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Naperville unveils Gold Star monument on Memorial Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — While nothing can take the place of a service member who died in the line of duty, those who have lost a loved one that served in the armed forces saw a new monument unveiled in their honor over Memorial Day weekend.Gold Star families were honored at Naperville's Veteran's Park with a new memorial being unveiled Saturday, the culmination of which was years in the making and the brain child of a former Medal of Honor recipient."After Woody retired, he said there has got to be something we can do for Gold Star families" said Mike King, from the Woody Williams Foundation. "And that’s where him and another guy got together and designed the monument."Hershel "Woody" Williams was a World War Two veteran who served with the United States Marines in the Pacific Theater of the war. Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 5, 1945, for his 'valiant devotion to duty' in the Battle of Iwo Jima.After returning home from World War Two, Williams dedicated his life to hono...

Most Americans say they would support stricter gun control laws: poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

(The Hill) — A majority of Americans in a new poll released on Friday said they would support stricter gun control laws.Sixty-four percent said they were in favor of stricter laws, while 36 percent said they were opposed, the CNN-SSRS poll found.  Texas House votes to impeach AG Ken Paxton A slightly smaller portion — 54 percent — said that such gun control laws would reduce gun-related deaths in the country, and 58 percent said they believe the government is able take effective action to prevent mass shootings.Some 59 percent in the survey said they were in favor of banning semi-automatic rifles, while 94 percent said they would support taking measures to prevent convicted felons and those with mental health issues from owning guns.Eight in 10 also said people under the age of 21 should be barred from purchasing any type of gun, the poll found.However, those in the survey were nearly evenly divided on whether allowing gun owners to carry their firearms in public places makes thos...

Texas lawmakers find consensus on bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public universities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — Texas public universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion offices likely have six months left before they’re banished. Previous: Texas bill banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in public universities closer to being signed by Gov. State lawmakers came to an agreement Saturday on legislation that would ban DEI offices, programs and training at publicly funded universities, largely adopting the version that the Texas House approved a week ago, with some minor changes.Notably, the conference committee of lawmakers appointed to hash out the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill removed the House provision that would ensure universities reassign DEI office employees to new positions with similar pay.Both chambers must concur on the final draft of Senate Bill 17 before it heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. If he signs the bill or allows it to become law without his signature, it will make Texas the second state in the country, after Florida,...

An effort to ban faculty tenure in public universities has failed in the Texas Legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — A year and a half ago, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick shocked the higher education world when he pledged to eliminate tenure for faculty at Texas public universities, a century-old practice that provides continuous employment so professors can teach without fear of political interference or retribution. Previous: Texas professors petition for keeping tenure system Last month, the Texas Senate passed a bill to kill tenure. Faculty members around the state, some university leaders and House Speaker Dade Phelan panned it as a bad idea that would hurt faculty recruitment and retention, reduce protections for conservative faculty who might have unpopular opinions, and damage the prestige of Texas’ research universities.On Saturday, in a surprise move, senators backed off their position and accepted the House’s counterproposal, which solidifies tenure in state law and places more power to make future changes to tenure in the hands of state lawmakers rather that indivi...

Archdiocese of St. Louis announces plans to reshape parishes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski announced a major plan Saturday over the future footprint of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The Archdiocese of St. Louis will be reshaped from 178 individual parishes into 134 parishes. These parishes will be overseen by nearly 90 diocesan pastors.Archbishop Rozanski said these decisions come after two years of gathering data, feedback and input through the "All Things New" initiative. He tells FOX 2 that a declining number of priests and Catholics attending mass, as well as a shift in where Catholics live, factored into the restructuring. Teen walks two hours for 8th grade graduation in St. Louis "Without these changes, we predict that we will have more parishes than diocesan priests by 2025," said Archbishop Rozanski.He said this decision was made after gathering feedback through surveys, listening sessions, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings. The Archbishop said they received responses from 70,000 local Catholics."I wish th...

