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Federal disaster declaration made for Cook County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — President Biden has declared a major disaster exists in Cook County due to recent severe storms and subsequent flooding.The declaration was made Tuesday specifically for those impacted by the weather events from June 29 to July 2. It will make Federal funding available to affected individuals in Cook County. Chicago publicist named in indictment against former President Trump According to the release from the White House, assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Funding will also be available for hazard mitigation measures.Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assi...

NBA unveils the schedule for its in-season tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The first basket of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament likely will be made in Indianapolis.The league unveiled the 60-game schedule for group play of the new event on Tuesday — with the first game set to be Cleveland visiting Indiana on Nov. 3, the opener of what is scheduled to be seven games on that first night of matchups.Each team will play four games in the group stage, with the winners of the six groups and two wild-card teams moving on to the single-elimination quarterfinals.At stake: about $18 million in prize money. The tournament payouts for players on standard contracts will be $500,000 apiece for those on the winning team, $200,000 apiece for those on the runner-up, $100,000 apiece for those on the teams that lose semifinal games and $50,000 for those on the teams that lose in the quarterfinals.GROUPSTeams were assigned last month to a five-team group. They’ll play one game against each other as part of the tournament.West Group A — Memphi...

Chick-fil-A adding 2 new items to fall menu

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

(WHNT) — Chick-fil-A is planning to introduce two new "fall flavors" at the end of the month.On Tuesday, the chicken chain announced plans to debut a Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich and a brand-new milkshake offering at participating restaurants across the country on Aug. 28.The former, described as a "twist" on the original Chick-fil-A sandwich, features a breaded chicken filet topped with pimento cheese, pickled jalapeno peppers and a drizzle of honey. Wendy’s adding new breakfast item to menu The sandwich was previously tested in North and South Carolina back in 2020 before being selected for the national menu, according to Chick-fil-A.Chick-fil-A is planning a nationwide rollout of its Honey Pepper Pimento Cheese Sandwich on Aug. 28. (Courtesy: Chick-fil-A)This season's newest milkshake — the Caramel Crumble Milkshake — will also be available for purchase this month. Said to be inspired by "the flavors that caramelize at the bottom of a blondie pan," the shake consists ...

Biden touts Inflation Reduction Act success 1 year after passage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – President Joe Biden was in Wisconsin on Tuesday to discuss the economic impact of his policies one year after the Inflation Reduction Act was passed.In Milwaukee, Biden pointed to falling inflation as a sign the American economy is strong.“It's just about 3% now and predicted to go lower than that. We're near the lowest point in two years,” Biden said.The president says his policies and legislative victories led businesses to make huge investments that are bringing back jobs and higher wages in industries like manufacturing.“The pay for low-wage workers has grown at the fastest pace in two decades. Wages are growing faster than inflation. Folks, that's Bidenomics,” Biden said.Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says the Inflation Reduction Act is also helping American's bottom lines in many ways like capping the price of insulin for seniors on Medicare.“That is going to have a major impact on your pocketbook. At the same time, we know there are ...

White House seeks $40 billion, including for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A tense funding debate could be on the horizon after President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve a $40 billion package, more than half of which will go to Ukraine."I urge Congress to pass this supplemental funding right away," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday.Ukrainian forces are struggling to regain territory captured by Russia. Blinken said the $24 billion in the package — $13 billion for defense aid and $8 billion for humanitarian aid — would help "ensure the Russia's invasion remains a strategic failure."The White House is also asking for billions to replenish the nation's disaster relief fund to improve border enforcement.On Monday, the White House said it remains confident the package can pass despite a growing number of Republicans pushing back on aid to Ukraine."We're continuing to engage with members of Congress," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "This has been done in a bipartisan way and we believe that this will continue in ...

