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Maestro Muti's Mission: Replenish the 'soul and spirit' with music

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Riccardo Muti, the revered Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director, is stepping down after 13 years leading one of the world’s finest ensembles – but he’s not retiring. In fact, next year he’ll be back conducting with the CSO. “I will come back,” Muti said. “Title or no title. What is important for me is to make music with this great orchestra and for the public of Chicago.”But this week does mark the end of an era. Before his farewell concert Tuesday in Millennium Park, he reflected on his remarkable tenure with the CSO. From the moment he walked on stage as the music director of the orchestra, he has been trying to teach audiences about the importance of listening. “This is a sort of mission I am bringing around the world,” Muti said. The legendary conductor said the art of active listening is fading, as we become distracted by our devices, and separated by our smart phones. “People especially of the new generation spend a lot of times watching things and not thinking,...

Community meeting with Bears President and CEO held in Arlington Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Chicago Bears met with officials in Arlington Heights again on Monday about a possible move.The meeting involved the new Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren and was organized by Touchdown Arlington, a coalition of Arlington Heights business owners who support the Bears' move to town."This is a once-in-a-lifetime proposal that will boost the region's economic engine, create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in future tax revenues for Arlington Heights and the region," the pro-Bears coalition said in a release announcing the meeting.The Bears purchased Arlington International Racecourse and started tearing down the grandstand jockey and office buildings in late May. Exterior demolition of the facilities at Arlington Park began in mid-June. Arlington Park demolition begins But disputes over property tax values have held up prior commitments to build a new stadium on the 326-acre horse racing site that closed for $197.2 million.Ear...

Vote to potentially close Zilker Park overflow parking lot put on hold

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of Zilker Park's largest parking options could close soon, pending decisions from Austin's Parks and Recreation Board and city council. Monday night, the Austin Parks and Recreation Board decided to postpone its decision on closing the Polo Field as a parking option. PREVIOUS: New parking meters, price increase in effect at Zilker Park The parking lot, located between Andrew Zilker Road and Barton Springs Road, is open on weekends during the summer and some Fridays for special events or activities, according to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The lot has about 750 spaces — equal to the amount of parking in the gravel lot on Stratford Drive. These are the two largest parking options at Zilker Park. A Barton Springs lifeguard spoke in front of the board on Monday about his concerns with closing the lot. "The nightmare of finding a place to park to go to work is significantly increased on peak days primarily during the charging season. Park staff are...

Texas women's hoops host UConn on Dec. 3 in early season marquee matchup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The mighty UConn Huskies are coming to Austin this season.Part of a home-and-home series after the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team went to Storrs, Connecticut, to play one of the most storied programs in NCAA history, the teams face off Dec. 3 at Moody Center. The game time and broadcast information will be announced at a later date. UConn won last season's matchup 83-76.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersTexas Athletics said right now, the only way to guarantee tickets to the marquee matchup is to sign up for season tickets. A huge chunk of last year's roster is returning from the 26-10 squad that won the Big 12 Conference title and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. All-American point guard Rori Harmon leads the way, along with guard Shaylee Gonzales and forward DeYona Gaston. Amina Muhammed also returns, and the team added trans...

Swansea waitress surprised with $800 tip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

SWANSEA, Ill. – Stories of accidental tips, while rare, are not uncommon among folks in the service industry. But an $800 tip? No mistake about it.It took waitress Maggie Carty’s breath away.“Well, I was at a loss for words when it all happened,” she said. “I had none.”A family outing brought Karen and Scott Gebke, along with their two children, Emma and Austin, to Fletcher’s Kitchen & Tap in Swansea last week. A family dinner to honor Karen and Scott’s daughter, Alice, who died at birth 18 years ago, on June 21. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW “We were having a family day for our daughter’s birthday,” Karen said. “She would have been 18 last Wednesday. So, every year for her birthday we go out and do a family day.”And on this day, the...

