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Spotted lanternfly found in Illinois: Should you be worried about them?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

(NEXSTAR/WGN) — Depending on where you live, you may have come face to face (literally, they have flown into people’s faces) with the spotted lanternfly. The invasive species has been detected in more than a dozen states. Add Illinois to the growing list.The Illinois Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) in Illinois. But do residents need to be concerned? The short answer, as you may have guessed, is yes. But, you can’t exactly prepare for the lanternfly’s arrival either. The spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first reported in the U.S. in 2014. A Pennsylvania forester noticed the bug, pictured below, found one in the southeastern portion of his state. The bug has since spread to at least 14 other states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia and...

How did Saturn get its rings? NASA might have answers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

(WTAJ) — Saturn is a visual marvel in our solar system, but how did it get those awe-inspiring rings? A new series of NASA supercomputer simulations might have the answer. In fact, they believe the rings formed back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. NASA released a video explaining that the rings potentially evolved from debris created after two icy moons smashed into each other a few hundred million years ago. The debris may have also combined to create some of Saturn's 145 moons.  How to see the ‘ring of fire’ eclipse this October, total solar eclipse in April ’24 “There’s so much we still don’t know about the Saturn system, including its moons that host environments that might be suitable for life,” said Jacob Kegerreis, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “So, it’s exciting to use big simulations like these to explore in detail how they could have evolved.”NASA's Cassini mission made scientists question just how you...

If the government shuts down, will mail still be delivered?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – As Congress remains gridlocked, a government shutdown was looking more and more likely Wednesday. A shutdown, if it did start this weekend, would impact the military, some government benefits, and potentially hundreds of thousands of federal employees. A large group of federal employees who won't be affected, however, are workers with the United States Postal Service. The USPS isn't affected by a government shutdown because it doesn't rely on taxpayer dollars for funding. The agency is funded through the sales of products and services. Government shutdown: Which veterans’ benefits may, may not be affected That means, even if other federal service are disrupted, the mail would continue to be delivered as normal through a government shutdown, even if it lasts weeks. That's good news for folks waiting on a new batch of free at-home COVID tests, set to be delivered by the USPS. As of Wednesday, the USPS site where test kits can be ordered still said deliveries were sc...

"You don't see a lot of players doing that": Ian Happ show appreciation for Cubs fan at home finale

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the longest-tenured members of the Cubs made sure one of his biggest fans at Wrigley Field knew he was appreciated at the final regular season home game of 2023.In fact, it's becoming a bit of a tradition for Ian Happ at the end of an 81-game campaign at the Friendly Confines.On Sunday, before the Cubs' victory over the Rockies, the outfielder presented bleachers season ticket holder Jeff Gorski with a $100 bill along with a signed ball that had a message of thanks for his support during the last six months. (Courtesy: Jeff Gorski)"Thanks for the support! You guys are the best in all of baseball," is what Happ wrote on the baseball that was left for Gorski, who goes by the nickname "Bleacher Jeff" on social media, writing to have a good time on him Sunday. "It means a lot," said Gorski to WGN News Now on Tuesday. "It's a nice gesture. You don't see a lot of players doing that in any sport, anywhere, where they just say 'Hey, man, I see you coming out here, I recogni...

Jimmy Carter's 99th birthday celebration moved up to avoid potential shutdown

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

(The Hill) – Former President Jimmy Carter’s upcoming 99th birthday celebration has been moved up a day amid the looming possibility of a government shutdown. ​​The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum said some events for Carter’s birthday will happen on Saturday instead of Sunday, when current funding levels are set to run out. "The interest in President Carter's birthday is so great, we decided to make it a birthday weekend, both Saturday and Sunday with 99 cent admission, and all sort of birthday activities," the library and museum said in a statement to The Hill.Tony Clark, the museum’s director of public affairs, told CNN that some of the museum’s spaces that are part of the government will be closed if a shutdown does occur, saying “we are starting early to make sure we have a celebration.”  NOAA releases 2023-2024 winter predictions “Some libraries have a non-governmental foundation that operates their museum rather than NARA. Those are able to stay open....

