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'Skip-the-Line' program coming to all Illinois DMVs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

ILLINOIS — Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is implementing a Skip-the-Line program across Illinois.Giannoulias first discussed the idea for such a program two years ago when he was simply a candidate for the Secretary of State position. In his announcement at the time, he described an online booking system available at all driver's license facilities in Illinois which would allow user to make an appointment and avoid walk-in lines. He added walk-in customers would still be welcome. Thursday Forecast: Heat Advisory issued for parts of area, isolated storms possible tonight His predecessor had implemented a pilot of a similar program at some suburban DMVs, however Giannoulias wants to see the online scheduling statewide in addition to increasing the number of services offered online and over the phone.The Secretary of State is scheduled to announce details of the Sept. 1 program launch Thursday morning.WGN plans to livestream the announcement within this story beginning at appr...

LeBron James sends thanks, says family is 'safe and healthy' after Bronny's cardiac arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James said his family is “safe and healthy” three days after his oldest son, Bronny, went into cardiac arrest.The top scorer in NBA history posted the message of thanks on social media Thursday. Bronny, his 18-year-old son, was hospitalized Monday morning after a basketball practice with his team at the University of Southern California.“I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers,” LeBron James wrote. “We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love. Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your support has meant to all of us!”He concluded his message with the hashtag “JamesGang,” his nickname for the tightknit family unit built around their three children by James and his wife, Savannah.Bronny James spent only a brief time in intensive care, a positive sign for his long-term recovery after the episode at USC’s Galen ...

Can the Cubs do enough not to be sellers before the trade deadline?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

CHICAGO — Over the last week the Cubs have done what they can to make the argument not to be sellers at the trade deadline. But will it end up being enough? That's up to president Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins to decide. Against teams below them in the standings, the Cubs have won seven of their last nine games, including finishing off a sweep of the White Sox in a 10-7 win on Wednesday night. That's put them just a game under .500 at 50-51 and six games out of the lead in the National League Central division.In the Wild Card, however, they're 4 1/2 behind the last spot, keeping them in striking distance of a possible playoff spot. The question is whether or not that will be enough for the Cubs to refuse a trade for one of their players heading into the last year of his contract. Does the team see enough in this group presently constructed to retain pitchers Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks, or the hot-hitting Cody Bellinger? Hoyer and Hawkins have until Tuesday afte...

11-year-old girl arrested over 'false' abduction report in Florida, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

PORT ORGANGE, Fla. (WJW) -- Police in Florida said they arrested an 11-year-old girl after she texted 911 to "falsely report" that her friend was kidnapped by an armed man driving a white van.Volusia Sheriff's Office posted body camera footage of the arrest on Facebook. In the video, an officer can be heard saying, "This is going to be an opportunity for you to turn this into a learning experience. This is not something you're going to carry with you for the rest of your life."(Credit: Volusia County Sheriff via Storyful)According to the post, the child reported that her 14-year-old friend had been abducted and said that she was following in a blue Jeep. Ohio students will have access to free period products Officials say multiple deputies responded to the call and began searching for the suspected vehicle, but said "no van was found."For the next hour and a half, police said, the girl texted updates, including a description of a suspect. Eventually, officers said they were able t...

WhatsApp launches video messaging

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

(NewsNation) — WhatsApp is now allowing users to record and send video messages, Meta announced. The messages are similar to voice messages that are already allowed, with users being able to record up to one minute of video and send it to their contacts. Users were already able to send video files to contacts, but the new feature allows people to record directly within the app, which facilitates encrypted communication. Raskin calls on Comer to ‘publicly reprimand’ Greene over explicit Hunter Biden photos WhatsApp, owned by Facebook parent company Meta, has introduced a number of new features in recent months, including those meant to protect against spam messages from unknown users. Other new features include the ability to automatically silence calls from unknown users and edit messages within 15 minutes of sending. Meta has also announced it is considering introducing usernames for the service. Currently, accounts are identified by the user's phone number.

