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Northwestern football hires another assistant ahead of 2023 season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — As the team prepares to play a season under an interim head coach, Northwestern is bringing on another assistant to help the program transition to a new era.This man is going to give David Braun some help on the defensive side of the ball..@NUFBFamily has made official the hiring of D.J Vokolek as a defensive assistant..He was Nebraska’s senior defensive quality control coach in 2023 and was in his first season as Southern Illinois’ defensive coordinator before making the move to Evanston..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/fhAFNy7EhQ— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 11, 2023Northwestern officially hired D.J. Vokolek as a defensive assistant coach on Friday, a little over three weeks ahead of the Wildcats' season opener on September 3 against Rutgers.He's the second coach added to Braun's staff since he was named the interim coach, with veteran Skip Holtz coming on as a special assistant to the head coach. “D.J. brings a wealth of coaching experience to our defensiv...

Can Lahaina's famed banyan tree really survive?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

(KHON2) – After a fast-moving fire razed much of historic Lahaina on Maui's west side Tuesday evening, one of the few iconic landmarks left is the 150-year-old banyan tree, which was scorched but not destroyed.“Banyan Tree in Lahaina smoldering at the base, but still standing,” Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz posted Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Just about the only thing left, other than the Lighthouse.”The colossal banyan, a gift shipped from India in 1873, was just 8 feet tall when Sheriff William Owen Smith planted it to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina, according to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.A banyan tree stands along Lahaina town's historic Front Street in February 2018, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The 150-year-old tree was scorched by a devastating wildfire that started Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, and tore through the heart of the Hawaiian island of Maui in darkness. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott)The tree grew over 60 feet high,...

Wildfire near Lockhart burns estimated 300 acres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grass fire sprang up Friday in Caldwell County, according to the Austin Fire Department, which said crews from Travis County were headed there to help fight it.The fire is near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. It's called the Boggy Creek Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported. MAP: More than 2,500 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year The fire was estimated at 300 acres and is 25% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Shortly before 3:30 p.m., AFD said the fire broke containment lines, and additional resources from Austin and Travis County are en route to assist.Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell C...

Cedar Park man raises money for those who lost their homes in the Palmer Lane fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) – Rob Solis almost lost his home to the Palmer Lane fire Tuesday. That night, he said his fiance called, telling him that their front lawn was on fire and embers were falling from the sky onto their roof.  “I rushed home,” Solis said. “I immediately grabbed water hoses and started putting out fires wherever I could,” he continued. Luckily, his home survived, but it got him thinking about those whose homes did not.   When he saw the flames, “you immediately go to the worst-case scenario – ‘I'm gonna lose everything that I have.’ And unfortunately, there were people in this scenario that did over at the Bexley [at Silverado] apartments,” he said. Solis started thinking of ways he could help those people. He fronts a band, Solis and The Unwritten, and he decided to turn a performance he had planned Wednesday night into a fundraiser. The fundraiser yielded nearly $1,000, and he went searching for families affected by ...

John Shipley: Darryl Strawberry’s St. Paul stay was short, but it definitely left a mark

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

The St. Paul Saints didn’t save Darryl Strawberry, but his brief stay here in the early summer of 1996 stands as a high point in what wound up being — despite addiction, suspensions, cancer and ultimately a short jail term — a splendid baseball career.And a wonderful life. Sober, living with his family in a suburb west of St  Louis, Darryl Strawberry is comfortable in his own skin, preaching the Gospel and sharing his story of addiction and salvation.“There were a lot of opinions saying, ‘Well, let’s see how long this lasts,’ ” Strawberry said Friday from the home dugout at CHS Field. “It’s been over 20-some years that I’ve been preaching, and they’re still waiting for me to come back. … They’re going to be waiting a long time.”Strawberry was in St. Paul on Friday because the Saints are retiring his No. 17 jersey during a ceremony before Saturday night’s game against Louisville. He was only in St. Paul for 29 games in early summer 1996, but it was...

