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Chicago Bulls are in the NBA play-in tournament. Here’s how it works.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

The Chicago Bulls have clinched a spot in the NBA play-in tournament, a battle for the last two playoff seeds in each conference. Here’s an explainer about the history of the event and how it works — and where the Bulls stand.When did the play-in begin?The NBA introduced the idea after the restart of the pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season, with a team needing to be within four games of the No. 8 seed to force a play-in for the last playoff spot in the conference.The Memphis Grizzlies finished a half-game behind the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference, and the Blazers won the first game of a play-in, thus earning the final playoff spot. In the East, the ninth-place Washington Wizards finished 7½ games behind the eighth-place Orlando Magic, meaning a play-in was unnecessary.How has the tournament evolved?The next year, the NBA expanded its play-in rules, with only the top six seeds in each conference guaranteed of a playoff spot and the Nos. 7-10 ...

Denver’s more moderate mayoral candidates pull ahead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

DENVER (AP) — As votes for Denver’s mayoral election poured in Tuesday night, two of the more moderate candidates in the unusually large and divergent field of 16 contestants pulled far ahead in the initial results.If early results hold, Kelly Brough, the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Mike Johnston, a former state senator, could be pushed to a runoff election. They would leave behind the more progressive candidates in a largely left-leaning contestant field.All are vying for an increasingly powerful position in a city that faces a rising crime rate not seen for decades, growing homeless encampments and dizzying housing costs. The fear that undergirds the race is clear: Denver — the fast-growing, relatively young, business and tech hub of the U.S. Mountain West — is tumbling toward a fate similar to that of other major cities.The stakes are high, said Ty Robertson, an engineer in Denver and Johnston supporter. The city has rapidly burgeoned into...

India’s push for 24/7 clean energy from dams upends lives

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

KINNAUR, India (AP) — The pickup truck jostled away from the roaring Sutlej River and up the steep mountain path flanked by snow-capped Himalayan peaks, some nearly 7,000 meters (22,965 feet) high. The nine passengers, farmers-turned-activists campaigning to prevent more dams from being built, were traveling to the remote Kandar hamlet in India’s Kinnaur district. The few-dozen Indigenous residents were forced to relocate after falling boulders destroyed most of their previous homes in 2005. And villagers believe tunneling for dams was to blame, although authorities deny it. Indigenous activists like Buddha Sain Negi, 30, went there to learn more about the continued struggles faced by Kandar. Sitting atop a steep slope overlooking a 19-year-old dam, the activists heard residents speak of ways India’s hydroelectric push had upended their lives and led to nearly two decades of protest. Some families took shelter in sheds, and more lives were lost because of falling boulder...

LIVE BLOG: Brandon Johnson elected Chicago mayor, defeating Paul Vallas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Former teacher and union organizer Brandon Johnson has been elected Chicago mayor, according to Associated Press projections.City Council seats, as well as suburban mayor and village presidents races, continue to be decided.The Chicago mayoral race pitted former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, a moderate Democrat endorsed by Chicago’s police union and several trade unions, against progressive Johnson, the Cook County Board Commissioner, who was backed by the Chicago Teachers Union and several public sector unions. All Chicago and Illinois Election ResultsTuesday's runoff election is due to no candidate receiving over 50% of the vote on the Feb. 28 election. On that day, Vallas, 69, was the majority frontrunner. Johnson, 46, followed and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot finished third in the polls. The soon-to-be-ousted Lightfoot was the first city mayor in 40 years to seek reelection and lose.WGN News’ special coverage begins at 7 p.m. and will include analysis and ...

Who was elected to the Chicago City Council?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago residents voted for their new Alderperson's Tuesday night.Following the results of the Feb. 28 elections, 14 wards were still looking for their next City Council representative during the April 4 runoff election. 2023 Chicago Runoff and Illinois General Election results Find out below who was elected to represent your ward for the Chicago City Council:Ward 4LAMONT ROBINSONLamont Robinson has been a State Representative since 2019, representing parts of the South Side and South Loop. He is Illinois’ first black openly gay lawmaker. In Springfield, he helped pass $15M in funding for a new South Side LGBTQ community center. Robinson also owns his own Allstate Insurance agency.He has the backing of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (a former 4th Ward alderwoman), Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Robinson won 46.3% of the vote on February 28th.Ward 5DESMON YANCYDesmon Yancy is the Director of Community Organizing for Inter-city Muslim Action N...

