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Heavy rains flood Chicago roads, NASCAR ends downtown street race and names winner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Heavy rains flooded Chicago streets Sunday, trapping cars and forcing NASCAR officials to cancel the last half of an Xfinity Series race set to run through the city’s downtown.The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for multiple counties in the Chicago area, saying up to 6 inches of rain had already fallen in suburban Cicero and Berwyn by midday.The Illinois State Police said portions of Interstate 55 and Interstate 290 have been closed due to flooding, with at least 10 cars trapped in water on Interstate 55 near Pulaski Road, a major north-south thoroughfare in the city, WLS-TV reported. Trains were stopped in some portions of the city as well. NASCAR officials had planned to complete the last half of an Xfinity Series race through the city’s downtown on Sunday morning after suspending action on Saturday due to lightning. They announced around midday Sunday they had decided to cancel the race due to the rain and declared Cole Custer the ...

How to keep your car seats cooler in the summer heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Hopping into a car on a hot summer day can rattle even the most unflappable among us. While undoubtedly uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous too. On warm days, cars can quickly heat to deadly levels, even with the windows partially down. For parents wanting to reduce heat levels so kids don’t burn themselves on car seats, meteorologist Kristen Currie with Nexstar's KXAN shared a few tips. White towelDrape a white towel over darker-colored seats or car seats to keep them a little cooler, as black absorbs the most heat of any color. ‘Extreme threat’: Large swathe of southern US at dangerous ‘wet bulb temperature’ The towel can also prevent the seat buckle from heating up and burning you or your child. Cooling towelsYou might look into investing in cooling towels to take from your home to your car when headed out. These towels can remain cold for longer than cloth towels and can lower a person’s body temperature in extreme heat.Sun ShadesKeep sunshades and wid...

What’s keeping rental car prices so high?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

(NerdWallet) - The typical cost of renting a car in the U.S. has increased 48% since May 2019, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In other words, a car that cost $100 per day four years ago would now cost $148 per day.Believe it or not, prices have dropped recently, with year-over-year costs falling 12%, according to BLS data. But that drop has done little to undo the sky-high prices that emerged during the pandemic.“The traditional car rental industry had to trim down their supply significantly during COVID,” says Albert Mangahas, chief data officer at Turo, a car-sharing platform. “This led to a rental car crunch when all the rental car demand came back.”Flights are 5% more expensive than they were in May 2019, and hotels are up 15% over the same period, according to the May 2023 BLS report. These prices are somewhat higher, but nothing like the 48% increase in rental car prices.Why have these prices remained so stubbornly high?» Learn more: 10...

ROK, once a Nordic-Japanese eatery turned taco bar, is now a music venue and cocktail lounge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

ROK, located in the Schmidt Brewing Rathskeller on West Seventh, is reinventing itself once again — this time, as a music venue and cocktail bar.It opened in 2021 as a Nordic- and Japanese-inspired fine dining restaurant. Earlier this year, citing food costs and uncertainty surrounding its lease, the eatery pivoted to a taco concept.Now, owner Travis Wycislak said, they’re done with food altogether. Chef Adam Prince has rejiggered the cocktail menu, and Wycislak has booked a slate of music acts including local musicians Corizine and Bobby Rethwish.The change is perhaps not as sudden as it seems: The two men met at a concert about six years ago and music has always been a shared passion, Wycislak said. They’ve long talked about running a music venue, he said, and have occasionally booked musicians to perform after dinner service.“It felt like a natural conceptual pivot that was already there, that was already being enjoyed,” he said. “Just with the space that we have here, it feels l...

Troy Police investigating shots fired

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Police are investigating a shots fired incident that occurred on Saturday night in Troy. There are currently no reports of anyone being struck by gunfire. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! At 9:15 p.m. on July 1, officers responded to the area of VanBuren Street and 2nd Street for a report of multiple shots fired. Police discovered evidence upon arrival, and were able to confirm the call as legitimate after speaking with witnesses. An initial investigation revealed that a group of shooters had allegedly fired at a passing vehicle in what is not believed to be a random act. Police say there is currently no evidence that would indicate there was an exchange of gunfire. Multiple officers injured in Coxsackie prison melee This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Troy Police Department at (518)270-4411.

