Winter storm in Illinois led to hundreds of crashes Saturday, officials say

A winter storm that pounded the state of Illinois Saturday led to hundreds of crashes, state police said.

According to the latest data from Illinois State Police, more than 400 crashes left vehicles damaged on state roadways Saturday during the storm, which dumped more than 10 inches of snow in some locations and saw localized blowing and drifting of snow thanks to strong winds.

State police said at least 66 crashes left motorists or passengers injured, but they did not provide details on the severity of any of those injuries.

Finally, more than 300 motorists required roadside assistance during the storm, with most having spun into ditches or medians along area highways, according to state police data.

Residents had been asked to avoid travel when possible on Saturday as the storm produced snowfall rates of an inch or more per hour in some locations. Complicating matters later in the day were the gusty winds, which blew in excess of 40 miles per hour in many locations.

Some parts of the state also saw mixed precipitation as temperatures warmed to slightly above the freezing mark, with slick spots developing on roadways as the temperatures cooled again in the late evening hours.

Saturday won’t be the only day that could see traffic headaches, either. According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, another round of snow may impact the Chicago area on Monday, and it may arrive just in time for the afternoon rush hour.

The weather system could produce 2-to-4 inches of snow according to forecast models, making it another tricky travel day for area residents.

Stay tuned to the latest forecasts on NBC Chicago, and download the app to get real-time weather alerts sent directly to your device.

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Gaza death toll rises to 70,000 as ceasefire is tested by repeated outbreaks of violence

Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 70,000 people in over two years of war, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as the death toll continues to climb despite the ongoing ceasefire.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed at least 70,100 people since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 2023, which equates to more than 3% of the 2.3 million people living in the enclave. A further 170,983 people have been wounded.

The World Health Organization has said that the numbers given by health officials in Gaza are reputable.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza remains in effect but has been tested by repeated outbreaks of violence, as Gaza’s residents face hunger, flooding and the onset of a bitter winter.

Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. The two brothers, aged 11 and 8, died when an Israeli drone struck close to a school sheltering displaced people in the town of Beni Suhaila, according to staff at Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.

The Israeli military said it killed two people who crossed into an Israeli-controlled area, “conducted suspicious activities” and approached troops. The statement didn’t mention children.

Sunday’s grim milestone arrives more than two years after Hamas launched multipronged surprise attacks on Israel that left 1,200 people dead, with 240 people taken hostage by Hamas and other affiliated militant groups.

An estimated 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced since Oct. 7 2023, and more than 1.5 million people “urgently require emergency shelter assistance,” the United Nations’ migration agency IOM said last month.

Walid Qabalan, a 53-year-old man, now lives with his family of nine in a small tent in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis. On the second day of the war, Walid, his wife, and their children were forced to flee their home in the city of Abasan, east of Khan Younis, after their home became too dangerous to reach.

His daughter Amira, who is 13 and should be in eighth grade, instead spends her daily life keeping the family safe.

“My days are spent making dough, waiting at the charity kitchen line, fetching water,” she told NBC News.

Eleven-year-old Abrar, who should be in fifth grade, left school from the very first day of the war.

They took our childhood,” she said. “Our playtime is gone, our home is gone, our memories are gone.”

President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan was endorsed by a majority vote at the United Nations earlier this month, though world powers were still divided over whether it can convert the fragile ceasefire into the long-term solution that has eluded the Middle East.

Designed to usher Gaza from rubble-strewn war zone into a new era, Trump’s plan would establish a “Board of Peace” to temporarily govern the territory and an International Stabilization Force taking over responsibility for maintaining the peace from the Israel Defense Forces currently occupying parts of the Gaza Strip.

The proposal would be “phase two” of Trump’s 20-point plan first announced in September, “phase one” of which brought a prisoner and hostage exchange.

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Powerful winter storm helps Chicago set new record Saturday

The city of Chicago is no stranger to strange weather events and unique phenomena, but this weekend’s snowstorm added to that lore.

The powerful storm dumped seven or more inches of snow across the entire Chicago area, snarling traffic, leading to hundreds of crashes and causing hundreds of flight cancellations at both Chicago airports.

It was at one of those airports that Chicago made a new entry in the record books, according to data from the National Weather Service.

From the time the snow began to fall on Saturday morning to the end of the day, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport measured 8.4 inches of snowfall, with more than 500 flights canceled at the airport amid the wintry weather.

