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Deep sea explorer Don Walsh, part of 2-man crew to first reach deepest point of ocean, dies at 92

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

Retired Navy Capt. Don Walsh, an explorer who in 1960 was part of a two-man crew that made the first voyage to the deepest part of the ocean — to the “snuff-colored ooze” at the bottom of the Pacific’s Mariana Trench — has died. He was 92.Walsh died Nov. 12 at his home in Myrtle Point, Oregon, his daughter, Elizabeth Walsh, said Monday.In January 1960, Walsh, then a U.S. Navy lieutenant, and Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard were sealed inside a 150-ton, steel-hulled bathyscaphe named the Trieste to attempt to dive nearly 7 miles (11 kilometers) below the surface. A bathyscaphe is a self-propelled submersible used in deep-sea dives.The two men descended to 35,800 feet (11,000 meters) in the Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Earth’s oceans, part of the Mariana Trench, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) off Guam in the Pacific. After a descent of about five hours, the steel-hulled submersible touched down on what the log described as the “snuff-colored ooze” of silt ste...

Arizona county again rejects a bid to hand-count all 2024 ballots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) — For the second time in nearly four months, officials in a northwestern Arizona county narrowly rejected a proposal to hand count all ballots in the 2024 election cycle rather than using electronic tabulating equipment.The 3-2 vote on Monday by the Mohave County Board of Supervisors against the proposal came a day after Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes told officials that approving the proposal would mean directing election workers to violate the law. She warned that her office would file a lawsuit if the measure was approved.A hand count was also rejected in early August after Board Chairman Travis Lingenfelter said he couldn’t justify the cost given that Mohave County’s budget deficit already stands at about $16 million. County election officials had said it would take 245 new workers and $1.1 million to count all ballots by hand.Lingenfelter, who voted against the measure both times, said he put the proposal on Monday’s agenda because he told state Sen....

Search underway after man robs bank in Norridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

NORRIDGE, Ill. — A search is underway after a bank in the northwest suburbs was robbed on Monday afternoon.According to police, the robbery happened around 1:30 p.m. at a Wintrust Bank in the 4300 block of North Harlem Avenue in Norridge.Norridge police say the man allegedly entered the bank and demanded cash from the teller before he fled the scene heading eastbound. Police say the man was last seen headed northbound in the 4300 block of North Sayre Avenue, about a mile away from the bank. Car crashes into business in Oak Lawn Officers say the man did not display a weapon or imply that he had one during the robbery and no injuries were reported.In surveillance images shared by Norridge police, the man can be seen with money in his hands as he flees the scene.Authorities did not provide details on how much money was stolen. 2 Illinois Lottery players split $325k prize after hitting jackpot over the weekend According to officers, the man involved is believed to be between 45 and ...

2 Illinois Lottery players split $325k prize after hitting jackpot over the weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Stopping for gas proved to be a highly lucrative decision for two Illinois Lottery payers who picked up Lucky Day Lotto tickets over the weekend.Two lucky players will be splitting a $325,000 jackpot after they matched all five numbers during Saturday's midday drawing.According to the Illinois Lottery, the winning numbers from Saturday's drawing were 7, 8, 9, 16 and 37. $2M winning scratch-off ticket sold at Chicago gas station Both of the winning tickets were sold at gas stations in Goreville and Lansing while the players were stopping for gas.One ticket was sold at an H&H Fuel in the 200 block of South Broadway Street in Goreville and the other ticket was sold at a BP gas station located in the 17000 block of Torrence Avenue.The lotto players are not the only ones taking home some extra cash after the big win. As a reward for selling the ticket, both stores will be receiving a bonus equal to one percent of the prize amount.According to the Illinois lottery, over 19...

Skilling: Cold, rainy start to the week for Chicagoland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

Chicago's is headed for is heaviest round of precip in the form of cold, wind-driven rain—in more than a month.Modeling suggests rain overspread to city and close-in suburbs in the 7 to10pm Monday time and won't wind down until 3 to 5pm Tuesday.  That's a 17 to 20 hour spell rainy period which may produce soaking rains of 0.60" to 1.30" range across the metro area.  No snow's expected here—but wet snowflakes may mix in—mainly north of the Wisconsin line before the incoming system exits later Tuesday. Rain is needed here. November to date (i.e. Nov 1-19) has seen just 0.10" of rain at O'Hare going into this system----which is just 6% normal.Rainfall in the predicted range would amount to the heaviest rain here since 1.48" fell which last fell in Chicago over a 5-day period from this past Oct 11-15.Gusty NE overnight and Tuesday morning winds will shift NW Tuesday afternoon with top velocities of 24-28 mph likely—even a higher over Lake Michigan—are likely to churn the waters there wi...

