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WATCH: Gov. DeSantis speaks at Peoria Civic Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)-- Watch a live stream on Gov. Ron DeSantis' remarks at the Peoria Civic Center during the Peoria and Tazewell County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Protesters gather ahead of DeSantis Lincoln Day Dinner speech

Former classmates, teachers honor CPD officer Aréanah Preston with vigil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

CHICAGO -- Former classmates and teacher's gathered for fallen Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston at UIC College Prep Friday.The memory of 24-year-old Aréanah Preston was honored on Chicago's near Southwest side Friday. Balloon's released to the heavens as friends and loved ones console one another.   Those who knew Preston filled with sorrow and loss.Preston was set to graduate with a master’s degree in Law from Loyola University Chicago on Saturday, May 13 — with dreams one day of joining the FBI to further a career investigating sex crimes, according to Loyola Law Professor Sara Block. Loyola University Chicago will posthumously confer Preston’s Master’s degree with her mother, Dionne Mhoon, accepting the degree on her behalf.Hundreds also joined Preston's family and friends at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood Thursday evening.Visitation set for Tuesday, May 16 at the Blake Lamb Funeral Home. Public view...

How Jose Abreu feels as he returns to Chicago with the Astros

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

CHICAGO — It's safe to say that this will be one of the more unique series in the four-time All-Star and former American League MVP's career. For the first time in Jose Abreu's time in Major League Baseball, he'll be on the opposing team at Guaranteed Rate Field. The first baseman wasn't shy about saying how unusual it was when stepping into the opposing dugout on Friday."It's weird," said Abreu through a translator when asked about his emotions about returning to Chicago with the Astros after nine years with the White Sox. "But it's what I have to go through right now and, like I said, I've got a lot of respect for the White Sox organization, and just something I need to deal with right now."That could take a bit since Abreu was arguably the face of the franchise for the majority of his time with the club. He was an All-Star and American League Rookie of the Year in 2014 then added two more All-Star appearances in 2018 and 2019. In the shortened 2020 campaign, he was named the Amer...

Tesla owners sue over battery software update impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

(The Hill) – Several Tesla owners filed a class action lawsuit against the electric car company on Friday, alleging that its automatic software updates have depleted their cars’ batteries or rendered them inoperable.The owners of the Tesla Model S and Model X cars claim that the software updates have occurred “without warning” and reduced the driving range of the cars by at least 20 percent. In some cases, the batteries became completely unusable, the lawsuit alleges. Some Tesla owners spent between $500 and $750 to reverse the update, while others needed to purchase a new battery for up to $15,000, according to the claim. Starbucks rolls out $1 charge for certain orders, causing confusion “When car owners purchase their vehicles, they reasonably expect that unforeseen events — like weather, accidents, or flat tires — may impact the performance of their vehicles and lead to costly repairs,” the lawsuit said. “But no reasonable consumer would expect that the car manufactu...

What washes into Austin waterways after heavy rain?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The City of Austin's Watershed Protection Department said it is looking out for pollutants and debris that may be washed into local creeks by heavy rain this weekend.Thane Turner, environmental compliance supervisor, said common pollutants his department sees after rain events include sewage, e.coli, and oil. Austin Watershed Protection prepares for weekend storm Watershed Protection field crews are prepared to stay busy the next few days, ready to clear fallen trees and branches out of culverts.Turner said his department focuses on water quality, which often assess water after the rain falls for any hazardous changes.He said locals can take steps to help limit how many contaminants run off into Austin's creeks."A large percentage of the residents of Austin have vehicles and some of those are going to be leaking. If they're leaking onto a roadway, it will quite likely wash away. And so we encourage people to just put down a little bit of piece of cardboard or a lit...