According to the National Weather Service, that snowfall not only set a new record for the date of November 29, but it also checks in as the snowiest November day recorded in the Chicago area since record-keeping began in the 1870s.

The snowfall brought Chicago to a total of 10.1 inches of snow so far in the month of November, and that marks just the sixth time since recordkeeping began that the city has seen 10 or more inches of snow in the month of November.

The record for the month was set back in 1940 when 14.8 inches of snow fell, and in recent years, Chicago has had some big months, including 11.2 inches of snow in November 2015 and 12.7 inches of snow in November 2018.

Chicago’s total snowfall for last year was just 17.6 inches, meaning that in a single day the city saw nearly half of that total.

There’s also more snow potentially on the way, especially on Monday, when 2-to-4 inches of snow could fall across the area to kick off the month of December, according to forecast models.

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Snow totals begin piling up as winter storm blasts Chicago area

Wintry conditions commenced across the Chicago area on Saturday morning as a snowstorm began to grip the region.

Snow began falling in the morning, covering entire roads and causing some issues for drivers in the hours ahead of the storm’s expected peak. The highest snowfall rates weren’t expected until later on, however, specifically between 12 and 8 p.m.

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In total, between six to 10 inches of accumulation are expected. Some spots have already seen a few inches, and the snow is far from over.

Here are snow totals as of noon or earlier:

Batavia – 4.1 inches

Clarendon Hills – 3 inches

Crestwood – 3 inches

Edgewater – Chicago – 2.5 inches

Harwood Heights – 2 inches

Lansing – 2.5 inches

Midway Airport – 2.5 inches

Oak Lawn – 3 inches

O’Hare Airport – 3.2 inches

Plainfield – 3.3 inches

Romeoville – 3 inches

Tinley Park – 2.8 inches

Wadsworth – 2 inches

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US halts all asylum decisions after shooting of National Guard members

The Trump administration has halted all asylum decisions and paused issuing visas for people traveling on Afghan passports days after a shooting near the White House that left one National Guard member dead and another in critical condition.

Investigators continued Saturday to seek a motive in the shooting, in which the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, now faces charges including first-degree murder.

Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War. He applied for asylum during the Biden administration and was granted it this year under Trump, according to a group that assists with resettlement of Afghans who helped U.S. forces in their country.

The Trump administration has seized on the shooting to vow to intensify efforts to rein in legal immigration, promising to pause entry from some poor countries and review Afghans and other legal migrants already in the country. That is in addition to other measures, some of which were previously set in motion.

Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died after the Wednesday shooting, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was hospitalized in critical condition. They were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard as part of Trump’s crime-fighting mission in the city. The president also has deployed or tried to deploy National Guard members to other cities to assist with his mass deportation efforts but has faced court challenges.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office said the charges against Lakanwal also include two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. In an interview on Fox News, she said there were “many charges to come.”

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Asylum decisions halted

Trump called the shooting a “terrorist attack” and criticized the Biden administration for enabling entry by Afghans who worked with U.S. forces.

The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said in a post on the social platform X that asylum decisions will be paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”

Experts say the U.S. has rigorous vetting systems for asylum-seekers. Asylum claims made from inside the country through USCIS have long faced backlogs. Critics say the slowdown has been exacerbated during the Trump administration.

Also Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his department paused “visa issuance for ALL individuals traveling on Afghan passports.”

Shawn VanDiver, president of the San Diego-based group #AfghanEvac, said in response: “They are using a single violent individual as cover for a policy they have long planned, turning their own intelligence failures into an excuse to punish an entire community and the veterans who served alongside them.”

The suspect

Lakanwal lived in Bellingham, Washington, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Seattle, with his wife and five children, former landlord Kristina Widman said.

Neighbor Mohammad Sherzad said Lakanwal was polite and quiet and spoke little English.

Sherzad said he attended the same mosque as Lakanwal and heard from other members that he was struggling to find work. He said Lakanwal “disappeared” about two weeks ago.

Lakanwal worked briefly this summer as an independent contractor for Amazon Flex, which lets people use their own cars to deliver packages, according to a company spokesperson.

Investigators are executing warrants in Washington state and other parts of the country.

Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program that resettled Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal, officials said. Lakanwal applied for asylum during that administration, but his asylum was approved this year under the Trump administration, #AfghanEvac said in a statement.

