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Dave Matthews rails against gun violence: 'No one is coming for your guns'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

(The Hill) — Musician Dave Matthews says lawmakers have been able to convince the nation that the public is “powerless” against gun violence and that the “vulnerability of innocent people in this country is a sacrifice we have to make if we want to be truly American.”“It’s so mind bogglingly cruel. It’s insanity,” the Dave Matthews Band frontman said in an interview with USA Today, published Friday.“I have no idea how people can stand up and say it’s ‘not guns’ and ‘it’s not the [National Rifle Association,]’ it’s just mental health. And then do nothing to address the fact that from the ‘80s we’ve closed every mental health institution we can in this country,” added the 56-year-old songwriter, promoting his band’s latest album, “Walk Around the Moon." ‘Good guys with guns’ – do they help stop shooters? Here’s what data says Noting that he has “many” friends who are gun owners, Matthews said, “But all of them would also agree that they prefer a person can’t go into a scho...

NASA announces Blue Origin as new partner to work on moon lander for Artemis V mission

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed on Friday that Blue Origin, the aerospace company owned by Jeff Bezos, has been selected as the second company to develop a moon lander for the highly anticipated Artemis V mission to the Moon in 2029."The great adventure of humankind pressing out into the cosmos is here," Nelson said. "Our partnership will only add to this golden age of human space flight."NASA has awarded Blue Origin a $3.4 billion contract as part of a $7 billion project to construct the moon lander for the fifth Artemis mission."Blue Origin is contributing well north of $3.4 billion as part of this effort," Blue Origin Vice President John Couluris said.This collaboration follows a similar partnership between NASA and SpaceX, which was awarded a contract in 2021 to provide the vehicle for the first and second scheduled Moon landings. NASA views the involvement of multiple partners as a means to enhance competition and ensure regular lunar landings."Th...

The most popular dog names of 2023 in Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

You've done everything on your checklist. Got pet insurance and found a great, affordable veterinarian. Didn't forget to puppy-proof the house and scanned high and low for the best quality dog food. Just one thing's missing: What will you name your new furry family member?In the past century, man's best friend has had various popular names. Spike, Fido, and Buddy are classic names. But what if you're looking for something more unique? Or, you want to give them a classic name, like Charlie? Whatever you choose to call your puppy pal, you want to make sure it's just right.What's in a name, you might ask? Sometimes, what you see is what you get. Other times, it's quite the complete opposite. According to the PetHelpful, the ideal dog name should be kept to one to two syllables. Why? You'll get your puppy's attention faster. Another helpful tip: give your furry friend a name you won't get tired of repeating.Wag! ranked the 50 most popular dog names in Illinois based on its use...

Starbucks rolling out new ice cubes, dividing customers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

(WJW) — Starbucks is changing its ice cubes, and not everyone is happy about it. According to an email from a Starbucks spokesperson, stores will be getting the new machines that make nugget ice after customer testing as part of a multi-year rollout. Customers who have tried the different ice during testing had a "resoundingly positive response," according to the statement. Target recalls nearly 5 million Threshold candles due to burn hazard But a post on Reddit sparked some intense debate. Some said the new smaller and more dense ice cubes will melt faster than the regular, ruining the taste of the drinks.One poster wrote: "Normally this ice IS IT!!!! But I worry that they will melt too fast in iced espresso drinks."Another said: "I used this ice when our machine broke, you are right. The ice is not dense enough to not simply melt even in iced tea drinks."Others don't mind the change. One poster wrote: "Higher surface area means it cools your drink to the ice's temperature faster...

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in the Hill Country, where flooding is also possible tonight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding are most likely in the Hill Country Friday night into early Saturday morning, but rain and thunderstorms will also be possible in the Austin area.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the entire Hill Country, but not currently the Austin Metro area, until 10 p.m. Friday night. Large hail and strong, damaging wind gusts are the main threats.Storms are developing now in the Hill Country and may produce hail and damaging wind gusts in a few communities this evening and tonight.Heavy rain is also likely in the Hill Country as storms continue overnight, with a 2 out of 4 risk of flash flooding near the Highland Lakes -- welcome news for the low lake levels, but potentially dangerous for low water crossings. Flash flood risk: 2 out of 4A few isolated storms begin to develop in the Hill Country late afternoon / early eveningStorms grow in coverage and intensity Friday evening and night INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for cli...

