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Sports no sure respite from politics when title-winning athletes visit the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Calvin Coolidge wasn’t as big a baseball fan as his wife, Grace. But even Silent Cal got swept up in the excitement of the Washington Senators’ unexpectedly successful season in 1924. After the team clinched the American League pennant, the players swung by the White House to shake hands and pose for pictures with Coolidge. It was the beginning of what would eventually become a tradition of victorious athletes visiting the president, and it’ll continue on Friday when Joe Biden hosts the championship men’s and women’s college basketball teams. But what started as a nonpartisan rite of passage has become increasingly tangled up in politics, a shift that some peg to Bill Clinton’s presidency. Tom Lehman, a professional golfer, declined a White House invitation and described Clinton as “a draft dodging baby killer.”“That’s really when it started,” said Fred Frommer, a former Associated Press journalist who has written about the history...

America aged quickly in the last decade as baby boomers lived longer and births dropped

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

The United States grew older, faster, last decade.The share of residents 65 or older grew by more than a third from 2010 to 2020 and at the fastest rate of any decade in 130 years, while the share of children declined, according to new figures from the most recent census.The declining percentage of children under age 5 was particularly noteworthy in the figures from the 2020 head count released Thursday. Combined, the trends mean the median age in the U.S. jumped from 37.2 to 38.8 over the decade.America’s two largest age groups propelled the changes: more baby boomers turning 65 or older and millennials who became adults or pushed further into their 20s and early 30s. Also, fewer children were born between 2010 and 2020, according to numbers from the once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident. The decline stems from women delaying having babies until later in life, in many cases to focus on education and careers, according to experts, who noted that birth rates never rec...

'Armed and dangerous' Zion man on the run after allegedly shooting estranged wife, another man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A 42-year-old Zion man allegedly shot his estranged wife and a man she was with late Thursday night in what Waukegan police called a "domestic-related incident."The alleged shooter, Tomas Tapia, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous, police added. North Chicago man dead, 18-year-old injured in alleged targeted shooting: docs Around 11:15 Thursday, police responded to the 1300 block of Bridge Drive and located two gunshot victims in the parking lot. Tomas Tapia (Photo/Waukegan PD)The 42-year-old wife of Tapia suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach. According to police, the pair were separated. A second victim, a 25-year-old North Chicago resident, was shot in the chest. Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. According to police, a bullet pierced the vehicle's windshield belonging to Tapia's wife. Despite police recovering a vehicle belonging to Tomas Tapia, his whereabouts are unknown. Read more: Latest Chicago news hea...

Historic Lake Geneva estate goes up for sale, becomes most expensive listing in Wisconsin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — The 20,000 square foot Aloha Lodge is one of Lake Geneva's most recognized mansions, and could be yours for $35 million.The estate was originally built in 1900 for Tracy Drake, founder of the Drake and Blackstone hotels in Chicago. The 8 bedroom, 11 full-bathroom, 5-half bathroom home was the first of several lakeside mansions designed by Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. Home 300 feet from Wrigley Field up for sale According to brokerage @properties Christie's International Real Estate, "Aloha Lodge sits on more than 360 feet of shoreline, with genteel colonnades, curved façade and ornamental railings that are a beautiful throwback to the days when guests arrived via steamboat or paddlewheel. A full interior and exterior renovation in 2011 tripled the home’s original size, extending its footprint to add two wings off the original structure, built with period details to look as if they were always part of the home."Photo credit: ©@properties Ch...

Chicago's new leaders' Memorial Day weekend public safety plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Memorial Day marks the first holiday weekend in leadership for Chicago's new mayor and his interim top cop.Mayor Brandon Johnson will join Chicago Police Department Interim Superintendent Fred Waller Thursday afternoon to share the city's public safety plan in advance of the unofficial start to summer. Bleeding control kits at wall stations in Wrigley Field The two are expected to be joined by Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt, Alderman Desmon Yancy, Alderman Lamont Robinson, Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities Executive Director Esther Franco-Payne, along with other city and community leaders.WGN plans to livestream the press conference in its entirety within this story beginning at approximately 1:30 p.m. It will then be update later today with details of the plan and reaction.

Bleeding control kits at wall stations in Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Bleeding control kits are now available at more than 20 wall stations at Wrigley Field, including a tourniquet, gauze and trauma shears to cut through clothing."Bleeding is the number one cause of death after injury, you can decrease the blood loss ..get to the hospital better situation," Dr. David Shapiro from the American College of Surgeons said.Doctors with the American College of Surgeons say knowing how to stop the bleed is just as important as knowing CPR. The ACS offers a free hour-long course and has trained millions of people around the world …on how to respond to bleeding emergencies in those critical moments before first responders arrive.  Michigan man faces federal charges for dredging river inside Sleeping Bear Dunes OEMC officials say a security guard used the kits to render aid after two boys were injured in a shooting outside a library in West Garfield Park.Chicago has the kits available at more than 300 locations. City officials say Wrigley F...

Thursday Forecast: Temps in mid 60s, breezy and cooler conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

Thursday Forecast: Decreasing clouds to sun, coolest lakeside, warmer SW, ENE 10-15 G20. High: 63, Low: 57Thursday Night: Clear, NE 5-15. Low: 47Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Friday: Sunny, cooler lakeside, ENE 5-15. High: 68, Low: 61

WGN fixes Taylor Swift ticket trouble for suburban family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

It’s not just Ticketmaster struggling to keep up with the enormous demand for Taylor Swift tickets as the superstar brings her shows to Chicago next week.WGN Investigates was contacted by a LaGrange Park family frustrated after spending the past six months trying to secure tickets for seats they purchased via StubHub.“They state: ‘Your order guarantees a ticket valid for entry in the event,’” Diana Finnegan said reading off the confirmation email she received after purchasing four tickets last November. When the electronic tickets didn’t arrive, Finnegan embarked on a six month ordeal that included dozens of phone calls, emails and messages to StubHub customer service.“We’re here to make sure you get your tickets in time for the event” StubHub reps wrote in multiple emails. “We will provide you all the help that you need to receive the tickets for the event.” However, the fine print of StubHub’s “Fan Protect Guarantee” says the company promises to get buyers the tickets th...

Some US cities may be at risk for mpox outbreaks this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The mpox health emergency has ended, but U.S. health officials are aiming to prevent a repeat of last year’s outbreaks.Mpox infections exploded early in the summer of 2022 in the wake of Pride gatherings. More than 30,000 U.S. cases were reported last year, most of them spread during sexual contact between gay and bisexual men. About 40 people died.With Pride events planned across the country in the coming weeks, health officials and event organizers say they are optimistic that this year infections will be fewer and less severe. A bigger supply of vaccine, more people with immunity and readier access to a drug to treat mpox are among the reasons.But they also worry that people may think of mpox as last year's problem.“Out of sight, out of mind,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who is advising the White House on its mpox response. “But we are beating the drum.”Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert to U.S. doctors to...

3 more APD officers facing possible indictments related to 2020 protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:16:34 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 25, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Multiple sources have confirmed three more indictments against Austin Police Department officers are being presented to a special grand jury Thursday related to their actions during racial justice protests in May 2020. KXAN reached out to the Travis County District Attorney's Office about the new APD officer cases, but the office told KXAN it could not confirm or provide a comment at this time. RELATED: 2 more APD officers indicted related to 2020 protests The new cases being presented Thursday comes five days before the three-year anniversary of the May 31, 2020 protests. The three year anniversary also marks the last day that charges could be pursued against officers for their actions on May 31, because of the statute of limitations outlined in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures. With the exception of specific felony offenses outlined in the code, felony indictments must b...