The Chicago City Council has agreed to raise its tourist tax in an effort to grow traveler marketing programs.

The vote on Ordinance 2026-0022544 will raise the tax on hotel rooms within that district to 19% from the rate of 17.5% — which includes a combined city, county and state tax, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

The increase will be applied to hotel stays at properties in the downtown and surrounding areas that contain over 100 rooms.

LAS VEGAS TOURISM PLUMMETS AS OFFICIALS CONSIDER $6M PLAN TO WIN BACK CANADIAN VISITORS

The increase will apply to room rates at hotels with 100 or more rooms that agree to opt in.

The city council also passed the formation of the Tourism Improvement District (TID) — which will fund Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organization.

Revenue will be used for city marketing campaigns and to cover bid fees for conventions and major events.

Chicago is already targeting the Democratic National Convention, which requires a $1 million bid. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The Windy City previously hosted the DNC in August 2024.

Earlier this month, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) advanced bids from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia.

Its advisory board is considering several factors, the DNC said — including a “commitment to selecting a city that shares Democratic values.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a press release after the City Council’s vote, praising the decision.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

“Chicago is a premier city for tourism, business travelers, conventions and large-scale events,” said Johnson.

“My administration will continue our collaboration with Choose Chicago, as we continue to build up Chicago’s tourism and hospitality industry while leveraging economic growth and development to continue building safe and affordable communities across our city,” he added.

Choose Chicago president and CEO Kristen Reynolds said in a press release that this marks a “transformative moment” for the city.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“With the TID in place, we now have the enhanced resources to match the ambition and vibrancy of our city,” said Reynolds.

She added, “This investment will allow us to amplify our marketing efforts, attract more conventions and events and ultimately deliver significant benefits to Chicago’s economy and communities.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Guy Chipparoni, chair of the Choose Chicago board of directors, said in a statement, “It sends a message to our competing cities that when it comes to attracting visitors, Chicago means business.”

Reacting on social media to the news about the tax hike, one person wrote, “19% tax on a hotel room, making it the highest in the nation. Vacations can get pricey, especially for a family. How would this help tourism?”

Another X user wrote, “Democrats in Chicago will even dream up a breath tax. It’s not far away.”

A juror in the murder trial of Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins is speaking out for the first time, describing how the panel went from early sympathy to a unanimous guilty verdict in the fentanyl poisoning death of her husband.

Richins, 35, now faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison after the jury found her guilty on all counts. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 13 at 9:30 a.m. MST.

In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” juror Laura said her initial impression of Richins shifted dramatically as the trial unfolded.

“The first thing we hear is these terrible things about her … and she’s just sitting there like all by herself,” Laura said. “At first, I was thinking … that Kouri was definitely feeling trapped.”

UTAH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS SAYS STATE THREATENED WITNESSES AHEAD OF TRIAL IN HUSBAND’S POISONING

That changed once prosecutors presented forensic evidence.

“I was blown out of the water,” she said, pointing to cellphone data that helped jurors track movements tied to alleged drug purchases.

“We all led to the same conclusion, that she was guilty.”

SUSPECTED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN’S LAWYER POUNCES ON WITNESS FLIP IN UTAH POISON MOM CASE

Rather than taking an immediate vote, jurors held a roundtable discussion to talk through the evidence and their reactions.

“People were really sad, because they did not want to find her guilty… and it was really heartbreaking,” Laura said.

Laura also described Richins as largely emotionless during the trial, saying she appeared “like a statue” and showed little reaction — even when the verdict was read.

UTAH MOM IN UPSCALE SKI COMMUNITY KILLED HUSBAND TO FUND ROMANCE AND LAVISH LIFESTYLE, DA SAYS

As Richins awaits sentencing, growing attention is also focusing on her mother, Lisa Darden, amid new court filings and past allegations referenced by investigators.

Defense attorneys have made multiple attempts to have counsel appointed for Darden — an unusual move that suggests she could face potential legal exposure if called to testify.

Richins’ former attorney, Skye Lazaro, told Fox News Digital the defense initially filed a motion requesting the court appoint counsel for Darden, but the state objected. Both the defense request and the prosecution’s objection remain sealed by the court.

CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS SAYS SCANDAL AND NOTORIETY POISONED HER MURDER TRIAL

According to Lazaro, the defense renewed that effort in December, and portions of the filing were made public.

“It is my understanding from what was made public they asked for her to be appointed counsel to protect her constitutional rights,” Lazaro said, adding that the defense also sought court-appointed attorneys for several other potential witnesses.

The filings suggest Darden could be a key witness, though the exact scope of her potential testimony remains unclear.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

Defense attorneys Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.

But this isn’t the first time Darden has drawn scrutiny.

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

In a May 2023 search warrant affidavit, a Summit County Sheriff’s Office detective wrote that Darden may have been “involved in planning and orchestrating Eric’s death,” citing her proximity to a separate, earlier death.

According to the affidavit, Darden was living with a romantic partner in 2006 when the woman died unexpectedly. An autopsy determined the cause of death was oxycodone toxicity.

SEND US A TIP HERE

The detective noted Darden had recently been named the beneficiary of her partner’s estate and wrote that, based on his training and experience, the circumstances would “likely rule out the possibility of an accidental overdose.”

The affidavit further stated that, given Darden’s “proximity to her partner’s suspicious overdose death” and her close relationship with her daughter, “it is possible she was involved in planning and orchestrating Eric’s death.”

LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST

Lazaro pushed back on that characterization, telling Fox News Digital previously that the earlier death was consistent with the broader opioid crisis.

“[She] was one of the millions that suffered from, and ultimately succumbed to, opioid addiction,” Lazaro said. “It is tragic, and unfortunately, quite common.”

Darden could not immediately be reached for comment.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

Prosecutors alleged Richins killed her husband in March 2022 by lacing a drink with fentanyl in a bid to collect millions in life insurance and gain control of the couple’s finances.

The case drew national attention in part because Richins later authored a children’s book about grief titled “Are You With Me?” for her three sons.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A medical examiner found Eric Richins had more than five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system.

Richins denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

Delhi-NCR remained cloudy since morning and by evening there was light to moderate rain at many places along with thunder and lightning. There has been fresh snowfall in the high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, due to which the cold has increased further. Its effect is visible in the plains also.

Alert of rain and hailstorm with thunder in the next 48 hours
According to the Meteorological Department, during the next 24 to 48 hours, a strong western disturbance will be active over the mountains, due to which the weather will be bad in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. During this time, winds will blow at a speed of 30 to 50 kilometers per hour and there will be rain and snowfall along with thunder. Here, due to the effect of disturbance, the movement of clouds continues across North India.

On March 20, there is a danger of lightning due to strong dust storm, rain and hailstorm in some parts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. There is a possibility of widespread damage to the Rabi crop due to bad weather. On Friday, an alert of thunderstorm and heavy rain has been issued at many places in the northeastern states of Odisha, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. According to the department, due to the active western disturbance, rain and strong winds will continue in many parts of North-West and Central India.

Cold returns in Jammu, mercury drops by 3 to 5 degrees in Rajasthan
The weather has completely changed in Jammu and Kashmir. The effect of strong western disturbance has intensified, due to which rain and snowfall continues in most parts of the valley. The cold phase has returned due to falling temperature. On the other hand, in Rajasthan, there is a possibility of thunderstorm and rain in some parts of Jaipur, Bharatpur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur, Shekhawati and Kota divisions in the next 2 days. Due to the effect of changed weather in the state, the maximum temperature has dropped by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Rain and snowfall will continue in Uttarakhand and Himachal
For the time being, rain and snowfall will continue in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Heavy rain and snowfall is expected at some places in Lahaul-Spiti, Kukumseri, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Chamba and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.

other videos

Prashant Tamang’s demise became a big reason
A source associated with the film told India Today that ‘Indian Idol 3’ winner Prashant Tamang was going to play the main villain in ‘Mathrubhoomi’. He had also shot many important scenes.

However, at the time of his death in January, some important scenes were still to be shot. The team had some fixed schedules in which Prashant had to shoot some very important scenes. But due to his demise, the film team is now facing problems.