Lakanwal served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit, known as one of the special Zero Units, in the southern province of Kandahar, according to a resident of the eastern province of Khost who identified himself as Lakanwal’s cousin and spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The man said Lakanwal started out working for the unit as a security guard in 2012 and was later promoted to become a team leader and a GPS specialist.

Beckstrom ‘exemplified leadership, dedication’

Beckstrom enlisted in 2023 after graduating high school and served with distinction as a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company, the West Virginia National Guard said.

“She exemplified leadership, dedication, and professionalism,” the guard said in a statement, adding that Beckstrom volunteered for the D.C. deployment.

___

Associated Press journalists Sarah Brumfield, Siddiqullah Alizai, Elena Becatoros, Randy Herschaft, Cedar Attanasio and Hallie Golden contributed.

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North Carolina driver tells 911: ‘I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield'

A motorist in western North Carolina escaped injury when the carcass of a cat crashed into the passenger side of her front windshield along a highway near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In a call to 911, the unidentified driver on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County, near Bryson City, told a dispatcher that a bald eagle dropped the cat. Bryson City is about 65 miles (104 kilometers) southwest of Asheville.

It’s not clear if the feline slipped from the eagle’s talons or was discarded simply because the big bird didn’t have a taste for it.

“You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield,” the incredulous driver said on the recorded 911 call. “It absolutely shattered my windshield.”

Any reservations about calling in such a story were put to rest when the dispatcher calmly responded, “OK. I do believe you, honestly,” then laughed.

The driver relayed that another person also saw the cat drop, remarking, “He’s like, ‘That is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.’ I’m like, ‘Really?’”

The dispatcher offered some assurance, saying, “Oh my goodness. Let’s see. I’ve heard crazier.”

“Well, that’s terrifying,” the caller said, to which the dispatcher replied with more nervous laughter, “Yeah.”

After getting the driver’s location, the dispatcher said she would send the Highway Patrol to do a report. “Another question,” the dispatcher asked. “Is the cat still alive?”

The caller said it wasn’t, but noted that the cat was on the side of the road and not in her car.

“Ok, I have to ask just to make sure,” the dispatcher said.

Kendrick Weeks, Western Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said the cat dropped on the car could have been roadkill scavenged by the eagle.

“But they can take animals the size of a cat,” he said. “It is much harder for them to take a live cat than a dead cat. They usually don’t prey on something they don’t find palatable. And, scavenging is a common behavior in bald eagles.”

Eagles and other raptors can drop prey for several reasons, including having a poor grip or if the prey is struggling and the birds are trying to prevent injury to themselves, Weeks added.

Prey can also be dropped if a raptor is being harassed by another raptor or the prey becomes too heavy to continue carrying.

Bald eagles are native to North Carolina and most of North America.

Their populations have been increasing, and there are more than 200 nesting pairs in North Carolina. The birds can weigh anywhere from 6 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds (3 kilograms to 6.3 kilograms) and have wingspans of 6 to 7 feet (1.8 meters to 2.1 meters), Weeks told The Associated Press.

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Bears vs. Eagles: What channel, how to watch the Black Friday game

While some will be out shopping for Black Friday, others will be parked on the couch watching the Chicago Bears vs. The Philadelphia Eagles.

The game mark the Bears’ first regular season game on a Friday in nearly 60 years. The team has won four in a row and lead the NFC North, while the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles sit atop the NFC East.

“It’s a short week. This will be a different challenge here for our players. Just haven’t had one five-day span like this,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Monday. “And so it’ll be a race to get our bodies feeling as good as we possibly can, get the game plan downloaded … I know our coaches are working hard right now, putting in some good plays together and, good thoughts together so that we can execute and play fast at a high level against a really good football team here on the road. So, excited about that challenge.”

Once the Black Friday game wraps up, the Bears will head to Green Bay to face the Packers on Dec. 7.

Here’s what time the game starts, what channel its on and what to know.

What time is the Bears game on Black Friday?

Kickoff for the game at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia is planned for 2 p.m. CT. Pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m.

What channel is the Bears game on?

The game will be available for “global streaming,” under a recent agreement reached between the NFL and Amazon Prime. The matchup will be the first NFL event ever streamed globally on Amazon Prime, and no Prime membership will be required to watch, according to Amazon and the NFL.

Locally, the game will also be available on Fox.

