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'Adopt a Grandparent' helps bring sunshine to seniors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. -- Warmer temps are giving gardeners a early lead this Spring and a local organization is getting their hands dirty for those who can't.In McHenry County, hundreds of seniors are about to be "adopted" by local gardeners determined to spread a little sunshine."In 2019, my mom and dad both passed unexpectedly four months apart," Jacci Richards, the founder of the Adopt a Grandparent program said. "I was shocked and heartbroken."With the early morning thaw comes renewal and for Jacci Richards, it comes in the form of a shovel as she found healing in the soil.Planting new seeds to share with those like the parents she lost.She delivered her first bounty to an assisted living facility down the road. That's when a funny thing happened: the more she gave away, the less sadness she felt.It was the beginning of what's now known as the "Adopt a Grandparent" program."It started with one facility with 67 seniors and this year we have five facilities with over 300," Richards...

Heat and humidity slowly build ahead of a small storm chance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following eight straight days of cooler than normal afternoon high temperatures, south winds return -- and so do heat and humidity.Morning low temperatures remain comfortable Thursday, in the 50s areawide, but daytime highs return to warmer than normal levels topping 80 degrees. By Saturday afternoon, temperatures approach 90 degrees with muggy humidity in place.Clouds increase Friday and Saturday as a storm system passes far to our north, but rain chances remain slim at just 10-20%. There is a "marginal" threat of a strong to severe storm Friday night north of the Austin area. Stay tuned for forecast updates.A low chance of severe storms late Friday afternoon and eveningBehind the system's cool front, temperatures and humidity drop on Sunday. Those participating in the Capitol 10K Sunday morning will find a cool, dry morning with a breezy northeast wind. FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at k...

Austin FC signs center back Julio Cascante to new contract

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — He's only been on the field for eight minutes this season due to injury, but center back Julio Cascante has done more than enough in the eyes of Austin FC to earn a new contract.The club announced Tuesday it signed Cascante to a 3-year contract with a team option for a fourth year, potentially keeping the Costa Rican defender in Verde and Black through 2026.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/newslettersIn the season opener Feb. 25 against St. Louis City FC, Cascante went down with a "severe" groin injury that has made the club scramble to find a solid combination for the back line. At the time of his injury, the club said it would be re-evaluated in eight weeks, and that timetable is up next week.According to the MLS Players Association salary guide, Cascante made $337,500 in guaranteed compensation last year. Those figures are typically updated in the fall on the pl...

N.D. governor signs off on Republican bans on transgender athletes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday evening signed two transgender athlete bans into law, effectively prohibiting transgender girls and women from joining female sports teams in K-12 and college.Lawmakers in the House and Senate passed the bills with veto-proof majorities this year. If the governor had vetoed the bills or refused to sign them, the bills likely would’ve still become law.Burgum said in a statement that over the past two years, with more than 27,000 students participating in North Dakota high school sports, “there still has not been a single recorded incident of a transgender girl playing or entering the process to even ask to play on a North Dakota girls’ team.”Nevertheless, the Legislature has now “resoundingly determined” that restrictions beyond the current rules for girls’ sports should be codified in state law, he said.Burgum added: “Concerns raised last session about such policies jeopardizing the ability to host regional and ...

Democrat Tammy Baldwin to seek third term representing Wisconsin in U.S. Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who spearheaded legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages last year, announced on Wednesday that she is seeking a third term in battleground Wisconsin.Baldwin, 60, said in a statement that she intends to continue fighting for the working class and families struggling with inflation, as well as opposing Wisconsin’s abortion ban.No Republicans have announced they are running for Baldwin’s seat, which will be critical for Democrats to hold if they want to maintain control of the Senate.The state’s Democratic Party chair, Ben Wikler, celebrated Baldwin’s announcement, saying, “No one works harder for Wisconsin families than Tammy Baldwin.” He said there was “a reason so many Republican politicians are hiding under a rug instead of running for U.S. Senate: They know that Wisconsinites trust Tammy Baldwin.”Baldwin won her first local race at age 24 and in 1998 won a seat in the U.S. House to become the f...

