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US historians ID a New Mexico soldier killed during WWII, but work remains on thousands of cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — After years of combing through military records and making some key deductions, a team of U.S. government historians and researchers has finally put a name to case file X-3212, identifying an Army private from eastern New Mexico named Homer Mitchell who died during World War II.The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency this week announced the findings, which were confirmed by laboratory testing and brought closure to Mitchell’s family members.Mitchell is one of nearly 160 service members who have been accounted for over the last fiscal year as part of a massive, yearslong effort headed by the federal agency. The list of service members from various conflicts who have yet to be accounted for tops 81,000, but officials say more than 37,000 of those — mostly from WWII — are considered to be recoverable.Each case can take years and involves poring through old reports and medical records, said Sean Everette, who leads outreach and communications for the agency....

Movie Review: A transformed Zac Efron gives his all in tragic, true-life wrestling tale ‘Iron Claw’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

It doesn’t take long to understand the level of commitment Zac Efron brings to “The Iron Claw” as Texas wrestling brother Kevin Von Erich. Just one look at the taut mass of muscle and sinew he’s become for the role will do the trick.It’s also clear from the get-go how invested writer-director Sean Durkin was in telling the true-life tale of the Von Erich family wrestling dynasty, which — shockingly, to those of us unfamiliar with the story — suffered a set of tragic losses almost too staggering to imagine. It’s hardly a spoiler alert to say that Kevin, by 35, was the only surviving brother of an original six. (He is now 66). Indeed, so devastating is the story that Durkin felt the need to excise brother Chris, one of three lost to suicide, from this retelling entirely.Durkin has said he was a committed wrestling fan from his childhood in England, where he scoured magazines to learn more about the exploits of the Von Erichs, who made their name in the colorful, high-flying, ent...

Two railroad crossings are temporarily closed in Texas. Will there be a significant impact on trade?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The federal government has closed railroad crossings in two Texas border towns, raising concerns about the potential impact on cross-border trade and American consumers.Customs and Border Protection announced Sunday that it would temporarily stop railroad operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso starting Monday. It did not say how long rail operations would be paused.Carriers and politicians have decried the move that closes two of the six available railroad systems between Mexico and the U.S.“This train doesn’t just stop at Eagle Pass. This train doesn’t just impact Texas,” Rep. Tony Gonzalez, a Republican congressman who represents the affected region, said Tuesday during a news conference. “This train impacts all of America, goods that are going all over America.”WHY IS IT HAPPENING?CBP reported as many as 10,000 people entering the country illegally every day through the southwest border this month. Closing the railroad would free up customs o...

Art mystery solved: Owner of Wrigley Field painting meets artist behind it thanks to WGN

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

On Wednesday afternoon in Oak Park, the 20-year mystery that confounded Daniel Kamen was solved. He finally met the artist behind his prized painting of the Wrigley Field bleachers.To understand how the chance meeting finally came to fruition, we have to take a step back. WGN first introduced Chicagoland to Kamen a couple weeks ago. PREVIOUS REPORTING: An art mystery: Buffalo Grove man seeking to discover artist of beloved Wrigley Field painting The retired chiropractor and super fan of the Chicago Cubs had been gifted a painting of Wrigley Field's bleachers with a number of caricatures incorporated into the piece of art. On the bottom of the painting, a signature reading "Tommy '05" was inscribed.Originally, Kamen thought it might be a nod to former Cubs infielder Tommy Brown, who played for the North Siders from 1952 into 1953."Leo Durocher named him buckshot because his arm was so, so scattered," Kamen said at the time. "He would be a shortstop and throw to first base and it wo...

Swedish Hospital donation drive aims to help migrant families for the holidays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

It’s not just medical care — hospitals are anchors in the community. Right now, even the needs outside their walls are plenty. For the small Neighborhood Healthcare Hub, it’s a big haul at Swedish Hospital on Chicago’s North Side. “It’s so much more than just the care that is delivered within these walls,” said Jenise Celestin, assistant director of community impact and engagement with Endeavor Health. “All of our team members have been waiting for the opportunity to give and respond to this immediate, most pressing need.” And they delivered! Dropped off under the tree and in collection boxes throughout the facility, the cold-weather gear was rounded up by the hospital’s public safety officers.  More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch "We know that there is an influx of arrivals coming into this community. What can we do?" Celestin asked. "How can we have a tangible impact on their needs? What do they most need and how can we respond to those needs?” Celestin asked. Boots, bl...

