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The Chicago Masters of the Pizza Toss

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

CHICAGO — From deep dish to tavern style, Chicago is known as one of the country's premiere pizza cities with over 500 restaurants sprawled across the city."Chicago scene offers some amazing choices," said Executive Chef Fabio Viviani of the Bar Siena in West Loop. "From New York Style to Italian style, to Napoleon style. There is every pizza for every mood. Every day of the week. You can find in Chicago."Most bustling pizza businesses say speed is key to delivering the dish, but there are two primary methods to preparing the dough.  A press machine is the modern tool used for speed and to stretch the dough into a uniform thickness. Hand tossing is the traditional way of preparing pizza that has been around for thousands of years. "Pizza is really near and dear to everyone's heart," said Jason Hedin, Executive Chef at The Florentine. "No matter what culture you come from, there is some sort of take on pizza."When it comes to the art of pizza-making, Jaime Gamez, owner of Big G's Piz...

CPD: Man wanted in connection with deadly West Side shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are asking for the public's help as officers search for a man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting on the city's West Side. According to Chicago police, a search is underway for 44-year-old Kenneth Brown, a man who police say is linked to the deadly shooting of a 34-year-old woman in the 500 block of North Long Avenue, in Austin, on Dec. 13.  Architecture & Design Film Festival returns to Chicago in 2024 Officers say there is an active warrant out for Brown's arrest and Area Four detectives are seeking help in their search. Brown stands 6-foot-3 and weighs around 200 pounds and authorities warn anyone who may come into contact with him not to approach, as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who recognizes Brown or comes into contact with him is advised to call 911 immediately. Naperville man sentenced to 10 years for attempted murder of wife Authorities are asking anyone with information about Brown to contact Area Four Detective Joz...

MLB rule changes: shortened pitch clock, widened runner's lane

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Major League Baseball's 11-man competition committee adopted a number of rule changes Thursday, which included widening the runner's lane going to first base, while also shortening the pitch clock in different situations.When it comes to the new pitch clock rule, the time limit for pitchers to deliver a pitch while runners are on base will be shortened from 20 seconds down to 18, in an effort to continue to speed up games, as evidenced by the implementation of the pitch clock last season.According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, the strategy behind shortening the pitch clock even more from last season was backed by the idea to get the seven-ish minutes back that accumulated at the end of games from April to September.Average game length by month in 2023:April — 2:37May — 2:38June — 2:39July — 2:41August — 2:41September — 2:44The new runner’s lane overrides a rule that has existed since the National League mandated in 1882 that runners must be within the 3-foot box on the foul side...

Black leaders call on UT Austin ahead of Sugar Bowl to stop playing 'Eyes of Texas'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Ahead of the Jan 1. Sugar Bowl, where the Texas Longhorns will face off against the Washington Huskies, some Black leaders have once again called upon the University of Texas to stop playing “The Eyes of Texas,” which they say is racially offensive. The Texas NAACP and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus sent a press advisory Thursday saying, “This song should not be given a national audience.” MORE: Texas NAACP, students file federal civil rights complaint over UT-Austin’s ‘Eyes of Texas’ “On January 1, 2024, much of the nation will be focused on [UT] and the two games that will take place that day. There will be many in attendance from schools and affiliations who are not with the University of Texas, and many persons watching television who will be supporting other college teams,” the press advisory read.“[The University] should not play or utilize this racist song in any way at the game or as part of any official festivities regarding the College Football P...

Fridley woman dies after hit-and-run; she also had been shot, police say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

An 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead after a hit-and-run report Thursday afternoon in Fridley. Investigators determined that she also had been shot, according to the Anoka County sheriff’s office.A 17-year-old male is in custody in connection with the death.The sheriff’s office gave the following details:Shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday, police and emergency workers were called to the 4500 block of Third Street Northeast in Fridley on reports of a pedestrian who had been injured in a hit-and-run crash.Life-saving measures were performed on Jayden Lee Kline, of Fridley, who was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.“Law enforcement has determined that the victim had suffered a gunshot wound,” the sheriff’s office said.Officials have not stated the cause of the woman’s death and they said no further information would be made available Friday.Later Thursday, a 17-year-old male was taken into custody, although he had not been formally charge...

