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Skilling: Cloudy, warm on Tuesday before possible showers arrive

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

Chicagoans came off the first weekend of August---a weekend which was  cooler than normal and sporadically wet in the city with drenching rains soaking southern sections of the metro area where as much as 4 to 6" of rain was reported Friday night into Saturday---into a Monday which opened cloud but saw breaks in the clouds allow patches of blue sky and some mixed sunshine by and during the afternoon. Monday will go into the books with a high of 79 and a low of 67—which average out 2.4-deg below normal. It's the 3rd consecutive day to post a daily average temp deficit.  Still. last week finished nearly a deg ABOVE NORMAL—this week is likely to post a 0.4-deg temp surplus with next week likely to approach a degree above normal. (NOTE: There has been a "cool bias" in recent official 6 to 10 and 8 to 14 day temp projections—a trend which seem likely to continue based on the latest forecasts and our in house model work).It's worth noting August's opening 7 days are off to a coo...

Southwest suburban travel agent charged with identity and felony theft after alleged travel scams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

A Southwest suburban travel agent is headed back to court Tuesday after she was arrested this weekend.52-year-old Maysoon Nasir is charged with two counts of identity theft, four counts of felony theft by deception and one misdemeanor count of obstruction of identification.Oak Lawn Police has been looking into the business practices of M&M Events for months.  More than 15 families filed complaints alleging fraud, claiming they paid thousands of dollars for vacation packages that weren’t booked by the travel agent. Carmen Bonilla is still waiting to get her money back.  Days before her Key West trip she says she realized nothing was booked. Bonilla said, “I called the hotel, they didn’t have my name and no confirmation.  I asked for my name, her name but nothing.” More from Lourdes: North Central College professor discusses this week’s political headlines Police said Nasir would advertise the vacation deals through social media.  Customers pai...

Car was intentionally crashed into second floor of Pennsylvania home, authorities say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A driver is facing charges after authorities say he intentionally crashed a car into the second floor of a Pennsylvania home over the weekend.Shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday, Junction Fire Company said it was called to assist the Decatur Volunteer Fire Company with a reported vehicle accident on Alfarata Road in Decatur Township, about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Upon arrival, responders found a vehicle had crashed into the second floor of the home. The driver had already been removed from the car, according to a spokesperson with the fire department. Veterans: Important deadline coming up for PACT Act benefits The driver, identified by Pennsylvania State Police as 20-year-old Evan Miller, was transported to a nearby hospital with undisclosed injuries. Three people were inside the home when it was hit. Authorities have not said if any others were injured.According to Junction Fire Company, Miller appeared to have been traveling at a high rate of...

DJ Moore's TD in Bears' Soldier Field scrimmage had daughter's approval

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

CHICAGO — There were a lot of fans that were quite happy with a moment from a new Bears' receiver during his first appearance with the team on Sunday morning. But there was one who was happier than most for DJ Moore - and she had the chance to let reporters know about it. It just took a little bit of convincing. "She's acting shy, but she ain't shy," said Moore of his daughter, Ari, who was in his hands as he stood and addressed the media after Sunday's fan fest workout at Soldier Field. "She was all go until now."The first question asked to Moore was what his daughter thought of the touchdown he scored during the one training camp practice that takes place at the Bears' home stadium. It was one where he caught the ball in stride on a crossing pattern then raced towards the pylon for the score.It was one of the highlights of the session that the team along with a few fans featured on social media."Didn't you love the touchdown?" the receiver asked Ari, who immediately nodded in appr...

Bryan Randall, Sandra Bullock's longtime partner, dies at 57 from ALS: report

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

(KTLA) - Sandra Bullock's longtime partner Bryan Randall has passed away after a private three-year battle with ALS. He was 57. Randall died over the weekend, his family said in a statement obtained by People magazine. "It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS," his family said. "Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request."The model-turned-photographer's family then thanked the healthcare workers who helped them through this time. Sandra Bullock attends the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures' "The Lost City" at Regency Village Theatre on March 21, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)"We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families t...

