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Lead-up conditions to severe thunderstorms, destructive windgusts, tornado warnings Friday evening into early Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

STORMY FRIDAY WIND GUSTS!Valparaiso, IN: 75 mphLeland, IL: 75 mphSavoy, IL: 71 mphCrown Point, IN: 70 mphMatoon, IL: 67 mphNaperville, IL: 64 mphWaterman, IL: 64 mphRomeoville, IL 63 mphMidway Airport: 62 mphOblong, IL: 52 mphTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER’S HOURLY FORECAST PANELSTracking Friday afternoon/evening’s showers/t-stormsTHE STORM PREDICTION CENTER BOOSTED THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO MODERATEThe Storm Prediction Center reports Friday afternoon: “As of 1905 UTC, regional radar imagery showed a cluster of supercells ongoing from eastern IA and northwestern IL. The downstream airmass over northern IL and southern WI is rapidly destabilizing ahead of the storms. SPC mesoanalysis shows MLCAPE around 500-1000 J/kg is developing as surface dewpoints approach 60 F. Very strong low-level shear from the DVN VAD/VWP (200-300 0-1km SRH) will shift eastward favoring a supercell mode. HRRR model guidance shows multiple supercells moving into portions of northern...

1 dead, 28 hurt after Illinois theater roof collapse before concert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO/WGN-TV) — One person was killed and 28 were injured at the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, Illinois, after severe weather caused a roof collapse on Friday. The heavy metal band Morbid Angel was scheduled to perform.Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle said in addition to the one person killed, five were taken to the hospital for severe injuries, eighteen with moderate injuries, and five with minor injuries.Event coordinators said approximately 260 people were in the venue at the time of the collapse. Authorities said, by 10:15 p.m., no one was unaccounted for. Tornado slams Little Rock, smashes rooftops, flips vehicles The Apollo Theater is located at 104 N. State St in Belvidere, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Chicago. A line of powerful storms swept through the Midwest Friday night, downing power lines and trees throughout the region.A concert-goer, Gabrielle Lewellyn, told Rockford's WTVO she had only been inside the venue a few minutes before the st...

Case dismissed of a man sentenced to 60 years in prison over 'unreliable' DNA analysis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced this week that his office would dismiss a case of a man who was accused of attacking a woman with a brick in a downtown office building over a decade ago. The man was accused of the offense in Feb. 2011 and was indicted by a Travis County Grand Jury shortly after. One year later, a Travis County Jury convicted the accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced him to 60 years in prison. However, years later, Travis county officials determined that DNA evidence used to convict the man was “inconclusive” and “unreliable.” On Wednesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction. Travis County gets more than $500K to help sift through potentially botched Austin Police DNA cases “The process to review cases stemming from the APD DNA lab involved stakeholders from the city, the county, forensic experts, the defense and the prosecution. We believe the victim, in this case, was ...

Forecasting a wetter April

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Once again, Central Texas had a month of above-normal high temperatures and below-normal precipitation. But there is a glimmer of hope that one of these will change with April's forecast.March began with twelve consecutive days of a high above average. There were a few days starting on the 13th where afternoons were below normal, with a "low" high of 57° on the 20th. But seven of the last ten days had warmer-than-normal highs including a record-tying on the 31st. Yet another month with highs above normalMarch, the eighth warmest month of a calendar year, ended with an average temperature of 65.8°, 3° above normal.Unfortunately, the drier-than-normal forecast from the Climate Prediction Center verified only 57% of the March normal measured. 1.64" fell during the month, with the majority of it on the 2nd. It rained on just seven days. And, still another month with less the normal rainApril is the tenth wettest month during the year with a normal of 2.42". The Climate ...

'Texas things' you'll miss most when you leave

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — What makes you Texan? No matter where your life takes you, you'll always be a product of your environment to some degree. If you grew up in Texas, there are just some Lone Star State traditions and favorites you'll always miss.Here's a list of some of the "Texas things" you'll miss if and when you ever leave. While many of these things aren't only in Texas, Texans know they're better in Texas. This is the most remote area in all of Texas Kolaches and klobasnekCzech influence on Texas food cannot be understated. One food item you may find yourself missing is a staple of breakfast (or just snack) time — the kolache. As Southern Living explains, these yeasty breaded treats (pronounced 'ko-LAH-tch') are carved out and filled with fruit preserves or cheese.Assortment of sweet Kolache, Czech pastry cakes, with fruit, berry and cream cheese fillings. (Getty Images)Kolaches can come in seemingly endless flavors, including cream cheese, poppyseed, cherry, and lemon — and all po...

