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One-third of Americans under heat alerts as blistering temps spread from Southwest to California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — More than a third of Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings Thursday as a blistering heat wave that’s been baking the nation spread further into California, forcing residents to seek out air conditioning or find other ways to stay cool in triple-digit temperatures. The sweltering conditions were expected to build Friday and through the weekend in Central and Southern California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned. Highs in the inland desert areas could reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) during the day, and remain in the 80s (above 26.6 C) overnight, offering little relief.In the desert city of Palm Springs, many homeless people were left to contend with the heat on their own, with just 20 indoor beds at the lone overnight shelter. John Summers, a homeless resident, climbed through a dry riverbed Thursday to seek shade at an encampme...

The FTC reportedly opens an investigation of ChatGPT creator OpenAI over consumer protection issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into ChatGPT creator OpenAI and whether the artificial intelligence company violated consumer protection laws by scraping public data and publishing false information through its chatbot, according to reports in the Washington Post and the New York Times.The agency sent OpenAI a 20-page letter requesting detailed information on its AI technology, products, customers, privacy safeguards and data security arrangements, according to the reports. The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The FTC’s move represents the most significant regulatory threat so far to the nascent but fast-growing AI industry, although it’s not the only challenge facing these companies. Comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors have sued both OpenAI and Facebook parent Meta for copyright infringement, claiming that the companies’ AI systems were illegally “trained” by exposing them to datasets containing il...

Lisa Marie Presley’s cause of death revealed by coroner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

Lisa Marie Presley died from complications from bariatric surgery she had several years ago, authorities said Thursday.The January 12 death at age 54 of the singer, songwriter and heir of Elvis Presley was ruled as being from natural causes due to the effects of a small bowel obstruction.Additional details about what caused Presley’s death were included in an autopsy report released Thursday afternoon by the office of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.The report says the complication that Presley experienced is a common complication from bariatric surgery, which is a weight loss procedure. The Mayo Clinic says it is often done when other weight loss methods haven’t worked or if a person has a serious medical condition.Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital, where she had been rushed by paramedics responding to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. No indication was made public at the time of what may have caused the medical issue.RELATED: Lis...

CPD: Body found in Chicago River near The Salt Shed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

CHICAGO -- A body was recovered from the Chicago River near The Salt Shed concert venue Thursday evening.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers recovered a male's body from the Chicago River near the 1300 block of North Elston Ave just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13. Suburban woman allegedly offering ‘too good to be true’ vacations, scamming customers out of thousands The male recovered from the Chicago River was pronounced dead at the scene.No further information has been made available at this time.On June 19, 26-year-old Noah Enos has been identified as the body recovered from the water near the 1300 block of North Elston Avenue near the Salt Shed.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Suburban woman allegedly offering 'too good to be true' vacations, scamming customers out of thousands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

Complaints about a suburban travel agent who charged for trips that, in some cases, were never booked.More than a dozen families have come forward warning others about deals that they say were too good to be true.Not only did some people not get their trips, but some of their credit cards were used to charge thousands of dollars in other things. Their warning, look out for anything that seems like the deal of a lifetime. For more WGN Investigates content, click here Beautiful images are now overshadowed by several investigations into M&M Events and Promotions. A string of police reports allege that people purchased vacation packages, but didn't get what they paid for.In one report, the person claims that "she also discovered an unauthorized charge of $8,990.57 on her credit card." Another found that their trips were never booked and their hotel rooms were never paid for.The Oak Lawn Police Department are following up on every case and say there is the potential for charges in ...

3 finalists for Chicago police superintendent announced

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

CHICAGO — The three finalists to be the next superintendent of the Chicago Police Department have been announced.They are Shon Barens, Angel Novalez and Larry Snelling. Chicago police: Person trapped under car after being hit by hit-and-run driver dies Barens is the chief of the Madison Wisconsin Police Department. Both Novalez and Snelling are already with CPD.Novalez is the department's chief of constitutional policing and reform and Snelling is the department's chief of counterterrorism.The three finalists were selected and announced Thursday by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will now have 30 days to select his pick. From there, that person will go before the Police and Fire Committee before going in front of the full city council.In a statement, Johnson called the announcement an important milestone in the search for the city's police superintendent."I want to express my gratitude to all those that applied, and comme...

K.C. Chiefs ‘superfan’ accused of string of bank stick-ups in U.S., including two in Twin Cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

A diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan known on social media and at games as “ChiefsAholic” is accused of robbing six banks across the central U.S. last year, and trying to rob ones in Apple Valley and Savage on the same day.Federal prosecutors say these surveillance photos show Xaviar Michael Babudar, 28, of Overland Park, Kansas, trying to rob Royal Credit Union at 14295 Cedar Ave. in Apple Valley on Nov. 29, 2022. (Courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri)Xaviar Michael Babudar, 28, of Overland Park, Kan., was charged with one count each of bank theft and transporting stolen property across state lines in a criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City in late May. He was arrested last week in Lincoln, Calif.Babudar allegedly traveled throughout the Midwest to perpetrate a string of bank robberies. He robbed three banks in Iowa and one each in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee between March 2, 2022, and his first arrest on De...

Victim hospitalized with serious injuries after Troy shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A person was hospitalized after a shooting in Troy Thursday evening. The shooting took place just after 6 p.m. in the area of 6th Avenue and Swift Street. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said there was an argument between groups, which led to the shooting. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The suspect fled the scene.The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to (518) 270-4421 or can report tips online.

Lisa Marie Presley's cause of death determined

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

Lisa Marie Presley died from a small bowel obstruction, authorities said Thursday.The January 12 death at age 54 of the singer, songwriter and heir of Elvis Presley was ruled as being from natural causes, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner records.An autopsy report that would include more details about what led to Presley's death has not yet been released.Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital, where she had been rushed by paramedics responding to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. No indication was made public at the time of what may have caused the medical issue.FILE - Lisa Marie Presley arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Mad Max: Fury Road" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on May 7, 2015. Presley died Jan. 12, 2023, from the effects of a small bowel obstruction, according to updated Los Angeles coroner's records Thursday, July 13. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)She was buried at a Jan. 22 funeral at Graceland, the home where she ...

Skim board riders battling Laguna Beach officials over Aliso Beach sand berm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:57:40 GMT

A battle is brewing between the city of Laguna Beach, which recently took control of Aliso Beach from the county, and skim boarder riders who claim the officials are unfairly considering a new law that would cut into some of their fun.  One of the biggest attractions at Aliso Beach for the wave riders is a naturally occurring sand berm that separates Aliso Creek from the ocean. When it’s breached under the right conditions, it’s an excellent wave for skimboarding.  “It does break naturally more often than not,” Greg Viviani told KTLA. “Also, the wave riders like to break it as well because it does create a standing wave and it creates sandbar out front, which creates better waves to ride as well.”  However, the city is looking at a new ordinance that would ban skim boarder riders and others from digging out the berm over concerns about polluted water from upstream going into the ocean too often.  Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen spoke to KTLA last month about the is...