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One in hospital after Oak Park building explosion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

OAK PARK, Ill. — One person is in the hospital after a building exploded in Oak Park early Wednesday evening.According to Oak Park village officials, the Oak Park Fire and Police Departments were called to the 200 block of South Maple Avenue on reports of a fire with collapsed wall sections.Officials said one was person was taken from the scene to Loyola university Medical Center, where their condition is unknown at this time.First responders are asking locals to avoid the area as emergency crews work to process the scene. ‘Muddy’ the blue police dog statue stolen, CPD says No other information is available at this time.Stay with WGN News as this story will be updated as more information becomes available.

I-65 reopened in NW Indiana after Hazmat situation involving tanker crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — I-65 near Merrillville has reopened to traffic both directions after a crash involving a tanker led to a hazmat situation Wednesday afternoon.According to Indiana State Police, traffic was originally diverted at U.S. 30 (exit 253) and S.R. 2 (exit 240) as emergency crews work to disconnected the cab from the trailer of the tanker and safely remove both from the area. It is unclear at this time what materials were being transported by the tanker, necessitating a hazmat situation.

Amid Chicago migrant crisis, councilmembers growing impatient

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago City Council members on Wednesday voiced their frustration at an emotional hearing on migrants, as a patchwork of city, state, and private agencies still grapple with the challenge of housing and feeding the newcomers. Many of the migrants were bussed to Chicago by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.With families sleeping in police stations due to temporary housing shortages and a host of other problems, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights delivered their report to city leaders. Migrants attacked in two separate robbery attempts near City shelters “We’re currently at 14 shelters across the city," said Matthew Doughtie, with Chicago’s Emergency Management Services, under the Office of Emergency Management. "On the 24th, we opened up our latest shelter, a former Super 8 motel at 7300 N. Sheridan."The most recent move comes as temporary shelters continue to phase out. "It’s occurring right around the time we are required to vacate Wright College and the gym at Dal...

Alicia Navarro, Arizona girl missing since 2019, has been found safe in Montana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – An Arizona girl who went missing in 2019 has been found safe, Glendale police announced Wednesday.Navarro was found in a small town in Montana near the Canadian border, according to Jose Santiago, the media manager at the Glendale Police Dept. Santiago declined to release the name of the town during a news conference Wednesday, citing Navarro's privacy, but added that it is located about 40 miles from the US-Canada border."She is by all accounts safe. She is by all accounts healthy," Santiago said. "We are happy, and at the same time, we are hopeful we will be able to supply this family with a little more closure."The missing teen went to a local police station and identified herself, police said, but it's not yet clear how she wound up in Montana. How a Netflix true crime show helped find a missing teenager Navarro, who is on the autism spectrum, was 14 when she left home in September 2019, leaving a note for her mother that read "I ran away. I will be back, I swear. ...

WNBA player charged for allegedly strangling, hitting wife: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas Aces player Riquna Williams has been charged after police say she hit, kicked, and strangled her wife in a domestic violence incident that lasted an hour, according to police documents. Williams, a member of last year's championship team, is facing five felony charges, including counts of domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, assault with the use of a deadly weapon, and coercion of domestic violence with force or threat to force, court records show.According to an arrest report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to Williams' home on Tuesday around noon after her wife called 911. Williams and her wife have been together for four years and were married in September. Family charged in alleged multi-million dollar ‘Seinfeld’-like recycling scheme Speaking with police, Williams' wife said the veteran WNBA player had been standoffish and would not spend any time with her for the past couple of days. The vi...

Alpha Phi Alpha moves 2025 convention out of Florida over 'racist' policies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

The Black men’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has announced it will move its 2025 general convention from Orlando in light of “racist” policies. The fraternity announced the news Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing “Governor DeSantis’ harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black Community,” as the reason behind the decision.  Willis L. Lonzer III, the fraternity’s general president, told The Hill that last week’s controversy surrounding new education standards in the state became the tipping point in the fraternity’s decision.“Governor DeSantis has continuously advocated for laws and policies that negatively impact Black people and other marginalized communities,” Lonzer said.“We start first with the laws rejecting the teaching race and the cultural diversity of our nation. We can even talk about the bill that he supported, banning [diversity, equity and inclusion] initiatives in colleges and universities. But the fina...

'The walk home never feels safe': UT students talk West Campus safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students from The University of Texas will come back to campus for the fall semester in the next few weeks, but it comes as students are raising concerns about safety in West Campus."On campus specifically I have never run into any issues," said UT student, Paulina Pearson. "But definitely in West Campus is where I see people yelling at me."Pearson says she has had a few run-ins in West Campus that have left her concerned."Some guy followed my roommate into our apartment the other day and he was screaming at her and followed her in," said Pearson.People using drugs and begging for money on the Drag is a common sight for students.KXAN viewers have also reached out about a homeless encampment near the University of Texas CO-OP. Drug paraphernalia and human feces were spotted by KXAN crews when we stopped by.KXAN reached out to the City to see if anything is being done to help people experiencing homelessness in West Campus. ‘There are used needles, used condoms’: Wes...

ATCEMS: Two people found unresponsive in east Austin park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officials responded to a park in east Austin Wednesday for reports of two people that were unresponsive.Austin-Travis County EMS said a call came in at 4:25 p.m. to Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach off Robert T. Martinez.ATCEMS said medics attempted to resuscitate one person but they were unsuccessful. That person was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 p.m.The second person was taken to the hospital in serious, potentially life-threatening condition.

Kinne trying to 'take back Texas' in 1st year as Texas State Bobcats head football coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a dazzling display of offense last season in the FCS ranks, GJ Kinne is taking his high-octane brand of football to San Marcos in an attempt to bring some life to the Texas State Bobcats.Kinne led Incarnate Word to a 12-2 record, the FCS semifinals and the Cardinals piled up 51.5 points per game to lead all FCS programs in 2022. Kinne was a finalist for the FCS Coach of the Year award and the Cards barely missed playing for the FCS national title. Now, he's taking over an FBS program that hasn't won four or more games in eight consecutive seasons and was picked to finish fifth out of seven teams in the Sun Belt Conference West Division.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/newslettersKinne was hired in December 2022 after TXST parted ways with Jake Spavital, and this is just his second year as a head coach at any level. What makes Kinne think he can give the Bobca...

Saints storm past Mud Hens 9-7 on Kyle Garlick’s grand slam for mom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:33 GMT

When St. Paul Saints outfielder/first baseman Kyle Garlick stepped to the plate in the seventh inning of a 5-5 game on Wednesday at CHS Field, he did not allow himself to think about adding to the parade of grand slams the Saints have hit this season.But in what has become the norm, he did think about his mom, Cary, who died of cancer on February 18 at the age of 61.“I swing Old Hickory bats,” Garlick said. “Every breath I take before I get into the (batter’s) box, I look at the ‘c,’ and I think of my mom. So yeah, she’s been with me.”Garlick delivered in the clutch, connecting on a grand slam as the Saints beat the Toledo Mud Hens, 9-7, and the emotions were evident afterward as he continues to deal with her loss.Cary Garlick battled cancer for nine years.“She beat it twice and it came back a third time,” Garlick said.His mother’s death weighed heavily on Garlick through the first three months of the season, and it contributed to his slow start, both with the Saints and the T...