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PHOTOS: Idalia blasts Florida, Georgia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Idalia tore into Florida at the speed of a fast-moving train Wednesday, splitting trees in half, ripping roofs off hotels and turning small cars into boats before sweeping into Georgia as a still-powerful storm that flooded roadways and sent residents running for higher ground.In this photo made in a flight provided by mediccorps.org, a destroyed home is seen in Keaton Beach, Fla., following the passage of Hurricane Idalia, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)In this photo made in a flight provided by mediccorps.org, a pedestrian bridge is seen amidst storm flooding in Dekle Beach, Fla., following the passage of Hurricane Idalia, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)(Hernando County Sheriff's Office)In this photo made in a flight provided by mediccorps.org, storm damage is seen in Keaton Beach, Fla., following the passage of Hurricane Idalia, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)Rescue workers with ...

Coffee for a cause at new café in Arlington Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — A new coffee shop in Arlington Heights is opening their doors to not just new customers but providing opportunity to dozens of people with disabilities.The idea for Gerry’s Café has been brewing for a couple years between co-founders Amy Philpott and Natalie Griffin.The business woman and former special education teacher banded together to find a solution to the staggering 82% unemployment rate of adults with disabilities.“We do want to make a difference for our community and we do want to make a difference for this population which is overlooked and underserved,” Griffin saidFor many, like Hannah Kaczor, this is the first job they’ve ever had.“It was the first paycheck I’ve ever gotten,” she said.“I made my own money for the first time. (I feel) Proud.” More from Erin: Young adults use their own health challenges to help others like them “They want to be seen and they are seen her and they are celebrated here,” Griffin said.“It feels like a giant family ...

Kids, sleep and attention — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

Medical Watch Digest for Aug 30.Kids & SleepWhen kids get enough sleep it reduces impulsive behavior.   Research from the University of Georgia documents the importance of sleep for adolescent attention, performance and behavior.An NIH-sponsored adolescent brain cognitive development study revealed children who got less than nine hours of sleep per night were more likely to act without forethought, not persevere when tasks became challenging and succumb to stress more easily.The study highlights sleep's role in cognitive and behavioral development.As we begin a new school year, doctors say it is critical parents learn the importance of sleep for their child's success.Sleep & WomenSleep is also important for older women.Stress and insomnia is linked to irregular heart rhythms for menopausal women.One in four women will develop the dangerous heart problems with poor sleep and stressful life events according to the journal of the American Heart Association.The results are based...

Biden rule would give overtime protections to millions more workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

(The Hill) — A new proposed rule would extend overtime pay to 3.6 million more salaried workers, ensuring they receive extra pay for long hours, the Department of Labor announced on Wednesday.The rule would guarantee overtime pay for most salaried workers earning less than $1,059 a week, or about $55,000 per year. It will go through a notice of proposed rulemaking for public comment for 60 days and comes after the Biden administration reached out to employers, workers and unions to inform the proposal.The rule would also involve automatically updating the salary threshold every three years to reflect current earnings data in order to prevent future erosion of overtime protections. $72 million in student loans canceled by Biden administration: Who qualifies And it would restore a Labor Department regulation that was practiced from 2004 to 2019 but ended during the Trump administration that ensured workers in U.S. territories who are subject to federal minimum wage have the same ove...

Skilling: Cooler Wednesday night, but sunny Thursday to end August

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

What a difference a day makes!  The official temp is likely to end up having peaked at 73-deg today—the equivalent of the normal high temps three weeks from now—on Sept 22-23---and a reading 14-deg off Tuesday's 87-deg high. SO THERE WAS INDEED THE FEEL OF AUTUMN IN THE AIR TODAY.Only a day remains in August and in the three month June, July and July meteorological summer season.  Midnight Thursday, with the arrival of September, 2023, marks the arrival of the three month METEOROLOGICAL AUTUMN SEASON, which runs through Sept, Oct and November.September has historically been Chicago's third fastest cooling month of the year losing an averaging of 10-degrees. Fastest cooling of the months is November which typically sees "normal" temps dip 13-degrees; 2nd fastest cooling is October which loses 12-degrees.  Hours of daylight here have shrunk by 121 minutes since our longest day back on June 21—and we'll see another 85 minutes of daylight disappear by the close ...

