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Hardy's Reindeer Ranch taking flight, expanding in Our Town Rantoul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

RANTOUL, Ill., (WCIA) -- You know Dasher and Dancer, and Comet and Blitzen. But did you know you can meet some of Santa's reindeer right here in Central Illinois? If you drive about 25 minutes north of Champaign you'll find Hardy's Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul. That's where 22 reindeer now call home, with the newest addition being born last week. Star is now a mom to baby Aurora. The owners started the family of animals after bringing them to the area from Alaska 28 years ago. "Oh, Blitzen you are the biggest goofball of all. He has got a personality that just will not quit," Julie Hardy, one of the reindeer, described while feeding the reindeer. Baby reindeer arrive at Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul, farm opens early Blitzen isn't the only reindeer getting the love. Hardy's Reindeer Ranch is expanding its herd, but why in Our Town Rantoul? "I met this handsome young man who owned a Christmas tree farm in Rantoul," Hardy said. "I've got a city marketing background and I'm thinkin...

59-year-old woman dies after Bensenville crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

BENSENVILLE, Ill. — A 59-year-old woman died early Friday morning following a crash in Bensenville.Just before 3:40 a.m., authorities responded to an accident at the intersection of York and Irving Park Road.A 59-year-old woman, from the Northwest suburbs, was pronounced dead at the scene. 17-year-old found dead in parking lot of suburban school A 23-year-old Chicago man was transported to an area hospital. His condition was not given.No other information was provided.

Lawyer fired after woman accuses him of snatching wig in viral video: 'He laughed in my face,' victim says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – Singer Lizzy Ashliegh was thrust into the spotlight on the internet this week, not because of her versatile vocals but because of a viral video.The Brooklyn native, 29, was walking in Midtown Manhattan early Monday morning when she says a man suddenly ripped her green wig from her scalp. "I had a game night on 34th Street," Ashliegh told Nexstar's WPIX. "As I left the game night with some friends, I'm walking and three men are walking toward me. I didn't think anything of it … And this man just decides as I'm walking past him to take my hair off, and my neck goes back."Ashliegh confronted the man, recording it on her phone. "For what reason did you take my wig off?" Ashliegh can be heard saying in the viral video. "Why did you do that? What makes you think that's OK?" Ashliegh asked the man to apologize, but she said he laughed in her face. "He seemed like he didn’t care. His friends cared way more than he did," Ashliegh said. "His ...

More than $20M in scholarships for Bulls Collge Prep graduating class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

CHICAGO — Members of the graduating class from Chicago Bulls College Prep are heading off to college with a large amount of scholarship money. The class of 2023 has earned more than $20 million in scholarships.With 'Pomp and Circumstance' blaring in the background, the ceremony, held at the University of Illinois Chicago forum. SEE ALSO: Already a college graduate, CPS high schooler taking success to new degree One of the graduates is 18-year-old Angel Gutierrez from Pilsen, who set a goal as a small child to go to an Ivy League school. With the help of school counselors, Angel is now Harvard-bound as a first-generation college student who earned $3 million in scholarships alone. Gutierrez aspires to become a lawyer or a neurosurgeon. "For low-income students, like me, we do have the ability to achieve our dreams and get scholarship money… but colleges do want to invest in the future and specific diverse backgrounds like mine," Gutierrez said. "It’s what we’re trying to do every day...

Gov. Abbott stands by plan to lower property taxes, impasse persists with Senate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott spoke unwaveringly in support Friday of his preferred plan to lower property taxes in Texas, which means the impasse holds over reaching a deal with what the Senate and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick would like to do. During a post-session chat at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Abbott said he still supports the approach passed Tuesday by the Texas House of Representatives, which would direct the state to spend $12.3 billion on "compression." That simply means the state would buy down school district property tax rates and foot the bill for the taxpayer. Who will win from proposed Texas property tax relief plans? The governor said Friday this would help toward reaching the goal of driving down school property rates to zero. He noted the state is receiving increasing amounts of revenue from sales and franchise taxes due to population and business growth. "Texans want to own their own property, not rent it from government," he said. "We must provide th...

