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WATCH: Procession for fallen CFD Lt. Kevin Ward as he is escorted to funeral home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

WATCH LIVE: Procession held Thursday for fallen Chicago Firefighter Lt. Kevin Ward as he is escorted from the medical examiner's office to the funeral home.CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter with over 25 years on the job has passed away following a house fire earlier this month, the Chicago Fire Department reports.Lt. Kevin Ward was one of three firefighters injured in a blaze Aug. 11 in the 8300 block of West Balmoral near O'Hare. A mayday call was issued during the fire and Ward was transported in critical condition.Two days later, CFD said he was making improvements at Loyola Medical Center but remained in serious condition. Previous: 3 firefighters injured following Northwest Side house fire Ward, 59, joined the department in 1996 and worked out of Truck 9, located in the 5300 block of North Cumberland.Ward's death is the third line-of-duty death the department has dealt with in 2023. In the same week in April, CFD lost Jermaine Pelt, 49, and Jan Tchoryk, 55, in separate fires."...

One reason the Cubs had a memorable August in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

CHICAGO — In order to put themselves in the thick of the race for a playoff spot in the fourth year of the David Ross era, the Chicago Cubs took a page from their previous regime.How have they done so? By having a strong month of August. And there was one big reason why they were able to pull it off.Over the course of 27 games, the Cubs went 18-9, including a 3-2 win over the Brewers at Wrigley Field to take 2-of-3 from their division rivals. It has the club just three games behind Milwaukee for the top spot in the National League Central division and two games ahead of the Giants for the second NL Wild Card spot. August was by far the Cubs' best month of the 2023 season, with July being the previous best at 15-11. It's their best August since their World Series championship campaign in 2016, when they went 22-6, and the 19 victories in a month are the most by the Cubs since May 2021.One thing that helped the team perform well was their play in games which were decided by one run. T...

VIDEO: Postal worker tosses packages from mail truck in Tennessee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) -- A U.S. postal worker in Tennessee has been caught on camera tossing packages from a mail truck.A delivery to a Collierville home wasn't quite what the homeowner expected as the U.S. Postal Service mail carrier didn't get out of the vehicle, and instead tossed the package before driving away.And that wasn't the only case. The homeowner, who doesn't want to be identified, said she initially noticed her parcels were ending up in strange places months ago. "They would be in the middle of the driveway, right by the rain gutter, leaning against the garage, and I thought that was really odd because normally packages are delivered to our porch," she said. So, she started checking her surveillance camera footage. "I have an inner dialogue of kinda funny things that go through my head, thinking what is going through her head when she's just throwing packages out the window of the truck," she said. But ultimately, she says it's...

These spooky movies will be released ahead of Halloween

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — With spooky season right around the corner, there are a few scary films set to hit theaters soon. These movies vary in horror -- from comically creepy to downright gruesome. Depending on your threshold for thrillers, these flicks will put you in the Halloween mood. Orchards still offering apple picking for fall 2023 September: Sept. 1: All Fun and GamesAfter Salem teens find a cursed knife, they are forced to play childhood games with a deadly turn. You may recognize one of the stars, Natalia Dyer, as "Nancy Wheeler" from the popular TV series "Stanger Things." Sept. 1: Don't Look AwayOnce you see the supernatural entity in the form of a mannequin, you're already dead -- or at least that's what happened to the people who saw it before Frankie. Sept. 1: The Good MotherThis dramatic mystery isn't supernatural, but it's definitely a thriller. A mother embarks on a journey to track down her son's killer with his pregnant girlfriend only to find a world of drugs and co...

Trans youth health care ban to begin after Texas Supreme Court denies motion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new Texas law banning transgender health care for minors will go into effect Friday, Sept. 1 after the Texas Supreme Court denied a motion for temporary relief on Thursday. A Travis County district judge issued a temporary injunction last Friday, August 25, blocking Texas’ ban on transgender health care for minors from going into effect in the new month. Judge issues injunction, temporarily blocking transgender youth health care ban from going into effect, state appeals The judge’s order would have paused SB 14 from going into effect on Friday. However, a little over an hour after the judge issued the injunction, the Office of the Attorney General filed an appeal with the Texas Supreme Court.In a seven-page order, Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel found the bill likely violates parents’ and doctors’ rights under the Texas Constitution, writing that it infringes upon “the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody and control of...

