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Pritzker announces $40B investments in state transportation investments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Commuter trains, roads, and other forms of transportation will see tens of billions of dollars in investments across Illinois over the next several years.Over the next six years, Governor JB Pritzker says more than $40 billion dollars will be invested in improving all modes of transportation calling it the largest construction project in state history.The announcement, made Friday morning in Springfield by Pritzker, Illinois’ Secretary of Transportation and members of the general assembly.Officials say the program is a “blueprint to improve roads, bridges, transit, rail, airports, waters, bike and pedestrian accommodations over the next six years.” What qualifies for an AMBER Alert in Illinois? According to information released by the state, the fiscal year 2023 “annual highway improvement program” totals nearly four billion dollars…and will be significantly larger than years past.  In the 2023 fiscal year, officials expect improvements to 900 highway mile...

Olympian Nikki McCray-Penson, who won 2 basketball gold medals, dies at 51

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51.McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school on Friday confirmed her death. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.She joined Dawn Staley as an assistant coach at South Carolina from 2008-17. She was part of the Gamecocks’ first national championship in 2017.McCray-Penson won gold medals with the U.S. women's basketball team at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. The 1996 team sparked the formation of the WNBA and ABL. She played in the ABL and won MVP honors in 1997 before heading over to the WNBA. McCray-Penson was a three-time All-Star in that league while playing for the Washington Mystics. Olympic medal-winning sprinter Tori Bowie dies at 32 She played eight seasons in the WNBA before retiring in 2006. She was an assistant coach at Western Kentucky for three seasons.McCray-Penson then became the head coach at Old Dominion for three season...

These industries added the most jobs in June

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

(The Hill) -- The U.S. added 209,000 jobs in June, according to the latest jobs report released by the Labor Department Friday morning, the smallest monthly jobs gain since December 2020. Government, health care and social assistance saw the biggest gains, while other major industries saw little to no change.The unemployment rate, which has ranged from 3.4 percent to 3.7 percent since March 2022, dipped slightly to 3.6 percent. But the number of people employed part-time for economic reasons jumped by 452,000 to 4.2 million in June, an early sign the job market could be cooling after a hotter-than-expected start to the year.“The June Jobs Report was poised to be another blowout. Instead, it showed signs of the labor market cooling—perhaps the result of the Fed’s rate hikes finally biting,” Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, said.Government hiring leads the wayThe U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., is seen from the East Front Plaza on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (Greg Nas...

Impact paddle boarders, kayakers have on Lady Bird Lake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the midst of holiday celebrations, numerous people took to Lady Bird Lake, whether by paddle board, kayakers or other means, but how does the increase in people on the lake impact the ecosystem?The City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department said a lot of paddlers and people walking on the sediments could dislodge aquatic plants and stir-up sediments, temporarily increasing turbidity and nutrient contents.And with any large gathering in the water, there is the potential to increase, on a local scale, bacteria and E. coli in the water.The department said the number of visitors on Lady Bird Lake increases in the summer, especially on weekends and holidays; however, following Fourth of July celebrations, it said the Lake Crew did not observe anything out of the ordinary while working Wednesday.The cleanup efforts by the department are expected to continue through the remainder of the week, according to the city.“Cleaning Lady Bird Lake is an ongoing effort betwe...

Longhorns earned $15.5M in NIL deals so far; new information now limited by Texas law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN/Austin Business Journal) -- In the two years since University of Texas student athletes were allowed to ink name, image and likeness deals, they've earned at least $15.5 million, according to reporting from the Austin Business Journal based on public records requests. Inside the future of NIL and how Texas stack up Most of the money -- $13, 579, 662 -- went toward football and men's basketball, but student athletes from 15 different sports reported 2,980 deals to the university as of June 30, ABJ reported. It added the total was $15,698,439 but that some information -- such as athlete names, businesses and specific amounts -- was redacted in its request to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, so the list was incomplete. Part of a new Texas law will also make it harder to get information about NIL deals as it exempts the release of public information.The NCAA adopted rules in 2021 that allowed student athletes to benefit from these NIL deals. Coll...

