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King’s daughter says wars, gun violence, racism have pushed humanity to the brink

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Citing gun violence in the U.S., the deaths of families in Ukraine and Gaza from war, and threats from artificial intelligence, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter said Thursday the world urgently needs to study and adopt her father’s philosophy of nonviolence to avoid self-destruction.The Rev. Bernice King used an address to announce events for the upcoming holiday in honor of her father to warn that humanity was at a critical juncture.“We are witnessing unprecedented loss of human life and especially among the Black, brown and indigenous people throughout the world,” she said. She also mentioned conflicts in Yemen, Congo and Ethiopia and cited racism against Black people as another threat to humans, saying it remained a “blight” more than 50 years after her father was assassinated. Overall, humanity was dangerously close to fulfilling her father’s prophecy that it could destroy itself through the misuse of its own instruments, she warned. Bu...

Second person dead in Chicago's 1st homicide of 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

CHICAGO — A man and a woman are dead after a double homicide that took place on the South Side Wednesday. A woman shot in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1 in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on Chicago's South Side was pronounced dead around 9 p.m. Wednesday by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. The woman, 50, had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.She joins a 53-year-old man who was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene as victims of the double-homicide. Chicago crime stats 2023: Murders, shootings down but crime still stubbornly high A 48-year-old woman was also shot in the incident and taken to the hospital in fair condition, Chicago police said at the time.Police said the shooting occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 1 near 70th St. and S. Wabash Ave. Three people were inside a home when gunfire came through the window, according to police.

Fire at Tyreek Hill's home started by child playing with cigarette lighter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom, a fire official said Thursday.“It was an accidental fire,” Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press.Taylor did not provide the age of the child, or the amount of damage caused by the fire. He said the investigation is now closed.The house is located in Southwest Ranches, which is about 30 miles northwest of Miami, and was purchased by Hill in May 2022 shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs traded him to the Dolphins.Miami television station WSVN showed a large amount of black smoke coming from the roof as firefighters doused the house with water. Firefighters appeared to be working on the highest parts of the structure. Many of the bedrooms, a home theatre and a den were among the rooms upstairs, according to the property listing.Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told reporters gathe...

Talent blooms during pandemic, now artist work showcases African roots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — It was three years ago during the heart of the pandemic that a Skokie man uncovered a hidden gift.With a charcoal pencil in hand, surrounded by a gallery of his own work, John Wangendo is still getting used to his new title."I never thought in a million years that I'd be an artist,” he said. "I've never drawn since I was ten years old but I always knew I loved to draw"When he left his homeland of Kenya for the U.S. 25 years ago, that piece of him was left behind, forgotten until covid changed everything."And then pandemic came and my work load went low," he said.Stuck at home, it was his daughter who encouraged her dad to do something he loved. And so he picked up a pencil and began to sketch. The more he sketched, the more his drawings brought him back to his African roots. More: Pandemic sparks Skokie man’s mission back to art by educating about his heritage Fast forward three years later, Wangendo has had showings at multiple exhibitions along with offers from pr...

'Thank you for revitalizing my hope in humanity': Man rescued from truck days after crash posts emotional update

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Matt Reum, the man who survived a crash along Interstate 94 that left him trapped inside his vehicle for nearly a week over Christmas continues to improve.Reum, 27, of Mishawaka, Indiana survived six days on rainwater prior to being rescued from a mangled truck, according to Indiana State Police.ReumMemorial Hospital in South Bend issued a statement on Thursday that said his condition has been upgraded to fair and he has been moved to inpatient rehabilitation at the hospital. Related: ‘This guy’s will to live is second to none.’ Emergency responders detail miraculous rescue of trapped driver Reum also posted two videos on his Facebook page expressing gratitude for the support he has received from across the country."You guys have made what was and is a tragedy for me — I lost my leg, I have an above the knee amputation now. I've got an ankle that's broken. I've got a hand that's broken," he said. "You guys have made something that would be so har...

