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Education 'grows on trees' at 137-year-old one room school house

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

WILLOW SPRINGS, Ill. — Daniel Burnham’s celebrated Plan of Chicago envisioned a string of greenspaces, filled with trees, plants, and gardens – known as the city’s “emerald necklace.” Today, the most expansive stretch of preserved nature is in the Southwest suburbs – a swath of emerald green, with an important splash of ruby red.The Little Red Schoolhouse in Willow Springs is located less than 20 miles from downtown Chicago.Little Red SchoolhouseBuilt in 1886 as the first grammar school in the area, it served the children of farmers. In the 1940s, modern schools were built, and development consumed much of the farmland.By 1948, just two students attended the class in the white one room schoolhouse, but it was such a community cornerstone, it was preserved, and moved rather than demolished.  “(It was moved) with horses and log rollers to take that schoolhouse that was closer to maple lake, move it across this, to where it was at Camp Kiwanis, and then move it again,” said Debora...

Chicago agricultural students serve Thanksgiving dinner to seniors

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Students and seniors came together Tuesday on the South Side of Chicago to celebrate Thanksgiving a little bit early.Students at the Chicago Agricultural School were cooking all day to serve 400 senior citizens in the community. Semi-truck fire shuts down portion of I-294 in Willow Springs It's an annual event and there's a whole lot of preparation and collaboration that goes into it."Food is always what I like to do," Noah Howe-Brown said. "I can share with people in my own way."The turkeys were raised at the farm."There were kids in animal science who raised them, cleaned them, fed them all," Howe-Brown said. "They got to the point where they were big enough, shipped off and came back to us."Amonte Campbell has been guiding the kids through it all with some help from Jason Ison from Smith Village. He said an event like this is truly a win for everyone."It feels great, amazing," Ison said. "Something I wish I had in high school. The kids get a lot out of it and I know t...

EMWQ Fund steps in to help family of fallen firefighter

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A day after Chicago lost its fourth firefighter this year, an organization established by the City's tight-knit firefighter community is stepping in to help the family of fallen firefighter Andrew Price.The organization, Ende, Menzer, Walsh & Quinn (EMWQ) Retirees', Widows' and Children’s Assistance Fund, is a non-profit organization that helps Chicago families who are grieving the loss of a loved one who died in the line of duty as a Chicago Fire Department firefighter."We can't lose sight on the fact that this is a dangerous job," said Tony Martin, from the EMWQ Fund. "Every day that we go to work ... We've got to try to do it the best we can." More from Julian: Faith leaders join Johnson in call for patience amid Chicago’s migrant relief efforts For those interested in learning more about the EMWQ or making a donation toward helping families deal with the loss of a loved one, visit their website.WGN's Julian Crews has more on the story in the video above.

Decreasing number of migrants arriving in Chicago, but shelters still remain in question

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The wave of migrants coming to Chicago seems to be slowing down, but housing continues to be a topic of discussion for lawmakers and residents.With the number of migrants living at police stations around Chicago reaching it's lowest since late September, there are still many living outdoors with tents moving into nearby neighborhoods.In the parkway at Leland and Harding Avenue in Albany Park, migrant tents line the block across from the 17th Chicago police district, which some neighbors aren't happy about.The sidewalk in front of the police district is now clear of tents, but women and children are reportedly still living inside the lobby of the building. Even several children in an outdoor encampment.1,444 migrants are still living at police stations around Chicago awaiting shelter placement, a number that is actually down nearly half from the beginning of November. Illegal border crossings into the US drop in October after a 3-month streak of increases Mayor Brandon J...

MedWatch Digest: The connection between diabetes and colon cancer — and more

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

For Tuesday, Nov. 14, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Diabetes can lead to colon cancerA diabetes diagnosis leaves people more susceptible to getting colorectal cancer, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The association was most significant in low-income communities and among African Americans. The study of nearly 55,000 people revealed patients with diabetes have a 47,000 increased risk for colon cancer compared to people without diabetes. The same highly processed, high-fat, high-sugar foods associated with diabetes have also been shown to contribute to colon cancer.  Experts say the study indicates a need to screen people with diabetes earlier for colon cancer. Northwestern study on preterm birthsPremature births are a significant problem in the Black community in the United States. Doctors say it's a huge wake-up call to address inequities and the impact on children. Northwest...

