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Illinois State Police update after at least 6 dead, more than 30 hospitalized in I-55 crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

DIVERNON, Ill. (AP) — Both lanes of I-55 reopened Tuesday morning hours after a windstorm in central Illinois causing numerous crashes that killed at least six people Monday, police said.Six people were killed in a 72-car pileup late Monday morning near mile marker 76, between Diveron and Farmersville, about 20 miles south of Springfield. Multiple tractor-trailers were among the vehicles involved, two of which caught fire, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said.More than 30 people on both sides of I-55 were transported to hospitals with injuries.Authorities held a news conference Tuesday morning and said they are seeking the public's help to identify two of the victims killed in the crash. State police believe one person was driving a blue Chrysler 300 and one person was driving a Hyundai, color not known. Anyone with any information is asked to call authorities at 618-346-3653. ISP needs help identifying two adult victims from the crash on I-55 Monday. One victim was driving...

Jonas Brothers to play Wrigley Field this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

CHICAGO - For the first time, the Jonas Brothers will get the chance to play at the Friendly Confines this summer. On Tuesday, the Cubs announced that the pop rock band will play a concert at Wrigley Field on Friday, August 25. This will be the Jonas Brother's first performance at the iconic ballpark and will be part of a 35-show "Five Albums. One Night" tour across the United States and Canada that was announced on Tuesday. See the day-by-day lineup for Lollapalooza 2023 Tickets for the concert at Wrigley Field will go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 12 at 10 a.m. central time at Ticketmaster. There is a verified pre-sale for the show that will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. central time and requires registration.Formed in 2005, the group consists of brothers Joe, Kevin, and Nick Jonas, first gaining notoriety with their appearances on the Disney Channel. They've released five studio albums with their sixth, titled "The Album," set to be released ...

The List: Pat and Paul guess past celebrity guests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

A lot of celebrity guests have visited WGN Morning News throughout the years and there's a strong chance that Paul had no idea who they were. In this week's List, Pat and Paul guess past celebrity guests.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

'Motherhood' influencer convicted of lying about attempted kidnapping on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

(KRON) – An Instagram influencer was found guilty by a jury in California after she made a viral video about a fake kidnapping, prosecutors said. Kathleen "Katie" Sorensen, 31, went viral in 2020 when she told her Instagram followers that two strangers tried to kidnap her children while she was shopping in Petaluma, in Sonoma County.The jury convicted Sorensen on one count of knowingly making a false report of a crime. After the verdict was reached, Judge Laura Passaglia remanded the "influencer" into custody and set bail at $100,000.Sorensen is now facing a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Questions remain in Bob Lee homicide case "This verdict will enable us to hold Ms. Sorensen accountable for her crime, while at the same time helping to exonerate the couple that was falsely accused of having attempted to kidnap two young children," Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said. "The case is also important in that it illustrates the importance of using social medi...

Toddler with rare condition is called 'Little Ninja Turtle'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

(NewsNation) — A Florida family has nicknamed their toddler "Little Ninja Turtle" due to a growth on his back that once resembled a turtle shell. James McCallum was born with giant congenital melanocytic nevus, a condition in which pigment cells don't develop correctly. In his case, it caused the 20-month-old to have a large raised area on his back that his parents said looked like a turtle shell.His parents, Kaitlyn and Tim McCallum, from Clearwater, noticed something was different about their son when he was born. "It was just a different tint, a different color, there was some kind of scabby-type things on his upper back," Tim McCallum said.Kaitlyn McCallum said it looked like "a birthmark with scabbing.""At the time, you're on that mommy feeling of just having your baby, and you're just excited for him to be here," she said. "You don't think anything and then over a couple of days, you start to, you know, notice everything, and you know, that's a big thing to notice for a little...

Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

(The Hill) -- A school district in Pennsylvania must allow students to convene an After School Satan Club, a federal judge ruled on Monday. “In a victory for free speech and religious freedom, a federal court has ruled that the Saucon Valley School District must allow the After School Satan Club to meet in district facilities,” the ACLU announced.In a Monday filing, issued in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and shared by the ACLU, a judge found that “here, although The Satanic Temple, Inc.’s objectors may challenge the sanctity of this controversially named organization, the sanctity of the First  Amendment’s protections must prevail.” The school district must allow the After School Satan Club, which is sponsored by The Satanic Temple, to meet during the school year on three previously agreed-upon dates, but it won’t have to distribute permission slips for the club for students to take home, according to the filing.  DeSantis signs ...

DeSantis signs measure expanding Florida death penalty law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

(The Hill) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday signed a bill that would make child rapists eligible for the death penalty in the state. “In Florida, we believe it’s only appropriate that the worst of the worst crimes deserve the worst of the worst punishment,” DeSantis said.Under the new legislation, child rapists get a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole and are eligible for capital punishment. The legislation goes against a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the court found it unconstitutional for states to use the death penalty as punishment for the rape of a child if the victim had not died.DeSantis's office said he's "prepared to take this law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule judicial precedents" which the Florida governor believes has "unjustly shielded child rapists from the death penalty." Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club The bill was among a few the governor approved on ...

41% of LGBTQ young people contemplated suicide in the last year: survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) - A new mental health survey out Monday from The Trevor Project shows 41% of LGBTQ young people seriously contemplated attempting suicide in the last year.The organization surveyed more than 28,000 LGBTQ people aged 13-24 nationwide.The survey also found that 81% of LGBTQ young people wanted mental health care in the past year, but of those, 56% did not receive any.“I know so many people who have attempted, who have suicidal thoughts,” said Alex Carroll, a member of the nonprofit NYC Youth 4 Trans Rights. “I think it’s shocking, but I think it’s the hard truth that everyone needs to know.”“I’m in that 41%, and once you’re in it, it’s really hard to get out of it, even if you have a super great support system,” said Kat Garcia, a member of NYC Youth for Trans Rights.“Middle school was a really tough time,” said Quinn Canales, a transgender college student who is also part of the non-profit. “I personally attempted twice because I was not able to get the proper help I ...

'A Taylor Treasure': Mrs. Lessie Givens reflects on 36 years of teaching pre, post-integration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

TAYLOR (KXAN)— If she knew then what she knows now, what would Mrs. Lessie Givens tell herself? What advice would she have for others? Would she survive the current state of public education, with teachers exiting the industry due to increased stress, politics spilling over into the classroom and what many call unfair compensation?Taylor ISD year book photo. (Photo: Taylor ISD).On National Teacher Appreciation Day, these are questions Reporter Jala Washington is dying to ask Givens ahead of a community celebration on Tuesday honoring Givens for her service inside and outside of the classroom. Lessie Givens yearbook photo, teacher at O.L. Price school. (Photo: Taylor ISD)She's known as a 'Taylor Treasure,' for shaping, molding and supporting young minds throughout the Taylor Independent School District for 36 years. You'll find the now 96-year-old retired teacher among her peers in a senior living community in Taylor. That's where what's being called a 'life service' will take place,...

Big Stacy Pool to temporarily close in May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Parks and Recreation Department announced Big Stacy Pool would close between May 13-19 for its annual spring cleaning.The public municipal pool, located at 700 E. Live Oak St., is set to reopen on May 20 for normal operations. It's one of only five city-led pool facilities open year-round. Through June 4, Big Stacy is open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays for lap swimming only. From 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. during the week, the pool is available for recreational swimming. Both lap swimming and recreational swimming is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.From June 5 to July 15, its hours will change to the following:Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., lap swimming only; 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., swim team use; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., recreational and lap swimmingWeekends: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., recreational and lap swimmingMemorial Day: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., recreation and lap swimmingIts operating hours will shift again between July 16 and Aug. 13:Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., l...