'He's so tiny and so fluffy': Baby sea otter finds home at Shedd Aquarium after nearly 3,000 mile journey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

CHICAGO — The story of how one baby sea otter made its way to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium all the way from coastal Alaska began one cold October morning in the small town of Seldovia.Members from the Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC) spotted a small ball of fur nestled near the water, seemingly abandoned, along the coast of Seldovia Bay, an area of Alaska that's about a six-hour drive and ferry ride south of the state's highest populated city, Anchorage."When pups are this little, mom is always near by or with the pup," said Katie Roxbury, senior trainer at the Shedd Aquarium. "So, the fact that they didn't see the female raised some alarms."Now considered an endangered species, the sea otter population in Southwest Alaska has experienced a sharp decline in recent years, which led to the ASLC team bringing him to a facility in hopes of nursing the little guy back to health.There are only a handful of centers in the United States capable of providing the 24/7 care a baby sea otter requires ...

Skilling: Cloudy, possible rain to end the week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

Temps surged 11-deg higher Wed than Tuesday's chilly 33-deg high. When wind chills are factor in, it's felt close to 20-deg warmer today than yesterday. The warming marked the arrival of milder Pacific air.We've entered a WARMER THAN NORMAL weather pattern which will produce temps of 13 to 22-deg above normal from Friday through Tuesday next week.  Also, an influx of Gulf moisture in coming days threatens a prolonged cloudy period which lasts well into next week and parallels December's historic role as Chicago's cloudiest, least sunny month of the year.The WINTER SOLSTICE takes place at 9:27pm CST Thursday—of astronomical start to the 2023 winter season.  Temps Thursday will surge back to late November levels in the low 40s at a time of the year when mid 30s are normal. Chicagoans will see 6.1 hours less daylight Thursday than 6 months ago in June when the summer season began and the area saw maximum potential daylight. Thursday will see 548 minutes (just 9.1 hours) of daylight com...

Las Vegas police release body camera video from deadly UNLV shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas Metro police began releasing body camera videos Wednesday of officers responding to a mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, which left three professors dead and a fourth injured.Professor Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, of Henderson; Associate Professor Naoko Takemaru, 69, of Las Vegas, 69; and Assistant Professor Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, of Las Vegas, were killed on Dec. 6, 2023. Responding UNLV officers shot and killed the gunman, Anthony "Tony" Polito, 67. A fourth professor was also shot and survived.Photos of Patricia Navarro Velez (left), Naoko Takemaru (center), and Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, provided by UNLVOne hourlong video released Wednesday afternoon shows an officer running to the outside of Beam Hall where Polito's body was lying. There appears to be initial confusion about a possible second shooter inside.The video continues as officers search offices and classrooms. A second video shows a similar scene.The videos released Wednes...

First look inside Austin's recently purchased homeless shelter, former Salvation Army building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City of Austin leaders allowed media members inside the newly renovated former Salvation Army homeless shelter downtown. The City of Austin will rent the building for a year and then agreed to purchase the shelter after that lease was up. City Council to vote on purchasing former Salvation Army Downtown Center for $15M The shelter will serve women and people who are transgender, according to City leaders. "A lot of the staff that will be here are also women and transgender so it gives our clients a change to interface daily with people who are similar to them and have similar experiences that they do," said David Gray, Austin's homeless strategy officer.David Gray, Austin's homeless strategy officer, shows media a gathering space inside the renovated 8th Street shelter (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)Inside the former Salvation Army downtown building, now being used by the City of Austin as a shelter for women and people who are transgender (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)Insi...

Judge reduces bond for man accused of murdering man in Manor parking lot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, a judge reduced the bond for a man accused of murdering another man in a Walmart parking lot in Manor last week.That man was later identified as Juan Acuna-Gaona, 26, of Manor, according to the Manor Police Department. Manor Police arrest suspect, identify victim in Walmart parking lot shooting Acuna-Gaona's bond was reduced from $250,000 to $50,000 on Wednesday.Juan Acuna-Goana, 25. Mugshot: Manor Police DepartmentAn affidavit for Acuna-Gaona detailed the events that led up to the shooting. Luis Frias-Hernandez, 19, of Elgin, was identified by Manor police as the man who died in the shooting. Affidavit: Man told police Manor parking lot shooting was in ‘self-defense’ According to the affidavit, the Manor Police Department got an anonymous tip that an employee called "screaming" her boyfriend killed someone in Manor.A statement from Acuna-Gaona's attorney said the shooting was justified, because he was protecting himself and his girlfriend.Police t...