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How important are the Chicago Street Races to NASCAR?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

Jordan Bianchi, a NASCAR beat reporter for The Athletic, discusses the upcoming Xfinity & Cup Series races in downtown Chicago on "9 Good Minutes" on WGN News Now on Friday.CHICAGO — While the event has been debated in Chicago since it was announced in July 2022, the consensus has always been the same for the event for NASCAR. It's a major moment for the stock car company to shine with a unique event in a big media market in hopes of growing its visibility along with a new audience. That's what makes the Xfinity Series' The Loop 121 and Grant Park 220 critical events for NASCAR as they approach this weekend. They'll put their best drivers on a 2.2-mile street course that's like no other in the history of the sport.It starts then ends in front of Buckingham Found as it goes around Grant Park with time on DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue among other streets downtown. Chicago's iconic skyline will be the backdrop for a pair of races NASCAR is counting on to be a success...

Trippie Redd to perform in Chicago this fall

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- One of hip-hop's top artists will be heading to the Chicagoland this September.Trippie Redd will stop at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park during his "Take Me Away Tour" on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The Ohio-native rapper will be joined by LUCKI at all stops during the "Take Me Away Tour." G-Eazy heading to Chicago this summer Trippie Redd has over 18.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with almost 500 million plays for his "Taking A Walk."This tour comes as his "A Love Letter To You 5" studio album is set to drop in July.The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5.General public tickets go on sale on Friday, June 30. For ticket information, click here.

Gary names new police chief as reform partnership with State Police ends

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

GARY, Ind. — The city of Gary, Indiana named its new police chief on Friday, one day before it ends its reform process with Indiana State Police. Commander Anthony Titus was named chief at Friday's ceremony. The newmy-named police chief was involved in reform discussions over the last year.  Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, says state constitution gives only limited protections "We could've said, 'Well, enough is enough and we are doing what we can.' But that was not the case. And we appeciate that. I appreciate that as a son of Gary. I appreicate that as a police officer."Indiana State Police had partnered with Gary police to restructure and improve the department. "I'm very proud of the work product, I'm very proud of the outcome. I'm proud of the City Council members that challeneged it. That challenged the change and ordinance that we have proposed and we have sugested," said ISP Supt. Doug Carter. Delphi documents: Richard Allen told wife he killed girls; investi...

Swarm of gnat-like insects spotted all over NYC

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — New York City seems to have been overtaken by a swarm of gnat-like insects, leaving people puzzled as to where the bugs came from. New Yorkers have taken to Twitter to document the mob of insects buzzing through the air in subway stations, plazas, and bike paths. The bugs were spotted flying around in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Here’s how you can check the air quality where you live "These swarms of bugs are taking over the city. They are in the subway platform too. The city just keeps getting worse. What’s next?" one New Yorker tweeted, with a video depicting the horde.Some folks report the bugs look white, while others say they are green.The gnat-like insects aren't actually gnats, according to American Museum of Natural History entomologist Dr. David Grimaldi. They are known as aphids, and there appears to be two species flying around, Grimaldi said."They may be native species or species that were introduced years ago (doubtfully recent)," Grimaldi told PIX...

Fire breaks out at Warner Bros. lot in California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

BURBANK, Calif. (KTLA) — A burning transformer at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California caused a thick cloud of black smoke to fill the air Friday afternoon. The fire was first reported around 1:40 p.m. at the movie studio lot located at 4300 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank.The fire was knocked down about 20 minutes after fire crews arrived, officials said. The source of the smoke appeared to be an electrical transformer located atop a studio building. Smoke emanates from a piece of electrical equipment that caught on fire at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank on June 30, 2023. (KTLA)Helicopter video from KTLA showed firefighters on the roof of the building with light smoke emanating from what appeared to be the burned transformer. Before the fire was extinguished, large clouds of black smoke were visible across much of the San Fernando Valley. These employees were let go from ESPN No injuries were reported and no buildings were damaged, according to fire officials. The cause of the f...

