President Joe Biden wants to increase the Medicare tax rate from 3.8% to 5% on income exceeding $400,000 per year, including salaries and capital gains. The White House did not provide specific cost-saving estimates with the proposal
Stories by Associated Press
Toblerone Drops Iconic Design Due to Rules on 'Swissness'
Mondelez International of Deerfield, Illinois, which owns the Swiss-born brand, said Monday that it's in the process of adapting the packaging of Toblerone products to conform with strict rules in Switzerland about how products qualify for the coveted “Swissness” moniker.
Twitter Glitches as Links, Images Fail to Load
The company, which has experienced an uptick instability and bugs in recent months after Elon Musk cut its staff sharply, said “Some parts of Twitter may not be working as expected right now. We made an internal change that had some unintended consequences. We’re working on this now and will share an update when it’s fixed.”
Many Kids Are Struggling in school. Do Their Parents Know?
It’s widely known from test scores that the pandemic set back students across the country. But many parents don’t realize that includes their own child.
In Chicago, Adapting Electric Buses to Winter’s Challenges
The CTA started experimenting with electric buses in 2014 and plans to move to an all-electric fleet by 2040. But as the temperature drops, lithium-ion batteries that run the buses aren't as efficient and lose range.
Abortion Clinics Crossing State Borders Not Always Welcome
As clinics have been forced to shutter in Republican-dominant states with strict abortion bans, some have relocated to cities and towns just over the border, in states with more liberal laws. The goal is to help women avoid traveling long distances. Yet that effort does not always go smoothly.
Warrant: Bomb Materials Found at Home of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman
According to an affidavit, the alleged gunman charged in last year’s Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park told FBI agents he mulled the possibility of deploying explosives in the attack.
Trump Can Be Sued for Jan 6 Actions, Justice Department Says
The department wrote that although a president enjoys broad legal latitude to communicate to the public on matters of concern, “no part of a President’s official responsibilities includes the incitement of imminent private violence.”
Long-Lost 19th Century Ship Found in Lake Huron, Confirming Tragic Story
The 191-foot cargo vessel collided with a grain hauler on a blustery night in September 1894, sinking both. The Ironton’s captain and six sailors clambered into a lifeboat but it was dragged to the bottom before they could detach it from the ship. Only two crewmen survived.
Stellantis Idles Illinois Plant, Takes Step Toward Closure
The factory, which employs about 1,350 workers, officially was placed on “idle” Tuesday; that term means the company intends to shut down the plant. Belvidere’s future is likely to be an issue in national contract talks coming up with the United Auto Workers union, one that could bring a strike.
Biden to Nominate Julie Su as Next US Labor Secretary
If confirmed, Julie Su would be the first Asian American in the Biden administration to serve in the Cabinet at the secretary level. The civil rights attorney and former head of California's labor department was central to negotiations between labor and freight rail companies late last year.
Supreme Court Student Loan Case: The Arguments Explained
The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments over President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan, which impacts millions of borrowers who could see their loans wiped away or reduced.
Feds Seek to Limit Telehealth Prescriptions for Some Drugs
The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions after three years of relying on telehealth for doctor’s appointments by computer or phone during the pandemic.
Pritzker Plan to Target Kids’ Mental Health Crisis Through Streamlining, Agency Coordination
A report examining the capacity and condition of Illinois’ response to behavioral health in young people has been in the works for nearly a year. It sketches avenues to help families understand mental illness, then make it easier for them to get required care without wrangling among disparate state agencies.
Illinois Labor Officials Investigating Local Drugmaker Akorn’s Abrupt Closure
State labor officials are investigating an Illinois-based pharmaceutical company’s decision to abruptly close all of its operations, including its out-of-state locations in New Jersey, New York and Switzerland, and to lay off hundreds of workers with almost no warning.
Flu Vaccine Worked Well in Season That Faded Fast, CDC Says
The vaccines were more than 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital, health officials said during a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccines meeting Wednesday.
US Mass Killings Linked to Extremism Spiked Over Last Decade, Report Says
The report, provided to The Associated Press ahead of its public release Thursday, also found that all extremist killings identified in 2022 were linked to right-wing extremism, with an especially high number linked to white supremacy.
New Estimate Says US Could Face Debt Default by Early June
The Bipartisan Policy Center, which forecasts the approximate “X-date” when the government will no longer be able to meet its financial obligations on time, said the U.S. will reach its statutory debt limit as soon as the summer or early fall of 2023.
EPA Takes Charge of Cleanup in Toxic Ohio Train Derailment, Orders Company to Pay
The Environmental Protection Agency told Norfolk Southern to take all available measures to clean up contaminated air and water, and also said the company would be required to reimburse the federal government.
Former Illinois US Rep. Adam Kinzinger to Release Book on GOP Falling Out After Capitol Attack
“Ever since my final falling-out with the GOP, on the day of the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol by Donald Trump’s followers, I have wanted to tell the inside story of how my party and also my faith have been hijacked by extremists who represent a real danger to our democracy,” Kinzinger said in a statement.
Illinois Poised to Mandate Paid Leave for Nearly All Workers, Only 2 Other States Have Similar Law
The legislation would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Employees will accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked up to 40 hours total, although the employer may offer more. Employees can start using the time once they have worked for 90 days.
Houston Back at No. 1 as Northwestern Makes AP Top 25 Debut
Northwestern and Texas A&M barged into the AP Top 25 men's basketball rankings after each had a pair of impressive wins last week.
Biden Declares 'Kyiv Stands' in Surprise Visit to Ukraine
Joe Biden spent more than five hours in the Ukrainian capital, consulting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on next steps, honoring the country’s fallen soldiers and seeing U.S. embassy staff in the besieged country.
Sen. John Fetterman Draws Praise for Getting Help for Depression
On Thursday, the office of Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat who was elected to the Senate after a bruising campaign during which he suffered a stroke, announced he had checked himself into the hospital for clinical depression.
Biden Wants ‘Sharper Rules’ on Unknown Aerial Objects
The president’s 2 p.m. White House remarks come after he directed National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an “interagency team” to review U.S. procedures after the U.S. shot down the China balloon, as well as three other objects the U.S. now believes are most likely “benign” objects.
Clevinger Reports to Spring Training as MLB Probes Domestic Violence Charges Against White Sox Pitcher
Mike Clevinger has reported to the Chicago White Sox for spring training, joining his new team amid an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball into allegations of domestic violence.
