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WGN-TV legend Tom Skilling to retire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN-TV) — Tom Skilling, who has defined the gold standard of being a TV meteorologist and has been forecasting the weather on WGN-TV for the past 45 years, announced tonight on "WGN Evening News" that he will retire on February 28, 2024.“If you had told young Tom Skilling that he would go on to have a career in weather spanning seven decades, working in Chicago, with some truly wonderful people, I think he would be overjoyed,” says Skilling. "And that’s how I feel today: Overjoyed at the colleagues I’ve worked with, the viewers I’ve met, the stories I’ve covered. Overjoyed and grateful. I wouldn’t trade a single minute of it for anything.” WATCH: Tom Skilling announces retirement Skilling started his successful career at the unheard-of age of 14 at WKKD in Aurora, while still in high school. He had a series of radio and TV jobs in Illinois and Wisconsin before coming to WGN-TV in August of 1978. Known for his in-depth and highly detailed weather segments, Tom has elevate...

City of Austin on high alert as war wages on in Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is on high alert according to Mayor Kirk Watson as the war wages on in Israel."We have not received any information to believe that a threat is imminent here in Austin. However, our Austin Police and Homeland Security & Emergency Management departments are on high alert to help prevent and respond to any act of violence that may be attempted." said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson in a press release released Thursday.As fighting continues in Israel and Gaza, reports of a former Hamas leader calling for a day of action has left many concerned.Some are calling Friday Oct. 13 a "day of Jihad", "day of anger", or "day of terror.""I think at the moment people should have situational awareness," said Ryan Bohl who works for RANE, a political risk advisory firm.Bohl said these threats can cause panic, but that is one of the main goals."There is no need to necessarily engage in paranoia, but taking a look and thinking to yourself where are the exits at a locat...

Thousands flooding to Austin for events staying in unlicensed short term rentals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As tens of thousands of people flood to Austin for major events, like Austin City Limits Music Festival and F1 racing, a majority of them staying in short term rentals (like AirBnB or VRBO) will be staying in rentals unlicensed by the City of Austin.Despite Austin City Council chatter about how to get property owners to comply, thousands of short term rentals remain without a City-required license, according to the City's Development Services Department. KXAN previously reported that a previous crackdown on unlicensed rentals faced legal challenges. As of Thursday, the department said there are 2,201 active short term rental licenses, "ranging from single-family to multi-family residences." 2022: Thousands flooding to Austin for events are staying in unlicensed short-term rentals While the City of Austin said it doesn't have an accurate way of tracking all short term rentals in the City, AirDNA -- which has been used by the City to provide estimates to City Counc...

Preschool students decorate spider donuts for Halloween

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Halloween is just a few weeks away, and some local preschoolers got into the spooky season spirit. Dunkin' donated spider donut decoration kits to the Capital Region BOCES preschool in Albany.Organizers said the kids learned a lot from the activity and then got to enjoy a tasty treat. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Children are learning how to follow directions. Each child was given directions on how to put the donuts together, so they're learning how to follow directions," Capital Region BOCES Preschool Dir. Colleen Munger said. "They're also learning how to share, because there was a common frosting being passed between the children to make the legs, so they're learning how to cooperate with each other and make an art activity and then enjoy eating it after."The spider donut consists of orange frosting topped with a chocolate glazed donut hole and chocolate drizzle.

Juvenile briefly taken hostage in St. Charles County, suspect arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - A juvenile was briefly taken hostage Thursday evening in rural St. Charles County, but he was found safe and unharmed. Authorities have arrested one suspect linked to the investigation. The St. Charles County Police Department responded to the situation around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. An initial report to the department claimed an armed man took a juvenile hostage at the Lake Sherwood development near New Melle. Football coach shot in front of players at practice, St. Louis community shocked A SWAT team arrived to the area just after 7 p.m. Nearly half an hour later, the suspect attempted to get away with the juvenile. Investigators say his vehicle was spiked by Warren County deputies, and the suspect turned himself in shortly after that. The St. Charles County Police Department tells FOX 2 the juvenile was not hurt, nor were any law enforcement officers. Police say there were not any shots fired during the encounter. Close Thanks for s...

