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Skilling: Warmer temps to kick in after Easter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

Sunshine staged the predicted comeback today—despite the cool temps. Chicagoans were treated to 94% of the day's possible sun with a high temp of 50 after the morning low of 32 at O'Hare.A chilly night's ahead with temps under mainly clear skies dipping into the 20s away from the city and to the low 30s in the city proper.Lake breezes are common this time of year—and we'll be dealing with them Friday as well as on area beaches and nearshore areas Saturday and Sunday. Friday could see pronounced cooling at the lake since the day's "NE" winds will travel across a broader stretch of the 42-deg lake waters than the ESE winds Saturday and the SE winds Easter Sunday.The Easter/Passover weekend will see warming begin. It will be a slow process but enough to be noticeable. National Burrito Day: How to get free or discounted food at Chipotle, Taco Bell and other chains It's next week which is to see a storm-deflecting dome of warm air develop over the Midwest. Such warm air pools aloft pus...

Heaviest rain since August, and rain continues through Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin is in the midst of its heaviest one-day rainfall event since Aug. 22, when 3.73" fell. Parts of Austin have recorded over 2" of rain, and occasional rain and thunderstorms continue overnight and through the day Friday.Live radarLive traffic conditionsCentral Texas Rainfall TotalsDry, thirsty soil is soaking up much of the lighter rainfall totals in the Hill Country, so the Highland Lakes are not expected to benefit much from this rain event.But as heavier rain focuses east of the Austin area, our concern with minor flooding of creeks and low water crossings increases overnight into Friday. The Weather Prediction Center has placed much of the area under a 2 out of 4 threat of minor flash flooding.Flash flood threatRemember, if you ever come across a water-covered roadway, "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"Additional rainfall totals will remain under 1 inch in the Hill Country, but could reach an additional 1-2 inches in Austin and 1-3 inches in southeastern communiti...

Daniel Perry murder trial almost over, jury set to deliberate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's now up to 12 jurors to decide the fate of a man accused of murder in the deadly shooting of a Black Lives Matter protester.A diverse group of a dozen jurors will decide whether Perry, an Army sergeant, is guilty or not guilty of murdering a protester, Garrett Foster, in July 2020 in downtown Austin. Murder trial: Expert says Daniel Perry slowed down as he made turn into crowd of protesters Closing arguments for the Daniel Perry murder trial concluded Thursday morning. On Wednesday, the courtroom was at capacity with some people waiting in an outside hallway on the final day of testimony for the trial.During opening statements last week, state attorneys said Foster was out protesting police violence every day in the summer of 2020. Foster was shot and later died while out protesting the night of July 25, 2020. The defense’s argument from the beginning is that Perry — swarmed by protesters — had to defend himself. Several witnesses admitted they k...

Chicago Bears free-agency news: Sixth-year veteran Rasheem Green joins the defensive line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has had plenty of salary-cap space to help him rework a roster that finished 3-14 in 2022.The Tribune is tracking all of the Bears’ arrivals and departures and providing insight into what they mean.Key additions on defense — but what’s next for offensive line? Brad Biggs’ 6 thoughts off Bears GM Ryan Poles’ availability.Column: Bears need more from rank-and-file free agents. Robert Tonyan, Andrew Billings and D’Onta Foreman believe they can deliver.New Bears wide receiver DJ Moore, key addition from the trade of the No. 1 pick, aims to ‘elevate the offense’Column: Bears’ aggressive start to free agency has one common thread — young players entering their prime yearsBears trade the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Panthers. Here’s what they got in return.Sign up for our free Bears alerts so you don’t miss any newsThursdayThe Bears s...

Timberwolves need to use lineup flexibility to their advantage when it matters most

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch brought center Karl-Anthony Towns into the game with four minutes to play in Minnesota’s win Tuesday over Brooklyn.Towns replaced Rudy Gobert, who never re-entered. Brooklyn, Finch noted postgame, had five smalls — guards and wings — on the floor. By Minnesota going with Towns out there as the sole big man and shooters around him, the Wolves felt they could exploit the Nets’ lack of size.The move panned out, as Towns scored on the smaller Royce O’Neale at will in the paint. And on another possession, Anthony Edwards attacked the rim, and, without a rim protector there to deter him, Brooklyn simply fouled the star guard.Finch also noted by going with a slightly smaller lineup — frankly, a more traditional one with Towns at center and Kyle Anderson at power forward — the Wolves could more comfortably defend the Nets’ five-out offense.“Take nothing away from Rudy. He played a great game, he really did. Played a great game in ...