Cannabis rollout remains on pause per judge's order

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (WTEN) -- A legal battle continues over the license to sell marijuana in New York. A group of four veterans claim the current process unfairly kept them out of the running to open up shop, now putting the entire program on pause in the state. Amal Tlaige was in Ulster County Court where a torn judge weighed the balance of what to do next.Before court started – current licensed retailers gathered outside the Ulster county court house to voice their concerns about this process. Inside Court, the hearing lasted two hours, weighing the impact of what’s right and how to move forward. First responders urge caution around Fawn’s Leap following several recent rescues Up for debate is the qualifications for how marijuana dispensary licenses are issued. Currently, applicants had to be previously convicted of a marijuana related offense and have some experience owning and operating a business in New York. The veterans suing argue that under the Marijuana Regulation a...

Unusual jet stream pattern keeps severe storms looming around St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The stormy weather pattern slamming the St. Louis region since early July isn’t going anywhere just yet. So far, the month of July and the beginning of August have been the main culprits for a pattern known as a "jet stream."Jet streams are relatively narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, jet streams form when warm air masses meet cold air masses. An unstable jet stream could also lead to severe heat waves or, like recently, excessive amounts of rain and storm threats. St. Louis County prosecutor not licensed attorney, must resubmit 114 cases “We’ve been kind of stuck in a pattern that’s more reminiscent of late May and June," said Jayson Gosselin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. "The jet stream is not in Canada like it’s supposed to be, it's more in our neck of the woods." The jet stream is the main driver of many recent storm systems. When i...

CU Buffs have high expectations for re-stocked receiver room: “Multiple of us can go for 1,000 yards.”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

BOULDER — It’s been a few years since the Buffs aired it out, but according to the CU wideouts, that’s all about to change this fall.Last year, the Buffs ranked 118th in the nation at 172.9 passing yards per game. The year before that, they were 126th (131.3). Now with nearly all-new personnel, the Buffs pass-catchers believe quarterback Shedeur Sanders is ready to rack up yardage in his first year in offensive coordinator Sean Lewis’ up-tempo system.“We’re trying to be one of the best (passing games) in the country,” receiver Xavier Weaver said. “(Shedeur) can do a whole lot with the receivers he’s got. Multiple of us can go for 1,000 yards. That’s how big the expectation is this year.”If Weaver’s bold prediction comes true, it would mark just the second time in program history CU had more than one 1,000-yard receiver, with the first instance coming in 1992. That year, Charles E. Johnson (1,149) and Michael Wes...

Denver homebuyers see some relief as closed price-to-list price ratio drops

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

With a near-record low number of homes available in the Denver metro in July, it’s still officially a seller’s market. Still, some buyers are seeing a little relief as the closed price-to-list price ratio dropped slightly below 100%.“Anecdotally, listing agents aren’t seeing the bidding wars from 2021 and early 2022 or the strong offers with no contingencies,” says Colleen Covell, a member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors market trends committee and realtor at Mile Hi Modern.“Burdened with high-interest rate loans, buyers feel entitled to take their time, wait for the best home to suit their needs, and then negotiate for all necessary repairs and seller concessions.”According to the monthly report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, July’s housing market continued to be sluggish, with only 6,299 active listings at month’s end, a 4% increase over June’s 6,071. Historically, the average number of active ...

Possible stolen van driver in custody after leading CHP officers on slow-speed chase in South Bay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

The driver of a possibly stolen van is in custody after leading authorities on a slow-speed chase in Los Angeles County's South Bay Friday afternoon. The chase began around 2:10 p.m. on the southbound 710 Freeway from the Pacific Coast Highway, according to the California Highway Patrol.By 3 p.m. the van was leading authorities on surface streets in Torrance and soon made its way to Redondo Beach, aerial video from Sky5 showed. The driver continued slowly through Manhattan Beach and then Hermosa Beach, and maneuvered through traffic while several CHP units remained in tow.The driver of a possible stolen ditches the vehicle after a slow-speed chase on Aug. 11, 2023. (KTLA) Just before 3:30 p.m., however, the driver ditched the van and ran out into a cul-de-sac on George Freeth Way in Redondo Beach before getting down on the ground and being taken into custody by officers, aerial video showed.