Parents spend frantic hours outside school after hoax threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

GRANITE CITY, Ill. – Hoax threats at schools across Illinois on Wednesday brought panic to parents and students. FOX 2 was amid the frantic scene in Granite City.Though we now know no one was hurt after a false alarm, you might never know it, based on what it looked like on Nameoki Road between 10 a.m. and noon Wednesday.From the air, video captured by Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX showed the tremendous police response surrounding both Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High. Hundreds of parents lined the road across the street, waiting for answers.“It’s been hectic. You don’t know what’s going on over there,” said Vivian O’Brian, a student’s grandmother. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW From the ground, you could see families ...

Jordan Walker matches MLB record for rookie-debut hitting streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

DENVER - The hits keep coming for St. Louis Cardinals young star Jordan Walker. Now, so does a share of an impressive MLB record. Walker matched an impressive record for the longest hitting streak out of a MLB debut for anyone younger than 20 years old. This ties a record held by Eddie Murphy, not the actor, but a player who first earned his spot in Major League Baseball in 1912 with the Philadelphia Athletics. Top Story: PETA protests outside St. Louis Budweiser brewery Walker needed all the way until his final at-bat Wednesday to reach the streak, but he made it count. He singled in the ninth inning off of Rockies relief pitcher Connor Seabold to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Walker is hitting .319 with two home runs, 8 RBI and 15 hits through 12 games in his rookie campaign. The Cardinals are now 5-7 and return home to Busch Stadium on Thursday.

Man shot, killed parents inside Hazelwood home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

HAZELWOOD, Mo. - A quiet Hazelwood neighborhood mourned the loss of a couple who, according to the police, were shot and killed by their own son.The shooting took place in the 7000 block of Woody Court just after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. According to the police, James Moore, 63, and his wife, Norma Moore, 70, were shot and killed inside their home by their son, Joseph Moore, 31.When officers arrived on the scene after receiving a call about a disturbance and possible shots fired, they found Joseph in the street with a gun in his hand.The suspect shot at the police before turning the gun on himself. According to the investigators, an officer returned fire, but it did not hit the suspect.The man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries. He is currently in stable condition. Top Story: PETA protests outside St. Louis Budweiser brewery A neighbor said they had witnessed the suspect in the street firing shots.“I get up look out the window, and he’s out here w...

Two teens sentenced in 2021 shooting outside Hinkley High School in Aurora

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

Two teenagers were sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to their roles in a 2021 shooting outside Hinkley High School in Aurora.Dalen Brewer, 18, and Larry Jefferson, 17, were sentenced in Arapahoe County on second-degree murder charges to seven years in the Youthful Offenders System.On Nov. 19, 2021, just before noon, surveillance cameras showed a white truck pulling into the school parking lot and stopping near another vehicle. Several people got out of both cars and began arguing, and shots were fired in the parking lot. Several students ran from the scene. The fight was later determined to be a confrontation between rival gang members.Brewer, the driver of the white truck, and Jefferson, who was in the passenger seat, could be seen in the surveillance footage shooting handguns out the windows.Three students, two Hinkley students and one APS Avenues student, were injured in the shooting.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Fourth teen suspect charged in shoot...

Grass fires reported in Colorado Springs near I-25 briefly close some southbound lanes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

Grass fires in Colorado Springs near Interstate 25 briefly caused the southbound lanes of the interstate to be reduced to one lane while firefighters contained the fire.The fire was first reported at 3:46 p.m. near Circle Drive and the interstate.The Colorado Springs Police Department said the interstate was down to one lane between Martin Luther King Jr. Bypass and Circle Drive. Police asked drivers to use caution and find alternate routes if possible.Southbound I-25 down to 1 lane between MLK Bypass & Circle while CSFD works on a grass fire. Please use caution and use alternate routes if possible.— CSPD Communications (@CSPDComCenter) April 12, 2023The Colorado Springs Fire Department said in a tweet that multiple companies responded and reported several small fires.#ColoradoSpringsFire is on scene of a #workinggrass fire near Circle and I25. CSFD has multiple companies responding and are reporting multiple small fires.— CSFD PIO (@CSFDPIO) April 12, 2023Related A...