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Chicagoans hit the lakefront during the city's second warmest Christmas on record

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

CHICAGO — It was far from a white Christmas, but there was still plenty of holiday cheer along Chicago's lakefront.On Monday, families gathered as they looked to take advantage of one of the city's warmest Christmases on record. According to Tom Skilling, Monday's warmer-than-usual temperatures were one for the record books. Skilling said it was the second warmest Christmas in Chicago. The warmest on record was back in 1982 when temperatures reached 65 degrees.  Police offer warning to Bridgeport residents after string of garage burglaries “I’m surprised because the weather today is very nice," Lazaro Dixon, who is visiting from Orlando, said. Families looking to spend time together for the holiday traded snow for sand and made their way to Chicago's North Avenue Beach. Others who were looking to take advantage of the mild temperatures hit the lakefront for a run or to get a view of the water. Pope Francis makes a Christmas appeal for peace in the world “It’s nice...

‘Vato Claus’ gives gifts to kids in need on Christmas Day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

BASTROP (KXAN) — The Bastrop pastor who built mini-shelters on his property for families experiencing homelessness, has once again provided the gift of giving on Christmas.For the 11th consecutive year, Roland Nava handed out hundreds of gifts and grocery boxes to families in need for his annual ‘Vato Claus’ distribution event. ‘Vato Claus’ prepares to deliver gifts to Bastrop County families as need rises The founder of In The Streets-Hands Up High Ministry was joined by 18 volunteers, who spent their Christmas Day driving and delivering packages throughout Bastrop County."We can spend Christmas tomorrow with our family,” Nava said. “Today we choose to be together, going out to share the love of Christmas and they love doing it."Nancy Horn attends the HUH Ministry and regularly volunteers her time for this event."My children are grown,” she said. “I've already spent time with them so that I could do this today.”Nava was inspired by a friend of his, Richard Reyes, who’s been patro...

Mother, daughter take tie-dye loungewear to the next level

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When times got tough during the pandemic one local mom turned a love for getting creative into a business, and so far, it had continued to expand.Melissa Thaxton said her daughter Mila was her inspiration and drive to be successful in the business."Some of the pink in here,” said Melissa, as she helped Mila tie-dye some hoodies. “Do blue over here.”On the day KXAN interviewed her, she was tie dying a number of pullovers with Mila right by her side."Having her do stuff with me and the older that she gets and the more that our brand evolves it has been so much fun,” Melissa said.Melissa started Mila and Me a few years ago as a creative outlet, but creating fun and trendy loungewear became much more than that when more and more people started asking her to collaborate."I am constantly out with people going to events, working events, building new relationships, new partnerships in the city, especially being from here,” said Melissa.This Austin entrepreneur, full time mom...

Jamal Murray scores 28, Nikola Jokic sinks 18 free throws to lead Nuggets to Christmas Day win over Warriors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

The Nuggets used a career game at the foul line by Nikola Jokic, key buckets from Jamal Murray down the stretch and tenacious defense by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to wrap up a 120-114 Christmas Day victory over Golden State.But from the point of view of Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the Nuggets’ victory was gift-wrapped by an inordinate number of cheap fouls.“I have no problems with officials themselves. All across the league, we have really good officials,” Kerr said after the Nuggets made 26 of 32 free throws, including an 18-of-18 by Jokic in a game where he shot an ugly 4 of 12 from the floor. The 18 made free throws were a career-high.“I have a problem with the way we are legislating defense out of the game,” Kerr continued. “That’s what we’re doing in the NBA. The way we’re teaching officials, we’re just enabling players to BS their way to the foul line. If I were a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the second ha...

Huge waves expected to hit Southern California beaches this week

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

The biggest weather story of the week for Southern California will be monster waves produced by a large storm system currently hitting the Pacific Northwest, according to the National Weather Service.The Southland saw ideal weather on Christmas Day with clear skies and daytime high temperatures generally in the mid and upper 60s. The Weather Service says temperatures should dip slightly on Tuesday as high clouds move into the region from a storm that is bringing heavy rainfall to Washington and Oregon and parts of Northern California.  Southern California Weather Home High pressure should keep the storm from producing any substantial rainfall in SoCal, the NWS said. Light rain is possible through Thursday in Ventura County and farther up the Central Coast, but impacts are expected to be minimal. The impact on surf conditions, however, will be far more significant.A satellite-radar composite view of a large storm system hitting the Pacific Northwest on Dec. 25, 2023.. The...