Although the makers had earlier considered re-shooting Prashant’s scenes, it does not seem possible at the moment. The source said that close-up shots could be taken, but he was also a part of many action scenes. This would not only be economically impractical, but would also be a major challenge from a systemic point of view.

The film may be released on Independence Day
Apart from this, Salman Khan’s availability for dates and the continuity of his look are also increasing the challenges. Due to this the situation is becoming even more difficult for the team. At one point, he was even considering hiring another actor to play Prashant’s role or superimposing Prashant’s face in the remaining scenes through artificial intelligence and VFX.

However, for this, the consent of his family will be necessary. The source said that a decision will be taken by the end of this month as the shooting of the film is completed and post-production has started. At present, the team has not decided on the release date. But considering the theme of the film, it can be targeted to release it on Independence Day.

The government has said it will directly fund the clear-up of 48,000 tonnes of waste at illegal tips in the north of England, following criticism of a north-south divide on tackling waste crime.

Sky News had highlighted how locals in Bickershaw, near Wigan – whose homes have been infested with rats because of the waste – said they felt abandoned by the Environment Agency.

That followed the government setting aside £9m for clearing up a similar-sized waste site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

The decision to clear waste from sites in Wigan, Sheffield and Lancashire is part of a major raft of measures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.

It describes the plans as its “toughest ever crackdown” on waste criminals.

“Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This action plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences,” said Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds.

The 10-point plan unveiled by the Environment Agency includes plans for faster intelligence handling, a more consistent and quicker response to dumping reports, and naming and shaming operators involved.

Sky News was given exclusive access to a new drone squad – part of the latest measures – which are equipped with lasers, thermal imaging and cameras to help gather evidence and spot illegal waste dumps.

James Burton is one of the 33 new pilots. He said: “It can be used very effectively for evidence gathering, the photographs we can take from the sky, it paints the picture of the significant level of impact this has had on the countryside and it enables us to better sell the story to a jury and the judge.”

Steve Molyneux, the Environment Agency director of environment and business, said the agency is committed to tackling organised criminals behind waste crime.

He said: “My message to the criminals is we’ll be working with our partners at the police, HMRC and local authorities and we’ll all be bearing down and coming after you.”

He also said officials want to get to sites sooner, before dumping gets out of hand: “As soon as we’re in there, we can use things like restriction orders to stop activity virtually immediately on site, so the more we can work with people to get that early detection the more we can work on prevention.”

Read more:
Essex Police pauses use of live facial recognition cameras
Website fined for failing to protect children from seeing pornography

Earlier this week, DEFRA announced plans to create so-called “clean-up squads” – with fly-tippers given conditional cautions by local authorities, making them clear up waste unpaid for up to 20 hours.

It also revealed that EA officers will be given new police-style plans to intervene earlier and seized assets and search premises without a warrant.

Reacting to the announcements, Baroness Sheehan, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee said she welcomed the measures but that the devil is in the detail: “As our initial inquiry found, the Environment Agency has had sufficient powers in the past to stop the illegal dumping of waste across the country but has failed to use them.

“The apparent additional enforcement powers and budget afforded to them today means it is time for them to step up to the plate.

“The Committee looks forward to questioning Philip Duffy, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, next week about how he plans to deliver effective regulation and enforcement.”

British reality TV personality Jordan Wright, who starred on ITV’s “The Only Way Is Essex,” has died. He was 33.

A spokesperson for ITV confirmed Wright’s death to Fox News Digital on Thursday.

“Everyone at TOWIE sends their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jordan Wright at this very sad time,” the network said in a statement.

‘REAL HOUSEWIVES’ STAR’S SON DEAD AT 23

Wright was found dead in a drainage canal near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket, Thailand, on March 14, according to local reports, per Deadline.

Local Thai police said a worker discovered Wright’s body face down in still water. According to reports, a hotel key was found in his pocket.

Authorities said there were no immediate signs of foul play and an autopsy is underway to determine his cause of death.

Police Lt. Col. Sutthirak Chuthong of the Choeng Thale Police Station told the Daily Mail that Wright had been staying at a nearby hotel and was due to check out shortly before he was found. Chuthong said staff reportedly became concerned after he failed to check out as scheduled.

