Police, Metra stations become focus of Elmhurst mayor race

High school student Kayla Chege and peers increasingly use AI, like ChatGPT, for personal advice and emotional support, with over 70% of teens engaging with AI companions regularly. While these tools provide constant validation, experts warn they may hinder social skills and real human connections, raising concerns about their impact on youth mental health and relationships. Want More Context? 🔎

Stacy Esser, a realtor in New Jersey, notes a slight shift favoring homebuyers in the housing market, with homes taking longer to sell and more inventory available, although prices remain high, reaching a record median of $396,000. Buyers are advised to consider homes that have lingered on the market and explore first-time homebuyer programs as competition remains fierce in many areas. Want More Context? 🔎

A former American Airlines flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison for secretly filming young girls in an airplane lavatory using a cellphone taped to the toilet lid. His actions, which included recordings of five girls aged 7 to 14, were described by the judge as “appalling,” resulting in lost innocence and lasting trauma for the victims. Want More Context? 🔎

Columbia University has agreed to pay $200 million to the Trump administration over allegations it failed to protect Jewish students during protests on campus, with the settlement leading to the reinstatement of previously frozen federal grants. The agreement includes reforms to campus policies and appoints an independent monitor, though Columbia asserts it does not admit wrongdoing. Want More Context? 🔎

A gunman ambushed two Ohio police officers during lunch in Lorain, injuring them and a responding officer. The suspect, armed with multiple weapons, was shot and killed by police, while the injured officers were airlifted to a hospital for treatment; a motive for the attack remains unclear. Want More Context? 🔎

William McNeil, Jr., a 22-year-old man, is set to hold a press conference regarding his violent arrest by Jacksonville sheriff's deputies, which was captured in a viral video. The incident, which included McNeil being beaten after refusing to exit his vehicle during a traffic stop, has prompted an investigation by the sheriff's office, with McNeil facing multiple charges including resisting arrest without violence and driving with a suspended license. Want More Context? 🔎