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21st annual WGN Morning News drive-thru toy drive, presented by AARP Chicago, held Friday, December 8

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

The WGN Morning News Drive-Thru Toy Drive celebrated its 21st year!  On Friday, December 8, viewers were invited to drive up and drop off new, unwrapped toys at the WGN-TV Studios, located at 2501 W. Bradley Place in Chicago (near Addison & Western). Toy donations will be accepted December 7-10th at participating Jewel-Osco locations.  This year’s toy drive will benefit Christmas in the Wards and Off the Street Club.MONETARY DONATIONS ARE ALSO WELCOME! Via WGN-TV Family Charities, a McCormick Foundation fund, all donations will be matched at 50 cents on the dollar.  With WGN-TV and the Foundation paying all campaign and administrative expenses, 100% of all donations, plus the match, are granted to qualified nonprofit organizations.  WGN-TV will accept financial donations through December 31, 2023.TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION - Viewers are encouraged to donate at:https://www.mccormickfoundation.org/partnerships/wgn-toy-drive/Text TOY to 97999 (message and data rates may...

Actor Ryan O'Neal, star of 'Love Story,' 'Paper Moon' and 'Barry Lyndon,' dies at 82

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ryan O'Neal, the heartthrob actor who went from a TV soap opera to an Oscar-nominated role in "Love Story" and delivered a wry performance opposite his charismatic 9-year-old daughter Tatum in "Paper Moon," died Friday, his son said.“My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us,” Patrick O'Neal, a Los Angeles sportscaster, posted on Instagram.Attempts to reach O'Neal representatives were not immediately successful.He did not give a cause. Ryan O'Neal was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, a decade after he was first diagnosed with chronic leukemia. He was 82. “My father, Ryan O’Neal, has always been my hero,” Patrick O’Neal wrote, adding, “He is a Hollywood legend. Full stop.”O'Neal was among the biggest movie stars in the world in the 1970s, who worked with many of the era's most celebrated directors including Peter Bogdanovich on “Paper Moon” and Stanley Kubrick on "Barry Lyndon. He often...

SmileDirectClub ends operations 'effective immediately,' but what about the customers?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – After a bid to resurrect SmileDirectClub – the mail-based orthodontics services company – failed to find willing investors, the company announced Friday it was winding down its global operations "effective immediately."It's likely unwelcome news for many customers, especially those who will still have to make payments despite no longer being able to receive aligners or customer care."For new customers interested in SmileDirectClub services, thank you for your interest, but aligner treatment is no longer available through our telehealth platform," the company said in a statement on its website. "For existing customers, we apologize for the inconvenience, but customer care support is no longer available." Are you owed money from the $3 million Credit Karma settlement? The company referred anyone seeking care to consult with a local doctor or dentist.SmileDirectClub said it has cancelled it's lifetime guarantee, along with all outstanding orders for aligners, but anyone o...

'Love Story' actor Ryan O'Neal dead at 82

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

(KTLA) — Actor Ryan O'Neal famous for his Oscar-nominated role in "Love Story" and starring in "What's Up Doc?" has died. He was 82.He passed away on Friday, according to a lengthy three-post tribute on Instagram from his son, Patrick O'Neal.In this March 19, 2011 photo, actor Ryan O'Neal arrives at The Genesis Awards benefiting the The Humane Society in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, file)"So this is the toughest thing I’ve ever had to say but here we go. My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us," Patrick wrote on Friday to the social media platform. "This is very difficult for my wife Summer and I, but I will share some feelings to give you an idea of how great a man he is."The actor was diagnosed with chronic leukemia in 2001 and prostate cancer in 2012, according to The Hollywood Reporter.He's the father of actress Tatum O'Neal, whom he starred alongside in the 1973 film "Paper Moon." The actor was ...

More Americans say Hamas bears brunt of responsibility for war in Gaza: Survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

(The Hill) — More Americans say they believe Hamas is mostly responsible for the war in Gaza compared to the Israeli government, according to a new survey.The Pew Research Center poll results, released Friday, show that a majority of respondents across the political spectrum — 65 percent — agree that Hamas shares more responsibility for the conflict. However, Democrats (50 percent) are more than twice as likely as Republicans (21 percent) to say the Israeli government also bears a lot of responsibility.Roughly 20 percent of Americans said Palestinians are responsible for the war and 13 percent said Israel is at fault. Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley sentenced to life without parole The war in Gaza, now two months old, has sparked fears over a new large-scale war in the Middle East and has split the opinions of many Americans, especially Democrats. The Biden administration has strongly backed Israel in the conflict. While most Americans approve of the decision, fewer su...

