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A Tony Awards like no other, really. Strike leaves Broadway stars to rely on their ‘live’ muscles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — There are a lot of questions surrounding this year’s Tony Awards — and not just about who might win.The Hollywood writers’ strike has left much of Sunday’s telecast with unknowns. There will be performances from the nominated musicals, pre-recorded montages of the plays and acceptance speeches. Everything else seems up in the air.Striking members of the Writers Guild of America have agreed not to picket but won’t allow its writers to work on the Tonys, leaving Broadway’s biggest night without an established script. Any banter will have to be impromptu.But if any group of people are best equipped to handle the stress from a live event, it’s the Broadway community. Going on without a net just doesn’t scare them. “I think the theatrical community is the one artistic community that is absolutely capable of pulling off a show like this and not having it feel like, ‘Oh, I’m so scared and nervous!’” says Wayne Brady, who has b...

12 weeks of paid leave for Chicago Public Schools employees starting with the new school year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced a plan to update Chicago Public Schools (CPS) parental leave policy.Under Johnson's proposal, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year all CPS employees will receive 12 weeks of paid parental leave. This would apply to both birthing parents and non-birthing parents, and include parents who expand their family through other means such as adoption. ‘We will destroy you’: Northwest Indiana man accused of showing up to Taylor Swift’s residence, stalking Johnson made the announcement alongside CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) president Stacy Davis Gates. Martinez noted the exact details of how the proposed policy would be implemented are still being worked out. The Chicago Board of Education would ultimately have to approve the policy.According to Johnson, the proposed policy would align CPS employee parental leave benefits with those of other city employees.Additional details will be added to this story as th...

CPD: Missing 15-year-old girl last seen leaving home in Humboldt Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police seek the public’s help locating a missing 15-year-old girl last seen in Humboldt Park early Wednesday morning.According to Chicago police, Heather Scott was last seen in the 1700 block of N. Francisco Ave., near West Town about 4:50 a.m. She stands 5-foot-2-inches, weighs 150 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. SEE ALSO: Missing 12-year-old girl last seen in Oakland, Chicago police sayAnyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.Tipsters may also call police at (312) 746-6554.

Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick will step down - and his replacement is in place

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The leader of Notre Dame athletics will be leaving his position in the near future, and his replacement has already been selected.Jack Swarbrick announced that he'll step down as the school's athletic director sometime in the first quarter of 2024. When he does, NBC Sports chairman Peter Bevacqua, an alumnus of the school, will take over that role and become the 13th person to hold the position in Notre Dame history. He will officially join the athletic department on July 1 as the special assistant to the president for athletics before succeding Swarbrick next year.“It speaks volumes about Notre Dame and (University President) Father (John) Jenkins' leadership that we can implement such a well-conceived succession plan and attract someone of Pete’s talent and experience,” said Swarbrick in a statement from the university. “I have worked closely with Pete throughout his time at NBC and based on that experience, I believe he has the perfect skill set to help Notre D...

Ashley Furniture recalls thousands of loveseats, sofas, and recliners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

(WHTM) - Ashley Furniture is recalling 253,000 Party Time Power Loveseats, Sofas, and Recliners, due to a fire hazard.According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recall is because "The power loveseats, sofas, and recliners’ cupholder with LED lighting can overheat, posing a fire hazard."The company is aware of six reports of the cupholder overheating, causing fire and smoke damage. No injuries have been reported.The furniture line was manufactured by Happy Smart Furnishings in China and Vietnam, and Colia Leather in Cambodia, acccording to Ashley Furniture.The units were sold in white and black colors and were sold between November 2018 and March 2023, for $900-1,800.According to CPSC, the following model numbers are located on a barcode at the bottom of each of the units are included in the recall:Product:Model Number(s):Loveseat3700318, 3700418, 3700318C and 3700418CSofa3700315, 3700415, 3700315C and 3700415CRecliner3700313, 3700413, 3700313C and 3700413CAshley...

