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Another group of former Northwestern writes a letter on recent controversies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — For the second time in less than a week, a group of former Northwestern athletes has put their thoughts about the recent controversies concerning the athletic program in writing.This time, it's focused on two key leaders of the university.In a letter obtained by WGN News, over 80 former Wildcats' student-athletes expressed their displeasure with the way that head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, believing the decision lacked due process. The longtime coach of the program was fired on July 10 when more serious allegations of hazing surfaced after the completion of an investigation into whistleblower claims by former Illinois inspector general Maggie Hickey. Initially, Fitzgerald was suspended for two weeks without pay in July by President Michael Schill, but was fired four days later when more revelations surfaced."We write to express our deep dismay concerning President Michael Schill and Vice President of Athletics Derrick Gragg’s decisions and rhetoric regarding the...

See it: Home made almost entirely of foam being constructed in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

JONESTOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- With a breathtaking view overlooking central Texas' Lake Travis, a new home being built in Jonestown is drawing some attention from neighbors. The nearly 7,500-square-foot house has zero wood, brick, or insulation. It is completely made of foam. "I think the neighbors might have thought I was crazy when they saw the truckloads of foam pull up," Aaron Rowsell, the homeowner of the three-story house in Jonestown, explained. Rowsell, a former contractor himself, first heard of homes being built with foam about 20 years ago. He said if he ever was going to build his dream home, foam was the material he wanted to use. Strata International Group Inc. is the Phoenix-based company that developed this groundbreaking building technique. It is known as SABS, or Saebi Alternative Building System, named after its creator Dr. Nasser Saebi. How does it work? The company creates large blocks of foam, which are made up of 98% air, that can be shaped and glued together to c...

Biden campaign targets battleground states with $25M ad campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

President Biden's campaign is launching a $25 million advertising campaign focused on several key battleground states, ramping up its messaging early in the election cycle.The campaign on Sunday announced the 16-week campaign, which marks the third major ad buy since Biden officially announced he would seek a second term.The campaign will air television ads in major markets in Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It is also running targeted ads focused on Hispanic voters in Florida."The buy includes both the largest and earliest media buy for a reelection campaign into constituency media ever, as well as the largest overall buy for a reelection campaign at this point in time ever, ensuring that President Biden’s message is heard throughout this year’s Republican primary," the campaign said in a statement.The states targeted by the ad campaign are all battlegrounds Biden won in 2020, with the exceptions of North Carolina, which he lost by fe...

Candidates face tricky balancing act on Trump at first GOP debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Republican candidates attending the first GOP presidential debate Wednesday will face the challenge of having to separate themselves from former President Trump while also not alienating his devoted supporters.Trump said Sunday he won’t attend the debate, giving his rivals a chance to make the case for their respective candidacies without having to compete for attention with the former president.But the situation poses a conundrum for candidates such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R), who must be careful not to cross Trump’s supporters while also winning over at least a portion of them."If I were thinking of it as a strategic matter, I'd like to be able to emerge from this debate as the principal non-Trump alternative,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist who worked on former President George W. Bush’s campaigns.Throughout much of the 2024 race so far, the Republican candidates have largely avoided direct cr...

Trump says he won't attend first GOP presidential debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Former President Trump confirmed Sunday that he will not attend the first Republican presidential debate next week and left open the possibility that he would skip future primary debates, citing his sizable lead in national polls as a primary reason.In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited a CBS News poll released earlier Sunday that showed him leading the next closest candidate by 46 percentage points."The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more," Trump wrote. "I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!"Trump’s announcement, which capped months of speculation about whether he would participate, comes days after it was reported that the former president planned to sit for a pre-taped interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson instead of attending Wednesday's debate in Milwaukee.The fo...