JAMES VAN DER BEEK’S VIRAL MESSAGE ABOUT FAITH, CANCER BATTLE INSPIRES VIEWERS AFTER ACTOR’S DEATH AT AGE 48

“The guest was identified as Mr Jordan Wright, a British national, whom the hotel had been unable to contact,” Chuthong said in a statement. “A search of the room revealed no signs of forced entry or other irregularities.” 

“Hotel records showed that he had checked in alone and was due to check out on March 13, but staff reported that he never checked out,” the police chief continued. “CCTV footage showed that he appeared restless and was moving back and forth in front of the hotel before leaving the area.”

“His movements eventually led to the location where his body was later discovered,” Chuthong added. “We are still waiting for the autopsy results from Vachira Phuket Hospital to determine whether drugs were present in his system.”

Chuthong also told the Daily Mail that investigators believe Wright had been dead for less than two days before his body was discovered.

AMERICAN TOURIST KILLED IN THAILAND AS LOVE TRIANGLE TURNS DEADLY DURING VIOLENT CONFRONTATION: POLICE

“The case remains under investigation while we wait for the official autopsy results. CCTV footage related to the incident is part of the case file and cannot be released at this stage,” he said “We cannot confirm the exact cause of death until the autopsy results are released. If relatives or friends have concerns about the cause of death, they can contact the police station.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Royal Thai Police for comment. 

Wright made his reality TV debut when he joined the cast of the MTV dating show “Ex on the Beach” for its seventh season in 2017. The following year, he went on to star in ITV’s long-running reality series “The Only Way Is Essex,” which follows the personal and professional lives of a group of young people living in Essex, England. 

According to the Daily Mail, Wright left the show after one season to return to his job as a firefighter. In Instagram posts shared prior to his death, Wright indicated that he had recently moved to Thailand.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

 In his final Instagram post on March 6, Wright shared photos and videos of himself relaxing in an infinity pool while drinking a glass of wine, scuba diving, riding a motorbike and exploring Thailand. He captioned the post, “I’m Home” alongside a Thai flag emoji. 

Following Wright’s death, fellow reality TV stars and friends paid tribute to him in the comments section of his final post.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“Rest in Peace,” “TOWIE” star Chloe Brockett wrote, alongside a heart emoji. 

APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST 

“Rest in peace Jord,” “Love Island” alum Chloe Crowhurst commented, adding emojis of a white heart and a cloud.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Rykard Jenkins, who also starred on “Love Island,” shared prayer hands and a heart emoji.

“Lost for words bro. Amazing memories with you mate. Rest easy brother,” influencer Brandon P Myers wrote, while DJ Saffron Stone left a string of red heart emojis. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy bashed Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom over an unfinished wildlife crossing bridge in the Golden State that is running $21 million over budget.

Duffy shared a post from the X account End Wokeness showing video of the unfinished project stretching across 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway in Southern California. The video shows the incomplete bridge, which is intended to provide safe passage for animals such as cougars to cross over the highway.

“Bridges to nowhere. Trains to nowhere. Leave the building to us @GavinNewsom,” Duffy wrote on X.

Construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing (WAWC) was supposed to be wrapped up by 2025, with the total cost of the project estimated at $92 million. That cost estimate has since jumped to $114 million. A press release from the governor’s office states the project should be completed by fall 2026.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER IN FATAL CALIFORNIA CRASH SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAD LICENSE: DOT REPORT

At the groundbreaking ceremony held in April 2022, Newsom pledged $54 million of state funding to build the crossing and later added another $10 million. However, in February, the California Transportation Commission announced it was allocating an additional $18.8 million to complete construction.

Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation, the namesake of the bridge, provided $25 million for its construction in 2021. Beth Pratt, director of the National Wildlife Federation and part of the leadership team overseeing the project, attributed delays in the project’s construction to rising costs in a video posted to X.

Pratt said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the crossing project “experienced significant increases in costs” related to “tariffs, inflation and other factors” that were responsible for delayed construction.

