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Volunteers help repair more than 75 homes in Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

CHICAGO — Thousands of volunteers helped make home repairs for more than 75 Chicago-area homeowners on Saturday.Vera Thomas moved into her home on 72nd Street 18 years ago. Remembering Lee Elia’s infamous rant on Cubs’ fans 40 years ago Saturday "There's school around the corner and the kids were able to go to school there they were still small and everyone had been so nice around here," Thomas said. Her four kids were raised in the home, but overtime the home needed repairs.She applied to be part of the National Rebuilding Day with Rebuilding Metro Chicago to get some help."I was comfortable with just a fix this and fix that," Thomas said. "With all the stuff they're doing, I needed a lot of stuff done. And I'm very grateful." ‘Brought the magic back:’ A Chicago area runner’s return to Boston Marathon after the bombing Teams of volunteers from different companies and trade unions helped Rebuilding Together repair 77 homes in Englewood and Blue Island."As we know, these home rep...

Nanotechnology scout program to return after 3-year hiatus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

CHICAGO — A group of scouts got to take a peek at how scientific discoveries are made at the tiniest scale at Scout Nano Day hosted by Northwestern University.Michael Kleppinger is the assistant scout master for Boy Scout Troop 309 in Lake Zurich — and a retired engineer. Volunteers help repair more than 75 homes in Chicagoland "I knew nothing about nanotechnology when this started."Kleppinger was asked to put together a science program for ages starting at sixth grade over 20 years ago, partnering with helped launch Scout nano Day over 20 years ago, partnering with the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University"We had a great turnout from our troop. The scientists had a lot of fun," Kleppinger said.They opened the event up to girl scouts and boy scouts from all over the Chicago area.Kleppinger said that over the course of 20 years, 1,600 scouts have gone through the program, learning about nanotechnology. Daughter to join dad in cockpit as he ta...

2 men charged for stealing, burglary during NFL Draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Two men were charged with burglary and theft after police say they stole NFL jerseys for top draft picks from areas requiring special NFL Draft access credentials.Eric F. Lambkins, 41, and 19-year-old Jude Ocanas from Los Angeles, California each face charges of second degree burglary, stealing and a misdemeanor count of trespassing in the first degree. Real or fake? This tick bite could lead to food allergies According to court records, NFL officials reported that three jerseys were stolen from the Nike Room of the NFL Draft on Friday morning. Detectives with the Kansas City Police Department reviewed security footage that showed that the defendants had credentials for the NFL Draft but not for those specific areas and not during that time. The stolen jerseys were valued at $350 each, records show. The jerseys that were stolen were a blue Dallas Cowboys Jersey, a red San Francisco 49ers jersey and a Minnesota Vikings jersey. Home invasion suspects ho...

3 Longhorns picked on final day of 2023 NFL Draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KXAN) — Three more Longhorns were taken Saturday on the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft, making it five Texas players with their names called after none were last year.Running back Roschon Johnson went to the Chicago Bears in the fourth round with the No. 115 pick overall, and he's expected to help the Bears not just on offense but also on special teams. Atlanta Falcons select Texas RB Bijan Robinson with No. 8 pick in 2023 NFL Draft Defensive lineman Keondre Coburn was selected in the sixth round by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 194 overall pick.Moro Ojomo, another defensive lineman, was selected No. 249 overall in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Eagles.Texas defensive lineman Keondre Coburn (99) and defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (90) celebrate the team's win over West Virginia in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)Johnson rushed for 544 yards on 93 carries with four touchdowns this ...

State of Texas: Fighting over how to fight fentanyl deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Crammed into Texas Sen. Joan Huffman's office chanting "shame," a group of Texans confronted staffers on Thursday, demanding the senator uses her influence to take action on legislation related to addressing the fentanyl crisis.The protests highlight differences over how to reduce fentanyl deaths, pitting advocates for harm reduction against those calling for tougher drug penalties. The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance is calling on Huffman — a Houston Republican who is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee — to advance several bills that aim to decriminalize the use of fentanyl testing strips. Currently, under the Texas Controlled Substances Act drug testing equipment such as these strips are classified as drug paraphernalia, making it illegal for people to recreationally test.The test strips cost roughly a dollar and can be used to test drugs, powders and pills for the presence of fentanyl, which is significantly more powerful than other drugs and can be ...

