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WGN Sports brought Michael Jordan and the '90s Bulls to Chicago — and beyond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

As WGN TV celebrates 75 years, we’re looking back with a series of stories on the history and the memories.The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s were a worldwide phenomenon, a source of civic pride, and the highest-rated show on WGN-TV, at the time.  “You want to talk about 'Must See TV?,'” said Bob Vorwald, who oversaw WGN Sports as the director of production. “You just had to watch WGN to see Michael and the Bulls.”It was the pinnacle of a partnership between the Bulls and WGN that spanned over parts of six decades. WGN broadcasted Bulls games beginning in the team’s expansion season in 1966.  Jack Brickhouse served as the play-by-play announcer.  In 1979, Bob Costas, who became a household name as the host of NBC’s Olympics coverage, and an announcer who handled network baseball games, Super Bowls, and the NBA Finals (including calling Michael Jordan’s final shot as a Bulls player), was the play-by-play for the Bulls on WGN.“WGN and the Bulls had sort of an on-again, off-...

'I was too young to die.' How research and funding can help pediatric cancer patients — and what more can be done

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

Even though funding has increased in the federal budget allocation, pediatric cancer doctors and researchers say there’s plenty of room to grow. There are also key opportunities to help improve quality of life for patients as they grow into adulthood.For Joey Clark it all started with a swollen lymph node in his neck that antibiotics didn’t help.The 8th grader who love cross country said he struggled to run.“I could barely run two miles and I was saying, ‘Man, something’s wrong,’” he said.He found he could no longer keep up as his body started to slow down.“(He was) losing weight. (He was) pale, kinda green tone,” Joey’s father Mike Clark said.“We saw four different doctors before finally somebody said, ‘Oh there’s something wrong,’” Joey’s mother Angel Clark said.A trip to the emergency room and blood work offered some clues.“The doctor said, ‘Do you know what lymphoma is?” Mike Clark said.“It was terrifying to be honest,” Joey Clark said. “13-years-old, hearing that you have cance...

Chicago mayoral candidates clash over policing, education in televised debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A former school teacher faced off against the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools on Thursday night.Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson met for their second televised debate before the runoff election. The event was hosted by ABC 7 in partnership with the League of Women Voters and Univision. On stage, the candidates drew distinctions in their approaches to reducing crime.Johnson stressed youth employment and treatment, not trauma.CHICAGO MAYORAL RACE: Johnson endorsed by Bernie Sanders while Vallas garners support from aldermen"Economic stability is safety," Johnson said.Vallas brought up how Johnson seeks to defund the police. Johnson denied Vallas' claims."He doesn't want to fulfill the 1,100 vacancies," Vallas said. "He doesn't want to bring back retired officers or invite other officers who have left to return."Both mayoral candidates outlined their plans for policing, starting with what they’re looking for in the superintendent who will replace David Brown."I will promo...

Skilling: Clouds accompanied by high winds for chilly weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

Springlike conditions across Chicagoland will have to wait at least another week.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterFRIDAY: Quite windy and markedly colder with breaks in the clouds allowing mixed sunshine to emerge. Wind gusts to 40 mph at times. High 35—but holding steady then falling slowly to the upper 20s by dark.FRIDAY NIGHT: Clouds return, windy and much colder. Passing flurries possible. Lows drop by morning to 15 with wind chills by daybreak from 2-below to 5-above Saturday morning.SATURDAY: A good deal of cloudiness, windy and unseasonably cold. Passing flurries possible. High 28—a January-level temp nearly 20-deg below normal.SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy and, though not quite as cold–STILL WELL BELOW NORMAL. High 37 (Normal highs are in the upper 40s,

2 charged with murder after 'brutal attack' at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve: prosecutors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — Two men now face second-degree murder charges for the death of a man in a Lake County Forest Preserve last September. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office linked 20-year-old Nicholas Caban and 19-year-old Jacob Firestone to the death of 45-year-old Matthew Ascaridis, whose body was found in the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve on Sept. 17, 2022, in the first block of Cliff Road.Nicholas CabanJacob FirestoneSEE ALSO | Gun charge filed against suspect in Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve deathProsecutors allege that Ascaridis had a 'violent confrontation' with Caban and Firestone near his home, resulting in his death. Authorities said that Ascaridis allegedly approached the two men because they were loud on the lakeshore around 1 a.m.PREVIOUS STORY: Body found on Lake Michigan shore in Highland ParkAuthorities would later find a semi-automatic pistol with no serial number while searching Caban’s home, though authorities stated that the weapon was not used amid t...

