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WATCH LIVE | Update on 1-year-old girl found dead in 2017 house fire in Markham

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

MARKHAM, Ill. — Markham police are set to update the public Thursday on a yearslong investigation into the death of one-year-old Ana Marie Townsend.Townsend's body was found July 3, 2017 at the scene of a house fire at 155th and Hamlin. She was located inside a plastic bag on the upstairs floor of the abandoned home. Her identity was initially unknown. Man, 18, charged with killing CPD Officer Andres Vásquez Lasso faces arraignment Wednesday Two years later the Cook County Medical Examiner's office announced her identity through the use of DNA and officially ruled her death as a homicide, noting physical trauma had occurred unrelated to the fire.Community activists came out two years later in December 2021 and specifically questioned why no one has heard from the baby's mother or father.WGN plans to livestream this press conference in its entirety within this story beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m.

CPD: 2 girls arrested in string of armed robberies, carjacking at gunpoint

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Two girls, ages 16 and 13, were arrested in connection with a string of armed robberies and carjacking one victim at gunpoint on Chicago's South Side. According to Chicago police, the teen girls robbed multiple victims in less than 40 minutes across Auburn Gresham and Chatham on Wednesday. The first incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. in the 8700 block of S. Aberdeen St. in Auburn Gresham. About 15 minutes later, another robbery occurred around 1:55 p.m. in the same block. 12-year-old boy shot on Chicago’s South Side The third incident, reported just before 2:20 p.m., happened in the 400 block of W. 81st St. in Chatham. The juvenile offenders were taken into custody shortly thereafter in the 400 block of W. 81st Street.Both are charged with one felony count of carjacking at gunpoint and armed robbery. The 13-year-old is also charged with assaulting a peace officer.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesNo additional information was made available by police.

2023 hurricane season predictions released

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — On the same day an El Niño watch was issued nationally, long-range forecasters at universities in Colorado and North Carolina released their predictions for the hurricane season ahead. Colorado State University's team said it is expecting slightly below-average hurricane activity for the 2023 season. NOAA issues El Niño watch: Here’s where and when we will feel the impact In the university's Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity forecast, CSU forecasted 13 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes for 2023. The average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 hurricanes, and 3.2 major hurricanes.Also on Thursday, North Carolina State University released its own predictions, which didn't stray too far from Colorado State's. Researchers at NC State said the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will see 11 to 15 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin. The basin includes the entire Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Seaweed bloom reaches rec...

Fort Lauderdale Airport expected to reopen Friday after heavy rain, flooding

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — South Florida began draining streets and otherwise cleaning up Thursday after an unprecedented storm that dumped upward of 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding, closing a key airport and turning thoroughfares into rivers.Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews worked through the night to attend rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, which closed Wednesday evening, said it would not reopen until 5 a.m. Friday because of debris and massive flooding.Broward County schools canceled classes Thursday, including after-school and extracurricular activities, after water flooded hallways and classrooms at some schools. Service was restored on South Florida’s high-speed commuter rail, Brightline, after it briefly shut down Wednesday evening.More showers, thunderstorms and local flooding...

DPS in Austin: A look at arrest reports, how to file complaint

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nearly three weeks into the Texas Department of Public Safety's increased patrols in Austin - Austin Police say the initiative is helping with violent crime, but some community members have expressed concerns about the presence of troopers in certain neighborhoods. PREVIOUS: Texas DPS to send resources to help with Austin police staffing KXAN is still waiting for updated arrest, traffic stops and citation numbers from DPS, but we looked through a selection of arrest documents to get a better understanding of arrest activity. The below arrests occurred between April 8 and April 10. First DWI and open container, E. Oltorf. Class B Misdemeanor. First DWI, E. Oltorf. Class B Misdemeanor.Unlawful Carry of Weapon, Drug Possession (meth), Evading Arrest with Previous Conviction, N. Lamar and Rundberg. Part of surveillance operation at hotel trying to locate wanted fugitives.Felony Controlled Substance arrest for two packages of marijuana-infused gummies and one marijuana...

