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Illinois' community colleges see enrollment growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Enrollment at some community colleges in Illinois have returned to pre-pandemic levels.The Illinois Community College System had its largest enrollment growth in almost 15 years. This semester saw an increase of 7.2% compared to last spring. Chicago suburb tops ‘Best Places to Live in Illinois’ list It is the second consecutive year that those numbers have gone up.Illinois has the third largest community college system in the country.

Arby's co-founder Leroy Raffel dies at 96, chain announces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — One of the founders of Arby's has died. The restaurant chain announced the death of Leroy Raffel, 96, on its Facebook page Thursday.While details regarding Raffel's death weren't immediately available, an obituary for the Ohio native says he passed away peacefully at his home. Raffel was an active member in the Jewish community, according to his obituary, and his family has asked for contributions in memory of him to be made to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. In a statement Thursday, Arby's President Jim Taylor said the restaurant chain will make a donation to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in Leroy's name. Leroy and his brother, Forrest, founded Arby's in 1964. The "RB" in the name is a nod to the Raffel brothers. Forrest died in 2008, according to WFMJ. Report: Browns running back leaving Cleveland The first restaurant actually opened along US-224 in Boardman, Ohio. It had 10 seats and only about 20 parking spots outside. The restaurant was di...

Environmentalists sue largest coal plant in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) -- Illinois environmentalists are suing the owners of the state's largest coal plant for violating the Clean Air Act.Representatives of the Sierra Club allege the Prairie State Energy Campus has not received necessary governmental operating permits from the Illinois EPA for emissions testing. Without the permits, local residents would not be warned when pollution levels from the plant exceed certain thresholds, the group argued. ‘A true toxicant’: Oil refinery dumps tons of polluted wastewater into Lake Michigan "The purpose of this litigation is to ensure Prairie State is subject to the most up to date pollution controls, control rules, and that the people of Illinois who breathe in the pollution emitted by Prairie State have access to the information they need to enforce limits at the plant," Megan Wachspress, a staff attorney for the Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program, said Wednesday.Prairie State's campus is located in the Metro East area in Maris...

Iowa governor signs transgender bathroom bill, bans gender-affirming care for youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Wednesday signed into law two bills that will restrict the rights of transgender young people in the state.One of them, Senate File 538, prohibits doctors from providing gender-affirming health care, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries, to transgender minors. The other, Senate File 482, bars transgender students from using school restrooms or locker rooms that are consistent with their gender identity.Both laws are effective immediately, although health care providers who are already administering gender-affirming health care to minor patients will have 180 days before they are forced to end treatment.Reynolds has not issued a comment or statement on either measure but said during a press conference on Tuesday that she backed the legislature’s proposal to ban gender-affirming health care for youths, citing a need for research studying the long-term effects of certain medications and procedures.“We need to just pause; we need to understand...

Severe storm threat in the Hill Country overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are watching the Hill Country between 3-6 a.m. for the potential of severe thunderstorms with wind and hail damage. The rest of us can expect mainly rain showers with an isolated non-severe thunderstorm early Friday.Gusty winds are funneling into the area ahead of the storm threat overnight. There is a marginal threat of severe storms overnight in the Hill Country, and the same minor threat northeast of Austin during the daytime Friday.Severe storm risk overnightSevere storm risk FridayBetween 3-6 a.m., we expect a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms in the Hill Country. This is where we are most concerned with severe weather, so keep your phone with KXAN Weather App downloaded by the bedside.Forecast radar at 4 a.m. with severe storms possible in the Hill CountryThough storms may be strong in the Hill Country, those storms are expected to miss the Austin metro area. Later Friday morning through midday, Austin and areas eastward can expect a non-severe ...