Austin middle school no longer directing traffic after verbal threats, according to principal

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Traffic issues at an Austin middle school have turned ugly, according to a recent email sent out by the school.Gorzycki Middle School's principal sent a the letter to parents this week, which highlights issues with parents using profanity, verbally threatening staff and yelling at the staff during school pick up.The letter states: "Starting Tuesday, GMS will have staff on the sidewalk in front of the school monitoring students, but will NOT be helping direct traffic any longer.""Parents are getting very aggressive at pickup," said Becca Lusk, a parent at the school. "They are yelling at our teachers, our volunteers, our staff."Lusk said parents have received instructions on how the pick up works and there is even an online video."It is a time consuming process," she said.Lusk said no matter how long it takes, no one should treat the staff poorly."I don't think it is fair to punish everyone, but it has been happening so often that it is the straw that broke the camel'...

Timberwolves, Lynx reach radio broadcast agreement with iHeart Media, some games to air on KFAN

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

The Timberwolves and Lynx signed a three-year streaming and radio partnership with iHeartMedia Minneapolis, the home of a number of prominent local radio stations, including KFXN-100.3.Approximately 20 Timberwolves games are expected to air this season on the sports station, known to local listeners as KFAN. Timberwolves games originally aired on KFAN from 1991-2011. Prior to this season, Timberwolves games aired on WCCO Radio.In a time when fans have had a harder time finding the Timberwolves and other Minnesota professional sports teams on traditional television airwaves given Bally Sports’ lack of availability on cable and streaming platforms, the same may become true of the radio broadcasts. But all Wolves games still will be available to listeners via the Timberwolves app and the iHeartRadio app.Alan Horton will continue to serve as the Timberwolves’ radio play-by-play voice.As part of the agreement, iHeartRadio will feature a Timberwolves and Lynx-specific station ...

Eagan woman raped by man who snuck into first-floor apartment, charges say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

A man is jailed and charged with sneaking into a woman’s first-floor apartment in Eagan and physically and sexually assaulting her early Saturday.The 34-year-old woman told police at a hospital Saturday morning that a man she didn’t know went into her bedroom and hit her head with a handgun and raped her, according to a police report and charges filed against the alleged assailant, Ricardo Roberto Mahkwah Diaz.Ricardo Roberto Mahkwah Diaz (Courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)Diaz, 25, of Eagan, was arrested after police found him sleeping in her bed.He made a first court appearance Tuesday in Dakota County District Court on three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of an Oct. 2 court hearing. No attorney was listed for him in court records.According to the police report and criminal complaint:Eagan police were dispatched to Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville around 6:15 a.m. Saturday on a ...

St. Paul City Council votes 4-3 to restrict marijuana smoke from parks, commercial buildings

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

Concerned about second-hand smoke from recreational marijuana, a divided St. Paul City Council voted 4-3 to approve new rules limiting where pot smokers can light up.The new rules, heavily amended after multiple hearings that drew emotional voices on all sides, effectively merge restrictions on marijuana and tobacco smoke, barring smokers of all kinds from city parks unless there’s a designated area, marked by signage and approved by the director of St. Paul Parks and Recreation.The ordinance also bars smoking within 25 feet of entrances, exits, windows and ventilation intakes of public places and places of employment in the city. Building owners can, however, designate a smoking area in their structure with the appropriate signage.Traditional Native American practices and lawfully recognized religious and cultural ceremonies are exempt from the parks ban, which city officials hope to enforce with non-criminal administrative fines.Previously, tobacco use had been allowed in pa...

Mary McNamara: 60 isn’t the new 40 and that’s fine by me

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:38 GMT

I just turned 60, which seems, in equal measure, simply impossible and no big deal.No matter how you look at it, 60 is a big number — 10 more push-ups than anyone should ever be asked to do — situated inarguably on the back end of even the modern female lifespan. I could continue to call myself middle-aged, but even if it were possible, do I want to live to be 120? No, I do not.But honestly, how can I be 60 when I still don’t know how to apply foundation or fold a fitted sheet? When my idea of a perfect meal is graham crackers and peanut butter, and my notion of “tidying” is putting the books that cover every surface of my home into a stack and calling it a day?I am grateful to be alive, especially after a pandemic, but I certainly don’t feel wiser, calmer, more at ease with myself or any of the other wonderful feelings others have documented as they enter their seventh decade.Nor do I feel lonely, more afraid of death or out of touch with popular...