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WATCH LIVE | Chicago area elected officials, community groups react to federal approval of major railroad merger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

The first major railroad merger in more than two decades will go forward after federal regulators approved Canadian Pacific’s $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern.The two are the smallest among the nations seven major railroads, but their coupling will create the only railroad linking Canada, Mexico and the United States. The approval Wednesday by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board comes after an arduous two-year review. Railroads are under intensifying scrutiny following a fiery crash that forced evacuations in Ohio last month. The Transportation Board said that the new direct service "will facilitate the flow of grain from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast and Mexico, the movement of intermodal goods between Dallas and Chicago and the trade in automotive parts, finished vehicles, and other containerized mixed goods between the United States and Mexico."The combined company will have little to no track redundancies or overlapping routes, and is also expected to add more t...

Amid high cost of living expenses, Jack in the Box launches 'free rent' sweepstakes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

(KTLA) – Jack in the Box wants to help its customers pay next month’s rent.As the cost of living continues to increase, mainly due to high inflation, the fast-food company announced plans to pay a month's worth of rent for for five lucky customers during a promotion for its new Mint Mobile Shake, which is a collaboration between Jack in the Box and Mint Mobile, a cellphone company partially owned by actor Ryan Reynolds.More specifically, Jack in the Box is offering a chance to win one of five $3,000 grand prizes "to be used towards the winner’s monthly rent," according to the sweepstakes rules.An image of the Mint Mobile shake, a collaboration between Jack in the Box and Mint Mobile. (Jack in the Box) To enter for a chance to win the "free rent sweepstakes," customers can sign up for Jack in the Box’s Jack Pack Rewards program and purchase a Mint Mobile Shake between March 15 and 31 on the Jack in the Box app, or online. Those interested in entering without making a purchase can als...

Where the Bulls stand in the playoff race with a month left in the 2022-2023 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

CHICAGO - It's been a very inconsistent season with more good than bad over the last few months that may have changed the trajectory of this core of the team. But as the team looks ahead to the final month of their season, one of their key goals still remains in play: The NBA Playoffs. With 15 games to go, the Bulls are currently tied with the Wizards for the 10th and final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. It's not ideal, since the teams was able to bypass that tournament last season with a 45-37 record and get the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.But the chance exists for the Bulls to play in the postseason for the second-straight season, something they haven't done for eight years. Should they get there, they would have the shot to play for the seventh or the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. As far as moving up in the play-in tournament, the Bulls are a game behind the Raptors for ninth, two games behind the Hawks for eighth, and 4 1/2 games behind the He...

Dunkin' discontinues a signature beverage after 23 years on the menu

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Boy, is Ben Affleck gonna be upset when he hears about this.Dunkin’ has announced that the coffee chain is “retiring” its Dunkaccino beverages after 23 years on the menu, confirming the news in a statement obtained by TODAY earlier this week."As we focus on innovation and finding new ways to delight guests, we continually evolve our menu in an effort to deliver a fast, frictionless experience,” the Massachusetts-based chain said in an emailed statement also shared with Nexstar. “The Dunkaccino is retired for now, but there’s always the chance for its return in the future."A representative for Dunkin's customer service department, speaking with Nexstar, added that the drink was actually discontinued in April 2022, though many locations have continued to sell the beverage while ingredients were still in stock. Starbucks to begin selling coffee infused with olive oil The drink, which debuted in 2000, has been described by Dunkin’ as a “unique blend of coffee and hot choco...

Giant hornet nest on City of Georgetown land keeps residents away from backyard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A giant hornet's nest hangs near a backyard fence belonging to the Grace family. The threat of it falling and cracking open has kept the family out of the space for months now and they haven't found a service willing to remove it.The pale-gray and white nest is about the size of a basketball and looks almost like it could be made out of paper mache.The hundreds of furry-buzzing bodies that crawl over its surface gave the hidden hive away to Monica Grace after leaves on the host tree fell off this winter.She reached out to KXAN via ReportIt to raise awareness about her hornet-removal struggles.The nest is on property owned by the City of Georgetown, according to Williamson Central Appraisal District records.KXAN.com reached out to the city about this issue, it encouraged any residents dealing with a similar nest to hire a private contractor to remove it.Grace said she has tried doing just that, but to no avail. She said that one company declined to perform ...

