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2-year-old giraffe 'Asha' makes debut at Brookfield Zoo

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

BROOKFIELD, Ill. — One of Brookfield Zoo’s newest residents is already 10 feet tall and still growing. Asha (pronounced Ah-shah), a 2-year-old female reticulated giraffe arrived recently and can now been seen in the outdoor area at Habitat Africa! The Savannah with the herd.Since her arrival on May 6, she has been behind the scenes acclimating to the animal care staff and being introduced to the other giraffes—Potoka, 9; Ato, 7; Jasiri, 17; and Arnieta, 16. Staff describe Asha as a confident and curious giraffe, who will be a great addition to the herd. Her coat is lightly colored and she has a delicate and expressive face.A close up of Asha, Brookfield Zoo's newest giraffe resident!A second look at Asha, Brookfield Zoo's newest giraffe resident!Asha, roaming an exhibit at the Brookfield Zoo.Asha with the rest of the giraffe herd at the Brookfield Zoo.A medium shot of Asha at the Brookfield Zoo.A close up of Asha eating some tasty leaves in her exhibit at the Brookfield Zoo.An iconi...

Singer/Songwriter Shab shares her story of being an Iranian refugee

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

WGN's Sean Lewis recently sat down with Iranian singer and songwriter Shab, who shared her story of being an Iranian refugee during Pridefest, and explained how she empathizes with the oppression felt by the LGBTQIA+ community through her own experiences.

'Lucky to be alive': Florida deputy sucked into 100-foot drainage pipe while saving man

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A deputy of Florida's northwestmost county risked life and limb Friday to save a stranded motorist trapped amid torrential downpours and rising flood waters.Escambia County Deputy William Hollingsworth was on patrol in the early morning hours of June 16 to help stranded motorists caught in rapidly rising waters. Spotting a trapped citizen, Deputy Hollingsworth approached, unaware of the life-threatening incident about to unfold. ‘Go Away Green’: The color Disney paints things it doesn’t want you to see at its parks Seconds later, the citizen disappeared underwater. Deputy Hollingsworth rushed to his aid but would succumb to the same fate.For 30 seconds, the two men held their breath as torrents of rainwater sucked them into a drainage pipe traveling underneath the four-lane roadway of Hwy 98. For nearly 100 feet, the men clawed at anything they could reach for a last attempt at life.Then it was over.The men emerged on the other side visibly shaken, but otherwi...

Most Black Americans believe US racism will get worse in their lifetime: poll

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

(The Hill) — Most Black Americans believe racism in the United States will get worse during their lifetime, according to a new poll. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll released Friday showed that 51 percent of Black respondents said they expect racism will get worse, while 37 percent said they expect it will stay about the same. Only 11 percent said it will get better. This was mostly consistent across age groups of Black respondents. Those 50 to 64 were the most likely to say they expect racism to get worse, with 57 percent saying so, while those 30 to 39 were the least likely, with 43 percent saying so.  Americans’ confidence in science dropped in 2022: survey But no more than 13 percent of any age group said they expect racism to get better. The results contrast somewhat with respondents overall. Almost 40 percent each of all respondents said they expect racism to get worse and they expect it to remain about the same. About a fifth said they expect it to improve. Nearl...

Here's the richest person in Illinois, according to Forbes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) -- Can you name the richest person in Illinois? Unless you have a billion dollars in your bank account, we can promise it isn’t you. As of 2023, nearly every state has a billionaire resident, according to Forbes, which released its list of the wealthiest people in the U.S. for the first time since 2019 on Thursday.Only three states are without a billionaire, as of June 2023: Alaska, Delaware and West Virginia. This wasn’t always the case for the latter, the outlet explains, pointing to Gov. Jim Justice, who lost his status as the result of heavy debts two years ago.Lacking a billionaire isn’t a problem for other states, especially California, Florida, New York and Texas. According to Forbes, there are 179 billionaires in California, 130 in New York, 92 in Florida and 73 in Texas. Texas earns an extra jewel in its crown, considering the richest person in the U.S. and the world -- Elon Musk -- now calls the Lone Star State home. Including Musk, the five richest peo...

