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Author Leigh Bardugo reaches blockbuster deal with publisher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Million-selling author Leigh Bardugo has reached a blockbuster deal with Macmillan Publishers, an eight-figure agreement for more than a dozen books across several imprints. According to Macmillan, the books will comprise a “variety of formats, age categories and genres.” Bardugo is best known for her Grishaverse fantasy novels, which include “Shadow and Bone,” the basis for a Netflix series of the same name that begins its second season this week. She also has written the adult fantasy novel “Ninth House” and its recently released sequel “Hell Bent.”“Macmillan took a chance on me over a decade ago and they’ve been my home ever since. When no one in YA was interested in epic fantasy, they welcomed ‘Shadow and Bone,’” Bardugo said in a statement Tuesday. “When everyone wanted books about kings and queens, they rolled the dice on my team of six outcasts (in her novel ‘Six of Crows’) trying to pull off an impossible heist.”“And when I wanted to go someplace far da...

Migrant boats sink off Turkish coast; at least 4 dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Two boats carrying dozens of migrants sank off Turkey’s Aegean coast on Tuesday, drowning at least four people, Turkish media reports said.The Turkish coast guard rescued 38 people and recovered the four bodies, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.It was not clear how many people were on the boats and coast guards were continuing to search off the coastal resort of Kusadasi for other possible survivors.The rescued migrants were taken to hospitals to be treated for hyperthermia, private DHA news agency reported. Their nationalities were not immediately known.Anadolu claimed that the boats carrying the migrants are believed to have been pushed back into Turkish waters by Greek authorities.Turkey frequently accuses Greece of engaging in the illegal practice of pushbacks — summary deportations of migrants without allowing them to apply for asylum. Greece denies that, and in turn accuses Turkish authorities of directing migrant boats to Greek waters.Thousands of p...

Police: 5 people robbed in 10 minutes near University of Chicago campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Five people were robbed in a span of ten minutes Monday night near the University of Chicago.According to University of Chicago police, the first armed robbery happened at around 7:30 p.m. in the 5300 block of South Kimbark. Three suspects robbed one person on a sidewalk and fled in a white Kia.At around 7:35 p.m., two more people were robbed by the same group in the 5100 block of South Kenwood. Then five minutes later, two more were robbed in the 1200 block of East 57th Street. Man accused of battering 50-year-old CTA driver on South Side The three suspects were later arrested at 38th and Cottage Grove and a handgun was recovered, police said.

WATCH LIVE | SAFE-T Act, elimination of cash bail is before Illinois Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A controversial part of the SAFE-T Act goes before the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday.The act's elimination of cash bail is at the center of the case before the justices in Springfield. A Kankakee judge ruled in favor of state's attorneys who believe getting rid of the cash bail system is unconstitutional. Now, the state's highest court will begin the process of making the decision to possibly eliminate the entire law. Gov. JB Pritzker and the attorney general are urging the court to reject constitutional theories from prosecutors challenging the measure. They believe eliminating cash bail puts dangerous criminals back on the street.Those against the SAFE-T Act are using a specific part of the Illinois constitution that guarantees people bail by sufficient sureties.The issue is whether sureties automatically means money. Illinois’ SAFE-T Act explained The attorney general's office argues lawmakers have the right to reform pretr...

Sandy gets her second chance at the 'Grand Prize Game' - and cake!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

CHICAGO - There are those who came so close to taking part in one of the most beloved games on one of the most popular television shows in the history of television.At the same time, there are others who got the chance to take part in the "Grand Prize Game," but things didn't go as expected. That was the case for Sandy Tremonte, who took part in the famed contest featuring the bucket toss on "Bozo Circus" and actually won a few prizes. But there was one that she never got to enjoy, and that was thanks to her mom, Joanne Monaghan. But on Tuesday's WGN Morning News, we gave Sandy a "Second Chance at the Grand Prize Game" - something we are giving to a few Chicago area residents as part of the station's 75th anniversary. Yes, there is a shot that Sandy finally gets that treat she missed out on 40 years ago. You can watch her second chance at the Grand Prize game on March 14's show in the video above.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivere...

