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Loved ones of Hamas hostages still holding onto hope as some are released

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

As war between Israel and Hamas intensifies in the Middle East, hundreds of families are still waiting for word on their loved ones believed to be kidnapped by Hamas. One mother shared with CityNews the final phone call with her 23-year-old daughter amid a barrage of gunfire. “The last time she called me she said she was crying, and she said, ‘Mommy I was shot, they shot as us.'”In the chilling recording, Meirav Leshem Gonen tries to console her daughter Romi after she and her friends came under attack during the music festival massacre on October 7.Gonen told CityNews she was on the phone with her daughter for about four and half hours before losing contact.“Hearing her moving from place-to-place to hide first from the rockets and then from the gunfire of the terrorists … we heard the shooting coming closer to the car and then a lot of voices men voices in Arabic shouting at each other,” explained Gonen. “And the last words she said is R...

Toronto Board of Health asking for $5.1 million to fight upcoming virus season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

Toronto’s Board of Health is asking the province for an additional $5.1 million to add to their budget in order to prepare for the fall and winter virus season as COVID-19, RSV and flu cases are already popping up.Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, said the extra annual funding would be used for Infection Prevention and Control hubs that help prevent and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks, particularly in long-term care and retirement homes, shelters and group homes.“[The hubs] are absolutely crucial to the response particularly within congregate settings congregate living settings like long-term care homes, where people live together and where you have people who are at higher risk and how those hubs work,” said Dr. de Villa. She said they are expecting the extraordinary COVID-19 funding provided by the province for the last few years to wrap up despite the city still facing challenges.“This is the kind of thing that we anticipate is going to be ...

Fire: One shot on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A person was shot Monday afternoon near a hotel in Chicago, according to the fire department.The person was found with a gunshot wound in the hotel's lobby in the 500 block of North Michigan Avenue. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The person, a male, was shot in the abdomen and taken to Northwestern University Medical Center in critical condition.Additional details haven't been released.This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

‘People are sad, & people are angry:’ Police, community searching for answers after 12-year-old killed in Englewood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Police and community members are searching for answers after a young boy was killed in a shooting on the city's South Side on Sunday night.Chicago police are now offering a $15,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest in connection with the shooting that left 12-year-old Damien Green dead.A peace walk was held on Monday afternoon near the site where the shooting took place, as community members and police demanded answers and a stop to the violence.“People are sad, and people are angry,” President of the Englewood Political Task Force, Darryl Smith, said. Tensions rise amid clashing rallies in Skokie According to Chicago Police, officers responded to the deadly shooting around 6:30 p.m. in the 600 block of West Marquette. After officers arrived on the scene, they found the young boy, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, unresponsive in the street.“If this murder goes unsolved, then this family is going to live this over and over again, and that’s ...

Off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut down engines of Alaska Airlines plane midflight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – An Alaska Airlines plane made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on Sunday after a "credible threat to an authorized occupant" on board — and now the suspect, identified as an off-duty pilot, is facing 167 charges.Officials with the Port of Portland identified the suspect as 44-year-old Joseph D. Emerson, who was taken into custody after Flight 2059 was diverted to PDX. The airline said in a statement that no weapons were involved.Emerson faces 83 counts of first-degree attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft.According to Alaska Airlines, the flight — on a Horizon Air passenger jet — was headed from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. Alaska Airlines owns Horizon, a regional carrier. Alaska Airlines said an off-duty pilot, later identified as Emerson, who was sitting in the jump seat, caused a disturbance in the cockpit of the plane and “attempted to disrupt the operation of the eng...

Justin Fields isn't the only Bears starter dealing with an injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Bears have the same situation at quarterback as they prepare for the Chargers as they did for the Raiders.But Justin Fields isn't the only player on the Bears who is unlikely to play in Los Angeles on Sunday.On Monday, Matt Eberflus confirmed that the starting quarterback is once again doubtful for the game at SoFi Stadium as he continues to deal with a thumb injury suffered in the Week 6 loss to the Vikings. That would put rookie Tyson Bagent in line to start his second consecutive game after leading the Bears to a win over Las Vegas on Sunday at Soldier Field. Eberflus didn't offer much in terms of an update on the actual injury for Fields, other than to say he continues to work with trainers. As of now, there are no plans to put the third-year quarterback on injured reserve, which would knock him out for at least four games.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)While Fields still has a shot to play against the Chargers on Sunday, even if remote, starting guard Nate Davis h...

Autopsies confirm 5 died of chemical exposure in Illinois tanker crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Autopsies have confirmed that five people who died when a chemical tanker overturned in central Illinois last month died from exposure to caustic anhydrous ammonia fumes, an official said Monday.The official results confirmed preliminary findings from the Sept. 29 crash, Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said. The victims, including two children, suffered severe chemical burns to their entire bodies, as well as their eyes and respiratory systems, she said.The crash involving a tanker truck carrying the agricultural fertilizer occurred about 8:40 p.m. on U.S. 40 just east of Teutopolis, 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis. Illinois State Police looking for vehicle potentially involved in ammonia incident Killed in the crash were Danny J. Smith, 67, of New Haven, Missouri; Vasile Cricovan, 31, of Twinsburg, Ohio; 34-year-old Kenneth Bryan of Teutopolis and his children Walker, 10, and Rosie, 7, of Beecher City.Traffic had been diverted onto U...

Witness video shown in first day of APD officer murder case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN News Today’s morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Opening statements wrapped up Monday in the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.Previous coverage of the trial: Opening statements wrap up in murder trial involving APD officerJury selected in APD officer’s murder trialJudge grants mistrial motion in APD officer murder caseOpening statements After Taylor pleaded not guilty, attorneys representing him did not give opening statements Monday. It meant the jury heard largely from prosecutors on the first day of trial. Prosecutors used maps, photos and screenshots of body-worn camera footage to walk jurors through the events leading up to Ramos' death in their opening statement...

Wet weather pattern continues all week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Periods of welcome, soaking rain with a few embedded thunderstorms continue through the early evening hours as moisture from once-Hurricane Norma moves across the state.Some parts of the Austin Metro are have seen 1.5"-2" of rain, while the Hill Country and eastern counties have generally seen lighter totals. Live, updated rain totals Once Hurricane Norma's rain-generating moisture exits the state Tuesday, a separate storm system approaches, continuing on-and-off wet weather all week.While a few passing showers or thunderstorms are possible all week, the wettest period of weather appears to come as the trough of low pressure clips our area Wednesday night into early Thursday. During this time, a line of slow-moving thunderstorms may bring widespread heavy rainfall and even a minor flash flood threat.Forecast radar with heavy thunderstorms Thursday morningWidespread, additional rainfall totals of 1-2" are likely across Central Texas, on top of the 1-2" that have al...

What's 'green' concrete, and how is Austin using it in transportation projects?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin has a new, eco-friendly effort underway to help reduce carbon emissions when building out new sidewalks.City crews began work installing new sidewalks, curb ramps and driveways along Burleson Road between Ben White Boulevard and Chapman Lane last week. That project will tap into green concrete technology, a method that "injects captured carbon dioxide into concrete as it's being mixed," city transportation officials said in a Monday newsletter.After the concrete hardens, officials noted "the carbon dioxide is sequestered forever," regardless of whether the project is torn down at a later date. Alongside being more environmentally friendly, the practice also leads to stronger concrete and the use of less cement, which minimize carbon emission impacts. The city's sidewalk pilot project will account for approximately 100 cubic yards of green energy concrete used, leading to the prevention of roughly 2,500 pounds of carbon dioxide being admitted into t...