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Upgrades proposed for Alton's Piasa Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

ALTON, Ill. - A modern-day painting of the Piasa Bird welcomes people to Alton, Illinois at the edge of the Mississippi River. Some upgrades could soon move forward around it to improve the visitor experience. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois announced Friday that the Alton Riverfront Advisory Commission will consider plans for the redevelopment of Alton’s Piasa Park. The much-anticipated project calls for the redesign and redevelopment of the park, in addition to a new state-of-the-art Byway Discovery Center. One proposal for redesign hopes for more landscaping, water retention ponds, parking improvement, outdoor gathering areas, interpretive panels and kiosks, and a new Piasa Bird observation deck. The advisory commission will review the proposal on March 28 from 2-3 p.m. The meeting is also open to the public and feedback on the plans is welcome. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau is managing all aspects of the project, from design to imple...

K-9 tears off suspected car thief's sweater after police chase in Ventura, Los Angeles counties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

A pursuit involving a suspected car thief came to a bizarre end in Sherman Oaks Thursday night when the driver refused to surrender after police executed a successful PIT maneuver.Authorities say the car was stolen from a liquor store in the Moorpark area. When California Highway Patrol officers tried to pull over the female suspect, they say she sped off, leading authorities on a chase.The driver ran through red lights before parking momentarily at a Ralph's grocery store, but then she took off again, driving on the South 101 Freeway, authorities said.Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursued a stolen vehicle out of Ventura County on March 23, 2023. (KTLA)Authorities pursue...

Man dead after South Los Angeles hit-and-run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

A pedestrian is dead after a hit-and-run collision in the Vermont Vista neighborhood of South Los Angeles Thursday night.The pedestrian, a man believed to be about 50 years old, was struck just after 9 p.m. in the 600 block of West Century Boulevard, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.Footage from the scene showed multiple fire trucks and ambulances around what appears to be the place the man was struck, the lane closest to vehicles parked on the street in a residential area.No description of the vehicle that struck the man has been released. Alexis Lewis and Sam Bader contributed to this report.

Much of drought-plagued West Coast faces salmon fishing ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — As drought dried up rivers that carry California’s newly hatched Chinook salmon to the ocean, state officials in recent years resorted to loading up the fish by the millions onto trucks and barges to take them to the Pacific.The surreal and desperate scramble boosted the survival rate of the hatchery-raised fish, but still it was not enough to reverse the declining stocks in the face of added challenges. River water temperatures rose with warm weather, and a Trump-era rollback of federal protections for waterways allowed more water to be diverted to farms. Climate change, meanwhile, threatens food sources for the young Chinook maturing in the Pacific. Now, ocean salmon fishing season is set to be prohibited this year off California and much of Oregon for the second time in 15 years after adult fall-run Chinook, often known as king salmon, returned to California's rivers in near record-low numbers in 2022.“There will be no wild-caught California salmon to eat unless ...

The 10 Happiest Jobs in the US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

The average American spends a third of their life working. That’s approximately 90,000 hours spent at work in your lifetime, according to a study by Gettysburg College. The time spent working is just one reason why career choices are so important. After all, who wants to hate their job? Other reasons to choose your career wisely are income potential and, increasingly so, company culture and personal fulfillment. A list of the happiest jobs in the US was released by Indeed — and here are 10 of them.The Top 10 Happiest Jobs in the USHappiness levels in jobs were measured based on salary, work environment, a great relationship with their colleagues, how their skills are utilized, personality fit, and a sense of fulfillment in work.1. Early Childhood EducatorEarly Childhood Educators topped the list — and it’s not difficult to see why. There may be the obvious duties where one creates lesson plans and teaches children, but interacting and being surrounded by innocent kids and bein...

What to Know About Ramadan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

On March 22, Muslims around the world began observing perhaps one of the most important events in the Islamic religion — Ramadan; this religious event will last until April 20. As with most faiths, rules and teachings are observed and celebrated during Ramadan. If you’re curious and want to know about Ramadan, here are a few key facts:Facts to Know About RamadanRamadan begins in the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar once the crescent moon is seen — and it ends 4 weeks later when the new crescent moon is visible. This year’s Ramadan, however, will end on April 20 when there’s expected to be a total solar eclipse — which makes this celebration more remarkable to the 1.8 billion Muslims who observe Ramadan (based on Statista’s report).Why do Muslims observe Ramadan?Ramadan is an extremely holy event in the Islamic world. To them, it was during Ramadan that the angel Gabriel (Jibreel) presented the Quran to the prophet Muhammad in 610 AD. And the revelation of the holy book — or w...