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Man stabbed on CTA train during armed robbery, police say

A 48-year-old man was stabbed while sitting onboard a CTA train Thursday morning, Chicago police say.

According to authorities, the man was sitting on a train in the 200 block of West 47^th Street at approximately 11:40 a.m. when he was approached by three suspects.

The suspects demanded property, and during a physical altercation that followed, the victim was stabbed in the back with a sharp object.

The victim was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition.

The suspects fled the scene with the victim’s belongings and remain at large, police said.

No further information was immediately available.

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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade brings Pac-Man, Shrek and Labubu to New York City

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brought balloons depicting Buzz Lightyear, Shrek and Pac-Man to the New York City skies on Thursday, as floats featuring Labubu and Lego graced the streets.

The parade, which started on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and closed at the iconic Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, included dozens of balloons, floats, clown groups and marching bands.

It was a chilly day in the city, with temperatures in the 40s, but wind gusts between 25 mph and 30 mph making it feel colder, according to David Stark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York.

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Officials watched the forecast closely, since city law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or wind gusts are over 35 mph. Weather has grounded the balloons only once, in 1971, but they also sometimes have soared lower than usual because of wind.

But a little cold wasn’t a big deal for Megan Christy, who traveled to the city from Greensboro, North Carolina, for the parade, donning a warm onesie as she staked out a spot along the route.

“It’s not raining. We’re very excited about that. And it’s not too bad. Not too cold,” she said. “It’s just a great day for a parade.”

A star-studded lineup of performances were sprinkled throughout the show, along with a slew of marching bands, dancers and cheerleaders.

Performers included “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, Lainey Wilson, Foreigner, Lil Jon, and Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of this year’s Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters.” The Radio City Rockettes were also there, as were cast members from Broadway’s “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime.”

The parade featured a few new balloons, including a large onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “ Shrek.” “KPop Demon Hunters” was also represented in the sky with the characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie.

The event aired on NBC, hosted by Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker from “Today” and their former colleague Hoda Kotb. On Telemundo, the hosts were Andrea Meza, Aleyda Ortiz and Clovis Nienow. The parade was also simulcast on NBC’s Peacock streaming service.

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Bears' injury report has bad news about linebackers, good news on Jaylon Johnson

The Chicago Bears are facing a short week as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles Friday, and there are still big injury questions.

Chicago was ravaged by injuries to their linebackers for last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the news is still bad at the spot, as they remain perilously thin at the position.

T.J. Edwards, who missed last week’s game with hand and hamstring injuries, is still out of action as he didn’t participate in the workout. Ruben Hyppolite, who left Sunday’s win over the Steelers with a shoulder injury, was also not on the field at Halas Hall on Wednesday.

Noah Sewell also missed a second straight workout with an elbow injury.

The Bears also were without offensive lineman Luke Newman, who is dealing with a foot injury, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who injured his hip in the game against the Steelers.

Defensive lineman Dominique Robinson remains out, as he’s in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

There was a new addition to the injury report on Wednesday, as defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. was limited with a hand injury, according to the Bears.

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) and safety Kyler Gordon (calf) were both full participants for the second straight day, meaning that they’re still potentially on track to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Friday’s game.

Running backs Kyle Monangai (knee) and Travis Homer (hamstring/knee) were both full participants in the workout, as was left tackle Theo Benedet, who missed last week’s game with a quad injury.

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These 6 kitchen tools can make or break your Thanksgiving dinner

It’s the start of Thanksgiving week, the time when home cooks across America suddenly recognize the daunting task ahead.

More than 90% of people in the U.S. celebrate the food-centric holiday and more than 1 in 4 attend meals that include more than 10 other people, according to the Pew Research Center.

Under that kind of pressure, what host wouldn’t want the best tools to make sure the holiday dinner goes off without a hitch?

With that in mind, we asked national food safety experts which kitchen devices and aids are essential to ensure a safe and tasty Thanksgiving meal.

Here are their top suggestions for aids that can make or break your holiday dinner, plus two bonus tips for after the meal:

Digital meat thermometer

Our panel of experts unanimously agreed that an instant-read digital thermometer is vital to making sure roast turkey and other dishes reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate the risk of food poisoning from germs like salmonella and Campylobacter.

“This is non-negotiable,” said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University food safety expert. “A reliable thermometer ensures you’re not guessing, because guessing is not a food safety strategy.”

