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Suburban boy tops last year's Halloween display in continued tribute to late father

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — A Crystal Lake boy is outdoing himself once again decorating his yard for Halloween, all in tribute to his late father.Last year, Gavin Sckiackitano decorated his yard in memory of a dad who loved Halloween. He said at the time that he planned to make this year even bigger and better. Previous Coverage: Suburban boy honors late father’s love of Halloween with yard display A promise he made good on.The 12-year-old 7th grader has been working at it since July.This will be the second Halloween without his dad Jeff Sciackitano, who lost his battle to Stage Four cancer. Before he passed, he wrote out several birthday cards for Gavin, including this one he received last week and just the motivation Gavin needed to put on the finishing touches on his display.You can find their decorations at 315 Forest Drive in Crystal Like. And more information on their GoFundMe page.

Maine law tried to prevent mass shootings. Some say more is needed after Lewiston killings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Barely four years before a gunman's deadly rampage in Maine, a state that is staunchly protective of gun rights, the governor signed a law aimed at preventing a mass shooting like the one Wednesday night that claimed at least 18 lives.It was called a “yellow flag” law, different from the “red flag” laws cropping up in other states to seize weapons from gun owners viewed as a threat. In a sign of the pro-Second Amendment mindset in Maine, a gun-rights group helped write the law, and critics said that, while it was a first step toward stronger gun safety measures, the state could save more lives by doing more — like passing a red flag law.The yellow flag law and permissive gun measures in Maine are coming under greater scrutiny in the aftermath of a massacre that authorities say was carried out by a man who was committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this past summer and had reported “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” a military ...

Eagles to make one last stop in Austin with 2024 tour date

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Classic rock legends are making their way to Austin at the beginning of next year. The Eagles will be performing at Moody Center on Feb. 2, 2024, as a part of The Long Goodbye Final Tour with special guest Steely Dan, Moody Center confirmed on social media. Tickets go on sale Nov. 3 at 10 a.m., but fans can buy tickets on presale through the Moody Center starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 through 10 p.m. Nov. 2 by using the code “SOUTHLAMAR”.The Eagles announced this would be their final tour back in July. The tour is expected to last until 2025. Seventeen new dates have been announced so far on The Long Goodbye Final Tour website: Nov. 2 at State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GeorgiaNov. 4 at State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GeorgiaNov. 7 at Spectrum Center - Charlotte, North CarolinaNov. 9 at PNC Arena - Raleigh, North CarolinaNov. 14 at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center - Lexington, KentuckyNov. 17 at Xcel Energy Center - St. Paul, MinnesotaNov. 18 at Xcel Energy Center...

Vikings defense has more celebrations planned. Now the hard part: more turnovers to unveil them.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

Maybe the most stoic person the Vikings have on their coaching staff, defensive coordinator Brian Flores always encourages his players to have fun. So much so that he recently appointed rookie cornerback NaJee Thompson as the defense’s celebration coordinator.As a result, the Vikings have started carving out a few minutes each week to discuss potential defensive celebrations. They got to bust out a couple of them on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, performing a variation of “The Limbo” using cornerback Akayleb Evans as the bar, then the classic “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck” with safety Josh Metellus taking center stage.It raises the question: What else do the Vikings have in store?“We’ll see what they come up with next week,” Flores said. “We’ve got to earn the right to do those things.”That isn’t lost on the Vikings as they prepare to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. They h...

DJ Jade Tittle is leaving The Current due, in part, to harassment from a stalker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

Jade Tittle, the longtime midday host on 89.3 The Current, is leaving the station due in part to a stalker who served time for harassing former Current DJ Mary Lucia.The decision, Tittle said, has been a while in the making. “It’s various reasons. I’ve had the same job for 15 years and I’m looking for some growth. The stalker does play into it. It’s been three years now (that he’s been harassing me) and I’ve got a month of court cases ahead of me. I’m taking some time to focus on taking care of myself.”A St. Paul native, Tittle joined The Current as an overnight host in 2008. She was promoted to the midday slot in 2015 and has also spent the past three years serving as the Minnesota Public Radio station’s music director. Friday will be her final shift on air and she’ll continue working at the station until Nov. 10. She is not publicly discussing what her next job will be.Patrick Henry Kelly, then of Eden Prairie, began stalking L...

