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'Brought the magic back:' A Chicago area runner's return to Boston Marathon after the bombing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

CHICAGO — There was no need to speed up to approach a personal record as she made the iconic final turn at the end of one of the world's greatest road races. Mary Ann Pell was going to take it all in on Boylston Street in 2023. "I actually didn't speed up," said the experienced marathoner from Naperville as she stared down the final stretch of the Boston Marathon. "I actually slowed down and tried to take it all in."She's done that before, completing the 26.2-mile race a few times during her career which includes 35 marathons. But this was so much different for Pell as she approached the yellow and blue finish line that is a dream for many runners to cross. Ten years earlier, she didn't have the opportunity to reach this point.Mary Ann Pell in the 2013 Boston Marathon, wearing a purple shirt with a white hat.She was under a mile away from completing the race on April 15, 2013, arriving at a place referred to as "Cannoli Corner." While in good health and good spirits, she wouldn't ge...

Federal judge grants injunction on Illinois assault weapons ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) -- A federal judge for the Southern District of Illinois issued an injunction Friday afternoon, ruling the assault weapons ban as unenforceable.Judge Steven McGlynn ruled the state cannot enforce the ban until the court can make a decision. Officials discuss DuPage sheriff’s refusal to enforce assault weapons ban He cited past Supreme Court cases as the reasons for his ruling."The Supreme Court in Bruen and Heller held that citizens have a constitutional right to own and possess firearms and may use them for self-defense," the judge wrote in his ruling. "[The ban] seems to be written in spite of the clear directives in Bruen and Heller, not in conformity with them." Illinois' assault weapons ban was signed into law in January. The law faced criticism and constitutional challenges ever since. The law bans the sale of certain weapons and attachments. The court's ruling will allow gun shops to sell these weapons and attachments, but all other measur...

Naperville man in critical condition after being struck by lightning in Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fl. -- A man from Naperville remains hospitalized in Florida after being struck by lightning Thursday.33-year-old Joshua Lee Wheeker remains in critical condition after a lightning bolt hit him in Panama City Beach, Florida on Thursday.According to police, Wheeker and a friend were walking on a pier at the time. Bystanders performed CPR until police and EMS arrived. Downers Grove man charged for stealing GrubHub driver’s car, leading police on high-speed chase "We seen the lightning hit a little bit behind him," Ethan Brown said. "After that, one of them got struck and you can just see them scatter. He was down, he was completely unconscious, and they were doing a lot of work on him."The lightning strike was apart of severe weather that swept across the panhandle of Florida this week.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson is the next Bears' 2nd round pick

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

LAKE FOREST — The Bears weren't going to be patient with their second pick of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft.General manager Ryan Poles traded the 61st and 136th overall picks to the Jaguars to move up five spots to the 56th selection to take Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.It's the second defensive player taken by the Bears in that round as they selected Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. with the 53rd overall pick.Stevenson started his college career at Georgia in 2019 and 2020 before transferring to Miami for his final two seasons. In 78 games with the Hurricanes and Bulldogs, the cornerback had three interceptions, 21 passes defended, six tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, along with 115 tackles. Check back with WGNTV.com for more on this story.

LIVE BLOG: All Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in KXAN viewing area have now expired

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe storms are moving across Central Texas. The main concerns tonight are large hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of the KXAN viewing area in a 3 out of 5 threat for severe storms, as another potent low-pressure system dives into the state.Current Watches and WarningsFlood Advisory for Milam County until 8:30 p.m. Minor flooding is possible in low-lying and poor drainage areas.Flood Advisory for Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties until 8:45 p.m. Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas possible.Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette and Lee counties until 9 p.m. KXAN First Warning Weather forecast Weather ResourcesHow to talk to your kids about severe weatherWatches vs Warnings: Understanding how a storm is madeTraffic mapLive Central Texas radarCentral Texas rainfall totalsDownload KXAN Weather AppSign up for KXAN daily forecast newslett...

