Women’s World Cup trophy gets quick, guarded visit in Haiti

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

Women’s World Cup trophy gets quick, guarded visit in Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy got a whirlwind visit to Haiti on Saturday, but instead of being feted with a parade like in other countries it was only displayed during a small ceremony because of the country’s unrelenting violence.Meant to inspire future female soccer talent, the trophy was surrounded by Haitian authorities, mostly men and a handful of women, including the goalkeeper of the national soccer team and the president of the women’s soccer federation, Monique André.The trophy has special significance in Haiti now because its women’s team qualified in February for the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals for the first time in the country’s history. The team won its historic match a week after a court overturned a lifetime ban against former Haitian soccer federation president Yves Jean-Bart over allegations that he sexually abused female players, including minors. FIFA has appealed the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Goalkeeper Kerl...

Temps to drop 40 degrees by Sunday evening in Chicagoland

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

Temps to drop 40 degrees by Sunday evening in Chicagoland CHICAGO — A strong cold front will push through the Chicago area Saturday night and into Sunday morning.  Behind the front, temperatures will tumble as strengthening westerly winds usher much colder air into the region.  Saturday to bring fourth consecutive day of 80-degree-plus temps Highs in the 60s will likely occur in the early overnight hours followed by temperatures falling throughout Sunday.  By late afternoon we'll likely see temperatures in the lower 40s and even some upper 30s. A freeze watch for McHenry, Lake, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Kendall and parts of Cook and Will counties is in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.The frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.By Monday morning many locations west and north of the Chicago metro are expected to see temperatures near freezing.The extended forecast on Monday calls for a chilly...

'It's gone': Florida family searching for lost urn mistakenly put by curb

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

'It's gone': Florida family searching for lost urn mistakenly put by curb PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida family just closed on their house Friday, but one of their most precious possessions disappeared during the final stages of packing up.Steve Neidig is grieving the loss of his brother-in-law for a second time as the urn with his ashes went missing while he was in the midst of moving out. How much does a wedding cost in your state? “He just died six weeks ago and now his ashes are gone forever,” said Neidig.Neidig is still in disbelief, especially since this happened on the same day he sold his home. Neidig closed on his house Friday morning but had a few more items to pack beforehand.“Someone decided they would clean up the things they left in the house and put it all out at the curb — and someone came along and garbage picked it and it’s gone,” Neidig said.Neidig is still trying to pinpoint who may have moved the urn to the curb by mistake, but he believes it may have caught the attention of someone passing by. The urn is shaped like a s...

Austin Police investigating body found in Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

Austin Police investigating body found in Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is investigating where a body was recovered Saturday from Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam.Police responded to the area near Longhorn Dam at 1:21 p.m. for a check welfare urgent call after multiple people called 911 about an apparent dead body in the water.APD and Austin Fire responded to the scene where an unidentified adult was pronounced dead. APD's homicide unit is investigating the incident, but there currently is no suspicious evidence."As of right now, nothing criminal has been seen," APD public information officer Michael Bullock said at a Saturday evening press conference.Bullock said there is no estimate for how long the person was in the water.Bullock said APD investigations are in coordination with the medical examiner's office, which determines the cause of death. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact APD's homicide unit at 512-477-3588. PREVIOUS: City to focus on safety near Rainey Street after recent ...

AFD: 'Fully involved' car fire on I-35 frontage road causes closures

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

AFD: 'Fully involved' car fire on I-35 frontage road causes closures AUSTIN (KXAN) — A car fire on Interstate 35 in south Austin is causing some road closures. AFD said the "fully involved vehicle fire" closed the Stassney Lane exit and frontage road. As of 6:30 p.m., traffic delays are expected. The car fire was on southbound I-35 frontage road near Stassney Lane. There were no injuries in the fire, AFD said. This is a developing story. Stay with KXAN for updates.