Man indicted on murder, several charges for deadly November 2021 shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was indicted this week on multiple charges, including murder, in connection to a November 2021 shooting, according to court records.A Travis County grand jury indicted William Morin on charges of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, unlawful possession by a felon and deadly conduct discharging a firearm, court documents said.Francisco Chavez, 41, was shot and killed after a family gathering in southeast Austin on Nov. 28, 2021, in the 4700 block of Cypress Road. That's near Nuckols Crossing Road in southeast Austin. Morin allegedly shot at Chavez and other people when a disturbance happened after the family gathering, according to the Austin Police Department. Chavez later died from his injuries on the scene.KXAN has reached out to Morin's attorney and will update this article if we receive a statement.William Morin had prior convictionsMorin was also previously convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault with a ...

Ken Paxton asks Texas Supreme Court to stop Dallas woman from getting an abortion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the state Supreme Court to intervene and stop a Dallas woman from having an abortion.Paxton’s office petitioned the high court just before midnight Thursday after a Travis County district judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing Kate Cox, 31, to terminate her nonviable pregnancy. Paxton also sent a letter to three hospitals, threatening legal action if they allowed the abortion to be performed at their facility. PAST COVERAGE: Judge allows Texas woman to have abortion for fatal fetal diagnosis, challenging state ban This is the first time an actively pregnant adult woman has gone to court to get an abortion since before Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. A similar case was filed in Kentucky on Friday.In the petition, Paxton asked the Texas Supreme Court to rule quickly, saying that “each hour [the temporary restraining order] remains in place is an hour that Plaintiffs believe themselves free to perform...

Westlake has been waiting all season to get another shot at North Shore in state semifinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Last season, Galena Park North Shore ended the nation's longest active winning streak in high school football after beating Westlake in the 6A Division I semifinals at Rice Stadium in Houston.This season, the teams meet again at 3 p.m. Saturday at The Pfield with a spot in the state championship game on the line, and the Chaparrals have been thinking about this one for a while now. Wimberley’s state title game goal within reach, mighty Bellville run game standing in the way "This one has been in the back of our minds for a year now," Chaps head coach Tony Salazar said. "A year ago, we didn't get the results we wanted and the kids have used it as motivation. Our biggest senior class led us to this moment and we've got a top-notch coaching staff. I couldn't be more proud of everybody that helped get us here."The game will be broadcast on KBVO.The Mustangs have as dynamic of a passing attack as the Chaps have seen all season, led by junior quarterback Kaleb Bailey. He...

Vikings guard Ed Ingram is questionable; fellow guard Blake Brandel would be next man up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

After being a full participant in practice at the start of this week, starting guard Ed Ingram has been a limited participant for the past couple of days. It was enough for the Vikings to officially list Ingram as questionable with a hip injury heading into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.Asked for more details, head coach Kevin O’Connell said Ingram developed some soreness and the Vikings wanted to give him some extra time to recover heading into an important game. If Ingram is unable to play this week, backup guard Blake Brandel would slide into his spot on the offensive line.“We were able to get Blake a good amount of reps” in practice, O’Connell said. “We’ve been getting Blake ready to go each week as kind of that next man up.”Jefferson has no restrictionsNotably, star receiver Justin Jefferson did have an injury designation, though that should not come as a surprise given the way things have played out. ...

Judge acquits St. Paul man in Alex Becker fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:48 GMT

A St. Paul man was acquitted Friday in the killing of 22-year-old Alex Becker, who was shot six times in the alley behind his North End house after walking home from work last December.Ramsey County District Judge JaPaul Harris found Shaun Lamar Travis, 26, not guilty of second-degree intentional murder for aiding and abetting in the death of Becker, who prosecutors say was ambushed Dec. 27 in an apparent robbery by Travis and his two accomplices.Becker’s mother, Tara Becker, cried as she walked out of the courtroom with family and friends.Detwan Cortell Allen, 19, of St. Paul, and Arteze Owen Kinerd, 21, of Minneapolis, have also been charged with aiding and abetting in Becker’s murder, and have pleaded not guilty. Allen’s jury trial began Monday before Judge Paul Yang.Travis, of Brooklyn Park, waived his right to a jury trial. A bench trial before Harris ran from Oct. 25 to Nov. 6, with the prosecution and Travis’ attorney filing their written closing arguments Nov. 29.Becke...