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How much gerrymandering is too much? In New York, the answer could make or break Dems’ House hopes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s highest court last week gave Democrats a chance to redraw the state’s congressional districts, a major victory as the party tries to win control of the U.S. House next year.Now the question is how far the state’s Democrat-dominated Legislature will try to push the boundaries in crucial battleground districts to give their party an advantage, and how far the courts will let them.The process will be closely watched for any sign of partisan gerrymandering — drawing lines that give one party an unfair advantage — which is forbidden by state law. And Republicans are expected to challenge the results in court as they try to retain their slim House majority.But experts say it’s unclear where the state’s highest court will land on determining what’s too partisan. “There’s no hard and fast definition or bright line to define partisan gerrymandering,” said New York Law School professor Jeffrey Wice, who focuses on redistrictin...

3-vehicle crash closes QEW at Burlington Skyway

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

A three-vehicle crash has forced the closure of the Niagara-bound Queen Elizabeth Way at the Burlington Skyway on Sunday morning.Provincial police say two people were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries while another suffered minor injuries. A third person did not report any injuries.Police did not provide any further details as to what may have led up to the crash except to say that a tractor-trailer and two other vehicles were involved.The highway remains closed as police work to wrap up their investigation.

Russia’s ruling party backs Putin’s reelection bid while a pro-peace candidate clears first hurdle

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Delegates from Russia’s ruling party unanimously backed President Vladimir Putin ’s bid for reelection at a party conference in Moscow on Sunday, state agencies reported, just a day after the Kremlin leader’s supporters formally nominated him to run in the 2024 presidential election as an independent.A little-known Russian presidential hopeful who calls for peace in Ukraine also inched closer towards formally registering as a candidate, securing a nomination from a group of more than 500 supporters in the Russian capital.Dmitry Medvedev, United Russia’s chairman and a former Russian president and prime minister, called on fellow party members to “mobilize all activists and supporters” in support of Putin before the vote, scheduled for March 15-17, according to reports by Russian state agencies. In a speech at the conference, Medvedev referred to Putin as “our candidate,” and asserted that his reelection for a fifth term as head of state “should be absolutely logical, l...

North Korea fires a ballistic missile toward the sea as South Korea and US step up deterrence plans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Sunday fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters, South Korea said, in a possible display of defiance against the latest steps by Washington and Seoul to tighten their nuclear deterrence plans against North Korean threats.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired from an area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang at around 10:38 p.m. and that it presumes the weapon to be short-range. It said the South Korean military was sharing the launch information with the United States and Japan while maintaining readiness against the possibility of further North Korean military activities.Japan’s coast guard, citing the Defense Ministry, said the weapon was believed to have already landed, but it didn’t immediately provide more details.Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accelerating the expansion of his nuclear and missile program, and flaunting an esca...

Weekend Break: Jack Frost Christmas Pop-Up Market

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

Join Weekend Break with Courtney Spinelli where she visits the outdoor Jack Frost Christmas pop-up Market in Fulton Market.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.

Winter White Wines

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

If you're looking for the perfect wine pairing look no further than Winter White Wines.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.

Sunday Brunch: Seasonal peppermint mocha cheesecake, cinnamon swirl pancakes with The Cheesecake Factory

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

The Cheesecake Factory joins WGN Weekend Morning News' Sunday Brunch to share a special recipe of their classic cinnamon swirl pancakes and their seasonal peppermint mocha cheesecake.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.

3 dead after plane crashes into power lines in Oregon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Three people are dead after a small plane collided with power lines in Oregon on Saturday. The crash happened shortly before 5 p.m. in Independence, about 12 miles southwest of Salem. Emergency crews rushed to the scene along with the power company to de-energize the lines, the Independence Police Department said.Authorities determined a single-engine plane crashed into power lines, sparking a small brush fire and power outages in the area. Florida man pours eye drops on nephew’s sandwich to make him ‘puke his brains out,’ police say The identities of those killed have not been released. The Independence Police Department is investigating along with the Federal Aviation Administration.It's unclear how many people were aboard the plane. Nearly 400 people were without power as part of the outage. Initially, Pacific Power estimated repairs would take until 4 a.m. Sunday morning. As of 7 a.m., over 230 customers remained without power due to the crash, accordi...

Kevin Powell on Bears report

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

Kevin Powell from WGN Radio on Bears report.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.

How cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger became the scents of winter holidays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:53 GMT

(The Conversation) - Regardless of how you celebrate end-of-year holidays, food is probably central to your winter festivities. And a trio of spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger – feature in many dishes and drinks and are an unmistakable part of the scent profile we associate with the holiday season.As a plant scientist, I was curious to know how these spices, grown in the tropics, became so closely associated with the Northern Hemisphere’s winter holidays. Just as cranberries’ fall harvest makes them a natural choice for Thanksgiving, I thought that perhaps the seasonality of spice harvest had something to do with their use during the winter months.However, this doesn’t appear to be the case. When it comes to growing spices, producers are playing the long game.Spices are prized commodities that have fueled global trade, exploration and conquest for centuries.Growing holiday spicesTake ginger, which features in both sweet and savory recipes in many cuisines worldwide...