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Illinois leaders praise release of Evanston mother, daughter taken hostage by Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois elected leaders have spoken out in support of the release of a mother and daughter from Evanston who were being held hostage by Hamas.In a statement, the Palestinian militant group said that in an agreement with the Qatari government, it was freeing Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie for humanitarian reasons.SEE ALSO: Mother, daughter from Evanston who were held hostage by Hamas have been releasedIllinois Governor JB Pritzker and many other leaders in the Chicago area and beyond issued statements Friday, expressing gratitude and excitement in welcoming Judith and Natalie home.The family’s rabbi confirmed with WGN News that the pair has been released and handed over to the Red Cross and will be taken to Egypt. A photo provided to WGN News offered a first look at the Chicago-area Hamas captives following their release. (Credit: Israeli Prime Minister's Office)I am incredibly relieved that Natalie and Judith Raanan of Evanston ...

University of Chicago students, facility rally in support of Palestine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

CHICAGO -- Students and some facility members rallied at the University of Chicago campus on Friday to show their support for Palestine.The "Students For Justice in Palestine" group urged University of Chicago leadership to stop investing and partnering with Israel organizations. Specifically, calling for the university to stop supporting Israel by divesting from the university's investments in Israel. For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here Hundreds of students and faculty gathered outside the university's administration building at Levi Hall in support of Palestinians who are dying and losing their homes amid the war between Israel and Hamas.Along with students, some faculty members also spoke about the issue with one faculty member challenging the school's decision to stay apolitical amid the crisis.The university responding to Friday's rally in the following statement:"The University has developed a consensus against taking social or political stances on...

AUS announces completed cellphone lot expansion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) announced Friday that its cellphone lot expansion was now open, and it was "wheely" excited about it. Austin-Johnson Airport? Mayor in talks to possibly rename AUS after former president The airport said it added more than 50 extra parking spaces in order to make the pick-up experience easier.Cellphone lot before expansion (AUS photo)Cellphone lot after expansion (AUS photo)Cellphone lot after expansion (AUS photo)“You asked, we listened: more parking, less honking and hassle!” AUS said in a social media post.

UT women's hoops, No. 13 in preseason AP poll, host Orange-White scrimmage Oct. 24

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The No. 13 Texas Longhorns women's basketball team will give the fans an early taste of hoops Oct. 24 at Moody Center.The Orange-White scrimmage tips off at 6 p.m. with a special team introduction at 5:45 p.m. The doors open at 5 p.m. and admission is free with seats on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be chances for fans to win prizes with trivia questions and other competitions before the scrimmage tips off, and the first 250 UT students will get free pizza.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/newslettersThere will be a postgame autograph session and limited edition trading cards will be handed out while supplies last. Parking is also free in the Manor Garage, located adjacent to Moody Center at 2017 Robert Dedman Drive.Along with their top-15 ranking, the Longhorns were picked to win the Big 12 Conference in a vote of league coaches. Rori Harmon was tabb...

St. Ann smash-and-grab burglary caught on camera, linked to violent crime spree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Police are searching for multiple suspects behind numerous violent crimes across the region. Authorities say one group is linked to recent crimes in the cities of St. Ann, Charlack, and St. Charles, Missouri. The latest, an overnight smash-and-grab burglary in St. Ann, was caught on camera.The St. Ann Police Department tells FOX 2 they are looking for several suspects in a burglary at the Kings Food Mart on St. Charles Rock Road. That happened around 3:30 a.m. Friday. Feds bust suspected drug ring in St. Louis area FOX 2 acquired surveillance video from police that shows the suspect crash into the front door of the store. Both doors were shattered and suffered bent frames upon impact. In the video, a suspect jumps out of the car and then over the counter as he grabs an undisclosed amount of cash and the store's safe. The suspect also left with several Little Debbie's products, leaving a display completely empty. "Officers discovered a window had been broken...

