Pritzker signs plan to eliminate debt in unemployment fund

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday signed into law a measure that officials say will eliminate a $1.8 billion debt in the pandemic-battered account that pays out unemployment benefits.

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45 gifts for even the pickiest men on your holiday list

Yes, it’s already time to start checking everyone off your holiday shopping list again. To help you find the best holiday gifts as soon as possible, we’ve rounded up our absolute favorite gifts for the men in your life.

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‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ still draws fans to movie theaters – decades after its release

CNN— The one-time lost Christmas classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” staged an unlikely comeback in the 1970s and 1980s by becoming a December TV staple, after underperforming at the box office and failing to win big at the Oscars when it debuted in the ’40s

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American journalist Grant Wahl dies after collapsing at Qatar World Cup

Prominent American journalist Grant Wahl has died in Qatar after collapsing while covering the World Cup, sparking an outpouring of shock and grief across the sports world. He was 49.

Here’s a link to the story at CNN.

Officer who knelt on George Floyd’s back sentenced

J. Alexander Kueng, a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s back during the fatal May 2020 arrest, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison Friday.

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ABC pulls Backstreet Boys holiday special following Nick Carter rape allegations and lawsuit

“A Very Backstreet Holiday,” the Backstreet Boys’ Christmas special filmed this month in Los Angeles, will no longer air on ABC, Variety has confirmed.

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Washington family with 6 sons erupts in excitement during gender reveal of 7th child: ‘Pure shock’

A family’s surprise and tears of joy were captured in a now-viral video showing the moment when the gender of their seventh child was revealed.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

Liberal media, Dems erupt over Sinema leaving Democratic Party

Some liberal media pundits and commentators were stunned, or not surprised but still angered, Friday morning after Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent.

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Kids with autism can have trouble sleeping — St. Louis-based zPods may be the solution

First-grader Logan Abel’s bedroom is a hub of activity. A space shuttle is ready for launch. Sometimes, a pirate ship sails by. Or a T. rex thunders through, tearing into his toy chest.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Bill protecting same-sex, interracial unions clears Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House gave final approval Thursday to legislation protecting same-sex marriages, a monumental step in a decadeslong battle for nationwide recognition that reflects a stark turnaround in societal attitudes.

Here’s a link to the story.

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