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27th annual 'Christmas in the Wards' gives to families in need

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

CHICAGO — 'Christmas in the Wards' returned for its 27th year, where gifts were distributed to families and children in need from nearly 40 of Chicago's 50 wards at McCormick Place Saturday.From bikes and scooters to TVs and computers, presents were stacked up high, with WGN as a proud partner. Businessman Larry Huggins made it a Christmas tradition that started in Englewood in 1996."I came up in a single parent family and my mother always made sure to go to the department store to see Santa Claus and the things we wanted were always under that Christmas tree," Huggins said. "To see families be able to do that, it's a personal commitment I made to how I was raised and how I grew up so that's why I do it."This year, more than 1,200 kids were given a special gift. More from Sean: Aurora PD holds ‘Shop With A Cop’ for local kids in the community Robin Lance shared how her own daughter was overwhelmed with joy. "I'm looking at the children's faces, they're so excited. My child, she's ...

What is ketamine?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

(WGHP) — On Friday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced that actor Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine.Perry's unexpected death brought ketamine to the forefront of discussion. Which brings up the question, what is ketamine?Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Quaker Oats recalls granola products due to salmonella risk The DEA says that ketamine can distort a person's eyesight and hearing. It also can make a person feel disconnected and not in control and is thus called a “dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen."Ketamine can make a person "feel detached from their pain and environment," according to the DEA. Ketamine induces a sense of sedation, relief from pain, immobility and amnesia.The DEA says that ketamine is abused due to its "dissociative sensations and hallucinogenic effects."Ketamine is an approved medical product as a short-acting us...

Police: 1 shot at Barton Creek Square Mall

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person was shot at Barton Creek Square Mall on Saturday afternoon, according to the Austin Police Department. The shooting happened near the AMC theater and Cheesecake Factory. APD said officers responded to a shots fired call at 4:43 p.m. The victim's injuries are unknown.APD could not confirm if a suspect was in custody. Police said this was not an active shooter situation and there was no threat to the public. Police said this is "an isolated incident," and an investigation is ongoing. A mall employee told KXAN there was an altercation between two people outside the mall. They said one person shot the other person. This is a developing story and will be updated.

With national audience, Texas-Nebraska set to make NCAA volleyball history in 2023 title game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the Texas Longhorns meet the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sunday for the NCAA volleyball championship, more eyes than ever before will be on them.For the first time, the match will be broadcast on network television at 2 p.m. CT on ABC, exposing the game to a potential record-breaking audience across the country. It has been a banner year for women's volleyball as far as match attendance and television viewership go, and both Texas coach Jerritt Elliott and Nebraska coach John Cook know this is a pivotal moment. SEMIFINALS: Texas rolls past Wisconsin 3-1, advances to 2nd consecutive NCAA volleyball championship match "It's a special moment to be able to have a Texas-Nebraska game on ABC on national television to really blow it out of the park," Elliott said. "This is probably the biggest moment we've ever had. It's a moment that -- for ABC to see where the sport is growing to pick it up on football Sunday is pretty special."Cook said ABC airing sports on a national...

Jace Frederick: Best on best is a rarity in today’s NBA

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

This was supposed to be the meatgrinder portion of the Timberwolves’ schedule. Ahead of last week’s contest in New Orleans, Minnesota’s next 16 games were all against teams with records above .500.These would be the tests that would show exactly where Minnesota — which sports the top record in the Western Conference — stacks up against the rest of the NBA’s top-tier teams. And it came at a perfect time. Anthony Edwards would only miss the New Orleans game. After that, the Wolves would be back to a full deck.Best on best for the next month. Here we go. Let’s have some fun.If only it worked that way in the NBA, or pro sports in general.New Orleans had a healthy roster, but its win over Minnesota felt like it should come with an asterisk with Edwards out — much like how Minnesota’s two previous wins over the Pelicans came with Zion Williamson sidelined.Then came Thursday in Dallas, where the Mavericks were down four rotational playe...

