St. Sabina hosts gun buyback for Fr. Pfleger's 74th birthday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

St. Sabina hosts gun buyback for Fr. Pfleger's 74th birthday CHICAGO — Father Michael Pfleger’s 74th birthday is Monday and to celebrate, he wanted to get some guns off the streets.The gun buyback started around 9:00 a.m. goes until 3:00 p.m. and several people came with guns of all varieties for this buyback and have been greeted by Fr. Pfleger with a message on gun violence."You know, there’s a whole comprehensive array of what we need to do about Molins but one of the things we have to do is deal with guns," Fr. Pfleger said.Handguns get $100 cash assault Stone weapons get $200 in cash.The Chicago Police Department has those guns, collecting them, and hauling them away for destruction. “We’re supposed to step in together:” Fundraiser supports families of 4 high school seniors killed in car crash "It’s real personal for me. I lost my adopted son just two blocks from here. I buried so many other people. Purpose of her pain group is based here," Fr. Pfleger said.Fr. Pfleger, who has been a staple in the Auburn-Gresham community since the 1...

Another Chicago Bears player returns to get his college degree in 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

Another Chicago Bears player returns to get his college degree in 2023 SOUTH BEND — For a second time this offseason, a current member of the Chicago Bears has returned to school to finish what he started. A few weeks after quarterback Justin Fields went back to Ohio State to get his bachelor's degree, tight end Cole Kmet did the same on Sunday.The Lake Barrington native traveled to South Bend to graduate with a bachelor's degree in political science on Sunday from the University of Notre Dame. He took part in the ceremony at Notre Dame Stadium, where Kmet established himself as one of the best tight ends in the country from 2017 through 2019. He was also a member of Notre Dame's baseball team in 2018 and 2019.The former St. Viator High School standout would declare for the NFL Draft after his junior year with the Fighting Irish, and the Bears selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. "No longer a dropout," said Kmet on his Instagram post on Sunday.Kmet was able to graduate alongside his brother, Casey, who is an infielder for the Notre D...

Lego goes back to the '80s with a Pac-Man cabinet - and it has a hand crank

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

Lego goes back to the '80s with a Pac-Man cabinet - and it has a hand crank (NEXSTAR) - Lego is going back to the '80s with a new premium set that is a detailed recreation of the classic Pac-Man arcade game. The set marks the 43rd anniversary of the original game, which was originally released on May 22, 1980, by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.While you can't actually play Pac-Man on it, the set features a hand crank that moves Pac-Man and the ghosts around the 'screen'. The set also contains large versions of Pac-Man and ghosts Blink and Clyde that rotate on a base showing both Pac-Man and the ghosts on the run.(LEGO)(LEGO)(LEGO)(LEGO)(LEGO)(LEGO)(LEGO)The set also features a light up coin-slot, and a small vignette of a female minifigure playing Pac-Man on an arcade, hidden inside of the cabinet.Lego designer Sven Franic described the set as "a one-of-a-kind Lego creation that captures the magic of the original game while adding a playful new twist and a couple of Easter eggs – in true video game style.” Lego releasing 3,981-piece ‘Batman Returns’ Batca...

VIDEO: Fireball turns night into day in Australia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

VIDEO: Fireball turns night into day in Australia CROYDON, Australia — The hunt for pieces of meteorite is underway in Australia after a meteor plummeted to Earth in a blaze that lit up the sky.The meteor fell near Croydon, Queensland Saturday night, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). SpaceX sends Saudi astronauts to International Space Station on chartered flight Footage captured by a camera at Cairns Airport shows the meteor flashing bright green as it falls to earth.“We witnessed some pretty incredible activity across our skies last night,” the airport wrote on Facebook.Australian media cited astrophysicist Brad Tucker as saying the object was “definitely a meteor.”He estimated the rock would have measured between 1.5 and 3 feet in diameter, and was travelling at a speed of 62,000-93,000 mph, the ABC said.Video credit: Cairns Airport via Storyful

