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Former Illinois congressman and one-time U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has paid a $40,000 fine to settle a criminal investigation into undisclosed foreign cash he received while serving in former President Barack Obama’s administration. The Justice Department says LaHood acknowledged receiving $50,000 from an associate of a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire who had also steered illegal campaign contributions to other U.S. politicians. LaHood did not disclose the payment, which was characterized as a “loan,” on government ethics forms, and also reportedly made “misleading statements” to investigators looking into the payments. LaHood, who is the father of Congressman Darin LaHood, has since repaid the money. ....
By Mo Lightning Pop Culture Catch Up – March 17 Saturday Night Live will return March 27 th with three back-to-back shows hosted first by Maya Rudolph. Daniel Kaluuya, who won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in his role in Judas and the Black Messiah and has been nominated for an Academy Award for the same role, will host on April 3. St. Vincent will be the musical guest. Carey Mulligan, who was nominated for best actress in the Oscars for her role in Promising Young Woman, will host for the first time on April 10. She will be joined on the show by Kid Cudi. ....
By WMAY Newsroom Photo Credit: Facebook / Roy Williams, Jr. Just two weeks after voting it down, Springfield aldermen have reversed course and unanimously approved Roy Williams, Jr. as the new alderman for Ward 3. His nomination was rejected earlier this month amid concerns over appointing someone who might then run for a full term as an incumbent in two years. Various community leaders and groups had lobbied hard for Williams to be appointed ahead of Tuesday’s vote. Also Tuesday night, aldermen narrowly approved an ordinance granting up to four weeks of paid leave for city workers who become new parents. The final vote was 6 to 4 in favor. ....
By WMAY Newsroom (Shutterstock) There were 23 new positives bringing that total to 16,471. Statewide, there were 1,655 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths for a total of 1,213,765 cases, including 20,988 deaths respectively. Comments ....
By Mike Wennmacher Photo Credit: Chicago Bears / Official Website When news broke Tuesday afternoon that the Chicago Bears had signed free agent QB Andy Dalton to a one year deal all of Bears fandom let out a collective Charlie Brown “ARRRGGGHHHHH!” The Bears had pushed for weeks that they were all in on Russell Wilson but when it finally became clear that a deal ultimately wouldn’t be able to be done the Bears went the least sexy route possible. It is the same thing the organization did at the end of the season in retaining both Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. Neither of them are great, although I think Nagy could be, but they aren’t the worst either. Instead they exist in the creamy middle, much like Andy Dalton. The Bears have been a champion of mediocrity for years now and fans are starting to tire of it. ....