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16 states, DC currently under poor air quality alerts - here's when things will change

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Residents in more than a dozen states are currently blanketed in hazy skies and poor air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires moves through the Midwest and Northeast. For many, the worsening air is expected to stick around for at least another day. As of Wednesday afternoon, five U.S. cities - Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. - rank among the 10 metropolitan areas with the worst air quality in the world, according to IQ Air. Toronto, Canada, had the worst air quality at 186 AQI (air quality index). Areas in the U.S. are worse though. Decatur, Illinois, 40 miles east of Springfield, had the worst air quality in the country - 282 AQI - as of 4 p.m. ET, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow. Cities from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin also had AQIs over 220. Amid wildfire smoke and sweltering heat, don’t overlook this button in your car Many of the Midwestern cities that have had high AQIs for much of the week are expecte...

Glen Ellyn police searching for missing and endangered woman; car last seen in Naperville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. — Glen Ellyn police are searching for a missing and endangered woman whose car was last seen Tuesday in Naperville.According to the Glen Ellyn Police Department, Lauren Irby, 72, was reported missing on Tuesday but was last heard from on Thursday. Delphi documents: Richard Allen told wife he killed girls; investigators believe knife used in murders Her car, a 2021 sliver Kia Soul, was last seen Tuesday in Naperville, according to police. The car has Massachusetts license plate 1MEJ87.Irby is described as being about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 148 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Glen Ellyn police at 630-469-1187.

A look at Chicago's No. 1 overall picks in pro sports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

CHICAGO — It's not too often that a major Chicago professional sports team gets the chance to select a player with the No. 1 overall pick in that league's draft, so Wednesday is a special day.The Blackhawks hold the top selection in the 2023 NHL Draft which will be conducted in Nashville at 6 p.m., where the team is expected to pick center Connor Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick. So how many times have Chicago teams had the chance to select at the spot? It's not been as much as one would think, and one team, the Chicago Sky, never have in the WNBA Draft.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Blackhawks - 2 times - 2007 & 2023The only other time the Blackhawks had the No. 1 overall pick was in 2007 when they selected forward Patrick Kane. Like 2023, it came after the team won the lottery, and it turned out to be arguably the greatest selection in franchise history to this date.Kane was one of the faces of the team that made the playoff nine-straight years and won three Stanley Cu...

Trial date set in Nate Paul federal case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 28, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) – A federal judge has set a date for jury selection, trial and a plea-deal deadline in the criminal case of Nate Paul, the Austin real estate investor linked to allegations against suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to federal court records.Paul, 36, was indicted on June 6 on eight felony counts related to making false statements and false reports to credit unions and mortgage lending institutions, according to federal records. He has pleaded not guilty. Explore: Who is Nate Paul — the Austin real estate investor charged with 8 federal counts Jury selection and the trial are now set to begin Aug. 14, and any plea agreements must be entered by July 28, unless there is “good cause shown for the delay,” according to an order signed by Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra on June 27.One of Paul’s attorneys, Gerry Morris, previously told KXAN that Paul denies all the alleg...

Is an Airbnb 'collapse' happening in Austin?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A viral tweet by the CEO of Austin-based Reventure Consulting claimed the city's Airbnb reservations are collapsing, with revenue down by 46.1%; however, another data firm claimed its data shows a much smaller decline over the past year.AirDNA, the company arguing against Reventure Consulting's claims, provided KXAN with their results alongside Reventure's published numbers:AirDNA said it could not speak directly about the claims made by Reventure Consulting CEO Nicholas Gerli but did say its team could not replicate his results.KXAN reached out to Gerli for his analysis and response to AirDNA but has not yet received a reply.Airbnb's revenue up in Q1 Airbnb does not provide its data to third parties, citing federal law -- as a publicly traded company, they only release metrics during their quarterly reports. The company did not provide data to support or discredit either group's claims."The data is not consistent with our own data," Airbnb said in a statement, "As ...

