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Schools dismissing early because of sweltering heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Some local school districts in the bi-state area are dismissing students early this week in an attempt to avoid the heat. One Metro East school district says it's prepared for the scorching start to the school year.With this being the first week back to school for many districts in our area, they were greeted with an unwelcome visitor: the heat.The Belleville School Township High School District 201 notified parents and students that they would implement an early release heat-related schedule on campuses for Thursday and Friday this week and dismiss early on both days.“Over the course of the last two days, we had some mechanical issues and difficulties brought on by the strain on the equipment due to the high temperature and humidity, to get that system to rebound,” said Dr. Brian Mentzer, district superintendent.The district is also following state guidelines on extracurricular activities and sports and holding indoor practices.

Gunman in Orange County mass shooting traveled from Ohio to kill his wife, sheriff says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

A retired police sergeant traveled from Ohio to target his estranged wife in a shooting that ultimately left four people dead, including the gunman, at a popular Orange County bar Wednesday night, authorities said.John Snowling walked directly up to his wife inside Cook's Corner in Trabuco Canyon, and, without saying a word, shot her and a friend, according to witnesses.He continued "randomly" shooting people both inside and outside the bar before being fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with deputies, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said at a Thursday news conference. Two men and a woman, the wife's friend, died at the scene. Five others were injured. Former Ventura police Sgt. John Snowling is seen at the Pacific View Mall. (Getty Images)Only one of the victims, John Lahey, 67, of Irvine, has been identified. Snowling, who had worked with the Ventura Police Department for 28 years before retiring in 2014, was armed with three handguns and a shotgun, Barnes said. Authorities b...

Heat wave set to scorch Southern California this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Nearly a week after some parts of Southern California received nearly a foot of rain due to Tropical Storm Hilary, significant heat is expected to arrive this weekend. According to the National Weather Service, inland areas – including most valley, interior mountain and desert communities – will experience the hottest temperatures, with highs forecast to reach up to 109 degrees. Low temperatures will hover in the 70s, NWS said, with foothill communities expected to be slightly warmer at night with lows in the mid-80s. Coastal areas will see highs near 100 and lows in the mid-60s to lower 70s. The brunt of the heatwave will settle in on Sunday and begin to scorch the area on Monday, according to KTLA 5 meteorologist Kaj Goldberg. “We are going to see a significant change in the weather pattern as we head from Sunday into Monday,” Goldberg said. “A huge area of high pressure is making its way through the center of the country right now, but it’s going to travel in ...

Healthcare workers union holding strike authorization vote amid ‘growing patient care crisis’ 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

A potential strike by healthcare workers nationwide could soon be affecting a medical center near you. Kaiser Permanente workers across America are gearing up for a strike authorization vote, which is set to take place on Saturday. The labor negotiations affect 85,000 Kaiser healthcare workers represented by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. The major concerns employees are voicing include what they claim are a series of unfair practices related to securing a new contract and lack of action on what they call “unsafe” staffing levels lingering since the COVID-19 pandemic.  How California firefighters are using AI to help spot wildfires “This is a crisis that demands our attention and our action,” said respiratory therapist Liz Grigsby at a press conference on Thursday. “We must hold Kaiser accountable until they make a change and provide us with the staffing we need and deserve so we can provide the best care and support for our patients’ needs.” The looming strike ma...

WWE star Bray Wyatt dead at 36

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

By David Matthews, New York Daily NewsProfessional wrestler and WWE star Bray Wyatt has died at the age of 36.The news was announced on social media by Triple H (real name Paul Michael Levesque), the company’s chief content officer.“Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda — also known as Bray Wyatt — unexpectedly passed earlier today,” Triple H wrote on Thursday evening. “Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time.”Wyatt’s cause of death was not immediately made known.Born in Brooksville, Fla. on May 23, 1987, Wyatt was a state wrestling champion in high school and earned a football scholarship to Troy University. However, he left school before graduating to become a professional wrestler.The son of wrestler Irwin R. Schyster (Mike Rotunda) and grandson of Blackjack Mulligan (Robert Windham), Wyatt joined WWE briefly in the early 2...

