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Scientists say November is 6th straight month to set heat record; 2023 a cinch as hottest year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — For the sixth month in a row, Earth set a new monthly record for heat, and also added the hottest autumn to the litany of record-breaking heat this year, the European climate agency calculated.And with only one month left, 2023 is on the way to smashing the record for hottest year. November was nearly a third of a degree Celsius (0.57 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the previous hottest November, the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced early Wednesday. November was 1.75 degrees Celsius (3.15 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times, tying October and behind September, for the hottest above average for any month, the scientists said.“The last half year has truly been shocking,” said Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess. “Scientists are running out of adjectives to describe this.’’November averaged 14.22 degrees Celsius (57.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 0.85 degrees Celsius (1.5 d...

Trump declines to rule out abusing power or seeking retribution if he returns to the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump declined to rule out abusing power if he returns to the White House after Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity asked him Tuesday to respond to growing Democratic criticism of his rhetoric.The GOP presidential front-runner has talked about targeting his rivals — referring to them as “vermin” — and vowed to seek retribution if he wins a second term for what he argues are politically motivated prosecutions against him. As Trump has dominated the Republican presidential primary, President Joe Biden has stepped up his own warnings, contending Trump is “ determined to destroy American democracy.”“Under no circumstances, you are promising America tonight, you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?” Hannity asked Trump in the interview taped in Davenport, Iowa.“Except for day one,” Trump responded. “I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill.”Trump then repeated his assertion. “I love this guy,” he sa...

2 planes make contact while taxiing at O'Hare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Two airplanes at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport made contact while taxiing to their gates on Tuesday evening, city officials confirmed.According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, two aircraft from SkyWest and GoJet airlines made contact while taxiing just before 7:30 p.m.Officials say nobody was injured in during the collision and both planes proceeded to their gates without issue. Vinyl record shops report surge in burglaries, shoplifting Officials have not provided details on what led the planes to make contact, or which parts of the planes were impacted in the collision. Currently, it is unclear if the planes were departing or arriving from the airport, or if the crash caused any flight delays.

25th Annual 100 Black Men of Chicago holiday toy drive takes over Soldier Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Toys galore were dropped off at Soldier Field Tuesday night as one of Chicago's best mentoring charities drove home a selfless message during the holiday season.The non-profit organization, 100 Black Men of Chicago, hosted their 25th annual Holiday Toy Drive and Party at the Chicago Bears' home field.As singing, dancing and eating plenty of great food commenced, high profile guests made their appearances and supported the cause.Among them, Chicago police superintendent Larry Snelling and mayor Brandon Johnson, who passed on answering questions from the media. Chicago State University to join D1 sports conference, one step closer to football team Ryan Clark, co-chair of the toy drive for 100 Black men of Chicago, said the toy drive serves two primary functions — an outlet to selflessly spread Christmas joy around Chicago, while also spreading the word on the non-profit's mission year-round."We are heavy on the mentoring side … We mentor young folks, walk and talk with the...

Chicago Park District looking for lifeguards ahead of next summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Park District is looking for a few good lifeguards to work next summer.The district launched its recruitment campaign on Tuesday in hopes to find lifeguards ahead of next summer. This is the earliest applications have been open for interested swimmers. Salesforce Tower opens in Chicago The winter launch is designed to give candidates more time to train for the test and become eligible.Candidates must be 16-year-old by July 1 and pass specific skill tests and be properly certified.For more information, click here.

LIVE: Suspect arrested, linked to south Austin homicide and officer shootings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A suspect was arrested Tuesday in connection with a homicide and two separate shootings involving an Austin Independent School District officer and an Austin police officer, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to KXAN. Shortly before 7:30 p.m., APD said a police officer was shot in southwest Austin. APD is expected to hold a media briefing. Austin ISD officer shot at Northeast ECHS Law enforcement sources tell KXAN the suspect in the southwest Austin shooting is the same person who is accused of killing two people on Shadywood Drive in south Austin and shooting an Austin Independent School District officer at Northeast Early College High School Tuesday morning.The school district’s police chief said the AISD officer was expected to be released from the hospital after being shot in the leg. Details surrounding Tuesday night's shooting in southwest Austin were not immediately available. A KXAN cre...

Austin ISD officer shot at Northeast ECHS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin Independent School District police officer was expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday after getting shot in the leg, AISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed said.Law enforcement sources told KXAN on Tuesday night that a suspect was arrested in connection with a homicide and two separate shootings, which involved the AISD officer and an Austin police officer."Classes and after school activities remain canceled tomorrow, Dec. 6; however, the campus will be open during normal hours to students and staff who wish to be on campus for any reason," AISD posted on X (formerly Twitter). Suspect arrested, linked to south Austin homicide and officer shootings Shortly before 7:30 p.m., APD said a police officer was shot in southwest Austin. APD is expected to provide an update Tuesday night.Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement Tuesday afternoon sharing his reaction to the officer being shot in the line of duty. APD investigating homicide in south Austin "Our h...

Texas football knows value of win over Alabama

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Back in early September, Texas football made a statement. The Longhorns did what only a couple teams have done over the past decade in win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa."Going into Alabama and winning like we did early in the year is a hard thing to do," said Longhorns sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers. "For us to accomplish that is awesome on its own. For it to have worked out in our favor this year has been phenomenal."It has indeed worked for the Longhorns making the College Football Playoff for the first time. Now about three months from the upset victory over the Crimson Tide, the Longhorns still know how important it was."The confidence definitely grew after that game," said Longhorns senior linebacker Jaylan Ford. "Not a lot of people can say can say they [went] into Alabama and beat them."Texas handed Alabama their only loss of the season that evening. Despite the defeat, the Crimson Tide also find themselves in the playoff.Many have discussed how highly-ranked ...

Tracking weekend cold front that may bring rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another cold morning is in the forecast Wednesday under mostly clear skies. Rural areas and suburbs drop into the 30s with temperatures in Austin near 40 degrees.As winds turn to a southeasterly direction beginning Wednesday afternoon, a warming trend resumes and clouds increase each day. By Friday, high temperatures approach 80 degrees in some areas with overnight low temperatures only in the upper 50s.The next storm to impact our weather gives us only a glancing blow on Saturday. A morning cold front passage is expected to bring a brief 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with windy, cooler weather to follow.Rain will not fall everywhere, but where it does, we currently expect between 0.10" and 0.20".Another chance of rain is on the horizon during the middle of next week, when there is optimism for more widespread rain in the area.Chances of rain increase in mid-December Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk A...

DFLer Bianca Virnig wins special election for Dakota County House seat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:59 GMT

Democratic-Farmer Labor candidate Bianca Virnig won a three-way special election Thursday for a vacant state House seat in the south Twin Cities suburbs.Virnig, a member of the Rosemount-Apple Valley Eagan School Board, will represent Dakota County’s House District 52B in the upcoming legislative session. She received 58% of the vote, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.Mendota Heights Republican Cynthia Lonnquist got 41% of the vote and Eagan Libertarian Charles Kuchlenz received about 1%.Voters cast more than 6,600 ballots, according to initial results from the Secretary of State.With Virnig’s victory, the DFL will preserve its 70-64 majority in the state House of Representatives.House District 52B includes the south metro suburbs of Eagan and Mendota Heights. The seat opened after Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, resigned from her seat in September. During her five years in the House, she was a key sponsor of paid family and medical leave legislation, wh...