Denver had its rainiest June in the last 150 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

Denver residents just experienced the rainiest June in the city in at least the last 150 years, according to the National Weather Service at Boulder.The city received a whopping 6.10 inches of rain and broke a 140-year-old record for June rainfall. That was set in June 1882, when the city received 4.96 inches of rain in June, the weather service said. The agency started keeping records in 1872.Usually, average June rainfall tops out at about 1.94 inches, said National Weather Service meteorologist David Barjenbruch.“We were over three times the amount of normal precipitation for the month,” he said.Additionally, the total rain in May and June this year — 11.63 inches of rain — was the rainiest the city has ever been in those two months, going back to the start of the weather service’s record keeping in 1872, Barjenbruch said.“(That’s) nearing our normal annual precipitation, almost, and we’ve had that in the last two months,” he said. ...

Avalanche extend Jack Johnson, Evan Rodrigues signs with Panthers in free agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

The Avalanche signed veteran defenseman Jack Johnson to a one-year, league-minimum contract extension Sunday, but they aren’t bringing back top-six forward Evan Rodrigues next season.Rodrigues agreed to a four-year deal with the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. His average annual value was reported to be $3 million, a sturdy boost in salary and term from his one-year, $2 million contract in Colorado.Coming from Pittsburgh, Rodrigues scored 39 points (16 goals) in 69 games for the Avs last season. He was one of only four forwards on the roster to gather five points in Colorado’s seven-game first-round playoff series.Johnson, 36, has become one of the organization’s most trusted depth pieces. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022, he signed a one-year deal with Chicago but was brought back to Denver before the trade deadline in February.With Sunday’s developments, seven of the Avalanche’s eight unrestricted free agents (excluding two-way players) have s...

Iranian exiles look forward to their country’s freedom, with strong international support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

A global summit convened in Paris by the National Council of Resistance of Iran has been told by its President-elect, Maryam Rajavi, that the mullahs’ dictatorship in Tehran is teetering on the brink of collapse. In a speech relayed to a mass demonstration in the centre of Paris, she predicted the imminent downfall of religious fascism in her country, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Iranian exiles gathered in Paris determined to salute the bravery of the internal resistance in their homeland, often led by young women and girls. The National Council of Resistance of Iran also wanted to show itself ready to bring freedom and democracy to a country that has endured more than forty years of the mullahs’ rule, preceded by the equally ruthless dictatorship of the Shah.NCRI President-elect, Maryam RajaviThe Council’s President-elect, Maryam Rajavi, told the vast crowd that foreign governments must stop appeasing the mullahs and in effect supporting them. The Iranian people would themse...

Why have traffic fatalities increased in California when more people are leaving the state?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

In recent years Californians, known for their grumbling about traffic, housing costs, and the overall quality of life, have made good on their promises to leave the Golden State for more affordable alternatives.However, the effect of having fewer people in the state hasn’t stopped traffic fatalities from increasing, according to a recent study. Angelenos who make $70,000 a year are still considered ‘low-income’ A report published by TRIP, a transportation nonprofit research organization, found that traffic fatalities in California have increased by 22% from 2019 to 2022. Researchers also found that the likelihood of being killed in a traffic crash increased by 28% during that same time frame.Other data, like studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, echoed similar conclusions. The NHTSA reported that traffic fatalities hit a 16-year high across the country in 2021. The TRIP report also looked at traffic fatalities on a national level and found that traffic f...

The 2023 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury SUV

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

What is a LX 600? The LX 600 is a full size luxury SUV built and sold worldwide by Lexus. Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, the 2023 LX 600 shares its Tundra based platform driveline, and in addition to possessing massive go anywhere capability, it has a very high level of luxury appointments as Lexus’s new flagship SUV.Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries worldwide and is Japan’s largest selling maker of premium cars. It’s ranked among the 10 largest Japanese global brands in market value.The 2023 Lexus LX 600 base price is $89,160 in the entry level base trim and is way above the luxury class starting price of $75,000. The three mid level model trims range from $97,110 up to $105,110. The top of the line Ultra Luxury Edition starts at $129,405.This week Lexus sent me a 2023 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury Edition SUV to test drive and review. The base price for this Ultra Luxury mod...