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Pope Francis skips Good Friday at Colosseum in chilly Rome

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis, hospitalized recently with bronchitis, skipped the traditional Good Friday nighttime procession at the Colosseum because of chilly weather in Rome, staying instead at his home at the Vatican while thousands of faithful turned out for the torchlit event.This Good Friday was the first time a pontiff was a no-show at the Colosseum Way of the Cross procession since 2005. Then, a weakened and ailing St. John Paul II, eight days before his death, silently watched the Way of the Cross ritual on TV at his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.The Vatican had said Francis would preside at the ancient Roman arena at the procession that recalls Jesus’ suffering before his crucifixion and death on a cross. But just a few hours before the procession’s start, the Vatican, citing the “intense cold” that has made evenings unseasonably chilly in Rome these days, revealed that Francis would stay at his residence in a hotel in Vatican City and follow the event from there.Th...

Skilling: Warm temps arrive ahead of Easter weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

Beautiful Easter/Passover weekend with (except for markedly cooler lakeshore and beach air temps) the warmest weekend of 2023 ahead.It's cooler near the lake season and easterly lake breezes off the 42-deg lake waters mean immediate shoreline locations are likely to warm no higher than the mid to upper 40s Saturday while inland high temps surge into the low to mid 60s.Sunday is to see high surge several degrees higher inland with lakeshore and beach temps rising to the mid to upper 50s as a south/southeast wind flow locks in. SSE winds travel over less water than easterly winds which means they have less time to be cooled by their interaction with the chilly lake water.But the real warmth takes hold next week with a 70-deg high predicted Monday—then summer level upper 70s to low 80s due Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with no rain or storminess.Back to back 80-deg or warmer daytime highs appear a distinct possibility Wednesday and Thursday which, if true, would mark the first consec...

Marcus Stroman makes his 200th start a great one

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

CHICAGO — If you're going to have a milestone start, you might as well make it one to remember. That's what Marcus Stroman did on a sunny day at Wrigley Field on Friday as he continues a strong first two weeks of the season. Making his 200th start of his career, the Cubs' pitcher pitched six shutout innings against the Rangers in a 2-0 win that starts a six-game homestand at the Friendly Confines. Cody Bellinger's single in the fourth and Ian Happ's double in the sixth were the only runs the home team would need thanks to the starter. Stroman allowed just two hits while striking out six batters compared to three walks in 89 pitches. Only one runner reached third base all day, and that was in his last inning, as the starter mostly stayed out of trouble all day.Mark Leiter Jr. pitched a clean seventh inning before Michael Fulmer struck out four in t he final two frames to preserve the shutout as the Cubs evened their record at 3-3.This performance is on-par with his Opening Day start ...

FBI: Financial sextortion cases rising in Chicago area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

CHICAGO — A new report from the FBI indicates an alarming increase in financial sextortion cases nationwide, especially in the Chicago area. Nationwide reports of sextortion cases jumped 463% from 2021 to 2022, with a 539% rise in local cases. FBI seeing ‘explosion’ in reports of young boys being extorted online There was a 322% rise nationally in financial sextortion cases with a 383% increase in Chicago. Conventional sextortion typically targets young women and girls for the purpose of obtaining sexual content.Targets of financial sextortion tend to be young men and boys with the ultimate goal of getting money. Grieving mom warns about ‘sextortion’ after son’s death The FBI has a number of resources online to help people prevent becoming a victim, including a program for children in grades 3 through 8 to teach them about online safety through a video game.The program is offered in English and Spanish.The FBI encourages people to be selective about what they share online, be wa...

49 percent agree with criminal case being brought against Trump: poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

Just under half of Americans say they think it was right for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) to pursue criminal charges against Trump for his role in a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to a new Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Friday.However, that 49 percent breaks down drastically along party lines, with 84 percent of Democrat respondents agreeing with the decision to bring charges compared to the just 16 percent of Republican respondents who said the same, the poll found.This partisan split reflects the difference of opinion in Washington, where Republican lawmakers have repeatedly denounced the case as “politically motivated” and an “unprecedented abuse of power.”Republicans in the Reuters poll largely agreed with such sentiments, with 76 percent saying some members of law enforcement are attempting to delegitimize Trump through politically motivated investigations.The vast majority of American respondents — 73 percent — say...