MAP: More than 2,400 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video shows how you can help prevent wildfires.AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 2,400 acres have burned in wildfires across Central Texas so far this year, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.A total of 26 fires have burned 2,435 acres in the 15-county KXAN viewing area, as of Aug. 7. How far behind normal are rainfall totals this year? KXAN is keeping track of wildfires this year. Follow along with the map and database below. We'll keep them updated as new information becomes available. Fires that are still uncontained are red on the map.The table below ranks all the fires in our area this year from largest to smallest. Click on one of the column headers to change how the fires are ranked.We're also keeping track of which counties have burn bans in effect. Click here to see the latest update.

Oak Grove wildfire estimated at 400 acres, 75% contained; Kyle mayor said 1 home destroyed

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — At least one home and numerous outbuildings were destroyed along with multiple homes evacuated after a wildfire in Hays County started Saturday. Officials said no more evacuations were in place Sunday. Officials started responding to the fire, named the Oak Grove Fire, shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services website. PHOTOS: Oak Grove Fire burns in Hays County The fire was first reported to be near Oak Grove Road near San Marcos. It is estimated at 400 acres and 75% contained according to a social media post at 12:55 p.m. Monday from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays Co...

Zilker Park Vision Plan 'shelved,' Austin Mayor Kirk Watson says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 7, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) --- The Zilker Park Vision Plan is not moving forward, according to Mayor Kirk Watson's email newsletter The Watson Wire. The post said the plan will not be on city council's Aug. 31 agenda and that there is, "no plan to bring it before the Austin Mayor and Council in the future." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘I have some serious problems with that plan’: Mayor Watson talks future of Zilker Park The plan included three new parking garages, a land bridge over Barton Springs Road, a “welcome plaza” and new hike and bike trails.Previously, Watson spoke with KXAN about his concerns with the plan. "A lot of people and groups worked hard to do something big and positive for our community. And our city staffers have put a lot into this process, as well. I truly appreciate and respect their efforts," the post read. Moving forwardWatson wrote that his recommendation is to table the discussion for now. "We co...

What Steve Sarkisian said about freshman receivers, DeSoto HS's coaching staff

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The football coaches at DeSoto High School need to keep doing what they are doing, as far as Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is concerned.In Monday's press conference, Sarkisian talked at length about how freshman receiver Johntay Cook II has performed well in training camp. One of the main points Sarkisian mentioned was that DeSoto's coaching staff is "really good."MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"He's been coached in a way that he believes in," Sarkisian said. "What I love about Johntay is how coachable he is. I think he's really trying to do whatever we're asking him to do. When he doesn't do it the right way, he acknowledges it and tries to do it right the next time."The DeSoto Eagles, from the south side of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, are perennial powers in Texas high school football and pump out blue-chip recruits regularly, so it...

Former Great Fans shop on Snelling Ave. could become Little Africa Plaza — a pan-African grocery, museum, office and retail center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:13 GMT

Standing in front of the long-vacant Great Fans and Blinds shop on Snelling Avenue, Gene Gelgelu talks up his $4.5 million dream of converting the two-story building into “Little Africa Plaza,” the bustling commercial center of a community on the move.Measuring nearly 15,000 square feet, the boarded-up building is little more than 12 months away, in his eyes, from reopening as an African foods grocer adjoining two smaller retail stores at ground level, as well as a pan-African museum of continental art and culture.Upstairs on the second floor, Gelgelu, himself an Ethiopian immigrant, plans to locate the new headquarters of African Economic Development Solutions, the nonprofit he launched on University Avenue in 2008.‘Little Africa’Could Little Africa Plaza become the commercial heartbeat of St. Paul’s official “Little Africa” commercial district?Given the growing numbers of African immigrants in the area — this weekend marked the ninth...