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Beverly's 'Bike Whisperer' teaching kids how to ride bicycles

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

CHICAGO —Aa man from Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood has single handedly taught hundreds of kids how to ride a bikeErin Ivory first read about him in Block Club, and as a parent who has struggled to teach their own kids how to take off on two wheels she was intrigued.So she found Louie Burrel, who is also known as the “Bike Whisperer.”He said he figures he puts in at least a mile of running for each lesson and says there's really no secret, just sweat equity and two rules: he won’t let them crash and he won’t let them fall."I can't let them fall. So I'm serious about that. When you prove it and a kid wobbles, or leans a little bit and you catch them,” he said. "After a while the kid becomes comfortable and realizes, ‘Wow he's not going to let me fall.’"Find him on Instagram hereThere hasn't been one person he hasn't been able to teach how to stay upright on two wheels.This fall, Burrel returns to his full time job as a varsity basketball coach and P.E. teacher, but still plans to kee...

Lauryn Hill, Fugees to perform in Chicago this fall

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- One of the queens of R&B will head back to the Windy City this October.Ms. Lauryn Hill will take her "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour" to Chicago's United Center on Saturday, Oct. 28.The eight-time Grammy Award winning artist has over 12.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, including almost 374 million plays for her hit song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" from her debut solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."Hill received 10 Grammy nominations for the 1998 album, including winning Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Rhythm & Blues Song, Best R&B Album, and Album of the Year. Chicago & House Music: A relationship over four decades in the making Wyclef Jean and Pras Michael will also join Hill on tour as they will bring the Fugees back on the road.The hip-hop group from New Jersey broke into the main stream following the release of the Grammy Award Winning song "Killing Me Softly With His Song," from their 19...

Yan Gomes' single breaks an 8th-inning tie as the wild card-contending Cubs beat the Tigers 6-4

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Yan Gomes hit a tiebreaking, two-out single in the eighth inning, and the playoff-contending Chicago Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Wednesday.Detroit's Kerry Carpenter hit a grand slam in the sixth inning off Jameson Taillon that tied the game at 4-all, but his teammates didn't do much else at the plate.The Cubs have won 24 of their last 34 games and took two of three from the Tigers, improving to 9-1-1 in their last 11 series. They currently hold the second NL wild-card spot and are trying to challenge first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.Julian Merryweather (5-1) struck out three in 1 1/3 innings. Adbert Alzolay pitched the ninth, striking out Jake Rogers with runners on second and third for his 19th save — converting on his 15th straight opportunity.In the eighth, Ian Happ had a one-out infield hit against Beau Briske (0-2), who walked Seiya Suzuki with two outs and then yielded Gomes' single to left.Nico Hoerner's sacrifice fly in the ninth gave the Cubs a...

Justice Department announces charges against hundreds of alleged COVID-19 fraudsters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of people have been charged with the theft of more than $830 million in COVID-19 emergency aid following a nationwide operation conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday.More than 60 of the defendants have alleged connections to organized crime, the department said, including members of a criminal gang accused of using stolen pandemic aid to pay for a murder.“This latest action, involving over 300 defendants and over $830 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud, should send a clear message: the COVID-19 public health emergency may have ended, but the Justice Department’s work to identify and prosecute those who stole pandemic relief funds is far from over,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. COVID hospitalizations jump again: Maps show where it’s worst The three-month operation, which ended in July, resulted in more than 300 people being charged,, underscoring the pervasiv...

GOP debate: What to watch for as Republican presidential candidates face off

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – There will be eight presidential candidates on stage Wednesday night at the Republican debate and Donald J. Trump won't be one of them – but there's a good chance the former president will be a popular topic.The debate will take place in Milwaukee from 9 to 11 p.m. EST, with live broadcast coverage on Fox News Channel. Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the debate.The candidates include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.Burgum, 67, is reportedly using crutches after suffering an Achilles tendon tear during a game of basketball with his staff Tuesday, tweeting Wednesday afternoon, "I've played lots of pick-up games in my day! This isn't the first time one has sent me to the ER. Appreciate all the well-wishes." ...