Color-coded cutting boards

In the hustle of a holiday kitchen, the risk of cross-contamination is real. That’s when germs from one food, such as raw turkey, may be spread to other foods, such as fresh vegetables or fruits.

It’s best to use dedicated cutting boards for each type of food, and color-coding — red for meat, yellow for poultry, green for veggies — can help, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.

“I try not to use wooden cutting boards,” said Kowalcyk, noting that they can retain bacteria that thrive and grow to large enough quantities to cause illness.

Sharp knives

As an emergency medicine doctor who has stitched up many Thanksgiving injuries, Dr. Tony Cirillo urges home cooks to make sure their kitchen knives are sharp.

A sharp knife cuts cleanly, while a dull knife requires more pressure that can cause dangerous slips, said Cirillo, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Sturdy roasting pans

Pulling a hot turkey out of the oven is tricky, especially if the pan you cook it in is flimsy, Cirillo added. Use a sturdy metal roasting pan or, in a pinch, stack two foil roasting pans together for strength.

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“I’m a big fan of double-panning,” Cirillo said. “Dropping the turkey is generally not good on Thanksgiving.”

Cooking timer

Just as important as getting food to the table is making sure it doesn’t sit out too long, said Don Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.

Use a cooking timer or clock alarm to make sure to pack away leftovers within two hours to prevent bacterial growth that can cause illness.

Ruler

And when you’re storing those leftovers, make sure to put them in shallow containers, Schaffner said.

Measure using a ruler — or even the short side of a credit card — to make sure that dense foods like stuffing and sweet potatoes reach a depth of no more than 2 inches to allow for quick and complete cooling in the refrigerator.

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Stores, stock market, banks and more: What's open and closed for Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday is here and while that will mean a number of closures across the Chicago area, not everything will shut down.

Here’s a look at what will and won’t be open for this week’s holiday and the day after.

Are banks open on Thanksgiving?

The majority of banks will be closed for the day as Thanksgiving Day is a Federal Reserve holiday. Many will reopen for Black Friday, however.

Stock market

The stock market will be closed for Thanksgiving Day and will also close early on Black Friday.

The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ report each market will close at 12 p.m. CT on Nov. 28, though some late trading sessions will close at 4 p.m. CT.

USPS, FedEx, UPS

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, meaning U.S. Postal Service locations will be closed, and mail won’t be delivered.

FedEx and UPS will also be closed for the holiday. Some will also have modified service on Black Friday.

DMVs and drivers services

State agencies, including the Secretary of State’s Office, won’t be open.

With it being a federal holiday, most federal government agencies will close for the holiday.

Grocery stores and retailers

Some grocery chains will offer limited hours for the holiday while others will close entirely. Some restaurants may also stay open to serve holiday meals.

Here’s a look at which grocery stores and pharmacies in the Chicago area are open on Thanksgiving for 2025, and which ones are closed.

Open

• Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cermak Fresh Market: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• CVS: Open, though some stores and pharmacies may have reduced hours. Customers should check their local store
• Dollar General: Stores in most states will be open, hours may vary by location
• Jewel-Osco: Most stores open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Kroger: Holiday hours vary. Stores that are open will be until 4 p.m. Most pharmacies closed
• Mariano’s: Holiday hours vary. Stores that are open will be until 5 p.m. Most pharmacies closed
• Meijer: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Strack & Van Til: Open until 3 p.m.
• Sunset Foods and Grand Foods: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tony’s Fresh Market: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Walgreens: 24-hour locations open for essential pharmacy services. Most other locations closed
• Whole Foods: Many stores open with modified hours. Customers should check their local store

Closed

• ALDI
• Costco
• Heinen’s
• Sam’s Club
• Target
• Trader Joe’s
• Walmart

When do schools close for Thanksgiving?

Chicago Public Schools are on a holiday break from Nov. 24-28, but school buildings will only be closed Thursday and Friday.

Other schools and districts have differing times for their holiday break, but all will be off Thursday as it is a holiday designated by the Illinois State Board of Education.

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‘Not funny:' Suburban police send stern message to parents about ‘startling' social media challenge

Police in suburban Arlington Heights posted a stern message to parents after residents reported damage to their homes from a viral social media trend known as the “door kick challenge.”

In a Monday night Facebook post, the police department said it responded to “several reports” of the TikTok trend over the weekend, where “residents reported damage to their front doors after being kicked in.”

