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Marquette’s Shaka Smart voted men’s AP coach of the year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

Shaka Smart has packed an entire career’s worth of experiences into 14 years as a college head coach. He led VCU to an improbable Final Four as a 30-something wunderkind in 2011, guided mighty Texas to a Big 12 Tournament title during six otherwise tepid years in Austin, and now has turned Marquette into a Big East beast.It’s sometimes easy to forget he’s still just 45 years old.Yet his work with the Golden Eagles this season might have been his best: Picked ninth in the 11-team league by its coaches, they won the regular-season title going away, then beat Xavier to win their first Big East Tournament championship.That earned Smart the AP coach of the year award Friday. He garnered 24 of 58 votes from a national media panel to edge Kansas State’s Jerome Tang, who received 13 votes before guiding the Wildcats to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, and Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, who earned 10 before taking the Cougars to the Sweet 16.Voting opened afte...

At least 21 dead after tornadoes rake US Midwest, South

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

WYNNE, Ark. (AP) — An Illinois official has confirmed three more deaths from storms, bringing the total death toll in the South and Midwest to at least 21.Crawford County Board Chair Bill Burke said three people were killed and eight others injured after a tornado hit the county about 9:10 p.m. Friday. It appears the fatalities were in or new New Hebron, which is just west of the state line with Indiana. That’s close to where three other people were killed in Sullivan, Indiana.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.WYNNE, Ark. (AP) — Storms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes killed at least 18 people in small towns and big cities across the South and Midwest, tearing a path through the Arkansas capital, collapsing the roof of a packed concert venue in Illinois, and stunning people throughout the region Saturday with the damage’s scope.Confirmed or suspected tornadoes in at least eight states destroyed homes and businesses, splintered tree...

Purdue’s Zach Edey named AP men’s player of the year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

In the days after Purdue’s historic NCAA Tournament loss, Zach Edey kept to himself. He turned his phone turned off, along with the rest of the outside world.It was a disappointing finish to an award-winning season for the big man with the BoilermakersDominating at both ends of the floor, Edey was a runaway winner for The Associated Press men’s college basketball player of the year. Edey received all but one vote from a 58-person media panel, with Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis getting the other.“The season ended in disappointment, which really sucks, but it’s always nice to win individual accolades,” Edey said. “It kind of validates your work a little bit. The last three years I’ve played here, I’ve seen my game grow every year. AP player of the year is a great feeling, it just kind of stinks the way the season ended.”Edey hasn’t yet decided if he’ll return to Purdue or enter the NBA draft.“I have no clue,” he said Saturday.Edey had 2...

2 tornadoes touchdown in Northern Illinois, NWS confirms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

CHICAGO — NWS Chicago has confirmed two tornadoes in Northern Illinois -- neither is one in Belvidere where the theatre roof and marquee collapsed.According to the NWS, one was reported west/southwest of Baileyville and one was reported near Caledonia. Possible tornadoes leave extensive damage in Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana 57 tornadoes and even more funnel clouds reported across 7 states in the Midwest and South. 1 dead, 28 injured after roof collapses at Belvidere theater amid strong storms National Weather Service investigators will be looking into each one of these twisters in the next few days to track the speed and strength. Almost 300 reports of wind damage and wind gusts in the Chicago area reached more than 70 mph. 164 reports of large hail, 26 reports of hail 2" or greater in size which is the size of a chicken egg. 

Possible tornadoes leave extensive damage in Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

Communities across Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana are cleaning up Saturday after a violent and strong storm procured at least two tornadoes late Friday night.As of Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service has only confirmed two tornadoes: One in Baileyville and one in Caledonia. 2 Tornadoes touchdown in Northern Illinois, NWS confirms The NWS is still looking into reports and said several areas sustained extensive structural damage, tree damage and had potential tornadoes.Those areas include in Belvidere, where one person was killed and more than 25 people were injured when a roof collapsed at the Apollo Theater during a concert. VIDEO: Hail, thunderstorms tear through Illinois The other areas include near Harvard in McHenry County, in Batavia just west of the Fox River, in and around Merrillville in Lake County, Indiana and far southern Jasper County in Indiana.Powerful storm causes damage, power outages in BataviaA possible tornado left several homes and veh...

