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Drug for rare form of Lou Gehrig’s disease OK’d by FDA

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Food and Drug Administration regulators on Tuesday approved a first-of-a-kind drug for a rare form of Lou Gehrig’s disease, though they are requiring further research to confirm it truly helps patients.The FDA approved Biogen’s injectable drug for patients with a rare genetic mutation that’s estimated to affect less than 500 people in the U.S. It’s the first drug for an inherited form of ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a deadly disease that destroys nerve cells needed for basic functions like walking, talking and swallowing. Approval came via FDA’s accelerated pathway, which allows drugs to launch based on promising early results, before they’re confirmed to benefit patients. That shortcut has come under increasing scrutiny from government watchdogs and congressional investigators.The FDA is requiring Biogen to continue studying the drug in a trial of people who carry the genetic mutation but do not yet have ALS symptoms. The drug, tofersen...

FACT FOCUS: COVID vaccines are not in the food supply

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

Anti-vaccine advocates have for years used foreboding imagery of syringes to paint immunizations as dark and dangerous. But recent vaccine conspiracy theories are casting an air of fear around more mundane things — like cows and lettuce.In widespread posts online in recent weeks, misinformation purveyors have spread an erroneous narrative that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are being quietly added to the food supply, threatening staunch vaccine holdouts.In some cases, users misrepresented the limited use of RNA-based vaccines in animals. In others, they distorted a company’s research into using plants to grow proteins used in vaccines.But experts confirm there are no COVID-19 vaccines in your steak or salad. Here are the facts.CLAIM: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are being added to the food supply through livestock and produce.THE FACTS: COVID-19 vaccines are not being passed along through livestock or produce, and experts say that would not be an efficient way to immunize someone. A flurry of soc...

US officials seek to crack down on harmful AI products

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

The U.S. government will “not hesitate to crack down” on harmful business practices involving artificial intelligence, the head of the Federal Trade Commission warned Tuesday in a message partly directed at the developers of widely-used AI tools such as ChatGPT.FTC Chair Lina Khan joined top officials from U.S. civil rights and consumer protection agencies to put businesses on notice that regulators are working to track and stop illegal behavior in the use and development of biased or deceptive AI tools. Much of the scrutiny has been on those who deploy automated tools that amplify bias into decisions about who to hire, how worker productivity is monitored or who gets access to housing and loans. But amid a fast-moving race between tech giants such as Google and Microsoft in selling more advanced tools that generate text, images and other content resembling the work of humans, Khan also raised the possibility of the FTC wielding its antitrust authority to protect competition.“We all...

Russian spy intrigue fizzles as Hawaii stolen ID trial nears

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

U.S. prosecutors who introduced Russian spy intrigue into the case of a couple accused of living for decades in Hawaii under identities stolen from dead babies are now saying they don’t want jurors to hear about photographs showing them wearing foreign uniforms.A U.S. judge granted the request last week, ruling that the uniforms are not relevant to the upcoming trial for charges involving identity theft and passport fraud. Defense attorneys have said from the start those uniforms were worn once for fun.When the former U.S. defense contractor and his wife were arrested last year, prosecutors suggested the case was about more than just identity theft. According to prosecutors, Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison are the real names of the couple who have been fraudulently living for decades under stolen identities Bobby Fort and Julie Montague. Prosecutors say Primrose spent more than 20 years in the Coast Guard as Bobby Fort, where he obtained secret-level security clearanc...

WATCH LIVE: Kim Foxx says she will not seek reelection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

CHICAGO — Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced Monday she will not seek reelection. In an email to her staff, Foxx said, "While I will not be seeking a third term, it doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere.  The good, hard work we began in 2016 will continue through the end of my term in 2024."Foxx delivered remarks in an address to the City Club of Chicago Tuesday.Foxx won a second term as Cook County state’s attorney in 2020.Her tenure ushered in sweeping changes in how the Cook County prosecutor handles crime and punishment.For several years, amid a rise in crime in the City of Chicago, critics have labeled her social justice reform as failing the community.Foxx has faced criticism from the Chicago Police Department, and from Mayor Lori Lightfoot on charging decisions, home monitoring, as well as the handling of high profile cases like Jussie Smollett. Previous Coverage: Police: Officers called to Kim Foxx’s home for report of domestic dispute Those close to her also say th...

