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9-year-old girl inspires father to organize fire truck and ambulance donations to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

SCHILLER PARK, Ill. — "Hey dad, is there anything we can do to help?"That was the question Chris Manson's 9-year-old daughter, Lilly, asked this time last year that got his brain humming, leading to the creation of U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine."It’s really nice to know that we’re helping people and saving lots of lives," Lilly said.In the 12-plus months since that fateful day, Manson has built partnerships with Chicago's Consulate General of Ukraine, UA Resistance and several other medical organizations, leading to what will be their eighth shipment of ambulances and fire engines to Ukraine, set to depart from Valparaiso Thursday."We’ll be shipping them out of the East Coast on a ship and eventually get them into the Germany and up to Poland," Manson said. "Then we’ll send a team of Americans to drive them into Ukraine and deliver them into military units, hospitals or fire departments." Ukraine’s Zelenskyy: Any Russian victory could be perilous Manson spent Wednesday walking throu...

Chicago woman supports, inspires female restaurant owners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

CHICAGO -- Vermillion Restaurant has a loyal following for both it's creative cuisine and trendy vibe. But, it's owner, Rohini Dey, is undoubtedly the secret sauce."When I entered restaurants, it stunned me how few women actually owned their own businesses and I strongly believe that power comes from that ownership," Dey said.Dey, who has been uplifting and inspiring women in Chicago for years, set out during the pandemic to find more women in the restaurant business and let them know they weren't alone."She pulled about 20 of us together to say hey, we need to stand up for ourselves, there's strengths in numbers and we can make it through this," Restaurant Owner Julia Shell said.20 soon became 30, and then 40 women started meeting to discuss ideas and band together as women restaurateurs."It proved to be such a magical moment for us," Dey said. "Not just the catharsis of it but the whole alchemy of being related on a very different level and that's when I realized I stumbled on som...

Popeyes adds new dessert item, brings back fan-favorite item

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

(KTLA) - Popeyes has a new menu item that takes a sweet twist on the restaurant's iconic biscuits.On Monday, the fast-food company rollout its new Strawberry Biscuits, a limited-time menu item available at participating restaurants nationwide. Taco Bell of the future: New restaurant opens with 4-lane drive-thru system (Popeyes) “We are thrilled to introduce the latest culinary creation to our dessert menu, the irresistible Strawberry Biscuits,” Amy Alarcon, the vice president of culinary innovation, said in a statement. “The perfect combination of our classic, buttery biscuits and the flavor of ripe, fruity strawberries, Strawberry Biscuits offer a delicious touch of sweetness to any meal.”The biscuits retail for $1.79 for one, $2.99 for two, and $5.39 for a pack of four.The Strawberry Biscuits aren’t the only new menu item coming to Popeyes: the company is also rolling out a new family meal option and a fan-favorite food item that will be available on menus at participating resta...

Florida man hides from deputies in insulation pile: authorities

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man accused of burglary found himself in an "itchy situation" after authorities said he tried to hide from deputies by burying himself under a pile of insulation.According to a Facebook post from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a home burglary in progress in North Fort Myers on Sunday. WATCH: Florida police officers wrangle 9-foot alligator in street There, deputies learned that a man entered the home but never left. As deputies searched the home, they heard footsteps coming from the attic. Near the attic access, deputies said they found a five-gallon bucket and insulation debris that had fallen to the floor.After several failed attempts to order the man down, deputies used non-lethal gas to force him out."However, the suspect made a rash decision and refused to come down," the sheriff's office said in the post.When that didn't work, a K-9 unit was sent into the attic where deputies found the man, identified as 44-year-old Br...

White Sox give a positive update on Liam Hendriks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

HOUSTON — As promised earlier in the winter, the White Sox general manager had an update on the team's closer who has been fighting cancer for the last three months. Ahead of their opener against the Astros on Thursday in Houston, Rick Hahn said that Liam Hendriks is making "very good" progress as he continues treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Because of that, the White Sox didn't put the pitcher on the 60-day injured list, opening up a possibility of a return much earlier than people might have thought. Hendriks revealed his diagnosis on Instagram on January 8 and began treatments the next day. How Liam Hendriks & family have helped the Lymphoma Research Foundation The closer has yet to speak publically since the diagnosis outside of social media, but he was working out at Camelback Ranch as the White Sox held spring training in February and March. "I’m just trying to take it day by day and stay positive… and make a few jokes inbetween," said Hendriks on an Instagram post...

