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Warm, sunny start to the week; Showers likely Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

FRIDAY: A second day with nearly 100% of the day’s possible sunshine. A bit warmer, especially inland following a cool start to the day. Winds: NE 4-12 mph. High: 80/71 lakeshore and area beaches.    SATURDAY: Increasing cloudiness in the afternoon, warmer still.  High: 85/mid 70s immediate shoreline. Clouds thicken at night. A chance for showers late. Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog SUNDAY:  Mostly cloudy, becoming windy, much cooler. Showery spells, perhaps a clap of thunder.  High: 68/but temperatures falling into the upper 50s by evening. 

Some Metra UP Northwest trains to see construction delays next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Some Metra commuters could see some delays next week due to a railroad tie project.Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday - Friday, some riders on Metra's UP Northwest line could see delays up to 30 minutes between Barrington and Crystal Lake. Kennedy Expressway construction: What you should know about adjusting to the delays Union Pacific, which owns and maintains the three UP Metra lines, is replacing 116,000 ties between Chicago and Harvard. Metra said the replacements are essential and are needed to maintain track speeds and service levels.At Main Street in Barrington, Metra said Union Pacific will also be performing a grade crossing renewal.Because there are fewer places for trains to switch between tracks and an older signal system, trains between Barrington and Crystal Lake are expected to have a greater impact.

Driver crashes into RV, becomes suspended over bridge on Indiana Toll Road

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

ELKHART, Ind. — Emergency crews made an incredible rescue Friday afternoon on the Indiana Toll Road when a box truck was suspended on a bridge.Indiana State Police said the driver of a rental box truck crashed into an RV near Elkhart and became suspended over a bridge. ISP: Person injured in seven-vehicle car crash on I-57 The Elkhart Fire Department released video of the rescue.Indiana State Police Sgt. Ted Bohner said no injuries were reported.

City manager announces new general manager for Austin Energy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin Interim City Manager Jesus Garza announced several key leadership appointments, including Austin Energy's next general manager, according to a city news release Friday.Industry veteran Bob Kahn was announced as Austin Energy's new general manager, the news release said. His first day as general manager will be July 3, according to the city.“Since returning to this organization in February, I have spent considerable time assessing the strengths of our organization and identified opportunities to reorganize to ensure we are operating cohesively, effectively and efficiently,” Garza said. “I am confident the changes announced today will strengthen the City of Austin as we continually work to improve the services we provide to our residents.”According to the city, Kahn is a respected leader in the utility industry, and is currently serving as the General Manager of Texas Municipal Power Agency. He was formerly the president and chief executive officer ...

'Priced out:' Texans frustrated with property taxes and their politics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After more than two decades in Liberty Hill, Lyndon Ebright and his wife have built a good life in their forever home."I've got a lot of sweat labor involved on the property," Ebright said. He works on wood and metal projects in his backyard shop while his wife tends to a vegetable garden just under the patio he built.But those improvements, and the furious development of the greater Austin area, are taking their toll on their tax bills."I'll be priced out of the house," Ebright said. "I'll be forced to sell, and I don't want to be forced to sell just because I gotta pay my taxes."Ebright is recently retired and on a fixed income. They have no debt and have paid off their house, but Ebright is still concerned about their long-term stability because of one creeping cost — property taxes.In 2018, the Williamson Central Appraisal District valued Ebright's home at $71,506. This year, that value has ballooned to $137,971."It's a massive increase in five years. An unrea...

First 100-degree heat of the year comes early, but storms are possible this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin recorded a 100° high temperature Friday afternoon nearly one month ahead of schedule, tying 2020 for our 10th-earliest start to triple-digit heat in any given year.A ridge of high pressure will build further over the next week, leading to dangerous levels of heat and humidity, and even several daily record high temperatures next week.Riding around the periphery of the ridge, however, is a compact but potent disturbance that will bring scattered thunderstorms late Saturday.The severe thunderstorm risk has increased locally late Saturday to 2 out of 5, even 3 out of 5 northeast of Austin. Very large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado are possible. The main storm chance comes between 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. Sunday.Severe storm threat late Saturday "The future is smoky": Northeast U.S. air quality problems linked to climate change Rain chances decrease Sunday, then disappear much of next week. Forecast high temperatures soar above 100 degrees thro...

Austin FC reacts to Lionel Messi coming to MLS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is undoubtedly an all-time great and one of the most well-known athletes in the world. News came down earlier this week that the Argentine will be coming to Major League Soccer to play with Inter Miami. Lionel Messi picks MLS’s Inter Miami "I think along with everyone else [I'm] pretty impressed and excited to have such an influential figure in the game join our league," Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff said. "I think our league continues to grow and he'll continue to elevate the platform."Messi, who is heading to Florida from France's Paris Saint-Germain, won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. Fellow countrymen and Austin FC Captain Sebastián Driussi have made waves in the MLS, and Driussi shares his coach's excitement."It's incredible," Driussi said through a translator. "Of course, all Argentinians are glad that he's here. And me especially because I came to this league knowing it's going to grow. Now it's definitely going to grow....

Vikings officially release star running back Dalvin Cook

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

A mere 24 hours after news broke that the Vikings planned to release star running back Dalvin Cook, they made the official announcement via social media.In the moment, Cook hit the open market, free to sign anywhere he wants ahead of next season. He has been linked to the Miami Dolphins and it wouldn’t be surprising if he wound up there in the very near future.As for the Vikings, they will move forward with running back Alexander Mattison as their leader in the backfield, with fellow running backs Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride competing for playing time.Meanwhile, regardless of how things ended with Cook, it’s clear how much of an impact he had on the Vikings during his tenure.“I hold Dalvin in the highest regard and am grateful for his contributions on and off the field,” coach Kevin O’Connell said in a release while calling Cook a “dynamic player” on the field and a “respected leader” in the locker room. “We app...

Noyes & Cutler and Big Biscuit Bar to close temporarily because of Lowertown hotel construction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

As construction is set to begin on a high-end hotel in St. Paul’s Lowertown, Noyes & Cutler and Big Biscuit Bar restaurants will close temporarily, building owner Jim Crockarell said.“There’s going to be a lot of construction that’s going to happen on the first floor,” Crockarell said. “We decided we can’t run two restaurants in the middle of a construction zone. We are temporarily suspending operations until we can get the hotel up and running, then Noyes and Big Biscuit will be an integral part of the operation.”Crockarell said the hotel will be part of the upscale Marriott Tribute brand and the name will be either Hotel Mears or Mears Hotel.Closing the restaurants is less than ideal, Crockarell said, but necessary. Employees will be offered jobs at other Madison Restaurant Group properties, including Handsome Hog, Ox Cart Rooftop, Gray Duck and others.“We have a home for all of them if they choose to stay with us,” he said.Crockarell said he hopes that Lowertown and dow...

Accessibility projects to begin this fall at William O’Brien State Park; open house Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

An open house to learn more about plans to provide additional accessibility and updated amenities at William O’Brien State Park in northern Washington County will be held next week at the Wildwood Library in Mahtomedi.The open house, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday in the library’s Zephyr Room. DNR staff will share information and answer questions about the construction project, its impact on park visitors, and how the project fits into the park’s management plan.The construction project is slated to begin in September. Among the improvements planned: An accessible counter and accessible phone for visitors at the visitors center; an accessible path from the trail and parking lot to the picnic shelter, and accessible picnic tables.Starting in September, the lower part of the park, located east of Minnesota 95, will be closed to the public to accommodate construction.The Riverway Campground, the Riverside Group Camp, the Riverside Tra...