“We encourage everyone, especially parents, to understand the dangers and discuss with their children the various consequences of participating in this trend,” the Facebook post said. “Startling a homeowner in the overnight hours and/or damaging property is not funny. We should all agree everyone’s safety is more important than views/likes.”

NBC Chicago has reached out to Arlington Heights police for more information about the incidents.

The incidents come months after police in other Chicago suburbs also reported the trend had come to their communities, with authorities warning that the challenge could lead to felony charges, or “tragic” consequences.

Cases of the challenge have also been reported across the U.S., with groups of teens or kids running up to front doors of homes, and then kicking them before running off. Some of the events have been caught on doorbell camera.

“It startled me awake. I went outside to see what it was and none of the large trees had fallen on my house so I figured it might have been a large branch,” Sleepy Hollow resident Anne Ybarra told NBC Chicago in August. “There was nothing I could do about it in the middle of the night. I woke up in the morning, instead I saw all the damage to my front door and in the entry way.”

“You could see kids running up to the house, you hear the noise of them trying to break into my front door, you see security lights going on, you hear more kicking, then you hear kids running down the driveway and you can see two of them and two of them and then they’re laughing — ‘We gotta get out of here,'” Ybarra said.

Police Chief Sam Parma told NBC Chicago at the time the scene could be more dangerous than expected.

“They have no idea who’s on the other side of the door,” he said. “They don’t know if it’s an elderly person who, because of this action, is going to cause them to go into a medical emergency. They don’t know if its going to be a veteran who has PTSD that’s going to react in a certain way. They don’t know if it’s going to be an armed homeowner who may react a certain way and if that ends up being tragic outcome where you get a kid getting shot where they’re doing something stupid… there’s absolutely no good outcome that could come from something like this.”

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What we know about Anna Kepner, the cheerleader who died on a cruise

Anna Kepner, an 18-year-old cheerleader from central Florida, was found dead on a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month.

Her stepbrother is the sole suspect in the case, and authorities have been tight-lipped about the details since her death.

Here’s what we know about the case.

How did Kepner die?

Kepner died while on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship with her family on Nov. 7. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office previously determined Kepner’s time of death was 11:17 a.m.

The medical examiner’s office has declined to provide details on the cause and manner of Kepner’s death. When asked Tuesday morning for an update, the office cited the active criminal investigation into the case as the reason records cannot be released publicly.

Kepner’s family told ABC News that her death was ruled a homicide caused by “mechanical asphyxia” at the hands of another person. A copy of the death certificate was provided to ABC News by Kepner’s family.

Who is the suspect?

Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother is being investigated as a suspect in the case, which was revealed last week in court documents stemming from a separate case relating to his parents’ prior divorce.

The boy’s mom revealed in a court appearance related to the divorce case on Thursday that he was hospitalized shortly after the ship docked in Miami on Nov. 8, as was planned. It was not immediately clear why he was hospitalized.

He has since been released from the hospital and is now staying with a relative of his mother’s, according to court documents.

The relationship between Kepner and her stepbrother was not totally clear. Her father and his mother were married in December 2024.

Who was on the cruise?

Court documents revealed that Kepner and her father, as well as at least one of her biological siblings, a brother, were on the cruise, along with Kepner’s stepmother, her son (the suspect), and another of her minor children.

Kepner has another biological sibling, according to court documents from her father’s prior divorce, but it was not immediately clear if they were also on the trip.

ABC News reported that Kepner’s grandparents were also on the cruise.

Since the death took place in international waters, the FBI has been leading the investigation into Kepner’s death. The agency has not provided any updates.

Carnival has said it is cooperating with authorities in the investigation and that there is no further threat aboard the Carnival Horizon.

Crime and Courts Nov 19

Stepbrother of teenager found dead on cruise ship suspect in her death, court filing says

FBI Nov 8

FBI investigating death of 18-year-old passenger aboard Carnival Cruise ship

Who was Anna Kepner?

Kepner was a high school senior and cheerleader, and was remembered in her obituary as a bubbly, outgoing, and reliable teen who was always true to herself.

She dreamed of becoming a cheerleader for the University of Georgia and “loved her siblings deeply,” the obituary said.

Her funeral was held on Thursday, and her family asked attendees to wear bright colors versus black “in honor of Anna’s bright and beautiful soul,” the obituary said.

