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Who's on top?: U.S. News releases latest college rankings after formula change

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

(The Hill) — U.S. News & World Report released its 2024 best college rankings list after making changes to how it would evaluate schools following criticism.Changes to the ranking formula included focusing on social mobility and outcomes for graduating students, such as how many students on Pell Grants graduate from a particular school. U.S. News also kept some of the more controversial aspects of its formula, such as having universities give peer evaluations of each other. “For 40 years, students and their families have come to count on Best Colleges as a vital resource as they navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives,” said Eric Gertler, executive chairman and CEO of U.S. News. “The significant changes in this year’s methodology are part of the ongoing evolution to make sure our rankings capture what is most important for students as they compare colleges and select the school that is right for them.”The new rankings showed little changes at the top. Pr...

Late owner of Murphy's Bleachers honored by city this weekend

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

CHICAGO — The late owner of a popular establishment in the shadow of Wrigley Field received a posthumous honor from the City of Chicago on Sunday. It's another way in which Beth Murphy will be remembered around Wrigleyville for years to come. A new addition to Waveland Avenue outside of Wrigley Field..It’s now honorary “Beth Murphy Way,” named after the late owner of @murphysbleacher, who died in April..The sign was unveiled on Sunday..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/x3ApMKXoWM— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) September 17, 2023Beth Murphy, the late owner of Muphy's Bleachers who died this past April after a long battle with cancer, was given an honorary street sign during a ceremony on Sunday. Her sign is up outside of the bar at 3655 North Sheffield Avenue, right below the West Waveland Avenue sign across the street from the Wrigley Field bleacher entrance. Her sign is on the same pole as the one for her husband, Jim Murphy, who received the same honor following his death in 2003 on S...

Illinois to stop decades-old testing for DDT and other pesticides

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) -- The state will stop testing for organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT, in fish from Illinois lakes and rivers.The Illinois Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, made the announcement on Monday and noted such chemicals have been banned for decades.Illinois has been testing for them since 1974 because they are “environmentally persistent” and can build up in the tissue of fish and other animals. But as levels have diminished to nearly zero over the past 50 years, the agencies opted to stop testing. Ospreys, still threatened in Illinois, are making a comeback Testing for other contaminants in fish, including methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), will not be affected by these changes.“The progress made in improving the safety of fish found in Illinois waterways is an incredible victory for public health and a testament to the success of sensibl...

Chicago Animal Care and Control waiving adoption fees through September

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago Animal Care and Control's fee-waived adoption event this past weekend was such a success that they're running it back. CACC on Monday said they are extending its fee-waived adoptions through the end of September.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAsking locals to "Fall in love and adopt," the Chicago animal control service looks to keep the momentum going in hopes of finding furry friends new and forever homes. Located at 2741 S. Western Ave. on the city's Lower West Side, CACC is open daily from noon through 7 p.m. The agency asks anyone interested in adopting to arrive at the center before 6 p.m.

Missing kayaker arrested in Georgia after allegedly faking death in Louisiana

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

ST. CHARLES PARISH, La. (WGNO) — An Oklahoma man was arrested in Georgia on Sunday after he allegedly faked his own death in August during a kayaking trip in Louisiana.St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said Melvin Emde, 41, of Talihina, Oklahoma, was reported missing by his son just after 12 a.m. on Aug. 7. He had reportedly gone overboard and drowned while kayaking on the Mississippi River near Matis Road.The next day, Champagne said deputies learned that Emde was wanted on indecent liberties with a child and statutory rape of a child charges in Brunswick County, North Carolina. He was due in court the same day. NOPD investigating homicide after man found dead in car in Algiers "We immediately became quite suspicious that this may have been a faked accidental drowningand death in order for Mr. Emde to escape charges in Brunswick County, North Carolina.However, we could not publicly expose our suspicions for fear of tipping him off," said Champagne. According to Champagne...