Biden announces $6B climate resiliency initiatives

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- President Joe Biden said the latest national climate assessment reaffirms what he already knew -- that climate change "is the ultimate threat to humanity."Biden highlighted how not doing enough in the past contributed to the ever-worsening natural disasters."I met with families in Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi where catastrophic winter storms and tornadoes devour everything in their path, schools, businesses, police stations," the president said.That's why Biden announced a more than $6 billion investment in climate resiliency initiatives to reduce "flood risk in communities, improving drought resilience, supporting conservation for our national parks."The plan also includes projects to bury power lines in order to strengthen the electric grid and prevent fires. This week marks the 2-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provided funding for many climate-related projects.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the law helped "p...

Las Vegas teen dies after group attacks him near high school, father says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A 17-year-old has died days after he was found severely beaten by more than a dozen people near a Las Vegas high school, the teen's father said.The attack happened on Wednesday, Nov. 1, near Rancho High School, according to authorities.The Clark County Coroner's Office identified Jonathan Lewis Jr. as the teen who died following the incident. The cause of death was listed as complications of multiple blunt force injuries. The manner of death was listed as homicide. California man accused of dumping body parts now charged with killing wife, in-laws The boy's father, Jonathan Lewis Sr., spoke to Nexstar's KLAS on Thursday and described the incident as a savage crime. He said his son was beaten up by 15 people and confirmed that the teen died on Tuesday as a result of the injuries. The boy's father, also named Jonathan Lewis, told KLAS his 17-year-old son was the one who was beaten by 15 people, and confirmed that the teen died on Tuesday as a result of the injur...

Check out the new floats appearing in the 97th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

MOONACHIE, N.J. (WPIX) -- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is New York's iconic welcoming of the holiday season, and it brings something new every year. "I don't think that there's anything like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Paradee," said Director of Production Operations Kathleen Wright. "You really can't top that feeling on Thanksgiving morning." Florida dad stumped by toddler’s mystery impersonation In the upcoming 97th annual parade is a suite of new floats, like some from candy companies Brach's and Wonka."We have 'House of Sweets' by Brach's, which is a really fun, whimsical sweet float featuring giant, oversized pieces of candy," said Wright. "We also have the 'Deliciously Delectable' Wonka float that will be in the parade this year. Almost 600,000 pieces of candy." Parade watchers can warm up to a new campsite float, 'Igniting Memories,' from Solo Stove. "It looks like it's a moving campsite down the parade route, which is so fun in and of i...

Three teens among six dead in crash involving bus and semi on I-70

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

ETNA, Ohio (WCMH) – Three teenagers were among six people who were killed Tuesday morning when a semi smashed into the rear of a charter bus carrying high school students, just one part of a fiery, five-vehicle crash.The crash caused the semi to catch fire and smoke to pour out of the bus, which was carrying students from Tuscarawas Valley High School in northeast Ohio to an event in Columbus. The accident took place on Interstate 70 east of the exit for State Route 310 and led to I-70 being closed in both directions for hours. Click here for current traffic conditions Courtesy Photo/NBC4 ViewerCourtesy Photo/NBC4 ViewerA fiery crash on I-70 West involving a charter bus and a semi. (Courtesy photo/Adam Layton)The bus in the Interstate 70 crash in Licking County, Ohio, on Nov. 14, 2023, seen hours later (NBC4)Emergency crews respond to a fiery crash on I-70 West involving a charter bus and a semi. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation)Emergency crews respond to a fiery crash ...

SMPD: Man accused of shooting, killing neighbor's dog with pellet gun

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:00 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- One man was arrested after police said he shot and killed his neighbor's dog, the San Marcos Police Department said on social media Tuesday.On Monday, SMPD received a call with the victim saying the incident happened in the Victory Gardens neighborhood.Andrew Kennedy, 68 | Courtesy San Marcos Police DepartmentOfficers were able to obtain surveillance footage showing a man, Andrew Kennedy, 68, who was walking with a weapon, shooting the dog. Other evidence collected at the scene connected Kennedy to the crime, according to SMPD.According to police, a necropsy revealed Kennedy shot the dog with a pellet gun.Kennedy was arrested Tuesday and booked on a charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals, which is a third degree felony, according to police.