PHOTOS: Blue Supermoon dazzles in sky above Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you looked up at the sky Wednesday night, you were treated to a rare sight: a blue supermoon.According to NASA, a 'supermoon' occurs when a full moon passes through 'perigee,' or the point in its orbit when it's closest to Earth, causing it to appear large and bright in the sky. A 'blue moon' occurs when a full moon is seen twice in a single month.KXAN viewers sent in photos from across Central Texas:A blue supermoon seen from south Round Rock on Aug. 30, 2023. (Courtesy Leslie Priddy)A blue supermoon seen from downtown Austin on Aug. 30, 2023. (Courtesy Barbra Waldare)The moon, as seen in south Austin, on Aug. 29, 2023, just days before a blue supermoon. (Courtesy Earl McGehee).A blue supermoon seen from downtown Austin on Aug. 30, 2023. (Courtesy Barbra Waldare)A blue supermoon seen from south Austin on Aug. 30, 2023. (KXAN Viewer Photo)A blue supermoon seen from Salado on Aug. 30, 2023. (Courtesy Mackenzie Mayo)A blue supermoon seen from Austin on Aug. 30, 2023...

Young child shot in road rage incident, TCSO says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

Editor's Note: The video in this story shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 31, 2023TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A young child was severely injured in an apparent road rage incident Monday evening near Del Valle, the Travis County Sheriff's Office said.TCSO said the driver of a black Chevrolet Tahoe fired gunshots into a passenger vehicle around 7:30 p.m. at Elroy Road and Fagerquist Road. A child was shot and is in stable condition, TCSO said.Authorities are looking for the suspect who shot into the vehicle with the child, TCSO said.The suspect is described by TCSO as a white or Hispanic man around 17 to 20 years old. The vehicle he was driving was a 2008 to 2020 black Chevrolet Tahoe.The investigation remains open and active, TCSO said.Anyone with information about the suspect or the crime should call the TCSO tip line at 512-854-1444 or call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS (8477).

San Marcos man arrested in connection with grooming minor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

Editor's Note: The video in this story shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 31, 2023.TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was arrested July 4 in connection with reportedly grooming a young girl, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.In April, TCSO said it responded to a report of sexual abuse of a child involving a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly groomed via Instagram by 24-year-old Ashton Popp, of San Marcos.Image of Ashton Popp (TCSO photo)According to a statement, TCSO’s investigation showed the suspect began grooming the victim when she entered seventh grade.TCSO said detectives had enough evidence to issue a warrant for Popp’s arrest June 26, and the arrest warrant was executed July 4.KXAN reached out to Popp’s attorney. This article will be updated if a statement is received.“In the weeks that followed, TCSO’s investigation has revealed the strong likelihood there are additional victims in the Austin/Travis County area,” TCSO said.TCSO said it asked anyone els...

Space Tower owner: The up button sends the ride down — ‘it should not be doing what it is doing’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

The Space Tower at the Minnesota State Fair began suffering control circuitry issues last Sunday, and “out of an abundance of caution,” will not be operating for the duration of the Fair, according to Ben Kantor, a member of the family that operates the iconic attraction.“When we hit the ‘up’ button to start the ride, It actually goes down (and the opposite is true),” said Kantor, in an email. “We had elevator experts and electricians involved with the troubleshooting effort Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and they all agree it should not be doing what it is doing, but couldn’t find the reason(s). Nobody was stuck, nobody was in any danger, (it) just wasn’t doing what was expected.”Kantor said his family — now spanning his wife Michelle, brother Joseph, parents Gretchen and Errol and father-in-law Larry Borud — have owned the tower together since the early 1980s and provide basic maintenance themselves, such as painting and oil...

Why do pools close in August when there’s plenty of hot weather through September?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:40 GMT

If you still want to cool off in an outdoor public pool or municipal water park over Labor Day weekend, your options are limited.And if you want to swim in the sunshine after Labor Day? You are pretty much out of luck when it comes to outdoor public pools in the Twin Cities.Why is that?“Guess what happens the first two weeks into August?” asks David Albornoz, aquatics facility supervisor for the city of St. Paul. “High school kids get back into sports practice.”Those high school kids are your lifeguards. Soon after, college students who also work as lifeguards return to school. Combine the lifeguard issue with crowds that shift from public pools to the Minnesota State Fair, it all adds up to the draining of our chlorinated water play.This doesn’t seem to be a problem for many seasonal swimmers.“We get a few questions that ask why we close before Labor Day, but people generally understand,” says Mark Vaugahan, aquatics manager for the city of Eagan...