37th Annual Young Playwrights Festival Giving Voices To Teen Writers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

The 37th Annual Young Playwrights Festival has started today - a citywide competition that gives voices to teens crafting one-act plays. Joining us now is Ilesa Duncan - Executive Director at Pegasus Theatre Chicago, and Alexander Loaiza - one of the four young playwrights chosen this year.Peagasus Theatre Chicago765 N AberdeenJanuary 4 - 27PegasusTheatreChicago.orgTwitter @pegagsusThtrChiFacebook Pegasus ChicagoSpotlight Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m

Cold rain overnight, then sunshine returns this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An active weather pattern continues with cold, light rain likely overnight, then another rain-making storm system on Monday. Fortunately, weekend plans between the storm systems look mild and sunny.Drizzle and light rain showers develop across the area this evening, then continue on-and-off overnight. This round of rain appears lighter than the last, with generally under 0.25" rain totals expected.Widespread light rain expected Thursday night into early Friday morningGenerally light rainfall accumulations expected by Friday morningAreas of dense fog and lingering rain showers clear by mid-morning Friday, with mild sunshine in the forecast Friday afternoon through the weekend. Outdoor plans look gorgeous!Another storm system dives into Texas early next week, bringing a chance of rain and thunderstorms on Monday, then colder, windy weather behind it. While the storm is still several days out, there is currently a low threat of severe thunderstorms locally on Monday. S...

Hays County hand-delivering jury summonses for upcoming trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Thursday, Hays County said it is hand-delivering jury summonses to prospective jurors for an upcoming trial happening Jan. 8, the district said in a news release.Hays County District Clerk Avrey Anderson Sr. said in the release more than 6,000 jury notices were affected "throughout multiple county offices" due to an error by a Hays County vendor. Those jury summonses have since been printed and given to county constables. They will then hand-deliver the documents to those prospective jurors, according to Hays County."It's an unfortunate situation due to the important nature of the cases that are currently on the dockets," Anderson Sr. said. For anyone who has received a notice on their door or mailbox, the county said that is an official summons from the Hays County District Clerk.Anderson Sr. said if the issue is not resolved by the end of this week, the county will "continue to seek alternative methods" to serve jury summons.

Temperatures, rain, severe storms: Tracking Austin's 2024 weather by the numbers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — When it comes to the weather, there are a lot of numbers to keep track of: highs, lows and rainfall totals to name just a few.KXAN has created the charts and graphics below to help you keep track of whatever weather 2024 brings.For more weather data, click here to see Austin's heat and cold records or click here to see Austin's rain and snow records. You can also see records for each month here. And click here to see weather data from 2023.TemperaturesAustin's high temperature in 2023 was 110°, on Aug. 17. The low temperature for the year was 29°, set on both Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Here's how 2024 is shaping up:The chart below shows the high temperature recorded in Austin each day in 2024.Here's a look at how high temperatures each day compare to normal. If a day is colored red, it was hotter than average. If blue, it was colder than average.Here’s where we’re keeping track of tempe...

On St. Paul’s Snelling Avenue, 34 trees to be removed next week from St. Clair to Grand avenues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:28 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will temporarily close some Snelling Avenue travel lanes in both directions next week as it removes 34 trees between St. Clair and Grand avenues in St. Paul. The tree removal will run from Monday through Friday, Jan. 12.The trees are being taken out to make room for road improvements next spring and summer, or because construction impacts to their root system will make it unlikely they’ll survive long-term, or they’re diseased or in poor condition, according to MnDOT. Snelling Avenue is a state highway — Minnesota 51 — in St. Paul.State officials said they will reseed the area after construction and plant new boulevard trees in 2025.Work next season will include resurfacing the half-mile of Snelling Avenue between St. Clair and Grand avenues, replacing the signal system at Snelling and St. Clair and building bump-outs and ADA-compliant crossings at all intersections between St. Clair and Grand avenues.Construction, w...