Q&A: Construction on Loop 360 will eliminate traffic lights in parts of west Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Construction on Loop 360 in west Austin has marked a year into the project, where the Texas Department of Transportation is removing the signals at Westlake Drive and Cedar Street. Our traffic anchor, Erica Brennes, sat down with Bradley Wheelis from the TxDOT Austin office for an update on the project and to learn more about the long-term vision for 360.Construction at Westlake Drive and Loop 360 (KXAN Photo)Erica Brennes: What's going on with construction on 360? I've actually had several people ask me, so fill me in on the 360 project.Bradley Wheelis: There's a lot going on at Westlake Drive. So it's our Westlake Drive at Cedar Street Project, which is removing signals from the main lanes of Loop 360 to keep traffic flowing and increase safety there. We're putting in underpasses, meaning the main lanes of Loop 360 will go under Westlake Drive and under Cedar Street.Brennes: What's the long-term plan for 360?Wheelis: The long-term plan and the Loop 360 program incl...

19-year-old who drowned at St. Paul apartment pool ID’d

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

A 19-year-old who drowned in a pool at an apartment last week has been identified as a St. Paul resident.Abdikadar Abass Osman was swimming in an indoor pool in the 1900 block of Burns Avenue in St. Paul the night of June 28. Surveillance video from the apartment showed other people at the pool left, and Osman remained and swam alone, said Steve Linders, a Ramsey County sheriff’s office spokesman.Osman started struggling and went under the water. Two juveniles went into the area 23 minutes later, saw Osman in the pool and notified adults, who called 911, Linders said. First responders pulled Osman out of the pool and he was pronounced dead. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Daughters of fallen St. Paul fire captain get financial boost from nonprofit: ‘We’re so thankful for people like your dad’ Crime & Public Safety | Downtown St. Paul crash kills man operating motorcycle, police say Crime & Public Safety | ...

Ballston Spa boosting traffic enforcement for summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Village of Ballston Spa is increasing its traffic law enforcement for the summer months. Mayor Frank Rossi said he's seen many community members voice their concerns on social media about traffic safety issues in the village. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to Rossi, he and Ballston Spa Police Chief David Bush have developed a new test program to put an officer on the streets during the day specifically for traffic law enforcement. The program will have no negative budget effect, said Rossi.The officer will be stationed on the streets at least two days a week, said Rossi. They will be focusing on "hot spots" where traffic laws appear to be disregarded the most. Swimming closed at Brown’s Beach on Saratoga Lake "I know that the many people that have been requesting this type of enhanced enforcement will be happy to see that we’re not sitting idly by as risks continue to mount. M...

Police make 6 notable Capital Region DWI arrests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State Police made six notable DWI arrests around the Capital Region from June 29 to July 5. Police reported a two-car crash and one incident where the driver led police on a pursuit on I-87. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On the afternoon of June 30, police responded to a car off the roadway in Halfmoon. The driver, a 56-year-old from Mechanicville, was arrested for DWI and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. The driver recorded a BAC of 0.22%. He was issued tickets returnable to the Halfmoon Town Court on July 12 and released to a sober third party.Later that afternoon, police responded to a two-car crash on Alternate State Route 7 on the Collar City Bridge in Green Island. One of the drivers, a 27-year-old from Troy, was arrested for DWI and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. He recorded a BAC of 0.21%, issued tickets returnable to the Green Island City Court on July 18, and...

Greenfield drug investigation yields two arrests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:32 GMT

GREENFIELD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two people were arrested following a lengthy drug trafficking investigation in Saratoga County. Riley Older (26, Greenfield) and Travis Smith (23, Greenfield) face multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said a search warrant was executed at 90 North Greenfield Road in Greenfield. Deputies report the search yielded quantities of powder fentanyl, pressed fentanyl pills, crack/cocaine, and an AR-15 with four thirty-round ammunition feeding devices. Deputies say Smith and Older are accused of distributing the narcotics and possessing the rifle and ammunition. Older Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (three counts)Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substanceThird-degree criminal possession of a weapon (five counts)Smith Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (three counts)Third-degree c...