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WATCH LIVE | 'Skip-the-Line' program coming to all Illinois DMVs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

ILLINOIS — Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is implementing a Skip-the-Line program across Illinois.Giannoulias first discussed the idea for such a program two years ago when he was simply a candidate for the Secretary of State position. In his announcement at the time, he described an online booking system available at all driver's license facilities in Illinois which would allow user to make an appointment and avoid walk-in lines. He added walk-in customers would still be welcome. Thursday Forecast: Heat Advisory issued for parts of area, isolated storms possible tonight His predecessor had implemented a pilot of a similar program at some suburban DMVs, however Giannoulias wants to see the online scheduling statewide in addition to increasing the number of services offered online and over the phone.The Secretary of State is scheduled to announce details of the Sept. 1 program launch Thursday morning.WGN plans to livestream the announcement within this story beginning at appr...

2018-2023 Nissan Leaf EV recalled for cruise-control acceleration flaw

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

(Green Car Reports) -- Nissan is recalling 2018-2023 Leaf electric cars to address a potential issue that could cause vehicles to accelerate unintentionally after using cruise control.The recall covers Leafs manufactured from September 29, 2017, to March 15, 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall population of 66,159 vehicles represents every Leaf built for the U.S. market during that time.Faulty programming logic in the vehicle control modules of affected vehicles could cause an application of torque if the driver applies and releases the accelerator pedal within eight seconds of deactivating cruise control, adaptive cruise control, or ProPilot Assist (essentially adaptive cruise control plus automated lane centering), shifting from “D” to “B” or Eco mode, or activating the Leaf’s e-Pedal regenerative braking feature.2023 Nissan LeafNissan and the NHTSA appear to be saying that vehicles will keep accelerating until the brake pedal ...

Man finds nearly 10-foot long boa constrictor in backyard in Virginia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A slithering surprise shocked one Virginia Beach man while he was mowing his yard.Michael Peck is used to seeing critters pop up in his backyard. What he was not expecting was a nearly 10-foot snake slithering around while he was cutting the grass."At first I just kind of shrieked as a normal person would, seeing a snake of that size," Peck told Nexstar's WAVY. Is this summer’s extreme heat the new normal? Peck froze and contemplated his next move."I have a little miniature dachshund. A snake that size could easily strangle and swallow my dog," Peck said.That's when he recognized the snake was a red-tailed boa constrictor — a non-venomous species."I love snakes. Venomous snakes are one thing. I used to own a red-tailed boa that almost got to the size that he or she was. I'm very comfortable around those types of animals. Its just very scary seeing it out in the wild out of nowhere," Peck explained.Peck told WAVY the snake appeared to be in distress and...

Norfolk Southern: East Palestine train derailment cost at $803 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

(NewsNation) — Norfolk Southern said the February train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, cost the railroad $803 million, more than double the company's estimate in April. The new figure, which comes from the railroad's second-quarter earnings report released Thursday, includes a $416 million charge in the second quarter. That's on top of the $387 million charge from the first quarter. Mark George, Norfolk Southern's chief financial officer, said it will likely be "quarters, not months" before the railroad knows the final costs related to the incident. East Palestine resident says home is unsafe, help hard to come by Most of the expenses so far — about 70% — come from environmental cleanup costs: After the derailment, officials released toxic chemicals into the air from five cars that were at risk of exploding.“Our current estimates assume the cleanup activity continues into October,” said George.The other 30% or so comes from legal expenses and comm...

Barbie is enjoying a resurgence. So why are some people putting the dolls in blenders?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

SAN ANGELO, Texas (ConchoValleyHomepage) — With the "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" blockbuster combo officially in theaters on July 21, some people would think that life couldn't be better for the world's favorite pretty-in-pink fashionista. They would be wrong.National Barbie-in-a-Blender Day, celebrated on July 27, was made to offer a scathing critique of Mattel Inc.'s poster child by encouraging observers to do just as its name suggests - put a Barbie doll in a blender and, optionally, set the device for as high as it will allow. Plastic puree, anyone?This strange celebration is held all across the world now, particularly by artists, photographers and other occupants of creatively-oriented professions. The holiday itself is 19 years old, being founded in 2004 by a social movement looking to promote a less consumer-focused culture. But how did it get to this point? The origins for this, ahem, "unique" national holiday stem from much more than an extreme hatred of the iconic toy. It al...

Report: 100k+ Austin jobs threatened by AI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- Hundreds of thousands of jobs in Austin are considered at risk of being threatened by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a report by the Chamber of Commerce. It ranked Austin in the Top 25 most threatened cities in the country for potential job losses from AI. It said 153,040 jobs are at risk, which is 13% of the city's total workforce. The report cited a recent study from the World Economic Forum (WEF) that estimated 83 million jobs could be automated worldwide by 2027. Which jobs are most at risk?The report analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and focused on the top 10 most at-risk jobs from the WEF study."Administrative roles such as record-keeping and cashiers as well as accounting, bookkeeping, factory, and traditional security roles face the largest potential job losses due to AI," the report said. The Chamber of Commerce said traditional security guards, housekeepers, bank tellers, retail sales and door-to-door sales are also c...

Jonas Brothers add extra date for Austin's Moody Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Jonas Brothers will be burnin' up the Moody Center stage for a second night this fall, after announcing an additional tour date in Austin.The trio announced back in May the group would perform at the Moody Center on Sept. 3. The Grammy Award-nominated band is slated to perform songs off six albums. Now, both the Jonas Brothers and the Moody Center announced Thursday the band will return for a second show on Oct. 22. The extra Austin show comes as the group announced 50 new dates across countries throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand in addition to a handful of more North American shows.Verified fan advance registration for tickets runs now through July 31 at 9 p.m. CT, per the Moody Center. Fans selected will receive an access code and can participate in a presale on Thursday, Aug. 3. PAST COVERAGE: Jonas Brothers to perform at Austin’s Moody Center A limited number of tickets will be made available for purchase during a general sale on Friday, Aug. 4 a...

Pittsfield street improvement project schedule

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The City of Pittsfield has announced parking restrictions ahead of continued street improvement projects from July 31 to August 4. Milling operations will start on Cloverdale Street on Monday, July 31. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The millwork is expected to continue through Tuesday, August 1, and will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additionally, between August 2 and August 4, structure work will continue on Lucia Drive, Quirico Drive, and Almar Drive. The City of Pittsfield says on-street parking is prohibited from the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Glen Creek Road bridge to close for the summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

JOHNSBURG, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Glen Creek Road bridge in Johnsburg will be closing on July 28 at 9 a.m. for the start of its replacement project. The closure is expected to be in effect until October as the metal grate bridge is replaced with a steel-beamed, concrete deck bridge. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Drivers in the area will be able to utilize the recently renovated Dippikill Road bridge as an alternate route. Detour signs will be posted while the project is ongoing. Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!

8th Annual Kids Give Back Charity Lemonade Stand raises money for a good cause

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A group of kids in Watervliet have been making lemonade every summer for the past eight years, donating their proceeds to local organizations. So far, they've raised over $4,000.“They make me so proud," Crystal Staccio, mother of a volunteer, said. "This week is the busiest week of the summer for us but it’s my most favorite week because of what they’re doing for the community.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! This year they're raising money for Operation at Ease and Double H Ranch. Joni Bonilla, Founder of Operation at Ease, said that support is essential to their mission. “We run off of the success of our fundraisers and donations and to find out that it’s young children who are willing to put days of their summer vacation aside to give back is even more meaningful," Bonilla said. Save Burdett Birth Center Coalition hosts love picnic For the kids, it's a chance to meet new people and know they'...