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Illinois, fresh off bowl trip and 8-win season, has 'unfinished business' as opener draws near

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

By most measures, the 2022 season was a good one for the Illinois football team.The Illini finished 8-5 in coach Bret Bielema's second year after 10 straight losing seasons, placed second in the Big Ten West, played in a bowl game for the first time since 2019 and had four NFL draft picks.Losing four of the final five games, including the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State, left a sour taste.“We’ve got a lot of unfinished business,” Bielema said. “But I like where we’re at. I love the influx of talent. I’ve never felt more engaged with our roster. I like the way the players are being developed and coached, and the way the players are reacting to our coaches."Receiver Isaiah Williams said this is the most confident team he’s been on in his five years at Illinois.“But we also have a chip on our shoulder,” he said. “We had a good season last year, but we left a lot of wins out there.”Williams came to Illinois as a quarterback. He switched to receiver after the 2020 season and ha...

Northwestern coach says he's 'really confident' Wildcats will be cheered at home despite scandal

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern interim coach David Braun says he's “really confident” the Wildcats will hear more cheers than jeers, at least at home. He expects a warm reception for the first game at Ryan Field despite a hazing and abuse scandal that has also engulfed other men's and women's teams at the school.“I certainly hope that this community, our alumni, all those that are associated with Northwestern University and Northwestern athletics will come out and show full support for 103 young men that have worked their butts off over the course of the last four weeks and have come together to do something really special,” Braun said Wednesday. “To be honest with you, I'm really confident that that's exactly what's gonna happen."Northwestern opens the season with a Sunday afternoon game at Rutgers on Sept. 3, and hosts UTEP six days later.The Wildcats know they could be in for some pointed taunting when they go on the road this season. How they'll be received at home is also i...

How Vivek Ramaswamy went from biotech millionaire to GOP candidate

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

(NewsNation) — Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, is now the youngest major Republican presidential candidate after acquiring a significant fortune during his twenties and thirties.On the campaign trail, he focuses on "anti-woke" policy. Ramaswamy has said the United States has become a place full of “victims” and that the country has lost its purpose and its focus on faith, patriotism, hard work and family. How Vivek Ramaswamy is pushing — delicately — to win over Trump supporters Born in Ohio to immigrant parents from India, he earned a biology degree from Harvard University and then finished a J.D. at Yale Law School. Ramaswamy has no prior experience in politics. He spent his twenties investing in pharma companies at hedge fund QVT Financial and made partner when he was 28, Forbes reports. Forbes estimates his net worth is at least $630 million. He has accumulated a fortune thanks to his biotech firm Roivant Sciences, which he launched nine years ago. Ramaswamy joined NewsNation on Monday n...

Lawsuit says Brita misled users about ability to filter out 'forever chemicals,' more

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles claims that water filtration company Brita allegedly misled users about the ability of its popular products to remove a number of hazardous contaminants from tap water, including "forever chemicals," or PFAS, which may cause cancer.The proposed class action suit claims that Brita, by "falsely, misleadingly, and deceptively marketing" their products "sought to take advantage of consumers' need for safe and clean drinking water." Drinking water from nearly half of US faucets contains potentially harmful chemicals, study finds The lawsuit alleges that while Brita claimed their filters would reduce numerous contaminants, including mercury, chlorine, lead, benzene, copper "and more" for "cleaner, great-tasting water," the company mislead consumers by omitting some of the "highest risk, notorious, or prevalent contaminants," such as PFAS, arsenic, nitrate and uranium, among others.PFAS, which have been linked to a number of serious il...

Amid wildfire aftermath, should you travel to Maui?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) -- The fires on Maui have created a chaotic situation. At this point, recovery crews are sifting through the ashes to locate bodies and to determine the extent of the damage, both to life and property. This has led to a bit of chaos when it comes to whether or not you need to travel to Maui for a holiday or vacation.So, should you continue with your plans and go to Maui? Continuing coverage of the Hawaii fires The best answer is that it depends on where you are going.According to the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, there is a great deal of chaos swirling around both the short-term and long-term impacts of the fires. "There’s still too much uncertainty to accurately assess the condition of the affected areas, let alone the state of the visitor industry or the status of specific hotel properties and attractions," said Mufi Hannemann, President and CEO of HLTA. Where will Maui students, teachers go? As of Wednesday, Aug. 16, Maui County officials p...

Kyle Rittenhouse launches nonprofit with far-right Texans as he ramps up political engagement in the state

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Kyle Rittenhouse, the right-wing activist who was famously acquitted of killing two Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020, is stepping up his involvement in Texas politics.Already this year, he’s rallied with a Texas secessionist movement leader, endorsed ultraconservative midterm candidates, and railed against Texas gun control legislation and the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.Now, Rittenhouse is creating a nonprofit in the state — with help from well-connected, far-right political actors.In a July 23 filing with the Texas secretary of state’s office, he described “The Rittenhouse Foundation” as a nonprofit that “protects human and civil rights secured by law, including an individual’s inalienable right to bear arms” and “ensures the Second Amendment is preserved through education and legal assistance.”The foundation’s directors are Rittenhouse, Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt and Shelby Griesinger, treasurer for Defend Texas Liber...

Hoosic Valley to form committee to transition to new mascot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

HOOSIC VALLEY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- As students go back to school in a month, one school district is looking for help with its logo. Hoosic Valley Central School District has chosen "Hawks" as its new mascot, and now the district is asking for help in several areas of the name change. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The district is looking to form a committee of 20 people consisting of students, staff, and community members. The committee will be responsible for logo design and rebranding.Additional information, including the committee sign-up survey, can be found on the district's website.

Construction on new water well moving forward in Hoosick Falls

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Construction will soon begin on an alternate water system in Hoosick Falls. The system will be located on McCaffrey Street. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the next phase of the project is to protect the new well from flooding and damage by installing erosion control measures.A new plan to transition to the new wells was approved by the village board of trustees earlier this year but could take a couple of years to be completed.

New doughnut shop officially opens on Lark Street

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new doughnut shop with a memorable name officially opened its doors on Wednesday. A ribbon cutting was held for Birchin' Donuts, located on Lark Street in Albany.The woman-owned business has been offering plant-based doughnuts and coffee and is now serving breakfast sandwiches, salads, wraps and more. The owner's first restaurant, Birch Bark Eatery, opened in Lake George in 2018 and moved to Glens Falls a year later. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Owner Tania Sharlow said she's excited to be part of the Albany business community."One of the things about moving to Lark Street and opening up here is we were immediately inundated with people coming by and saying 'thank you' and 'welcome to the neighborhood,'" she said.The business owners also encouraged people to continue supporting businesses on Lark Street as construction continues on a redevelopment project.

Endangered person advisory: Hazelwood man missing for a week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:04:57 GMT

HAZELWOOD, Mo. – The Hazelwood Police Department has issued an endangered person advisory for a man who disappeared exactly one week ago.According to a statement, the incident occurred in the 1000 block of Pinecone Trail, at 9 p.m. on Aug. 8.Authorities say James Steen Jr. left his home, took cash from an ATM, and told family members that he would harm himself if located. Police cite a history of depression.Steen, 33, is described as 6’0” tall and 190 pounds, with brown hair and blues eyes.Anyone with information on Steen’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately or the Hazelwood Police Department ate 314-838-5000.