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13 confirmed tornadoes after Wednesday night's storms: National Weather Service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

CHICAGO — The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday a total of 13 tornadoes after Wednesday night’s storms.The first Elgin tornado had a maximum intensity EF-1 and maximum wind speed of 100 mph. The track roughly started east of Rt. 47 and ended near the railroad tracks west of Villa Olivia Golf Course.The NWS says the second tornado in Elgin had a max intensity of EF-0 with max wind speed of 85 mph. The tornado began close to McDonald Road and ended along Hopps Road.A NWS team confirmed a third tornado after grounds were surveyed from Burr Ridge to Stickney. A EF-1 with max winds near 110 mph was identified.The fourth tornado confirmed by NWS was reportedly an EF-0 with a maximum wind speed of 85 mph in northeastern Oswego and eastern Boulder Hill Wednesday evening.NWS survey teams confirmed three additional tornadoes across McHenry and Lake County in Illinois. In Huntley, an EF-1 with max wind speeds of 90 mph. Two EF-0 tornados were also confirmed with one in Barrington wit...

Faith, community leaders speak on who they think should be the next Chicago police superintendent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicagoans directly impacted by violence and working to end it are speaking out about who they think should take the seat as Chicago's next police superintendent.The three finalists were selected and announced Thursday by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.They are Shon Barnes, Angel Novalez and Larry Snelling. 3 finalists for Chicago police superintendent announced On Friday, faith and community leaders said they think it's essential for the mayor to choose an insider.Pam Bosley, the co-found of Purpose Over Pain, said many of the faces on a wall outside St. Sabina, including her son, are unsolved cases. "Terrell, my son, was murdered in 2006," Bosley said. "His case remains unsolved."Urgency in solving these cold cases is something Bosley wants the next superintendent of the Chicago Police Department to take to heart."For parents like me whose children's lives were taken by violence, if we can make the top priority, one of the top priorities...

NDAA faces slim chance in Senate after heated House debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The United States House of Representatives passed a sweeping defense authorization bill, but the package is full of measures that led to heated disagreements on Capitol Hill.Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act is typically widely bipartisan, but this time around, moderate and far-right Republicans united to pack the legislation full of controversial policies. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy says the NDAA passed by his party will benefit military members who he says will “receive the biggest pay raise in decades.”But the debate over the package turned into an ideological fight.“Stop using taxpayer money to do their own woke-ism,” McCarthy argued.“They block my amendment to help homeless vets get rides to medical appointments. What the hell is woke about that?” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) questioned.Additionally, the discussion over a provision eliminating ...

Thunderstorm warnings, flood advisories Friday evening around St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Severe thunderstorm warnings and flood advisories are in effect around the St. Louis metro through late Friday evening. As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Madison County are all under thunderstorm warnings. If you are in the path of a thunderstorm, seek shelter immediately. St. Charles County and north St. Louis County are also under flood advisories due to the storms. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Scattered thunderstorms will continue into the evening. A few of the storms could be strong to severe, bringing threats of damaging winds and large hail. When it's not storming it'll be hot and very humid with highs in the low to mid 90s.A complex of storms that develops over the central plains will bring more widespread rain and storms to the region late this evening and continue into the overnight and early Saturday morning hours. These storms could also be severe producing damaging winds and large hail....

Five people, including a pedestrian, injured in two-vehicle crash in Aurora

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

Five people were injured and hospitalized Friday in a two-vehicle crash in Aurora, police said Friday.Four of the injured people were in the two vehicles, and a fifth person, a pedestrian, was also taken to a hospital with injuries suffered when he was hit by debris from the crash.UPDATE: This was a 2-vehicle crash between a passenger vehicle and a pickup. The car was making a left turn from Iliff onto Sable when it was struck by the pickup that had run a red light. The pickup rolled several times for 300 feet post impact and came to rest on its wheels.…— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) July 14, 2023Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Eastbound 6th Avenue cleared after three-vehicle crash forced closure and delays Crime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist killed on I-70 was shot in head amid hail of bullets fired from pursuing truck, Denver police say Crime and Public Safety | 26-year-old Brighton man killed in Aurora rollover crash...