Giannis says he won’t sign extension with Bucks yet, fueling Warriors speculation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

The Warriors fan base has spent years hoping — wishcasting and pining, really — for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to come to Golden State.But while that move has felt extremely unlikely for years, it may feel a little more likely now.In an expansive New York Times profile that mainly focuses on his business ventures, Antetokounmpo said he is not signing an extension with the Bucks this offseason, when he is eligible to add on three years to the deal. And while he said playing an entire career with one team is a goal of his, it is not his more important one.“But at the end of the day, being a winner, it’s over that goal,” he said. “Winning a championship comes first. I don’t want to be 20 years on the same team and don’t win another championship.”Those comments should only further fuel speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks — and let other NBA teams like the Warriors know that the two-time MVP and 2021 Finals MVP could try to force his way out of Milwauk...

Lanes closed on I-80 due to crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

(KRON) -- Two lanes are closed on Interstate 80 due to a crash Thursday afternoon, according to a 511 alert. The crash happened at approximately 5:16 p.m. on eastbound I-80 east of the I-580 MacArthur Maze. The left and center lanes are blocked. According to the 511 alert, there were injuries in the crash, but officials have not revealed the severity. There is no estimated time for the roadway to reopen.This is a developing story. Stick with KRON4 for updates.

Grass fire contained before spreading across multiple homes in Los Gatos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

(KRON) -- Crews responded to a grass fire in a Los Gatos residential neighborhood Thursday afternoon, the Santa Clara County Fire Department announced on social media. The fire broke out around 1:42 p.m. at a home on the 100 block of Stacia Street.The size of the fire was reported to be an estimated 1/10 of an acre, officials said. The fire was contained "quickly" before it was able to spread to other homes in the area.The Santa Clara County Fire Department posted photos from the scene where crews responded to the blaze (below). IKEA store evacuated during SF grand opening (Santa Clara County Fire Department)(Santa Clara County Fire Department)The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation. County fire officials said, "during wildfire season, remember to exercise caution near dry vegetation, including when using equipment such as lawn mowers and weed whackers that can produce sparks that turn into fire."The 100 block of Stacia Street is approximately hal...

Putin’s Night of the Long Knives

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

People lay carnations on a memorial for Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash, near the PMC Wagner Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Aug. 24, 2023.Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesFor two months after Yevgeny Prigozhin led a brief mutiny that threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power, the mercenary boss traveled freely, attending to business in St. Petersburg and Moscow, as if all were forgotten and forgiven.But on Wednesday, a very suspicious plane crash killed Prigozhin and decapitated his Wagner Group, the mercenary army that marched on Moscow in June under his command. Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s right hand at Wagner, and Valery Chekalov, a close Prigozhin aide, died along with him as they flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The other passengers on the plane were also with Wagner. Most Read Hacked Records Corroborate Claims in H...

Coach Landon Donovan’s 2nd-tier San Diego Loyal to cease operations after 2023 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Loyal, coached by former U.S. star Landon Donovan, will cease operations after their fourth season in the United Soccer League’s second-tier League Championship.Owner Andrew Vassiliadis made the announcement Thursday, citing the inability to find locations for a stadium, training facility and academy. The team has played at Torero Stadium, a 6,000-seat venue on the campus of the University of San Diego.Vassiliadis said he didn’t envision his team moving to another location.First-tier Major League Soccer said in May that San Diego will become its 30th team when the league expands in 2025.Donovan, 41, has coached the team since it started play in 2020.“Having a modern, commercially viable stadium solution is vital to our clubs’ long-term success and is a pillar of the USL’s growth strategy,” USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis said in a statement. “Despite collectively pursuing multiple potential options with SD Loyal’s leadership in the San Diego area...