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Illinoisans are the worst tippers in the US: study

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

CHICAGO — When it comes to Midwest hospitality toward tipped workers, a new study shows Illinoisans aren't footing the bill. According to a USA TODAY study, Illinois residents are the worst tippers in America. Examining tips nationwide over two weeks, Illinoisans tipped an average of 14.22%. For example, the report showed that Illinois tippers would pay about $85.66 for a $75 bill (before tax) based on the state's tipping average.The national average for tippers in the US is 17.94%SEE ALSO: Chicago suburb Aurora named one of the safest cities in the USState (Worst tippers in the US)PercentageIllinois14.22%Mississippi14.98%South Carolina 15.13%New Mexico15.32%Tennessee15.40%According to a USA TODAY study, Illinois residents are the worst tippers in America.The study, conducted from Sept. 11-25, found that California residents tipped the most, averaging 22.69%Millennials were found to be the best tippers in the country, averaging 18.18%. In contrast, the Silent Generation (adults born...

Bears sign another quarterback this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — With Justin Fields' status for this week and perhaps longer up in the air due to an injury, the Bears are adding another quarterback to their roster. Trace McSorley is coming to Chicago to do what he's mostly done since entering the league four years ago. The Bears have confirmed the signing of quarterback Trace McSorley to the practice squad. .He would live the third quarterback should Justin Fields continue to miss time with a right thumb injury..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/YTUzOScp2v— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 17, 2023The Bears confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that they've reached a deal for the signal caller to join their practice squad. This comes as Fields is dealing with a thumb injury that he suffered in the third quarter of the Bears' loss to the Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field. On Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus said that the starting quarterback is doubtful as the team waits for the swelling around the thumb to reduce. That means McSorl...

Chicago man arrested after attacking Nebraska officer with knife

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska police officer and a Chicago man were both injured during a confrontation on a bus in front of about 20 people early Tuesday after the man refused to get off and pulled a knife, authorities said.Officers were called to the Lincoln bus depot around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday because the 27-year-old Chicago man who didn't have a ticket or money for the fare to Iowa, acting Lincoln Police Chief Michon Morrow said.The man pulled a knife and lunged at one of the officers in the back of the bus, striking him in the neck, police said. Morrow said the man refused several commands to drop the knife before reaching for the officer's gun. At that point, another officer fired and wounded him once. Emergency crews respond to home explosion in DeKalb County Morrow said the situation could have easily been much worse, but fortunately no one else was hurt and the injured officer and suspect are both expected to live.“I’m very proud of our officers and the quick actions tha...

Prosecutors seek to recharge Alec Baldwin in deadly 'Rust' shooting: 'Additional facts have come to light'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Special prosecutors on Tuesday said they are seeking to recharge actor Alec Baldwin in the 2021 deadly “Rust” movie-set shooting. New Mexico-based prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis intend to present the case to a grand jury within the next two months. “After extensive investigation over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza,” said Special Prosecutors Morrissey and Lewis in an email. “We believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial.”  How did Alec Baldwin’s criminal case get so ‘messy’? Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in October 2021. The actor was rehearsing a scene in front of a camera when a gun he was handling fired, hitting Hut...

Rite Aid plans to close over 150 stores after bankruptcy filing: Is yours on the list?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — More than 150 Rite Aid locations are expected to close after the Rite Aid Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this week.As part of the process, Rite Aid expected to close underperforming stores. In court filings submitted Monday, the company disclosed the initial stores it will be closing. It's unclear when the Rite Aid stores are expected to close, but patients' prescriptions are expected to be transferred to other pharmacies, the company told Insider. What the Rite Aid bankruptcy filing means for customers, prescriptions Rite Aid did not immediately respond to Nexstar's request for comment or additional information. A list of stores set to close by state, according to court documents, is below: California5448 4044 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Los Angeles5457 4046 South Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 5466 7859 Firestone Boulevard, Downey 5521 4402 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach 5571 935 North Hollywood Way, Burbank 5585 139 North Grand Avenue, Covina ...

I-35 frontage road reopens in Round Rock after crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The southbound Interstate 35 frontage road across from the Round Rock Premium Outlets reopened just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after it had been closed for several hours following a crash, Round Rock Police said on social media.Someone was injured in the crash, the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, states. It happened in the 4500 block of the southbound I-35 frontage road.The southbound road had been closed from Westinghouse Road to RM 1431. The RM 1431 exit ramp was also shut down, police said.

Nearly $1.3 billion on City Council agenda for convention center expansion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council is expected to vote on two contracts Thursday worth nearly $1.3 billion to move forward with its Austin Convention Center expansion project. The first contract is with LMN and Page, two companies, for design and engineering. That contract is worth $65 million, according to council documents. The other is for $1.2 billion and will go toward construction and preconstruction. That contract is with JE Dunn and Turner, documents show. Austin Convention Center to undergo 4 years of construction in expansion project The rebuild is expected to cost $1.6 billion overall, KXAN previously reported, and will be funded by convention center revenue and its allocation of the hotel occupancy tax. In 2019, city council approved an increase of the hotel occupancy tax rate of 2% for the expansion project.Austinites will be given the opportunity to weigh in on design options for the new convention center, but the City of Austin has said the design will open up cl...

Plastic recycling can be challenging

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You may be one of the hundreds, or thousands, of recyclers who may not understand what plastics can or cannot be recycled. You're not alone.Recycling plastics creates confusion trying to figure out what PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS all mean. Combine with the numbers that appear inside the recycle icon and you have a recipe for indecision.Rich Segal spoke with Paul Bestgen from Austin Resource Recovery about what plastics the city takes. He said that recycling in general can be confusing, because there are different rules regarding what materials are recyclable. He added that a lot of basic plastics are accepted in Austin.Water bottles, plastic cups, plastic milk jugs and yogurt cups are some of the containers that Austin Resource Recovery does accept.What about those plastic drinking cups that one gets at a fast food restaurant, those with numbers like five or seven? Paul recommends that questions like this, and many others can be answered with the What I Do Wit...

How did Texas' Congressional delegation vote for Speaker of the House?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is the live stream of Tuesday's vote from the U.S. House floor. (KXAN) — Following Kevin McCarthy's removal as Speaker of the House on Oct. 3, Republicans have struggled to find a replacement.A vote on the House floor Tuesday would have seen Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, elected to the Speaker position, but he fell short of the 217 votes needed, with 20 Republican defections.The Texas delegation makes up 38 members of Congress: 25 Republicans and 13 Democrats.In Tuesday's first-round vote, 22 Republicans voted for Jordan, while every Democrat voted for their nominee, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York.Two Republicans — Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, and Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, voted for Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana. Scalise, the House Majority Leader, had been nominated by the party on Oct. 11, but a vote on the full House floor was not held, as he was well short of the votes needed.Meanwhile, Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie, voted for Rep. Mike...

Tesla outlines workforce, ecological programs in Travis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:38 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A year and a half after it opened its Austin gigafactory, Tesla officials outlined to Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday some of its community programming efforts and education advancements for the region.Giga Texas has invested more than $750,000 in programming through its community partners, including the Austin Area Urban League, Workforce Solutions Teacher Externships and Del Valle ISD. Some collaborations have included educational programs like Austin Voices for Education and Youth, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and Latinitas, per the presentation.Tesla has also worked on community outreach opportunities through the Austin Independent School District's resource fairs, the Del Valle Community Coalition and Workforce Solutions' job fairs. On the educational front, Tesla officials noted three key programs as part of Giga Texas' educational and workforce development efforts:Manufacturing Development Program: An Austin Community College pa...