36k plush animals recalled by Build-A-Bear over safety concern

An estimated 36,000 plush animals sold by Build-A-Bear Workshop have been recalled due to a detachable zipper that can pose a choking hazard, the St. Louis-based company said in a news release Thursday.

The recalls affects the Heartwarming Hugs weighted plush bear, which has a zipper slider on the side pouch that can detach and pose a choking risk, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The bears were sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland between Jan. 21 and March 5. In the U.S., the recall applies to plushes with the following model number: 034464.

According to the CPSC, the bear has a side pouch that contains a heart filled with 2.5 pounds of ceramic beads which can be heated or cooled for comfort. The agency said one report of the zipper detaching has been received in the United Kingdom, but no reports have been made in the U.S.

The company said customers should immediately stop using the recalled bear and return it to a local store to receive a refund.

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NW Indiana player among 2 Powerball jackpot winners, wins over $71M

In what was a remarkable night for Powerball players across the country, one lucky lottery player in northwest Indiana – and another in Kansas – emerged as the winners of Wednesday’s $143.4 million jackpot.

One winning ticket was sold at Al’s Supermarket, 702 E. Lincolnway in La Porte, according to the Hoosier Lottery. The Indiana ticket-holder and whoever bought the other winning ticket in Kansas each won $71.7 million.

Indiana does not permit winners to remain anonymous, while it is an option in Kansas.

Including the two jackpot winners, 91 players nationwide each won at least $1 million.

Of those, 27 tickets matched the five white balls and selected the Power Play option, to claim $2 million each. Those winning tickets were sold in:

• Illinois – 1
• Indiana – 5
• Wisconsin – 2

Sixty-two other players matched all five white balls to win $1 million. Fourteen tickets were bought in Indiana, with three sold in Illinois and four in Wisconsin.

The Hoosier Lottery said the Indiana jackpot winner should ensure their ticket is in a secure place and consider seeking legal and financial advice.

Haven’t checked your ticket yet?

The winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday are: 3-19-35-51-67 with the Powerball of 15 and a Power Play of 2X.

The next Powerball drawing is Saturday, with the jackpot sitting at an estimated $20 million.

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May's ‘flower moon' marks a rare moment for not 1 but 2 reasons. What to know

Friday’s full moon, known as the “flower moon,” will mark a rare moment in the skies for more than one reason.

Not only is the full moon one of two for the month of May, leaving room for a “blue moon” later this month, it is also what is known as a “micromoon.”

What does that mean?

Here’s a breakdown of what to know about the lunar calendar for May:

What is the ‘flower moon’?

According to the Farmers Almanac, the flower moon is named as “a reference to abundant flowers in bloom — Mother Nature’s coming attractions” in May.

“May is the month when hundreds of native flowers, sedges, bushes and trees blossom throughout North America,” the Almanac writes.

What is a ‘micromoon’?

The May full moon happens to fall when the moon is at its farthest from Earth, making it what is known as a “micromoon,” according to EarthSky.

“The moon takes about a month to orbit Earth once (that’s where the word ‘month’ or ‘moon-th’ comes from). And the moon’s orbit around Earth isn’t a perfect circle. So the moon has a nearest point (perigee) and a farthest point (apogee) each month,” EarthSky reports. “When we have a full moon around the time of apogee, that’s a full micromoon.”

Time and Date notes that a micromoon may appear smaller than average, and much smaller than, say, a super full moon.

When is the May full moon?

The first one, known as the Flower Moon, occurs on May 1.

It is scheduled to peak at 12:23 p.m. CT.

When is the next May full moon?

The second full moon this month will be on May 31, making it a “blue moon.”

“Blue Moon is the name given to the second Full Moon in a single calendar month. It’s a relatively rare event, hence the phrase ‘once in a blue moon,’ NASAwrote.

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SW suburban sheriff's office, DCFS investigating death of 2-month-old ruled a homicide

A young child who died in the southwest suburbs Sunday night has prompted a homicide investigation, with the Will County sheriff’s office and the Department of Family and Child Services all involved as detectives work to learn more.

The incident unfolded about 5:53 p.m. in Plainfield, a release from the Will County sheriff’s office said, with sheriff’s deputies called to a home in the 14100 block of Lehigh Drive. According to authorities, the deputies were called to the home to assist Lockport Township Fire Department for reports of an unresponsive infant.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they found a 2-month-old boy child being rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment. The child, in critical condition, was then airlifted to Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

He was pronounced dead Tuesday night.

An autopsy was scheduled Thursday, authorities said, with official results expected to take several weeks.

An initial report from the Medical Examiner showed the child, identified as Maverick Rowe, with a preliminary report ruling the death as a homicide as a result of multiple injuries and assault. A release from the sheriff’s office said the medical examiner’s report has not been made official.

“While the Cook County medical examiner’s office may be reporting certain things, the Will County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t received any official word from their office regarding this case,” the release said. “We are thoroughly investigation this criminal matter but no charges have been filed,” the sheriff’s office said.

An investigation remains ongoing with the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Child and Family Services, Comer Children’s Hospital and the Cook County Medical Examiner.

No further details in the case were provided.

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