APD identifies teen recovered from Lake Austin boat crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

Editor's Note: This video is previous KXAN coverage about a weekend boat crash on Lake Austin.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Tuesday, the Austin Police Department identified a 14-year-old who was recovered from a boat crash in Lake Austin over the weekend, according to an APD news release.Multiple agencies conducted a thorough search and recovery operation for the teen, who was ejected from the boat, APD said. The crash seriously injured four others. 1 missing, multiple people injured after boat crash on Lake Austin Police identified the teen as Kaden Forke, 14.Forke was recovered Monday evening and pronounced dead, police said.Ken Campbell, assistant chief of the CE-Bar Fire Department, said Sunday that the single-boat crash happened after a boat went over the wake of another boat and lost control. Then, the boat hit the bank of Lake Austin where at least one person was ejected.He could not confirm if the passengers were wearing life jackets.

Coolest morning since Jun. 10 when we wake up on Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Low humidity and northeast winds are in place behind an enjoyable August cool front, leading to a briefly cooler, more comfortable morning coming on Wednesday.Behind the front, temperatures were 'less hot' Tuesday, but still reached the triple-digits in Austin for the 39th-consecutive day -- our longest heat wave on record.As skies remain clear and low humidity is still in place overnight, many suburbs and rural communities will wake up in the 60s on Wednesday, our coolest readings since Jun. 10. Enjoy while it lasts!Forecast low temperatures early WednesdayHeat surges back into the area Wednesday afternoon, when a Heat Advisory goes into effect. Thursday may bring the hottest temperatures of the year thus far, with a record 109° forecast in Austin.Rain and cooler weather next week?The long-range outlook seems to hinge on a potential tropical disturbance moving through the Gulf. Models so far disagree on the timing and placement of the rain coming from the Gulf, but...

Madonna reschedules Austin, other Texas shows for 'The Celebration Tour'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Madonna has officially rescheduled most of her tour in North America, including Texas dates, according to a Live Nation release Tuesday.The North America dates will take place immediately following the originally announced UK and Europe dates, the release said. Tickets for the previously scheduled shows will be honored on the new dates. Madonna rescheduling tour leg, including Austin shows, after ICU stay This news comes a couple of months after Madonna’s manager said she was suffering from a “serious bacterial infection.” The ‘Material Girl’ singer had to stay in an intensive care unit for several days after developing the infection on June 24.The Austin shows are both rescheduled for April 14, 2024 and April 15, 2024 at Moody Center, per Live Nation.The ‘Celebration’ tour was initially supposed to kick off in Vancouver on July 15. Two concerts were scheduled at Austin’s Moody Center on Sept. 21 and 22.“My focus now is my health and getting stronger,” Madonna twe...

'It's hot': Some AISD buses still without AC as extreme temps continue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — AC is a game changer when the temperatures rise, but did you know that not all school buses are equipped with AC?Stephanie Chaple has been a bus driver for the Austin Independent School District for 23 years, and she knows just how hot driving a bus can be in the Texas heat."The AC is very important in this Texas heat, probably the most important thing," said Chaple.Austin ISD has about 500 buses, but many of them don't have AC."So when we start the school year this year about 80% of all routes will have AC on them," said Kris Hafezizadeh, AISD transportation director. AISD: 173 buses with no AC as temperatures rise in Central Texas Hafezizadeh said they make sure longer routes use the buses that have AC, but that means some of the shorter routes, which can take 30-45 minutes, have to go without it."All of our buses — they have fans inside," said Hafezizadeh. "Fans will help a little bit, but not so much, because it still blows the heat to you."The district plans o...

Travis County calls for November bond election on parks, transportation projects

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:43 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 15, 2023TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County voters will weigh in on nearly half a billion dollars' worth of transportation and parks projects this fall, after the Travis County Commissioners Court officially voted to call for a bond election Tuesday.Last month, commissioners approved a list of projects to be included in the two propositions, divvied up into roads projects on one proposition and parks and greenspace projects on another. PAST COVERAGE: Here’s the list of roads, park projects Travis County voters will weigh in on in November bond Road projects included:Blake Manor Road from Taylor Lane to Burleson Manor Road: $16.83 millionTxDOT right-of-way: $25 millionRowe Lane from State Highway 130 to Hodde Lane: $30.8 millionCameron Road east of SH 130 from Pecan Street to Fuchs Grove Road: $38.5 millionArterial A construction: $33 millionBee Creek Road from Lakehurst Road to Highland Boulevard: $16...