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I-55 reopened after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. - A blinding dust storm led to a deadly crash involving more than 70 vehicles along Interstate-55 in south central Illinois. Tuesday morning, I-55 has completely reopened 19 hours after shutting down.This all happened on I-55 in Montgomery County, north of Farmersville, and south of Divernon. Crews have been in the area non-stop since the crash took place. Authorities said at least six people were killed and 37 others taken to hospitals after the crash happened shortly before 11:00 a.m. A total of 72 vehicles were involved, including some 20 commercial vehicles and many passenger cars.We're told two tractor trailers exploded from the wreck. Illinois state Police shared that high winds blew dust onto 55 from nearby farm fields, creating blinding conditions leading to the pile up.Investigators explained the first crash took place on northbound 55 then at the same time numerous crashes took place southbound on the highway. The wrecks all happened between milepo...

Preliminary hearing for downtown shooting suspect, DeShawn Thomas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A man accused of shooting and killing another man, execution style in downtown St. Louis, is scheduled to appear before a judge Tuesday morning.Video of the suspect shooting and killing a homeless man got shared millions of times on social media. Police arrested 23-year-old DeShawn Thomas shortly after. He was booked on a first-degree murder charge, and is scheduled to appear in court later Tuesday morning.Back in February, St. Louis Metro Police said a homeless man named David Saldana was shot and killed execution style. It happened at the Shell station at Tucker Boulevard and Convention Plaza. I-55 reopened after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes The shooting, captured on cell phone video, has been shared millions of times. Police shared that Thomas first shot Saldana in the back as he ran across Tucker, and as Saldana begged for his life, Thomas shot him in the head.  All of it was captured on video by both a witness and nearby surveillance cameras.Police lat...

Fundraiser for 3 injured Lake St. Louis officers taking place today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A fundraising event to benefit three Lake St. Louis police officers injured in a police chase on I-70 in March is happening Tuesday.Donatelli's Bistro in Lake St. Louis is hosting a benefit for the officers Tuesday. All of their sales Tuesday will go to the officers. Officer Nathan Livingston was critically injured by an accused drunk driver. I-55 reopened after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes The other two officers had minor injuries.

Granite City, Illinois Schnucks recalls ground beef

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

GRANITE CITY, Ill. - Schnucks recalls ground beef sold in Granite City, Illinois.The grocery chain said this is for 12-pound packages of 20-80 ground beef products sold between 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. They added that the meat may contain pieces of plastic. Dust storm closes I-55 in southern Illinois and causes massive pile-up Only packages with a "sell by date of May 1" are affected. For a full refund or exchange, go to the Schnucks location on Madison Avenue.

SSM Health St. Clare Hospital hosts quit smoking program tonight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

FENTON, Mo. - Trying to kick the habit? SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Fenton wants to help you stop smoking.They're holding a 'Nicotine Cessation Program' Tuesday. Smokers will create their own personal plan to quit, deal with withdrawal, cravings, and learn about medication and therapies to help replace nicotine. Dust storm closes I-55 in southern Illinois and causes massive pile-up SSM Health recommends family and friends join their loved ones who are trying to quit smoking to offer support. The program meets every Tuesday, starting Tuesday, May 2, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. classes are free.You can register at for the event here.

From Private Guides to Front-of-the-Line Access: How Disney VIP Tours are Redefining Theme Park Experiences

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

Theme park guests are increasingly seeking out personalized and exclusive experiences to enhance their visits. As such, there has been a growing demand for VIP tours that offer a more tailored and efficient experience, including access to exclusive areas, priority seating, and front-of-the-line access to attractions. These tours are particularly popular among families with young children, individuals with specific needs, and guests who wish to maximize their time in the parks.Disney VIP Tours have been a staple of the theme park experience since the early 1980s when they were initially offered as a way for celebrities to experience the parks with privacy and convenience. Since then, Disney VIP Tours have evolved to include various options, such as private tours, group tours, and customized itineraries. These tours offer an array of benefits, including the ability to skip lines, personalized attention from expert tour guides, and access to backstage areas and VIP lounges. As theme pa...

Sri Lanka: A Wildlife Wonder Awaits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

Chitral Jayatilake didn’t set out to become an ecotourism guru and nature photographer featured in some of the world’s most prestigious media, but a combination of a zest for wildlife and the emergence of Sri Lanka, his home country, as a global mecca of biodiversity found him well-suited in the role.Now as a tourism head at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, one of Sri Lanka’s top hospitality companies, he regularly takes groups of travelers to the wilds of Sri Lanka to experience the country’s beauty and stunning ecology. That’s if he’s not shooting stunning photos himself for publications like National Geographic, or helping BBC film their Planet Earth series.Chitral JayatilakeSri Lanka’s place as a much lauded and growing wildlife tourism destination is well earned. While being a small island nation, its 25,300 square miles are filled with some of the planet’s densest animal herds against some of its most beautiful backdrops.That’s why publications across the globe have, in turn, reco...

Presale Codes for Hot Tuna Going Fishing Tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

Have you been keeping your lamps trimmed and burning? You better, because Hot Tuna is going on a final electric tour. The duo of Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady’s tour is dubbed “Going Fishing.” The tour launches on September 15 in Rochester, NY and wraps October 7 in Live Oak, FL — see below for all dates. Passwords and presale codes for Hot Tuna Going Fishing Tour tickets are as follows:Presale codes for Hot Tuna Going Fishing TourPresale tickets for Hot Tuna Going Fishing Tour go on sale today, May 2 and we’ve been told the following presale codes and passwords may work. Details are subject to change, and vary by event date:Live Nation website presale code or password: ICONICLive Nation mobile app presale code or password: COVERTSales for the general public should go on sale this Friday, May 5. Take note that details, dates and codes for the tour are subject to change.What have Hot Tuna been up to?The legendary duo Hot Tuna is famously made up of childhood friend...

Opinion: A Biden-Trump rematch? American democracy is broken

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

A lot can happen between now and next year’s election, but President Joe Biden’s decision to run and former President Donald Trump’s barely diminished standing with Republicans make a repeat of their 2020 contest quite likely. Pause for a moment to consider this prospect — and the epic failure it represents.The Democrats’ best offer to the nation is a leader who’s 80 going on 90, who can’t safely be allowed off-script or put in front of reporters, whose grasp of policy and his own personal history was tenuous even in his prime, and who’s accused of involvement in his son’s peddling of influence.The Republicans’ leading applicant for the world’s most important job is admittedly still a youngster at 76. On the other hand, he led an administration that set new standards of chaotic and incompetent government, encouraged a riotous assault on the U.S. Capitol, is the subject of several criminal and civil investigations, and is defending a lawsuit alleging he’s a rapist.This extravaganza o...

Map: Tracking the rain in the Bay Area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:58 GMT

Tuesday morning’s rain was the leading edge of a system expected to linger in the Bay Area until Wednesday night.Light rain, showers and temperatures in the 50s are forecast, the National Weather Service said.The updating radar map above shows areas of precipitation in green, with greater intensities indicated by yellow and orange.Related ArticlesWeather | Hours without power is tough, but what about Bay Area community’s two weeks? Weather | Forecast map: California rivers bulge with snowmelt, but no major floods expected. How’s it look near you? Weather | Bay Area lawmakers push feds for disaster recovery package for California farmers Weather | Warming Bay Area temperatures bring with them Spare the Air alert Weather | PG&E measures 211 inches of snow in final Northern California park survey