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FEMA support arrives in Chicago, provides update for flooding victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

CHICAGO -- Mayor Brandon Johnson along with state and federal leaders provided an update on Thursday to those impacted by July's flooding on how they can access federal relief funding.President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that federal funding is now available to Cook County residents, after record setting rain and storms hit the Chicago area more than a month ago.Biden approved Gov. JB Pritzker’s Illinois disaster declamation, opening up low cost loans for uninsured property losses, and grants for temporary housing and home repairs. Federal disaster declaration made for Cook County FEMA conducted damage assessments on the west side, as well as west suburban Cicero and Berwyn, where nine inches of rain fell on July 2 and $25,000 homes were damaged by flood water.There are three ways residents can apply for assistance: by going to disasterassistance.gov, downloading the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 16.After residents apply, an inspec...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Exercise in a shot — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

For Thursday, Aug. 17, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Injection of specific blood factor can replicate benefits of exercise in the brain University of Queensland researchers found platelets, the tiny blood cells critical for clotting, secrete a protein that rejuvenates neurons. Physical activity also increases the production of new neurons in the brain critical for learning and memory. Platelets are involved in that process circulating in the blood after exercise. Now, scientists say by injecting those platelets, they can achieve the same exercise-induced response in the brain that includes cognitive improvement. Study: New breast cancer genes could identify women at increased riskNew breast cancer genes may help give more women an indication of their enhanced risk for the disease. For years, doctors have been able to test for BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 genes. But these only account for a small number of breast cancer c...

Tim Anderson apologizes to team, fans for fight vs Guardians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

NEW YORK — Nearly two weeks after his fight in a game against the Guardians in Cleveland, Tim Anderson found out the verdict on his appeal of a lengthy suspension.In the end, he got a minor reduction - and came out with an apology.On Thursday afternoon, Major League Baseball announced that Anderson's suspension has been reduced one game, and he will now have to sit out five games after throwing punches with Cleveland's Jose Ramirez at Progressive Field on August 5.It's unknown if the fine he received in the fight was either reduced or rescinded.After that announcement, Anderson took to his Instagram account to apologize for the fight and suspension."I want to apologize to the entire White Sox organization, my teammates, manager and coaches and to the fans for my part in the altercation which took place in Cleveland," said Anderson in a statement posted to his Instagram story. "This has been an incredibly disappointing season for me personally and for our team. I will not get into th...

NOAA releases fall weather predictions for Chicago, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Sick of the summer heat? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has got some bad news for you. The agency released its 90-day forecast Thursday, predicting the broad weather conditions we expect to see around the country between September and November. For the vast majority of the country, it's looking like a hot summer will transition into a warm fall. The Northeast and Southwest have the highest chances of seeing above-average temperatures this fall, according to NOAA. Odds of a ‘strong’ El Niño grow again: Will you feel it locally? No states are expecting a colder-than-average fall season, but a swath of the Midwest and Plains states have equal chances of warm or cool weather. For some states, those hot temperatures are expected to be paired with clear skies – or at least few rain clouds. Only the Southeast and Alaska are expecting above-average precipitation. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes and part of the Southwest are expected to ...

GOP state lawmaker calls for special session in Georgia to probe Fani Willis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

(The Hill) – A Republican state senator is calling for a special session of the Georgia Legislature to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D), who charged former President Trump and others this week with attempting to overturn the 2020 election in the state.State Sen. Colton Moore, who represents the northwest corner of Georgia, said Willis’s “political persecution” of Trump and her conduct following the indictment merits a thorough investigation.“The Legislature has this great check and balance when it comes to controlling the purse. Ultimately, from what I've seen, I think she should completely be defunded of any state dollars. People in northwest Georgia and Georgians all over don't want their tax dollars going to fund this type of political persecution,” Moore told The Hill. “If it turns out that she's doing some corrupt things, then absolutely impeach her,” he said.Moore is pressing for a probe into Willis's conduct due to poor conditions at Fulton Cou...

