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Remembering Summer, Emery, Autumn and Ezra

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

CHICAGO — Two more children who were critically injured in a house fire at a firefighter's home in Montclare earlier this week died Friday evening, further echoing the pain and grief being felt throughout the Northwest Chicago neighborhood."It’s very sad," said Perla Martinez, a Montclare resident. "We’ve never had something like this happen before and it just caught us off guard ... It’s really sad."A family member told WGN the two children who died Friday evening were 2-year-old Emery Stewart and 9-year-old Autumn Stewart. Emery and Autumn's mother, Summer Day-Stewart, died from her injuries earlier in the day, while 7-year-old Ezra Stewart died in the fire Tuesday. Family tells WGN that Summer's memory will live on through organ donation, while the Chicago firefighter community comes together to help pay for the family's funerals. Memorial services begin Wednesday for fallen Chicago officer "I hope they are okay in this time of their loss," Martinez said. "And we're always here...

Group commits four armed robberies in Rivers Casino, Park Ridge Mariano's parking lots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

A group of offenders committed four armed robberies Friday evening, three in the parking lot of Rivers Casino and a fourth in the parking lot of a Park Ridge Mariano's, according to Des Plaines and Park Ridge's police departments.Des Plaines PD said they were called to the 3000 block of South River Road to respond to a report of three armed robberies around 7:57 p.m. Friday. A preliminary investigation showed that three Black men exited a Red Nissan Rogue with a Florida license plate carrying handguns before proceeding to rob four victims in three separate incidents.According to police, two male victims were "pistol-whipped" in the head during the incidents before the offenders made off with personal property from the victims. CPD officer injured in incident over gun in Lincoln Park After fleeing from the casino parking lot, the offenders — in the same vehicle — committed another armed robbery in the parking lot of a Mariano's in the 1900 block of South Cumberland Avenue around 8:...

Police: Woman in the hospital after Joliet bar shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — A woman is in the hospital after a shooting at a Joliet bar early Saturday morning, according to the Joliet Police Department.Police said officers responded to Eden's Bar and Grill in the 900 block of Gardner Street at around 2:40 a.m. after multiple rounds of gunfire were heard in the area.When police arrived, officers found a 36-year-old woman who had been shot in the leg. The woman was taken to Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.According to police, they believe the shots were fired from outside of the bar and hit the victim, who was inside the bar at the time of the shooting. Group commits four armed robberies in Rivers Casino, Park Ridge Mariano’s parking lots Police have no one in custody at this time.If you or someone you know has information that can help police make a breakthrough in this investigation, Joliet PD encourages you to reach out to their investigation unit at 815-724-3020, or Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-...

Dateline correspondents talk to KXAN on first SXSW panel, Austin murders, new podcast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Keith Morrison and Josh Mankiewicz of Dateline – which has covered several notorious Austin murders, including Moriah Wilson and Heidi Broussard – will appear at SXSW for their first panel discussion Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. CT at the Austin Convention Center. The two sat down with KXAN’s Sam Stark ahead of their session to talk Dateline, their voyage into podcasting and reporting on Texas crimes. Can you talk about the explosion of the true crime genre in recent years?“I give credit to our boss, frankly, who persuaded us. He saw the zeitgeist and saw what was coming – he recognized that [true crime] were the sorts of stories that most attracted people's attention. Whenever we did a true crime story, back in the 90s, the numbers show a pretty clear indicator that it was what people wanted to watch,” Morrison said. “Most people in their lives will never be the victim of violent crime. But everybody has been in a relationship that did not work out how ...

TikTok touts more action addressing national security concerns than competitors 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – At a South by Southwest panel Saturday morning, TikTok officials talked about their efforts to address U.S. national security concerns and build trust with key government stakeholders.“We spent the last two years and $1.5 billion designing and then building a comprehensive framework to isolate U.S. user data and address the US national security concerns," said Jeff Louisma, head of cyber and data defense U.S. Data Security for TikTok. "We've always understood these concerns and wanted to address them head-on for a constructive dialogue with the committee for foreign investments in the US recipients."“These measures are beyond anything any of our competitors have undertaken,” Louisma continued. Already around the country, government leaders have begun implementing bans on the popular application. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott issued a ban on the use of TikTok on any government-issued devices in early January. A couple of weeks later, UT-Austin announced that Tik...