MARYLAND BRIDGE REBUILD COSTS SOAR TO $5.2B, MORE THAN DOUBLE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OFFICIALS PROVIDED

She added that these increased costs were consistent with other construction projects, citing the FHWA National Highway Construction Cost Index, which shows highway construction costs have increased by 67% since 2021. Pratt said the project team took steps to reduce costs as part of a “rigorous redesign process” funded by private donations, not public funds.

Newsom’s press office rejected criticism of the project’s ballooning costs, also pointing to tariffs from the Trump administration as the culprit.

“The cost estimate held until last year when inflation — in part driven by TRUMP’s TARIFFS — increased construction costs. The increase is vastly LOWER than the 67% national average increase in highway construction costs,” Newsom’s team wrote on X.

The governor also said the delay was due to “severe weather.”

“The timeline shifted by just ONE YEAR largely due to severe weather last year — five years of work is far from a ‘boondoggle,” Newsom’s press office wrote on X.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Heightened attention on the construction of the wildlife crossing bridge comes as the state faces continued scrutiny over other failed projects. Last year, the Department of Transportation canceled $4 billion in federal funding after the state spent $15 billion in funding for high-speed rail construction projects despite never laying a single track.

Newsom, a 2028 presidential prospect, is also having to navigate a projected $2.9 billion budget deficit for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

Democrats are facing a reckoning after casting César Chavez as a near-sacred figure of the American left for decades— honoring him in DNC statements, White House proclamations and annual public tributes — but that long-running celebration is now colliding with newly surfaced abuse allegations.

Allegations that a 45-year-old Chavez sexually abused and groomed minors and adults, including one girl who was as young as 13 at the time of the abuse and another who became pregnant twice following their encounters, broke earlier this week after the New York Times published allegations from Chavez’s victims who largely remained silent for decades. 

After the news, the labor union César Chavez helped found, United Farm Workers, called the allegations “profoundly shocking” and decided to cancel its upcoming annual celebrations honoring him. Meanwhile, the César Chavez Foundation opted to do the same, describing the allegations as “disturbing” and noting they were “deeply shocked and saddened.” 

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY CANCELED BY UNIONS AFTER ‘TROUBLING’ SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

In 2010, President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation declaring March 31 César Chavez Day. You would have to go back to Bill Clinton, before César Chavez Day even existed, to find a Democratic Party president who did not honor him during the month of March. Obama began the tradition in 2009, issuing an official White House statement explicitly commemorating “César Chavez’s birthday” and praising his legacy as a civil rights and labor leader. 

The following year, he announced the first official César Chavez Day to be held March 31 every year, and then subsequently, every year thereafter, put out a statement in honor of him. The tradition was then picked up when former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

“The hypocrisy is rich, and Democrats’ praise for an abuser and rapist has-been is now exposed,” a national GOP strategist told Fox News Digital. “Any refusal to apologize or retract statements will be taken as Democrats supporting his disgusting behavior.”

After the allegations broke Wednsday, Fox News Digital reached out to a slew of Democrats, as well as the Democrat National Committee (DNC), all of whom recently professed public praise and support for Chavez.   

“A movement is about the people—not any one person—and its strength lies in the values it upholds. We can honor the farmworker movement—and the generations who sacrificed to build it—while also confronting painful truths,” said Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who touted Chavez as a “champion for justice and dignity” on César Chavez Day in 2024. “No legacy is above accountability.”

“The farm workers movement and a labor movement are much bigger than one man — and we celebrate that and that will be our focus as we process what the next steps are,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who, alongside his wife Jennifer, posted a video tribute to Chavez on March 31 of last year praising him as “a leader who fought for justice, dignity and fairness.” 

However, in light of the new allegations, a source familiar with Newsom’s thinking said the governor was open to conversations with California lawmakers about proposed statutory changes in response. 

SCALISE ACCUSES DEMOCRATS OF REVIVING ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ PUSH WITH DHS FUNDING GAMBIT

“I am keeping Dolores Huerta, Ana Murguia, and Debra Rojas in my heart, and I honor their strength and that of every woman and girl horrifically harmed by those in power,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who posted a photo of herself with the late civil rights and labor union leader last year on his March 31 day of remembrance instituted by Obama. 