Senate expected to vote on bill targeting credit card swipe fees

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Lawmakers are pushing to pass the Credit Card Competition Act, which they say would cut credit card swipe fees. From groceries to gas, any time you use a credit card there's a swipe fee. Visa and Mastercard own around 80% of the U.S. credit card network. Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall say they're taking advantage of their size to make tens of billions of dollars on the swipe fees each year. "Every time you swipe your card, every time, the Visa Mastercard duopoly and wall street mega banks line their pockets," Marshall said. "Merchants have no choice but to accept these outrageous fees if they want to have credit cards used by their customers," Durbin said.  Lawmakers push to separate disaster relief funding from aid for Ukraine The lawmakers are working across the aisle to try to pass the Credit Card Competition Act. The bill would make large banks use at least one credit card network outside of Visa or Mastercard. "Our...

Hays CISD considers affordable housing for employees

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- Employees with Hays Consolidated Independent School District could get more options for affordable housing. At Monday's Hays CISD school board meeting, trustees will take up an agenda item regarding a formal agreement between the district and the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation regarding affordable housing for Hays CISD employees. "Hays CISD is committed to being an unrivaled employee-friendly organization. As the cost of living continues to rise, the district would like to explore options to provide more affordable housing options for its staff," the agenda item stated. According to the item, the foundation is a Texas nonprofit that provides, "economic development, education and workforce housing opportunities for Texas residents."It said a partnership with the foundation could help Hays CISD employees access rental housing at "significant discounts from market rent."Growing trendHays CISD isn't the only district taking these kinds of steps. Pfluger...

Mixed reactions: Texas leaders, political figures respond to Ken Paxton acquittal

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a nearly two-week long trial, the Texas Senate on Saturday acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment he faced. Paxton originally faced 20 articles of impeachment, but Senators only weighed 16 of the 20 articles of impeachment approved by the House in late May. Here’s how each Texas senator voted in the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton A two-thirds majority — 21 senators — was needed to convict Paxton on each count. If he had been convicted on at least one of the counts, the suspended attorney general would have been immediately removed from office.Various political figures have released statements or taken to social media to commend the Senate and Paxton or voice their disapproval of the outcome of the trial. Governor Greg Abbott on Saturday issued a statement following the Texas Senate's verdict in the trial:The jury has spoken. Attorney General Paxton received a fair trial as required by the Texas Constitution. Attorney General...

How to repair cracked driveways after Central Texas rainstorms

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Last week's rainstorms across Central Texas were a welcomed reprieve as the region continues to battle "exceptional" drought conditions. While many greeted the rain with open arms, there is one drawback to it: cracks in your driveways.Texas-based business Pavement Services said cracks are some of the main causes behind asphalt failure. Water can sink into cracks beneath the asphalt, which can contribute to asphalt failure and structural support issues within the roadway or driveway. Asphalt supplier Jackson Asphalt said water wears down paved surfaces and can wash away any gravel or sand base within the asphalt. As a result, that can cause the top surface layer to "become distorted," which eventually gives way to cracking."New asphalt dries hard but retains some flexibility which is lost over time; one crack is all it takes," Jackson Asphalt said.Company officials said property owners should remove debris from any and all cracks in their driveway and repair them with...

Gophers football team’s new black uniforms riled up some fans

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:16 GMT

It continues to be a rite of the Gophers football season: The team wears a new and unique alternate jerseys, and the fashion choice riles up a segment of the fan base.The latest example was Minnesota wearing primarily black helmets, jerseys and pants for their 25-6 victory over Eastern Michigan at Huntington Bank Stadium on Sept. 9.Head coach P.J. Fleck was asked a question about the colors on Monday — two days after his team lost 31-13 to North Carolina. In Chapel Hill, Minnesota wore more traditional white road jerseys, with maroon numbers, maroon pants and the added flair of chrome gold helmets with a old-school Goldy logo on one side and the standard block M on the other.“Our traditional colors are maroon and gold, period,” Fleck said. “Always will be. No one is taking that away.”Fleck then gave the example of traditional programs such as Ohio State and Florida incorporating black uniforms on top of jerseys with their regular colors.“No offense to any of us,” Fleck continued. “I...