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Smyth joins Alinea in rare Michelin star honor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Michelin Guide has released its annual star list for Chicago restaurants.Smyth in the West Loop took top honors with a three star rating.Receiving three Michelin Stars is widely considered the highest accolade in the culinary industry.Smyth joins Alinea in this elite tier of restaurants around the world. Alinea has received the honor consistently for the past 13 years.Atelier in Lincoln Square and Indienne, located downtown, received their first one star rating. Daisies, in Logan Square, was awarded a Green Star for it's sustainability practices. Up Next: Patrick Dempsey named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine for 2023 Previous Three Star spots that made the list again this year include, Alinea, Ever, Moody Tongue, Oriole, Boka, EL Ideas, Elske, Esme, Galit, Kasama, Mako, Next, Omakase Yume, Porto, Schwa, Sepia, Temporis and Topolobampo.

Giant screen installed as construction on Navy Pier flying attraction continue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

CHICAGO — We have an update on the new attraction being built at Navy Pier in the space of the former IMAX theater.In April, crews began to gut the space to make way for FlyOver Chicago, a flying attraction that will take you on a journey through Chicago using a giant spherical movie screen. It's similar to the ride Soarin’ at Epcot at Walt Disney World. Previous Coverage: FlyOver Chicago immersive flying attraction coming to Navy Pier On Tuesday, WGN News crews were able to see an update. The large screen has been installed and all of the ride vehicles are installed as well.There are three levels of the ride.We were able to speak with flyover Chicago’s general manager Derek Poitras about where they are in the construction process and what the ride will be like when it opens. Up Next: Six Flags Great America closing two attractions, preparing for ‘future expansion’ He said they are about 90 percent finished with shooting the movie that will be shown during the ride. He also said...

'Really lucky': Florida woman says snorkel mask saved her from serious injury in gator attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

Related video above: Gator found in hot tub 'taken into custody' in TexasLAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida woman said she considers herself "really lucky" after a 9-foot alligator left her with only scratches after it bit her on the head over the weekend.Marissa Carr, 20, was snorkeling at a park swimming hole when the gator "came out of nowhere," she told Fox 35 Orlando.On Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told WFLA it received reports about a woman who was bitten by an alligator at Alexander Springs, a popular spot for divers located about 60 miles north of Orlando. ‘It’s really scary’: Florida woman ready to sell her home after dog comes face-to-face with python When the FWC arrived at the scene Sunday, Carr was being taken to a local hospital for treatment. A contracted nuisance alligator trapper also responded and removed the male alligator from the park.Carr, who was at the park snorkeling with her friend, said she believes her full-face ...

Santa Claus and James Bond programs highlight 'Dean's Home Video'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Since people are already getting into the Christmas spirit, there are already a few programs that are being released on streaming services fitting the season.Naturally, one program fitting of the season was featured in "Dean's Home Video" on Wednesday's WGN Morning News. But this wide-ranging edition of the segment didn't stop there, as we also featured another chapter in the James Bond story along with a documentary on a famous comedian.Dean Richards featured season 2 of "The Santa Clauses," "Albert Brooks: Defending My Life," "007: Road to a Million," "The Curse," season 2 of "The Gilded Age," season 4 of "For All Mankind," and more during the segment. You can watch this edition of "Dean's Home video" on the November 8 WGN Morning News in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Nate Paul, Austin investor tied to AG Paxton, facing 4 additional federal charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top headlines the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nate Paul, the Austin real estate investor at the center of the Ken Paxton impeachment, now faces new federal charges in addition to the eight he was charged with over the summer. Federal prosecutors charged Paul, 36, with four new counts related to wire fraud, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. PREVIOUS: Nate Paul, Austin developer at center of Ken Paxton impeachment, arrested in Travis County The release said according to court documents, Paul allegedly conspired to obtain money from limited partners by falsely representing that he would isolate the partnership’s assets to be used exclusively for the benefit of the partnership. According to the release, the scheme allowed unrestricted use of limited partnership funds. Paul's new charges include one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. These are in ad...

Homicide detective back on stand at Kaitlin Armstrong murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, accused of shooting and killing pro cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson in May 2020, continues, the lead homicide detective on the case resumes his testimony.Detective Richard Spitler took the stand Monday. So far he has addressed his work the night of Wilson's murder as well as his questioning of Armstrong's former boyfriend Colin Strickland the following morning. CATCH UP: Colin Strickland's testimony During the course of his official interview with Strickland, Spitler determined Armstrong needed to be brought in for questioning. Spitler said that was due to the combination of learning the black Jeep with the bike rack at Strickland’s house belonged to Armstrong and the knowledge he gained during the interview from Strickland that there were guns inside the home.Last week, the State displayed several surveillance videos that showed what prosecutors say is that Jeep near the murder scene in east Austin. One of the Defense's...

Inside the Investigations: Austin ISD special education services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to break down one of this week’s top stories. People can watch the live stream in this story or on the KXAN News Facebook page starting at about 9 a.m. Inside the Investigations: Graffiti & new resources for assault victims The story they'll discuss this week is:The state is stepping in now to keep watch over the largest school district in Central Texas after investigators found it failed to test some of the most vulnerable children on time. Investigator Kelly Wiley found even once those students have been tested, they're waiting an illegal amount of time for the help they're promised to start. Join Kelly Wiley and Will DuPree every Wednesday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigat...

November bird forecast: Do owls live in Austin?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here’s the Central Texas bird forecast for the month, courtesy of Travis Audubon. Learn more about Central Texas birds and bird-related events for all ages at travisaudubon.org or by calling (512) 300-BIRD. Follow us on Facebook.Fall migration continues. Check BirdCast to see what birds are forecast to be migrating tonight. Help them along the way by participating in Lights Out for Birds through Nov. 30.A number of western species turned up in Austin during October. Possibly due to the prolonged drought even further west, these birds are searching for more plentiful food sources to get them through the winter. One very cooperative bird called a Sage Thrasher (sometimes mistaken for a Northern Mockingbird) hung around Commons Ford Ranch Metro Park for several days in late October. Check Travis County eBird, the citizen science database of sightings, to see what surprises show up in November.Sage ThrasherCOURTESY: James GirouxWhoo lives in your neighborhood?  Austin is...

Amber Alert discontinued for 9-month-old girl from Laredo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

LAREDO, Texas (KXAN) – The Department of Public Safety canceled an Amber Alert it issued for a nine-month-old girl Wednesday morning. DPS initially issued the alert after the girl went missing from Laredo shortly after midnight. The alert was discontinued around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

11/8/2023: Some see light snow, ice tonight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:59 GMT

The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from meteorologist Matt Mackie:Much cooler today, but also more consistently bright as high pressure build in from the west today.Temperatures range from the 30's this morning to the mid 40's this afternoon in the valleys. Some in the mountains may only peak in the upper 30's or low 40's. Certainly much chillier than it was yesterday!Tonight's weather could be a little messy at times. Before midnight, a round of wintry precipitation will push into the region. Initially, much of this could fall as a burst of snow, before gradually transitioning to mixed precipitation or a cold rain by Thursday morning.Snowfall totals don't look overly impressive - at most a couple inches in the mountains. Those in the river valleys will struggle to see even a coating. South of Albany, that looks even less likely.A light glaze of ice is possible with the change to mixed precipitation, as well. So even though there won't be all that much snow on the ground, it's still ...