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Bears legend Dick Butkus dies at 80

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

CHICAGO — The football world is mourning the loss of one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game and one of the best athletes to come out of the City of Chicago. Dick Butkus, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer who first made a name for himself on the high school gridirons of the city, has died at the age of 80.Here is a statement from the Butkus family through the Bears on the death of Dick Butkus at the age of 80. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/1CqKLZADZ0— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 5, 2023In a statement released through the Bears, the family confirmed that he died in his sleep overnight at his home in Malibu, California. They are gathering with Butkus' late wife, Helen, and are appreciative of prayers and support of Dick.A native of the South Side, Butkus was a star at Chicago Vocational School and then the University of Illinois, where he was a two-time All-American and Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1963. Approaching 80, Dick Butkus reflec...

Man in serious condition after being shot in the chest in Wicker Park

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is injured after he was shot in the chest Thursday afternoon in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.The shooting was reported around 4:#0 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Elk Grove Avenue. Former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald sues university for $130 million According to the Chicago Police Department, the man was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition.Police said the man was near an alley when someone approached him, pulled out a handgun and shot him in the chest.No one has been arrested yet and detectives are still investigating.Anyone with information should call police.

Skilling: Cool, wet weekend ahead for Chicagoland

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

The heavens opened overnight and today over the southern suburbs.  While rainfall were modest in the city, totaling 0.21" at O'Hare and 0.42" at Midway, RAINFALLS WERE HEAVY FARTHER SOUTH.2.40" fell at Valparaiso—while 1.95" came down at Kouts, 1.65" at Hebron, 1.63" at Chesterton, 1.59" at Roselawn and 1.60" at Dyer—all in Indiana. Other Indiana totals included 0.95" at Crown Point, 0.91" at Munster, 0.89" at Portage and 0.85" at Ogden Dunes---again ALL in Indiana. At the same time, Grant Park in Kankakee county recorded 1.67" while 0.80" was recorded at Chicago Heights, 0.79" at South Holland, 0.66" Elmhurst and 0.59" at Oak Brook. AMOUNTS TAPERED OFF dramatically farther north with only 0.07" recorded at Woodstock, 0.03" at Vernon Hills and just 0.02" at Libertyville.THE PREDICTED DOWNWARD CYCLE IN TEMPS is underway.  Thursday's 71-deg high at O'Hare was down 13-deg from Wednesday's 84—and further erosion in temps is expected a strong northwest flow at the jet stream level o...

NFL legend Dick Butkus dies

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) — Dick Butkus, a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 80, sources told Nexstar's WGN-TV. The loss leaves the football world in mourning of one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game and one of the best athletes to come out of the city of Chicago. A native of the South Side, Butkus was a star at Chicago Vocational School and then the University of Illinois, where he was a two-time All-American and Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1963.His No. 50 has been retired by the University of Illinois.Drafted by the hometown Bears with the third overall pick in 1965, Butkus' toughness and speed made him one of the greatest defensive players in history, making him the example for many linebackers to follow in coming years. Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)The two-time NFL Defensive...

Girl Scouts discontinue fan-favorite cookie, raise prices

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

(WDTN) -- Girl Scout cookie season is only a few months away, but two changes by the organization are not going unnoticed.Chapters of Girl Scouts of America in Massachusetts and New York have already said that boxes will be sold for $6. The price increase is $1 more than last year.The organization claims a rise in food production, labor and transportation costs as the reasons behind the price hike.According to "TODAY," a representative from the organization said the organization has also removed the beloved Raspberry Rally cookie from its lineup of offerings.The cookie flavor won’t be available during the upcoming Girl Scout cookie season, which typically takes place between January and April.The Raspberry Rally was introduced as the “sister” cookie to the iconic Thin Mints, a mint-flavored chocolate-covered cookie. The fruity version consisted of a raspberry-flavored cookie that was also covered in chocolate like the Thin Mints. Girl Scout cookies selling for almost $100 on eBay ...