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Costco, Target, Jewel-Osco: Which grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving 2025?

There’s no shame in running out to the store to get last-minute ingredients on Thanksgiving. But which stores will be open for shopping on the holiday?

Here’s a look at which grocery stores and pharmacies in the Chicago area are open on Thanksgiving for 2025, and which ones are closed.

Open

• Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cermak Fresh Market: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• CVS: Open, though some stores and pharmacies may have reduced hours. Customers should check their local store
• Dollar General: Stores in most states will be open, hours may vary by location
• Jewel-Osco: Most stores open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Kroger: Holiday hours vary. Stores that are open will be until 4 p.m. Most pharmacies closed
• Mariano’s: Holiday hours vary. Stores that are open will be until 5 p.m. Most pharmacies closed
• Meijer: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Strack & Van Til: Open until 3 p.m.
• Sunset Foods and Grand Foods: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tony’s Fresh Market: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Walgreens: 24-hour locations open for essential pharmacy services. Most other locations closed
• Whole Foods: Many stores open with modified hours. Customers should check their local store

Closed

• ALDI
• Costco
• Heinen’s
• Sam’s Club
• Target
• Trader Joe’s
• Walmart

Retail 18 hours ago

Macy's wants cash-strapped shoppers to know they have options this holiday

Holidays 19 hours ago

When will stores open on Black Friday? Mall and retailer hours in the Chicago area

Sponsored Nov 18

Early Black Friday deals are already here — 51+ deals you won't want to miss

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Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed

A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging was illegally appointed by the Justice Department.

The rulings from U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie halt at least for now a pair of prosecutions that had hastened concerns that the Justice Department was being weaponized to pursue the president’s political adversaries and amount to a stunning rebuke of the Trump administration’s legal maneuvering to install a loyal, and inexperienced, prosecutor willing to file the cases.

The orders make Lindsey Halligan the latest Trump administration prosecutor to be disqualified because of the manner in which they were appointed. Both defendants had asked for the cases to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the Justice Department would not be able to bring them again. But the judge instead dismissed them without prejudice, though it was not immediately clear if or how the Justice Department might attempt to revive the prosecutions.

The challenge to Halligan’s appointment was one piece of a multiprong assault on the indictments by both Comey and James, who had each sought to have their cases dismissed on grounds that the prosecutions were vindictive. Comey’s lawyers had also seized on irregularities in the grand jury process in seeking to get the prosecution thrown out. Each of those requests remains pending.

Department of Justice Oct 20

James Comey wants ‘vindictive' case dropped and Trump's prosecutor disqualified

Trump Administration Oct 9

Grand jury indicts N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump opponent, on bank fraud charge

Monday’s order deals exclusively with the mechanism the Trump administration employed to appoint Halligan, a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, to lead one of the Justice Department’s most elite and important offices.

Halligan was named to the job in September after a different interim U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, was effectively forced out amid pressure from the Trump administration to file charges against Comey and James.

After Siebert resigned, Comey’s lawyers argued, the judges of the federal court district should have had exclusive say over who got to fill the vacancy. Instead, Trump nominated Halligan while publicly imploring Bondi in a social media post to take action against his political opponents, saying in a Truth Social post that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

Comey was indicted days later on charges of making a false statement and obstructing Congress, and James was charged soon after that in a mortgage fraud investigation.

In a statement, James said, “I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.”

“I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day,” the New York attorney general, a Democrat, said.

Judges have separately disqualified interim U.S. attorneys in New Jersey, Los Angeles and Nevada, but have permitted cases brought under their watch to move forward. But lawyers for Comey and James had argued that Currie’s ruling needed to go even further because Halligan was the sole signer of the indictments and the driving force behind them.

Comey has for years been one of Trump’s chief antagonists. Appointed to the job in 2013 by President Barack Obama, Comey, at the time of Trump’s 2016 election, was overseeing an investigation into whether his presidential campaign had conspired with Russia to sway the outcome of the race. Furious over that investigation, Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and the two officials have verbally sparred in the years since.

James has also been a frequent target of Trump’s ire, especially since she won a staggering judgment against him and the Trump Organization in a lawsuit alleging he defrauded banks by overstating the value of his real estate holdings on financial statements. An appeals court overturned the fine, which had ballooned to more than $500 million with interest, but upheld a lower court’s finding that Trump had committed fraud.

