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U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly's husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn, has died. The Illinois Democrat posted a statement about Horn on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter. Horn was 68. No cause of death was given. In addition to his widow, Horn is survived by two daughters, two stepchildren and two grandchildren, with another grandchild arriving soon. Kelly asked for privacy. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming. Kelly took a post in the House in 2013 following a special election to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. The seat was vacant after Jackson resigned in 2012 during a federal investiga ..read more

A prosecutor says a suburban Chicago teenager driving a stolen car led police on a chase reaching a speed of 132 mph before crashing the vehicle. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin says the 17-year-old male from Maywood led the chase for 18 minutes before crashing the stolen Hyundai Genesis into a parked car just before 1:15 a.m. Wednesday. The teen then fled on foot before being taken into custody. Berlin says the teen has been charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and several misdemeanors ..read more

After massive winter downpours, conservationists in California are eager to gather desert seeds as an insurance policy against a hotter and drier future. Staff and volunteers have been fanning out across areas such as the Mojave Desert to collect seeds from flowers that had not previously bloomed in years due to drought. The hope is to build out seed banks for restoration projects in case of wildfires as climate change steps up pressure on desert landscapes. The recent York Fire is an example of why conservationists are focused on collecting seeds and banking them ..read more

Social media users are discouraging residents from accepting disaster aid in Maui, falsely claiming the Federal Emergency Management Agency could seize their property if they do. But disaster recovery experts and lawyers say the posts are misrepresenting federal law, stressing that accepting aid doesn’t give FEMA any such powers. In fact, a New Jersey property lawyer who wrote the 2020 legal analysis being used to support the claim said his work is being taken out of context. FEMA also says the claims are “absolutely false” and encourages Hawaiians to visit its website addressing rumors follow ..read more

Sweltering temperatures are lingering in a large swath of the central U.S., causing misery from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes.  The extreme heat prompted Texas’ electric power grid manager to ask residents to voluntary conserve power Sunday night. Record highs have been recorded in Texas and other states. People were told to chug extra water while mowing lawns or exercising outdoors Sunday, and to check on neighbors to ensure air conditioning is available. Stifling heat in Texas overwhelmed new students taking part in orientation at Prairie View A&M University, northwest of Ho ..read more

Tennessee lawmakers are convening a special session this week that highlights the divergent response states are taking to a spate of mass shootings. The special session on public safety is unlikely to produce any new gun control laws from Tennessee's Republican-led Legislature. But numerous Democratic-led states have passed an array of new restrictions, including bans on certain semi-automatic weapons and expanded background check requirements. Many of the new laws already are facing court challenges. The state action comes a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled people have a right to carry ..read more

A review of hundreds of emails provides insight into the damage control that top New Mexico State University administrators undertook after news broke this year about allegations of hazing on the men's basketball team. More than 2,400 pages of documents released by the university in response to a records request by The Associated Press also show the disappointment and anger of fans and alumni over what many referred to as a “black eye” for the school. In an interview, Athletics Director Mario Moccia said the university is working through a list of 20 action items aimed at bolstering prevention ..read more

Some U.S. states are turning down all or most of their initial share of federal money to find and replace lead pipes. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $15 billion to help remove lead pipes that can deposit dangerous amounts of lead in tap water. The money would be provided over five years in the form of grants and loans. Washington, Oregon, Maine and Alaska declined all or most of the money they were offered in the first year of funding. Experts say some states and communities may be hesitant to take out loans to search for lead pipes. Activists say declining the money could mean fai ..read more

President Joe Biden says former Obama administration attorney Ed Siskel is the new White House counsel. Siskel helped craft the Obama administration’s response to the congressional investigations into the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador. Siskel takes over in September during a critical time, when Biden is seeking reelection and congressional and judicial investigations into his administration and family are swirling. House Republicans are talking about opening an impeachment inquiry into the Democratic president, who announced Siskel on Tuesday. S ..read more