Madonna bacterial infection could change when she performs in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After news broke about a health scare, Madonna fans may have to wait a while longer before they can see her perform again in Austin. The legendary singer's manager, Guy Oseary, posted on social media Wednesday that Madonna will postpone the start of her "Celebration" tour and reschedule shows after suffering from a "serious bacterial infection." He said Madonna had to stay several days in an intensive care unit after developing the infection on June 24. "Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care," Oseary wrote in his post. "A full recovery is expected." He added Madonna "will need to pause all commitments, which includes the tour." The schedule initially had her kicking off the tour in Vancouver on July 17. She planned to perform two concerts at Austin's Moody Center on Sept. 21 and 22. "We will share more details with you as soon as we have them, including a new start date for the tour and for rescheduled shows," Oseary's Instagram post conclu...

FAA investigation opened after Allegiant flight close call at AUS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 28, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Allegiant plane preparing to land at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Monday had to "initiate a climb due to a small aircraft in proximity," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement to KXAN. The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident.The FAA said the closest proximity between the aircrafts was 1.6 miles and 200 feet. FAA investigating after planes nearly collide in close-call landing at Austin airport A passenger on Allegiant flight No. 1500 told KXAN the plane "took a very extreme dip down, causing incredible pressure inside the cabin."The passenger, who requested anonymity, said they were traveling from Cincinnati (CVG) to AUS and landed around 8:30 p.m. Monday.An AUS spokesperson said investigations of incidents between aircrafts were handled by the NTSB. The National Transportation Safety Board said there was no information available at this...

Former Elgin mayor pleads guilty to theft charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Mayor of Elgin, 38-year-old Christopher Cannon, pleaded guilty to a theft of property charge June 20, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. The charge was a third-degree felony.“From January 27, 2015, through August 21, 2019, Mr. Cannon, a licensed insurance agent, acquired payments from the company Baker’s Backhoe Services but failed to submit those payments to obtain insurance policies,” the DA’s office said. RELATED: Business owners speak out after former Elgin mayor accused of stealing from them Cannon was indicted in April 2022 by a Travis County grand jury and arrested by the Elgin Police Department in May 2022. According to the DA’s office, the Texas Department of Insurance investigators assisted with the arrest.Cannon’s attorneys responded to KXAN’s request for a statement, which can be read in full below.Chris Cannon deeply regrets his actions that lead to the charges filed in this case. He hopes his guilty plea provides some cl...

Gordon, Campbell named All-Americans by Baseball America

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas juniors Lucas Gordon and Dylan Campbell were named All-Americans on Wednesday by Baseball America.The publication released its list of top NCAA Division I ballplayers with Gordon on the second team and Campbell on the third team. MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersGordon was named the Big 12 pitcher of the year this season with a 7-2 record and a 2.63 ERA in 102.2 innings. He struck out 103 hitters and walked just 34 while holding opponents to a .226 batting average. It's Gordon's second All-American distinction having been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association second team June 15. Gordon was also named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Central Region first team, making him eligible for All-American status by that organization. Texas baseball finishes top 10 in one of five national polls Campbell set a Big 12 ...

Pflugerville named 'most livable small city' in Texas in new study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:11 GMT

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — A new study names Pflugerville as the 'most livable small city' in Texas. The city ranked 31st on the nationwide list.The study, by SmartAsset, looked at 275 cities across the country with populations between 65,000 and 100,000.Each city was ranked based on various factors, including the number of bars, restaurants and entertainment establishments, housing costs, unemployment rates and average commute times.Here are the top 10 'most livable' small cities in Texas, along with their national rankings, according to the study:31: Pflugerville56: Atascocita61: Flower Mound77: Mansfield78: Spring81: North Richland Hills118: Cedar Park138: Leander141: Georgetown150: BaytownOf the 275 cities in the study, San Marcos was the lowest-ranked in Texas, at #270 nationally.Redmond, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, ranked #1 nationally, ahead of neighboring city Sammamish. Novi, Michigan, near Detroit, ranked third.