Boy in critical condition after south St. Louis shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A teenage boy is in critical, but stable condition after a shooting in South St. Louis. Officers received word of shots fired late Friday night in the area of Michigan Avenue and Mott Street. When they arrived, they found a 15-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds. Teen walks two hours for 8th grade graduation in St. Louis Authorities say an AR-15-style pistol was found nearby, though no suspect information is available at this time. The boy was taken to the hospital. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is handling the investigation.

Wings Over St. Louis honors World War II history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - Among the many Memorial Day celebrations in St. Louis this weekend, one group is paying homage to those who gave their lives in World War II. Wings Over St. Louis is taking place all weekend at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The event is put on by the Missouri wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Teen walks two hours for 8th grade graduation in St. Louis Visitors will have a chance to see planes that flew in World War II up close. The planes help people learn how young service men flew dangerous missions to help the allied forces.Rob Jenner, a member of the Commemorative Air Force, says visitors will get to ride on a few really impressive planes.Jenner says on the Missouri Wing's B-25 medium bomber, "The airplane was delivered to the Army Air Corps in December 1944. We have had it since the early 1980s. It was used extensively in the south Pacific, Italy, and north Africa during the war." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in ...

Kiszla: Why did Nikola Jokic decide to join the Nuggets back in 2015? It was love over basketball.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

At long last, the truth can be told: When Nikola Jokic came to America in 2015, his fondest wish was to win a woman’s heart rather than chase a basketball dream.“I never chased the Nuggets,” Jokic said Saturday.I asked Jokic to reminisce how he got here, averaging a triple double (29.9 points! 13.3 rebounds! 10.3 assists!) in the NBA playoffs as the most unlikely sports hero Denver has ever stood up to cheer. His answer revealed why this Joker is the most humble superstar you’ll ever meet.She is now the wife of a two-time MVP and the mother of Jokic’s young daughter. But in 2015, Natalija Macesic was an accomplished volleyball player and outstanding student who had left her high-school sweetheart back in Europe to attend college in the United States.Jokic missed her. Desperately.They were separated by the Atlantic Ocean for more than six months. Natalija played volleyball at Seminole State. Jokic showed promise in the Adriatic League after being taken at No. 41 in the second r...

Man fatally stabbed in Victorville, suspect at large

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

Authorities are searching for a suspect after a man was found fatally stabbed in Victorville on Saturday.The victim was identified as Tyreque Oshay Scott, 24, by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.Authorities received calls of an issue on the 14200 block of Rodeo Drive around 10:48 a.m.When deputies arrived, they found Scott with injuries near the entrance of an apartment complex.Emergency crews administered life-saving measures before transporting Scott to a local hospital. Officials determined Scott had “received sharp force injuries” at the time. He died from his wounds a short time later, authorities said.The suspect remains outstanding and has not been identified. The deadly incident remains under investigation.Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Charlie Lopez at 909-890-4904. Anonymous callers can contact We-Tip at 800-782-7463 or submit a tip online at wetip.com.

Oakland A’s find one positive in latest loss to Houston Astros

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:53:39 GMT

OAKLAND – The Oakland A’s have sometimes needed a microscope to find positives through what‘s been an ugly first third of the season.At least one emerged Saturday, though, as left-handed reliever Hogan Harris gave the A’s a chance to stay within striking distance against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.Harris, making his second career Major League appearance after he was recalled Saturday morning, allowed one hit and struck out five in five scoreless innings for the A’s in a 6-3 loss to the Astros, Oakland’s 10th straight defeat.Harris took over for opener Austin Pruitt in the second inning with the A’s down 2-0. After he got Jose Altuve to ground into an inning-ending double play in the second, Harris retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced as the A’s trailed 2-1 going into the seventh.Harris’ outing stood in stark contrast to his MLB debut with the A’s on April 14 when he was charged with six earned runs in only one-third of an inning against the New York Met...