Letters: Christmas trash | Electoral college | Colorado ban | Zionism meaning | Good writing | Hostage killings | Florida vs. California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Shop local to cutChristmas trashRe: “Christmas gifts turbocharge our trash problem. How I cope” (Page A6, Dec. 21).I too am aghast at the amount of needless packaging that comes along with the merchandise we buy. Over an item bought from Amazon, there can be four layers: the cardboard box, the air pillows, the clear packaging, thick paper, and perhaps even a plastic bag. Why must we fill up our landfills with all these layers?Humans are the absolute worst animal species in the creation of waste. Here’s one vote for a tax incentive for buying gifts locally, in stores, where packaging is not needed. Remove the sales tax requirement for small, independent local stores, and we will both boost our local economy and keep our landfills emptier.Jeremiah TrujilloEl SobranteWhy do we hang onto Electoral College?Americans should be ashamed of themselves. Not for voting for Donald Trump. That was a...

Steve Kerr sounds off on officiating after Warriors’ Christmas loss to Denver Nuggets

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

DENVER — There is no pride in a moral victory or much solace to take when it seems referees take a game into their own hands.But the Warriors were OK with the way they played in a 120-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Christmas afternoon. Mostly, the Warriors’ postgame locker room was abuzz with criticism over the way this game was officiated.The Nuggets took 32 free throws to the Warriors’ 23, but the true turning point was Nikola Jokic’s 14 second-half free throws that swung a spirited game into a foul frenzy. The Nuggets quickly landed in the bonus in the final quarter, and Jokic didn’t have to feel much contact to get a trip to the line.Coach Steve Kerr went beyond blaming Monday’s grew of Courtney Kirkland, Tre Maddox and Michael Smith, instead pointing a finger at the rigidity of the rules they’re trained to follow.  Those tuning in to a close game between the last two NBA champions on Christmas day got the gift of whistles upon whistl...

3-alarm Los Altos fire destroys dance studio

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

(KRON) -- A three-alarm fire badly damaged a commercial building in Los Altos early Christmas morning, according to police and fire officials. The fire was reported at 4:48 a.m. Monday at a two-story building covering more than 20,000 square feet on the 4600 block of El Camino Real, the Santa Clara County Fire Department said. Armed man arrested on Christmas Eve for bothering BART passengers Shortly after 4 p.m., the Santa Clara County Fire Department said the fire was under control. Units will remain on the scene monitoring for hot spots throughout the night, officials said.Eastbound El Camino Real between San Antonio Road and Sherwood Avenue will remain closed until the building can be demolished, fire officials said.No injuries were reported in the fire, police said.The business that was damaged was a dance studio. The roof of the building collapsed and much of the building was completely destroyed, according to a GoFundMe set up for the business.Bay City News contributed to th...

Bay Area rain to return Wednesday after Christmas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

(KRON) – Rain is expected to return to the Bay Area the week of Christmas, according to the National Weather Service. The first round of rain is predicted for Wednesday through Thursday. The rain is predicted to be less than one inch in the Bay. However, the North Bay is forecasted to have 0.5-2 inches of rain. Coastal flood, hazardous beach advisories for Christmas The second round of rain is forecasted from late Thursday through Saturday. According to NWS, this system could range from one to three inches in the coastal ranges and 0.2-1 inches in the interior. For your safety, allow extra time for travel and leave space in between cars. Cleaning your gutters and storm drainers can also be helpful. In addition to rain, the Bay Area may get strong southerly winds, the NWS said.This combination could lead to some trees coming down. The NWS recommends taking advantage of the settled weather conditions to make preparations and "take down the blow-up Santa."

Jokic a perfect 18-of-18 from free-throw line, draws ire of Kerr, as Nuggets beat Warriors 120-114

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:25 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic’s frequent parade to the free-throw line was a sore subject for Steve Kerr. The Golden State coach doesn’t feel like defense gets rewarded consistently enough in today’s NBA.Jokic overcame an off day from the field by going 18 of 18 from the free-throw line and the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to five games by holding off the Warriors 120-114 on Monday.Jokic finished with 26 points despite a 4-of-12 showing from the floor. He set a career-high with his 18 made free throws. In all, the Nuggets were 26 of 32 from the free-throw line.“I have no problem with the officials themselves,” Kerr said after the game. “I have a problem with the way we are legislating defense out of the game. That’s what we’re doing. The way we’re teaching officials, we’re just enabling to players to (fool) their way to the foul line. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting.“It was just baiting re...