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Brandon Johnson makes first trip to state Capitol as Chicago's mayor-elect

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is traveling to Springfield Wednesday where he'll meet with legislative leaders and speak to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly.Johnson has a day filled with spending time with lawmakers and addressing the needs of Chicago.This trip will be his first as mayor-elect, but it's not an unfamiliar territory.After addressing the Illinois General Assembly, Johnson will hold a press conference with Illinois House Speaker Chris Emanuel Welch. He was also hold meetings with Welch and Senate President Don Harmon, as well as with the Black, Asian, Latino and moderate caucuses. Johnson said his time at the statehouse is about building a better, stronger and safer Chicago by establishing a strong foundation for collaboration.Now, Johnson has already built relationships with lawmakers. He has spent time working with Don Harmon as his constituent service director.He was also the chief of staff for former state representative Debo...

ABoR report: March a good month for home buyers and sellers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Job growth and declining mortgage rates led to a "demand-driven housing market" in March in the Austin-Round Rock Metro Area, according to the Austin Board of Realtors latest Central Texas Housing Report released Tuesday.ABoR said an increase in new and active listings shows favorable market conditions for buyers and sellers.  “This spring has ushered in a sweet spot for both buyers and sellers,” Ashley Jackson, 2023 ABoR president, said Tuesday in the release. “There are three times the number of homes on the market than a year ago, bringing more choice and opportunity to homebuyers in over a decade. REALTORS® are reporting that they are busy and the market is moving at a much healthier pace than it has in years. If sellers work with a REALTOR® to price and market their home correctly, it’s going to sell.”"Austin’s housing market is still demand driven, contributing over $1.5B to our region’s economy last month even as the pace of home sales and price growth ad...

How air conditioning and tanks could save Jacob's Well

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) -- Last July, Jacob's Well in Wimberley was closed for swimmers as the lack of water made conditions unsafe. Now, one group armed with an idea is trying to save enough water to save the well and the water supply.Since 1996, David Baker with the Watershed Association has been protecting what has grown to nearly 500 acres around Jacob's Well."Our main mission is really protecting land so we can protect water... When the well is low, that means aquifer levels are low. So it's like an indicator of the health of our groundwater system," said Baker.Last year alone, Jacob's Well missed out on 16 inches of rainfall that it would normally have. What that meant was the stream coming out of the well had no flow for 35 days, the longest period ever recorded.But the community is trying to restore the well and save the water.At nearby Blue Hole Primary School, the irrigation system outside and toilets inside are supplied by condensation from air conditioners and rain water...

New distillery, with pizza, to open this summer at Vandalia Tower from Lake Monster Brewing founder

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

A new small-batch distillery and cocktail room is coming to St. Paul’s Vandalia Tower this summer from the team behind Lake Monster Brewing.The distillery, called King Coil Spirits, will be across the plaza from Lake Monster’s taproom and will also serve Roman-style pizza, brewmaster Matt Lange said. The name refers both to the building’s origins as the King Koil mattress factory and to a component in a distillation still called a coil.Inside the cocktail room, the front half of the space has a modern, light-filled, industrial feel and an overhanging mezzanine balcony that can be rented out for private events. The back half of the space will have more of a speakeasy vibe with exposed brick, lower ceilings, vintage glassware, and a full view of the distillation room. Both sides have full bar access; the speakeasy side will typically be open but can be closed off for events, too.When King Coil opens in late summer, Lange will have a few spirits ready to roll: vodka, white rum, some li...

Rock band Jethro Tull coming to the Palace Theatre

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- British rock band Jethro Tull is set to perform at the Palace Theatre in Albany. The band will be performing on November 4 at 7:30 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Jethro Tull released its first album in 1968. Led by Ian Anderson, the band is celebrating over seven decades of music. The band is best known for the songs "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath."Tickets go on sale Friday, April 21 at 10 a.m. You can buy tickets on the Ticketmaster website.

Bethlehem man charged with 10 additional child pornography charges

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Bethlehem man, who was arrested in July 2022, has received ten additional child pornography-related charges, according to New York State Police. Andrew Pegler, 35, was accused of possessing and promoting images of child sexual exploitation on the internet in his initial arrest. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Pegler's initial arrest stemmed from a cyber tip received by the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. An investigation started, and a search warrant was executed at his home.On Tuesday, Pegler was arrested on a warrant for ten additional counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. Police say this warrant was issued on Friday, April 7, as a result of an inditement. Andre Jackson reportedly set to test NBA Draft waters Pegler was arrested at the Bethlehem Town Court and was taken to Latham State Police for processing. He was then turned over to the Albany...

St. Louis Cardinals and FOX 2 meteorologists team up for 'Weather Day' at Busch Stadium

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Wednesday is 'Weather Day' at Busch Stadium, and FOX 2 and KPLR 11 meteorologists are teaming up with the St. Louis Cardinals.Before Wednesday's game, we host a special weather program on the field for students and teachers. Go to Cardinals.com/weather for ticket information. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Meteorologist Angela Hutti will have a live preview on FOX 2 news in the morning at 8.

Letters: The transgender community needs our empathy, not hatred

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

Stepping up for transgender peopleI really don’t understand why transgender people have become such a controversy or target at this time in history. My first understanding of this came when I was right out of college in 1974 and read the book “Conundrum” by Jan (nee James) Morris. The biology around gender is complicated, and transgender people should not be a controversial issue. Anyone with a shred of empathy can realize this with just a little research. Like many other personal issues, it’s none of your business unless it involves someone close to you.Stanley Young, Fort CollinsRe: “How a campaign to restrict rights mobilized conservatives,” April 16 news storyAccording to The New York Times article, about “1.3 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States identify as transgender.” Unfortunately, this small minority has become the target of many laws by Republican-led state houses that want to “harness the emotion around gender polit...

Regal Continental movie theater has closed, but Elvis Cinemas will see new life

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

The Regal Continental is no more.The popular multiplex, located just south of Hampden Avenue and Interstate 25, has seemingly fallen victim to bankruptcy closures by its parent company, Regal Cinemas, which were announced in January as part of a company-wide restructuring.At the time, owner Cineworld said the closures would include two of the company’s Colorado-based theaters — Meadows Stadium 12 in Littleton and SouthGlenn Stadium 14 in Centennial — out of 39 total planned closures. While the SouthGlenn location continues to sell tickets to daily screenings, there are no showtimes for Littleton’s Meadows Stadium 12.And now, Regal Continental’s website has gone dark, with no new movie listings as of this week. A sign on its door says: “Thank you! It has been our pleasure to serve you at this theater. Regal Continental is now closed,” according to 9News.Representatives for Regal Cinemas and owner Cineworld did not immediately respond to reque...

Metro Denver apartment rents bounce back a little after a big drop at the end of 2022

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:09:34 GMT

Small rent increases reappeared in the metro Denver apartment market after an unexpectedly large drop at the end of last year, but the gains are tracking below the pace of overall inflation, according to an update Tuesday from the Apartment Association of Metro Denver. “The story from our perspective is that things are really stabilizing,” said Mark Williams, executive vice president for the AAMD, during a news call to discuss the numbers. He added that metro Denver, after years of robust construction, now has more than 400,000 apartments in the market.The region’s vacancy rate, the share of apartments that are available to rent, stayed steady at 5.6% in the first quarter, matching the fourth quarter rate, according to AAMD’s 2023 First Quarter Vacancy & Rent Report for Metro Denver. The vacancy rate is higher in the newest building, and lowest in the 1970s-era buildings, which tend to have lower rents.Apartment rents averaged $1,846 in the first quarter,...