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Trail of Lights final night canceled Saturday due to rain

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The final night of Trail of Lights was canceled Saturday because of rainy weather, according to organizers. People who bought tickets should monitor email for refund information, according to an Austin Trail of Lights Facebook post just before 4:30 p.m. Rainfall over Zilker Park area on Saturday (Austonian weather camera) KXAN First Warning Weather: Wet weekend weather ahead of breezy Christmas Day Earlier Saturday, organizers said the Zilker Tree and Polo Field parking area would be closed and unavailable for parking Saturday evening due to accumulated rains over the week.The parking area was previously closed on Thursday and Friday as well due to the recent rains.According to a statement, all Zilker Tree parking would automatically be refunded by Ticketbud within five to seven business days, and purchasers were asked to find an alternate form of arrival.

Wild coach John Hynes on when to fight: ‘Sometimes it’s (about) time and score’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

To fight, or not to fight. That is a question facing most, if not all, NHL hockey players at one time or another. Because it’s often not so clear cut.Marco Rossi, for instance, reduced the Wild’s cache of available forwards to 10 for a full 17 minutes on Thursday after picking a fight with Montreal’s Kaiden Guhle — who had just postered Kirill Kaprizov with a hard check into the boards — in the second period of Minnesota’s 4-3 overtime victory at Xcel Energy Center.It was a tough row to hoe for the Wild as they tried to hold off the hard-charging Canadiens, who tied early in the third period on a power play stemming from a double roughing minor on defenseman Zach Bogosian. On the other hand, Rossi’s actions went a long way with his teammates.“Just to show a guy’s willing to do that and stick up for your teammates, that’s how you build a great winning culture,” Bogosian said after the game.Head coach John Hynes, perhaps simply because Minnesota won the game, straddled the fence on Ro...

300 new Illinois laws take effect in 2024 - Here are five worth knowing

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

ILLINOIS - The state of Illinois will ring in the new year with more than 300 new laws, ranging in scope from public safety to healthcare and many other sectors. FOX 2 reviewed the list of new laws and picked out five worth knowing for Illinoisans...Gun registrationIllinois gun owners who have certain assault weapons or attachments have until January 1 to register them with the state. It's a requirement as part of an assault weapons ban law that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed last winter, prohibiting the sale of many guns after Jan. 10. State leaders intend to use the registration database to keep track of the remaining legal assault weapons in the state. Anyone who doesn't follow that order could be charged with a misdemeanor as soon as New Year's Day. Mandatory paid leaveStarting next year, employers in Illinois have a legal obligation to provide paid leave to their employees. Gov. Pritzker signed an act last winter that requires 40 hours of paid leave a year for every worker in Illino...

Celebrity Banquet Center's Christmas toy drive brings joy to families in need 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Back in April, Jessica Palmer's family lost everything in a house fire. It all happened on her brother Allen Carter’s 19th birthday. "My bed, my room, everything went boom,” Carter said.  “All of everybody's beds and everybody's rooms were destroyed in the fire,” Palmer said. Allen has Down syndrome and eagerly looks forward to Christmas each year. “When he got to come here today and see how awesome this is and see Santa and experience this with our family and the amazing people that work here, it means a lot."  City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source Despite the challenges they faced this year, Jessica and her family feel grateful for the Moore’s who hosted this special Christmas brunch. "I'm the owner of Celebrity Dining and Celebrity Banquet Center,” Steve Moore said.  This is the fifth year that the Celebrity Banquet Center has hosted this toy drive and giveaway. Moore said his ultimate goal is t...

Air Force grounds out 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns and Zac Larrier passed for one TD and ran for another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.Air Force (9-4) posted its fifth consecutive bowl win after losing its last four games of the season.James Madison (11-2) lost in regulation for the first time this season while playing in the program’s first bowl game. The Dukes, who are completing their transition to the FBS level from FCS after being a two-time national champion in the lower division, earned the bowl berth after there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all the spots.Air Force’s triple-option running attack got the better of the top run defense in the FBS. The Falcons entered second in team rushing at 275.8 yards per game, and ground out 351 yards in the victory. JMU came in allowing 61.5 rushing yards, with a high of 146 yards....