Death investigation continues after police identify man found dead off Ben White

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, Austin Police identified a man who was found dead earlier this month off East Ben White Boulevard in south Austin, according to a APD news release.Shortly after midnight, Aug. 4, officers responded to the scene in the westbound service road of Ben White near Burleson Road, according to police. When police arrived, officers found a man with obvious trauma to the upper part of his body. It’s unclear if there was a weapon found at the scene at this time.Police identified the man as Skylee Williams, 26, the release said. APD launches homicide investigation after body found off Ben White According to police, the body was found by a woman, but it’s unclear what the relationship is between the two. The man’s body was found in a wooded area off the side of the road that is right next to Saint Peter Apostle Church. Police did not know if the man was homeless.Anyone with any information should contact the Austin Police Department at (512) 974-TIPS. You may sub...

Crews contain brush fire caused by unapproved burning on private property

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

Editor's Note: The location of the brush fire has been updated.MANOR, Texas (KXAN) -- Crews have contained a two-acre brush fire in Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. Travis County Emergency Services District No. 12 and Travis County Fire Rescue responded to the fire.According to Travis County ESD 12, the fire started due to unapproved burning on a private property and quickly spread due to winds. The fire grew to around two acres. Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflugerville near Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. | Courtesy Travis County ESD No. 12Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflugerville near Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. | Courtesy Travis County ESD No. 12Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflugerville near Manor that started Wednesday afternoon after unauthorized burning. | Courtesy Travis County ESD No. 12Crews contained a two-acre brush fire in Pflu...

Isolated late-day showers and storms return to the forecast

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A daily chance of isolated late-day showers and thunderstorms returns to the forecast Thursday and continues for the next 7 days. Otherwise, hotter, more humid weather rules the forecast.A heat dome is loosely controlling our weather, drifting from the Midwest toward New Mexico and Arizona this week. On the periphery of it, mainly dry weather is in the forecast with hotter, more humid conditions.Muggy meter showing more humid conditions over the next several days Live interactive weather radar Beginning Thursday, however, a daily chance of isolated late-day rain returns to the forecast. Isolated showers and storms are possible this weekend into next week. While most areas remain dry, some brief heavy downpours are possible for some.7-day rainfall forecast Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date with the First Warning...

Public invited to ‘Tommy’ workout to memorialize fallen St. Paul firefighter

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

The St. Paul fire department is holding workouts Thursday to memorialize a St. Paul firefighter on the third anniversary of his death, and community members are invited.The Tommy McDonough Memorial Workout of the Day will be hourly from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shaw Field at Macalester College.Tommy McDonough (Courtesy of Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters)“The Tommy” was designed to remember the fallen firefighter, and to bring awareness to the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on first responders and to suicide prevention. McDonough, 28, died by suicide. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a short memorial service.The workout is in the tradition of CrossFit hero and memorial workouts to honor military members who died in the line of duty. It will be led at the top of each hour by trained professionals representing local gyms and wellness centers, and people can work out at their own pace, said Deputy Fire Chief Roy Mokosso. There will be food, and information about f...

Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy shows Cardinals what they’re missing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:52 GMT

Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy always seems to have that juice whenever he steps onto the field. He is among the most vocal players on the Vikings defense and noticeably took it up a notch during a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, on Wednesday at TCO Performance Center.“I woke up this morning like, ‘Let’s go out there and compete,’ ” said Murphy, who the Cardinals selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. “I came in with those guys. They’re like my brothers. Just had that energy to compete against them.”To be clear, Murphy doesn’t have any bad blood with his former team. He enjoyed his time with the Cardinals and still keeps in contact with a lot of his former teammates. Not that it stopped him from doing some trash talking on Wednesday after making a nice interception in a 1-on-1 drill.“Oh, man,” Murphy said with a smile. “It felt great.”As the Vikings transition to a...