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Red Cross seeks Chicagoans' help with critically low blood supply

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Amid a growing blood shortage nationally, the first since the pandemic, the Red Cross is seeking help from locals across the Chicago area.  The Guild Social Row Club on the city’s Northside aims to help the process.  Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood donor Kara Crawford on Tuesday said she hopes to do her part. “This is my second time. I wanted to check out the space, it's near my house and I keep hearing about the need, so I thought I would come,” she said. Chicago youth earned over $33.9M over the summer thanks to employment program Crawford is one of dozens of donors who answered the call for help. Why? Currently, there is a 30,000 blood unit shortage. Blood is broken down into types, with O being the most common. O-negative is considered the universal donor, meaning any can receive that type of blood. Donated blood is separated into plasma, red and white blood cells, platelets, antibodies and other components. The Red Cross sup...

Tuesday Forecast: Mainly cloudy with scattered storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Mainly cloudy Tuesday with scattered storms. Winds: ESE 5-10 G15. High: 72. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mainly cloudy tonight with scattered storms. Winds: ESE 5-10 G15. Low: 62.Wednesday Forecast: Mainly cloudy, scattered storms. Winds: E 5-10. High: 68.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

El Paso mayor chartered buses of migrants to come to Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Democrats have blamed Republican governors for sending migrants to their cities and called it an "inhumane stunt."But some of the migrants who arrived in Chicago over the weekend came on buses chartered by the Democratic mayor of El Paso, Texas. More migrants arrive in Chicago from Texas-Mexico border Some migrants are so desperate to cross the border, they rode on top of train cars into Texas."Railroad operators went as far as warning us of the dangers and telling us to wait for different trains if they didn't have enough wagons," one migrant said. "But we were so eager to get our destination that we take the risk to get to our destination."El Paso's mayor said his city is at a breaking point as nearly 2,000 migrants arrive per day. The city sent two buses to Chicago in recent days, the first time that's happened in nearly a year."Every individual that boards one of these busses is going voluntarily," Jorge Rodriguez with El Paso Emergency Management said. "They sign a ...

Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson dies at 86

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86.The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson's family Tuesday. The statement did not say how Robinson died.The Orioles held a moment of silence before their game against the Washington Nationals, and the teams lined up outside their dugouts to pay their respects. Also before the game, fans gathered around the 9-foot bronze statue of Robinson inside Camden Yards.“Great player, great guy on the field, great guy off,” said fellow Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who was overcome with emotion. “Respectful, kind. And you don’t meet too many guys like that. Brooks was a genuine person. There was no acting. Brooks was just a genuine person.”Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helpe...

Luck, fate, and coincidences save baseball coach who suffered cardiac arrest on field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

RENNER, S.D. (KELO) — A South Dakota baseball coach is alive today thanks to a series of lucky coincidences or, as some might call it, fate. Friday afternoon, Shane Vanderloo was alone at the Renner baseball field doing maintenance, something he enjoys. At a spot between third base and home plate, he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed. Moments later, Jeff Mott and Jamie Sorum happened to be driving home from the lake when Jamie spotted someone lying on the infield.The two men discovered Shane unconscious and started CPR. Shane was purple and it didn't look good, but they kept going. Mott spotted a woman and yelled at her to find an AED."My full concentration was on just keeping the man alive. That was it. There was no excitement, everybody stayed calm. There [were] three people out there, we all worked as a good team, and I was just hoping and praying that this man would come out of it," Mott recounted to Nexstar's KELO. A woman arrived with the AED, and they followed the automat...

Texas Comptroller: Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive pay back from suspension time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive back-pay for the months he was suspended from office after the Texas House impeached him, the state's top accountant said in a letter Tuesday.Paxton demanded a reimbursement of his $153,750 annual salary for the time period in which he wasn't getting a paycheck. He's also threatening legal action against Comptroller Glenn Hegar if he does not comply, according to a letter obtained by the Texas Tribune."Public servants may continue to receive a salary while on leave for investigatory purposes,” wrote First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster in the letter. "This office is considering all legal avenues to correct this injustice."Once the House impeached Paxton on May 27, he was automatically temporarily suspended from office without pay. The three-term Republican was reinstated as attorney general following his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, in which senators found him not guilty of 16 articles of impeachme...