Report: Vikings trade edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to Browns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

It seems like edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is finally getting his wish.After posting a goodbye to the Vikings on social media earlier this offseason, Smith will reportedly play for the Cleveland Browns next season.In breaking news first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Vikings have agreed to trade Smith to the Browns in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Additionally, the Vikings will reportedly surrender a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.After putting up 10 sacks for the Vikings last season, Smith was on the books for $9.45 million with a $15.5 million cap hit this season. Asked about Smith earlier this offseason, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wouldn’t commit to him, instead replying, “We’re in ongoing communication with him and his representatives.”The decision to move Smith seemed like a possibility at some point considering the Vikings signed ...

Jordan Addison certainly ‘looks the part’ in first practice with Vikings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Vikings rookie receiver Jordan Addison turned heads Friday at TCO Performance Center.His effortless movement on the practice field paved the way for crisp routes for rookie quarterbacks Jaren Hall and Logan Nelson.Heck, the artistry from the first-round draft pick even attracted head coach Kevin O’Connell, who threw him a couple of passes during the first day of rookie minicamp.“I thought Jordan had a really, really good day,” O’Connell said. ‘He looks the part, which is exactly what I expected out of him.”Oh so smooth 3️⃣ @Espn_Jordan pic.twitter.com/949DbLfUna— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 12, 2023This has been a long time coming for Addison. Ever since the Vikings drafted him with the No. 23 pick in last month’s draft. the 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver from Southern Cal has been eager to get to workNever mind that Addison impressed the Vikings in the predraft process...

New report details plan aimed to lower homicides in St. Louis region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Two organizations in the St. Louis region have joined forces with the goal to lower homicide rates. Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the Regional Business Council released a report Friday called "The Need for a Regional Strategy to Reduce Homicides." The new 32-page report suggests that violent crime affects everyone in the region. "Where we see those numbers at an unacceptably level is around homicides," said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc. "What we also found out, if you can bring homicides down, other crimes tend to go down with it." Trending Story: Kirkwood High School’s yearbook raises concerns from others The organizations called on regional officials to come together to develop a regional strategy to reduce crime. The effort comes at a time when regional leaders plan to convene in St. Louis for a regional crime summit next week. "The business community came out today in a unified front saying we have got to tackle crime I the regi...

Kayaker who lost consciousness is rescued from Clear Creek near Idaho Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

A kayaker who lost consciousness and was pulled from the hard-running waters of Clear Creek just east of Idaho Springs has been taken to a hospital.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Two men stranded in snowy Pike National Forest rescued by Air National Guard Crime and Public Safety | Six hurt, two critically, in mechanical collapse at Gaylord Rockies Resort’s pool area Crime and Public Safety | Distressed owl trapped in lacrosse netting rescued by Wheat Ridge officers Crime and Public Safety | Hikers are losing their shoes in Colorado’s high country, requiring rescues The incident unfolded about 12:10 p.m. Friday just off U.S. 6 about 2.5 miles east of Idaho Springs, according to an Idaho Springs Police Department news release.Other recreationists in the area pulled the 34-year-old Lakewood man out of the water and performed CPR as emergency responders rushed to the scene. A police patrol truck was u...

Death rate soars among L.A. County's homeless population

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:22 GMT

The mortality rate among homeless people in Los Angeles County has increased by 55% in recent years, according to the latest county public health report.In 2019, 1,289 people experiencing homelessness died. This number increased to 1,811 in 2020 and 2,201 in 2021, according to the report.The report also found that drug overdoses continue to be the leading cause of death among unhoused individuals in the county. Drug overdoses have been the leading cause of death among homeless people since 2019 and accounted for 37% of all deaths in 2020 and 2021 combined, officials said. Flesh-eating ‘zombie drug’ saturating Los Angeles streets Researchers found that overdose rates among unhoused Black and Latinx people in Los Angeles County are higher in comparison to their white counterparts. The report also said that fentanyl-related overdoses have nearly tripled since 2019 when the rate was just 20% and rose to 58% by 2021.Coronary heart disease and traffic injuries were the second and third ...