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Physically unable to dance, choreographer finds joy in movement still by teaching others

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

CHICAGO — Imagine having the one thing that makes you the most alive taken away.That is exactly what happened to local dance legend Kirby Reed.But he wasn't about to let the sun go down on him without choreographing his best number to date.As a professional dancer and choreographer, steps always came easy for Reed."As a dancer you always think maybe I'm going to twist my ankle or hurt my knee,” he said. “You never think you're going to be paralyzed."But after a sudden series of strokes and two heart attacks, a life full of music and movement came to an abrupt halt in 2009 when Reed's entire left lower side was left unable to feel or move. "I should have been over and done,” he said.Instead he’s dancing once again — this time, through his own students at the Gus Giordano Dance School and he teaches up and coming dancers far more than just technique.    "I'm a living testament of my journey,” he said. More from Erin: Camp provides Chicago kids refuge from violenc...

Chicago Fire FC taking part in another soccer tournament this July, August

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

CHICAGO — While the biggest tournament in the world of women's soccer is taking place in Australia and New Zealand, another is being played out in North America.That one involves Chicago Fire FC and is in its third year of being staged, only this year in a much bigger way.The 2023 Leagues Cup is taking place in United States and Canada, featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX. For the first time this year, every team from both leagues will participate in the tournament that started on July 21 and will run through August 19. To accommodate the added teams, MLS will take a break from their season until after the final is played. "I think it's good to play in this tournament, and I think the pause from MLS is good, just to focus solely on this tournament and put everything we can do to get as faras possible in the tournament," said Fire midfielder and defender Mauricio Pineda of the Leagues Cup. "I think that's the good thing about being off from MLS for so long. ...

Benefits of newborn cord blood cells for adult health — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

Medical Watch Digest for July 27The benefits of newborn cord blood cells for adult healthSingapore General Hospital scientists discovered white blood cells retrieved at birth from the umbilical cord have anti-tumor properties.They developed a platform to enhance the innate ability of the cells to treat solid tumors and blood cancers.Doctors call the umbilical cord cells young warriors that are underutilized.They believe by coaxing the cells to grow they can prevent or delay cancer relapses. Med Watch Digest: Increase your step count for better health — and more Another warning about illicit drugsIllicit drugs cause one in three heart deaths among young adults.A new study in Heart Rhythm examines the link between substance abuse and fatal cardiac arrest.Data shows higher levels of illicit drug use than has been reported and a greater prevalence of multiple substance use.While there are many health complications for drug users, doctors were surprised at the frequency of fatal heart ...

Supreme Court OKs Mountain Valley pipeline amid environmental concern

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The United States Supreme Court has cleared the way for completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline despite lawsuits against it.The controversial project, which would carry natural gas from West Virginia to southern Virginia, became even more controversial due to how the final deal for it was struck.“I'm elated about this,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said. “It's exciting to see that that last 5% of the pipeline will be built, the thousands of jobs that will come along with it.”The high court threw out orders from the lower courts that had halted construction of the pipeline, which is facing legal challenges in part due to environmental concerns.The White House approved the pipeline project as part of a deal with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to cut out normal environmental and judicial reviews.Virginia Senator Tim Kaine says the pipeline approval process is broken.“The process left much to be desired,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA said). “Discussions about pi...

Subway to give free sandwiches for life to person who changes their name to 'Subway'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- One lucky person will receive free Subway sandwiches for life as part of the restaurant's campaign to find their biggest fan, as long as that person commits to legally changing their name to "Subway." Subway fans can visit SubwayNameChange.com between 9 a.m. August 1 and 11:59 p.m. August 4 to enter the contest. By entering the contest, fans will have to agree that if they are selected as the winner, they'll legally change their first name to "Subway," which also happens to be a plot twist on an episode of the show "Community." Georgia Subway sign draws mixed response The winner will receive $750 to cover the costs of legally changing their name, along with $50,000 in Subway gift cards, according to the rules. A winner will be chosen via a random drawing on August 7, according to the official sweepstakes rules. It's not the only high-stakes promotion the sandwich chain has launched – would you rather change your name or get a footlong tattoo?In July 2022, Sub...