Do you say 'pop' or 'soda'? Regional dialect across the U.S. explained

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

(WXIN/NEXSTAR) — Do you say "pop," "soda," or "Coke" when you're talking about carbonated beverages? Chances are where you live affects how you ask for a soft drink — and that has everything to do with your vernacular.But what does regional vernacular actually mean? ‘Go Away Green’: The color Disney paints things it doesn’t want you to see at its parks Regional vernacular or dialect is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as a language that's native to a region rather than one that belongs to a culture or country. It's often distinguished by unique vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation depending on the person speaking.These idiosyncrasies happen as parents pass down their way of speaking to their children and those children eventually pass it along, too. Sometimes this becomes complicated if children are raised elsewhere and have parents from different regions.Regional Dialect ExamplesDialectRegionCharacteristicsSouthern American EnglishSouthern United StatesUse of monophthongal ...

LIVE: Severe thunderstorm watch for parts of the Hill Country

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Extra clouds from this morning helped prevent us from getting into the triple digits today. Austin's high of 97º was still above normal and 'feels-like' temperatures were still in the triple digits this afternoon.We're watching the potential for more severe weather this evening. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for San Saba County until 10 p.m. The Excessive Heat Warning has been extended until 8 p.m. Monday for Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties eastward, as well as for Lampasas County. The Hill Country will remain under the Heat Advisory.Heat alerts extended until Monday evening CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS The dry line will move towards the Hill Country leading to another round of showers and thunderstorms.They are forecast to begin in San Saba County after 3:00 p.m. Future Clouds and Radar show a second area of showers and thunderstorms moving across the western Hill Country beginning at around 7:00. They are forecast...

'It has to change': Mother of fentanyl victim reflects on legislative session

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A mother standing in the room as Governor Greg Abbott signed four bills into law aimed at addressing the steep uptick in people dying from fentanyl overdoses says more needs to be done. One of the bills signed into law will allow fentanyl deaths to be investigated as homicides. “Fentanyl is an epidemic that very simply, is taking too many lives,” Abbott said during the bill signing ceremony. “Because of the courageous partnership of grieving family members Texas legislators and our office, we are enshrining into law today new protections that will save lives in Texas.”Krislynn Wells' son, Chandler, died in late 2021 after overdosing on fentanyl. He was only 18-years-old. Abbott signs Texas bill allowing fentanyl deaths to be prosecuted as murder Wells backs the bills that did make their way to the governor's desk, including the bill that would allow someone to be charged with murder if they poison and kill someone with fentanyl. She points to the additional resour...

State of Texas: 'I'm leaving Texas,' LGBTQ policies push some to look for an exit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott held a ceremony Thursday afternoon to sign legislation he says will "protect women's sports," but LGBTQ+ advocates say it harms their community. Senate Bill 15 bans collegiate-level transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not align with their biological sex assigned at birth. It expands on similar restrictions that were signed into law two years ago, applying to sports play for Texas public schools grades K-12. During the regular legislative session, bill sponsor Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, said the bill is to ensure competition is fair for female athletes. “This legislation is not about participation. This legislation is not about restricting anyone’s opportunities,” Swanson said in May. “It is not fair that young women are watching their records get broken, accolades taken and scholarships awarded, not to other women, but to biological men."During a May House floor debate, Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, joined other Democrats ...

Girls state lacrosse: Benilde-St. Margaret’s rallies past Edina for first state title

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

Benilde-St. Margaret’s fell down 3-0 early to third-seeded Edina in the girls lacrosse state final Saturday in Stillwater after the Hornets potted three goals in the contest’s first four minutes.Benilde-St. Margaret’s Genevieve DeCesare takes control of the ball in the second half during the Class A lacrosse state championship at Stillwater Area High School in Stillwater on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Benilde-St. Margaret won 11-10. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)No matter, the Red Knights had faced deficits throughout the postseason, including in sections against Blaine and again in the second half of their state semifinal against top-seeded Lakeville South.The message from coach Ana Bowlsby was simple: “Relax.”“It was truly just, ‘Take a deep breath, relax. These are mistakes we don’t usually make,’” she said. “Sometimes the moment got a little big.”But trying to relax and actually doing so are two different things. So Red Knights star goalie Brooke Nelson d...