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White House unveils holiday decorations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – First lady Dr. Jill Biden, is announcing this year’s holiday theme at the White House. She said the theme, “Magic, Wonder and Joy,” is designed for visitors to see the holidays through the eyes of a child.The White House says the décor includes 98 Christmas trees, more than 142,000 lights and nearly 34,000 ornaments. There are also numerous tributes to the 200th anniversary of the publication of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”The first Christmas tree displayed inside the White House is decorated with wooden Gold Star ornaments that are engraved with the names of fallen service members.The 18.5-foot-tall official White House Christmas tree, located in the Blue Room, celebrates cheerful scenes, landscapes and neighborhoods from across the country.The East Room features Advent calendars counting down the days to Christmas with a surprise behind each number.The official White House Menorah is on display in the Cross Hall, which runs between the State Dining Roo...

Rosalynn Carter remembered as family begins three days of memorials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) — Rosalynn Carter embarked on her final journey Monday to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center as her family began three days of memorials for the former first lady and global humanitarian who died Nov. 19 at the age of 96.Family members watched as Rosalynn Carter’s casket was transferred to a hearse Monday morning outside Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in the Carters’ native Sumter County in south Georgia. Onlookers huddled beside the road on a breezy, chilly morning.Former and current U.S. Secret Service agents carry casket of former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Ga., Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. The former first lady died on Nov. 19. She was 96. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)From there, the motorcade left for a stop at Rosalynn Carter's alma mater, the nearby Georgia Southwestern State University, before beginning its trip of more than 140 miles (225 kilometers) to Atlanta, where Rosalynn Carter will lie in repose at T...

Israel and Hamas agree to extend truce for two more days, and free more hostages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, the Qatari government said, bringing the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinians captured by Israel.The announcement, made by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansary in a post on X, came on the final day of the original four-day truce between the warring sides. A fourth swap of hostages for prisoners under that deal was expected later Monday. Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been the key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. After the Qatari announcement, Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension “under the same terms.”But Israel says it remains committed to crushing Hamas' military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule o...

Dean's Reviews: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards reviews Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Paramount Theatre.For more info and tickets, go to: paramountaurora.comGet Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Passenger jumps out of emergency exit at New Orleans airport: sheriff's office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

KENNER, La. (WGNO) — Federal authorities are investigating after a passenger allegedly jumped from a plane's emergency exit at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Sunday. The plane, a Southwest Airlines aircraft, was on the skyway and not moving at the time, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.A passenger, who has not yet been identified, jumped from the plane's emergency exit and onto a wing. The passenger was caught on the tarmac and taken to a hospital to be evaluated. Horse drags driver down New York City street, hits 4 cars: police No charges have been filed at this time, according to the sheriff's office, and the case has been handed over to federal authorities.It's unclear why the passenger jumped from the plane. Additional details weren't immediately available."We commend our flight and ground crews for their swift action and apologize to our customers for their inconvenience," Southwest Airlines said in a statement to Nexstar's WGNO.

Chad the Bird, an Avian Columnist, is some bird you should know...

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

Follow on Tiktok @chadthebirdtok, Instagram @chadburd, or you can catch him at the Paper Machete at 3 PM every Saturday at the Green Millwww.chadthebird.com

Austin airport back to normal operations after suspicious item investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

Editor's note: The above video is from KXAN News Today's top headlines. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Bergstrom International Aiport operations are back to normal Monday morning after police investigated a suspicious item, airport officials said.The departures/upper level roadway at the airport closed for approximately an hour for the investigation. All departing passengers were diverted to the lower level/arrival area. More air traffic controllers coming to Austin airport, according to U.S. congressman "The airport is secured and airport facilities are open," AUS officials said on social media.Officials said to expect delays at ticketing counters as airlines work to get back to normal operations. All Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints are open, as well. Thousands stream in and out of Austin airport for holiday weekend AUS projected 29,000 passengers to fly out of the airport Monday.

Body of missing 7-year-old Bastrop County boy found in pond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

Editor's note: The above video is from KXAN News Today's top morning headlines. ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) -- The body of a 7-year-old boy who went missing in Bastrop County on Sunday was found in a pond near his house. According to the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, Jesus Castellanos-Carreon's parents noticed he was missing around 2:43 p.m. Sunday and immediately began searching for him. After finding signs that Jesus may have gone into a large pond near their residence, the parents called 911. BCSO and first responders from several other agencies went to the area and began an air, water and ground search. The water rescue team from the Austin Police Department located Jesus' body in the pond at 7:50 p.m.  The water temperature was 56 degrees, and crews found his body in five feet of water. Responding agencies included Elgin police, the Elgin Fire Department, North Bastrop Fire Department, Bastrop Fire Department, Heart of the Pines Fire Department, Department of Public Safety...

Beatles tribute band to perform at SPAC in July

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles is coming to Saratoga Springs. The band is set to perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on July 17 at 7:30 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! This stop is part of RAIN's "Magical Mystery Tour," which features songs from The Beatles' albums "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Magical Mystery Tour." They'll also be performing songs from the early years to "Abbey Road."Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, December 1 at 10 a.m. You can buy tickets on the Live Nation website.

Suspect in shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent near the University of Vermont pleads not guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

A Vermont man pleaded not guilty to attempted murder Monday in connection with the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent who were spending their Thanksgiving break in Burlington. Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested Sunday, a day after the shooting outside his apartment building near the University of Vermont campus. He appeared in court Monday by video from jail, speaking only to confirm his identity. His attorney entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf, and a judge ordered him held without bail pending a hearing that likely will be held in the next few days.According to a police affidavit, federal agents found a shotgun in Eaton's apartment. He refused to identify himself but told the officers he had been waiting for them.Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday the Justice Department is investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting Vermont authorities in the investigatio...