Indiana police: Driver dead after car goes airborne after crash, another driver hits car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A driver is dead after they crashed into a crash attenuator, their car went airborne and was hit by another driver early Saturday morning in Northwest Indiana, according to state police.Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield said the crash was reported around 5:30 a.m. on Interstate 80/94 just west of the Cline Avenue overpass. 1 dies after being found shot on front porch in Gary According to a preliminary investigation, the driver crashed into the attenuator, their car became airborne and the driver of a pickup truck hit their car on the driver's side door, Fifield said.The identity of the driver who died hasn't been released at this time.The driver of the pickup truck wasn't injured.This crash happened in a construction zone and Indiana State Police is reminding people to use extra caution in work zones. "While lane shifts are marked and warnings posted, reduced speeds are necessary to ensure not only your safety, but the safety of those around you as well as...

Three dead, three flown to hospitals after storm in Crawford Co.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — Update 11:40 a.m.: Crawford County officials are urging people to not come to the area where a tornado hit Friday night as Ameren is recharging powerlines and there is a danger of electrocution.During a news conference held in Robinson, Illinois State Representative Adam Niemerg confirmed he had spoken with Governor JB Pritzkers office and learned that an emergency declaration will be issued this afternoon that will include Crawford County. That declaration will open up state resources to assist in the recovery efforts.Crawford County Board Chair Bill Burke confirmed that Friday night at 9:10 p.m. the area was hit by a tornado. As a result of the damage caused the board voted to declare the a disaster area. Burke also confirmed that the airport is not able to be used even for emergency situations."At this time our airport is completely destroyed," Burke said. RELATED: Lincoln Trail College cancels final performance of South Pacific Burke re-iter...

This 'Super Mario' character is more beloved than Mario and Luigi: survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — When it comes to the fan-favorite character from Nintendo's "Super Mario Bros." media franchise, we're sorry, but it's-a not you, Mario. Or you, Luigi.(Photo: Business Wire via AP Images)Over 87,000 people recently voted in a survey by gaming website Cribbage Online, with the results showing that the most-beloved "Super Mario Bros." character is none other than the egg-laying, stretchy tongued dinosaur Yoshi. Chick-fil-A changes mind, won’t discontinue longtime menu item As explained by Nintendo, players can always count on Yoshi, saying that when trouble goes down, Yoshi "will flutter jump to the rescue."Yoshi, whose full name is "T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas," first appeared in 1990's Super Nintendo game "Super Mario World." Yoshi has remained a staple of the franchise ever since — and has even become the star of his own games.The character has taken the spotlight in the games "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island," "Yoshi's Story," "Yoshi's Woolly World," and "Yoshi's C...

'Cups of Love:' South Side Muslim org. hosts series of events in Ramadan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

CHICAGO — While Muslims around the world celebrate the sacred month of Ramadan, a community organization on the South Side is hosting a series of events to ring in the spirit while giving back to the city."Our ceramics studio is a space where people come to create and the curriculum ties into our holistic model," Nawab said. Sadia Nawab, the director of Arts & Culture at IMAN: Inner-City Muslim Action Network, joined WGN to talk about their goals for community service and development of resources for those in need. At IMAN'S Community Ceramics Studio, neighbors come together to craft 'Cups of Love' which is one of their weekly events hosted throughout the month of Ramadan. Ramdan is the ninth and most sacred month in the Muslim Lunar calendar. Ramadan 2023: Everything you need to know "It connects to the origin of us receiving this way of life. It’s celebrated through fasting worship community service and spiritual accountability," Nawab said. IMAN’s 'Ramadan Reflections' hos...

APD offering free training to local counselors in exchange for their services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Police Department Victim Services Unit is offering free trauma training to local counselors in exchange for their expertise. APD has $50,000 available to train local counselors in a therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in exchange for offering sessions to trauma victims. The therapy focuses on disturbing emotions and symptoms resulting from traumatic events and assists the brain’s information processing system in moving organically toward natural healing and positive mental health. This therapy has been shown to be effective in ameliorating distressing symptoms associated with trauma, according to a press release. It typically costs around $3,000 to become certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The APD victim services Unit is offering the training to some counselors for free in exchange for providing 50 sessions to trauma survivors over the next three years.The clients will be referred to the coun...