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Book Review: Christine Pride and Jo Piazza continue as dynamic duo with ‘You Were Always Mine’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

“You Were Always Mine” by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (Simon & Schuster)I don’t know who introduced writers Christine Pride and Jo Piazza but I’d like to thank their literary matchmaker. Each talented on their own, a special magic happens when they co-author a book together. Their first novel, the 2021 release, “We Are Not Like Them” tackled Black Lives Matter, race relations, police brutality, journalism ethics, forgiveness and friendship between two women, one Black and one white. Written in alternate voices, the book was at times tough to read but it felt important and necessary. Their new book “You Were Always Mine” also doesn’t shy away from hard topics. It follows a Black woman named Cinnamon and a white pregnant woman named Daisy, two strangers who form an unlikely friendship after meeting in a local park. One day Cinnamon returns to the park and finds Daisy has given birth and left her baby with a note, asking Cinnamon to raise the child as her own. C...

Police say 2 men fatally shot after road rage incident on Interstate 25 in Denver

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Two men were fatally shot after a road rage incident involving two vehicles on Interstate 25 in Denver, police said.The men were riding together in the same vehicle on Tuesday, police said. They stopped their vehicle in the righthand lane near a busy interchange and the passenger got out and approached another car, which had also stopped. The driver of the second vehicle apparently opened fire on the passenger, police said.The shooting suspect started to drive away, but the other driver grabbed onto that vehicle and the shooting suspect fired at him too, causing the victim to fall, police said. A Denver detective who happened to be driving by when the shooting happened, followed the suspect’s vehicle and called for uniformed officers to arrest the 25-year-old driver. He was arrested during a traffic stop without incident.Police have not released any information about what happened before the cars pulled over.The Associated Press

Olympic ski jumper from McHenry killed in motorcycle crash

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

BULL VALLEY, Ill. — An Olympic ski jumper from McHenry was killed Monday in a motorcycle crash in Bull Valley.Patrick Gasienica, 24, was involved in a crash while riding a motorcycle in the 1000 block of Cherry Valley Road, according to the McHenry County Coroner's Office.Gasiencia, who was a member of the Norge Ski Club, competed in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Patrick Gasienica, of the United States, soars through the air during the men's normal hill individual ski jumping trial round at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)"Patrick was a dedicated athlete and beloved member of not only the Norge community, but the ski jumping community at large, and his life and legacy will forever be remembered," a Facebook post from the Norge Ski Club read. "Patrick was a fierce competitor, role model, and friend to all who knew him. While this loss is devastating to our community, we will always remember Patrick and ho...

Most expensive home for sale in Michigan at $18M built for next level lake life

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

PETOSKEY, Mich. — A home listed for $18 million on Walloon Lake in Michigan technically ties for the most expensive home for sale in the state, according to Zillow, but with more than twice the living space square footage. Historic Lake Geneva estate goes up for sale – most expensive listing currently in Wisconsin The home at 850 West Bear River Road in Petoskey may have only four bedrooms and seven bathrooms, yet it's 14,636 square feet. You might expect a home of such size to sport more bedrooms, but what it lacks in designated sleeping space it makes up for in amenities. It also has two sets of strategically place bunk beds separate from the standard bedrooms.Photo credit: Brad Rellinger Harbor Sotheby's Intl. RealtyPhoto credit: Brad Rellinger Harbor Sotheby's Intl. RealtyPhoto credit: Brad Rellinger Harbor Sotheby's Intl. RealtyPhoto credit: Brad Rellinger Harbor Sotheby's Intl. RealtyPhoto credit: Brad Rellinger Harbor Sotheby's Intl. RealtyPhoto credit: Brad Rellinger Harbo...

Treasure hunt in Utah promises $25K for the winner: Here are the clues so far

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) – Treasure-hunters in Utah are currently seeking a chest filled with $25,000 in cash — and all they've got is a poem to lead them to the prize.The Utah Treasure Hunt, now in its fourth year, was first started as a passion project by Utah residents Dave Cline and John Maxim during the pandemic, to "give everyone a safe way to get outside with family and friends," the duo writes on their official site.From then on, the pair's annual treasure hunt has grown in popularity. The first two, according to Cline and Maxim, were self-funded, but several companies have since joined in to contribute to the prize pot and keep the fun going. Family finds 1 million copper pennies while cleaning out Los Angeles home This year's clues were — per usual — presented as a riddle in the form of a poem:Begin your search where time was transcendentCrack open the books they’re independentLift up your eyes and look for the markHike to the tree that stands without barkPass the grain tow...

