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Skilling: Beautiful start to the week for Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

What a to start the new week!  Temps surged into the low 70s today—following a weekend which ended up 6-degrees warmer than the weekend which preceded it. The likely ultimate high near 73-degrees Monday will come in 20-degress above normal and, while not a record for Nov 6th, CLOSE!  Only two Nov 6's over the 153 year term of official records here in Chicago have been any warmer----75-degrees on this date in 1975—48 years ago—and a 75-degree high Nov 6, 1916---107 years ago.The mild air is the product of a westerly or "zonal" flow across the Lower 48.  This is a pattern in which upper level steering winds sweep mild oceanic air off the Pacific and across the country. Zonal flows are frequent visitors in many El Nino cool seasons and it's the fact they guide maritime rather than chilly continental air our of Canada across the country that mild temps dominate such cool seasons. It doesn't by any means that cold blasts will be completely absent—but they may end up less frequent th...

CFD rescue residents from 3 alarm high rise fire on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

CHICAGO -- Several people were rescued Monday morning when a fire broke out in a South Side high rise.According to the Chicago Fire Department, crews responded to the 3500 block of Cottage Grove in Chicago's Oakland neighborhood around 7 a.m. on Monday. Chicago police officer shot and wounded on South Side 150 fire crews arrived on scene and learned the fire broke out on the seventh floor of the high rise. Crews rushed to get people out safely as the fire grew.Fire officials said the fire was caused by the careless use of smoking materials.Just over 100 people live in the building, but there's no word on when they may be allowed back inside.

Video shows rarely-seen 30-foot whale shark feeding in Hawaiian waters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) – Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) shared an exciting video of a 30-foot whale shark feeding during their fieldwork off Kaneohe Bay on Thursday.“It is surprising. They are here more often than we think, however they are probably hard to come across because like I said, I didn’t see this animal until I hopped in the water," said Mark Royer, University of Hawaii shark researcher.HIMB Shark Research Lab researchers said they found the shark after spotting seabirds flying over what they suspected was bait. The growing trend of bespoke baby names: Would you buy a name? When they dove into the water they were surprised to see something much bigger than what they expected – a 30 foot whale shark feeding on nehu, or Hawaiian anchovy.“While all the small nehu were being drawn to the surface from all the predators, the whale shark was coming in and using its massive mouth to come up to the surface, open it, and then the suction would cause all the fi...

Illinois bill could give temporary Bally's Casino more time at Medinah Temple location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

CHICAGO -- Bally's Casino could be at the former Medinah Temple in Chicago's River North neighborhood for a bit longer than planned.The location is supposed to be temporary and they're set to move to a permanent downtown location in 2026. Bally’s Casino, a first for Chicago, celebrates official launch in River North As of November 2023, state gambling laws in Illinois cap temporary stays at three years, including a 12-month extension. Under a proposed bill advancing in Springfield, casino operators with Bally Casino's could ask for a longer time frame.Bally's Casino has yet to comment on the legislation.

Firearm injuries among children double amid pandemic, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

The gun epidemic in the United States was much worse for children during the pandemic, according to a new report.A retrospective study of firearm-related injuries found visits to pediatric emergency rooms doubled during the pandemic. The study found that deaths from gun injuries in children and teens also doubled.Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, an emergency room physician at Lurie Children's Hospital, is the lead author of the study and joined WGN Evening News at 4 p.m. to discuss the report."With the pandemic, we saw a drastic increase in firearm purchases, which might have led to the tragic spikes in injuries and deaths from firearms among children and adolescents,” Hoffman said. More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Table 1. Characteristics of Pediatric Firearm Injury Emergency Department Visits by Pandemic Time PeriodDownloadFigure-1DownloadFigure-2DownloadFigure-3DownloadWatch the full interview in the video player above.Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily...

