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Illinois native, community share excitement for her 'once-in-a-lifetime experience' on 'The Voice'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) -- It's not every day you see a hometown teenager on national television, but this was the case for many people in Paxton on Monday while watching 18-year-old Gina Miles on NBC's singing competition "The Voice.""It was so exciting to watch her live on television," said Virginia Buler, Gina's aunt. "She has been working hard on her music these last few years, and being on the show is such a huge step for her in her career."Gina performed a cover of Katy Perry's song titled "The One That Got Away" on Monday's episode. Judges Kelly Clarkson and Niall Horan turned around in their chairs for her during the performance. Will Ferrell spotted in Central Illinois “Performing on national television was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Gina, who now lives in Sacramento, Calif. with another aunt. "I’m so grateful that I was given the opportunity. I was nervous because I’d never done a performance of that scale before, but I’m so excited that things went well!” P...

Rockford native teams with Steven Spielberg to bring 'Smash' to Broadway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

LOS ANGELES (WTVO) — Rockford native and former WarnerMedia Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt is teaming with Steven Spielberg to bring the TV show "Smash" to Broadway.Greenblatt, who attended Boylan Catholic High, started his career with FOX Broadcasting and helped develop shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, The X-Files and Party of Five before moving over to Showtime, where he oversaw the development of shows such as Dexter, Californication, and Weeds.As head of NBC Entertainment, Greenblatt shepherded shows such as Chicago Med and Chicago Fire, The Black List, This is Us, and The Voice. Lollapalooza 2023 official lineup revealed Greenblatt became head of WarnerMedia Entertainment in 2019 and oversaw the launch of the streaming service HBO Max before being let go when the company restructured in August 2020.In the series "Smash," viewers watched the long process of casting, composing, mounting and rehearsing a ...

Judge orders no bond for 18-year-old accused of killing CPD officer Andres Vasquez Lasso

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

CHICAGO — Steven Montano, the 18-year-old accused of shooting and killing Chicago police officer Andres Vasquez Lasso, appeared in court Wednesday afternoon.A judge in Cook County Criminal Court ordered no bond for Montano, who faces first degree murder charges, after ruling he posed a danger to the community and is a flight risk. Harvey man sentenced in Will County after high-speed chase from Cook County Prosecutors alleged Montano and his 37-year-old girlfriend were arguing at their Gage Park home in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue back on March 1. According to a bond proffer, Montano allegedly "charged with his hands outstretched at his girlfriend who stepped out of the way to avoid being struck."Court documents showed that Montano allegedly threatened to get a gun and his girlfriend left the house to call 911.Court documents also showed that officers said when police arrived at the home, Montano, "jumped out of the window of the residence, into the gangway and fled t...

Pilot in crash that killed 7 experienced 'spatial disorientation': NTSB report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nearly two years after a plane crash claimed the lives of seven people, a newly-released report details the events that led up to the tragedy.On May 29, 2021, seven high-ranking members of Brentwood’s Remnant Fellowship Church were killed after a plane carrying them crashed into Percy Priest Lake, a reservoir just east of Nashville.The seven on board the private jet were identified as:Gwen Shamblin LaraWilliam “Joe” LaraDavid MartinJennifer MartinJonathan WaltersJessica WaltersBrandon HannahGwen Shamblin Lara founded Remnant Fellowship Church in 1999 as an extension of her popular book "The Weigh Down Diet." Her husband, William Lara, was an actor, best known for playing Tarzan in the television series, "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures." Hannah was Gwen's son-in-law, having married her daughter in 2003.The others, David and Jennifer Martin, and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, were members of the Remnant Fellowship Church. Though NTSB doesn't identify those involv...

Democrats unveil plan to create gun violence prevention office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- Lawmakers on Capitol Hill say the latest school shooting in Colorado highlights the need for more action to fight gun violence.As a manhunt unfolded in Denver for the suspect in another school shooting, Democrats unveiled legislation to establish a new Federal Gun Violence Prevention Office to help coordinate information about shootings in the United States.Senators Richard Blumenthal, Chris Murphy and Representative Maxwell Frost say the new federal office would ensure cooperation in collecting, analyzing and sharing gun violence data.“We're not winning if gun violence is the leading cause of child death in the United States of America,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said. Dad to homeowner son: Someone selling your house for half price The office would also establish a council of justice department officials, health care professionals and gun violence survivors to help make policy recommendations.Sen. Murphy says doing more to deal with gun violence is cr...

