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Talent blooms during pandemic, now artist work showcases African roots

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — It was three years ago during the heart of the pandemic that a Skokie man uncovered a hidden gift.With a charcoal pencil in hand, surrounded by a gallery of his own work, John Wangendo is still getting used to his new title."I never thought in a million years that I'd be an artist,” he said. "I've never drawn since I was ten years old but I always knew I loved to draw"When he left his homeland of Kenya for the U.S. 25 years ago, that piece of him was left behind, forgotten until covid changed everything."And then pandemic came and my work load went low," he said.Stuck at home, it was his daughter who encouraged her dad to do something he loved. And so he picked up a pencil and began to sketch. The more he sketched, the more his drawings brought him back to his African roots. More: Pandemic sparks Skokie man’s mission back to art by educating about his heritage Fast forward three years later, Wangendo has had showings at multiple exhibitions along with offers from pr...

'Thank you for revitalizing my hope in humanity': Man rescued from truck days after crash posts emotional update

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Matt Reum, the man who survived a crash along Interstate 94 that left him trapped inside his vehicle for nearly a week over Christmas continues to improve.Reum, 27, of Mishawaka, Indiana survived six days on rainwater prior to being rescued from a mangled truck, according to Indiana State Police.ReumMemorial Hospital in South Bend issued a statement on Thursday that said his condition has been upgraded to fair and he has been moved to inpatient rehabilitation at the hospital. Related: ‘This guy’s will to live is second to none.’ Emergency responders detail miraculous rescue of trapped driver Reum also posted two videos on his Facebook page expressing gratitude for the support he has received from across the country."You guys have made what was and is a tragedy for me — I lost my leg, I have an above the knee amputation now. I've got an ankle that's broken. I've got a hand that's broken," he said. "You guys have made something that would be so har...

37th Annual Young Playwrights Festival Giving Voices To Teen Writers

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

The 37th Annual Young Playwrights Festival has started today - a citywide competition that gives voices to teens crafting one-act plays. Joining us now is Ilesa Duncan - Executive Director at Pegasus Theatre Chicago, and Alexander Loaiza - one of the four young playwrights chosen this year.Peagasus Theatre Chicago765 N AberdeenJanuary 4 - 27PegasusTheatreChicago.orgTwitter @pegagsusThtrChiFacebook Pegasus ChicagoSpotlight Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m

Cold rain overnight, then sunshine returns this weekend

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An active weather pattern continues with cold, light rain likely overnight, then another rain-making storm system on Monday. Fortunately, weekend plans between the storm systems look mild and sunny.Drizzle and light rain showers develop across the area this evening, then continue on-and-off overnight. This round of rain appears lighter than the last, with generally under 0.25" rain totals expected.Widespread light rain expected Thursday night into early Friday morningGenerally light rainfall accumulations expected by Friday morningAreas of dense fog and lingering rain showers clear by mid-morning Friday, with mild sunshine in the forecast Friday afternoon through the weekend. Outdoor plans look gorgeous!Another storm system dives into Texas early next week, bringing a chance of rain and thunderstorms on Monday, then colder, windy weather behind it. While the storm is still several days out, there is currently a low threat of severe thunderstorms locally on Monday. S...

Hays County hand-delivering jury summonses for upcoming trial

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Thursday, Hays County said it is hand-delivering jury summonses to prospective jurors for an upcoming trial happening Jan. 8, the district said in a news release.Hays County District Clerk Avrey Anderson Sr. said in the release more than 6,000 jury notices were affected "throughout multiple county offices" due to an error by a Hays County vendor. Those jury summonses have since been printed and given to county constables. They will then hand-deliver the documents to those prospective jurors, according to Hays County."It's an unfortunate situation due to the important nature of the cases that are currently on the dockets," Anderson Sr. said. For anyone who has received a notice on their door or mailbox, the county said that is an official summons from the Hays County District Clerk.Anderson Sr. said if the issue is not resolved by the end of this week, the county will "continue to seek alternative methods" to serve jury summons.

