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Endangered hooded vulture escapes from Bay Area zoo

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — An endangered hooded vulture escaped from a zoo aviary in the San Francisco Bay Area that was destroyed after a massive tree fell on it during a storm. But the bird has remained on zoo grounds, and officials were working Thursday to entice it back.The male hooded vulture and five other exotic birds, including two pied crows and three superb starlings, flew out from the aviary at the Oakland Zoo on Tuesday amid a wind-packed storm that pummeled the Bay Area, zoo spokeswoman Erin Dogan said. But the birds stayed on zoo grounds, and a team of at least 12 zoo workers armed with binoculars, nets and crates has already recovered the three starlings, Dogan said. “They are choosing to stay near the zoo and near the aviary because it seems that’s where they feel safe,” she said. The team has been working since Tuesday to entice the vulture with dead rats and the crows with mealworms to trap them and bring them back to safety, she said. All the birds hatched in captivit...

North Korea simulates nuclear attacks with drone, missiles

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Friday its latest cruise missile launches this week were part of nuclear attack simulations that also involved a test of a purported underwater attack drone as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to make his rivals “plunge into despair.”North Korea has stepped up its weapons demonstrations this month in a tit-for-tat response to the United States’ expanding military exercises with ally South Korea aimed at countering the North’s growing nuclear threat. The allies completed an 11-day exercise that included their biggest field training in years on Thursday, but North Korea is expected to continue its weapons tests as the United States reportedly plans to send an aircraft carrier in coming days for another round of joint drills with the South.Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim supervised a three-day exercise through Thursday that simulated nuclear counterattacks against enemy naval assets and ports that involved detonations of mock ...

Tom Brady becomes minority owner of WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady has acquired an ownership stake in the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.He attended an Aces game on May 31 and later sent Las Vegas star Kelsey Plum a jersey and other gifts.“I am very excited to be part of the Las Vegas Aces organization,” Brady said in a statement Thursday. “My love for women’s sports began at a young age when I would tag along to all my older sisters’ games — they were by far the best athletes in our house! We celebrated their accomplishments together as a family, and they remain a great inspiration to me. “I have always been a huge fan of women’s sports, and I admire the work that the Aces’ players, staff, and the WNBA continue to do to grow the sport and empower future generations of athletes. To be able to contribute in any way to that mission as a member of the Aces organization is an incredible honor.” Brady announced his retirement Feb. 1 at age 45. He won six Super Bowls with the New England...

Official: Willow oil project holds promise, faces obstacles

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Willow oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope is part of a “new era” of large-scale development in the region but it isn’t a sure thing, with litigation and costs among the factors that stand as potential impediments, a state official told lawmakers Thursday. John Crowther, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, said the scale of projects like Willow, which is on federal lands in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and was approved by the Biden administration last week, is “tremendous” and would benefit Alaska. He also lumped in as significant the Pikka oil project, which is on state lands east of the petroleum reserve.But he also said multibillion-dollar, multi-year projects are complex and there is “significant runway” for the ConocoPhillips Alaska-backed Willow project to get to the development and production stages. Australia-based Santos is working with Repsol to advance the Pikka project.Stat...

4 hospitalized after car crashes into Crystal Lake restaurant

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. -- A car crashed into the front of a restaurant in Crystal Lake Thursday evening sending four people to the hospital.According to the Crystal Lake Police Department, a Nissan Altima crashed into a restaurant located on the 1500 block of Carlemont Drive in Crystal Lake at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.Investigations revealed that the Nissan Altima was traveling westbound in the parking lot when they attempted to park their car. For an unknown reason, the vehicle continued driving over the sidewalk and struck the building before finally coming to a rest inside the restaurant.Four people were transported to a location hospital with injuries that varied from minor to serious.The driver of the vehicle was not injured.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Boil order issued in Bridgeview amid water main break

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Residents in the Village of Bridgeview are urged to boil their water as a precaution due to ongoing work on a water main break.The water system required repairs on Thursday. The Village of Bridgeview Public Works submitted a water sample for bacteriological testing and is awaiting confirmation that the water quality in Bridgeview is safe for drinking.This process is expected to take anywhere from 24-48 hours. Residents are asked to boil their water for a least five minutes before use for cooking, drinking, food preparation, washing dishes and/or brushing teeth.

Need a summer job? Chicago Park District is hiring

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

CHICAGO  — Young Chicagoans looking for summer jobs throughout the city can start applying at the Chicago Park District. With summer around the corner, the Chicago Park District has launched its 'Your Perfect Summer Job' campaign. Chicago residents are invited to participate in a variety of programs that will run from April 10 through June 9.Jobs include lifeguards, recreation leaders, special recreation leaders and junior laborers. Positions are for ages 16 and older with a minimum starting wage of at least $15.Chicago Park District Assistant Director of Recreation Adrian Ioza joined WGN Evening News to talk more about the job opportunities. "We're teaching two things: we are empowering our younger people to get these jobs, work on their tans, put some money in their pockets and not work too late because they're usually done by early afternoon so they don't work night," Ioza said. "They're also working with our young children that are our future. So it's a winning situation."View ...

Families upset North Carolina school tells sons to cut hair before returning to school

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Some North Carolina families are upset after their sons were told by a charter school that they couldn't return to class after spring break unless they got a haircut — which parents say is discriminatory against their Native American heritage. Mia Chavis and her son Edward live in Robeson County, but Edward goes to a charter school in Whiteville, which is in neighboring Columbus County. Chavis said Edward's hair was in compliance last year, but this year things have changed for many boys at the school. Edward, who is 7 years old, attends Classical Charter Schools of America at the Whiteville campus. Six-year-old Logan Lomboy attends the Leland campus in Brunswick County. Their mothers said their sons' long hair is part of their Native American heritage. ‘Very disturbing’: What to know about the potentially deadly fungus spreading in the U.S. "Our culture in the Southeast has been extremely strong," said Ashley Lomboy, Logan's mother. "We're in a revi...

3rd Illinois corrections officer sentenced in inmate death

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

(WBHF) -- A former sergeant at a Illinois correctional facility was sentence to six years in prison Wednesday for his role in the death of an inmate.Willie Hedden, 43, a former sergeant at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, was sentenced on Wednesday to six years’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, according to a news release. Hedden was sentenced for civil rights deprivation resulting in bodily injury and death and obstruction of justice offenses in connection with the death of Larry Earvin, an inmate at the facility, the release says. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Hedden, of Mt. Sterling; Todd Sheffler, 54, of Mendon, Illinois; and Alex Banta, 31, of Quincy, Illinois, charging each of them with civil rights resulting in bodily injury and death and obstruction offenses. Cooperating guard gets 6 years in Illinois inmate’s death Hedden accepted responsibility for his crimes by pl...

'One big family' mindset has glued Longhorns together, put them into 1st Sweet 16 since 2008

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:48:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team hasn't been to the Sweet 16 in 15 years, and while that's a tremendous accomplishment the team is proud of, they certainly aren't satisfied.The second-seeded Longhorns take on third-seeded Xavier at 8:45 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City to see who moves on to Sunday's Elite Eight, and what has held the team together this season has been their love for one another.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/newslettersSenior forward Timmy Allen, one of 16 players in college basketball since 1992 to score at least 2,000 points, grab 800 rebounds and notch 300 assists during a career, said "he's soaking everything in.""I'm taking this to heart because I'm not getting this again," he said Tuesday before the team left for Kansas City. "I'm mature enough to know how special this is. There was a moment after we beat K-State on t...