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Chicago couple establishes foundation to help kids embrace STEM

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Steve and Sheila Conner say when their son, Stone, expressed his extreme dislike for middle school, they knew they had to take action and began asking him about his interests.  Turns out the Connors’ son had an interest in cars, robots and anything speed-driven. “So we created a program around him that we would investigate ourselves,” Steve Connor said.  By visiting car museums and other real world experiences, the Conners were able to capture their son's attention. But it also left the pair with a desire to help other students. SEE ALSO | Celebrated artist has painted history nearly five decades In 2014, the duo founded the Heph Foundation, short for the Greek god Hephaestus, it is a standards-aligned program that teaches science technology engineering and math, also known as STEM, by using technology and other project-based learning students learn by doing. Twelve-year-old Maxwell built a remote control vehicle from scratch.&n...

Pope Francis, after leaving the hospital, praises medical workers and signs boy's cast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

ROME (AP) — A chipper-sounding Pope Francis was discharged Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away that he's “still alive.”Francis, 86, was hospitalized at Gemelli Polyclinic on Wednesday following his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square after reportedly experiencing breathing difficulties. The pontiff received antibiotics administered intravenously during his stay, the Vatican said.In a sign of his improved health, the Vatican released details of Francis' Holy Week schedule. It said he would preside at this weekend's Palm Sunday Mass and at Easter Mass on April 9, both held in St. Peter's Square and expected to draw tens of thousands of faithful. A Vatican cardinal will be at the altar to celebrate both Masses, a recent practice due to the pontiff having a troublesome knee issue. Vatican: Pope required hospitalization for a lung infection But Francis is scheduled to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass...

Does climate change boost tornado activity?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

(WFLA) – Recent devastating tornado outbreaks in the Southeast and Midwest have been life-changing — and sometimes fatal — for those caught in the path of the storms. Scientists are concerned this is just the beginning of a trend in stronger outbreaks in the future due to a warming climate. But how does climate change impact the frequency of tornadoes? And what is projected for the future?Looking at the above graph from NOAA, it seems apparent that tornado numbers have been increasing in the past few decades. At first glance, it may seem like that is related to the corresponding temperature increase during that same time period. But correlation does not always mean causation.It could be more likely that the increasing trend in tornado occurrences is due to better observations and better Doppler radar. In other words, more people either seeing them or detecting them with technology. Warming-fueled supercells to hit South more often, study finds In fact, when you eliminate the weak...

California family files lawsuit against Amazon after driver kills 2 year-old girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

IRVINE, Calif. (KTLA) — A family in Orange County, California, is filing a wrongful death lawsuit after a 2 year-old girl was struck and killed by an Amazon delivery van in 2022.The family’s attorney says Amazon is denying any responsibility for the deadly accident and claims a third party is to blame. The victim’s family is devastated and say they only want justice. Body of Florida toddler found in alligator jaws after search In August 2022, 2 year-old Jiahan Wu was playing outside of her Irvine apartment complex when she was struck and killed by an Amazon delivery van. The driver remained at the scene, but the damage done was catastrophic.Her mother, Yanling Wu, says there are no words to describe the pain she, her husband and their three children are going through.“The loss to my family — I cannot express with words,” said Wu.She said the trauma of witnessing the fatal collision makes it hard to sleep at night. “Myself, my husband, all my kids, are having constant nightmar...

Lead-up conditions to severe thunderstorms, destructive windgusts, tornado warnings Friday evening into early Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

STORMY FRIDAY WIND GUSTS!Valparaiso, IN: 75 mphLeland, IL: 75 mphSavoy, IL: 71 mphCrown Point, IN: 70 mphMatoon, IL: 67 mphNaperville, IL: 64 mphWaterman, IL: 64 mphRomeoville, IL 63 mphMidway Airport: 62 mphOblong, IL: 52 mphTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER’S HOURLY FORECAST PANELSTracking Friday afternoon/evening’s showers/t-stormsTHE STORM PREDICTION CENTER BOOSTED THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO MODERATEThe Storm Prediction Center reports Friday afternoon: “As of 1905 UTC, regional radar imagery showed a cluster of supercells ongoing from eastern IA and northwestern IL. The downstream airmass over northern IL and southern WI is rapidly destabilizing ahead of the storms. SPC mesoanalysis shows MLCAPE around 500-1000 J/kg is developing as surface dewpoints approach 60 F. Very strong low-level shear from the DVN VAD/VWP (200-300 0-1km SRH) will shift eastward favoring a supercell mode. HRRR model guidance shows multiple supercells moving into portions of northern...

