Midwest
Moderate Republican Don Bacon projected to win re-election for Nebraska swing seat
Moderate Republican Rep. Don Bacon is projected to survive a close re-election race in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
The Associated Press projected on Friday that Bacon, a retired military general, who ran against Democratic state lawmaker Tony Vargas, won.
The race was one of the most closely watched races of the 2024 election cycle. It was a key win for House GOP leaders fighting to keep the chamber majority.
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In a testament to the district’s battleground status, both Bacon and Vargas emphasized their bipartisan work in the closing days of the campaign.
Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District is the least red House seat in the state. It includes all of Omaha, the state’s largest city, as well as the city of Papillion.
Bacon was one of 16 House Republicans who won seats in 2022 in areas that had voted for President Biden in 2020, making it one of the most competitive races from the get-go.
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The moderate GOP lawmaker made a name for himself for speaking his mind, even when it came to criticizing plans and measures levied by fellow Republicans and House Republican leadership.
He retired from the Air Force as a brigadier general in 2014.
Bacon won the seat in 2016 by defeating incumbent Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford by roughly 1%.
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His three subsequent elections saw him narrowly hold on to power by roughly 2% or less.
Vargas had previously challenged Bacon in the 2022 midterms and lost by about 2.2%.
A former teacher and Omaha Public Schools Board member, Vargas joined the Nebraska Legislature in 2017. Like Bacon, he defeated an incumbent of the opposite party to win his seat.
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Illinois
Illinois task force seeks to honor Underground Railroad history
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – How much do you know about the history of the Underground Railroad?
When the Civil War ended, many freedom seekers made their way up north to Illinois through the Underground Railroad. In fact, there were more than 200 sites that served as safe havens.
An Illinois task force has spent months identifying places and people involved with the Underground Railroad. The goal is to promote Illinois’ historic ties to the Underground Railroad, to boost both education and tourism.
On Tuesday, the findings were presented to the state legislature with the hopes of preserving history. The plan seeks to unify local Underground Railroad projects and develop new ones across the state.
The task force recommends establishing the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission, which would research and commemorate sites linked to freedom seekers and collaborate with similar groups nationwide.
The proposal aims to ensure that the stories of those who sought freedom and those who helped them are saved and celebrated for future generations.
“We need to explain that, and we need to explain to people the hardships these individuals went through, the trials and tribulations, the bounty hunters that were always a risk. And we just don’t think that in the state of Illinois right now, that full story is being told,” said Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman.
There are 25 Illinois sites currently listed on the National Park Service Network to Freedom. Nationwide, the network has identified more than 700 locations in 39 states.
Indiana
Man found dead in tanning bed at Planet Fitness days after he was reported missing
A man was reportedly found dead inside a tanning bed at an Indiana Planet Fitness days after he was reporting missing by family.
Police are conducting a death investigation after a man who was reported missing on Friday was found dead in a tanning bed Monday morning at the south Indianapolis facility, NBC affiliate station WTHR reported.
In a statement to the publication, Planet Fitness said they were “deeply saddened by the passing of one of our members” and noted the owner of the franchise was working with authorities on the investigation.
“At Planet Fitness, we have robust operational brand protocols in place, as the safety and well-being of our members is our top priority,” Chief Corporate Affairs Officer McCall Gosselin told the publication. “We are working closely with our local franchisee to ensure they are upholding those brand protocols.”
Witnesses told the station they noticed a foul smell in the building near the tanning rooms.
A sign on the door of the building noted that “tanning was currently unavailable,” WTHR reported.
Family told the station 39-year-old Derek Sink was identified as the man found in the bed, saying he went into a tanning bed on Friday and was found dead there Monday morning. They said he struggled with drugs and a needle was found in the room with him, though no cause of death has been released.
Relatives said Sink was wearing an ankle monitor at the time.
Kansas
Travis Kelce’s Kansas City mansion burglarized of $20K in cash during Saints game, Patrick Mahomes’ house hit hours prior
Burglars reportedly targeted Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes’ mansions in Kansas City last month ahead of their Oct. 7 match-up against the New Orleans Saints.
According to a police record obtained by Page Six Tuesday, the burglary at Mahomes’ Belton, Mo., estate was reported by a bodyguard just after midnight on Oct. 6.
It’s unknown what — if anything — was stolen from the quarterback’s home.
The three-time Super Bowl champion, 29, was notably out celebrating Kelce’s 35th birthday on Oct. 5 in the hours leading up to the burglary.
It’s unclear if anyone was home during the break-in as Patrick lives with his pregnant wife, Brittany Mahomes, and their two kids — daughter Sterling, 3, and son Bronze, 1.
On Monday, Kelce’s massive Leawood, Kan., mansion was also broken into around 7:30 p.m. — shortly after kickoff against the Saints.
According to the police document obtained by TMZ, the burglars stole $20,000 in cash and damaged Kelce’s back door.
Sources told TMZ they believe the two attempts were connected to other similar crimes in the area.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office could not provide any additional details as it is an ongoing investigation.
Although lots of Kelce’s family and friends were in town for his birthday, they were all likely at the game.
The tight end’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, also notably flew into Kansas City for the festivities. Last month, sources told Page Six that Swift threw her beau a private party that Sunday.
At the time, a source told us that Swift and her father, Scott, took Kelce, his family and the Mahomeses out to a popular sushi spot.
We were told the intimate affair ended early as the NFL stars were prepping for their game the next day.
While it’s unclear where Swift was staying, Chiefs players are typically required to stay at their team hotel the night before each home game — meaning Kelce and Patrick may not have been home at the time of the break-ins.
Reps for Patrick and Kelce did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The legendary quarterback and his wife purchased their eight-acre property for $400,000 in 2020 and transformed it into a palatial mansion — complete with a basketball court, a par-3 golf hole and a 5-yard football field.
Kelce, for his part, upgraded his digs last year after his romance with the “Fortnight” singer became more serious.
At the time, Page Six confirmed the “New Heights” podcast host snapped up the $6 million mansion to give him and Swift more privacy.
The sense of security that comes with living in a gated community was reportedly a big selling point for Kelce.
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