Pence says whether Trump drops out if indicted is up to him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

Former Vice President Mike Pence said former President Trump should decide for himself whether to drop out of the 2024 presidential race if he is indicted for charges. Pence chose not to call on Trump to drop out if charges are filed against him while the former vice president was visiting New Hampshire, Politico reported Thursday. “Look, it’s a free country. Everybody can make their own decisions,” he said. Pence’s comments come as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg appears to be close to potentially be filing charges against Trump for hush-money payments that were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the leadup to the 2016 presidential election. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid Daniels in exchange for her silence about an affair she had with Trump. Trump later reimbursed Cohen for the payment, and the Trump Organization declared it to be a legal expense. Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one for campaign finance violatio...

Dramatically colder weather blows in as severe threat winds down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A strong cold front and passing storm system led to numerous Severe Thunderstorm Warnings across the area Thursday night. While gusty winds and small hail were reported along with a near-constant lightning show, we have not received any reports of storm damage. Rain showers and a few rumbles of thunder continue overnight into the first half of the day Friday.Strong winds and uncomfortably cold temperatures settle in behind the cold front. A Wind Advisory continues through midday Friday as wind gusts near 45 mph will be possible, ushering in winter-like air.Wind Advisory for most of the area through midday FridayFreezing temperatures are possible in the Hill Country Saturday morning, and as light rain showers return to Austin and eastern areas, wet snow could bring a light accumulation on grass and elevated surfaces in Fredericksburg and Blanco. Read the full details below: FIRST WARNING: Snow accumulation possible in the Hill Country Spring officially begins Monda...

LIVE BLOG: Severe storms move through Central Texas; SXSW music shows canceled due to weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Strong to severe thunderstorms are moving though Central Texas Thursday evening, which at last check put SXSW music venues on pause due to lightning. The storms are expected to continue into Friday as a cold front moves in and drops temperatures. Hail and wind damage are possible but widespread damage isn't expected.Severe Weather Resources:How to talk to your kids about severe weatherLive Central Texas radarCentral Texas rainfall totalsLocal forecast and what's nextTraffic mapDownload KXAN Weather AppSign up for KXAN daily forecast newsletter and severe weather alerts newsletterFollow our live blog below:10:17 p.m.As of the latest check, the Austin Energy Power Outage Map showed 10 active outages and 696 customers without power. It appears there were 400+ customers without power in South Austin near the South First and Slaughter Lane area.9:56 p.m.Moody Amphitheater canceled all event programming due to severe weather in the area, according to a tweet.9:45 p.m.Video...

Despite 'disappointing' tip time, No. 4 Texas is ready for No. 13 East Carolina in NCAA women's 1st round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team tips off its March Madness run Saturday, they'll be starting typically when they're done playing late games.The fourth-seeded Longhorns take on No. 13 seed East Carolina in the opening round at Moody Center, and due to the broadcast schedule set by ESPN, the game won't begin until 9 p.m. That's two hours later than a typical late game, and Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer isn't a fan of that.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"I'm disappointed," he said with a chuckle after he was asked about the late tip. "I don't know how that helps grow our game. We have a lot of fans with young families and a lot of older fans — we'll have to have naps for kids and naps for the older folks to make the tip."Schafer continued with the point that both the Longhorns and Pirates will be walking out of Moody past midnight, an...

Other voices: SVB mess demands a rethink on government bailouts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:00 GMT

The demise of Silicon Valley Bank has put the U.S. government into an uncomfortable position, backstopping depositors like never before to prevent a broader and potentially devastating bank run.Given the risks, officials did the right thing. The hard part will be figuring out how to handle the consequences.SVB’s failure shouldn’t have presented a systemic threat. The cash crunch that forced it to sell assets at a loss was specific to its tech-startup customers, not a widespread phenomenon. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was amply capable of handling its liquidation, which would entail reimbursing insured deposits and possibly imposing some losses on uninsured ones. The FDIC has successfully resolved hundreds of other banks this way.But SVB went down differently. Its customers, goaded by industry influencers, proved surprisingly quick to pull out their deposits ($42 billion in one day). Other banks’ customers started getting jittery, increasing the risk t...