St. Paul claims 4 of 11 finalists for MN teacher of the year award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

Four St. Paul Public Schools teachers are among the 11 finalists for Education Minnesota’s teacher of the year award.They are Michael Houston (math) and Molly Keenan (social studies) from Harding High School, Sorcha Nix (science) from Open World Learning, and Fathimath Eliza Rasheed (theatre) from Global Arts Plus upper campus.The other finalists are Fatuma Ali, Hopkins High; Bee Lee, Emmet D. Williams Elementary in Roseville; Josh Mann, St. Michael-Albertville High; Giovanna Valeria Margalli, Cornelia Elementary in Edina; John Peter, Pelican Rapids High; Joe Schulte, Sartell High; and Allyson Wolff, Eisenhower Elementary, Hopkins.The winner will be announced May 7 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.Related ArticlesEducation | St. Paul schools seek to boost math scores with $9.9M curriculum buy Education | St. Paul Public Schools will offer $10K signing bonuses to some new hires

Climate organization schedules St. Paul City Council candidate forums April 16-20

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

MN350, a nonprofit advocacy organization geared toward organizing around climate change, will host four virtual forums with candidates for St. Paul City Council running in contested races. Each of the races features an open seat.Links to the virtual forums, which will be both livestreamed and recorded from Facebook Live, are online at tinyurl.com/MN350Stp2023. Questions will focus on climate, energy and intersecting social issues, such as public health and affordable housing.An April 16 forum is scheduled to feature Ward 1 candidates Anika Bowie, James Lo, Omar Syed and Suz Woehrle.An April 17 forum will feature Ward 5 candidates HwaJeong Kim and Pam Tollefson.An April 18 forum will feature Ward 3 candidates Saura Jost and Isaac Russell.An April 20 forum will feature Ward 7 candidates Cheniqua Johnson and Pa Der Vang.More information is online at mn350.org.Related ArticlesLocal News | With St. Paul gun violence down this year, here’s a look at behind-the-scenes prev...

Lime relaunches e-scooters in St. Paul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

Lime relaunched its e-scooters on St. Paul streets Thursday morning for the sixth year running.The San Francisco-based company, which first scooted into St. Paul with e-scooters in 2018, debuted what it dubbed its “industry-leading” Gen4 model a year ago. The swept-back handlebars and dual hand-brake system are supposed to imitate bike handles for a more comfortable grip, and they rolled out alongside a two-legged kickstand, lowered baseboard, enhanced suspension and larger wheels.The Gen4 model also includes a swappable battery.The scooter fleet upgrade followed Equity Zone Pricing in 2021 that offers 30% off rides originating in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods, specifically Frogtown, Payne-Phalen, the North End, Dayton’s Bluff and the West Side. It also offers “Lime Access,” a discount program for low-income users who can show eligibility for city, state or federal benefits.Lime operates in more than 250 cities, nearly 30 countries and five co...

Amanda Parsons: It’s a miracle most Americans pay their taxes. Crypto could upend that norm.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

One of the many questions raised by cryptocurrency is how to tax this new world of digital assets. It poses real tax evasion concerns.Crypto was explicitly developed to allow people to transfer currency to one another directly, circumventing the oversight of financial institutions. The Internal Revenue Service relies on information shared by these financial institutions to ensure tax compliance — a system cryptocurrency defies. The crypto space has well-documented anarchist roots, and it has largely been averse to government regulation.Cryptocurrency and blockchain — complex and novel technologies — were not designed with tax returns in mind.The IRS has made some things clear about crypto taxes. As of now, individual taxpayers must answer a question about whether they have participated in digital asset transactions. If I buy a token, it doubles in value and then I sell it, I must pay capital gains tax. Last month, the IRS issued a reminder that income from digital ...

Jonathan Bernstein: Trump isn’t Republicans’ only headache

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:55:51 GMT

Republicans have a big problem. No, not the guy who got indicted. At least not directly.The most significant election of 2023 went to the Democrats on Tuesday, as liberal Wisconsin judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated her conservative rival Dan Kelly to flip the 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court.The outcome was a big achievement for Democrats, who rallied supporters and raised money across the country for what would normally be a little-noticed (and officially nonpartisan) contest. Protasiewicz made abortion rights a centerpiece of her campaign, and with her victory the court is now expected to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion ban rooted in a 19th century statute.Protasiewicz’s win continues a pattern of Democratic successes in the midterms and in other contests that we have seen ever since Donald Trump captured the White House in 2016. The results are especially remarkable given President Joe Biden’s unpopularity nationally.In particular, the Wisconsin contest mar...