Evanston city council to vote on Ryan Field rebuild

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Evanston may finally decide on the future of Northwestern's Ryan Field Monday night.A special meeting of the Evanston city council set to convene at 6 p.m. on Monday for an all important vote of the redesign of Ryan Field.Northwestern University wants to rebuild their almost century old football stadium, Ryan Field, which would cost an estimated $800 million.The university also want to host six concerts a year and other events at the new venue, which would require to be rezoned. But, a lot of people in the area are not on board the plan after citing problems such as noise and traffic congestion. Stadium Showdown: Will Evanston City Council block Northwestern’s plan for Ryan Field concerts? To get the greenlight, Northwestern has put forth a package of concessions originally valued at around $100 million over 10 years. But, the university dug a little deeper and made a new offer last week now worth about $175 million to the city over 15 years.Some of those concess...

CDC stresses the importance of HIV prevention

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - As Congress continues to debate the country's budget, health officials warn HIV prevention cannot be a part of any spending cuts.A Trump-era plan aims to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030."Nationally, we have made really great strides in HIV prevention," said Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, the acting director of the CDC's HIV Prevention Division.According to the CDC, new infections are down nationwide about 12 percent."However, this progress is not fast enough, and we know it is not reaching all communities equitably," Fanfair said. First lady Jill Biden receives official White House Christmas Tree Fanfair said that gap is most notable in the South, where a majority of new infections are occurring, particularly in Black and Latino communities."So many people, especially Black women, don't realize PrEP is for them," she said.PrEP is one of the most effective drugs to prevent HIV, but CDC data shows about two-thirds of people who can benefit from it have no...

Chilly air for several days to come

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Get ready for the colder air now that Monday's cold front has passed. The high at Camp Mabry was 82°. We won't have any 80° for at least the next week.What rain that did fall did not measure to much more than a few hundredths up to .10". One gauge in Lometa did record .23".Gusty north winds will buffet the area. Gusts of 20 to 30+ mph are forecast overnight to Tuesday afternoon. Wind speeds will subside by Wednesday.Strong north winds forecast overnight to Tuesday afternoon A weak area of low pressure will approach the state in the next few days. It will have a little influence on the Thanksgiving Day forecast with a cloudy start along with a very low chance of rain. Only a few models are hinting at rain before noon Thursday so, for now, the chance of measurable precipitation will be 20%.Gray and cold to start Thanksgiving The day will start with most lows in the mid to upper 30s. Highs Thanksgiving Day will be in the upper half of the 50s.Black Friday will be par...

MPCA investigating origin of infectious waste found at trash facility

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is investigating how loads containing infectious human and animal waste ended up at the Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center in Newport.Employees at the waste-to-energy facility began noticing the loads – which included blood and organs – in May. They reported the illegal materials to supervisors, who, in turn, notified officials from the MPCA, said Michael Reed, Ramsey County’s division manager for public health and environment.“It wasn’t just one load and then we didn’t see anymore, it was a number of loads coming in,” Reed said. “The safety of our employees is our highest priority, and this represents an unacceptable risk to them. It is disgusting, and it’s unacceptable.”Among the items found: human tissue; IV tubing containing liquids that could be blood; suction devices or suction canisters used in surgery centers that contained blood, and bandages with an excessive amount of blood on them, Reed said.“One load contained intestines...

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:25 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Monday vetoed a $2 billion Republican tax cut bill, calling it “completely unserious.”Evers’ veto was expected, as he opposed the GOP plan from the moment it was introduced as a substitute to the Democratic governor’s own workforce development package. Evers has previously vetoed a similar income tax cut passed by the Legislature.Republicans don’t have enough votes, without help from Democrats, to override the veto. Lawmakers are not scheduled to return in session until mid-January.Republicans gutted a $1 billion Evers proposal to invest in child care he called on the Legislature to pass in a special session in September.Instead, the Legislature passed a measure that would have cut income taxes, created a child care tax credit, and increased income tax deductions for private school tuition. The vetoed bill also had provisions to recognize some out-of-state professional credentials in Wisconsin, and to prohibit state examining boar...