Video: Homeowner exchanges gunfire with intruders in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- A Los Angeles homeowner exchanged gunfire with a pair of intruders in an incident caught on video Saturday evening.The homeowner, who did not want his identity released, said he pulled into his gated driveway and was walking to the front door when the masked suspects jumped over a wall. ‘Can’t keep living like this’: Ohio man’s home struck by car for 4th time Home surveillance video shows one suspect, who appeared to be holding a handgun, charging at the man as he goes to open his front door. A homeowner in Central L.A. repels a would-be robber on Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The homeowner pulled out a gun and opened fire on the robbers. Nov. 4...

Battleship Texas to get long-term home in Galveston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

TEXAS (KXAN) — Battleship Texas will get a new place to call home in Galveston. The Port of Galveston board of trustees approved a lease at Pier 20 with The Battleship Texas Foundation last Tuesday. The lease will last 10 years with renewal options. Rent will be $480,000 per year.Battleship Texas, also known as the USS Texas, was used during the First World War and Second World War, according to the battleship's foundation. In 1948, the USS Texas was donated to the state as a museum and memorial. The lease is contingent on outside approvals, such as the General Land Office, the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers. Thomas Perich, the foundation's chairman, said the state gave the foundation $60 million to refurbish the ship. The foundation manages the ship under a long-term lease with the state. In 2022, the ship was taken from the Houston Ship Channel to Galveston for repairs.

Sonny Gray named Cy Young Award finalist; Twins extend veteran a qualifying offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

Sonny Gray was honored as one of the top three pitchers in the American League this season, named a Cy Young Award finalist on Monday for the second time in his career.Thirty members of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted on the award — two from each AL market — before the postseason began, and the winner will be announced on MLB Network during a show that begins at 5 p.m. CST on Nov. 15.Toronto starter Kevin Gausman and New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, the front-runner for the award, were also named finalists.Gray, whom the Twins extended a qualifying offer to on Monday, was recognized for a season in which he did not miss a start, posting a 2.79 earned-run average across 184 innings. The starter was remarkably consistent, limiting opponents to three or fewer runs in all but three games.He finished with a 5.3 bWAR (Wins Above Replacement per Baseball Reference) and was named the Twins’ Most Valuable Player. Gray is the first Twins pitcher since Kenta Maeda was the Cy...

Dean Phillips’ congressional seat could be up for grabs next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips’ announcement that he would challenge President Joe Biden opens the field for other prospective candidates looking to get to Congress.It wasn’t that long ago that the 3rd Congressional District was a reliable seat for Republicans. But Phillips broke the hold in 2018 and, aided somewhat by reshaped boundaries through redistricting, he has been sent back to Washington twice with plenty of breathing room.The 3rd District encompasses a crescent of western Twin Cities suburbs with Coon Rapids and Rogers at the north and Bloomington in the south. Down the ballot, Democrats have also performed well, snatching up most of the legislative seats that had once been in Republican hands.Since entering the presidential race, Phillips has largely sidestepped questions about whether he would forgo a reelection campaign in his district. He’s given himself until early next year to break through in his presidential bid.“I’ll be clear — if my campaign is not viab...

Bird flu confirmed on Wright County egg farm, with nearly 1M chickens set to be destroyed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:59 GMT

Nearly 1 million chickens on a Minnesota egg farm will be slaughtered to help limit the spread of the highly contagious bird flu after it was confirmed there, officials said Monday.The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the virus was found at a farm in Wright County, as well as in three smaller flocks in South Dakota and Iowa. Whenever the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is detected on a farm, the entire flock is killed to keep it from spreading to other farms.In addition to the Minnesota case, the USDA said some 26,800 turkeys will be killed on a farm in McPherson County in South Dakota and nearly 17,000 birds will be slaughtered on two farms in Iowa’s Clay County.The egg and poultry industry has been dealing with a bird flu outbreak since last year. In 2022, nearly 58 million birds — mostly chicken and turkeys — were slaughtered to deal with the virus, contributing significantly higher egg and turkey prices. The Minnesota farm is the first egg-laying operation w...