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'Literally shook the ground': Memphis pastor in Israel during attack shares his story

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) – A Memphis pastor who was in Israel to watch his son perform with Bruno Mars when the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas militants started is sharing his story.Pastor Kenneth Whalum Jr. with New Olivet Worship Center in Cordova had been touring Israel for a week and was scheduled to leave the day the first rockets struck.  What to know as war between Israel and Hamas militants rages on for a third day There was a moment of calm Wednesday night as people of all backgrounds, religions, nationalities came together to hear Bruno Mars perform in Israel for the first time. Pastor Whalum Jr.'s son plays in Bruno’s band. "You know they don’t speak English, but they were singing, ‘Just the way you are!’ They were singing the same words Bruno was singing, ‘That’s the way I like it,'" Whalum said. "I’ve never heard Bruno perform so pristinely as he did."That calm was shattered days later when Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel. Pastor Whalum...

Illinois leaders 'unequivocally stands' with Israel amid recent attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

CHICAGO (WMBD) — Leaders across Illinois have spoken out and released statements after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel Saturday.Gov. JB Pritzker spoke during the Jewish United Fund’s Israel Solidarity Gathering, which was held Tuesday. He said he is praying for the men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces."Each step of the way they should know, and the people of Israel should all know, that America and Illinois unequivocally stands with them in their battle to end the ongoing Hamas attacks," Pritzker said.Pritzker also stated that state police and law enforcement have been put on alert for attacks against synagogues and other gathering places for Jews across the state, though no threat has been reported at this time. WATCH: Pritzker gives remarks at Israel Solidarity Gathering U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released a statement on the attack on Saturday.“My heart goes out to the people of Israel as they face these horrific, unconscionable and ongoing coordinated...

Can you take a picture of an eclipse with your phone?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The first of two upcoming eclipses is poised to dazzle Central Texans just before noon on Saturday. Can an eclipse damage your device’s camera? For those keen to snap a photo of the natural phenomenon, University of Colorado at Boulder Astronomer Doug Duncan advised keeping your cell phone camera down unless equipped with the proper gear. “The lens of your camera, the lens of your phone or the lens of your eye will concentrate the sunlight and ruin your camera, your phone or your eye,” Duncan said.  MORE: Solar eclipse takes big stage during ACL weekend two “If you point your camera toward the sun and hold it there for any length of time, you're going to concentrate so much heat, it's going to ruin your phone camera, and you're not going to get a good picture anyway,” he added. How to protect your deviceThere is, however, a way to snap a quality photo of an eclipse without damaging your device. Duncan is a bit of an eclipse hunte...

Isolated, light rain showers possible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Tropical moisture moving over the state is leading to cloudy skies with a few isolated, light rain showers. Skies clear late Wednesday as the moisture exits.Moisture from east Pacific Hurricane Lidia and former Tropical Storm Max is moving over the area off of a southwest wind aloft. This is leading to overcast skies. Rain in our area remains limited, however, with isolated accumulations up to 0.10" from Austin southeastward.A period of dry weather returns from Wednesday afternoon through the coming weekend, but expect some big swings in temperature.Temperatures ramp up quickly to the upper 80s Thursday and potentially the lower 90s Friday. A dry autumn cold front is delaying its arrival locally until Friday afternoon, clearing skies and dropping temperatures for ACL weekend two.Behind the front, we'll enjoy another gorgeous weekend at Zilker Park for music fans. Overnight low temperatures will drop into the 50s for several nights in a row.Annular solar eclipse Satu...

Fentanyl documentary shares Leander mom's loss, set to debut at Round Rock theater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Through the stories of families that have lost loved ones to fentanyl and law enforcement officers trying to respond to the crisis, the documentary "Fentanyl Unlimited" aims to give a vulnerable but unflinching look at the current epidemic and the work still needed to stop it.Stefanie Turner of Leander is a mother turned activist.Since the death of her son Tucker, 19, from a fentanyl poisoning in 2021, Turner has mobilized Texas Against Fentanyl.Turner, along with the group's network of Angel Moms, have visited schools to share their stories of loss and educate students and parents about the deadly drug. The group is also working now to make curriculum that will be taught throughout the Lone Star State. Bill that would require Texas schools to teach fentanyl-awareness passes through House Turner is heavily featured in the documentary, with a scene centered around her son's own accidental overdose.Turner said just months before her son's fatal poisoning, ...

