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The extraordinary events of the Watseka Wonder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

WATSEKA, Ill -- The information below comes from news stories and a book that were written about the event. But just because something is written down doesn't mean it's true. This story should still be looked at with skepticism.The Watseka Wonder is a story that gained attention during the late 1800s and early 1900s in the town of Watseka, Illinois. It revolves around a young girl named Mary Lurancy Vennum, whose life became the focus of widespread fascination.At the age of 13, Vennum started exhibiting peculiar behavior when she fell ill in July 1887. She claimed to hear ghostly voices calling out to her at night, but there was never anyone else in the room. She also experienced stomach pain and entered trance-like states where she believed she saw ghosts around her.Her parents were concerned about Vennum's condition, family members and others suggested sending her to an asylum for proper care. However, her family decided to pursue spiritual means instead and enlisted the help of D...

Denver interior designer publishes book showcasing vibrant designs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

Andrea Schumacher wants to add more color to the world.The Denver-based interior designer — who has a showroom in Lincoln Park and another in Santa Barbara, California — recently published “Vibrant Interiors: Living Large at Home,” a coffee table book showcasing the best of Andrea Schumacher Interiors.“I’ve always wanted to memorialize my work, and a book was the best way to do just that,” Schumacher says.“I used the guidance of my book agent and publisher to carefully choose projects that showed the breadth of our work. I worked with a writer and then tweaked the story to explain our thought process in every detail. It was a labor of love!”With over 20 years of experience and two degrees in interior design, Schumacher has worked on commercial, residential, and television projects across the U.S.Schumacher launched her business in 1999 and moved into her 3,300-square-foot showroom on Santa Fe Drive five years ago. She employs 18 and opened t...

Motorcyclist dies in two-vehicle crash in Aurora

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

A motorcyclist has died in a two-vehicle crash in Aurora.The crash happened at the intersection of East Smith and Chambers roads, the Aurora Police Department said in a 10:47 a.m. Saturday tweet.Smith Road is closed between Airport Boulevard and Chambers because of the crash, police said. An investigation is ongoing.#APDTrafficAlert: Officers are investigating a crash between a motorcycle and vehicle at the intersection of E. Smith Rd and Chambers Rd. The motorcycle rider has tragically died. Unknown if there are any additional injuries.Both E/B and W/B lanes of Smith Rd are closed between… pic.twitter.com/2mSOtuaCgu— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) May 27, 2023

Bayern’s last-gasp Bundesliga title win follows a season of controversy and turmoil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Bayern Munich won the German league title for the 11th year in a row, following a season of controversial decisions, dramatic comebacks and a fight to the very end.The title fight went down to the final seconds as Bayern scored an 89th-minute goal to beat Cologne and Borussia Dortmund fell just short of victory in its 2-2 draw with Mainz. The champion was decided on goal difference.Here is a look at key moments which shaped the title race:HALLER DIAGNOSEDAfter selling Erling Haaland to Manchester City, Dortmund signed the experienced Sébastien Haller as its new star striker. Weeks after he joined the club in July, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After two operations and chemotherapy, he returned to action in January. Two key goals from Haller against Augsburg last week gave Dortmund the lead ahead of the final day of the season but he missed a crucial penalty against Mainz on Saturday.MODESTE’S MOMENTSigned as an emergency replacement while Ha...

Byrne homers, TCU advances to Big 12 championship with 6-3 win over K-State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kurtis Byrne homered and TCU took advantage of every opportunity to defeat Kansas State 6-3 on Saturday to advance to the championship game of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.The Horned Frogs (36-22) had only three hits but took advantage of three errors, five walks and a hit batter by the Wildcats (35-24).TCU will play the winner of Texas Tech-Oklahoma State in Sunday’s championship. The fourth-seeded Horned Frogs beat the fifth-seeded Wildcats 16-3 in the tournament opener.Sam Stoutenborough and Ben Abeldt (2-3) combined to allow 12 hits but came up with key outs as Kansas State stranded 10 runners.The game was tied at 3 after five innings with Raphael Pelletier of K-State and Byrne contributing solo home runs.A hit batter, walk and Tre Richardson beating out a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases for the Horned Frogs in the sixth. Brayden Taylor scoring the winning run when Anthony Silva grounded into a double play.Taylor drew a one-out walk in the eight...