Homeless advocacy group says many Austin families living in cars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — There are thousands of people who are experiencing homelessness across the City of Austin, but not all are living in tents or under a bridge — some are living in their cars."I lived in my car for two years," said Tony Carter, who was on a visit to Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center.Carter is not the only person in Austin who turned to a car for shelter, many parking lots and parks around Austin have become popular places to park and live.If you drive to the entrance of Barton Springs Pool on the Azie Morton Drive side, you will see cars lining the parking lot and many of them are being used for shelter.A woman who visits the park frequently tells us people have been camping in their cars for months without any enforcement. She hopes they can get some help, but she does have safety concerns."It would be nice to see a policeman here," said the woman, who told KXAN her car was broken into while she was visiting the pool.While some people choose to live in their cars and...

APD arrests man wanted in connection with series of cellphone store robberies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department Robbery Unit arrested a man wanted in connection to several cellphone store robberies in the Austin area, according to an APD news release.The man was identified as Gregory Sterling, 50, according to police.At approximately 6:25 p.m., Jan. 30, Sterling walked into Cricket Wireless and acted like a customer. Then, he pulled a handgun and forced a female employee to the ground, the release said. Sterling stood over the woman and pressed the gun to her head while using her key to unlock the cash registers. He took the cash and left the area, police said.Five more incidents occurred between Jan. 30 and March 7, according to the release, which are listed below:Jan. 30, 6:25 p.m. - 5618 Manor Rd. (Cricket Wireless)Feb. 10, 6:52 p.m. - 1181 Airport Blvd. (Boost Mobile)Feb. 13, 6:06 p.m. - 1122 Airport Blvd. (T-Mobile)March 2, 7:18 p.m. - 3800 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 100 (AT&T)March 4, 7:39 p.m. - 1030 Norwood Park, Suite #326 (Metro by T-Mobil...

New satellite releases first images of global ozone

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

(KXAN) -- As technology improves, our ability to observe the world improves with each new satellite that blasts off to orbit.Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with Larry Flynn, a research scientist with NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) about NOAA's brand new 'NOAA-21 Satellite' that's continuing to build on earth observation of satellites prior, but with even more detail.Total ozone measured by the OMPS NM on February 17, 2023. Credit: NASA/NOAA/JPSSTotal ozone measured by the OMPS NM on February 17, 2023. Credit: NASA/NOAA/JPSSBelow is a transcript of Bannin and Flynn's conversation. Meteorologist Nick Bannin: NOAA's 21 Satellite recently released its first images of global ozone concentration recently, what were you able to determine from those new images?Larry Flynn, Research Scientist, NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System: So the images are from our newest ozone and mapping and profiler suite, which we call 'OMPS'. It has three instruments a total ozone mapper, a Nadir o...

Gaming lounge opens in Boys and Girls Club of Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Boys and Girls Club of Austin celebrated the opening of a new place for kids to have fun and access something they may not always be able to. The club held a ribbon-cutting on Monday for its new HP Gaming Lounge and launched a new e-sports program. New HP Gaming Lounge opens at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) New HP Gaming Lounge opens at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) New HP Gaming Lounge opens at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) New HP Gaming Lounge opens at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) New HP Gaming Lounge opens at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) According to a press release, the HP Gaming Lounge is fully outfitted with top-of-the-line HP Gaming Computers and peripherals and serves as the hub for BGCAA’s brand-new e-sports program.It offers a safe, accessible and inclusive ways to engage Club youth, including...

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Nike film 'Air' set to close SXSW, reports say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival is about to take a big jump.Amazon plans to premiere "Air," a film about Nike's Air Jordan shoe collaboration with Michael Jordan, according to Variety. "The movie will screen to the public for the first time at SXSW as the festival’s closing night film on March 18," Variety reports. There's a TBA on SXSW's website under the Closing Night Special Screening at Paramount Theatre at 6:30 p.m. PHOTOS: Marvel actors in Austin for SXSW The publication tried to get Amazon to confirm the SXSW premiere but the company declined to comment. "'Air' reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand," the movie description from Amazon reveals. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck take their love to Austin The cast includes Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason...