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8 injured in smoky blast at Pennsylvania chocolate factory

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

WEST READING, Pa. (AP) — Firefighters battled a blaze in Pennsylvania Friday after an explosion at a chocolate factory injured eight people and sent a plume of black smoke into the air above West Reading.Berks County fire crews remained on the scene at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant Friday night about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. But few other details have been released.Tower Health spokeswoman Jessica Bezler said eight people were taken to Reading Hospital Friday evening. Two were admitted in fair condition and five were being treated and would be released, she said in an email to The Associated Press. She said one patient was transferred to another facility, but provided no other details.The explosion occurred shortly before 5 p.m. in a building at the plant at Second Avenue and Cherry Street. Debris covered roads in the area, NBC10 in Philadelphia first reported.Reading Hospital is among several hospitals in Tower Health’s regional healthcare network, its websit...

Community supporting man injured after driver crashes into Crystal Lake restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — The family of a man hit by a driver while inside a Crystal Lake restaurant said he suffered the most severe injuries with a broken leg.It happened Thursday at the Buffalo Wings and Rings, which was closed Friday and boarded up. 4 hospitalized after car crashes into Crystal Lake restaurant Danae Zaitz said she and her husband, Mike, went to the Buffalo Wings and Rings for an early dinner.It was around 5:30 p.m. when the hostess was about to seat them."We started to walk past the booths and all of a sudden we turn and we see this car come barreling through the windows and then like the whole world stopped," Danae said.Crystal Lake police said the driver of a Nissan Altima was parking the car when he drove over the sidewalk and went barreling into the building."I felt a shove, he shoved me out of the way so I like skipped," Danae said. "He pushed me and I turned around and he wasn't there."Danae said her husband of 22 years saved her life and nearly sacrificed h...

Winter Storm Warning issued for Lake, McHenry and Kane counties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

We may have had the first day of Spring but winter weather isn't over yet.A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Lake, McHenry and Kane counties starting at 4 a.m. Saturday and lasting through 1 p.m. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Strong winds and Heavy snow is expected with accumulations of 5 to 8 inches.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Kane and Cook counties from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches is possible. Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Paul Lisnek on Chicago's mayoral race, Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Political Analyst talked about the latest endorsements and news in the Chicago mayoral election.He also talked about the latest news involving former President Donald Trump.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesWatch the video in the player above for the latest news.

Florida lawmaker appears to get trolled with fake names during hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida state representative was tricked into reading several raunchy fake names during a House Civil Justice Subcommittee hearing on Monday.Republican Chairman Will Robinson was holding the public testimony portion of fellow GOP state Rep. Tiffany Esposito’s bill on residential tenancies when he began to read off the names of citizens who were opposed to the bill. Massive seaweed blob begins to wash up in South Florida Seemingly without notice, Robinson began reading off the provocative names."Anita D---," Robinson said, pausing to scan the room as the woman next to him covered a grin, "is an opponent."Republican Chairman Will Robinson (The Florida Channel)"Holden His---- is also an opponent," he continued, again scanning the room for an opponent. "Waives in opposition."The lighthearted gaffe was quick to circulate on social media where some wondered if the gag would remain in court records for the rest of time."This is forever in the Florida records, right...

Dylan Disu, star Texas Longhorns forward, injured early in 1st half of Sweet 16 vs. Xavier, won't return

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns forward Dylan Disu was sidelined with a foot injury just two minutes into Friday's Sweet 16 matchup against Xavier at T-Mobile Center.Coming into the game, Disu was nursing a bone bruise on his left foot and tried to play through it. While trying to grab a rebound underneath Xavier's basket, teammate Dillon Mitchell accidentally poked Disu in the eye and then Disu came down awkwardly on it. 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/newslettersHe then went to the bench, took off his shoe, and then headed to the locker room with the training staff. He emerged a few minutes later with a walking boot on and went to the bench. He will not return to the game, the school said.Disu had a career-high 28 points on 14-for-20 shooting in the second-round win over Penn State 71-66, carrying the Longhorns on a rough shooting night from the perimeter. Disu has be...

Lake LBJ community divided on proposed sand dredging operations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

KINGSLAND, Texas (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority announced this week that an application on one of two sand and gravel processing plants on Lake LBJ is complete, after hearing from the public the LCRA decide whether to grant access to the lake.Collier Materials Inc. has submitted four applications for permits on its proposed Kingsland I Sand and Gravel Processing Plant and Kingsland II Sand and Gravel Processing Plant.The company's applications state it wants to dredge the lake to collect sand and gravel with which it will process and turn into material eventually to be used to make things like cement.The LCRA said only the application for the Kingsland II Sand and Gravel Processing Plant has been complete on the administration side of things.Now, the matter is open for public comment to be submitted in person, online or by mail.The LCRA said it may hold a public meeting on the application but a request from the public must be made for that to happen.The people of Lake L...

Louisiana worker fired, arrested after video shows him pee in drinking water supply

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

ASCENSION PARISH, La. (BRPROUD) - An employee at the Donaldsonville water plant in Ascension Parish, La. was fired after he was caught on video surveillance urinating into the water supply, officials said.Parish officials said authorities learned about the incident on Wednesday, March 22 and the employee was terminated by 2:45 p.m. that afternoon and arrested by the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office identified the employee as Michael Mastin, 57, and charged him with two counts of contaminating water supplies and two counts of criminal damage to critical infrastructure.Parish President Clint Cointment said as soon as his administration found out about the illegal act an investigation was initiated and the report came back credible. Cointment immediately authorized Mastin's termination, and he was arrested.The incident did not put the public in danger, Cointment said. In a news release, he emphasized that all water samples taken to date are in good standing and ...

Flood potential rising in De Soto as rain continues to fall 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

DE SOTO, Mo. - In 2016, boats were needed to rescue and transport De Soto residents who lived just a few hundred feet from Joachim Creek.Today, in 2023, Susan Liley is trying to make sure that never happens again. Liley helped co-found the Citizens Committee for Flood Relief, a non-profit meant to help people living in flood-prone neighborhoods."When we flood, we are isolated," Liley said. Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions After the 2016 flood, most of the people living near the creek moved, fearing another one might happen again. Liley said she is doing whatever she can to make people aware of the potential flooding."We've had three people die, and if I stop, I will never be able to live with myself again," she said.Lily met with former Missouri Governor Jay Nixon on Thursday to get more eyes on the situation in De Soto.She is working with another non-profit, Buy In, the city of De Soto, and FEMA to give people living in flood-prone neighborh...

Missouri lawmaker shares concerns over sports betting bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:25 GMT

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- A Kansas City-area state lawmaker is weighing in on the sports betting bill that just passed the Missouri House on Tuesday."No bill is smooth in the Senate," Republican State Sen. Denny Hoskins said in an interview with FOX4 on Friday. Hoskins said he'd like to see a sports book bill get passed. "But I want to make sure that it is a fair bill that is supported by all of Missourians and doesn't cause more harm than good," he said.Hoskins talked to FOX4 on Friday at the Missouri Veterans Home in the city. The group gets no money under the bill that just passed the house. Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions Hoskins has been a big supporter of VLTs, or Video Lottery Terminals, which are already in some gas stations and truck stops. He wants VLTs to be legalized or regulated because a bill with that in it would support veterans' homes. In downtown Kansas City, out-of-town fans at the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 woul...