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Distraction, speeding, alcohol drive up 2021 traffic deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, with deaths due to speeding and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.The 2021 final numbers, released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, confirmed earlier estimates by the agency showing a 10.5% increase in deaths over 2020. That’s the highest number in 16 years and the largest percentage increase since 1975.Data shows a 12% rise in fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver, with 3,522 people killed. That prompted the agency to kick off a $5 million advertising campaign in an effort to keep drivers focused on the road. Agency officials said such cases likely are under-reported by police. The number of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and cyclist fatalities were up 2% for the year. The number of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, while fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving were up 14%. Speeding-related deaths increased 7.9%, while crash deaths involving...

WATCH LIVE | Chicago State University faculty on strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

CHICAGO — More than 160 Chicago State University facility are expected to strike Monday after contract talks broke down over the weekend.University Professionals of Illinois union members are demanding higher pay and a more reasonable work load. The union has been bargaining with the university since June.The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Chicago State employs some of Illinois' lowest-paid public university professors. What to know about the 2023 White Sox home opener Chicago State says it's committed to negotiations, but classes will be held Monday if there's a strike.

Joliet man dies after shooting in parking lot of children's indoor playground

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

ALSIP, Ill. — A man who Alsip police say was ambushed and shot in the parking lot of a children's indoor playground Saturday evening has died.According to the department, officers received a call just before 5:30 p.m. for reports of gunfire at the My Kidzplay in the 4800 block of 111th Street. Arriving officers located the victim, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as 24-year-old Trevale Robinson, of Joliet, with multiple gunshot wounds. Robinson was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities said the unidentified group of offenders fled eastbound on 111th Street in two different vehicles, one being a silver BMW and the other being a Jeep Compass.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesPolice said the fatal shooting was a targeted attack.Anyone with information is asked to call the police at (708) 385-6902, extension 2272.

Celebrating WGN's 75th anniversary with reporter Mike Lowe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

WGN turns 75 this week and for the past few months it's been the job of WGN reporter Mike Lowe to help us remember the good ole days. Mike is here with us this morning with talk about some of his favorite finds.WGN 75th Anniversary SpecialWednesday, April 5th 7-9pmEncore Presentation- Sunday, April 9th 7-9pmDaytime Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

NASA's first moon crew in 50 years includes 1 woman, 3 men

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

NASA on Monday named the four astronauts who will fly to the moon by the end of next year, including one woman and three men.The four were introduced during a televised ceremony from Houston, home to the nation's astronauts as well as Mission Control.“This is humanity's crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.The three Americans and one Canadian will be the first to fly NASA's Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center no earlier than late 2024. They will not land or even go into lunar orbit, but rather fly around the moon and head straight back to Earth, a prelude to a lunar landing by two others a year later.This combination of photos shows, from left, astronauts Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman. On Monday, April 3, 2023, NASA announced the three Americans and one Canadian as the crew who will be the first to fly the Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center no ear...

Bill S-203 Receives Royal Assent In Canada, Ahead Of World Autism Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

Legal observers 'widely expect' Trump to face gag order as part of criminal case, expert says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 3, 2023.(KXAN) — Former President Donald Trump may no longer be able to sound off about the criminal case against him in just a matter of hours or days.Acting New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan will likely issue a gag order in the criminal case, according to a former senior staffer in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Duncan Levin.Now a private criminal defense attorney in New York, Levin said gag orders are relatively common there, and "widely expected" in the Trump case.Levin said a gag order could be issued as soon as Tuesday, before Trump's scheduled rally at Mar-a-Lago.A pedestrian walks by the entrance of the Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. Former President Donald Trump is expected to travel to New York to face charges related to hush money payments. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Q&A on the possibility of a gag orderTom Miller: With the former president's a...

Central Health plans $90.5M medical complex for low-income, homeless healthcare services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 3, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A proposed medical complex in northeast Austin could bring healthcare services closer to low-income patients and people experiencing homelessness, Central Health announced last week. The $90.5 million facility aims to fill healthcare gaps in northeast Austin with clinical, pharmacy, recovery and rehabilitation services. Central Health: 75% of Travis County families living along I-35 at, below poverty level Central Health's board approved issuing certificates of obligation last week to buy northeast Austin buildings for the new public medical complex. The approval authorizes the Travis County hospital district to issue debt for the project. Central Health said the new complex "will fill critical gaps in care." It will include: clinical spacepharmacy servicesa short-term detoxification center for substance-use and alcohol-use disorders50 respite care beds for people experiencing ho...

UMN President Joan Gabel to leave for Pittsburgh job after contentious fourth year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

President Joan Gabel is leaving the University of Minnesota to become chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh.“I am excited and filled with optimism when I think of leading this institution into its important next chapter – to taking leaps when needed, and incremental steps as necessary, to ensure that every step we take, however large or small, moves us forward,” Gabel said in Pitt’s announcement.She starts July 1.Gabel was the first woman to lead the University of Minnesota. She started in 2019.Gabel has been at the center of two controversies in the last year.In December, she accepted a $130,000 position on the board of Securian Financial, before giving up the post a month later following heavy criticism.Last July, the Board of Regents hired David McMillan – who chaired the board when Gabel was hired as president – as interim chancellor of the Duluth campus. Gabel said she played no role in the decision to hire McMillan, and when the board voted on the position, she complained...

Wild star Kirill Kaprizov starts skating on his own

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:27 GMT

After missing much of the past month, star Wild winter Kirill Kaprizov has taken a big step as he works to return to the lineup.He touched ice on his own for the first time over the weekend, then, on Monday morning, progressed to working with skating coach Andy Ness.It’s been a long time coming.“He’s been begging the trainers for the past couple of weeks,” Wild coach Dean Evason said with a laugh. “It’s the normal progression. He skated on his own and now he skates with Andy. We will evaluate today and decide what we do.”The next benchmark for Kaprizov in the recovery process is getting cleared to practice with the team. That could come as soon as Wednesday morning if everything goes according to plan.Asked what he hopes to hear regarding Kaprizov’s progress in the coming days, Evason smiled and responded, “That he’s ready to play.”It’s been nearly a month since Kaprizov suffered a lower-body injury in a March 8 win over th...