Hurricane Hilary poised to be 'high-impact event' in southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KXAN) -- Rapidly-intensifying Hurricane Hilary in the eastern Pacific is expected to reach category four intensity with winds of up to 140 miles per hour. While the storm is not expected to impact Texas, it may bring rare direct impacts to southern California, including damaging wind and flooding rainfall.Satellite image of Hurricane Hilary Thursday afternoon"The combination of heavy rainfall, the potential for flash flooding, and strong winds could very well make this a high-impact event for Southern California," the San Diego National Weather Service office warned in their Thursday afternoon forecast discussion."It's pretty rare, but not unheard of," Megan Healy, weather anchor at KSWB in San Diego, said.Eastern Pacific hurricanes are common, but they don't typically track due northward into southern California as Hurricane Hilary is expected to. Hurricane Hilary's forecast track and tropical storm/hurricane wind field as of Thursday eveningChilly ocean temperatures off...

Spurs release 2023-24 schedule, will play 2 games at Moody Center for 'I-35 Series'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The San Antonio Spurs will return to Austin during its regular season schedule in 2023-24.The Spurs, along with all other 29 NBA teams, released their schedules Thursday and will play two games at Moody Center in March in the second year of the I-35 Series.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/newslettersThe Spurs will take on the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m., March 15 and then the Brooklyn Nets at 6 p.m., March 17. Both games are part of the Spurs' regular season schedule and the Spurs will be the designated home team. In last year's inaugural I-35 Series, the Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 129-127 on April 6 and lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 151-131 on April 8.Tickets for the I-35 Series go on sale at 10 a.m., Sept. 15. Season ticket holders and members of the official Spurs fan club will have access to presale tickets Sept. 13.The Spurs open the season...

Weak tropical system may break heatwave and bring rain next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect again Friday with near-record high temperatures well over 100° areawide. This comes after an extreme high temperature of 109° Thursday at Austin-Bergstrom -- the fourth-hottest temperature ever observed there. High temperatures matched the hottest of the year thus far Thursday at Camp Mabry reaching 108°.Scorching heat continues this weekend with forecast temperatures of 107° both afternoons in Austin.Tropical system may impact Texas next weekA disturbance moving into the Gulf early next week is expected to spin westward across record-hot ocean water in relatively favorable conditions for development. The National Hurricane Center has increased odds of tropical depression formation to 30%.Watching the Gulf for potential tropical development this weekWhile ocean temperatures are record-hot and other conditions appear favorable for intensification, the storm's quick forward speed will limit how much time it has to gather strength...

Western Wisconsin fur farm tries to recapture 3,000 mink that activists claim to have released

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

LINCOLN, Wis. — Workers at a fur farm in western Wisconsin are trying to recapture thousands of mink that were released last week, apparently during a raid by animal activists, authorities said.The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that a hole was cut in a chain-link fence enclosure at Olsen Fur Farm late Friday or early Saturday, allowing about 3,000 mink to escape.Detective Erica Koxlien said Thursday that workers at the farm in Lincoln, located about two hours from St. Paul,  have been using traps and fishing nets to try to recapture the mink but there was no immediate update on how many of the animals have been rounded up.“They’re still working on capturing them. They seem to have traveled pretty far,” Koxlien said.The Animal Liberation Front, which is labeled an extremist group by the FBI, shared an anonymous post claiming responsibility for releasing the mink, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.That post said, “we hope many of the mink enjoy their f...

Charges filed against man shot by officer in north St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:13 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office has filed charges against a man shot by an officer Wednesday afternoon in north St. Louis. Stephon Gilkey, 21, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The one street where every home is cited, no matter what condition According to a probable cause statement, the shooting stemmed from a covert drug operation in the Fairgrounds neighborhood. Authorities witnessed a hand-to-hand drug transaction around 2 p.m., which reportedly happened while Gilkey was inside a vehicle. Gilkey allegedly drove away from the scene as police approached the vehicle, which also had expired temporary registration. This prompted a brief pursuit around north city, which ended in the 4200 block of Linton Avenue. Gilkey ran out of the vehicle with a pistol and extended magazine, per the probable cause statement. Three officers followed him briefly on foot and gave verbal commands to dr...