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Official: Willow oil project holds promise, faces obstacles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Willow oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope is part of a “new era” of large-scale development in the region but it isn’t a sure thing, with litigation and costs among the factors that stand as potential impediments, a state official told lawmakers Thursday. John Crowther, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, said the scale of projects like Willow, which is on federal lands in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and was approved by the Biden administration last week, is “tremendous” and would benefit Alaska. He also lumped in as significant the Pikka oil project, which is on state lands east of the petroleum reserve.But he also said multibillion-dollar, multi-year projects are complex and there is “significant runway” for the ConocoPhillips Alaska-backed Willow project to get to the development and production stages. Australia-based Santos is working with Repsol to advance the Pikka project.Stat...

4 hospitalized after car crashes into Crystal Lake restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. -- A car crashed into the front of a restaurant in Crystal Lake Thursday evening sending four people to the hospital.According to the Crystal Lake Police Department, a Nissan Altima crashed into a restaurant located on the 1500 block of Carlemont Drive in Crystal Lake at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.Investigations revealed that the Nissan Altima was traveling westbound in the parking lot when they attempted to park their car. For an unknown reason, the vehicle continued driving over the sidewalk and struck the building before finally coming to a rest inside the restaurant.Four people were transported to a location hospital with injuries that varied from minor to serious.The driver of the vehicle was not injured.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Boil order issued in Bridgeview amid water main break

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Residents in the Village of Bridgeview are urged to boil their water as a precaution due to ongoing work on a water main break.The water system required repairs on Thursday. The Village of Bridgeview Public Works submitted a water sample for bacteriological testing and is awaiting confirmation that the water quality in Bridgeview is safe for drinking.This process is expected to take anywhere from 24-48 hours. Residents are asked to boil their water for a least five minutes before use for cooking, drinking, food preparation, washing dishes and/or brushing teeth.

Need a summer job? Chicago Park District is hiring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

CHICAGO  — Young Chicagoans looking for summer jobs throughout the city can start applying at the Chicago Park District. With summer around the corner, the Chicago Park District has launched its 'Your Perfect Summer Job' campaign. Chicago residents are invited to participate in a variety of programs that will run from April 10 through June 9.Jobs include lifeguards, recreation leaders, special recreation leaders and junior laborers. Positions are for ages 16 and older with a minimum starting wage of at least $15.Chicago Park District Assistant Director of Recreation Adrian Ioza joined WGN Evening News to talk more about the job opportunities. "We're teaching two things: we are empowering our younger people to get these jobs, work on their tans, put some money in their pockets and not work too late because they're usually done by early afternoon so they don't work night," Ioza said. "They're also working with our young children that are our future. So it's a winning situation."View ...

Families upset North Carolina school tells sons to cut hair before returning to school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Some North Carolina families are upset after their sons were told by a charter school that they couldn't return to class after spring break unless they got a haircut — which parents say is discriminatory against their Native American heritage. Mia Chavis and her son Edward live in Robeson County, but Edward goes to a charter school in Whiteville, which is in neighboring Columbus County. Chavis said Edward's hair was in compliance last year, but this year things have changed for many boys at the school. Edward, who is 7 years old, attends Classical Charter Schools of America at the Whiteville campus. Six-year-old Logan Lomboy attends the Leland campus in Brunswick County. Their mothers said their sons' long hair is part of their Native American heritage. ‘Very disturbing’: What to know about the potentially deadly fungus spreading in the U.S. "Our culture in the Southeast has been extremely strong," said Ashley Lomboy, Logan's mother. "We're in a revi...

3rd Illinois corrections officer sentenced in inmate death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

(WBHF) -- A former sergeant at a Illinois correctional facility was sentence to six years in prison Wednesday for his role in the death of an inmate.Willie Hedden, 43, a former sergeant at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, was sentenced on Wednesday to six years’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, according to a news release. Hedden was sentenced for civil rights deprivation resulting in bodily injury and death and obstruction of justice offenses in connection with the death of Larry Earvin, an inmate at the facility, the release says. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Hedden, of Mt. Sterling; Todd Sheffler, 54, of Mendon, Illinois; and Alex Banta, 31, of Quincy, Illinois, charging each of them with civil rights resulting in bodily injury and death and obstruction offenses. Cooperating guard gets 6 years in Illinois inmate’s death Hedden accepted responsibility for his crimes by pl...

'One big family' mindset has glued Longhorns together, put them into 1st Sweet 16 since 2008

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team hasn't been to the Sweet 16 in 15 years, and while that's a tremendous accomplishment the team is proud of, they certainly aren't satisfied.The second-seeded Longhorns take on third-seeded Xavier at 8:45 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City to see who moves on to Sunday's Elite Eight, and what has held the team together this season has been their love for one another.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersSenior forward Timmy Allen, one of 16 players in college basketball since 1992 to score at least 2,000 points, grab 800 rebounds and notch 300 assists during a career, said "he's soaking everything in.""I'm taking this to heart because I'm not getting this again," he said Tuesday before the team left for Kansas City. "I'm mature enough to know how special this is. There was a moment after we beat K-State on t...

Where to get the best tamales in the Austin area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After KXAN did a callout on social media asking where the best tamales were in Austin, there were a few places in and around the area everyone preferred.While not one person said a single place in Austin stood out, the consistency remained in where Austinites said the best places for tamales reign, even if they are not directly in Austin.Tamale HouseTamale House has always been a neighborhood spot since 1958, the Tamale House website said. The business served the downtown Austin community.Tamale House East opened in 2012, according to the Tamale House website. The first time the business opened, it served its very first customers during South by Southwest."True to form, we remain a neighborhood spot. And while the neighborhood has changed, we remain steadfast in cooking the old-fashioned way, making everything fresh and from scratch," the website said.Texas-sized tamale menu:Pork tamaleChicken tamaleBean, cheese and jalapeno tamaleTo view the menu in full, go here.D...

Texas border bills aim to challenge federal law and consolidate state power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Senate Committee on Border Security on Thursday heard a bill that would create a state crime for illegally crossing the federal border. It's the latest legislative effort to consolidate border enforcement authority at a time when Texas officials accuse the Biden Administration of ignoring the strain on border communities.SB 2424 by State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) would create a Class A misdemeanor for noncitizens who attempt to cross the Texas-Mexico border illegally. Additional offenses would be charged as felonies. The power to patrol and prosecute border crimes is reserved to the federal government. But that's not stopping top Texas Republicans from trying to push the limits of state power."As a result of the federal government's unwillingness to enforce federal immigration laws and secure our southern border, the State of Texas has stepped up and devoted time and resources to combat the unprecedented border crisis that the state is facing," t...

Texas Longhorns to battle veteran Xavier team Friday in Sweet 16

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KXAN) - The Texas men's basketball team has already made history in an emotional season making the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008. Now they are set to duel with the Xavier Musketeers out of the Big East at 8:45 p.m. Friday.Xavier reached the second weekend after beating a pair of double-digit seeds. The Musketeers handled 14th-seeded Kennesaw State 72-67 and 11th-seeded Pittsburgh 84-73. ‘One big family’ mindset has glued Longhorns together, put them into 1st Sweet 16 since 2008 The Longhorns, too, have played only double-digit seeds. The test against Xavier looks on paper to be their toughest yet in the tournament."Xavier is a really good team," said Longhorns senior guard Marcus Carr. "Obviously, they wouldn't be here if they weren't. Great offensive team that likes to push the pace. They can shoot the ball well."That offensive attack is led by Souley Boum, a graduate transfer that Rodney Terry coached at UTEP. In his first year with Xavier, the veteran...