How many registered youth voters are there in Travis County?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Tuesday marks the final day eligible residents can register to vote ahead of the November election -- and there's been a sizeable appetite in new voter registration among Travis County youth voters in the past year.Travis County officials told KXAN there are currently 296,821 registered voters between the ages of 18 and 29. As of the November 2022 election, there were 213,748 registered youth voters -- marking an increase of more than 83,000 in the past year.Overall, there are now 883,449 registered voters residing in Travis County. That figure is slightly down from November 2022's registered voter headcount of 890,316 -- but county representatives clarified the gap extends from a state requirement."After the Nov. 2022 election, we performed the state required voter roll maintenance, so that's why you see a slight decrease in overall registered voters," a spokesperson for the Travis County Tax Office told KXAN. Voter Guide: What you need to know ahea...

Zilker Eagle to start test runs as soon as 'late fall'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for Oct. 10, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Zilker Eagle is on track to start running after years of delays. In an update posted on social media, the operators for the mini-train revealed track repairs are now 90% complete.The post also explained work retrofitting the coaches with air brakes, for safety reasons, is also nearly done. Braking problems in 2022 further delayed the debut of the once-popular tourist attraction. Zilker Eagle train restoration back on track after 10-month delay These developments mean the testing phase will happen in the late fall or early winter. It's not clear how long testing will last. Track erosion due to rain in 2019 caused the old train, the Zilker Zephyr, to shut down. The previous operators were working with Austin Parks and Recreation to repair it, but they couldn’t reach an agreement on a new contract. The former operators then removed the old tracks in August 2020. Since then, the A...

Austin FC on Josh Wolff staying, big picture of team

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The upstart, energetic, contending 2022 version of Austin FC turned in a disappointing 2023 campaign where the Verde and Black missed the playoffs. Questions have been plentiful as to what went wrong and what will be done to remedy the struggles.Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell took over in the summer and made a quick splash in dealing fan favorite Diego Fagúndez to Los Angeles Galaxy. Tuesday, he met with the media and spoke about public pressure and his decision making process as Sporting Director."I can't be dragged by other things," said Borrell. "By comments and things....The one thing I'm going to promise you is I'm going to keep doing what I think is best for the club independent of what people say because it has to be this way."Borrell made it clear when he took over he did not have intentions of coming for Josh Wolff's job as head coach. He doubled down on that in retaining Wolff beyond this season despite the club's struggles."I understand results matter. ...

Karl-Anthony Towns looks decisive in training camp — exactly how Timberwolves want him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

One clear fact from the Timberwolves’ first two exhibition games in Abu Dhabi: Karl-Anthony Towns is starting this season in a much better position than he did the last.Towns looked decisive and fit in the Timberwolves’ two preseason victories over Dallas in the United Arab Emirates.The big man scored 20 points on Thursday and followed that up with 14 points on Saturday, all with limited, preseason-style minute loads. It’s a stark contrast from a year ago, when Towns missed much of training camp with an illness.“I feel good,” Towns said. “World Cup treated me well. Just putting my best foot forward.”That World Cup experience featured Towns carrying a heavy load for the Dominican Republic team that advanced through the first stage of group play.That experience put Towns in an aggressive mindset that he has carried into Timberwolves training camp. It’s exactly the state of mind Minnesota wants the skilled big man to have. A year ago, Tim...

Election 2023: White Bear Lake City Council Ward 3

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

WHITE BEAR LAKE CITY COUNCIL WARD 3Voters in White Bear Lake’s Ward 3 will elect a council member on Nov. 7.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Andrea WestAge: 55What qualifies you to hold this position? I am a long-time resident of White Bear Lake and a nonprofit manager with experience managing people and budgets and have held several volunteer positions in local government. I previously served on the White Bear Lake Housing Task Force and currently serve on the City’s Planning Commission and the Ramsey County Library Advisory Board.What would your top priorities be if elected? My top priorities are enhancing public safety, ensuring...