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Lawsuit seeks to block dispensary from opening in old Rainforest Café

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

CHICAGO — There’s a battle brewing over the future of a well-known River North property.Under one proposal, a company called Bio-Pharm LLC would open a marijuana dispensary in the 20,000-square-foot building at 605 North Clark Street.The property has been vacant since 2020, when the Rainforest Café closed amid the pandemic.The restaurant chain, known for its giant tree frog on the property, had been open 23 years.Bio-Pharm is a social equity applicant, meaning it’s led by a minority ownership group. It was awarded a conditional license by the state last year, but its plan to open the dispensary has stalled, in part, amid opposition from some neighbors and pending legal action.The most recent lawsuit, filed today in Cook County Circuit Court, was brought by the owners of Green Rose, a rival dispensary, also led by a minority ownership group. Recent Investigates: Expenditures tied to former Chicago detective now more than $80 million Green Rose is one of four dispensaries currently ...

Local nonprofit, CPD to open temporary emergency assistance center after 15 injured in North Lawndale shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

CHICAGO — Gunfire erupted at a Halloween party in North Lawndale early Sunday morning leaving 15 people injured.Police say the person who allegedly fired the shots into the crowd was taken into custody shortly after and charges are pending. In the meantime, police have teamed up with a North Lawndale nonprofit to bring a critical resource to the community to help those impacted by the tragedy.According to police, two people, a 48-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were both critically injured in the shooting and 13 others, ages 26 to 53, were reportedly in good condition when taken to the hospital. Evanston teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home Mike Trout, the Executive Director of the Young Men's Educational Network, spent his day getting the word out about CPD's plan to open an emergency assistance center in his building following the shooting.“It’s disconcerting when you wake up in the morning and you hear that 15 people have been shot in your neighborhood and then to real...

CPD: 14-year-old diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing teen who has been missing since Friday, Oct. 13.Mallarie Walker was last seen near Gladys Avenue and Springfield Avenue in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood on Friday, Oct. 13. Evanston teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home Walker is described as 5-foot-3, weighing 140 pounds, with black braids and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black jeans.Walker reportedly has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Anyone with information regarding Mallarie Walker's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-8251.

Illinois teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. (WGN) — An Illinois teen who was taken hostage by Hamas during its raid on Israel earlier this month has returned home. Natalie Raanan, who was taken hostage during the Oct. 7 raid on Israel by Hamas, was released on Oct. 20, for humanitarian reasons after an agreement between the Palestinian militant group and the Qatari government. Mother, daughter from Evanston who were held hostage by Hamas have been released Yinam Cohen, the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, said Natalie returned home Monday to Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. (Raanan Family via AP)Evanston mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas seen with authorities following release.“I am relieved to see Natalie back home in Chicago. Her family members have been anxiously waiting for her return, and today I am sharin...

Almanac for October 31, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

'The Voice' season 24 battle rounds ramp up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

(WCMH) — NBC's “The Voice” returns Monday with an all-new episode featuring more contestants going head-to-head in the Battle rounds.The show has released a new clip featuring Team Legend's Elizabeth Evans of Arlington, Texas paired against teammate Kaylee Shimizu from Ewabeach, Hawaii. After singing a duet of Olivia Rodrigo's “Traitor,” both received praise from the coaches. Ohio’s Jackson Snelling’s return on ‘The Voice’ “Elizabeth and Kaylee, that was fantastic, unbelievable vocal range and power,” said Reba McEntire. “Elizabeth, when you opened your mouth and hit that big note, I was just in awe. And Kaylee your range is incredible. Y'all just really did complement each other, love the harmonies.”Niall Horan told the pair their performance was the best version of the song he had heard. He complimented Kaylee's control over her “runs” and the range of her voice. Horan told Elizabeth that her “identity as an artist” was rare in the competition and gave her an advantage over othe...

Timberwolves melt down in second half, fall 127-113 in Atlanta

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

The Timberwolves looked like a team that had figured it all out in the first half at Atlanta on Monday.After rolling over the short-handed Heat in the second half of their home opener Saturday, Minnesota took its momentum with it on the road, tallying 79 first-half points that, paired with some strong second-quarter defense, created a 19-point halftime advantage.The Wolves were well on their way to a 2-1 record on the strength of an impressive road victory.Then came the second half. The script flipped entirely, as Atlanta — which was playing on the second half of a back to back — ran Minnesota off the floor, outscoring the Wolves 67-34 over the final 24 minutes en route to a 127-113 victory.Minnesota couldn’t get stops and couldn’t generate enough easy looks to keep up with the Hawks’ scoring offense. By game’s end, Atlanta was mimicking the Showtime Lakers with a slew of fast-break opportunities resulting in lobs or highlight-reel dunks. It looke...

Push for a county animal shelter in Rensselaer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Since the pandemic, animal shelters have not only needed volunteers but also needed more space. But earlier this year, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society announced they could no longer accept any more stray animals. Animal activists like Valerie Lang Waldin said they understand the reasons behind the decision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “Mohawk Hudson did this for safe reasons. You know, they’re not doing it to be cruel,” Waldin said. “But they can no longer be the only animal shelter in the Capital District.”But it's not just individual people who can't bring strays to the shelter. Local municipalities in Rensselaer County that also used Mohawk Hudson Humane Society to take lost animals had yet to learn that contracts would be terminated so soon. Out of the municipalities in the county, Troy is the only contract left with the shelter, at least for now, leaving others scrambling for a solut...

Activists call for ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Those in support of a ceasefire gathered in Troy Monday to protest the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The protest took place at Riverfront Park on Front Street.Those in attendance are calling for a ceasefire on both sides to put and end to civilian deaths. One woman who has lost family members in attacks in Gaza gave a speech at the protest. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "I would like everyone to please call their Congress and demand for ceasefire and end occupation," Shahenda Nassan said.Some of the groups that took part in the rally for peace included the Palestinian Rights Committee of Upper Hudson Peace action and Jewish Voice for Peace Albany.

AdventHealth Porter hospital in Denver closes after losing heat, hot water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:18 GMT

AdventHealth Porter hospital in Denver is closed to new patients after the facility lost heat and hot water following a boiler system failure on Monday.The hospital at 2525 S. Downing St., is closed to new patients, system officials announced in a news release. All surgeries scheduled through Wednesday will be rescheduled and the emergency department is closed.The medical office buildings at 850 and 950 E. Harvard Ave., and the Porter Medical Plaza at 2535 S. Downing St., were not affected by the boiler outage and are still open.An emergency boiler is en route to the hospital and will be installed as soon as possible, according to a news release from AdventHealth.The hospital is also working to transport patients to other facilities and will send staff to other facilities to support patients as needed, according to the company.This is a developing story and may be updated.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.