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WATCH LIVE | Chicago weather: Rain, Canadian wildfires, warmer temps ahead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

As we look ahead to the rest of this week and next, these are the weather headlines we're watching:Showers coverage to increase Tuesday afternoon and evening but unlikely to make a dent in the on-going drought. Canadian wildfire smoke aloft looks to return to Chicago skies later Wednesday and more showers in the forecast over Father's Day weekend. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here And a warmer weather pattern is set to descend next week as temps may flirt with 90 degrees on the back half.CLOUDS AND SHOWERS TO INCREASEA cut off low slowed by its entanglement in an upper level blocking pattern is set to sweep backside clouds and showers into the area. This will increase areal coverage across the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon and evening, then thin out again.CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE TO RETURN LATER WEDNESDAYFires continue to burn across Canada with their smoke plume evident on GOES weather satellite imagery. The retreat of smoke from area skies has been the product of ...

Southwest Airlines offering 40% off flights if you book by Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

Southwest Airlines is offering 40% off base fares for flights booked before Thursday for travel this fall.It's part of the airline's big birthday sale as it celebrates its 52nd year in business this week. 5 places to travel without a passport this summer The flights must be booked between now and 11:59 p.m. PST Thursday.According to Southwest, the flights have to be booked for travel between Aug. 15 and Dec. 14. The promo can't be used for travel between Nov.16-27.To get the discount, use the promo code 40OFF when you book.

Patrick Sharp gets a new job in the NHL

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the members of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup champions in the 2010s is taking his next step in hockey with another organization. This time, Patrick Sharp is joining a front office. The former player and broadcaster for the Blackhawks is being hired by the Philadelphia Flyers as a special advisor to hockey operations. He'll start the job immediately and will report to their general manager Daniel Briere, with his focus being on the development of prospects in the Flyers organization. It's a return to Sharp's pro hockey roots as he was selected by the Flyers in the third round of the 2001 NHL Draft and played for the Flyers for two-and-a-half seasons before being traded to the Blackhawks in December 2005."In adding Patrick Sharp to our group, we are gaining an individual who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to building an environment of winning at all levels," said Philadelphia president of hockey operations Keith Jones in a release from the team. "Patrick knows ...

Texas governor signs major patient safety bill into law, sparked by KXAN investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson and Republican Sen. Bob Hall hold HB 1998. (Courtesy Rep. Julie Johnson)Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 13, 2023. Watch Matt Grant's investigation tonight on KXAN.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott signed a major patient safety bill into law Tuesday, capping a bipartisan achievement that will reform the Texas Medical Board, protect patients from potentially dangerous doctors and, supporters say, save lives. "This bill will absolutely save lives," said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, who introduced HB 1998 in direct response to KXAN's "Still Practicing" investigations. "I'm thrilled we got this passed." READ THE BILL: HB 1998 was sparked by KXAN. Advocates say it will save lives. The new law addresses problems KXAN first uncovered. Five years after the infamous Texas surgeon, nicknamed "Dr. Death," was sentenced to life in prison, we wanted to see if anything in the state had changed. Our investigation...

Gov. Abbott signs bill eliminating mandatory vehicle inspections in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN coverage after the Texas vehicle inspection bill passed the Texas House and Senate.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed a bill that will eliminate the annual vehicle inspection requirement for most vehicles in Texas. Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 3297 earlier this month, eliminating the inspections for vehicles in all but 17 Texas counties. DETAILS: Texas passes bill eliminating mandatory vehicle inspections Texans living in the most-populated counties will still have to appear annually for an emissions test. The 17 counties that require emissions inspections include those surrounding the major metro areas, other than San Antonio: Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, Galveston, Williamson, Travis, Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, Johnson, Parker, and El Paso.In 2025, vehicle safety inspections will be replaced by an annual $7.50 fee — the same as the current inspection fee, but witho...