‘Jackasses,’ ‘little s‑‑‑‑’: GOP congressman curses out teenage Senate pages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is in hot water after he cursed out a group of teenage Senate pages in the Capitol rotunda early Thursday morning. According to a transcript written by a page minutes after the incident and obtained by The Hill, Van Orden called the pages “jackasses” and “pieces of s‑‑‑,” and told them he didn’t “give a f‑‑‑ who you are.”The pages are a group of 16- and 17-year-olds who assist Senate operations, and when the Senate works late — as it did Wednesday night on National Defense Authorization Act amendments — pages generally rest nearby in the rotunda. “Wake the f‑‑‑ up you little s‑‑‑‑. … What the f‑‑‑ are you all doing? Get the f‑‑‑ out of here. You are defiling the space you [pieces of s‑‑‑],” Van Orden said, according to the account provided by the page.“Who the f‑‑‑ are you?” Van Orden asked, to which one person said they were Senate pages. “I don’t give a f‑‑‑ who you are, get out.”“You jackasses, get out,” he added.The incident, which occur...

AFD: Southeast Austin fire started as 'disturbance', 1 person in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 27, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person is in custody after a fire Thursday in southeast Austin, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.Firefighters responded to a home around 3:10 p.m. in the 9100 block of Ipswich Bay Drive, which is near East Slaughter Lane and Onion Creek Metropolitan Park, AFD said.AFD said while Austin Police officers tried to take the person into custody, the person set the two-story house on fire. Police were responding to a family disturbance, AFD said.AFD said police evacuated several houses next door as a precaution. Around 3:50 p.m., AFD said the fire was under control.KXAN reached out to APD for more information.AFD said firefighters responded to a fire in the 9100 block of Ipswich Bay Drive, which is near East Slaughter Lane and Onion Creek Metropolitan Park. Photo: Austin Fire DepartmentAFD said firefighters responded to a fire in the 9100 block of Ipswich Bay Drive, which is n...

Council Member Kelly wants to make zoos, aquariums safer following recent incidents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) –  After hearing from several concerned constituents regarding the Austin Aquarium, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly – who represents District 6 where the business is located – said she is working on a resolution to potentially change relevant city code to make things safer at facilities with wild animals. In the last couple of years, there have been at least a couple of incidents where people were reportedly injured while interacting with lemurs. The Austin Aquarium touts on its website that “the Austin and San Antonio Aquariums are the only facilities in the United States where guests can interact and pet lemurs.” MORE: Woman says lemur attacked her at Austin Aquarium Further, Kelly said constituents have expressed concerns about how animals are treated at the facility. Charmaine Dickerson said a lemur attacked her during an interactive experience at the Austin Aquarium. (KXAN)“[The Austin Aquarium] is in my district. I need to be responsive to people ...

Austin may break all-time record for consecutive 100-degree days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin is on track to tally its most back-to-back 100-degree days on record next week as unseasonably hot, dry weather continues.Temperatures reached 103 degrees Thursday in Austin, our 20th-consecutive day. Hazy skies continue, brought on by a cloud of African dust. Austin's air quality is expected to be moderate due to the dust through the coming weekend.Hazy skies continue through the weekend Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) A ridge of high pressure continues to dominate our weather through the weekend and next week, with high temperatures each afternoon forecast to top 100 degrees in the Austin area. Hotter than normal summer conditions are forecast throughout the 8-14 day period as well, likely meaning Austin breaks the all-time record for consecutive 100 degree days which currently stands at 27 days (set in 2011).Consider supporting our ongoing KXAN Summer Fan Drive in partnership with Family Eldercare by clicking here.FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up t...

Fairview, Sanford end merger talks; Sanford cites lack of support from certain Minnesota stakeholders’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:13 GMT

South Dakota-based Sanford Health and Minnesota-based Fairview Health Services are ending efforts to merge, both health systems announced Thursday.A spokesperson for Sanford Health said that the Sanford Board of Trustees initiated the process of ending the merger.In a statement, Sanford Health president and CEO Bill Gassen said his health system determined “it is in the best interest of Sanford Health to discontinue the merger process,” as the transaction lacks support “from certain Minnesota stakeholders.”“The significant benefits we identified for a combined system with Fairview Health Services compelled us to exhaust all potential pathways to completing our proposed merger,” Gassen said.In a separate statement, Fairview confirmed that it is discontinuing the merger process with Sanford.“Our aligned missions, our shared commitment to health and healing, and our deep roots in our communities positioned us well to transform the future of health care,” said Ja...