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Record-setting Sherpa guide sets a new climbing goal for the world’s highest peaks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A Sherpa guide who climbed the world’s 14 tallest mountains in record time is eyeing another record, looking to become the youngest person to scale all those peaks twice. Tenjen Sherpa, 35, and Norwegian climber Kristin Harila, 37, shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains more than 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet) high when they topped Mount K2 in Pakistan late last month. The previous record was 189 days, and the pair did it in 92 days.Instead of taking a long break, Tenjen intends to start working toward his new goal by joining an expedition to scale Mount Shishapangma in China within the next couple of months. “I have already done (it) once and I want to double it,” he told The Associated Press in Kathmandu on Wednesday. “It is now my new target to be the youngest to scale these peaks twice.”The only other climber to have completed a second round of the 14 peaks is Sanu Sherpa, who is now 48 years old.Tenjen has already climbed ...

How much you need to make to be in Illinois' top 1%

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

(STACKER) — American wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated at the very top of the economic ladder. The top 1% of families hold over a third of the total wealth in the U.S. – up from 27% in 1989 – according to a Congressional Budget Office report from 2022. The bottom half of all households, meanwhile, control just 2% of the total wealth. But who's in this group of ultra wealthy taxpayers? Nationally, households that make $652,657 are considered among the top 1%. They earn more than eight times as much as the median household, which sits around $75,000.  Someone in Florida wins $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot, third-largest lottery prize in US history However, the 1% threshold varies from state to state, ranging from as much as $953,000 to as little as $368,000. In Illinois, a household needs to make $660,810 per year, a number which ranks the state as #9 for what it takes to make the cut. SmartAsset analyzed data from the IRS and Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine ...

75-year-old veteran with stage 4 cancer loses home in Texas wildfire

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Michael Hinz and his son Travis walked through smoldering devastation on the land where they just lost their Texas home of 45 years. "It's just total devastation. It's just torn down to the bare ground," Hinz said. Their home is now a pile of ash and rubble that was engulfed by flames in the Oak Grove wildfire on Saturday.Michael (right) and Travis Hinz (left) stand in front of their burned down home. (KXAN Photo)Michael (right) and Travis Hinz (left) stand in front of their burned down home. (KXAN Photo)Hinz, 75, is a veteran and has stage four prostate cancer. He said his family got him out of the house just in time."My daughter and son-in-law just came out to pick me up, and they noticed smoke, and they said, 'We got to get out of here, because we don't know which direction it's going to go.'"The family said they didn't expect the home to be totally lost to the fire. "Sunday afternoon after church, we came out expecting to see that the fire had moved o...

People fleeing Hawaii wildfires pulled from ocean

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Wildfires in Hawaii fanned by strong winds burned multiple structures in areas including historic Lahaina town, forcing evacuations and closing schools in several communities Wednesday, and rescuers pulled a dozen people escaping smoke and flames from the ocean.The U.S. Coast Guard responded to areas where people went into the ocean to escape the fire and smoky conditions, the County of Maui said in a statement. The Coast Guard tweeted that a crew rescued 12 people from the water off Lahaina.The county tweeted that multiple roads in Lahaina were closed with a warning: “Do NOT go to Lahaina town.”Fire was widespread in Lahaina, including Front Street, an area of the town popular with tourists, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a phone interview early Wednesday. Traffic has been very heavy as people try to evacuate and officials asked people who weren’t in an evacuation area to shelter in place to avoid adding to the traffic, she said.The National Weath...

No jail for owner of Michigan meat processing company after teen loses hand in meat grinder

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge declined to impose any jail or probation for the owner of a Michigan meat processing company after a teenage worker lost his hand in a 2019 incident with a meat grinder.The owner of US Guys Processing, 55-year-old Darin Wilbur of Saranac, was ordered Tuesday to pay a $500 fine, a $500 cost, two fees totaling $143 and any residual restitution owed to the young employee.The victim, who was 17 at the time, lost his hand in November 2019 while operating a meat grinder under Wilbur's supervision, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.The AG’s Office said Michigan Wage and Hour Division investigators found that the teen was employed illegally under the state’s Youth Employment Standards Act and that he didn’t have the work permit needed for people under 18.In June, Wilbur pleaded guilty to employing a minor in a dangerous profession. Child found under Florida roller coaster track with traumatic injuries, officials say During Wilbur's sentencin...