1 dead, 28 hurt after Illinois theater roof collapse before concert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO/WGN-TV) — One person was killed and 28 were injured at the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, Illinois, after severe weather caused a roof collapse on Friday. The heavy metal band Morbid Angel was scheduled to perform.Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle said in addition to the one person killed, five were taken to the hospital for severe injuries, eighteen with moderate injuries, and five with minor injuries.Event coordinators said approximately 260 people were in the venue at the time of the collapse. Authorities said, by 10:15 p.m., no one was unaccounted for. Tornado slams Little Rock, smashes rooftops, flips vehicles The Apollo Theater is located at 104 N. State St in Belvidere, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Chicago. A line of powerful storms swept through the Midwest Friday night, downing power lines and trees throughout the region.A concert-goer, Gabrielle Lewellyn, told Rockford's WTVO she had only been inside the venue a few minutes before the st...

Case dismissed of a man sentenced to 60 years in prison over 'unreliable' DNA analysis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced this week that his office would dismiss a case of a man who was accused of attacking a woman with a brick in a downtown office building over a decade ago. The man was accused of the offense in Feb. 2011 and was indicted by a Travis County Grand Jury shortly after. One year later, a Travis County Jury convicted the accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced him to 60 years in prison. However, years later, Travis county officials determined that DNA evidence used to convict the man was “inconclusive” and “unreliable.” On Wednesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction. Travis County gets more than $500K to help sift through potentially botched Austin Police DNA cases “The process to review cases stemming from the APD DNA lab involved stakeholders from the city, the county, forensic experts, the defense and the prosecution. We believe the victim, in this case, was ...

Forecasting a wetter April

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Once again, Central Texas had a month of above-normal high temperatures and below-normal precipitation. But there is a glimmer of hope that one of these will change with April's forecast.March began with twelve consecutive days of a high above average. There were a few days starting on the 13th where afternoons were below normal, with a "low" high of 57° on the 20th. But seven of the last ten days had warmer-than-normal highs including a record-tying on the 31st. Yet another month with highs above normalMarch, the eighth warmest month of a calendar year, ended with an average temperature of 65.8°, 3° above normal.Unfortunately, the drier-than-normal forecast from the Climate Prediction Center verified only 57% of the March normal measured. 1.64" fell during the month, with the majority of it on the 2nd. It rained on just seven days. And, still another month with less the normal rainApril is the tenth wettest month during the year with a normal of 2.42". The Climate ...

'Texas things' you'll miss most when you leave

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — What makes you Texan? No matter where your life takes you, you'll always be a product of your environment to some degree. If you grew up in Texas, there are just some Lone Star State traditions and favorites you'll always miss.Here's a list of some of the "Texas things" you'll miss if and when you ever leave. While many of these things aren't only in Texas, Texans know they're better in Texas. This is the most remote area in all of Texas Kolaches and klobasnekCzech influence on Texas food cannot be understated. One food item you may find yourself missing is a staple of breakfast (or just snack) time — the kolache. As Southern Living explains, these yeasty breaded treats (pronounced 'ko-LAH-tch') are carved out and filled with fruit preserves or cheese.Assortment of sweet Kolache, Czech pastry cakes, with fruit, berry and cream cheese fillings. (Getty Images)Kolaches can come in seemingly endless flavors, including cream cheese, poppyseed, cherry, and lemon — and all po...

Readers and writers: Let kids start spring with some great picture books

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

It’s the season of renewal, time to add to the books you’ve been reading to the kids all winter. The current crop of picture books is a delight, with ecology leading the way, especially books about trees that turn up here in several categories. Whatever spring holiday you celebrate, consider these or other wonderful books as gifts for the little ones.From Minnesotans“100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli”: by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Lian Cho (Dial Books for Young Readers, $19.99)David LaRochelle, award-winning author of goofy books such as “See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog,” gives us an ode to dragons and math in this inventive book sure to delight the kids and help them understand numbers.On a mountain live 100 dragons all named Broccoli. Then a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, Ten others sail off to become professional surfers in Hawaii. The oldest and youngest take a train to New York City to start their own band, and...