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Highest-rated free things to do in Illinois, according to Tripadvisor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

Whether for the weekend around town or to add to your out-of-town itinerary, free things to do are good. With the ever-rising costs of gas and food, the idea of disposable income can feel like a distant fantasy.The cost-of-living continues to rise across the country, forcing each dollar earned to stretch further. While vacations are undoubtedly beneficial for mental health, maintaining savings, paying down debts amid inflation, and regular expenses likely take precedence. But, not everything enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's probably a roster of completely free things to do in your current area.Think about the most common entries on a vacation getaway itinerary: Sight-seeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. See how many music festivals are within a 1-hour drive of Chicago The truth is: Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water,...

LIVE BLOG: Severe weather moves through Central Texas with increased risk of flash flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

(KXAN) — Severe storms began to move through parts of Central Texas late Friday and are expected to continue through Sunday with an increased risk of flash flooding.According to projections, the main concerns would be large hail and damaging winds coming ahead of heavy and widespread rain. KXAN First Warning Weather According to the KXAN First Warning Weather team, rainfall rates could exceed 2″ per hour.A Flood Watch was issued for all of Central Texas beginning 7 p.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Saturday with the potential to get extended into Sunday. A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flash flooding or stream, creek or river flooding during the watch period.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 newsletter and severe weather alerts newsletterView a live blog of the severe we...

Police identify man killed in single-vehicle crash on I-35 Service Road in north Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police have identified a 41-year-old man who was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the I-35 Service Road in north Austin last Saturday. The crash happened shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 in the 13200 block of North IH 35 Service Road northbound. The Austin Police Department responded to the single-vehicle crash, which involved an SUV driven by Lucas Barth, 41.Barth was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.This incident is being investigated as Austin's 33rd fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 33 fatalities for the year.  Anyone with any information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

Austin police release second video of suspects in deadly September stabbing downtown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department has released another surveillance video of suspects officers believe are connected to a deadly stabbing that happened in downtown Austin last fall. It happened near East Sixth Street and Brazos Street on Sunday, September 4, 2022, at approximately 2:34 a.m. PREVIOUS: Man killed in downtown Austin stabbing identified; video released of suspects At 2:30 a.m., the man, later identified by police as D’Andre Isaiah Day, 27, flagged down an officer in the entertainment district and asked for medical help. The officer saw Day was “bleeding profusely” from the stomach area. Austin-Travis County EMS transported Day to the hospital where he died.An investigation found Day and a friend were in a fight with three other unknown men. One of the three men stabbed Day, according to APD. Officers believe this was an isolated incident and a random meeting.APD is still searching for the suspects involved. The department days after the incident released s...

Sainted: Recognition for Teacher of the Year finalists is well deserved

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

SaintedNegative news often leads but not so with the “Teacher of the Year” story. Four of the best teachers in Minnesota teach in our St. Paul Public Schools.The people who shape our children’s lives often demonstrate committed service and receive only modest pay. The recognition is well deserved.In addition to “Teacher of the Year” Michael Houston of Harding, the other three finalists from St. Paul this year are Sorcha Nix, Open World Learning; Molly Keenan, Harding, and Fathimath Eliza Rasheed, Global Arts Plus.That’s good news for everyone in St. Paul.Al Oertwig, former school board member/chair, St. Paul Schools SaintedSainted: Adult dance studios: Four Seasons Dance Mpls; Cinema Ballroom St. PaulComing out of isolation has not been difficult for us because we dance.Twenty-five years ago we decided to find a fun way to exercise.We are now seniors, and continue to attend Argentine Tango classes at Four Seasons and traditional Ballroom and ...

Drive supports refugees making St. Louis home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- For decades, the organization has assisted refugees in making St. Louis their new home. Today's drive supports refugees from Afghanistan, Haiti, the Congo, Cuba, Syria, and others. Last year, they helped over 500 families resettle. Donations of pillows, sheets, and rugs are most needed for their apartments. Items can be brought or purchased through international institute registries at Target or Walmart. Furniture, clothing, and home decor are not accepted, but gift cards from Aldi, Schnucks, Uber, Lyft, Visa, Walmart, and Target are welcomed. The drive is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., drop-off at the garage door on Louisna.

Scattered storms and warm temps followed by cooler days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- This morning, the weather started off mild and humid. Throughout the afternoon, there will be scattered showers and storms, with a low risk of severe storms. Temperatures will be warm and humid, reaching the upper 80s. Tomorrow, there will be scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon through the evening hours, but with some dry time in between. Highs will remain in the 80s. Looking ahead, early next week will be dry, cool and less humid, with highs in the 70s and low 80s. As for the warm and humid conditions, it's unclear how long they will last. However, the sunrise is set for 5:51 AM, and the sunset will be at 8:05 PM.

Long-term effects of Gabriel Landeskog’s knee cartilage transplant are hard to predict due to rarity of surgery among professional athletes, experts say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

When Dr. Rachel Frank explains cartilage transplantation to her patients, she tells them the purpose is to improve their quality of life by reducing pain in the damaged area and improving function.By that token, the surgery Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog underwent Wednesday is “incredibly successful in the vast majority of patients,” said Frank, an orthopedic surgeon and Colorado Rapids team physician who specializes in cartilage and joint restoration. The $42 million question in the Avalanche’s case is whether Landeskog’s surgery can be effective with a more ambitious end goal.“For an elite athlete or professional athlete, the definition of success is certainly going to include those things,” Frank said, “but also includes the ability to get back to playing that sport at that (elite) level.”Landeskog is among the most elite competitors in his sport when healthy. But the Avs wing has been combating an injury to the cartilage in hi...

Grading the Week: Is Kevin Durant starting to slip? Or is Aaron Gordon really that good?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

There are a few ways to view Kevin Durant’s shockingly ordinary performance against the Nuggets over their recently concluded playoff series.The first, and most accessible, is to conclude that the Phoenix Suns superstar and one-time NBA MVP is no longer the unstoppable bucket-getter he once was. A second, and more satisfying verdict for the Grading the Week staff, is that Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is really that good.Aaron Gordon — A+How quickly opinions change when a player actually gets to focus on the things they are good at.It wasn’t all that long ago that Gordon and teammate Will Barton were the primary scapegoats in a disappointing 4-1 series loss to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of last year’s NBA playoffs.Thrust into a No. 2 role alongside two-time MVP Nikola Jokic with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. sidelined, Gordon often looked lost while attempting to carry a load that was never meant for him. But with Murray and Porter back...

Curry, Green say this isn’t the Warriors’ “Last Dance” despite loss to Lakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:13:41 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Steph Curry refused to believe it was over until the math just didn’t add up. After all he’s done on the playoff stage, how could you blame him?Rui Hachimura had just eased past him into a layup to put the Lakers up 23 points with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 6. Curry kept pushing — at too many points in his career, he’s defied odds and won momentous games with little hope remaining. But reality overcame rational cockiness.He and his teammates who’ve won four titles together had fallen into unfamiliar territory: Out of the playoffs before the Finals for the first time since 2014, the year of a first-round loss that taught Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson how to win together.“Our worst season since 2014 and we still had a chance to make a run,” Green said.The Warriors’ Big Three won’t count the dismal 2020 (worst record in league) or 2021 (knocked out in play-in) seasons because they weren’t c...