Police search for more child victims in sex predator case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Webster Groves police are searching for what could be hundreds of child sex abuse victims.It comes after Aaron Pratt, 37, was recently charged with sexually abusing a girl. That investigation led to the discovery of more than 132,000 explicit videos and photos found on electronic devices at Pratt’s home, in the 800 block of Cornell Avenue in Webster Groves.During the investigation, Lt. Jillian McCoy said investigators not only learned of the suspect’s interest in pedophilia but also his grooming techniques.“The main tactic that he used – was with tickling. Also, making that child feel special or indebted to him," she said. "Making the child feel as though they owed him something. And then bribing the child. We saw that quite often, where he would bribe a child. ‘If you do this, I’ll buy you that.’” Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois Webster Groves police are asking parents to recall whether their families have met Pratt through mutual friends,...

Metro adding new security gates at MetroLink stations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. - FOX 2 has the first look at the dramatic changes to every St. Louis area MetroLink stop. Eight to nine months from now, the first four MetroLink stations will have a dramatic security makeover. Ticketed riders will only be allowed through the new, eight-foot-high electronic gates and platform fencing. There will be no more “open” platforms. “You’ll bring your ticket up. The security guard will look at your ticket. If you have valid fare, they’ll use a proxy card to scan you through the gating system,” said Kevin Scott, general manager of security for Bi-State Development. He said most of the stops will eventually have ticketing integrated with the gate system. Riders will be able to get through the gates by swiping their valid tickets or via a phone app.  Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois The Washington Park station and three others in Illinois will be the first to get the security upgrades. Six more stations, ...

Expired tags 'nightmare': Woman gets car back as neighbor's truck gets towed away

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

CALVERTON PARK, Mo. – A Calverton Park mother whose car got towed from her driveway for having expired tags got her car back, but as she retrieved her car, the neighbor's truck got seized.Calverton Park officials say vehicles with expired tags are a safety hazard.Christina Reice watched her new car get towed from her driveway in May because the temporary tags had expired two months ago. She was able to retrieve it last week."I came here to pick up my car and they finally released it," Reice said.When the car originally got seized, she felt like she was losing everything. Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois "I just don't know how they can come into my driveway and take my car," Reice said at the time.Calverton Park Police and Code Enforcement Lt. Sean Gibbons said they sent Reice a letter warning her she's in violation of the city's code because she did not have a current license plate. The city considers it a nuisance violation that affects public health.A...

St. Louis County police engage public on active shooter preparedness 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The Affton High School auditorium was where the Affton Southwest Precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department invited the public to join them in a discussion about being prepared for an active shooter situation.Fire chiefs from the Mehlville and Affton fire departments also joined the discussion.“We have training every year for our officers,” said Lt. Shawn McGuire for the St. Louis County Police Department. “The more we can be prepared for that, the better we’re going to serve our community.” Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois McGuire said being prepared for an active shooting scenario can help individuals stay calm and make swift decisions under pressure. He added there is not a one-size-fits-all approach for how individuals should respond during an active shooter scenario, but says the phrase run, hide, fight is worth remembering.The idea is to run to safety if possible. If running away is not an option, hide somewhere saf...

LSU wins first College World Series title since 2009, beating Florida 18-4 one day after 20-run loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:50 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. — A day after it gave up the most runs ever in a College World Series game, LSU cranked up its offense and won its first national title since 2009 with an 18-4 victory over Florida on Monday night in the third and deciding game of the finals.LSU (54-17) staved off elimination three times in bracket play and bounced back from the humiliating 24-4 loss in Game 2 to claim its seventh championship, second to Southern California’s 12.“Right people, right place, right time,” Tigers coach Jay Johnson said. “This is the way it was supposed to go.”The Tigers wiped out an early 2-0 deficit with a six-run second inning against Jac Caglianone (7-4). The runs kept coming until they finished with the most in a title game since USC’s 21-14 win over Arizona State in 1998. The 14-run margin was the largest ever in a final. Their 24 hits were most in a CWS game.“It wasn’t our day, all the way around,” Gators catcher BT Riopelle s...