Texas Attorney General to investigate 2nd children's hospital over reports of gender care provided to minors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

HOUSTON (KXAN) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched his second investigation into a children's hospital in the state within a month. Paxton announced Friday morning an investigation into Texas Children's Hospital, which is based in Houston, to "determine if the entity is actively engaging in illegal behavior and performing 'gender transitioning' procedures on children," the announcement said. He did not specify what laws it may have broken, but indicated "I've been clear that any 'gender transitioning' procedures that hurt our children constitute child abuse under Texas law."“Recent reports indicate that Texas Children’s Hospital may be unlawfully performing such procedures, and my office is working to uncover the truth. I am committed to investigating any entity in our state to ensure that our children are protected," Paxton said in the announcement. Paxton did not specify which report he was referencing, but there are articles circulating online about Texas Children's...

Bill to close 'dead suspect loophole' one step closer to final vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Uvalde approaches, a bill that would end a controversial legal loophole used to block victims and families from seeing important records is the closest its ever been to closing.The “dead suspect loophole” refers to an exemption in Texas’ public records law that gives police discretion to withhold information in criminal cases that haven’t gone through the court process — even when a suspect dies in police custody.“There’s no greater need for the people to know the truth then when an interaction with their government leaves one of them dead,” said State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, at a hearing earlier this month. He filed House Bill 30 and has been pushing for years to close the loophole, which is blocking Uvalde families from getting answers.“Law enforcement refused to release those [Uvalde] records,” Moody previously said. “And, we all knew very well that they never had to release them, ever, because of th...

Austin ISD plans to pull millions from reserve funds to give educators 7 percent raise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin ISD Board of Trustees on Thursday approved using up to $53 million dollars of the district's reserve funds to give teachers and school employees a raise next school year.It comes as the legislature has yet to get a bill addressing teacher pay to the governor’s desk after months of promising solving the state’s teacher shortage was a top priority.In a statement to KXAN, the district’s Chief Finance OIfficer Ed Ramos said it could not wait on legislative decisions because educators were making employment decisions now. Why this Texas teacher stayed amid an education vacancy crisis “These raises projects we will have to use our savings based on current state funding. It is a much-needed investment in our employees who struggle with inflation and cost of living increases,” Ramos said. “We hope the state also chooses to invest in our students and teachers.”Round Rock ISD Trustees also approved a 3 percent raise for its teachers and librarians this week.The mo...

Woman says lemur attacked her at Austin Aquarium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Charmaine Dickerson's trip to visit her boyfriend ended with her in pain - and is considering a lawsuit. "I remember looking down and my face was like dripping blood," she said. The culprit was a lemur at the Austin Aquarium, according to Dickerson. The location is one of two in the United States that allows guests to interact with lemurs, according to the aquarium's website. Dickerson said she signed up for an "animal encounter," where she was told she could pet a lemur under supervision of a handler. "I take probably two steps in, the lemur lurches at me," she said. "It lands on my shoulder. I turned my face. There's a bite on this side, and then a scratch. I just felt bleeding."Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. The aquarium told us in a statement that it's conducting an internal investigation to gather and find...

‘Fast X’ review: An unleashed Jason Momoa saves the latest in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:48:28 GMT

Michael Phillips | Chicago TribuneUnlike “Fast X,” let’s keep this review quick and fuel-efficient.“I’ll kill Dominic Toretto. I’ll kill ‘em all.” So says the disturbed, ballet-loving Dante (the movie comes pretty close to implying the two adjectives are interchangeable), the son of the Rio drug lord killed off in “Fast Five.” An extraordinarily campy Jason Momoa dines out upon this vengeance-driven role, sporting dandy pigtails one minute and “Swan Lake”-ing around the next, when he’s not blowing up half of Rome or kidnapping Dom’s son.Momoa is the chief, merrily depraved reason to sit through “Fast X,” even as he becomes its emblem of code-switching, tone-juggling mania. The movie’s OK. Produced on a reported $340 million budget, it’s 340 million dollars’ worth of OK.On Instagram, while filming, star Vin Diesel called “Fast X” the “beginning of an epic ending.” Now, unless you’re “The Empire Strikes Back” or thereabouts, that sort of project can feel like time spent watching track...