrual products to public school students, calling it “liberal” and “woke.”The bill would have funded free menstrual product dispensers for sixth through 12th grade students in girls' bathrooms at a cost of about $300,000 per year, or $3.50 per student, after a one-time installation cost of about $435,000.“It’s not a lot of money in the state’s budget,” bill sponsor state Rep. Rod Furniss (R) said in committee Thursday. “Today is a step to preserve womanhood, to give it a chance to start right, to not be embarrassed or feel alienated or ashamed, or to feel like they need to stay home from school due to period poverty.”Idaho is projected to have a $1.4 billion revenue surplus this year. Florida principal resigns after parents complain about nude Michelangelo sculpture Advocates for the bill say that the state already funds toilet paper, soap and other hygiene products for students. The Idaho Perio...

Weekend Break at the Sloomoo Institute in Near North Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

Check out today's Weekend Break with Marcella where she visits the Sloomoo Institute in Near North Side.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Celebrating women achievements through 'This Black Girl' Campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

Ladies of Virtue, a leadership and mentoring program for Black women in Chicago communities, is now launching the 'This Black Girl' campaign to celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of women who have gone through their program and show girls throughout the city what they can achieve.Ladies of Virtuem director of Programming Kenya Mercer joins us in the studio to share more.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Python hunters find missing Florida woman hundreds of miles from home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 75-year-old woman who disappeared from her home in Marion County, Florida, was found by python hunters hundreds of miles away near Miami.The Marion County Sheriff's Office first issued a Silver Alert for Darlene Peck after she went missing on Tuesday.Deputies said Peck, who suffers from dementia, had left her Umatilla home to go to Ocala, about an hour away, sometime in the early afternoon. Her husband arrived home later that evening and contacted the authorities upon learning she had not yet returned. Largo lawyer disappears under suspicious circumstances, police say The Marion County Sheriff's Office said her car, a 2013 Nissan Rogue, was then spotted on Wednesday morning in Coral Gables, about 270 miles away from Umatilla."If you have any information on her whereabouts, please call 911," deputies wrote in the Silver Alert.Later that afternoon, the Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Peck had been found "by python hunters" in South Florida. A rep...

These are the hardest to find state quarters: Where does yours fall?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Over a 10-year period, the U.S. Mint produced some of the most commonly collected coins - the 50 State Quarters. While each state was honored with a quarter-dollar piece, some may be easier to find these days than others.Just as the name implies, a separate quarter was minted for every state during the program, which ran from 1999 to 2008, according to the U.S. Mint. Every year, five new quarters were issued, following the order in which the states ratified the Constitution or were admitted into the Union. On the reverse of each is a unique design of state features or iconic moments in history. The Kansas quarter, for example, features a buffalo and sunflowers - the state animal and state flower, respectively. New York's quarter features the state, the Statue of Liberty, and the slogan "Gateway to Freedom," a nod to Ellis Island. Are your old coins and bills valuable? What to look for In many states, governors called on residents to submit design concepts and an advis...

These are the most livable US cities in 2023, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – As people continue to shift back to pre-pandemic social and recreational activities — even if they are still working remotely — a new study has broken down the best U.S. cities in which to work, learn, hang out and generally enjoy oneself in 2023.Niche, a data analysis company, used Census data, surveys and other info sources to break down the best cities in the U.S., taking into account the cost of living, safety, school quality, nightlife, walkability, outdoor activities and more.See the top five for 2023 below:Weeks Bridge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (File: Getty)Topping the list is Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to roughly 117,000. The city, which is also home to Harvard, "offers residents an urban feel" with numerous bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks. The public schools are also excellent, according to Niche.Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, USA city skyline on the Potomac River. (File: Getty)In second place is Arlington, Virginia, which jumped up from fourth i...

1 of 6 remaining, identified suspects in Operation Burnout arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of the remaining six unarrested suspects charged during “Operation Burnout" was taken into custody Tuesday, according to Travis County court documents. Records showed 23-year-old Jose Leonidas Carcamos faces a charge of obstructing a highway and criminal mischief. Bonds for both charges totaled $60,000. RELATED: Operation Burnout: 17 more charged in February ‘street takeover’ investigation "Operation Burnout" is the law enforcement investigation into the February street takeovers in Austin.On March 16, police said 11 of the 17 additional people charged during the “street takeover” event had been taken into custody and that officials continued to search for the remaining six, which included Carcamos.According to court documents, Carcamos threw an object through the rear window of a Travis County Sheriff’s Deputy’s patrol vehicle, breaking it in the process. The breach in the window allowed unknown people to begin taking items from the patrol vehicle, as well as...

Soucheray: Does the DFL’s budget plan really reflect our values?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:19 GMT

It’s all but official that the DFL plans to spend the $17.9 billion surplus, as feared, resulting in a new and fattened state budget of not $52 billion, but roughly $70 billion. That means that at least almost $18 billion on top of what we were to have generated has to be generated every year from now until we all melt from catastrophic climate change.Whatever they dream up to swallow the new windfall will never go away.They are tearing through money up on that hill like they won a lottery. They did, with your money. Just like that they bloated the government with unimaginable consequences, well, except inevitable tax increases to cover the bloat. The governor said that the budget increase is the result of compromise and that it reflects Minnesota’s values.Who did you compromise with, governor? Your party owns the House and the Senate and your office. And let’s talk about values. Touting values makes the presumption that your wild and irresponsible spending improves our lives, that ...