RESULTS: This is the best KXAN viewer photo of May 2023, as voted by you

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.The winning photo will move on to represent May in the best viewer photos of the year competition once 2023 is said and done.#9 (tie). Oasis Panorama (2.7% of votes)Lake Travis, May 13. Courtesy Andy Freeman.Panoramic view from the Oasis on Lake Travis on May 13, 2023. (Courtesy Andy Freeman)#9 (tie). Pink Skies Above (2.7% of votes)Wells Branch, May 13. Courtesy Dave DeVore.Sunset over Wells Branch on May 13, 2023. (Courtesy Dave DeVore)#8. Patton on the Run (3.3% of votes)Liberty Hill, May 27. Courtesy Brien Aho.Patton the Golden Retriever runs from a storm in Liberty Hill on May 27, 2023. (Courtesy Brien Aho)#7. Bubbly Skies (4.5% of votes)Burnet, May 5. Courtesy Travis Pickford.Mammatus clouds over Burnet on May 5, 2023. (Courtesy Travis Pickford)#6. Brewing Stor...

Austin City Council extends Downtown Austin Community Court services to entire city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The Austin City Council approved starting the process to extend funding to its Downtown Austin Community Court, as well as expanding its service area. The court serves as a homeless diversion program and would now serve the entire city not just downtown.A memo from the City of Austin earlier this month shared recommendations the DACC submitted for consideration in the next fiscal year.The recommendations formed at a DACC meeting in March included adding two clinical case managers to its staff, securing a permanent facility for the DACC, and providing ongoing funding for its currently employed clinical case managers as well as maintaining the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program.The total cost of these budget recommendations as listed is $2,856,400.The DACC was established in 1999 and provides defendants who are homeless with sentences that aim to address quality of life issues that could lead to repeat offending.Among its recommendations, the DACC has also asked the city ...

LIVE: Governor Abbott to sign border security bills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Governor Greg Abbott will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to sign several "critical" border security bills that were passed during the 88th Legislative Session.Abbott will be accompanied by Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, bill authors and sponsors, as well as other legislators and law enforcement officers. While several bills the governor will sign fall under his broader priorities of ongoing border security efforts, the keynote legislation he called for during his State of the State address did not pass. The main border security proposal Abbott had mentioned was creating a “mandatory minimum jail sentence of at least 10 years for anyone caught smuggling illegal immigrants in Texas.” Differences between the House and Senate versions of the smuggling bill were not worked out in the regular session. Now, it's one of Abbott's central calls for the first special session. The press c...

Austin joins list of Central Texas cities changing fire codes in response to Ponderosa Pet Resort fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council passed an agenda item Thursday that would change the city's fire code for pet boarding facilities following a tragic Georgetown fire that took the lives of 75 pets staying at a pet resort. In September 2021, a fire broke out at the Ponderosa Pet Resort, killing 75 dogs belonging to 59 families. None of the facility’s staff members were on-site at the time, and there was no sprinkler system. Memorial built after at least 75 pets killed in Central Texas boarding facility fire The City of Georgetown told KXAN after it happened that its fire code, as well as federal and state standards, did not require sprinkler systems for a facility of this type and size. Months after the incident, Georgetown City Council unanimously approved amendments to the fire code, creating stricter fire precautions for pet care facilities.Round Rock City Council also recently approved changes to the fire safety requirements for dog daycare facilities. MOR...

Juneteenth business forum to be held Thursday in Minneapolis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

A Juneteenth business forum will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at 3001 Broadway St. N.E., Minneapolis.The event includes free cocktails and a traditional Juneteenth meal.The forum features two discussions: “A strategic roadmap to financial literacy” and “Forging a black agenda in the 21st Century.”The discussions will be moderated by Tracey Williams-Dillard from the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the oldest black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and Glenn Ford, founder of In City Farms.