Analytics: Chicago leads U.S. in hours spent in traffic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Even before the three-year construction on the Kennedy Expressway began, Chicago led the nation in time spent in traffic.Chicago is the worst American city when it comes to traffic, according to the mobility analytics firm INRIX. Area commuters lost about 155 hours last year because of traffic. Looking to avoid the Kennedy Expressway construction? Here’s what you should know Thats a 49% increase from 2021, as more people returned to the office for work.Only drivers in London lost more time.

'It's not fair': Some in south Austin upset over new Project Connect options

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When transportation leaders presented Project Connect to voters, it showed a number of different rail lines which connected large sections of Austin. On Tuesday, the plan, revealed by Austin Transit Partnership, showed five scaled-down options instead.At a public meeting, where the new scaled-down plans were presented, some people questioned why some areas of Austin would not be serviced in these new plans. Residents deliver first reviews of Project Connect’s 5 light rail options Jane Parker, who lives in south Austin, said she voted in favor of Project Connect, but now she feels left out. The new plans show two options where the light rail line ends at the intersection of Oltorf Street and South Congress Avenue. Another option shows the rail possibly ending near St. Edwards University."This is not South Austin, this is mid-city to me," Parker said about the Oltorf Street stop. "I understand the budget went out of control, but it seems kind of not totally honest."I...

TikTok sends influencers to Washington as its troubles grow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

By KELVIN CHAN, HALELUYA HADERO and FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — TikTok is ramping up a public relations campaign to fend off the possibility of a nationwide ban by the Biden administration, and it’s bringing some unconventional advocates to help: online influencers. Dozens of TikTok creators — some with millions of followers on the video-sharing app — came to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lobby in favor of the platform, one day before lawmakers are slated to grill the company’s chief executive about concerns over user data falling into the hands of the Chinese government. Shou Zi Chew plans to tell Congress on Thursday that TikTok, which was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence. He will also answer questions from U.S. lawmakers worried about the social media platform’s effects on its young user base. At the ...

Kyle Morell tapped to be new Scandia city administrator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

A city administrator who has worked in Hinckley, Clara City, Columbia Heights and Inver Grove Heights has a new city to add to his résumé.Kyle Morell, Hinckley’s city administrator and city clerk since 2010, on Tuesday was appointed Scandia’s new city administrator. His first day on the job will be April 17.Before taking the job in Hinckley, population 1,930, Morell served as the city administrator in Clara City. Morell, 42, also previously worked as the administrative assistant for the public works department in Columbia Heights and was an administrative intern in Inver Grove Heights.Making the move to Scandia, which has a population of 4,000 people, “just felt like a good move at this time in my career,” Morell said. “I really like the community. It’s got a very nice feel to it.”During his time in Hinckley, Morell said he helped oversee the construction of a $3 million public safety building and worked to update the city’s street infrastructure and water and sewer infrastructure “...

Quilts for Kids celebrates 10 years with 10,000 quilts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:08 GMT

RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y.(NEWS10) Capital Region's local chapter of Quilts for Kids recognizing a monumental achievement in Rensselaer County.Beautiful things are created one stitch at a time, and the volunteers with Quilts for Kids have stitched together thousands of quilts of comfort over the past 10 years for those who need it most. Fonda-Futonville school district reaches agreement with Mohawk Nation to keep Braves name Karen Casey, president and head seamstress, says Sunday marked a special day for her.“We hit the 10,000 mark in March. My goal was for April 3,” said Casey.10,000 quilts requires a lot of material. In fact, it takes 30,000 yards to do so. Karen Plekan has been volunteering her time for nearly five years.“A great way to bring comfort to the kids knowing that you're putting together a quilt that it's going to help them through their difficult times. You know with the surgery or whatever they're going through, or from homeless. It's a nice feeling,” s...