Texas Democracy Foundation votes to keep the Texas Observer open

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 29, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the Texas Democracy Foundation voted to keep the Texas Observer up and running as a nonprofit publication.The Texas Democracy Foundation previously told its staff Monday it was laying off employees, including journalists and editors, and stopping publication Friday, March 31, according to the Texas Observer website.The layoffs were rescinded by the board Wednesday afternoon.Additionally, a GoFundMe was created, so readers and supporters of the Observer could "give a lifeline to staff and journalists," the website said. As of Wednesday, the fundraiser raised $278,654 of a $300,000 goal.The Observer said shutting the publication down would affect staff who need to pay their rent, bills and take care of their families. "It would cause journalists to lose credibility with those who have supported stories already published or in progress, including their recent series on...

Are bluebonnets poisonous for dogs, cats?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With peak bluebonnet season underway, many Central Texans are seeking out patches of the state wildflower for family photos or portraits of their pets. But some might ask themselves: Are bluebonnets toxic for animals?We took that question to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, as well as local veterinarians. Leslie Uppinghouse, lead horticulturalist at the Wildflower Center, told KXAN all parts of the flower are toxic — but the plants are a biggest risk to horses, cattle and other herbivores grazing in fields."Although they are toxic, animals are not drawn to them in terms of grazing," she said. "So there is not a high risk in terms of a draw and the [poisonousness] of it."The impact on an animal is also dependent on their size and how much they consume, Uppinghouse added. Beyond that, she said residents should be mindful of snakes, wasps and scorpions that might be hiding in bluebonnet patches before posing for a photoshoot. THE MORE YOU KNOW: Is it really il...

Daniel Perry trial day 2: Fiancé of killed BLM protester testifies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Holding back tears before she began to speak, Whitney Mitchell prepared to testify in the murder trial of a man accused of killing her soon-to-be-husband three years ago. Daniel Perry entered a not-guilty plea in court Tuesday. He faces a murder charge. Trial set to begin this week for man accused of shooting, killing Austin protester in 2020 She and Foster met as teens in high school in 2009. After a year together, Mitchell said she got sick. That sickness led to her losing both of her arms and legs. Though the two had only been together a short time, Mitchell said Foster stuck by her side. He went from her boyfriend to caregiver."He helped me get dressed in the morning, brush my teeth, wash my hair … everything you would do in your everyday life, he did that for me," Mitchell said. She and the prosecution both referred to him as her husband in court Tuesday because of how long they had been together.Follow reporter Jala Washington's live updates from court below:...

Drizzle develops overnight as temperatures start to warm

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- South winds return overnight, beginning a warming trend that will overall take us into the start of April. South winds also bring more moisture to the region, leading to patchy drizzle and light rain showers overnight and through the day Thursday.We are tracking a large western storm moving toward the Plains late this week. We expect only a 20% chance of a late-day shower or thunderstorm along the system's cold front on Friday, then milder and less humid weather behind the system this weekend.Central Texas is not currently included in the severe weather risk area on Friday.Severe weather outbreak expected Friday in the Mississippi ValleySaturday is the annual ABC Kite Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Zilker Park. The forecast is for dry weather under a partly cloudy sky with comfortable, low humidity. A chance of showers and thunderstorms returns Sunday.Record high temperatures are possible three of the next 7 days in Austin -- coming Friday, Monday and Tuesday.Au...

No. 8 Texas softball has top 10 hitting, scoring offense in NCAA Division I

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Following their 30th win of the season to finish off a sweep against Texas Tech, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns softball team boasts one of the most potent offenses in the country.Through March 28, the Longhorns are No. 4 in the country with a .351 team batting average and eighth-best in scoring with 7.06 runs per game. Freshman Leighann Goode is just outside the top 50 with her .413 batting average, but she ranks third in the nation with 52 hits, fourth with 88 total bases and tied for seventh with 12 doubles. She has 33 RBIs, tied for 27th.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/newslettersAs a team, Texas averages 1.69 doubles per game, tied for ninth nationally with Indiana. With Goode's 12 doubles, Mia Scott has 11 and she's tied with 15 other players for 12th in the country. Scott is also tied for 6th with Texas Tech's Makinzy Herzog with 48 hits.Freshman Viviana Martine...