‘The Color Purple’ review: An exhilarating, larger-than-life journey

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Like its central character, Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple” has had a long journey. Published in 1982, this lyrical story of a poor Black woman’s eventual triumph over an abusive husband and a seemingly uncaring world became a movie directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985, and then a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2005. And here it is, transformed again: a new movie, based on the stage musical but featuring some new songs, directed by filmmaker/musician Blitz Bazawule.Let me just repeat a key word in that previous sentence: This is a capital-M Musical, complete with big songs and enormous dance numbers and larger-than-life emotions — and it’s often irresistibly exhilarating, as the best musicals can be. I haven’t seen the stage version of “The Color Purple,” but I can absolutely imagine what an impact it would have on an audience, how Miss Celie’s journey would sweep you up and carry you to a higher, more joyful place. That’s basically what happen...

Rosemount City Council unanimously approves Meta data center on UMore Park land

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

The Rosemount City Council approved the final site and building plan Thursday night for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to build its $700 million data center.Jimnist LLC, a subsidiary of Meta, received unanimous approval to move forward with its data center at UMore Park, which is expected to bring in 1,000 construction jobs and support at least 50 on-site jobs.The project, previously code named Project Bigfoot, met resistance from residents who expressed concerns about environmental impacts, a lack of transparency and Meta as the end-user of the data center.Councilmember Tami Klimpel said as a resident of the area, she also had concerns, but “every one of those is addressed in the proposal ahead of us today and then some,” she said Thursday.Having done her due diligence, including reaching out to towns like Altoona, Iowa, to learn about how a Meta data center impacted their community, Klimpel said she is proud to support the project.The sale of the 280-acre parcel at UMore Pa...

Tax evasion charges brought against Stillwater masonry business

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Sixteen charges have been filed against a Stillwater masonry business after its owner was accused of tax evasion and failing to pay wages to its employees, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced this week.A complaint was filed against Todd A. Konigson in connection with his operation of Stillwater Masonry Restoration, Inc.Authorities began to investigate Stillwater Masonry after receiving reports that the business was failing to pay wages in a timely manner and failed to “comply with other obligations owed to its employees” and also failed to “fulfill contractual obligations for small businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations in and around the Twin Cities.”During their investigation, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office uncovered six lawsuits against Konigson and Stillwater Masonry alleging that the business had failed to pay workers, subcontractors and vendors. At least three of the lawsuits resulted in a judgment against either Koni...

Appellate court reverses conviction in 2018 death of local state trooper

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Aaron Munise, 37, of Johnstown. He was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for fatally rear-ending off-duty State Trooper Jeremy VanNostrand in November 2018. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The court ruled that prosecutors failed to prove that 37-year-old Aaron Munise had committed criminally negligent homicide. Prosecution and defense agreed that the crash was VanNostrand's fault--although he hit the brakes and slowed from 60 to 45 miles per hour, he couldn't prevent the crash. The decision hinged on the severity of the crime."A failure to brake, without more, does not constitute criminal negligence," the decision reads. "Defendant's unexplained failure to perceive the victim's vehicle, careless as it may have been and tragic as its results were, is insufficient to establish the necessary blameworthy conduct for defend...

24 adoptions finalized in Edwardsville just days before Christmas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - We all know there's no place like home for the holidays. With that sentiment in mind, Friday was a very special day for 24 children in foster care. Many children joined their forever families on Friday after their adoptions were finalized at the Madison County Courthouse. This was the sixth annual adoption day celebration in Madison County. City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source For many families, with adoptions finalized just three days before Christmas, it proved to be an emotional day. "It's a long time coming," said Jason Price. "These girls cam into our home as strangers, and they're staying as family. To me, family is what you make of it. It's not necessarily blood; it's love, and you make your family. We've been gracious with two wonderful girls who are super smart and talented. This completes what we wanted." Finalizations were followed by a celebration that included a balloon arch, balloon animals, a magician an...