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Top White House budget official warns of ‘dire’ situation on Ukraine aid

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s top budget official warned in stark terms Friday about the rapidly diminishing time that lawmakers have to replenish U.S. aid for Ukraine, as the fate of that money to Kyiv remains tied up in negotiations over immigration where a deal has so far been out of reach.Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, stressed that there is no avenue to help Ukraine aside from Congress approving additional funding to help Kyiv as it fends off Russia in a war that is now nearly two years old. While the Pentagon has some limited authority to help Kyiv absent new funding from Capitol Hill, “that is not going to get big tranches of equipment into Ukraine,” Young said Friday.While the administration still has presidential drawdown authority, which allows it to pull weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and send them quickly to Ukraine, officials have decided to forgo that authority because Congress has not approved additional money to ...

United keeps options open on potential HQ move to Denver

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

United Airlines continues to take steps toward a potential move of its corporate headquarters from Chicago for Denver. While the move isn’t a done deal – and would be several years away - the Chicago-based carrier has already purchased land and has now filed planning documents with Denver officials.The Denver Post reports the airline has filed plans with the City of Denver indicating potential uses for 113-acres the airline recently purchased near Denver's airport. United has acknowledged it's expanding its flight simulator and pilot training base on the site; but the new filing also says, “United is actively investigating programmatic needs to support corporate campus activity accommodating 5,000 employees in future phases of the project."  United employs nearly 5,000 corporate employees in Chicago.United executives have said in recent months a move is not “imminent;” but it’s clear the airline is keeping its options open.  A United spokesperson recycled a statement from the s...

Bears release Friday injury report ahead of season finale in Green Bay

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the Chicago Bears' pro bowl selections is doubtful for their season finale against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, while another starter is out and five more were listed as questionable and will be game-day decisions, according to a press release from the team Friday.Cornerback and 2024 Pro Bowl selectee Jaylon Johnson was listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury after practice Friday. Johnson was listed as Did Not Participate (DNP) after practice all three days this week.Wide receiver Darnell Mooney was also listed as out with a concussion. ‘We’re going to keep it about us’: A look ahead to the Bears season finale in Green Bay What will likely play the biggest role in Sunday's matchup for the Bears will be the outcome around their five injured players who were listed as questionable after Friday's practice.Running back Khalil Herbert was listed as DNP after practice Friday and is questionable for Chicago's game against the Packers Sunday. Herbert is dealing with a...

Chicago man sentenced to over 5 years in prison for COVID relief fraud scheme

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man will spend over 5 years in prison for his role in a $2.9 million COVID relief fraud scheme.A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois said 41-year-old Quamdeen Amuwo participated in a months-long scheme in 2020 to defraud the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which was intended to provide loan assistance and grants to help small businesses recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Amuwo, who was convicted on twelve wire fraud counts in June, led and organized a scheme involving the submission of several applications for loans on behalf of businesses that he and others purportedly owned, but the applications contained false statements and misrepresentations about the purported owners, employees, revenues, costs and dates of establishment. Actor Christian Oliver, 2 daughters die after plane crashes into ocean Amuw...

President Biden speaks on the eve of the anniversary of the Jan. 6th attack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

Saturday marks three years since the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.  President Joe Biden spoke in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania on the eve of the anniversary warning voters that democracy is on the line in this year's presidential election.This is President Biden’s first campaign speech of the year, where he narrowed in on GOP frontrunner, former president Donald Trump, warning what could happen if he is re-elected.Biden took direct aim at the former president for his role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.“He told a crowd to fight like hell and all hell was unleashed,” he said.The president says what should have been a peaceful transition of power turned into an unprecedented attack on our democracy.“Trump’s mob wasn’t peaceful protests. It was a violent assault,” he added.U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to continue prosecuting the people accused of storming the Capitol.“On that day, officers were punched, tackled, and tased as they defended the C...