NFL draft: Gophers center John Michael Schmitz picked by Giants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

Gophers center John Michael Schmitz was selected by the New York Giants with the 57th pick in the NFL Draft on Friday.The 6-foot-3, 300-pound sixth-year player  from Floosmoor, Ill., was an All-American selection and finalist for the Rimington Award for the best player at the position in college football.Schmitz is the highest Gophers lineman taken since Brian Williams, who also went to the Giants with the 18th pick in 1989. The Giants sent offensive line coach Bobby Johnson to the U’s Pro Day in March.Schmitz received the highest grade in the nation among centers (92.4) in 2022, per Pro Football Focus, but lost the Rimington Award to Michigan’s Olusegun OluwatimiNFL.com gave Schmitz a grade of 6.41 and the label of “starter within two years.”Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said Schmitz was one of the toughest players he has had.“A kid who plays for his teammates, loves culture, connectivity,” Fleck said at the Gopher Pro dDay in March. “Great locker-room guy. He is just dirty and nas...

Red Wing woman sentenced to 27 years for abandoning newborn in Mississippi River in 2003

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

RED WING, Minn. — A 51-year-old Red Wing woman, the mother of two newborns found dead in the Mississippi River some two decades ago, was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison Friday for the murder of one of the infants.Jennifer Lynn Matter pleaded guilty to felony second-degree murder with intent but not premeditated earlier this year in a plea deal that dismissed a second felony charge, second-degree murder without intent and not premeditated.She was identified as the mother of a newborn boy found dead in Lake Pepin in Frontenac in 2003 and a newborn girl found dead in the Mississippi near Red Wing in 1999.She was charged with murder in May 2022 after investigators used DNA to link her to the children.Authorities announced May 9, 2022, that Jennifer Matter, 50, of Red Wing, Minn., was charged with second-degree murder in the 2003 death of a newborn boy whose body was found in Frontenac on the shore of the Mississippi River. According to court documents, Matter also told investi...

Albany PD swears in 14 new officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department swore in 14 new officers on Friday. A ceremony was held at Albany City Hall to welcome the new recruits to the city and the department.Police Chief Eric Hawkins said the department has about 60 open positions and hopes the new officers will help with ongoing recruitment efforts. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "This will give us an opportunity to get closer to full staff, put more cops on the street, and to really give this police department a chance to connect with our community in an even more impactful way," he said.The new officers will begin training at the Albany Police Academy next week.

Unity House highlights voices of abuse survivors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Unity House in Troy is working to ensure survivors feel supported and heard during Crime Victims Rights Week. The organization, which supports domestic violence survivors, hosted its second annual Survivor Voices Awareness event.The event gives people who have suffered from abuse the chance to talk about their experiences. Organizers said it's important to hear from them to learn how to support them. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "But we're not hearing from the survivors themselves, what their needs are, what they've faced," Unity House of Troy Asst. Dir. Julie Keegan said. "Obviously, the goal of Crime Victims Week this year is to elevate those survivors' voices. But it's important all throughout the year, it's important every year, that we highlight them."Organizers hope other survivors will feel more comfortable coming forward in order to get the help they need.

Big crowds flock to local nurseries for spring planting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - With last weekend’s freeze concerns, many stayed away from the garden. But thankfully, we don’t have any concerns about freezing temperatures this weekend.The crowds at local nurseries are already picking up ahead of this nice weekend.“We pretty much had full parking lot since 10 o’clock this morning. We all embrace being a pinball this time of year," said Ethan Wise, a horticulturist at Greenscape Gardens in Manchester. "You just bounce from person to person, trying to answer as many questions as you can."Wise said you can go full steam ahead with your planting, and hopefully, the cold weather is done, but know that you may have to protect some things if those freezing temperatures return. Trending -- Students and teacher rally around fired Webster Groves teacher Greenscape Gardens is fully stocked, and they continue to get multiple trucks weekly.With the comfortably cool weather in the forecast, they are preparing for a very busy weekend, but do not let t...