First Lady Jill Biden visits Chicago, speaks at Federation of Labor event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) began its Labor Day celebrations Wednesday which includes First Lady Jill Biden headlining a McCormick Place event.Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is also expected to speak, and there may be an appearance by Governor JB Pritzker, both of whom met Biden on the tarmac as she arrived at O'Hare International Airport. McConnell freezes for 2nd time while taking questions The CFL, the third-largest council of the national American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), holds the annual Labor Day reception as it builds toward its Labor Day parade and Eddie Fest. Watch First Lady Jill Biden's speech in the video player above.

Best Burgers in Austin, Central Texas, according to KXAN viewers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The hamburger has become known as a classic, American staple food, and many restaurants in Central Texas are dedicated to the item, whether it be the traditional rendition or with a special spin on the classic burger.August 24 was National Burger Day, and many KXAN viewers chimed in with the restaurant they thought made the best burgers in Austin.The restaurants below are listed alphabetically, not by rating. 3 local restaurants make top 10 on Yelp’s Top 100 places to eat in Texas in 2023 list Buddy's BurgerLocated at the intersection of Cameron Road and Ferguson Lane in north Austin is Buddy's Burger. The burger joint said it offers the best quality ingredients you can find served out of a drive-thru window. A second location will also be coming soon to the San Marcos area, according to Buddy's.Casino El CaminoCasino El Camino can be found at 517 E. 6th St. in downtown Austin.The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, according to its website...

TEA allows for alternative to state intervention for Austin ISD special education department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Education Agency granted a request from the Austin Independent School District on Wednesday for less severe state intervention in the district’s special education services, according to AISD officials.The TEA announced in March its recommendation for a state-appointed management team to direct the operations of the Austin ISD special education department. The team would be able to make decisions for the district, as it relates to special education.The recommendations came after the TEA released a report finding the district repeatedly missed strict state and federal deadlines on evaluating students suspected of needing special education services.The report found the district had in some cases waited up to nine months to evaluate students.The district appealed TEA’s recommendation in April 2023, requesting instead the state appoint a monitor. A monitor, according to the TEA, would only be able to report activities of the board of trustees or the superintende...

Dry air makes the heat more bearable this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin enjoyed its coolest morning since early June as Wednesday morning low temperatures bottomed out as low as 66° at Austin-Bergstrom and 70° at Camp Mabry. Wednesday morning low temperaturesAs Tropical Storm Idalia impacts the southeastern U.S., northerly flow aloft is keeping Texas' weather quiet through the end of the week and into much of Labor Day weekend.Lower humidity courtesy of north/northeast winds is making the heat more bearable, but temperatures are still expected to peak in the triple-digits each day this week in Austin. Wednesday brought Austin's 68th 100° day of the year -- a tie for the third highest count on record, and a tie with last year's total count.We are tracking a slight chance of sea breeze showers and thunderstorms, mainly east of Austin, returning Labor Day into next week. Most areas currently look to remain dry.See the supermoon!The moon rises on the eastern horizon at 8:06 p.m. Wednesday evening, revealing August's second supermoon ...

APA! receives national grant to assist senior dogs in shelter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Some of Austin Pets Alive!'s oldest furry friends are receiving some extra assistance, after APA! was named a recipient of a grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization. APA! is one of 90 animal welfare organizations selected to receive a grant to assist local older dogs, according to an APA! release Tuesday. The Austin animal welfare nonprofit was one of 370 applicants considered for the funding.The winning groups received $848,000 in grants "to help save or improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities," the release added.The Grey Muzzle Organization has awarded more than $4.6 million in grants to support animal welfare organizations over the past 15 years, per the release. The organization is a national nonprofit centered on enhancing the lives of at-risk senior dogs by offering funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other animal-affiliated nonprofit groups across the country.“This grant will help us give senior d...