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A pair of snowy owls spotted along Lake Michigan beach draws crowds in Chicago

A pair of snowy owls has taken up residence along a Lake Michigan beach, sparking curious speculation about how long the Arctic birds of prey will call Chicago home

from The Independent https://ift.tt/FrReGwP

Autopsy gives new details after 2 men found dead in Arlington Heights condo complex

An autopsy has shed more light on the deaths of two employees found dead in the utility rooms of a suburban condo complex.

According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, 53-year-old Steven Weigensberg and 53-year-old Juan Medina were both found unconscious in the utility rooms of a condo complex in the 1500 block of East Central Road in Arlington Heights Friday afternoon.

Police and fire department first responders reported it was “clearly evident that two people experienced traumatic injuries and were beyond medical care,” authorities said. Both men were pronounced dead at an area hospital.

On Sunday, it was revealed that Weigensberg had died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.

It was also revealed that Medina suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, and it is believed that he died by suicide.

Authorities said that the two men were an employee and a supervisor at the condo complex, and that the incident was isolated in nature.

No further information was immediately available.

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Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade kicks off Saturday in downtown Chicago

Chicago’s unofficial start to the holiday season will continue on Saturday night with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade, the nation’s largest nighttime parade.

The weather will be rather enjoyable this time around, in contrast to last year’s bitter cold.

While the festival itself began at 11 a.m., the much-awaited event, the parade, doesn’t get underway until 5:30 p.m. Festivities will commence when Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse step off at Oak Street and Michigan Avenue and head south, illuminating more than one million lights on 200 trees block by block, according to the event’s website.

For those planning to be in the downtown area during the festivities, whether you’ll be looking for the perfect viewing spot or trying to navigate around the parade, the route stretches from Oak Street to Illinois Street In addition, the DuSable Bridge will close as early as 3 p.m. in preparation of the parade.

When the parade gets underway, visitors will hear the tunes of bands and musical groups from across the country, including Chicago’s Leo High School Choir, which captivated the nation on “America’s Got Talent.” There will be no shortage of live performers, including from the South Shore Drill Team and musical groups such as Plain White T’s and Voices of Liberty.

And what’s a holiday celebration without Santa?

Santa will officially ring in the holidays aboard Wintrust’s Grand Finale Float, and he’ll also spend some time greeting the youngest of parade-goers and hearing their Christmas wishes.

Once the parade wraps up, the excitement won’t end right away.

The night will come to a close with the Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular over the Chicago River near the DuSable Bridge.

from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/vw91Cgl

Chris Paul to retire at the end of season, ending 21-year career as an LA Clipper

Legendary NBA player Chris Paul is planning to retire at the end of the season, making an announcement on social media ahead of Saturday’s Clippers game in his native state of North Carolina. 

The video message showed nostalgic images of Paul’s past jerseys, clips from his childhood and the moment he was drafted to play for the then-New Orleans Hornets in 2005.

“Back in NC!!! What a ride…Still so much left…GRATEFUL for this last one!!,” the 12-time All-Star wrote on Instagram.

The social media announcement ended with the phrase “never delay gratitude.” 

His wife, Jada Paul, also confirmed the iconic point guard’s retirement plan in an Instagram Story, congratulating him for a “helluva career.”

The 2025-2026 NBA season had been expected to be the last one for Paul after the star agreed to a one-year deal with the Clippers in July.

The 12-time All-Star had some of his best years with the Clippers from 2011-17 — five All-Star selections, five All-NBA nods and six First-Team All-Defense honors. The “Lob City” Clippers turned the once-lowly franchise around as Paul and Blake Griffin led the team to the second round three times.

Paul, who turned 40 in May, is coming off a productive 2024-25 season with the San Antonio Spurs. Paul started all 82 games for the Spurs, averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 assists for the young squad.

Over his first 20 seasons, Paul has piled up the accolades to become a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’s played for the New Orleans Hornets (2005-11), Clippers (2011-17), Houston Rockets (2017-19), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019-20), Phoenix Suns (2020-23), Golden State Warriors (2023-24) and Spurs (2024-25), with career averages of 17.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds.

Paul, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, has led the league in assists five times and steals six times. The only thing eluding him is a title, with his closest call coming in 2021 when the Suns lost in the NBA Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks.

NBA Jul 21

Chris Paul rejoining Clippers for 21st and ‘likely' final season: Report

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