Wild rolling on the Gus Bus

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

The Gus Bus is rolling.Filip Gustavsson stopped 36 goals in regulation and overtime, then three goals in the shootout in the Wild’s 2-1 victory over Vancouver on Saturday, another storyline in the team’s renaissance under new head coach John Hynes.In nine games under Hynes, the Wild are surrendering an average of 1.56 goals a game, and Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury have a combined save percentage of .947.That’s mostly been Gustavsson, who has started seven of those games and gone 6-1-0 with a 1.26 GAA and a .954 save percentage. According to the Wild, that’s tops over that span among NHL goaltenders who have made at least four starts.The past two have been nail-biters, including a 3-2 shootout victory on Thursday. In those games, Gustavsson stopped a combined 73 shots in regulation and overtime, and 6 of 7 in the shootouts.Asked if he was stressed out by those situations, Gustavsson, 25, said, “No.”“How we are playing now, it feels more comfortable,” he said. “Earlier in the year...

Five free agents who could eventually join the Cardinals bullpen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals completed several deals to retool their starting rotation in the early weeks of the offseason, but they haven't made any major moves yet for the bullpen as the new year draws closer.Sure, the Cardinals acquired a few potential pieces during the Winter Meetings and through the recent Tyler O'Neill trade. However, those new arms are ones without much MLB experience. It's not optimal to bank on them to turn around a bullpen among the league's in ERA (4.47) and blown saves (28) last season. Craig Berube reflects on Blues coaching change, memories in St. Louis There's a growing sense the Cardinals will need to add at least one experienced bullpen piece, or perhaps multiple MLB-ready relievers, if they intend to bounce back from a rare losing season. The Athletic's Cardinals beat writer Katie Woo confirmed this superstition, reporting Saturday that the Cardinals met with at least two pitchers this week, including one rising star out of Japan. Who migh...

Girls Inc. of St. Louis empowers members at annual holiday event

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Girls Inc. of St. Louis has been around for more than four decades. Their goal is to empower girls and provide them with valuable experiences.The organization's 11th annual "Holiday Happenings" event took place Saturday at their facility on Nelson Drive."I've been at Girls Inc. since I was five or six, so basically forever," said high school senior, Ashlee Holloway.Gena Hill and Jordan Long will tell you the same thing."You have to take charge and really show your character in life, and that's really what Girls Inc. has shown me," Long explained. "Just to be bold, strong, courageous, confident, smart, all of those things, and it's teaching me a lot of things just to go into the world and just be active and be ready." Craig Berube reflects on Blues coaching change, memories in St. Louis Hill added, "I'd say the most rewarding thing is, from an early age, I got to learn about different types of things. Like, I remember when I was a kid we would have acting classes, and I...

Broncos vs. Lions: Live updates and highlights from the NFL Week 15 game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

Winners of six of their last seven, the Broncos are looking to continue their momentum in Week 15. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit.Live updatesPre-game updatesGood evening from Ford Field (4:56 p.m.): It’s quiet now, but this place is going to be loud in a little more than an hour. Broncos didn’t get much help in the first of three games today when Minnesota blew a two-score lead against Cincinnati, allowing the Bengals to come back and win in overtime and get to 8-6 on the season in the process.Recipe for the Broncos is simple: Win out and you’re in the playoffs, maybe competing for the division. Lose tonight at Detroit, and you’ve got to go 3-0 against the AFC opponents the rest of the wayP.J. Locke is active for the Broncos tonight. He was limited in practice on Thursday after getting hit in the throat during the game last week, but he’s good to go and will start opposite Justin Simmons. ...

J’Vonne Hadley the “heart and soul” of surging CU Buffs men’s basketball

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:20 GMT

J’Vonne Hadley has developed into a dependable 10-and-six guy, consistently delivering double-figure points alongside sturdy work on the glass.At 6-foot-6, Hadley often operates at a size disadvantage inside. But that frame also makes him a versatile defender, a trait that has been on display for a Colorado men’s basketball team that improved to 8-2 with a thorough 90-68 nonconference win on Friday night against Northern Colorado.Hadley turned in yet another efficient outing, going 6-for-9 with 15 points, five rebounds and a career-high six assists. Hadley also recorded a pair of steals and, during the week, lobbied head coach Tad Boyle for the defensive assignment against UNC’s leading scorer, 6-foot-7 forward Saint Thomas.“That’s just who he is,” Boyle said. “What I love about J’Vonne is he basically, after the scouting report (Thursday), he came up to me and said, ‘Coach, I want Saint Thomas.’ We could’ve put Tristan (da Silva) on him. We could’ve put size on him. It could’ve bee...