KBVO Game of the Week: Anderson trying for huge upset vs. Westlake at Nelson Field

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westlake and Anderson are meeting a day earlier than normal in a 6A-District 26 matchup at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Nelson Field in the KBVO Game of the Week.Both squads are coming off wins last week — the Chaparrals took care of Del Valle 58-0 and the Trojans thumped Akins 50-13 — and if the Trojans pulled off an upset, it would put them in an excellent position to grab the fourth playoff spot out of the district. Anderson is tied with Bowie and Buda Johnson for fourth with a 2-2 record.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 websiteThe Chaps, meanwhile, are looking to continue their run of dominance in the district. They are tied with Dripping Springs at the top of the district with a 3-0 mark, and a win would set up a game for first place with the Tigers next week.Westlake running back Jack Kayser is looking for another big game comin...

Timberwolves look sharp in preseason-opening victory over Mavericks

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

For a team that stumbled time and time again out of the gates last fall, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch had to be relieved at what he witnessed Thursday in Abu Dhabi — competent basketball.It was better than competent, frankly. The Timberwolves were downright good in just about every aspect in cruising to a 111-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in their NBA preseason opener in Abu Dhabi.The two teams will square off again Saturday to conclude the international trip.Minnesota played with a clear sense of direction and purpose on Thursday. That’s all anyone can ask for when your team takes the floor in a competitive setting for the first team all season. Answering honestly, Finch noted the Timberwolves looked more fluid against Dallas than they had in training camp practices.“We hadn’t in practice, when you’re going against each other in practice and you know the offense and you know the players and everything,” Finch said. “There’s really very little game p...

With opener a week away, Wild strip down to the essentials

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

Down to one group of 22 players and two exhibition games, training camp is beginning to look more like the regular season for the Minnesota Wild.Thursday, for instance, the players went through a typical morning skate before their game against the Blackhawks instead of, say, a special teams practice or three-on-three drills. The big difference was they had to fly to Chicago for the 7:30 p.m. puck drop.Otherwise, head coach Dean Evason is looking for something like the real thing over the last week of camp, starting against the Blackhawks at United Center.“We’re playing a game, we’re two games away from the regular season starting. The intensity should be as high as it’s going to be in that first game,” Evason said after the morning skate. “Why shouldn’t it? They all know, we’ve talked about it, this is our group, this is what we want to play with, so they should be excited and ready to go.”On Wednesday, the Wild stripped down to the bare essentials when they cut the last of the guys...

Vikings’ Christian Darrisaw, Gophers’ Chris Collins consider each other ‘brothers’

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

The Gophers and Vikings are linked this season by a lifelong connection that started in Virginia almost 25 years ago.Kimberly Cherry and LaTanya Collins became close friends in the dorms at Virginia State in the late 1990s. Cherry then gave birth to Christian Darrisaw in Petersburg, Va., in June 1999, and they settled outside of Baltimore, Md. Collins had her son Chris Collins that December, and they went to Richmond, Va.The mothers and their soon-to-be very large sons have been connected ever since, and the boys became friends as they grew older and gravitated toward football. The moms will meet up again this weekend in Minnesota, a place they couldn’t have envisioned a reunion.“Super random,” LaTanya Collins said. “But it’s been cool.”With Darrisaw the Vikings’ left tackle and Collins a defensive end for the Gophers, their moms are coming to town to partake in both marquee football games this weekend — Gophers-Michigan on Saturday night, followed by Vikings-Chiefs on S...

Law enforcement officials investigate suspected homicide at Lino Lakes prison

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:32:11 GMT

Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspected homicide at Lino Lakes prison.A 63-year-old man — who was serving a 19.5 year sentence — was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a spokesman with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Prison medical staff and outside emergency medical personnel attempted lifesaving efforts on the man but he was pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m.A 42-year-old man, serving a life sentence, is the lone suspect in the case. The suspect currently is in segregation at the prison.An autopsy will be conduct by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s office. The victim’s identity will be released after notification of family, according to the DOC. DOC officials did not release the identity of the suspect Thursday.The prison has been placed on modified lockdown status — meaning inmates are restricted to their living units — until the investigation is finished.Related ArticlesCrime & P...