'Secret' Austin-area aerospace company, awarded $112M contract by NASA

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 15, 2023.CEDAR PARK, TX (KXAN) - An Austin-area space transportation company will be heading to the dark side of the moon. Firefly Aerospace announced this week they've been awarded a contract by NASA to deliver goods to the far side of the moon as part of the space agency's return to the surface.The contract has an estimated value of $112 million and will include multiple deliveries. According to representatives with Firefly, this mission will debut the company's Blue Ghost spacecraft.The craft will land on the furthest lunar landing site, located on the "dark side of the moon." This is the side of the moon that does not face the Earth. Communications on this side of the moon are challenging.Part of Firefly's mission will be the delivery of the European Space Agency's Lunar Pathfinder satellite. According to the ESA, this satellite will assist with communications around the moon as missions to the surfa...

St. Paul to purchase first fully-electric fire truck in state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

St. Paul will be the first fire department in Minnesota with a fully-electric fire truck, the mayor and fire chief announced Wednesday.Rosenbauer, a design and manufacturing company, has started the build process for St. Paul’s truck and delivery is expected by 2025. It’s planned to coincide with the completion of a new Fire Station 7 on the East Side.The city is submitting federal funding requests to support the purchase. Information wasn’t immediately available Wednesday about the cost of the fire truck.“It brings us all the critical green energy benefits of an electric vehicle, while meeting the high safety and efficiency standards we have for all our fire equipment,” Mayor Melvin Carter said in a statement.The city’s “Climate Action & Resilience Plan” focuses on achieving carbon neutrality in city operations by 2030 and citywide by 2050. “In addition to furthering climate goals, this investment helps reduce diesel emissions and...

St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday in St. Paul will march through downtown, end at Mears Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held Friday in downtown St. Paul starting at noon at Rice Park and proceed to Rice Park.Marchers wear an Irish flag during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown St. Paul on Thursday, March 17, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)After the parade, the Saint Patrick’s Association Inc. is holding an event — 2023 Ballpark Hooley — at nearby CHS Field. At 1 p.m. there will be live music by The Serfs and Northerly Gales, Irish dancers, as welll as the CHS Field concourse beer specials and food. Proceeds from ticket sales go towards funding future St. Patrick’s Day parades and area charities.General admission for the Ballpark Hooley is $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Children under 5 can attend for free. There also will be a VIP luncheon for $50, which includes general admission, an Irish buffet lunch, and cash bar with St. Paul’s Irish Royalty at CHS Field’s heated Securian Financial Club. For more information go to: w...

Mayo Clinic study: Minnesota’s death rate rose 17% during first year of pandemic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

ROCHESTER — A recent Mayo Clinic study finds that Minnesota’s death rate increased by 17% in 2020. Predictably, COVID-19 was a major contributor to mortality, but deaths of despair also grew during the first year of the pandemic.The study, published Monday in BMC Public Health, used death certificate data provided through the Rochester Epidemiology Project and compared the 89,910 deaths recorded in 2018 and 2019 to the 52,030 deaths in 2020.“One out of every 10 deaths in the state was due to COVID,” said Dr. Rozalina McCoy, an endocrinologist, associate professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic and the study’s lead author. “That’s a lot. It’s one of the major leading causes of death.”While COVID-19 played a big role in that 17% increase in mortality across the state, McCoy’s team found that “deaths of despair” also increased in 2020. For this category, the researchers looked at overdoses and accidental poisonings, assault ...

County will allow hamlet landowners to keep livestock on their property

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsLethbridge County Council has approved changes to the Animal Control Bylaw which allows hamlet landowners to keep a limited number of livestock on their property, depending on the size of the land parcel.The changes to the Animal Control Bylaw was born out of a bylaw enforcement measure in 2022 where cattle were found on a residential acreage in the hamlet of Iron Springs. The bylaw permits the keeping of animals within hamlets based on parcel size with a maximum limit of five animal units.A delegation in 2022 brought the matter before council where it was noted that livestock were not permitted on properties within hamlet boundaries, regardless of the size of the land parcel. Accompanying this was a request for council to review the Animal Control Bylaw and consider amendments which would allow for a small number of “animal units” on residential parcels within hamlets which met certain land requirements.Following the delegation, administration brough...