Carjackers take 2 vehicles at gunpoint from man on North Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

CHICAGO — A 41-year-old man was carjacked at gunpoint of two of his vehicles on the city's North Side.Police said the incident happened on the 3600 block of North Wolcott around 11:08 p.m. Monday in the North Center neighborhood.The man told police he was going back and forth between his two vehicles, a gray Toyota Camry and a red Kia Sportage, when a silver sedan approached with four men.Two of the men exited the sedan, displayed handguns and demanded the 41-year-old's car keys. 1 dead, another injured after Lemont petroleum plant explosion According to police, the victim complied and the men got into each of his vehicles and fled the scene. The man was not injured.No one is in custody at this time. Area Three detectives are investigating.

How the Bears reacted to the Aaron Rodgers trade on social media

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

LAKE FOREST — The team didn't have any public comments on Monday when the details of a major deal involving their biggest rival were beginning to emerge. But that didn't mean the Bears didn't have something to say about Aaron Rodgers' trade to the New York Jets on social media. After all, the Packers quarterback had a habit of breaking the team's heart on numerous occasions since he became Green Bay's full-time starting quarterback in the 2008 season. On their Twitter account, the Bears posted a gif of a real bear appearing to wave goodbye. There were no words put on the tweet, but the message was fairly obvious to anyone who follows them.The departure of Rodgers is certainly a celebration by the team along with fans after he finished his time in Green Bay with a 25-5 overall record against the Bears. That included winning 24 of 29 regular season games against Chicago and a win over the team in the NFC Championship Game in January 2011. You have to go back to December 2018 to find t...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps in mid 40s with decreasing clouds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

CHICAGO — Scattered showers Tuesday with mostly cloudy conditions. Winds: NNE 5-10 G15. High: 46. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly clear tonight with frost possible. Winds: N 5-10 mph G15. Low: 34.Wednesday Forecast: Mostly sunny, cooler lakeside. Winds: ENE 5-10. High: 51/45.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Louisiana woman sets Guinness record for largest afro for 4th time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A Louisiana woman once again holds the Guinness World Record for the largest afro on a living human. Four-time record winner, Aevin Dugas, of Napoleonville, spoke with Nexstar's WGNO about her hair journey and offered advice for anyone having their own natural hair experience. (Photo courtesy of Aevin Dugas)"I went natural in probably '99, and the reason I went natural was, I literally woke up one day and was like, 'Why am I permanently straightening my hair?'" said Dugas. Natural hair is free of chemical straighteners or relaxers.Dugas said it took about five years for her to get comfortable and stick with the transition. In the meantime, she continued to apply perms until one day she said enough is enough and stopped."When I went natural, when I finally cut the permed ends off because I transitioned, I did not big chop, I just let my hair grow out and one day I cut it off. It was almost like the natural hair gods smiled on me because then all of a sudden I go...

Burglars dressed as DoorDash drivers in Indiana home invasion, court docs say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:29 GMT

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WXIN) — Court documents reveal that two armed men pretended to be DoorDash delivery drivers in order to get inside an Indiana home during an attempted burglary — which officials say turned deadly for one of the would-be burglars.Grayson Rhue, 18, of Roswell, Georgia, was shot and killed on April 6 at the Noblesville, Indiana, home. Rhue, along with 22-year-old Ruai Ngundeng Pal, are accused of an attempted home invasion that backfired when one of the occupants inside the home pulled a gun. Arrest made in Noblesville shooting of 18-year-old; Suspect found in Tennessee Shortly before 10:20 p.m. on April 6, police were called to the home. The caller told 911 dispatch that her son had just shot at two suspects who had forced their way into the home.Court documents reveal that witness testimony and surveillance footage corroborate that Pal and Rhue arrived at the home dressed as DoorDash drivers. They approached the home with a DoorDash bag with Taco Bell "Quesaritos...