How many hurricanes and tropical storms have made landfall in Texas?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you think of hurricanes in Texas, there are probably a few that come to mind: Harvey. Ike. Even the 1900 Galveston hurricane.Since 1850, more than 50 hurricanes have made landfall in the Lone Star State, and that's not including more than 50 tropical storms and depressions.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 109 tropical systems have made landfall in Texas since 1850. The most recent was Hurricane Nicholas, a Category 1 hurricane that came ashore in Matagorda County in 2021.Nineteen major hurricanes — those Category 3 or higher — have made landfall in the state. Ten of those were Category 3, while nine were Category 4. Texas has never had a hurricane make landfall in the state while at Category 5 strength.Hurricane Harvey was the most recent major hurricane to hit, striking near Rockport in 2017.The map below shows the location of each tropical landfall in Texas since 1850. You can toggle the data on and off by clicking on the color...

Buda wildfire under control, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the top headlines for Aug. 21 from the KXAN News teamHAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A wildfire is under control in Hays County Monday, and firefighters are continuing to put out hot spots, Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby told KXAN.The Hays County Office of Emergency Services said Monday first responders responded to the scene of a fire between Robert S. Light Boulevard and Farm to Market 2770.Huckaby said the fire was located in the triangular area between Robert S. Light Boulevard and Farm to Market 1626 and FM 2770. As of 3 p.m., FM 2770 remains closed between FM 1626 and Robert S Light Boulevard.Hays County emergency officials are asking people to avoid the area near a wildfire in Buda. MAP: Tracking Central Texas wildfires Officials responded to a wildfire in Buda on Monday, Aug. 21. | Courtesy Hays County Office of Emergency ManagementOfficials responded to a wildfire in Buda on Monday, Aug. 21. | Courtesy Hays County Office of Emergency Managem...

New online portal shows crime and arrest data throughout Hays County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- People in Hays County can now access crime and arrest data for the entire county on one platform. It's called Citizens Connect, and the county said its the first of its kind in the state. In a news release from Hays County, it said multiple law enforcement agencies in the area have shared their computer database of crime activity. "The system, hosted by Tyler Technologies, boasts being the first in Texas to have all law enforcement agencies in the same county sharing data on a single Citizens Connect platform," the release said. The law enforcement agencies involved: The Hays County Sheriff's OfficeSan Marcos Police DepartmentKyle Police DepartmentBuda Police DepartmentTexas State University Police Department"This system provides the agencies with a more powerful analytical tool in their efforts to tackle crime in each jurisdiction," the release said. The county said it also addresses transparency with the community. "Through this unified effort, H...

High school boys soccer: Hill-Murray eager to chase state title, but plans to savor every moment leading up to it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Hill-Murray boys soccer recently held its annual retreat at Hidden Pines Ranch in Mahtomedi, where players and coaches alike enjoy activities such as pickleball — Pioneers coach Jeff Zupfer noted the coaches are still undefeated on the court — nine square, and biking through the woods together before sharing a meal.The purpose is to spend time together away from the sport, and it consistently serves as one of the highlights of the fall.That was one of the first moments when senior midfielder Jacob Dinzeo started to get sentimental. That was his last retreat — the same is true for many of his teammates on a senior-heavy squad. Thursday’s game against Blake is the final season opener for those 12th-graders. Those are all special moments meant to be taken in and cherished.Hill-Murray had a magical season last fall. The Pioneers won their first 21 matches, allowing just one goal during the regular season before falling 3-2 to DeLaSalle on penalty kicks in the Class 2A state tournament f...

Transit advocates push for new option as MnDOT takes feedback on I-94 redesign ideas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is considering filling in the deep trench that is Interstate 94 between much of downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis to create an at-grade highway with dedicated lanes for bus rapid transit and other travel.If that sounds like a bold idea, many are underwhelmed. A coalition of alternative transit advocates wants to see the interstate ripped out entirely and replaced with a multi-lane, multi-use boulevard — an idea that MnDOT recently dismissed on the advice of their consultants.MnDOT last month released 10 different “high level” concepts, based largely on traffic analysis and other metrics reviewed by consultants WSB. The department’s project leaders and technical experts Wednesday will host the first of eight public meetings to get feedback on redesigning those seven miles of I-94.The Minnesota Department of Transportation is working on an effort titled “Rethinking I-94” to engage with those who li...