Naked man arrested after doing 'cannonball' into Bass Pro Shop tank in Alabama: police

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

LEEDS, Ala. (WIAT) – A man crashed his car outside a Bass Pro Shop in Alabama, stripped naked and plunged into the giant aquarium inside the store Thursday night, police said.According to Leeds Police Department Police Chief Paul Irwin, police responded to the Bass Pro Shop, located at 5000 Bass Pro Blvd, just before 9 p.m.Irwin said the man had “intentionally struck a pole” in the parking lot with his family in the car. He then ran inside, took off his clothes and did a “cannonball” leap into the aquarium and then stood under a waterfall. He left the water to yell at two officers, then dove back into the aquarium, police said. Father still looking for answers in his son’s murder, 23 years later The man eventually climbed over the side of the aquarium and fell to the concrete floor below. Police then apprehended him, the news site Al.com reported.“It’s very unfortunate that people like this aren’t receiving the treatment they need,” Irwin said.The man was taken into custody and is...

AG Garland pledges to reduce "all crime" after stats show drop in violent crime

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Department of Justice is pledging to do even more to reduce all crime after new FBI statistics showed a drop in violent crime across the country."This department and our state and local partners will not rest until every community in our country is safe from the scourge of violent crime,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said.While FBI data shows crimes like murder, rape and aggravated assault are down, the outlier remains property crime.  Car theft alone jumped more than 7% in 2022.During their first press conference of the year Garland and his Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco vowed to enhance their strategy."…that means more joint federal state and local to target violent criminals in putting more cops on the beat,” Monaco said. "This is not a time to relax on our efforts, we have so much more to do,” Garland said.They say bipartisan gun legislation signed by President Joe Biden in 2022 is helping local and federal law enforcement track and prevent gu...

Suspect wanted in connection with east Austin apartment complex mail theft

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is looking for a suspect wanted in connection with a mail theft that happened at an east Austin apartment complex on Wednesday.Police said the alleged mail theft happened shortly before 4 a.m. at an apartment complex mail room in the 2400 block of Aldrich Street, according to a news release from APD.In images provided by police, the suspect was seen using a mail master key to open all mail boxes, where he "stole a large amount of mail."He was described by police as:BlackApproximately 20 years oldLast seen wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, Nike gray tennis shoes, and a pink bine capThe Austin Police Department is looking for a suspect wanted in connection to a mail theft that happened at an east Austin apartment complex. | Courtesy APDAnyone with any information should submit their tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by vi...

Texas RB Jonathon Brooks declares for NFL Draft

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After his tremendous season was cut short by a knee injury, third-year running back Jonathon Brooks will enter the NFL Draft.Multiple media reports Thursday said Brooks had decided to declare, and then he confirmed on Friday via social media.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/newsletters"My 3 years at this university have been an amazing journey, from going 5-7 to making the CFP," his letter began. "I just want to thank God for the opportunity he has blessed me with. I also want to thank my coaches over the past 3 years, friends and family for molding me into the man I am today."He specifically honored Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice, thanking him for "believing in me and giving a young kid from Hallettsville a chance to show the world what he can do." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas RB Jonathon Brooks honors father’s memory with every touchdown for No. 3 Longhor...

Three days of sunshine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:59:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain began last night in the Hill Country and spread across the entire area overnight. The day dawned with rain lingering along and east of 35. It ended prior to 9 a.m. Most rain totals averaged .10" to .50". One of the rain gauges at La Grange picked up .93". Rain gauges around Johnson City and Stonewall measured around .60". The area is left with sunshine for the rest of the day and for the weekend. Highs will be in the low to mid 60s this afternoon, then the upper 50s to low 60s Saturday and Sunday.The first weekend of 2024 will be bright and mildSunday afternoon will also be breezy with southeast winds gusting to near 20. Wind speeds will increase significantly Sunday night with gusts between 25 and 35 mph. As the next cold front approaches the winds will come out of the southwest. Gusts will increase up to around 35 to 45 mph.Incredibly strong wind gusts before and after Monday's cold frontThe front will pass late Monday night. Forecast gusts overnight Monday t...