Daniel Perry found guilty of murder in protester's death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 6, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial for Daniel Perry ended Friday, and after jury deliberation, he was found guilty of murder for the death of a man during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest.Perry faced one count of murder and another count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the deadly shooting of Garrett Foster in the streets of downtown Austin on July 25, 2020. While he was found guilty of murder, the jury found that he was not guilty of the aggravated assault charge. Austin police report from July 2020 incidentAccording to APD’s description of the incident, a car turned on Congress Avenue near 4th Street at 9:51 p.m. into where a group of protesters was marching against police violence. Protesters surrounded the car. Foster was armed with an assault-style weapon and was one of the protesters who surrounded the car.Former Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said that is when the driver, later id...

Where to hunt for Easter eggs this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Spring has sprung! And though Friday was dreary, KXAN meteorologists are forecasting a mild, partly cloudy Easter – perfect for hunting down colorful treat-filled eggs left, in theory, by a large, cartoonish rabbit. If you’ve got kiddos who are keen to hunt down some eggs – or you’re an adult who still likes to partake in the celebration (I’m not here to judge!) – here is a list of some egg-celent Easter egg hunt opportunities around the area:Houston-Tillotson University Where? Houston-Tillotson University at 900 Chicon Street, Austin, TX 78702.When? From 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. Saturday. How much? Free!This Easter celebration invites children of all ages for the 17th annual easter egg hunt at the University. Keeping with the University theme, children have the opportunity to win a $500 scholarship prize egg, prize eggs for school supplies and eggs with candy and coins. Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt at the Fairmont AustinWhere? Fairmont Austin at 1...

These features can help your home sell faster — and for more — according to Zillow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Homes in the Austin area are taking a lot longer to sell these days. Back in May 2022, the average home for sale in the metro area spent just 15 days on the market.In February 2023, that figure had jumped to 84 days, according to the latest housing report from the Austin Board of Realtors. That's the longest average in 11 years.But new insight from Zillow might be able to help some homeowners find a buyer faster. The property website looked at features in homes nationwide to determine what additions can cut time spent on the market and rake in more money.Zillow says it looked at 271 features and design terms in listing descriptions from nearly 2 million sales last year.Features that can make your home sell fasterHomes that sell faster than expected often boast practical features which attract competing buyers, Zillow says. Features like this include doorbell cameras and fenced backyards.Here are the top 10 features that can help you find a buyer quicker:FeatureDays ...

Nelly's new 'MoShine' moonshine mixes business and pleasure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Nelly is blending "southern swagger and heartland hustle" with a new alcoholic drink called MoShine. The 60-proof corn-based moonshine comes in peach and passion fruit flavors and is meant to be consumed by the shot, or mixed into drinks."I'm taking a country tradition and mixing it up for everyone to enjoy," states Nelly in a press release. Top Story: Fenton clerk recounts terrifying gunpoint robbery and assault The spirit is made in collaboration with Piedmont Distillers. They say it mixes well with lemon-lime soda, sweet tea, lemonade, and energy drinks.MoShine premiered at an American wine and spirits industry convention with celebrity guests. Nelly treated attendees to a performance of some of his biggest chart-topping hits. The drink is now being rolled out across the country. It can also be ordered online at DrinkMoShine.com.

Polis’ sweeping zoning reform set for tweaks as battle lines take shape

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:26 GMT

Gov. Jared Polis’ marquee zoning reform bill received its first public hearing before legislators Thursday, a 12-hour marathon meeting that featured a revolving door of experts, local government officials, housing advocates and residents jostling to change one of the most far-reaching measures being considered in the Capitol this year.Change is certain: The bill’s sponsor, Commerce City Democrat Sen. Dominick Moreno, circulated a 21-bulletpoint list of amendments before the hearing began that would tweak affordability, the bill’s impact on rural-resort towns and density requirements.Those changes, which a Senate committee will likely consider next week, may satisfy concerns of housing advocates that the bill doesn’t do enough to ensure new development is affordable. But they’re unlikely to appease local government officials, who have become the bill’s most fervent critics. SB23-213 proposes to reshape the state’s locally set zoning rules in ...