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Illinois State Museum returns nearly 40 sacred wooden artifacts to Kenya

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Museum have returned nearly 40 sacred artifacts to Kenya so they can go back to their rightful owners. Museum officials said in a statement Wednesday that they have completed transferring 37 wooden statutes known as vigango to the National Museums of Kenya so they can be returned to Mijikenda communities. The statutes are considered sacred and are believed to carry the spirits of deceased male Mijikenda elders. The Illinois State Museum said the statutes were removed from Mijikenda villages and sacred sites in the 1980s, acquired by art collectors and later transferred to the museum as part of its African collection. Museum staff discovered in 2006 that one of the statutes had been stolen and returned it to its owner.The Illinois State Museum's curator of anthropology, Brooke Morgan, plans to visit Kenya this month and meet with Mijikenda elders to learn more about efforts to protect vigango statutes and restore them to their communities.

Search continues for missing Michigan toddler with $25K reward posted

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Searchers fanned out Wednesday near a major highway between Lansing and Detroit to look for a toddler who went missing late Sunday.The FBI posted a $25,000 reward for information about the disappearance of the 2-year-old, who was taken from her Lansing, Michigan home over the weekend.Her mother’s ex-boyfriend has been accused of kidnapping her, but Wynter Cole Smith wasn’t with him when he was arrested by police Monday, following a chase and crash in suburban Detroit. A statewide Amber Alert went out hours earlier.wynter-cole-smithDownloadThe 22-year-old mother is recovering from multiple stab wounds from the ex-boyfriend.“We speak for everyone, specifically the mother and the family, when we say we just want Wynter home safe,” said Lansing police Chief Ellery Sosebee, who added that divers, dogs, drones and helicopters have been involved in the search.The suspect drove east on Interstate 96 to the Detroit area. State police urged people with security or ring c...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Cook, Lake County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

2:55 p.m. -- The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Cook and Lake County, Illinois until 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Sunny start to Wednesday with hot and humid weather and building clouds. An Air Quality Alert is in place for Chicagoland. High near 90, 80s lakeside.Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon. The biggest threats look to be heavy downpours and strong winds in localized spots. SW 10-15 mph/gusty.Wednesday night will see scattered showers and thunderstorms tapering off overnight. Low 67Thursday will be mostly cloudy and a few showers with some afternoon clearing. High 74Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Extended outlook delivers more sunshine for Friday with highs getting to near 80. Pleasant on Saturday with highs near 80. Increasing late-day clouds and a chance of showers/t'storms late that last into some showers on Sunday. 

DoorDash drops driver who swore at customer in viral video: 'We've removed this Dasher from our platform'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A delivery driver for DoorDash is no longer working for the company after a viral video appeared to show him cursing at a customer for leaving what he deemed to be an insufficient tip.Lacey Purciful, the Texas resident at the receiving end of the DoorDasher’s anger, had uploaded surveillance footage of the exchange on TikTok over the weekend. DoorDash customer says delivery driver ate his chicken wings, left note in bag In the clip, the DoorDash driver could be seen removing Purciful’s order from an insulated bag. She then thanked him, to which he responded with, “You’re welcome.”But he wasn’t done.“I just want to say, it’s a nice house for a $5 tip,” the DoorDasher said, while turning to walk away.“You’re welcome,” Purciful replied.“F--- you,” the Dasher yelled back.Purciful also included on-screen text which suggested her order only came to $20, meaning she left him a 25% tip.“My lovely Dasher Corey believes I should be tipping 50%,” Purciful wrote in a caption on Ti...

Stephen A. Smith speaks out about ESPN layoffs, warns 'I could be next'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

(The Hill) - Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith responded after numerous ESPN staff members were laid off last week, warning that he could be next in additional rounds of layoffs. Smith said during an episode of his “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Monday that the roughly 20 of his on-air colleagues who were laid off are friends of his and “deserved better.” But he said these layoffs are not the end and will continue. “Let’s deal with reality. This ain’t the end. More is coming. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I could be next,” he said. Smith warned that people should not “take anything for granted.” He said he did not see the layoffs coming as he did in 2009, during the Great Recession. “My eyes are always wide open now. I’m never comfortable. I never take anything for granted, and I never assume that I’m safe,” he said. Smith noted that he co-hosts the top-rated show on ESPN, “First Take,” and serves as the executive producer, but his name could “come up” in...