Colorado Rapids considering Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere for head coach job, according to reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

Since becoming the head figure at the Colorado Rapids in 2018, club president Pádraig Smith has significantly built up and enhanced the connections with its sister club, Arsenal FC of the English Premier League.On Thursday, multiple reports stated Arsenal under-18 head coach Jack Wilshere interviewed for and is being considered for the vacant Rapids head coach position. Both teams are owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and Thursday.The Athletic’s David Ornstein first reported the news Arsenal formally approved the Rapids to speak to Wilshere, 31, to interview for the role. Ornstein added “he is thought to have impressed during his interview”.In a statement to The Denver Post, a club spokesperson said the team would “respectfully decline to confirm or deny any rumors about specific candidates out of respect for our pool of candidates.”The Post reported last week that the Rapids were down to five candidates after the first round of interviews, wh...

Chiefs 13, Broncos 0: Denver shutout in first half against Kansas City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

The Broncos are looking to rebound from their 1-4 start. The problem? They’re headed somewhere they haven’t won since Peyton Manning was the quarterback. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.Live updatesThird-quarter updatesChiefs marching (7:58 p.m.): Kansas City’s offense is steadily moving down the field on its opening drive of the second half. Travis Kelce now has eight catches for 121 yards. — Joe NguyenHalftime analysis — Chiefs 13, Broncos 0Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Broncos defense is holding up its end of the bargain. The offense might end up walking back to the Front Range.Ryan McFadden, beat writer: A timeout after a sack? A rollout on third and 2? Broncos’ defense is putting up a decent fight but some of the decision by Payton on offense have been questionable. Does he want to win this game?Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: Give the Broncos credit for putting up a g...

LAPD stepping up security amid call for Global Day of Jihad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

It is Day 6 of continued retaliations and airstrikes from Israel into Gaza, the land where over 2 million people live, with many areas turned into rubble. The death toll in Israel as a result of the attacks by Hamas continues to rise as well. Many people across Southern California and the country are concerned after a terrorist threat began circulating on social media for Friday the 13th. Local law enforcement is preparing to step up their security as Hamas is pushing supporters to flood the streets for a “Global Day of Jihad.”Former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal recently called for a global day of anger in support of the Hamas attack on Israel that left more than 13-hundred Israelis dead. Tensions high across SoCal college campuses amid Israel-Hamas war “I think it’s very scary,” said John Paul, a Los Angeles resident. “Terrorism is intended to be scary and I think they’ve succeeded in frightening a lot of people.”While there have been no specific credible threats in Southern C...

Four-bedroom home sells in Alameda for $1.5 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

2031 Buena Vista Avenue – Google Street ViewA 2,288-square-foot house built in 1915 has changed hands. The spacious historic property located in the 2000 block of Buena Vista Avenue in Alameda was sold on Aug. 31, 2023. The $1,530,000 purchase price works out to $669 per square foot. This two-story house offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:In February 2023, a 955-square-foot home on Lincoln Avenue in Alameda sold for $975,000, a price per square foot of $1,021. The home has 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom.On Pacific Avenue, Alameda, in August 2023, a 2,265-square-foot home was sold for $1,475,000, a price per square foot of $651. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 772-square-foot home on the 1700 block of Buena Vista Avenue in Alameda sold in April 2023, for $785,000, a price per square foot of $1,017. The home has 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom. 

Kaiser agrees to $200M settlement after behavioral health investigations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:22 GMT

By Ana B. Ibarra | CalMattersHealth care giant Kaiser Permanente agreed to a $200 million settlement with the state of California to resolve investigations into its behavioral health system that showed patients experienced delays in care.The deal announced today includes a $50 million fine and requires Kaiser Permanente to fix major problems in its behavioral health services, such as providing patients with timely access to care. Kaiser Permanente also agreed to invest $150 million over five years to improve its programs.Gov. Gavin Newsom called the settlement “a tectonic shift in terms of our accountability on the delivery of behavioral health services.” It’s the largest-ever penalty levied by the state department that oversees mental health services.California’s Department of Managed Health Care announced its investigation into Kaiser in May 2022, when the agency received an unusual number of “complaints received from enrollees, providers, and other stakeholders concerning the pla...