Saint Louis University confirms months-long data breach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University officials confirmed a recent data breach in which someone gained "unauthorized access" to personal information. The university is working to determine how many students and employees the data breach affected. The breach lasted nearly eight full months between Dec. 2022 and July 2023. Feds bust suspected drug ring in St. Louis area SLU says personal information like social security numbers, passports, passwords and medical information could have been exposed. However, the university says it's not aware of any fraud or identity theft resulting from the incident. The university is encouraging students or staff who received a letter to regularly monitor credit reports and account statements and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Demand high for St. Louis lighting companies as early Christmas preps begin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It’s not even Halloween yet, but it's the peak time for some to start preparing for Christmas. Many lighting companies in the St. Louis region have been hard at work since mid-September. It's a race against the clock to get as much done before the weather turns cold and frosty. Days like Friday allow companies like Paske Holiday Lighting to pull ahead of schedule, taking full advantage of the weather. Workers know the wild fall season can bring fast changes. “You have to keep that weather in mind always," said owner Joshua Paske. "We started out west, really far out west near Troy, and moved our way back here. This year, it's worked in our favor really well, so we’ve been able to add more clients deeper into the season this year as a result of that." Feds bust suspected drug ring in St. Louis area Paske says they’ve been hanging thousands of feet of wire a day. Even though we’re only in October, you need to get on the books much sooner rather than later if you want lig...

DUI, vehicular homicide suspected in Interstate 25 crash in Broomfield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

A Colorado woman is suspected of vehicular homicide and drunken driving after she crashed into a vehicle that was stopped along the side of Interstate 25 in Broomfield for a flat tire, killing two people.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Interstate 70 westbound reopens after seven-vehicle crash Crime and Public Safety | Middle school student killed while riding bike in Littleton Crime and Public Safety | Four dead in three overnight crashes on metro Denver interstates Crime and Public Safety | He drove into a creek and died. His family blames Google Maps. Crime and Public Safety | Man arrested on murder, DUI charges in August Pueblo crash that killed child, two adults Broomfield police announced the charges that will be filed against the woman on Friday but did not identify her because she is still hospitalized, according to a news release.The crash occurred at 10:15 p.m. Oct. 6 on northbound I-2...

Broncos OLB Baron Browning says he had meniscus tear, did not commit to playing vs. Packers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

In Baron Browning’s first time speaking to reporters, the Broncos outside linebacker said he had a meniscus tear that forced him onto the physically unable to perform list ahead of the 2023 campaign and cost him the first six games.Browning said he suffered the injury last season, but it didn’t bother him until the offseason.“I’m glad it showed up the way it did versus in season and being out the whole (year),” Browning said.Browning’s injury forced him to miss the entire offseason program and training camp. He returned to the practice field on Oct. 4 and wasn’t a full participant until this week.Browning said he is taking things one day at a time and did not commit to making his season debut against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. He will have to be activated from the PUP list on Saturday if he plays.“I haven’t talked to (head) coach (Sean Payton) about it so I don’t know when they foresee me playing,” he said.Whether Browning plays on Sunday or not, Payton said he would...

Bus and train ridership rose as RTD’s Zero Fare for Better Air promotion expanded to 2 months this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:10 GMT

The Regional Transportation District’s Zero Fare for Better Air promotion this year lasted twice as long this year as it did in 2022, and, as a result, the number of free rides provided rose.Ridership grew by 1.1 million passenger boardings, a 10% increase over last year’s program, which only lasted one month. The more than 6 million passengers during July and August represented the largest number of RTD customers since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted commuter habits, RTD reported in a news release.RTD hopes the people who traveled on free public transportation were satisfied with the experience and continue to use the buses and commuter and light rail trains.Related ArticlesTransportation | Is it rude to ask friends or family to take the A Line train from DIA instead of picking them up? Vote in our poll. Transportation | Man arrested, second suspect sought in fatal Lakewood shooting  Transportation | Denver’s National Wes...