Actor Ray Stevenson of 'Thor' films, 'RRR' and 'Vikings' dies at 58

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

Actor Ray Stevenson of 'Thor' films, 'RRR' and 'Vikings' dies at 58 (KTLA) – Ray Stevenson who is known for his roles in "King Arthur," "Punisher: War Zone," and "RRR" has died.Stevenson's publicist told Variety that the prolific actor passed away on Sunday, however no cause of death was revealed.Stevenson starred as the main villain in the hit movie "RRR." He also played Volstagg in Marvel's "Thor" franchise and starred as Othere in the History Channel's "Vikings." The actor also voiced the character Gar Saxon in the "Star Wars" animated series "The Clone Wars" and "Rebels."Deadline reported Stevenson was set to join Disney+'s upcoming series "Ashoka," which is a spinoff of "The Mandalorian."The site also said the actor had been cast in the historical drama "1242: Gateway to the West." He took over the lead role that originally was to be played by Kevin Spacey.Stevenson was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and started his career in the early '90s appearing in European television series and televised films.In 1998 he starred in "The...

Person taken into custody after barricading in Georgetown

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

Person taken into custody after barricading in Georgetown GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- One person was taken into police custody after barricading themself on Axis Loop in Georgetown. The Georgetown Police Department tweeted at 10:54 a.m. that officers were "working a barricaded subject" in the 200 block of Axis Loop, which is off Williams Drive in the Deer Haven subdivision. Police posted an update at 1:37 p.m. that a person had been taken into custody without incident. The police department said in the tweet it involved a mental health situation, therefore no other details will be released.

4 homes evacuated amid gas leak in Georgetown

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

4 homes evacuated amid gas leak in Georgetown GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- Four Georgetown homes are Monday afternoon amid a gas leak on East Central Drive.The Georgetown Fire Department tweeted there was a gas leak in the 400 block of East Central Drive, which is just off Northwest Boulevard. The intersection of East Central Drive and Northwest Boulevard is closed while the department responds to the leak. Drivers should avoid the area or find alternate routes. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the leak or if anyone required medical attention. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Texas Senate education committee guts House school safety bill

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

Texas Senate education committee guts House school safety bill AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Senate Education Committee on Thursday removed key provisions and nearly a billion dollars from House Bill 3, one of the legislature's sweeping school safety bills.The Senate's committee substitute spends about one-fourth of the House version on school safety. Citing concerns over the price tag, senators lowered the bill's per-student school safety allotment from $100 to $10. The current school safety allotment is $9.72 per student in average daily attendance.The House's version would cost the state nearly $1.3 billion over two years. The Senate's substitute costs just about $328 million. Both versions also provide a base of $15,000 per campus for security upgrades.State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, coauthored House Bill 3 and denounced the Senate's changes."Students, parents, and teachers are all betting their lives on our commitment to school safety being more than political lip service," he said in a statement to KXAN. "Without the money for the securi...

A few chances of rain and thunderstorms

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

A few chances of rain and thunderstorms AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The first day of this new work week has been dry with sun and clouds blending. Afternoon temperatures will be below normal this afternoon.High normally today is 89° BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin The flow in the upper atmosphere will come from the northwest to the southeast from high pressure over northern Mexico into New Mexico. Future Clouds and Radar shows scattered showers from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tuesday coming through the northern Hill Country.Another rain/thunderstorm opportunity comes overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, then again Wednesday afternoon as another weather disturbance traverses the area.Thunderstorms possible Wednesday afternoonThe Storm Prediction Center has a Marginal Risk for severe storms late Tuesday night overnight to Wednesday morning.Tuesday night's severe risk area INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for climate change until KXAN investigation A lower rain chance of rain is in Thursday's forecast before the holiday...

Trial begins for Austin police officer accused of murder

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:39:06 GMT

Trial begins for Austin police officer accused of murder AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial of an Austin police officer accused of murder in a 2020 deadly shooting started Monday with jury selection. APD officer heads to murder trial in Michael Ramos shooting Christopher Taylor, 31, is accused of shooting and killing Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. In July 2020, officers responded to South Pleasant Valley Road after a 911 call reported someone dealing drugs in a car. The caller also said a man had a gun, according to previous APD reports.When officers arrived at the scene, Ramos was directed to get out of the car. After exiting the car, the incident escalated and an officer hit Ramos in the thigh with a non-lethal bean bag round, APD said.After Ramos gets back into the car and shuts the door, the video shows. Three gunshots were fired as Ramos tries to drive away from the parking spot. APD previously said Taylor was the officer who fired the lethal rounds.PREVIOUS COVERAGE:Of...