13 arrested for stealing millions from low-income Southern Californians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

Thirteen people were arrested for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from low-income Southern California residents.The suspects stole funds using card skimmers and ATMs to drain electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.EBT cards allow participants to pay for food using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.On April 25, authorities received a community tip about fraud and identity theft suspects residing at a Van Nuys motel on the 4700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard.With a search warrant, police recovered skimming devices, card readers, a large number of false identification cards and documents and $36,062 in cash.Investigators believe the suspects may be part of a Romanian syndicate known to “target persons experiencing economic hardship for their EBT cards.” Fentanyl deaths skyrocketing in SoCal, prompting outcry for stricter laws The group allegedly stole millions of dollars ev...

Kurtenbach: Game 7 is likely not win-or-go-home for the Warriors — it’s win-or-break-up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

Everything is on the line for the Warriors on Sunday in Sacramento. Not just their season, but perhaps their dynasty as well.Game 7 isn’t just win-or-go-home for the Warriors; it’s win-or-break-up.No team in the NBA spends more on player salaries than the Warriors. The payoff has been championships. But if the Warriors —  a team that needed all 82 regular season games to claim their playoff spot in the Western Conference — lose in the first round to the younger, more frugal Northern California rivals, big, bold changes will come this offseason.The Warriors are right when they say they’ve experienced everything there is to experience in the NBA Playoffs. But amid their incredible dynastic run, the situation they find themselves in Sunday – a Game 7 on the road – is one they’ve experienced just once.That was in 2018, the Western Conference Finals, in Houston and there is little chance that the Warriors’ opponent this time around, the Kings, will follow the scri...

Verdugo’s single in 10th lifts Red Sox past Guardians 8-7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Verdugo drove in the winning run to cap a two-run 10th inning for the Boston Red Sox, who rallied for an 8-7 victory Saturday over the Cleveland Guardians despite blowing the lead an inning earlier. Rafael Devers had a long first-inning, three-run homer, and it seemed the Red Sox were in line for the victory before the Guardians notched four runs in the seventh and tied it on José Ramírez’s RBI single off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth. Connor Wong had three singles for the Red Sox, who rebounded after losing the series opener for their fifth win in nine games.Josh Naylor had a three-run double, and Josh Bell and Andrés Giménez both hit a solo homer for the Guardians. Cleveland has lost five of its last eight.Myles Straw and Steven Kwan opened the ninth with singles before Ramírez lined one to center off Jansen. It was Jansen’s first blown save and run allowed this season.Mike Zunino singled home placement runner Gabriel Arias in the 10th against Brennan Bernar...

Sánchez helps Marlins hold off Cubs for 7-6 win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run double in Miami’s five-run first inning, and the Marlins held off the Chicago Cubs for a 7-6 win on Saturday.Sánchez also singled home Luis Arraez in the fourth. Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each had three hits as Miami earned its third straight victory.Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-2) struck out a career-high 12 in five innings. He was charged with two runs and three hits.Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger homered for Chicago in its fifth loss in seven games. Trey Mancini had two hits and scored two runs.Caleb Kilian (0-1) struggled in his fourth career start for the Cubs. The right-hander, who was promoted from Triple-A Iowa before the game, was tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.The 25-year-old Kilian hurt himself in the first. He hit two batters — plunking Chisholm with the bases loaded — and walked two. He also threw a wild pitch that brought home a run.Sánchez’s ground-rule double gave Miami a 2-0 lea...

Texans build for future in NFL draft with Stroud, Anderson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:17 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The day after C.J. Stroud was taken with the second overall pick in the NFL draft, the quarterback raved about the job Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio did to not only get him but to trade up to nab outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3.“Shout-out to Nick,” Stroud said. “You’re doing a great job.”Caserio looked sheepish amid the praise and had a simple message for Stroud. “Just play well,” Caserio said. “That’s all.”Many pundits believe the Texans won the 2023 draft with the addition of Stroud and Anderson. But Caserio won’t pat himself on the back until those two help Houston turn things around after the team won just 11 games combined in the last three seasons. “We’re not going to solve anything in one draft, one player, one night,” Caserio said. “It’s going to take a series of actions over time with the right people, with the right mindset that believe in the things that we’re doing, that believe in what we’re trying to build, and then hopefully ...