Elina Svitolina wins Strasbourg tournament for 1st title since becoming a mom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Elina Svitolina won her first WTA title in nearly two years — and first since becoming a mother — by beating Anna Blinkova 6-2, 6-3 in the final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg on Saturday.Svitolina and her husband, tennis player Gael Monfils, became parents in October. Svitolina returned to the tour in April. Once ranked as high as No. 3, Svitolina entered the week at No. 508 and is the lowest-ranked woman to win a tour title since an unranked Kim Clijsters at the 2009 U.S. Open.It is the 28-year-old Svitolina’s 17th title. She won the WTA Finals in 2018 and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2019.Fresh off a clay-court title, Svitolina now heads to Paris to compete in the French Open. ___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Djokovic enters French Open with chance to top absent Nadal with record 23rd Slam title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

PARIS (AP) — For quite some time, Novak Djokovic has made his long-term goal clear: He wanted to focus on accumulating Grand Slam titles in order to surpass the totals of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.With the French Open set to start Sunday without either Nadal (who is injured) or Federer (who is retired) for the first time since 1998, Djokovic finally gets the chance to lead the career standings alone with a men’s-record 23. If he winds up with the championship two weeks from now, Djokovic would break a tie with Nadal and have three more trophies than Federer finished with.“It’s no secret that one of the main reasons I play today and compete in professional tennis is to try to break more records and make more history in tennis,” Djokovic said Saturday. “That’s extremely motivating and inspiring for me.”His current collection of 22 majors — two at Roland Garros, in 2016 and 2021; three at the U.S. Open; seven at Wimbledon and 10 at the Australian Open, including this January...

Luton captain Tom Lockyer conscious in hospital after collapsing during playoff final

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Luton captain Tom Lockyear was taken to a hospital after collapsing to the ground during the Championship playoff final against Coventry on Saturday, but the team said he was conscious and responsive. Lockyear fell to the ground untouched while backpeddling early in the game at Wembley and then seemed to collapse as he tried to get back up. The defender received medical attention for several minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. Luton said on Twitter that “after collapsing on the pitch, Tom Lockyer has been taken to hospital for further tests. He is responsive and talking to his family, who are with him.”Luton was trying to gain promotion to the Premier League for the first time, having last played in England’s top division in 1991-92. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

ARTfactory plans ‘Queen’s Ball Jubilee’ fundraiser in Manassas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.The Queen’s Jubilee Ball fundraiser will be held Saturday, June 10. (Courtesy ARTfactory)The ARTfactory will continue commemorating the city of Manassas’ 150th birthday by holding a “Queen’s Ball Jubilee” fundraiser on Saturday, June 10.The event, which will benefit the ARTfactory’s mission to provide access to the arts in the community, will feature cocktails and light fare, as well as live music and dancing befitting the period, according to a news release.Attendees, who are encouraged to wear period attire, will be transported to 1870s’ Virginia, where they can dance to live music provided by traditional folk band Susquehanna Travellers with dance instruction provided by The Victorian Dance Troupe.Talya Conroy, the ARTfactory’s executive director and a longtime Manassas resident, said s...

Redemption for Roglič as he closes in on Giro d’Italia title despite mechanical problem

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:27 GMT

MONTE LUSSARI, Italy (AP) — Primož Roglič all but secured the Giro d’Italia title on Saturday by overtaking leader Geraint Thomas on the penultimate stage despite having a mechanical problem on the mountain time trial.Roglič started the stage 26 seconds behind Thomas — who was trying to become the oldest Giro champion in history — but finished the route 40 seconds quicker than the British cyclist after the demanding climb of the Monte Lussari.That saw Roglič move into the leader’s pink jersey, 14 seconds ahead of Thomas going into the race’s mainly ceremonial final stage.Roglič was cheered on all the way by thousands of fans from just across the border to his native Slovenia. They packed the slopes of the brutal ascent up Monte Lussari, which had an elevation of more than 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) and gradients of up to 22%.The 33-year-old Roglič celebrated at the end with his wife and son, who was wearing a replica of the pink jersey.“Just something amazing, eh? It’s not at the end...