Man charged in 2022 'random' sex assault arrested repeatedly while on bond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County judge raised the bond Tuesday for a man accused in an alleged 2022 sex assault. The man is now charged with criminal trespass in a second case, and sex assault and aggravated kidnapping in a third. Police first arrested Dublas Vasquez in November of last year in connection with a sexual assault near downtown Austin's Sixth Street in June. PREVIOUS: Car in downtown rape arrest linked to additional incident: Affidavit The Austin Police Department said the case took so long, in part, due to "many unique characteristics and challenges to investigating these offenses that are not typically seen in other crimes. This incident involved an unknown suspect, which caused a considerable amount of time and effort to identify the suspect."In court Thursday, the suspect's attorney Jorge Vela repeatedly questioned the credibility of that investigation citing, in part, discrepancies that arose during the alleged victim's conversations with police. According to the...

Travis County commissioners OK $744M budget for Central Health after changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County commissioners approved Central Health's new $744 million budget Tuesday. The vote comes after back and forth between commissioners and the hospital district's board of directors. Commissioners also approved a $0.100692 tax rate per $100 valuation for Central Health. This means the average homeowner will pay $56 more per year on property taxes. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Travis County commissioners to revisit Central Health’s budget Tuesday On Sept. 6, the Central Health Board of Managers voted to approve a $744 million budget—an 18.4% increase from the previous budget. The budget and tax rate needed final approvals from Travis County commissioners. Central Health is Travis County's hospital district and provides healthcare to low-income people. “This will allow us to continue to be good stewards in fulfilling our mission in serving those who are low-income residing in Travis County and who absolutely deserve to live the healthiest life possible,” Mike Gessli...

Twins welcome back key bullpen member Brock Stewart

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

The Twins made just one move ahead of the trade deadline in August, swapping a pair of relievers — Jorge López for Dylan Floro — but otherwise standing pat. They opted instead to make over their bullpen internally.First, they shifted starter Louie Varland to the bullpen, where his stuff has ticked up and he has posted a 1.74 earned-run average in six relief appearances entering Tuesday. Then they did the same with Chris Paddack, moving him to the bullpen for the remainder of this season as well. Paddack, who had Tommy John surgery last May, returned on Sunday.Tuesday, their makeover was finally complete when the Twins welcomed back Brock Stewart, who had been on the injured list since late June. To make space, they designated Floro for assignment.“It kind of sucks not to contribute in any way for the past two and a half months but … to be back now, especially at the right time, six more games before the playoffs, I’m thrilled,” Stewart said. “I feel good, so just going to go out the...

St. Paul driver sentenced for I-94 wrong-way crash that injured 3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:21 GMT

Lizvette Acosta wiped away tears several times during the sentencing of the motorist who in December crashed head-on into her car on Interstate 94 in St. Paul.Acosta and her brother Cesar Acosta were on their way home from work late at night Dec. 14 when Daniel Ambros-Tellez, who was driving drunk, went the wrong way on the interstate and plowed into her car.Lizvette Acosta’s car rests on the concrete median barrier after a collision on Interstate 94 near Dale Street on Dec. 14, 2022. (Courtesy of Cesar Acosta)She told the court Monday in a victim impact statement that she had no time to react, that she only “saw his headlights,” then heard the “loudest sound of metal crashing.”Injured and dazed, Acosta had a hard time getting out of her crumpled car, which was perched on top of the concrete center median. As she helped her brother from the passenger seat, he winced in pain from a bruised lung and bruised ribs.“Even now, my mind still replays different scenarios of what could’...