Anonymous donor offers $5K reward for December burglary suspects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 23, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — An "anonymous donor" is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of burglary suspects, on top of a $1,000 Crime Stoppers award, according to the Austin Police Department.APD is searching for three people who it believes stole "several valuable items" and credit cards which were later used.The burglary happened sometime between 10:45 p.m. and 5 a.m. Dec. 15, in the 9500 block of Hansford Drive, which is in north Austin, north of Rundberg Lane.The suspects are described as:Black/Hispanic man in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5'10" and 175 pounds and with a short beard and mustace and close-cropped hairHispanic woman in her early 20s, about 5'03" and 125 poundsHispanic man in his mid-30s, 5'8" and 180 poundsAPD shared photos of Dec. 15, 2022 burglary suspects (Austin Police Department Photo)APD shared photos of Dec. 15, 2022 burglary suspects (Austin Police De...

PHOTOS: Dogs enjoying the bluebonnets in Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — National Puppy Day, recognized on March 23, just so happens to fall near the beginning of spring.To celebrate the day here in Central Texas, we asked our audience to submit photos of their pups enjoying the bluebonnets and spring weather. Here's a compilation of just a fraction of those photos.And — just for clarification — to us, any dog of any age qualifies as a puppy.Ozzy in the bluebonnets in Round Rock, Texas (Courtesy: Jennifer Camacho)Ozzy in the bluebonnets in Round Rock, Texas (Courtesy: Jennifer Camacho)Zeus in the bluebonnets in Lockhart, Texas (Courtesy: Jessica E. Silvas)Lola in the bluebonnets in Lockhart, Texas (Courtesy: Jessica E. Silvas)Dachshund in the bluebonnets (KXAN viewer photo)Oberon (left) and Otto (right) among the bluebonnets at McKinney Falls State Park (Courtesy: Kindsey Bernhard)Finley in the bluebonnets in Spicewood, Texas (Courtesy: Christina McDonald)Taken in Highland Haven, Texas (Courtesy: Karen Cude)Rue enjoying the bluebonnets in...

Affidavit: Man allegedly assaulted, raped woman scootering downtown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man has been charged with aggravated sexual assault after he was accused of attacking a woman riding a scooter near downtown Austin. Court documents report police responded to a call near Interstate 35 and 14th Street around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Police found a victim "visibly injured" with a split lower jaw, bodily bruises and evidence of a sexual assault, according to the affidavit.The victim told police a man "made contact with her" while she was riding a scooter and traveling east under the I-35 bridge. The victim said the man punched her several times before sexually assaulting her, court documents show.Officers found and identified Aaron Lewis, a 44-year-old man matching the suspect description, under the I-35 bridge. Lewis told police he saw the victim riding a scooter under the bridge and asked her to perform sexual acts on him, per the affidavit.When she said no, Lewis told police he struck her jaw before climbing on top of her for several minutes. L...

Man gets 15-year prison sentence in connection with May 2021 fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man in Travis County was found guilty of manslaughter March 16 after the death of a 23-year-old in May 2021.According to Travis County officials, 57-year-old Blake Charles Washington was convicted in connection with Christopher Bowser Jr.'s death on May 2, 2021. RELATED: Man faces murder charge after 23-year-old victim dies one day after downtown shooting Travis County court records showed Washington was sentenced to serve 15 years in a state prison.Washington was originally charged with murder, but the charge was lowered to manslaughter during his conviction.Travis County officials said Washington’s trial lasted 4 days, beginning March 13 until he was found guilty March 16.“Our office is committed to holding people who commit acts of violence accountable,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope this verdict brings closure and peace to the victim’s family.”

Eagan officer hurt in squad crash has recovery ahead, but ‘doing remarkably well’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:46 GMT

An Eagan officer critically injured in a squad crash “has made steady improvements,” the police department said Thursday.Kade Eggum was responding March 14 just after 5 a.m. to a medical incident of a male who was unconscious and not breathing.Eggum merged onto Interstate 35E from Pilot Knob Road and was traveling in the right lane of the northbound freeway with his squad’s emergency lights activated. He attempted to make a left turn at the median cross-over at Yankee Doodle Road and collided with a semi truck, which was also traveling north, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.Other public safety officials continued to the original medical call and attempted lifesaving measures, but the male died, Eagan police said.Eggum was taken by ambulance to the hospital.“He still has a lot of recovery ahead of him but appears to be doing remarkably well,” Eagan police said in Thursday’s statement. “Officer Eggum has been surrounded by family as they pra...