Southern Baptists refuse to take back megachurch over women pastors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention has refused to welcome Saddleback Church back into its fold, rejecting an appeal by the California megachurch over its February ouster for having women pastors.Southern Baptist church representatives at their annual meeting here also rejected a similar appeal by a smaller church, Fern Creek Baptist of Louisville, Kentucky, which is led by a woman pastor.The results of the Tuesday votes were announced Wednesday morning on the concluding day of the the two-day annual meeting here of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, whose statement of faith asserts that only qualified men can serve as pastors.The convention hall packed with about 12,000 Southern Baptists was quiet after the announcement, appearing to have listened to the earlier urging by SBC President Bart Barber for them to show restraint.“I know sometimes there are churches where people wind up in biblical divorce,” he said. “But we don’t t...

Body of man who went missing in Lake Travis recovered, sheriff's office says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

Editor's note: The above video is from KXAN's previous coverage before the man's body was recovered.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The body of a man who went missing in Lake Travis over the weekend was recovered after being located Monday. The Wake: Secrets of Lake Travis The Travis County Sheriff's Office said Lake Patrol deputies responded to a call around 7:28 p.m. Sunday to help find a man who was last seen near Mansfield Dam Park. According to a release from TCSO, the man was reportedly last seen in the area trying to swim across a nearby cove.Authorities searched the area where he was last seen on Sunday night and paused searching overnight. Search efforts continued Monday morning. The man's body was located around 8:30 a.m. and then recovered around noon. The description of the man who went under matched the body recovered. TCSO said he was found approximately 30 feet underwater and was not wearing a life jacket. The man has not been identified, but TCSO said he was in his 20s. The Wake:...

Water access at Hamilton Pool Preserve currently not allowed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 14, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hamilton Pool Preserve said visitors were not allowed to get into the water due to recent rains and high bacteria levels.According to Travis County Parks, the earliest swimming might be allowed at the preserve would be Friday, June 16.“When we do allow swimming only a very limited portion of the pool is available for water access due to the continuing problem of falling rocks. As always, whether swimming will be allowed depends on factors beyond our control, such as bacteria levels and recent rain,” TC Parks said. RELATED: Hamilton Pool Preserve reservations open for summer TC Parks said the preserve remained open for hiking, but reservations were still required.The parks department issued a reminder that water access was never guaranteed, even with a reservation.

Gophers paid Lindsay Whalen a ‘termination fee’ of $215K

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

Lindsay Whalen was fired from her position as the University of Minnesota’s basketball coach and no longer works for the school, according to a settlement report obtained by the Pioneer Press.Whalen declined the offer to work as a special assistant to athletics director Mark Coyle and has received a one-time, lump sum settlement payment of $215,000.Coyle announced during a March 2 news conference that Whalen, a former UMN all-American and four-time WNBA champion with the Lynx, had stepped down after five years as the Gophers’ coach. Whalen did not attend the news conference and hasn’t spoken publicly since.“Together,” Coyle said at the time, “we just felt like now is the right time for her to step down.”We now know that wasn’t the case. In its settlement summary, the university said “the University determined it was in the best interests of the University to make a change to the head coaching position for the women’s basketball team.”Whalen did not immediately return a phone message...

Tattoo, oddities shop to open in downtown Albany

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:04:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Husband and wife duo Susie and Jay Pittenger are set to open up Black Dahlia Tattoo & Oddity Parlour in downtown Albany. They are relocating to upstate New York from Pittsburgh to open their new shop. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In Pittsburgh, Susie owns a tattoo and vintage shop. She has over 11 years of experience in the tattoo industry."I built my other shop, Sanctuary Pittsburgh, to be an inclusive space for tattooing and self-expression, and I hope to do the same in the Capital Region," she said. "We really love upstate, especially Albany, and can’t wait to be part of the community here." Lark Hall in Albany opening restaurant downstairs Black Dahlia will be the Pittengers' private studio and space to put the strange and unique items they're collected over the years. The oddity retail section will be on the ground floor and the tattoo parlour will be on the second floor.The oddity sec...