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Countdown to 250th anniversary begins in the US with planners hoping it can unify a divided country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

It’s three years until the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, but festivities are already starting.The anniversary push will formally launch July 4 with an event during a Major League Baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The organization spearheading the celebration, known as America250, will start recruiting people to share their stories of what the country means to them.The country is headed toward the anniversary date as it remains riven politically, its citizens divided over how to view the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol and whether President Joe Biden was legitimately elected. Even decisions on where to shop or what beer to drink have been caught up in political fighting.Before the U.S. reaches its semiquincentennial — try saying that out loud — it will have to survive the 2024 presidential election, which is shaping up to be as divisive as its prior two contests.Times also were fra...

16-year-old boy shot, killed in Lawndale drive-by

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon in Lawndale.Just after 1:05 p.m., police said the boy, later identified as Samuel Sprewer, was walking in the 4100 block of West 15th Street when a dark-colored Kia Shortage drove by.Someone inside the Kia fired shots at the boy, striking him in the head and the hand.He was pronounced dead at the scene. After more than 3 years, family of woman killed in Logan Square wants answers; $15K reward No one is in custody.

Biden to deliver 'Bidenomics' remarks in Chicago Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will visit Chicago Wednesday to deliver a speech on what the White House has called "Bidenomics."Biden is due to arrive in Chicago around 10 a.m. and will deliver his address at The Old Post Office in downtown around noon. The speech is to begin a new effort to actively convince a worried public that the U.S. economy is not heading for recession but actually thriving because of his leadership. For him, there's a happy confluence of the coming 2024 reelection campaign and a favorable turn in recent economic data, leading the White House to believe that public messaging about “Bidenomics” will help to rally Democratic voters going into next year.But polling has consistently shown the economy to be a weak spot for Biden's reelection hopes. Just 33% approve of his leadership on the issue, according to a May survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs.Biden is eager to take full political ownership of the U.S. economy — a reflection...

Widespread flight delays expected to worsen as holiday weekend nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.As of early morning, more than 900 flights have been delayed in the U.S., according to FlightAware. Cancellations topped more than 670 flights.Cancellations and delays were most severe along the East Coast early and were growing worse rapidly. Disruptions are expected to spread West.The delays are being compounded by thunderstorms that raked the Northeast on Tuesday. At various times, the Federal Aviation Administration held up flights bound for LaGuardia Airport in New York and Reagan Washington National and Baltimore-Washington airports near the nation’s capital. Hundreds of East Coast flights canceled due to severe weather About 6,500 flights were delayed and about 1,900 were canceled on the East Coast on Tuesday. Uni...

WATCH: Florida man points laser at sheriff's office helicopter, temporarily blinds crew

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

Warning: Video above contains flashing.ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida man was arrested Saturday after deputies said he pointed a laser at a sheriff's office helicopter and temporarily blinded the crew. Robert Raymond Kasprzak, 34, of Port St. Lucie, allegedly flashed the green laser at the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office helicopter multiple times, according to the sheriff's office. The crew on board was temporarily blinded by the laser, the sheriff's office said. Americans are keeping their credit card debt a secret Kasprzak was tracked to a turnpike service plaza, where he was arrested by the Port St. Lucie Police Department and charged with misuse of a laser lighting device, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to deputies. Sheriff Ken Mascara said it was important to remind the public that pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. "Doing so triggers temporary blindness and could have deadly consequences for the c...

See 'Dean's Home Video' picks for the holiday weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

CHICAGO — A holiday weekend is ahead as the month of July begins and there are plenty of new movies, shows, and documentaries set to be released over the next few days. Dean Richards took a look at a few of those in his "Dean's Home Video" on the WGN Morning News on Wednesday. A few of the releases he mentions include the final season of "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan," season 3, part 1 of "The Witcher," season 3 of "Warrior," "Hijack," "Run Rabbit Run," a Rock Hudson documentary.During the segment on June 28, Dean featured a few more programs set to be released this week, and you can see those in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

NIL helping Austin shoe store, local athletes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Dr. Greg Grovey has long had a vision of opening a shoe store. As the founder of Kicking It ATX in The Domain in North Austin, running the store is a passion project."My dad was an entrepreneur so that kind of was instilled in me to be an entrepreneur," said Grovey. "Just having the dream of working for myself and doing something I love."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/newslettersJune 2021 saw the NCAA adopt rules that allow student-athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness. Kicking It quickly hopped aboard and partnered with local athletes with NIL deals."It's still really new so we're still learning every day as we go," said Grovey about NIL partnerships. "Learning new ways for it to be beneficial to us as well as ways beneficial to our athletes."Kicking It partners with some big names in the college football world. Texas football players Ja'Tavion...

APD looking for suspects who allegedly robbed woman at Costco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

Editor's note: The video in this story is from June 28, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said Tuesday they need the public's help in identifying two women who police said robbed a woman on June 22 at the Costco on U.S. 183 between Great Hills Trail and West Braker Lane. According to APD, the two took the woman's purse from her vehicle just after 6 p.m. and ran to their getaway car. Police said the woman tried to get her purse back but the suspects dragged her with their vehicle causing injury. Police described the first suspect as a Hispanic woman in her 30's, 5 feet, 5 inches tall with a heavy build. She has long brown hair down to the mid-back area. The woman was last seen wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. Police said the second suspect is a Hispanic woman around 30 years old. Suspect #1 in June 22 robbery at Costco (Photo courtesy Austin Police)Suspect #1 in June 22 robbery at Costco (Photo courtesy Austin Police)Suspect vehicle in June 22 robbery at Costco (Photo courtesy A...

Liam Neeson shows support for Hudson Valley cinemas in video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

RHINEBECK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Actor Liam Neeson wants you to support your local movie theaters, including two in the Hudson Valley. In a video posted to the Upstate Films Facebook page, Neeson shares his support of the organization. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "So, Upstate Films. Be there. Support it. OK?" he said in the video titled "Straight Talk with Liam Neeson."Upstate Films owns two cinemas in the Hudson Valley: Starr Cinema in Rhinebeck and Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties. The organization is a not-for-profit that relies on the support of members, donors, and cinemagoers and looks to make international and independent cinema accessible and affordable. Michael Douglas seen filming new movie in the Berkshires The video aims to get people to support the theaters by becoming a member. Member benefits include free screenings and discounted admission tickets. You can sign up to become a member on the Upstate Films website.

Air quality alert for St. Louis from Canadian wildfire smoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:18 GMT

St. Louis Air QualityST. LOUIS -- Dense smoke that has been dropping south from Canada has made it into the St. Louis area. Visibility dropped to between 2-3 miles from the Canadian wildfire smoke. A warm front moving in today will help kick the thickest smoke to the east by afternoon.The worst of the smoke will be around in the morning, with some improvement in the afternoon. However, then ozone will become a concern from midday into the afternoon. Between the two, we expect orange air quality for Wednesday and that means an Air Quality Alert is in effect. That means the air quality will be unhealthy for some with health and breathing issues and within vulnerable populations. You can see a map of the smoke here.A view of the Planetarium from Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX Helicopter Wednesday morning St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Scattered showers and thunderstorms are still possible this morning as the dome of heat starts to build our way. Rainfall amou...