WrestleMania Goes Hollywood– Again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

SoFi Stadium will soon be filled with nearly 100,000 screaming fans, a couple of decades worth of nostalgia and larger-than-life personalities looking to put on the spectacle of a lifetime, as WrestleMania returns to Los Angeles for a two-day live extravaganza on April 1-2. While the calendar year might end in December, the year comes to a close in early April for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), as WrestleMania wraps up many months-worth – and in some cases years-worth – of storylines.This year will mark the 39th WrestleMania,  which has a rich history of legendary names behind it, such as Hulk Hogan, who famously fought in the very first event with Mr. T as his partner; The Rock and John Cena, who took their talents to Hollywood and never looked back; The Bella Twins, who leveraged their success into reality television; “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, who returned in 2022 for a retirement match at WrestleMania 38; and a plethora of names that have made an impact through the decades...

Mother dies, children hurt when stolen SUV being chased by Hercules police crashes into their car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

HERCULES — A 31-year-old woman died and her 6-year-old twin sons were injured Thursday night when a stolen SUV being chased by Hercules police crashed into their vehicle, authorities said.The suspected driver of the stolen vehicle fled on foot after the crash but was later arrested.In a news release Friday, Hercules police Chief Joseph Vasquez said that about 7:27 p.m. Thursday, Hercules police were tipped by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office about a stolen 2021 Mazda SUV possibly heading toward Hercules on eastbound Interstate 80.A Hercules police officer saw the Mazda exit I-80 onto northbound Willow Avenue. As the officer caught up to the Mazda, the driver immediately began to accelerate, the release said.The officer initiated a short pursuit of the SUV before it collided into a 2017 Nissan passenger vehicle, which had been traveling southbound on Willow Ave and was making a left turn onto eastbound 4th Avenue, the release said.Inside the Nissan were a 31-year-...

Bay Area News Group girls basketball player of the year: McKenna Woliczko, Archbishop Mitty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

McKenna Woliczko started her freshman season unsure if she would contribute on Archbishop Mitty’s varsity basketball team.She ended it with the same number of college scholarship offers as her jersey number — 20 — after putting up a series of incredible performances on the court. Eighteen points and 11 rebounds in the Open Division state final. A 29-point, 21-rebound masterpiece to win the NorCal Open championship. Twenty-two points and nine boards when Mitty captured the Central Coast Section Open Division title.MORE BASKETBALLGirls: All-Bay Area News Group teamBoys: All-Bay Area News Group teamBoys: Player of the yearIn the biggest games, Woliczko played with the poise of a battle-tested senior, averaging 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game on a team that finished 28-3. For this, the freshman phenom has been named the Bay Area News Group’s girls basketball player of the year.“It’s been crazy,” Woliczko said during the season. “Going to Mitty, I didn’t expect to be a...

All-Bay Area News Group girls basketball, 2023: Meet the team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:11 GMT

All-Bay Area News Group girls basketball teamPlayer of the yearMcKenna Woliczko, Archbishop Mitty, 6-2, freshmanWest Catholic Athletic League player of the year averaged 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the NorCal Open Division champions. First freshman in Mitty’s storied history to average double digits in points and rebounds. Full story here.First teamMakiah Asidanya, Salesian, 5-7, seniorThe Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division MVP averaged 14.2 points and 2.3 steals per game for the NorCal Open Division runner-up. The sharpshooter made 47 3-pointers in 32 games. Sierra Chambers, San Ramon Valley, 5-6, seniorFirst-team all-East Bay Athletic League selection ran the show for San Ramon Valley, averaging 8.2 assists and 12 points per game for a team that reached the NorCal Division I semifinal. Scored 23 points while playing with the flu and a fever in a NorCal playoff win over Carondelet. Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty, 6-2, juniorOne of the top players in the nation....