Lookingglass Theatre to cut staff, pause production until Spring 2024

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Chicago's most prominent theaters is pausing production and laying off more than half its staff.Lookingglass Theatre announced Friday that it is cutting its full-time staff from 24 to 10 and halting programming until late spring of 2024. Clydesdales circle Wrigley Field for ‘Folds of Honor’ The ensemble theater at the Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue has produced original work for three and a half decades.  In a letter, director Heidi Stillman announced the pause is an effort to "re-imagine" the theater's future. "While the pandemic has been declared over, theatres in our country are still feeling the effects of needing to shut down for so long," Stillman said. "Since re-opening, audiences and donations have not returned to 2019 levels, and the American Theatre is struggling to survive."Stillman told the Chicago Tribune that subscriptions have dropped off, and surveys revealed some audience members were reluctant to come downtown in recent sea...

Source: Timberwolves strike deals with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shake Milton, and Troy Brown

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

In a span of a couple of hours on Friday night, the Timberwolves managed to bolster their depth, agreeing to terms with shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, shooting guard Shake Milton, and small forward Troy Brown that includes a team option.A source confirmed the moves to the Pioneer Press. All of them should help the Timberwolves as they try to take another step forward with star shooting guard Anthony Edwards leading the charge.It’s pretty clear that Alexander-Walker was a top priority based on how fast Minnesota managed to retain his services after not extending him a qualifying offer. He will sign a 2-year deal, according to a source, as a reward for carving out a niche for himself after being by the Timberwolves from the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.Not only did he averaged 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23 games to close out the regular season, more importantly, Alexander-Walker filled a valuable role in the playoff series against the Denver Nugget...

NYS Wallet App to shut down: What will happen to COVID-19 vaccine digital passes?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Excelsior Pass Plus and NYS Wallet Apps will be decommissioned by New York State on July 28. According to the New York State website, the app will no longer be available due to reduced demand for access to digital COVID-19 test and vaccine records. They add this is also due to the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11. The Excelsior Pass Plus provided a secure and digital copy of an individual's COVID-19 vaccination record — including type, and site and date of vaccination. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Once the app is decommissioned, NYS will no longer recommend its use, and it will be removed from app store. NYS says users can leave their pass in their phone should they need it in the future. They add should the app fail, no technical support will be available. NYS also says users can take a photo or screenshot of their pass to present as proof of vaccination.Access...

Biden plots new course to get relief for student loan borrowers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

President Biden on Friday announced new actions to offer student loan borrowers some forgiveness, reintroducing his forgiveness plan grounded in the Higher Education Act (HEA).Using the HEA to provide student debt relief has been pushed by student loan advocates and top Democrats for years. Under the HEA, advocates argue it allows the education secretary to “compromise, waive or release” student loans. This path will require a public comment and notice period before it could go into effect. “We need to find a new way, and we’re moving as fast as we can,” he said in Friday afternoon remarks at the White House.The administration had tied the student debt relief plan — struck down by the Supreme Court — to the national emergency established during the COVID-19 public health crisis, citing the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's majority opinion, issued Friday morning, that the HEROES Act does not gr...

Caught on camera: Man steals cash, exotic reptile from pet store in Lemay

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:59 GMT

LEMAY, Mo. - St. Louis County police are searching for a man who was caught on camera stealing cash and an animal from a pet store in Lemay.The owner of Exotic Amphibian Reptile Center said a thief broke into the store around 4:30 a.m. Thursday."Somebody broke in through our back door of our building and took a large Argentine black and white tegu and a large cage and emptied out the cash register and also the tip jar we have up here for our employees," said James Brumley, the owner.Brumley said he's working with the St. Louis County Police Department in turning over surveillance video of the burglary. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway "He was armed and had what looked to be a semi-automatic pistol with a large clip," Brumley said.Sings posted inside the shop on the 300 block of Lemay Ferry Road stated that the theft of an animal is a felony in Missouri. The missing lizard is worth more than $300, about the same size as the tegu."They'...