McDonald's to test spinoff brand named after forgotten, decades-old alien mascot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - You know McDonald’s for its Golden Arches, golden fries, and its dressed-in-golden-overalls clown mascot. But now, the fast food chain — already riding high from the success of returning a former mascot  — says it is gearing up to test a spinoff restaurant based on a member of McDonaldland. During its second-quarter earnings call Thursday, CEO Chris Kempczinski said McDonald’s will begin testing these spinoff restaurants, called CosMc’s, early next year, CNBC reports. CosMc was a part-alien, part-vehicle character that appeared in McDonald’s advertisements from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. He also reportedly had a brief appearance in the video game "M.C. Kids."He can contract his head, arms, and legs into his vehicle, described as “a round Sputnik like object” in a McDonald’s manual. The character takes things literally, the manual adds, and speaks in a “hip and unique mixture of Earth slang (both old and new)."“CosMc’s fun-loving and wacky,” the manual continues. ...

Bastrop County to update 44-year-old cold case on Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) – The Bastrop County Sheriff's Department said officials will hold a press conference on Thursday afternoon to update a case from the 1970s. According to Wednesday's announcement, the case involves a woman's body found on U.S. Highway 290 near FM 696. That is just southeast of Elgin. The department said she was found on June 21, 1979 and authorities were not able to identify her at the time. The department announcement did not mention any new developments regarding the case. The press conference will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the sheriff's office.

$100K budget proposed to contract animal behaviorists for Austin Animal Services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Animal Services Office proposed a Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget July 21 to contract with animal behaviorists in Texas.According to a memo sent to city leaders, an ordinance was approved in August 2022 to have $143,764 in funding to have a full-time Animal Behaviorist Specialist position in the proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. However, a change was proposed. RELATED: Almost a year later, Austin Animal Center still not doing non-emergency intake “Because of the limited number of people qualified to fill this position, contracting the service was determined to be the best course of action. The proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget includes onetime funding in the amount of $100,000 to contract with animal behaviorists within the state,” the memo said.The memo was sent to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin City Council members from Don Bland, the Chief Animal Services Officer at AAS.Bland said if the proposed budget was approved, the funds would benefit...

Twins seek ‘complementary pieces’ ahead of next week’s trade deadline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

The Twins are expecting Jorge Polanco back in Kansas City. Caleb Thielbar could be coming back on their upcoming road trip as well. Brock Stewart is making strides towards a return, and Royce Lewis is a few weeks away.As the trade deadline nears, the Twins are on the hunt to make improvements to their roster. But nothing they do will be more impactful than getting that group of injured players back in action.“I don’t think that we’ll match any of that kind of addition, and I don’t think we’re trying to, quite frankly,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “Those are really impactful players.”But the Twins do consider themselves buyers ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline and they’re open for business, as they showed on Wednesday, sending relief pitcher Jorge López to Miami in a trade for another reliever, Dylan Floro.López, along with Tyler Mahle, were the Twins’ two biggest additions at last year’s trade deadline. The Twins sent three prospects away for each play...

Stillwater Lift Bridge to close Tuesday for electrical work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:17 GMT

The Stillwater Lift Bridge will close during the day on Tuesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.The historic bridge across the St. Croix River will close from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. while crews replace an electrical power cable. No pedestrian or bicycle traffic will be permitted, and the bridge will not be lifted to accommodate watercraft.While the bridge will remain in its lower position, smaller boats and watercraft will be allowed to pass beneath.For more information on bridge maintenance and the ongoing closure of Highway 95/Main Street in Stillwater, visit MnDOT’s website.Related ArticlesOutdoors | Southbound I-35W closed from Bloomington to Burnsville this weekend Outdoors | MN 36-Fairview Avenue interchange in Roseville reopens after a month Outdoors | Vikings’ Jordan Addison told trooper he drove 140 mph on I-94 in St. Paul because of dog emergency Outdoors | 1 dead, 8 injured after 2-v...