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Is the Canadian wildfire smoke expected in Chicago?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The smoke from the wildfires in Canada have left parts of the United States under an air quality alert.Some and haze is expected in Chicago and parts of Illinois on Friday, but most of the heavier smoke is expected to continue in the east and as far south as North Carolina. Here’s how you can check the air quality in Illinois An air quality action day was issued on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for all of Indiana due to the smoke. Should you run your air conditioner when it’s smoky outside? According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, there are high levels of fine particles in Friday's forecast. IDEM said the particles include microscopic dust, soot and liquid that can settle into the lungs and can be hard to exhale.The National Weather Service said people with chronic respiratory illnesses should limit their time outdoors.Air quality alerts have been issued in 24 states. What are the health concerns with poor air quality? The sun rises over th...

Mother says teen was target of racially motivated attack in Wicker Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

CHICAGO — A teen's mom said he is the victim of a racially motivated attack in Wicker Park.Around 8 p.m. Wednesday night, the teen said a man followed him home and attacked him. Man found dead at Chicago shelter for migrants identified The teen's mother said her 16-year-old son was headed home after playing basketball at Wicker Park.Along the way, she said the man followed him home near Ellen Street and Marion Court.That's when she said it escalated and the man got out of his vehicle and began physically attacking the teen.Nicole Harvey said the man accused the teen of trying to create problems, carjack and rob people and called him a racial slur. "Like it was just really mean and hateful," Harvey said. Docs: Logan Square woman found nearly decapitated in duffle bag; boyfriend had cleaning supplies Her two other sons, who had just arrived home, saw the fight and went to break it up and call police."No one knew," Nicole Harvey said. "If they wouldn't have pulled up, he could've b...

Big Ten announces 16-team football scheduling - and a big change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

CHICAGO — As the Big Ten prepares to expand to 16 teams in 2024 with the addition of USC and UCLA, they are making a few adjustments to the football schedule.That includes a major change to how they'll align the conference moving forward.On Thursday, the league announced that they will no longer have divisions, something that has been in place since Nebraska joined the conference in 2011. Instead, all 16 teams will compete for the regular season title, with the top two squads advancing to the Big Ten Championship Game.Tiebreaker procedures for the top two spots will be announced at a later date. Each school will play nine games in the conference and play every other Big Ten opponent at least twice - once home and once away - in a four-year period. (Courtesy: Big Ten Conference)Part of the way they'll schedule teams is through the "flex protect plus" which will protect some of the rivalries in the conference while setting "two play" opponents for each school, where they'll face them ...

Family of missing Roseland woman Rena Baker confirms her death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The family of a missing mother of two from Roseland confirms she has been found dead.  CPD: Missing 15-year-old girl last seen leaving home in Humboldt Park The family released a statement verifying a body found Tuesday was that of 39-year-old Rena Baker:We are deeply saddened to confirm that our beloved Rena has passed away. Rena was a beautiful, warm, loving individual who touched everyone she interacted with.  Her absence leaves an incredible void in the lives of her children, as well as our family and friends. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to every individual and organization that helped in the search for Rena, your prayers and words of encouragement supported us through this difficult time.  At this time, we kindly request that our wish for privacy be respected as we navigate this tragic loss.  Again, we extend our deepest thanks for the compassion and understanding of everyone involved and for the continued respect for our pri...

Nate Paul, Austin developer at center of Ken Paxton impeachment, arrested in Travis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Nate Paul, the Austin real estate developer central to allegations of illegal conduct by Ken Paxton, Texas’ now-suspended attorney general, was booked into the Travis County Jail Thursday on a federal warrant.Paul was booked into the jail at 4:25 p.m., said Kristen Dark, a spokesperson for the Travis County Sheriff's Office. The arresting agency is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Paul's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to the FBI's San Antonio office, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District and Paxton were also not immediately returned.It's not immediately clear whether his arrest is related to those allegations, but Paul is at the center of the abuse of office complaints against Paxton, a three-term Republican attorney general who was impeached by the Texas House last month. Paxton is currently suspended from his official duties and awaiting an impeachment trial in the Senate, which would require a tw...

Class 4A state softball: Rosemount, Forest Lake advance to final, setting up rematch of 2021 title bout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

NORTH MANKATO — Forest Lake softball coach Sean Hall has made a point in recent years to have his team play more for the end of the season than the beginning of it — particularly at the plate.What exactly does that mean?“Look, we can have a bunch of home runs against teams that don’t have as good of pitching and have these big swings,” Hall said. “These big swings don’t work when you’re going against good pitching. You’ve got to be able to shorten up. That was kind of a goal going into the year.”Shorten the swing and be quick to the ball. And, if you’re going to take a big hack, be very selective. Because there are times when your eyes will get big and you know it’s time to attack.That was the situation Forest Lake senior catcher Bethany Weiss found herself in during the first inning of Thursday’s semifinal against second-seeded Maple Grove. Crimson pitcher Maddie Wihlm is elite. Weiss has faced her many times. But Wihlm may have made a mistake, and Weiss made her pay, belting...

No criminal charges for Xcel Energy in Marshall fire, but civil liability another matter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

An investigation that found a loose power line owned by Xcel Energy sparked one of two blazes that merged into Colorado’s most destructive wildfire is another chapter in the growing risk to utilities and their customers as the West dries out and heats up.Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility, has steadfastly disputed that any of its lines or equipment played a role in starting the Marshall fire. The fire that started Dec. 30, 2021, after a long dry spell and during a massive wind storm, killed two people, burned 1,000 homes and businesses and did more than $2 billion of property damage in Boulder County.Xcel Energy said that it strongly disagrees with the results of the investigation released Thursday by Boulder County authorities.“Xcel Energy did not have the opportunity to review and comment on the analyses relied on by the Sheriff’s Office and believes those analyses are flawed and their conclusions are incorrect,” company spokeswoman Michelle A...

NBA Finals roundtable: Have the Nuggets wrecked the Cinderella mojo of Miami?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

Mark Kiszla: The Nuggets are better at basketball than Miami. They know it. And so do the Heat. Here’s what I want you savvy hoops experts to tell me: Can Denver put the hammerlock on this championship series in Game 4? I think it might come down to mindset as much as X’s and O’s. Did Nikola Jokic and the gang learn from the hard lesson of letting down their guard and losing focus in Game 2? We all know Jimmy Butler is tough as nails. And the Heat is facing a must-win situation. But I don’t think the Nuggets will be satisfied with a split in South Florida. Here’s their chance to eliminate the drama and get on with planning the championship parade.Mike Singer: There’s a big difference between winning Game 3 and taking home court back and losing Game 3, and then winning Game 4. The Nuggets have already done the hard part in winning in Miami. There’s a reason practice was light Thursday, and everyone around the team was in a good place. They ha...

Los Angeles County school celebrates 100% graduation rate for class of 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

As the newest class of graduates are anointed in ceremonies this month, one Los Angeles County high school is celebrating a milestone — a 100% graduation rate.Every single one of Arcadia High School’s 753 seniors accepted their diplomas on Thursday at a ceremony at Santa Anita Park.Officials said the last time a 100% graduation rate was achieved by the high school was in 2018. To compare, in 2022, the average graduation rate in California was 87.4%, according to the school.Arcadia High School celebrates a 100% graduation rate for seniors in 2023. (Arcadia High School)"We are immensely proud of our seniors in the Class of 2023 for their hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence,” said Principal Angela Dillman. “Their 100 percent graduation rate reflects the collective effort of our students, teachers, staff, and families. It is a testament to the unwavering support and guidance provided within our school community."School officials credit the achievement to educators cre...

San Bernardino hospital seeks help identifying male patient

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:57 GMT

Hospital managers are asking for help identifying a man who was found at an Arco gas station in San Bernardino late last month.The patient was transported to St. Bernardine Medical Center on the afternoon of May 26. He had no documentation or evidence of his identity, a spokesperson told KTLA on Thursday.The hospital did not release his medical condition.The man is believed to be around 66 years old, five-foot-six, and weighs approximately 150 pounds. He has blue eyes, short grey hair, and his left index finger is amputated before the knuckle.Anyone with information is asked to call St. Bernardine Medical Center at 909-883-8711 extension 23771.