APD identifies motorcyclist killed following crash on MoPac

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department identified the man killed following a crash involving a motorcycle May 25 in north Austin.APD said detectives believed Devin Graves, 33, was traveling south in the 10400 block of North Mopac Expressway when he lost control and crashed into the outside guardrail.Officials said Graves died at the scene. PREVIOUS: 1 person dead after motorcycle crash on north MoPac Expressway, ATCEMS says APD said this incident was being investigated as Austin's 37th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 37 fatalities for the year. On the date of this crash in 2022, 44 fatal crashes resulted in 45 deaths.Police said the investigation was still pending. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? Anyone with information regarding this incident was asked to contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling...

WEATHER DELAY: Texas baseball's tournament opener stalled by rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (KXAN) -- The NCAA baseball tournament regional opener Friday afternoon between Texas and Louisiana is under a weather delay as rain moves into the area.Tournament officials have not set a new start time. The game will start 40 minutes after officials deem the storm has passed. PREVIEW: Longhorns prepare for Ragin’ Cajuns team that defends, runs like the nation’s best The Longhorns and Ragin' Cajuns were set to start the Coral Gables regional at 1 p.m. CT Friday from Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on the University of Miami campus.Friday morning rain forced the grounds crew in Miami to cover the field soon after the Texas baseball team arrived at the facility. The rain stopped, and the tarp was removed around noon CT.When the game starts, it will be televised on Longhorn Network. Miami, the host and No. 9 overall seed, plays Maine in the other opening-round game.Texas is looking to regroup after a frustrating 0-2 week at the Big 12 tournament last week....

Making sure you're staying safe during those hot, summer workouts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Summertime has unofficially kicked off, and the temperatures in Central Texas are starting to reflect that.As temperatures rise, naturally, so does the risk of heat-related illnesses. More than 1,300 Americans die every year due to extreme heat, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Why is extreme heat dangerous? “In Central Texas, the heat loves to get to everybody,” said Ally Furrey, head Athletic Trainer for Ascension Seton, who helps support community organizations by evaluating their athletic training needs. “We're looking at heat illness, and we're looking at heatstroke. And when I talk about those two things, one commonality you will always hear from medical professionals in my field is Rhabdomyolysis,” she continued. In Rhabdomyolysis, or Rhabdo, a person becomes so dehydrated that their kidneys begin to break down, Furrey said. Rhabdo is usually associated with extreme heat and prolonged physical exertion and can lead to the death of mu...

Loons’ Joseph Rosales gets chance after talking to Adrian Heath about playing time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

Minnesota United’s warmup for Friday’s training session included a brief celebration.Teammates formed two lines and applauded as Joseph Rosales jogged through the swarm of his fellow players and was wrapped up in a rugby tackle by burly center back Michael Boxall. They were taking a moment to honor Rosales’ first MLS goal from the 2-1 loss to Austin on Wednesday.“To see that kind of success is … infectious,” Loons teammate Zarek Valentin said. “When you have guys who put their head down and grind and aren’t necessarily penciled in starters, that’s awesome. … But now it’s a challenge. It’s go get another goal, get another assist. Keep pushing.”Rosales and the Loons (5-5-4, 19 points) will plow on against Toronto FC (3-5-8, 17 points) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Allianz Field.But Rosales didn’t fully keep his head down, lifting it when MNUFC had a six-game winless skid into mid-May and asking manager Adrian Heath about playing time.“Joe wasn’t on his own, coming in and ...

Suspect wanted in Schenectady, NYC homicides nabbed in Philadelphia: source

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:44 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (NEWS10) — After under a week of searching, U.S. Marshals say they captured a New York City man wanted for two alleged homicides. A source close to the investigation tells NEWS10's Anya Tucker that Timothy Taylor was taken into custody at a bar in Philadelphia. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The U.S. Marahal’s Service offered a $5,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Taylor, Tishawn Folkes-Taylor's ex-husband, who’s being called a person of interest in her homicide. Schenectady Police said she was stabbed early Sunday morning in the Pleasant Street apartment she shared with her three young children.The NYPD said Taylor was wanted for questioning in the death of 37-year-old Theresa Gregg, a Brooklyn mom and officer with the city’s Department of Homeless Services.This is a developing story. Stay tuned to NEWS10 for updates.