Man accused of targeting Obama's DC home after Trump social media post

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

(The Hill) -- A man arrested last week over his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is accused of targeting former President Barack Obama’s home in Washington, D.C., after former President Donald Trump posted what he claimed was his predecessor’s address on social media.Taylor Taranto was arrested last Thursday in the Kalorama neighborhood of D.C. where the Obamas reside and charged with four misdemeanor offenses related to the Jan. 6 riot. Earlier in the day on Thursday, Taranto had reposted Trump’s Truth Social post purporting to contain the Obamas’ address, according to court documents filed on Wednesday. He then began livestreaming from his van as he drove through the Kalorama neighborhood and continued to film after parking his car and beginning to walk around. Taranto “made it clear that he intended to access or enter the private residences of his subjects,” as he focused his camera on several sewer grates that he described as “entrance points,” the ...

LCRA awards $800,000 in latest round of community project grants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority has awarded more than $800,000 to first responders and community projects in the latest round of the agency's community grants program.The LCRA awarded $814,951 to 34 projects across its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The funds are part of the agency's Community Development Partnership Program (CDPP), which to date has awarded grants totaling almost $50 million.The two largest grants went to Bellville Little League, in Austin County, for a new lighting system and the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department, in Colorado County, for a brand new building.The LCRA said almost half of the new grants go to first responders, giving money for things like fire station upgrades, new specialized firefighting gear, rescue tools and life-saving equipment."These grants will help protect the first responders who work so hard to keep the rest of us safe," LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said. "LCRA is pleased to suppor...

Walmart mass shooter faces judge, expected to speak in court

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The man who shot 23 people dead at an El Paso Walmart almost four years ago showed little emotion as he appeared for the start of his sentencing hearing in federal court Wednesday morning.Patrick Wood Crusius, 24, mostly looked straight ahead and occasionally at the bench as Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Guaderrama reviewed the pre-sentencing report for the suspect. He wore a blue prison uniform, black-rim glasses and shaggy hair.As the procedures started, some of the victims' families could be heard sobbing in court. Others sitting in the front row were observed looking directly at Crusius for a long period of time.“I watched the killer the whole time. He showed very little emotion whatsoever,” said former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, who showed up for the hearing. “He looked non-plussed to me, just sitting there. [...] At no point did I see him looking at the victims' (relatives).”Crusius in February agreed to plead guilty to 90 federal counts re...

Travel to Bavaria — and Oktoberfest! — with Food Editor Jess Fleming

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

Do you have a travel bucket list? I sure do, and our latest Pioneer Press reader trip includes a few things on it: Switzerland, Austria and Munich, Germany — for Oktoberfest!We’ll visit little hamlets nestled amidst the Alps, and Mirabell Gardens (where part of one of my childhood favorite movies “The Sound of Music” was filmed), eat a fondue lunch, dine at a 1,200-year-old restaurant, and so much more. And we’ll end this epic adventure with our own private tent at Oktoberfest in Munich!If you have been considering traveling with me, maybe now is your time! See the full itinerary and find a link to sign up at gateway.gocollette.com/link/1154036. We are hosting a virtual informational meeting about the trip at 4 p.m. on July 25. Sign up for that presentation at tinyurl.com/oktoberfestwithjess. As always, if you have any questions, email me at [email protected] ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Quick Fix: Roast Beef and Blue...

DEC Forest Rangers respond to multiple hiking events

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In their weekly report, the Department of Environmental Conservation reported that Forest Rangers responded to three hiking incidents around the region. Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people across New York State.   Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On June 29, Forest Rangers were dispatched to Buck Mountain to assist a hiker with a knee injury. Ranger Carabetta reached the hiker and stabilized his knee. Rangers Donegan and Nahor arrived with a wheeled litter and the hiker was transported to the parking lot. The hiker refused further medical care and was released to his family.At around 2:44 p.m. on July 1, Forest Ranger Patnode was notified of a 12-year-old girl who had been separated from her family near Adirondack Loj. The child had been missing for more than an hour. Forest Ranger Lieutenant LaPierre and Ranger Evans responded. The child was located in good conditio...