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Weekend Break: Easter celebrations at GP Italiano

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Easter Sunday celebrations for some means enjoying a feast with family and friends.For hosts that don't want to spent a lot of time in the kitchen, GP Italiano is there to help.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Travis County DA Garza responds to Abbott's pardon promise for convicted murderer Daniel Perry

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Austin (KXAN) — Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza called Gov. Greg Abbott's promise to pardon convicted murderer Daniel Perry "deeply troubling" in a statement Sunday.On Friday, a jury found Perry guilty of murdering Garrett Foster during a July 2020 protest in Austin. The jury found him not guilty of an aggravated assault charge. Perry has not yet been sentenced for the conviction.But by Saturday afternoon, Abbott declared on social media that he would sign a pardon recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for Perry "as soon as it hits my desk." The Governor also said that he has instructed the agency to "expedite its review" of the case. Abbott calls for pardon of Daniel Perry after guilty murder verdict In Garza's Sunday statement, the DA noted that the jury deliberated on their verdict for 15 hours, after days of court proceedings."In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent – not the Gover...

Round Rock ISD student named to 2023 U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A Round Rock ISD student has a new title to add to her resume after she was named a participant in the 2023 U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program. Round Rock High School sophomore Anagha Deepak will participate in the program in Ecuador, per a news release.Deepak is one of 18 students selected to visit Ecuador as part of the program, among thousands of applicants from 26 countries. "The Youth Ambassadors Program aims to develop a network of young adults with a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to their communities, an awareness of current and global issues, and strong interpersonal leadership skills," the release read in part.Participants were named based on leadership, foreign language and critical thinking skills, as well as their involvement in volunteer efforts. KXAN previously covered Deepak's community work as co-founder of HEARD Foundation, a RRISD student-led nonprofit assisting refugee and immigrant children resettling in Texas.“It’s ama...

Driver strikes, kills pedestrian Saturday in Spring Lake Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Police say a man walking near state Highway 47 and 81st Avenue NE in Spring Lake Park was struck and killed by a woman driving a sedan late Saturday night.The Anoka County Sheriff’s office said that at 10:53 p.m., 911 received calls that a person in the roadway had been hit.When emergency responders arrived they pronounced the man dead at the scene.The woman driving the sedan stopped and is cooperating with authorities. The death is under investigation.No further information was available Sunday.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Canine influenza causes Animal Humane Society’s Twin Cities shelters to close Crime & Public Safety | Biden pushes econ policy during Fridley visit as Trump indictment gets attention Crime & Public Safety | Former paraprofessional sentenced in child sextortion scheme Crime & Public Safety | Two men charged in killing of Hugo man outside Fridley Cub Foods Crime & P...

Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers puts new swing into action

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Ryan Jeffers didn’t initially set out to revamp his whole swing this whole season. The beginning of the process was more an assessment of what he did well and how he could build around that.The result, though, was major changes through hours and hours of work this offseason with hitting coach David Popkins, who was on the other side of the country, over FaceTime. Jeffers hasn’t had a chance to show off much of his new swing, but he’s produced in a limited sample size, going 4 for 11 to begin the season with a home run.It started early this offseason, about a month and a half earlier than normal. It began with tee work. At nights sometimes Popkins would FaceTime from Southern California and Jeffers, in North Carolina, would head to his garage, grab a broomstick and test out different things with Popkins offering feedback.They talked so frequently that if there was a day where Jeffers didn’t send video of himself, Popkins would text asking, ” ‘Hey, where’s my video?’...

Timberwolves top Pelicans to claim No. 8 seed in play-in, will meet Lakers on Tuesday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In a turbulent game during which a number of things went wrong for the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards reminded everyone what an eraser of mistakes he can be.The star guard tallied a number of massive defensive plays and rebounds while also scoring 24 points to power Minnesota to a 113-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Target Center.The win gives the Timberwolves the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. They will need to win just one of two play-in games to go back to the playoffs. The first of those will come Tuesday, when they travel to play the Lakers in Los Angeles. A win there means Minnesota will be the No. 7 seed.A loss there, and the Wolves will play Friday at home with a chance to be the No. 8 seed.Edwards’ loudest play Sunday came in the closing minutes, when Pelicans guard CJ McCollum appeared to be free to walk into the lane for an easy dunk. But Edwards came over help side and met the guard at the rim, sending the ball away.Edwards did turn the ball over...

Lynx have No. 2 pick in WNBA draft Monday with eye to future

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

The Lynx enter Monday’s WNBA draft in a different position with a different philosophy.Minnesota will pick No. 2 — its highest selection in years — and has an eye more toward the future than the immediate future.So while Minnesota’s current roster may look like one that would require a center or a point guard, making next year’s team as competitive as possible isn’t the primary concern.The Lynx are building toward the future.“You pick who is the best available,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “Even if Minnesota doesn’t necessarily have the need for that position this year, if that’s what’s best available, I would expect that’s what they take. And I think it’s also important when you look at teams and drafts, as much as you look at the needs for what they have this year, you also have to look at when contracts expire and what their needs might be in the immediate future.”And that appears to be the approach. Minnesota has long been a te...

PHOTOS: Easter Sunday services at Zion Baptist Church in Denver

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Easter Sunday services took place at Zion Baptist Church on Sunday in Denver.Organized by former slaves on Nov. 15, 1865, Zion Baptist Church is the oldest black congregation in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West. Since 1913, the church has occupied its Romanesque Revival building at 933 East 24th Ave in Five Points, which was originally built in the early 1890s for Calvary Baptist Church.Long one of the central institutions in Denver’s black community, Zion Baptist celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015 and has now been serving its communtiy for 158 years.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

PHOTOS: 76th Easter sunrise service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

The 76th Easter sunrise service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre took place on Sunday in Morrison.The annual event is sponsored every year by the Colorado Council of Churches. The doors opened at 4:30 a.m. but people arrived much earlier to get parking and seats both are available on a first come first served basis. Event organizers expected around 10,000 people. The service represents 13 Christian denominations and more than 800 churches across the state. Rain, snow or shine the service is rarely cancelled.In the past 10 years it’s only been cancelled three times. In 2016 it was cancelled due to weather and due to the pandemic it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. The highest attendance was in 2015 when around 15,000 people turned out for the service. The Most Reverend Father Pablo Burson gave the sermon. The Blood Brothers 303 performed.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

Rockies rally for wild, 7-6 win over the Nationals, gain series split

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Sunday afternoon’s game at Coors Field offered a smorgasbord of walks, hit batsmen, home runs and lead changes.Classic baseball it was not.In the end, the Rockies prevailed, 7-6, riding solo home runs from Elias Diaz and Jurickson Profar, and staging a four-run rally in the sixth inning. Ryan McMahon, the ninth hitter in the inning “drove in” the go-ahead run by drawing a bases-loaded walk off of Hobie Harris.Center fielder Yonathan Daza closed out the game with a diving catch to rob CJ Abrams of an extra-base hit that likely would have tied the game.The Rockies, who have not lost a home series to Washington since 2017, managed a split in the four-game series.Colorado relievers Jake Bird and Brand Hand made a mess of the sixth inning when the Nationals scored three runs to take a 6-3 lead.  Bird plunked Lane Thomas to open the inning and gave up singles to Victor Robles and Alex Call, loading the bases. Bird struck out Jeimer Candelario for the second out before gi...