Cynthia M. Allen: Far left, right spread similar hate on Israel. We in the middle must speak out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s been said that war makes for strange bedfellows.Since the attacks on Israel by Hamas, the words and actions of groups as ideologically disparate as neo-Nazis in North Texas and progressive student organizations on elite college campuses suddenly sound and appear surprisingly alike.Finding common ground in politics can be a remarkable feat, but today’s development isn’t something to be celebrated.It’s a marriage of viewpoints borne out of unadulterated hatred.Just a day after Hamas terrorists claimed more than 1,500 innocent lives in Israel, a swastika-clad neo-Nazi group made several appearances around Fort Worth.It was like something out of the history books.They boldly dined at a local taco joint; their presence caught on camera by a fellow diner.They dropped anti-semitic fliers around the cultural district, perhaps emboldened by the events unfolding across the world.While their appearance was “quiet” — there...

Thomas Friedman: From the Six-Day War to the Six-Front War

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

If you care about Israel, you should be more worried than any time since 1967. Back then, Israel defeated the armies of three Arab states — Egypt, Syria and Jordan — in what became known as the Six-Day War. Today, if you look closely, you’ll see that Israel is now fighting the Six-Front War.This war is being fought by and through nonstate actors, nation-states, social networks, ideological movements, West Bank communities and Israeli political factions, and it is the most complex war that I’ve ever covered. But one thing is crystal clear to me: Israel cannot win this six-front war alone. It can win only if Israel — and the United States — can assemble a global alliance.Unfortunately, Israel today has a prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and a ruling coalition that will not and cannot produce the keystone needed to sustain such a global alliance. That keystone is to declare an end to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the overhaul of Israel’s relations with th...

Country star Chris Stapleton will headline U.S. Bank Stadium in April

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

Country star Chris Stapleton will play his largest local headlining show to date when he hits U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6.Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 via Ticketmaster. Citi cardholders have access to a presale that starts at 10 a.m. Oct. 31. Neither the venue nor the promoter announced ticket prices. Lainey Wilson (“Things a Man Oughta Know,” “Heart Like a Truck”) and Marcus King (“The Well,” “Blood on the Tracks”) open.Initially known as the songwriter and frontman of the SteelDrivers, Chris Stapleton established himself as a solo star with the release of his debut, “Traveller,” in 2015. Not only did it go platinum six times, it helped Stapleton fill a few shelves with awards. The 45-year-old Kentucky native has won eight Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards.His best-known include “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Broken Halos,” “Nobody to Blame,” “Millionaire,” “Sta...

NYS now covering costs of Governor's trip to Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- New information revealed more on the cost of Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent trip to Israel, including the nonprofit group that paid for it. According to her office, after expressing interest in going overseas it was UJA-Federation that reached offered to foot the bill for travel. The New York-based nonprofit also recently paid for New York City Mayor Eric Adams trip to Israel as well.According to the Governor’s office, while the exact cost including airfare and hotels is still unknown, it is said to be in the five-figure range. Her office said previously that the state would be paying for her security detail.Last week, the Governor went to Israel to show her support for the Jewish Community. While there, she met with Israeli government officials and those who lost loved ones during the attacks. Hochul, four members of her staff, and members of her security detail flew on commercial flights from JFK to Tel Aviv.In a statement, Avi Small spokesperson for Govern...

Familial DNA Searching allowed again for NY law enforcement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:25 GMT

ALBANY,N.Y. (NEWS10)--The New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, ruled law enforcement can once again use familial DNA searching. "It is a huge deal for law enforcement," said John Flynn, Erie County District Attorney. "This is a major, major decision. I can’t emphasize that enough."Flynn said the decision by New York Court of Appeals to reinstate familial DNA searching will help law enforcement solve violent crimes. The DNA databank, which consists of the DNA of people who have been convicted of certain crimes, can be compared to other DNA found during an investigation."Let’s say we only get a partial match. And the partial match comes back and says that this DNA may not be Joe Smith’s DNA, and Joe Smith is a criminal in the databank. It may not be Joe Smith’s DNA, but it’s got to be a relative of Joe Smith," explained Flynn.Flynn said that then allows them to follow a lead."This was used in the Golden Gate homicide, the Golden Gate Killer out in Californi...