Fast-moving wildfire breaks out in Riverside County, 600 acres and growing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

Firefighters are battling a large fast-moving wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on Friday.Named the “Rabbit Fire,” the brush fire is located near Gilman Springs Road and Jackrabbit Trail and ignited shortly before 4 p.m.The flames have spread to around 600 acres and are continuing to grow, Cal Fire officials confirmed. Zero percent containment was reported around 6 p.m.Located in a grass and brush-heavy area, no nearby structures appear to be threatened but that could quickly change. Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on July 14, 2023. (KTLA)Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on July 14, 2023. (KTLA)Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on July 14, 2023. (KTLA)Firefighters are responding to a wildfire that erupted in Moreno Valley on July 14, 2023. (KTLA)Air tankers along with ground crews from Riverside County Fire are working to extinguish the massive blaze.The Rabbit F...

Evacuations ordered as Highland Fire threatens homes in Beaumont

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

A massive wildfire is threatening homes in Beaumont Friday afternoon as evacuations were ordered.Named the “Highland Fire,” the flames were reported near South Highland Springs and Breckenridge Avenues shortly before 3 p.m.Crews from Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department responded to the area as the blaze has grown to around 225 acres.Evacuations have been ordered for homes on Breckinridge Avenue between Highland Springs Avenue and Sunningdale.Evacuations are also in effect for structures anywhere west of South Highland Home, south of Sun Lakes and east of Highland Springs.Sky5 video showed air tankers along with ground crews working quickly to extinguish the blaze.Some burning hot spots were located dangerously close to a large tract of homes. Fire protection groups are also on the scene monitoring the flames' proximity to residences.The Highland Fire is among several fires that broke out in the Inland Empire on Friday afternoon including the Rabbit Fire and the Reche Fire....

Court pauses order limiting White House-social media contact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

By Kevin McGill | Associated PressNEW ORLEANS — A federal appeals court Friday temporarily paused a lower court’s order limiting executive branch officials’ communications with social media companies about controversial online posts.Biden administration lawyers had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to stay the preliminary injunction issued on July 4 by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty. Doughty himself had rejected a request to put his order on hold pending appeal.Friday’s brief 5th Circuit order put Doughty’s injunction on hold “until further orders of the court.” It called for arguments in the case to be scheduled on an expedited basis.Filed last year, the lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by discussing possible regulatory action the government could take while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Biden̵...

Rev. Jackson to step down as head of Rainbow PUSH

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

By Gary Fields, Claire Savage and Teresa Crawford | Associated PressCHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson plans to step down from leading the Chicago civil rights organization Rainbow PUSH Coalition he founded in 1971, the organization announced Friday.“Reverend Jesse Jackson is officially pivoting from his role as president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. His commitment is unwavering, and he will elevate his life’s work by teaching ministers how to fight for social justice and continue the freedom movement,” the organization said in a statement. “Rev. Jackson’s global impact and civil rights career will be celebrated this weekend at the 57th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention, where his successor will be introduced.”The Rev. Janette Wilson, a senior adviser to Jackson and longtime staff member of the organization, told The Associated Press that the civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate will address members Saturday about his decisio...

Las Vegas heat wave could break records

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:24 GMT

By Ken Ritter and Julie Watson | Associated PressLAS VEGAS — Visitors to Las Vegas on Friday stepped out momentarily to snap photos and were hit by blast-furnace air. But most will spend their vacations in a vastly different climate — at casinos where the chilly air conditioning might require a light sweater.Meanwhile, emergency room doctors were witnessing another world, as dehydrated construction workers, passed-out elderly residents and others suffered in an intense heat wave threatening to break the city’s all-time record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius) this weekend.Few places in the scorching Southwest demonstrate the surreal contrast between indoor and outdoor life like Las Vegas, a neon-lit city rich with resorts, casinos, swimming pools, indoor nightclubs and shopping. Tens of millions of others across California and the Southwest, were also scrambling for ways to stay cool and safe from the dangers of extreme heat.“We’ve been talking ...