Gymnast from Round Rock named 2023 USA Gymnastics National Champion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

AUSTIN( KXAN) — A gymnast from Round Rock was named the 2023 USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-Around National Champion.Velandra Brochi, 19, is a sophomore at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and she has competed with the school’s woman’s gymnastics team since 2021, according to AFA.Image courtesy Oh Shoot PhotographyImage courtesy of Marivel RodriguezImage courtesy of Marivel Rodriguez(U.S. Air Force Photo by Justin R. Pacheco)Image courtesy of Marivel RodriguezImage courtesy of Marivel Rodriguez(U.S. Air Force Photo by Justin R. Pacheco)Image courtesy Oh Shoot PhotographyImage courtesy Oh Shoot PhotographyMarivel Rodriguez, Brochi’s mother, said during the USA Gymnastics Championships, Brochi made First-Team All-American on Bars, Beam and All-Around. She also made Second-Team All-American on Vault.According to USAG, Brochi secured all-around gold with a 39.125 and posted a 9.800 on floor exercise and a 9.775 on vault, uneven bars and balance beam.Brochi was also a student-at...

Sinkhole along MoPac prompts concern for drivers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Along the northbound service road of MoPac, between Loop 360 and Spyglass Drive, a recurring sinkhole prompted a concerned viewer email to KXAN.Vickie Klepper sent the photos below and shared her concern."There is and has been a sinkhole along MoPac northbound frontage road for at least two years near Bartons Bluff Lane," Klepper said. "It is dangerous with a lack of signage and warnings. Today a car was traveling really fast and at the very last minute it changed lanes. If someone had been in the lane next to him he would have gone straight into the hole."Viewer-submitted photo of a sinkhole on the side of the road on MoPacViewer-submitted photo of a sinkhole on the side of the road on MoPacViewer-submitted photo of a sinkhole on the side of the road on MoPacKXAN reached out to the Texas Department of Transportation -- which manages this type of issue along this section of MoPac -- and we found out this is a recurring issue that TxDOT is aware of. TxDOT said it is ...

First 2023 Atlantic Hurricane forecast released

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Colorado State University and Meteorologist Phil Klotzbach Ph.D. issued the first mainstream forecast for the Atlantic Basin on Thursday.The good news, they expect a slightly below average number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes this year.But, as we always say, it doesn't matter the number, it matters where a storm impacts. One landfalling major hurricane, in an otherwise quiet season, could cause devastation and loss of life. El Niño watch: Here's what that means Still, the forecast calls for 13 named storms (average is 14), 6 hurricanes (7 is average) and 2 major hurricanes of category 3 strength or stronger (3 is average).CSU 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast (April release)Landfalling potential in TexasColorado State University also issues probability forecasts on a near-landfalling hurricane impacting the coastline of the United States. In a typical year the Texas coastline (or within 50 miles of it) has a 61% chance of having a named storm, 3...

Gophers’ Mara Braun invited to U.S. nationals 3×3 team trials

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

Mara Braun, who led the Gophers women’s basketball team in scoring this season as a freshman, has been invited to participate in the 3×3 Women’s Senior National Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., from May 13-18.The trials will serve as the primary event to determine the athletes selected to compete on the USA Basketball 3×3 National Teams in 2023.Braun led Minnesota with a 15.6-point scoring average this season and was named to the Big Ten’s all-freshman team. She led the Gophers in 3-pointers made (65), free throws made (84) and was second on the team in steals (44).A combo guard from Wayzata, Braun was the first Gophers freshman to lead the team in scoring since Rachel Banham averaged 16.1 points in 2011-12.By competing in trials Braun will be considered for selection to events such as the World Cup, Pan American Games, the AmeriCup and more. Based on point-earning and experience requirements in FIBA 3×3, Braun’s participation and succes...

Ace Parsi: Living the learned experience of bridging differences

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:52 GMT

When I was 8, my family and I immigrated to the United States from Iran. It goes without saying that neither my older brother nor I learned the intricacies of democracy in Iranian schools — quite the opposite.If I hadn’t immigrated, chances are that I would have, like so many others, still desired to live in a democracy. After all, I’m the nephew of uncles imprisoned for being part of the Iranian pro-democracy student movement. But even this familiar connection is no guarantee that I would have learned about democracy, for such knowledge is not passed down to us through the gene pool.This is why it is essential — in our self-governing society — to ensure each and every student in our country attains the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be informed and engaged participants in our constitutional democracy. As we approach the National Week of Conversation this April 17-23, in which we are called to make active efforts to bridge differences, we would ...