“The sickening reality is that what Dolores, Ana, and Debra endured is not isolated, nor is it of the past. Real progress requires more than moments of reckoning – it demands sustained action to dismantle social, cultural, economic, and political structures that have hurt women throughout our history,” Bass continued.  “Dolores and leaders like her inspired so many of us to activism. Mr. Chavez’s crimes do not diminish the courage of farm workers and workers everywhere who fight for their rights, equality for Latinos, and a stronger nation for everyone.”

On Thursday, Bass signed a proclamation of her own to rename César Chavez Day to “Farm Workers Day.” Meanwhile, Colorado Democrat Gov. Jared Polis, who also praised the activist on March 31 last year, said his state would not be celebrating the honorary holiday for Chavez “this year.” 

“Nor does he plan to direct state agencies to take action to celebrate Cesar Chavez in light of these heinous allegations,” a Polis spokesperson added. “Further, he would encourage the legislature to consider drafting legislation to change the optional state holiday, which is in law.”  

Other Democrats scrambled to put out statements after news of the accusations broke, with many mirroring the language from top Democrats that the movement Chavez helped create is bigger than just him. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The allegations against Chavez remained out of the public’s eye for many years, although, per the New York Times, there were earlier signs. According to their reporting, the victims they spoke to were not only embarrassed but also scared of tarnishing the reputation of someone so important to so many others and to the labor union and civil rights movements.

On Wednesday afternoon, Republican Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, said that Texas will no longer be observing César Chavez Day on March 31, and that he was instructing all state agencies to comply. The Texas governor added that he plans to work in the upcoming legislative session to remove the day of remembrance from state law completely.

“Reports of the horrific and widely acknowledged sexual assault allegations against Cesar Chavez rightfully dismantle the myth of this progressive hero and undermine the narrative that elevated Chavez as a figure worthy of official state celebration,” Abbot said. 

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been linked to two luxury apartments overlooking the Israeli Embassy in London, a location that security experts said could provide “permanent surveillance,” according to multiple reports.

The multimillion-dollar Kensington properties sit next to the high-profile embassy compound and were identified by UK media, drawing on findings from a yearlong probe into Khamenei’s potential overseas assets.

The Times of London reported on March 5 that the one building “sits next to the Israeli Embassy on Palace Green,” placing the residences in exceptional proximity to one of Israel’s most sensitive diplomatic sites.

LETHAL ELITE ‘BLACK-CLAD’ KILL SQUAD GUARDS IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER MOJTABA KHAMENEI

The revelations stem from a Bloomberg investigation that alleged that the Khamenei portfolio could span multiple countries and include high-value real estate in London, totaling around $138M as well as assets in Europe and the Gulf.

The two London apartments were reportedly acquired in 2014 and 2016 via intermediaries and occupy upper floors of the building, offering a direct vantage point toward the rear of the Israeli embassy compound, UK media reported.

A terrorism specialist quoted in reports said the positioning effectively means “Iran owns the view into the back of the Israeli Embassy from less than 50 meters away,” describing the situation as a potential “serious security breach.”

US OFFERS $10M REWARD FOR INFO ON IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER, TOP IRGC OFFICIALS

Roger Macmillan, a former director of security at the Iranian dissident satellite channel Iran International, also said the two apartments had “a direct line of sight, held through Mojtaba Khamenei. That’s not a property portfolio — it’s a permanent surveillance platform.”

“This is a serious security breach,” he added.

Further details from Bloomberg’s investigation indicated that a businessman acted as a financial conduit, buying up high-end properties on Khamenei’s behalf and channeling funds through a network of investments.

TRUMP SAYS HE’S ‘NOT HAPPY’ WITH IRAN’S CHOICE OF NEW SUPREME LEADER

The investigation also found that 11 mansions on London’s “Billionaire’s Row” were purchased using an Isle of Man shell company.

The Financial Times has also similarly reported on links between Khamenei’s associates and luxury assets across Europe.

Khamenei, 56, has been viewed as a powerful figure within Iran’s ruling establishment, ultimately becoming the leading successor to his father, who was killed in a Tehran compound strike on Feb. 28. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

So far, since he was selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, he has not been seen in public.