Readers and writers: Let kids start spring with some great picture books

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

It’s the season of renewal, time to add to the books you’ve been reading to the kids all winter. The current crop of picture books is a delight, with ecology leading the way, especially books about trees that turn up here in several categories. Whatever spring holiday you celebrate, consider these or other wonderful books as gifts for the little ones.From Minnesotans“100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli”: by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Lian Cho (Dial Books for Young Readers, $19.99)David LaRochelle, award-winning author of goofy books such as “See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog,” gives us an ode to dragons and math in this inventive book sure to delight the kids and help them understand numbers.On a mountain live 100 dragons all named Broccoli. Then a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, Ten others sail off to become professional surfers in Hawaii. The oldest and youngest take a train to New York City to start their own band, and...

Judge strikes down Minnesota’s minimum age of 21 to carry guns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

A federal judge on Friday struck down Minnesota’s minimum age of 21 to get a permit to carry handguns in public.In a 50-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ordered Minnesota to stop enforcing the ban on 18- to 20-year-olds getting a permit to carry. She sided with gun rights groups who argued the minimum age violated the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms.Menendez wrote that a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision requires regulations on guns to be weighed on whether they are consistent with the nation’s “historical tradition” of regulation, rather than public safety concerns.“The Supreme Court’s recent decision … compels the conclusion that Minnesota’s permitting age restriction is unconstitutional,” wrote Menendez, who expressed reservations about the required historic analysis. “Judges are not historians. The process of consulting historical sources to divine the intent of those responsible for ratifying constitutional amendme...

Evolve through 1920s Hollywood in "Babylon"

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- “Babylon,” directed by Damien Chazelle who is known for the accredited films, “La La Land,” and “Whiplash,” is a black comedy-drama that marks the fifth collaboration between Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz. The Hollywood period piece was nominated for three Oscars this year, coming home with none. With “La La Land,” being one of my favorite movies of all time, my expectations for this film were high. After the 3 hour movie finished, I was glad it was over and wished it had been better. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! There’s no lack of acting talent as Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Toby Maguire, and Joan Smart take leading roles. Diego Calva is known for his role in the TV show, “Narcos” and displays a great performance as our protagonist Manny. Jovan Adepo who plays the character Sidney Palmer is no stranger to working with big names as he’s previously worked alongside Denzel Washington and Viola...

Kickin’ It with Kiz: Is it finals or bust for Nuggets and Avs to consider playoffs a success?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

I expect the Avs to get bounced early in the playoffs, seeing as they’ve been banged up all year and the West in general has improved. Success for the defending Stanley Cup champions would be defined by a conference finals appearance. But it’s Western Conference finals or bust for the Nuggets. But if Golden State is the No. 8 seed, the Nuggets could be in real danger.— Jack, Norman, Okla.Kiz: It’s not inconceivable the Nuggets will have to beat the Lakers, Suns and Grizzlies to make the NBA Finals. We know Nikola Jokic won’t blink. But here’s the real question: How many times can the Nuggets win on nights when Joker isn’t their best player? And with all due respect to the reigning Stanley Cup champs, only an April fool believes the Avs are primed to make a deep playoff run. During March, your Avs were undefeated in nine games against non-playoff teams, but had a 1-5-1 record against teams currently in the playoff field.I’ve been a baseball f...

Angeleno among 9 killed in Army helicopter crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:45 GMT

Margaritta Gayo just buried her father two years ago. Now, she has to bury her baby brother as well.Gayo and her brother, Isaac John, were a team, working multiple jobs to succeed in the United States. Then, Isaac enlisted in the Army.Isaac, a 27-year-old sergeant, was among the nine soldiers killed Wednesday when a pair of helicopters crashed in Kentucky.Margaritta was at work when she learned about the Blackhawk helicopter crash near Fort Campbell, and Isaac wasn't answering her calls."I started to cry because I knew it. I knew if I received a call, he's the one, he's the one in the helicopter crash," she said.Then she received the call she feared."I'm in shock. I feel like this is not true. I hope someone says it's April Fools," she said. 9 killed in Army Black Hawk helicopter crash in Kentucky Isaac, who immigrated from the Philippines, had worked three jobs before joining the Army. He worked so hard that the same day he died, Margaritta said she received the keys to the house...