State of Texas: Education Savings Accounts draw support, concern at the Capitol

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

State of Texas: Education Savings Accounts draw support, concern at the Capitol AUSTIN (Nexstar) - Just four days after the Texas House voted to prohibit state funding for education savings accounts, the House Committee on Public Education considered a bill to establish just that.House Bill 4340, by Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, is the lower chamber's proposal to use state dollars to subsidize educational costs for families looking for alternatives to public education. "The entire discussion around school choice... comes down to perspective in my opinion. Should parents be given options to educate their children?" Frank said to the committee on Tuesday. "When viewed through the eyes of the parent or child, I believe it's hard to come to any other answer than 'yes.'"Frank's bill would establish education savings accounts (ESAs), just like Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton's Senate Bill 8, but with some key differences.HB 4340 would prioritize families who would qualify for the ESAs into four tiers based on income level. The first priority group includes students...

Mike Conley is the calm, collected veteran who’s teaching Timberwolves how to win

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

Mike Conley is the calm, collected veteran who’s teaching Timberwolves how to win Mike Conley collected a steal Friday to halt a Thunder transition opportunity, then immediately looked down the court. What he saw was both of Minnesota’s twin towers — Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert — in open floor space.First Conley saw Gobert, and thought better of launching the ball full court to the 7-foot-4 defensive dominator. But then he saw Towns and figured, “Why not?”“When Mike first picked it up and threw it, I was like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ ” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch admitted.But, sure enough, Conley’s pass hit Towns on the money. Towns then turned and put up a perfect lob to Gobert, who flushed the ball down to put Minnesota up 109-80 with eight minutes to go in Friday’s play-in game against Oklahoma City at Target Center — the exclamation mark on Minnesota’s dominant victory.“It was a great play,” Finch said. “Trust Mike.”The head coach always had. Since Minnesota traded ...

LIVE: Tornado warnings in St. Louis City, STL County and many others

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

LIVE: Tornado warnings in St. Louis City, STL County and many others ST. LOUIS - A tornado warning has been issued in parts of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson and Franklin counties through 7 p.m.When a tornado warning is issued, a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar and there is imminent danger to life and property. If you’re in the area of a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately.---ST. LOUIS - Severe weather threats remain, primarily in the form of hail and thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. St. Louis City and St. Louis County could see high winds and hail head its way in the 6 p.m. hour after some threats intensified out west in the 4 p.m. hour. However, a tornado watch has been issued across the St. Louis region through 10 p.m. Saturday. The watch includes most St. Louis metro counties on both sides of the state, according to the National Weather Service.During a tornado watch, atmospheric conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop, but a tornado has not yet been sighted or indicated by weather radar.I...

PHOTOS: Large hail hits west of St. Louis

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

PHOTOS: Large hail hits west of St. Louis CRAWFORD COUNTY, MO. - Hail slammed some parts of Missouri just west of St. Louis amid severe storms Saturday afternoon. In Crawford and Franklin counties, viewers have informed FOX 2 of hail hitting areas in Bourbon, Leasburg, Villa Ridge and many other communities. Strong instability up in the mid-levels of the atmosphere is making for the potential for very large hail in storms today. Some of this hail may be quite dangerous and destructive. Some hail could fall up to 2.5 inches, tennis ball or baseball sizes.Hail threats, heavy winds and a tornado watch remain in the St. Louis area through Saturday evening. Many modes of severe weather are now heading west towards St. Louis City and County. Check back with FOX 2 for updates.

Saunders: Comparing the Rays and Rockies by the numbers reveals a lot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:13:43 GMT

Saunders: Comparing the Rays and Rockies by the numbers reveals a lot In case you missed it, the Tampa Bay Rays opened the season with 13 consecutive wins before they lost, 6-3, to Toronto on Friday night.Tampa Bay’s 13-0 record matched the 1982 Braves and 1987 Brewers, trailing only the 20-0 start by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association.During their remarkable run, the Rays trailed in just six of their first 117 innings. And the Rays are one of just five teams since 1901 to start a season with a home run in at least 13 consecutive games. The others are the 2019 Mariners (20 straight), 2002 Guardians (14), 2017 Tigers (13) and 1954 Chicago Cubs (13).The Rays’ sizzling start is fascinating because, let’s face it, in the have- and have-not world of Major League Baseball they are not considered an elite franchise, at least not in the same way the Yankees, Astros, Dodgers, Red Sox and Mets are. Lots of folks love or revile the Yankees; the Rays are treated more like a curiosity.Never mind that Tampa Bay is at the forefront...