Travis County flies LGBTQ+ Pride flag for third consecutive year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — County commissioners voted Tuesday to officially recognize June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and they gathered to raise the rainbow flag for a third time outside the Travis County building in downtown Austin. The proclamation they approved reads, "Travis County recognizes the critical need for education and awareness to end discrimination and prejudice against the LGBTQIA+ community, and is committed to supporting dignity and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community." Report: 1/5 of 2023 anti-LGBTQ+ legislation filed in US was in Texas At the flag-raising event, Travis County Judge Andy Brown told the crowd, "At a time when our LGBTQIA+ community, our trans kids community, their families are being attacked for being their authentic selves, we hope this flag serves as a reminder and a sign of hope that you are welcome, that everybody's welcome here in Travis County. You are valued, and you will be supported in Travis County."This recognition comes after state la...

'It's a game changer': ATCEMS' water response times down to 3 minutes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS' new pilot program on local lakes has dramatically cut down response times out on the water. "17 minutes, 17 and a half minutes down to three to four minutes. We've already seen just a fantastic improvement in our response times," ATCEMS Assistant Chief of EMS Operations Michael Wright said. NEXT: EMS’ new pilot program speeds up water rescues on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake Wright said ATCEMS medics are out on the water alongside Austin Police Department patrol boats on Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. "Instead of just waiting on the ground transport to get there and specialized resources, we can put them right on the water," Wright said. "They're there within minutes."Wright said a major benefit to this program is that it helps keep ground transport units available for other calls. "We are actually adding resources back into the system, because otherwise those resources would be tied up for hours," Wright said. "But instead, they're not 9...

Campfires banned in Boundary Waters as fire danger grows with drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

DULUTH — Fires are banned in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness starting Wednesday as a drought continues to spread across the Northland with little rainfall since April.The Superior National Forest is banning fires in the wilderness and limiting all other fires, including campfires and charcoal grills, to designated developed areas with fire rings, such as drive-to public and private campgrounds and resorts and private homes and cabins. Gas and propane stoves are still allowed in all areas.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis, Cook, Carlton and Lake counties, and the Bois Forte, Grand Portage and Fond du Lac bands of Lake Superior Chippewa are also enacting campfire restrictions at the same time. The DNR also noted that fireworks are banned on all public and private property outside of city limits and that no burning permits will be issued in the affected areas.Fires also are banned across much of Northwestern Ontario, including the Quetico wilderness are...

Class 4A state baseball quarterfinal: East Ridge 9, Lakeville South 1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

East Ridge didn’t exactly knock the cover off the ball on Tuesday, but the at-bats were good. That was more than enough for the Raptors, who advanced to the Class 4A state baseball semifinals with a 9-1 victory over Lakeville South at CHS Field.The second-seeded Raptors (18-8) advanced to play the winner of the 1 p.m. between Mounds View and No. 3 seed Minnetonka on Wednesday at CHS.Left-hander Max Arlich scattered three hits, struck out six and gave up just one run in four innings to earn the victory, and Joseph Gizzi added three innings of scoreless relief, ending the game with his unassisted fielding play.“I thought we did exactly what we needed to do in this type of game,” Raptors junior left-hander Max Alrich said. “They weren’t giving us any strikes, so we got the at-bats that we needed to do and put me in a great position to just get some innings.”East Ridge chased Lakeville South starter Tate Marland after three outs and 11 batters, but it wasn’t because they were hitting th...

Chef Sean Sherman to recieve 2023 Julia Child Award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:05 GMT

Chef Sean Sherman, co-owner of Owamni and founder of North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS), is the recipient of the 2023 Julia Child Award.The award is accompanied by a $50,000 grant from the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, which will go to NATIFS and to support the newly opened Indigenous Food Lab, a professional kitchen and training center newly opened in Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. Indigenous Food Lab’s mission is to expand access to Indigenous food.Sherman will be formally presented with the award Oct. 24 in a gala to be held in Minneapolis. Proceeds from that event will support care and preservation of Julia Child’s kitchen and the Smithsonian Food History Project at the National Museum of American History.“Sean Sherman continues to dedicate his career to preserving Native American cuisine and creating a holistic, open-sourced system where others can expand on his work,” Eric W. Spivey, chairman of The Julia Child Fou...