VIDEO: 7 spider monkeys discovered in backpack near southern Texas border

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Seven spider monkeys were discovered in a backpack by border patrol agents in Brownsville, Texas, authorities said, resulting in one arrest.Footage released by the US Border Patrol’s RGV Sector shows the animals huddled in a backpack which appears to have air holes punched through. People in Hawaii flee into ocean to escape wildfires that are burning a popular Maui tourist town US Border Patrol said the monkeys were discovered during an arrest at Fort Brown Station, in Brownsville. The animals were handed over to US Fish and Wildlife.Spider monkeys live in rainforests from central Mexico to Bolivia.Credit: US Border Patrol RGV Sector via Storyful

WGN Pat Tomasulo's wife on debilitating facial condition, 9th annual 'Laugh Your Face Off' fundraiser

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Amy Tomasulo, the wife of WGN's Pat Tomasulo, joined the Morning Show Wednesday to talk about the 9th annual "Laugh Your Face Off" comedy fundraiser event.Back in 2015, the Tomasulos created the event to fund research for trigeminal neuralgia — a very rare, facial pain condition that Amy has. It is a debilitating facial condition that doctors classify as "the worst pain known to man." There is currently no cure for it.Since their annual fundraiser kicked off, it has raised over $3.1 million for research.The next "Laugh Your Face Off" is on Sept. 23 at the Park West and tickets are on sale now.For tickets, go to: laughyourfaceoff.orgLove the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

WATCH: Bears swim in pool, enjoy summer day in Southern California

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

SIERRA MADRE, Calif. (KTLA) – Video captured a mama bear and her two cubs enjoying a summer day of activities in Sierra Madre, California, on Tuesday.The bears were first spotted near a café around noontime, witnesses said.The trio were then seen roaming around town before jumping into a pool to enjoy a refreshing dip at an apartment complex.They later climbed trees in the area before sniffing around a few front gardens and then heading back home towards the mountains.Video captured a mama bear and her two cubs enjoying a summer day of activities in Sierra Madre on August 8, 2023. (RMG)Video captured a mama bear and her two cubs enjoying a summer day of activities in Sierra Madre on August 8, 2023. (RMG)Video captured a mama bear and her two cubs enjoying a summer day of activities in Sierra Madre on August 8, 2023. (RMG)Video captured a mama bear and her two cubs enjoying a summer day of activities in Sierra Madre on August 8, 2023. (RMG)Video captured a mama bear and her two cubs ...

'Hobo hunting': 2 men arrested in connection with homeless woman's death in San Diego

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) — Two suspects arrested in connection with the May murder of a homeless woman in California pleaded not guilty in court this week.Ryan Hopkins, 19, and William Innes, 18, were arrested at separate San Diego residences last Thursday amid a homicide investigation related to the death of 68-year-old Annette Pershal, who authorities say was found unconscious in the city's Serra Mesa neighborhood on the morning of May 8. She died three days later.Prosecutors say Pershal was shot with a pellet gun about five times while she was sleeping. On the day of the crime, prosecutors also alleged that Innes sent an incriminating text to about 150 members of a group he belonged to — one which performed dangerous stunts at intersections."I'm going hobo hunting with a pellet gun," the text read, according to prosecutors. Neighbor charged in fatal shooting of 9-year-old; witnesses say he was upset over noise Pershal was homeless at the time and was sleeping at an encampment in Serra ...

Cedar Park brush fire now 50 acres, 60% contained; apartment building destroyed

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:54:53 GMT

Editor's note: The City of Cedar Park has updated the location of Red Cross shelter operations to the Hill Country Bible Church CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — A grass fire still burning Wednesday destroyed a building containing 24 apartments and damaged another building, according to the latest update from Cedar Park leaders. During a news conference Wednesday morning, Chief James Mallinger with the Cedar Park Fire Department said the fire spread from the grass Tuesday into a tree and jumped to the building. The fire also damaged three other buildings in the same complex. However, crews are going to allow the people who live in those affected buildings to return home Wednesday morning. MAP: Acres burned in Central Texas wildfires this year The Texas A&M Forest Service shared the Parmer Lane Fire burned an estimated 50 acres and is now 60% percent contained. It also said in a social media post on Wednesday morning that dozer crews made progress overnight with building a containmen...