Seaworld invites guests to meet endangered baby penguin

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

For the first time ever, Seaworld San Diego is inviting visitors to go behind the scenes on ice to meet their penguins.The new experience comes as the park celebrates its newest addition: an endangered baby Emperor penguin named Pearl. 2 Southern California cities among ‘Grinchiest’ in U.S. "You'll get to meet our VIP, little Pearl," Melissa Ramsey, Supervisor of Birds at Seaworld said about the new on ice experience. Pearl is three months old, and officials say she's thriving, weighing in around 25 pounds. "The adults are just smitten with her. Some of them will even regurgitate food over the walls, so it gives us hope for the future that this population is getting excited to breed and we'll have more Pearl's in the future!" Ramsey said. Alabama woman with rare double uterus gives birth to two children Pearl is currently in a warming enclosure while her adult feathers grow in. She's only one of three baby Emperor penguins being raised by zoologists around the world, and the onl...

Duke comes up with late pick to outlast Troy in Birmingham Bowl

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Freshman Grayson Loftis threw for 183 yards and Duke’s defense came up with a final stop to beat Troy 17-10 in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday.Jeremiah Lewis intercepted Troy’s Gunnar Watson at the 50-yard line with 1:22 remaining to secure the victory for the Blue Devils (8-5).Troy (11-3), the Sun Belt Conference champion, fell short of finishing the season on an 11-game winning streak for the second straight year. The Trojans couldn’t find an offensive rhythm against a Blue Devils lineup altered by transfer portal departures.Jaylen Coleman ran for Duke’s only touchdown. Todd Pelino kicked three field goals for the Blue Devils.Both teams were playing with interim coaches after Duke’s Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M and Troy’s Jon Sumrall took the job at Tulane.CAMELLIA BOWLNORTHERN ILLINOIS 21, ARKANSAS STATE 19MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Rocky Lombardi passed and ran for touchdowns and Northern Illinois held on to beat Arkansa...

11th-hour holiday shoppers brave the mall on ‘Super Saturday’ to secure last-minute gifts

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

The last Saturday before Christmas — also known as Super Saturday — was expected to be busy, according to research firm Sensormatic Solutions. Such was the case at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Maryland, where there was no shortage of last-minute shoppers seeking gifts for friends and family.Rick Mullett told WTOP he was shopping for his entire family today. He said his schedule caused him to wait until the last minute.“Especially after work because sometimes you don’t get out till about 8 o’clock,” Mullett said.He urged everyone trying to squeeze in some last minute shopping to “be calm.”Teddy Ament said he was shopping for his friend and looking at some last minute deals for himself. He added that last minute additions to Christmas wish lists could be why people wait so late to shop.“Maybe their kid asked for something last minute that they really want, and they’re like, oh, this is my last chance to get it,” Ament sai...

Eagles try to snap three-game losing streak on Monday vs Giants

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

NEW YORK GIANTS (5-9) at PHILADELPHIA (10-4)Monday, 4:30 p.m. EST, FOXOPENING LINE: Eagles by 11 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: New York 5-8-1; Philadelphia 6-5-3.SERIES RECORD: Eagles lead 89-85-2.LAST MEETING: On Jan. 21, 2023, the Eagles routed the Giants 38-7 in an NFC divisional round playoff game.LAST WEEK: Giants lost at New Orleans, 24-6; Eagles were defeated at Seattle, 20-17.EAGLES OFFENSE: OVERALL (9), RUSH (8), PASS (16), SCORING (7).EAGLES DEFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (7), PASS (28), SCORING (26).GIANTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (15), PASS (32), SCORING (31).GIANTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (24), RUSH (29), PASS (19), SCORING (25).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Giants plus-6; Eagles minus-6. EAGLES PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Jalen Hurts threw two late interceptions at Seattle, finishing 17 of 31 for 143 yards and no touchdowns through the air. Hurts tossed a pick on a deep ball intended for Quez Watkins with 8:08 remaining and the game-clinching INT by Julian Love on...

Duke holds off Troy 17-10 in Birmingham Bowl, a matchup of schools led by interim coaches

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:40:34 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A day before the Birmingham Bowl, Duke interim coach Trooper Taylor loaded his team on buses for a crack-of-dawn trip to Selma, Alabama. While most coaches ensure their team gets rest the day before a game, Taylor wanted his to retrace historic footsteps.A day later, Duke capped its visit with a 17-10 Birmingham Bowl victory against Sun Belt Conference champion Troy. The Blue Devils (8-5) built a 17-3 lead but needed one final stop late in the game to preserve victory.“I wasn’t going to miss something they might never have the opportunity to do again,” explained Taylor of the site of “Bloody Sunday,” a key date in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.Freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis threw for 183 yards and cornerback Chandler Rivers earned the Fred Sington MVP trophy as Duke capped a roller coaster season that included the loss of starting quarterback Riley Leonard to injury (later transferring to Notre Dame), a lineup decimated by transfer portal depart...