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20 years ago Friday, the Bears opened new Soldier Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

CHICAGO — When it comes to the Bears and their home stadium, things were much different 25 years ago on Friday.That's when the team was getting ready to start a new era at Soldier Field in a stadium that had undergone a massive renovation over nearly two years that still creates debate today.(JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)On September 29, 2003, the venue had its grand reopening as the Bears hosted the Packers on Monday Night Football on a cool evening in Chicago. This came after the venue had undergone a $632 million that completely transformed the inside while adding a new look to the outside over 21 months. The latter caused plenty of controversy, with many still saying today that it looks as if a spaceship had landed inside the nearly 100-year-old venue. A number of luxury suites were added along with different decks that actually dropped the capacity of the stadium to 61,500. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)It was a welcome moment for the Bears, who were forced to play...

Oswego man to spend 8 years in prison for deadly DUI crash involving girlfriend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

WILL COUNTY Ill. — An Oswego man will spend almost a decade in prison for his role in a 2020 DUI crash in Channahon that left his girlfriend dead, according to the Will County State’s Attorney's office.In a news release sent out on Friday afternoon, Carole Cheney, a spokesperson from the Will County State’s Attorney's office, said 51-year-old Corey Chattic pleaded guilty to aggravated driving while under the influence and driving on a suspended or revoked license on Thursday and was sentenced to eight years in prison. ‘We are all in shock’: 3 dead after being found unresponsive in Edgewater apartment The crash, which took place on Aug. 12, 2020, resulted in the death of Chattic's girlfriend Danielle Rachford.According to Cheney, Chattic had been drinking at a bar and grill in Wilmington with Rachford before they drove his Harley Davidson motorcycle to another bar in Channahon. After leaving the bar, Chattic was driving his motorcycle with Rachford sitting as a passenger when he at...

When will humans go extinct? These scientists have an answer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

(WTAJ) -- Just how long will humans be able to inhabit Earth? That is the question a group of researchers at the University of Bristol in England think they may have answered.According to a paper published this week on nature.com, humanity might only have 250 million years left as Earth forms a new supercontinent. While scientists have warned about climate change, Earth's temperature, and greenhouse gases/emissions, it was time to see what might actually wipe out humanity with the help of a new supercomputer. In the paper, the research team said that while the sun will naturally expand as it begins dying, eventually engulfing Earth in about two billion years, human life might not make it past the possible anarchy of what's been dubbed "Pangea Ultima." The simulation comes from the team of scientists feeding it data that's currently available about Earth, such as climate, ocean chemistry and tectonic plate movement. The supercomputer predicted that Earth's tectonic plates would shift...

LIVE: Westlake's Kayser closing in on big milestone, Chaps host Del Valle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Coming off a hard-fought 20-14 win over Lake Travis in the Battle of the Lakes last week, the Westlake Chaparrals host Del Valle at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a 6A-District 26 matchup.Both teams are coming off wins last week with the Cardinals picking up a 22-14 victory over Akins for their first win of the season. Quarterback Nasir Ardoin threw for 129 yards with a touchdown and running back Kenelle Hodges rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries with a score.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteFor the Chaps against Lake Travis, they were led by their reliable rusher, senior Jack Kayser. He rumbled for 130 yards on 24 carries with a 40-yard touchdown. Oddly enough, it was his first 100-yard game of the season but it would be naive to think he's not going to rack up more. According to statistics entered into MaxPreps, Kayser is 25 yards...

APD: Suspect accused of robbing east Austin bank twice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police are looking for a suspect accused of robbing the same east Austin bank twice over the span of three months, according to an APD release.APD said the estimated 16 to 22-year-old went to an A+ Federal Credit Union location on U.S. Highway 290, demanded cash and threatened a bank teller on June 21 at 12:20 p.m. and Sept. 28 at 3:20 p.m.The suspect was described by police as a thin Black man, around 5’4” to 5’6” tall with long dreadlocks or twists that went past his nose.Police said he left with an undisclosed amount of money. It's unclear if he was in a vehicle or had a weapon. At this time, police believe there is only one suspect.On Sept. 28, he was seen wearing a gray hoodie, gray pants, white Texas Longhorns visor, red shoes, and a black backpack, police said.Austin Police are looking for a suspect accused of robbing the same east Austin bank twice over the span of three months. Photo provided by APDOn June 21, APD said he was seen wearing g...