Twins ‘targeting Opening Day’ for Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco; Alex Kirilloff could be behind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco have yet to make their way into a Grapefruit League game this spring as they work their way back from respective knee injuries. But there isn’t a reason right now to believe both won’t be in the lineup on March 30 when the Twins begin their season in Kansas City, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Saturday.Buxton and Polanco have been doing their work on the backfields, getting at-bats during live batting practice.“I would say in Byron and Polo’s case, we’re targeting Opening Day, for sure,” Falvey said. “Relying on our medical folks on what they think are the best next steps … but they’re still telling us that’s in play barring anything changing. And both guys’ feedback has been positive.”That may not be the case for first baseman Alex Kirilloff, who the Twins are being cautious with as he works his way back from his second consecutive season-ending wrist surgery. At times, Falvey said, Kirilloff has wanted to cut back on his live at-b...

Women’s hockey: Gophers blank Duluth, earn trip to Frozen Four

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

There won’t be any more boats causing the famed Lift Bridge to raise and lower. The classic sound of the fog horn will not be heard, and most of the major tourist attractions will still be snowed in next week. But for the Minnesota Gophers, an all-expenses-paid trip to Duluth in March is something they have dreamed about.Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy (18) is tripped by Minnesota Duluth forward Mary Kate O’Brien (3) during the NCAA Regional championship at Ridder Arena on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Minneapolis. (Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune)Those dreams came true on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena as Minnesota got opportunistic goals and stellar defense, beating in-state rival Minnesota Duluth 3-0 in their NCAA regional final, and earning the Frozen Four trip that goes along with it.Madeline Wethington scored a goal and set up another, while goalie Skylar Vetter had 30 saves as Minnesota improved to 30-5-3, and earned a date with another conference rival – ...

PHOTOS: 2023 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

Spectators gathered in downtown Denver to watch performers, dancers and musicians as they participated in the 2023 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

CIF state basketball championships: What’s up with those Lakers-style uniforms?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

SACRAMENTO — There is no truth that the Lakers were on the Golden 1 Center court.But there is a fun story behind Valencia’s purple-and-gold road uniforms that looked quite a bit like the ones worn by the storied NBA franchise during the Magic Johnson showtime era.Let’s give Valencia coach Bill Bedgood the floor to tell how it happened.First, he needs to stop laughing.“I’m going to be so completely honest about this one, these guys do not like these uniforms,” Bedgood said after his team defeated Half Moon Bay 89-59 on Saturday for the Division IV state title. “It is my design. I am going to take full credit or responsibility, depending on how you look at it.“I thought it was the coolest thing ever and the looks on their faces when we handed them out were like, ‘Are you kidding me? Everyone’s going to make fun of us.’ That’s what they kept saying.“I go, ‘No, no, no. It’s cool. It’ll be awe...

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets 1st hits for Padres since 2021

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:02 GMT

A hit is a hit, even if it’s only spring training. For Fernando Tatis Jr., it’s been a long time coming.The San Diego Padres star had been 0 for 16 this spring before hitting a smash shot off the glove of Chicago White Sox shortstop Erik Gonzalez for a single in the first inning Saturday at Peoria, Arizona. The hit came against former teammate Mike Clevinger. Tatis later added a two-run double. They were the first hits in 526 days for Tatis, who missed all of last season. He was on the cusp of returning from surgery on his left wrist when he was suspended for 80 games by major league baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. “He hasn’t played in a while. He’s going to hit,” manager Bob Melvin said earlier in the week when asked about Tatis’ slump. “I’m sure he’s a little frustrated right now, and he’s doing a lot of work, too. The last thing I’m worried about is Fernando Tatis hitting or not.”Tatis isn’t e...