Texas comptroller changes defunding determination against Harris County

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) -- On Monday, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar took back his determination that Harris County illegally reduced funding for Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's office. His original determination was announced in February. The reversal of the decision came shortly after Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee filed a lawsuit against him on the determination.Both Hegar, a Republican, and Democratic Harris County officials each tried to claim victory in the matter. "I’m glad the Comptroller admitted his error and is no longer holding Harris County’s budget process hostage," Menefee said in a statement. "I hope that in the future, we can talk through these types of allegations, as the law requires, before the Comptroller makes a final decision."However, Hegar claims that his decision to rescind the defunding of Harris County was because of a review which showed that District 5 was being defunded, but in the context of countywide budget reductions, therefore allowable un...

Fact check: Fake Trump mug shots pop up in lieu of real one

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

NEW YORK — Donald Trump staring directly at the camera in a black T-shirt. Giving a side-eye in a suit and striped tie. Scowling in an orange jumpsuit.A slew of such images claiming to show the former president’s mug shot spread online Tuesday — even though Trump didn’t actually take one during his booking and arraignment in a Manhattan criminal court.The fabricated images, at least some of which were created using artificial intelligence text-to-image generators, fooled some social media users looking to track down the visual symbol of Trump being charged for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.Trump, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, also raised money off his own fake mug shot, which his campaign plastered on a T-shirt in an email to supporters Tuesday.Here’s a look at the facts.CLAIM: Images circulating on social media show mug shots of the former president captured on Tuesday.THE FACTS: These images were created or manipulated to look like booking photographs.Af...

Investigation continues following police pursuit, fatal crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis city police are investigating a car crash at Cora Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, stemming from a pursuit with St. Louis County police. Neighbors said the horrible accident is something that could have been avoided. "I feel like they should stop chasing cars when it's that high speed like that, you know?” Latrice Moore said.County police said they were called out to a robbery at a Family Dollar store on Halls Ferry where an employee was assaulted. Police tried to pull over the suspect in a red Kia three times. The third time involved stop sticks. Witnesses think the Kia was going at least twice the speed limit before crashing.  Top story: Crash survivor claims St. Louis firefighter took wallet "When they, I guess, they already spiked him and you're going that fast and a spike hit your car, it's going to make you spin out, and if you're going that fast and you can't control it and, look, we lost an innocent life," Moore said.City police said one ...

Suspect recently released, wanted again after close look at case

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Circuit Court and Circuit Attorney’s Office both want a man back in custody who was just released after a violent incident.On Jan. 7, two men were trying to steal cars at a Conoco gas station at Gravois and Interstate 55, when one of them was shot and killed by a car owner. The surviving suspect was arrested, charged with tampering, and released from custody.Now, a grand jury has added a murder charge, and authorities want him back in custody.Michael Bradley Murphy, 48, is now wanted for second-degree murder. It was the city’s first murder of 2023. Court records say Murphy was with Jesse Lopez, who was shot and killed during their alleged crimes. Top story: Crash survivor claims St. Louis firefighter took wallet On Feb. 13, city prosecutors charged Murphy with tampering with a motor vehicle. Two days later, a judge allowed Murphy to be released on personal recognizance, meaning the defendant would promise to return to court when asked. The grand jury adde...

Kyrou, Binnington key Blues to 4-2 victory over Flyers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:40:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jordan Kyrou scored his 37th goal of the season to help the St. Louis Blues beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Tuesday night.Kyrou has six goals in his last six games. Tyler Pitlick, Justin Faulk and Alexey Toropchenko also scored for the Blues.Jordan Binnington, starting his 57th game of the season, has won four of his last five starts. He made 29 saves.The Flyers made it close by scoring twice in the third period on goals by James van Riemsdyk and Marcel Frost.St. Louis snapped a two-game losing streak and is 7-2-2 in its last 11. The Blues were eliminated Sunday from playoff contention.The Flyers have lost four consecutive games. Philadelphia also will sit out postseason play.Flyers rookie goaltender Samuel Ersson faced the Blues for the first time. He stopped 28 shots.Kyrou scored at 5:53 of the first period. Kyrou picked off a pass by Frost and quickly scored from the top of the slot.St. Louis scored two goals in the second period. Pitlick gave the Blues a 2-0...