$240M in funding to go toward Texas seaports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the Texas Transportation Commission approved $240 million in funding for Texas seaports.“Texas ports play a critical role in our state’s booming economy, helping Texas continue to drive America’s economy and remain a hub for international trade,” said Governor Abbott. “This historic investment will not only bolster Texas’ ports infrastructure, it will help build a brighter economic future for all Texans.”The funding was said to help increase trade, improve safety and provide a more robust supply chain for our state and the nation. “Texas ports are a crucial link in the supply chain,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Steven Alvis. “With the expansion of the Panama Canal, and under the Governor’s direction, improving these port facilities along the Texas Gulf Coast helps support this key economic driver for our state and the nation.”According to the governor’s office, the funding would go toward 31 projects recommended b...

Beer release, coupled with P.J. Fleck’s comments, becomes big help for Gophers’ players

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

An imperfect storm has benefited Gophers student-athletes this week.Dinkytown Athletes told the Pioneer Press on Friday the NIL collective’s specialty beer release — unintentionally coupled with football coach P.J. Fleck’s jarring plea for more funding — has produced a big response over the past three days.DTA said it has netted more new memberships over the past three days than it had gained across the previous three months. There is little context, however, because DTA does not share internal data for competitive reasons — read, negative recruiting between other athletic programs.Some Gophers fans in Dinkytown Athletes were upset by Fleck’s comments on KFAN on Tuesday. The comments can be summarized down to: If there isn’t more funding for players, “we will be a Triple-A ball club for somebody else.”Coming off a shocking loss to Northwestern last week, Fleck had been responding to a question about phenom freshman tailback Darius Taylor. Fleck steered the answer to how he feels pre...

New simulator helping Missouri schools prepare for possible threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A new tool is helping teachers, administrators and school resource officers better prepare for school threats while keeping students safe. When parents said their kids off to school, they want them to be safe and educated. For a student, it can be hard to learn if they don't feel safe. This new system being offered to districts across Missouri is designed to help school workers think on their feet. "People don't understand that with K-12 education, every teacher in America today is the emergency manager of their classroom," chief operating officer of the Missouri School Boards' Association K-12 Safety Division John McDonald said. "They are the first responder of the hallway. That doesn't mean that they are going to tackle a gunman or shoot a gunman, but it's their responsibility to protect their kids." Dramatic video shows armed encounter at St. Charles gas station; teens arrested It's a situation no parent wants to think about, a threat at their child's...

Positively St. Louis: Two major initiatives underway in North St. Louis – Project Connect & the Small Business Grant Program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) has two major initiatives underway in North St. Louis City to support the Neighborhood Transformation Pillar of the SLDC’s Economic Justice Action Plan. These initiatives are focused on building community through future development and funding of organizations and businesses in the area that have been otherwise left behind.First, the SLDC’s Project Connect, a strategic effort to connect the public and private sectors in the six area neighborhoods surrounding the National Geospatial Headquarters which is expected to complete construction in early 2026.  SLDC’s President and CEO says, “When the City of St. Louis was awarded the National Geospatial Headquarters, one of the responsibilities was for us to create neighborhood plans for six neighborhoods that will be surroundings NGA West. We have conducted almost 100 of meetings with those residents in those neighborhoods. We understand that the voices of those neighborhoods, and bu...

Charlie Blackmon signs one-year contract extension with Rockies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

Rockies icon Charlie Blackmon will return for one more season with the team.The club announced Friday night that Blackmon, 37, had agreed to a one-year contract extension covering the 2024 season. Blackmon was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season.“Charlie Blackmon is synonymous with Rockies baseball and we look forward to watching him continue his great career at 20th and Blake,” said general manager Bill Schmidt in a statement. “Nobody works harder than Charlie preparing for the game and we are excited to see him contribute both on the field and in the clubhouse for another season.”Related ArticlesColorado Rockies | Rockies dominate Dodgers, 14-5, in biggest victory over L.A. in more than seven years Colorado Rockies | Keeler: Heck, yeah, Dick Monfort’s Rockies can be fixed. From pitching to analytics to athleticism, here’s how Colorado Rockies | What is the Rockie Way? After three decades...