Temperatures, rain, severe storms: Tracking Austin's 2024 weather by the numbers

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — When it comes to the weather, there are a lot of numbers to keep track of: highs, lows and rainfall totals to name just a few.KXAN has created the charts and graphics below to help you keep track of whatever weather 2024 brings.For more weather data, click here to see Austin's heat and cold records or click here to see Austin's rain and snow records. You can also see records for each month here. And click here to see weather data from 2023.TemperaturesAustin's high temperature in 2023 was 110°, on Aug. 17. The low temperature for the year was 29°, set on both Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Here's how 2024 is shaping up:The chart below shows the high temperature recorded in Austin each day in 2024.Here's a look at how high temperatures each day compare to normal. If a day is colored red, it was hotter than average. If blue, it was colder than average.Here’s where we’re keeping track of tempe...

On St. Paul’s Snelling Avenue, 34 trees to be removed next week from St. Clair to Grand avenues

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will temporarily close some Snelling Avenue travel lanes in both directions next week as it removes 34 trees between St. Clair and Grand avenues in St. Paul. The tree removal will run from Monday through Friday, Jan. 12.The trees are being taken out to make room for road improvements next spring and summer, or because construction impacts to their root system will make it unlikely they’ll survive long-term, or they’re diseased or in poor condition, according to MnDOT. Snelling Avenue is a state highway — Minnesota 51 — in St. Paul.State officials said they will reseed the area after construction and plant new boulevard trees in 2025.Work next season will include resurfacing the half-mile of Snelling Avenue between St. Clair and Grand avenues, replacing the signal system at Snelling and St. Clair and building bump-outs and ADA-compliant crossings at all intersections between St. Clair and Grand avenues.Construction, w...

Twins claim relief pitcher Ryan Jensen off waivers

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

The Twins made a minor move on Thursday, claiming right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Jensen off waivers from the Miami Marlins. For Jensen, who has yet to make his major league debut, the Twins mark his third organization this offseason and fourth since last summer.Jensen spent most of last season with the Chicago Cubs, but was claimed off waivers on Aug. 8 by the Seattle Mariners. He was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Nov. 22, claimed by the Marlins five days later, then designated for assignment again on Dec. 20.The 26-year-old posted a 5.32 earned-run average last season in 64 1/3 innings between Double and Triple-A as he made the transition from starting pitcher to reliever.  After being claimed midseason by the Mariners, he finished his year by posting a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings with Triple-A Tacoma.Jensen, who was selected late in the first round of the 2019 draft, will come to camp as a depth reliever option for the Twins, who recently made their first major lea...

NaJee Thompson has turned himself into the Vikings’ special-teams ace, just like he said he would

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

Vikings cornerback NaJee Thompson is unquestionably the fastest player on the team. He set the state record in the 200-meter dash growing up in his native South Carolina, which explains why Thompson recently was clocked running 22.6 mph during a game. As he put it, “My whole life is just speed, speed, speed.”That speed was undeniable on New Year’s Eve as Thompson made the splashiest play for the Vikings in an otherwise forgettable 33-10 home loss to the Green Bay Packers.Though the outcome had already been decided, Thompson didn’t let that impact his effort. He raced downfield in punt coverage, forced a muff with his pressure, then recovered the fumble. A couple of plays later, the Vikings scored their only touchdown of the game.“I was locked in,” said Thompson, an undrafted free agent, who has become a special-teams ace for the Vikings. “I needed to make sure that they felt me and they understood that I’m not going anywhere for a long...

Train derailment on Upper West Side causes 'major disruption' to subway service: officials

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:50:58 GMT

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) – Two northbound No. 1 trains collided and derailed in the subway on the Upper West Side, injuring at least 24 people and causing a "major disruption" to service Thursday, authorities said.The collision happened in a tunnel near West 96th Street and Broadway around 3 p.m., according to New York City Transit President Richard Davey. Possible snow totals for the winter storm this weekend "The trains literally -- at slow speed thankfully -- bumped into each other just north of the station," Davey said. One of the No. 1 trains had customers on it, while the other train was out of service after it had been vandalized, Davey said. At least 24 people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the FDNY. The derailment has caused a "major disruption" to subway service on the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 lines, according to the MTA."There is no 1/2/3 service in most of Manhattan," a service alert said at 3:52 p.m. Davey said it ...