SPRINGFIELD – An early season snowstorm dumped up to 6 inches of snow in parts of southwestern and central Illinois, causing widespread school closures and some traffic snarls. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the area and said some additional snowfall into Thursday evening was possible. The heaviest Illinois snowfall totals reaching half a foot in spots were reported in a band from the St. Louis area to around Springfield. Up to 3 inches of snow had fallen by Thursday morning in the Peoria and Carbondale areas. The Chicago area had about an inch of snow. Police said electricity was knocked out in Lebanon, about 20 miles east of St. Louis, when a vehicle crashed into a utility pole early Thursday. … [Read more...] about Early season storm dumps snow across much of Illinois
California town’s wildfire evacuation plan raises questions
MAGALIA, Calif. – Ten years ago, as two wildfires advanced on Paradise, residents jumped into their vehicles to flee and got stuck in gridlock. That led authorities to devise a staggered evacuation plan – one that they used when fire came again last week. But Paradise’s carefully laid plans quickly devolved into a panicked exodus Nov. 8. Some survivors said that by the time they got warnings, the flames were already extremely close, and they barely escaped with their lives. Others said they received no warnings at all. Now, with at least 63 people dead and more than 630 unaccounted for in the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century, authorities are facing questions of whether they took the right approach. … [Read more...] about California town’s wildfire evacuation plan raises questions
Area roundup: DeKalb bowling picks up win; NIU volleyball’s season ends
The DeKalb boys bowling team picked up a 3,515-3,351 win at Yorkville on Thursday. Logan Zarek rolled a 632 series with a 233 high game. Nicholas Eberly shot a 266 high game and finished with a 629 series. Michael Rae had a 624 series with a high game of 234. GIRLS BASKETBALL Hiawatha falls to Alden-Hebron: Despite a second-half lead, the Hawks fell, 46-32. Daisy Montiel led Hiawatha with 13 points. COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL NIU season ends: The Huskies lost their first-round Mid-American Conference tournament match at Miami, 25-15, 25-14, 32-30 to Ohio. The Huskies (11-21) trailed, 24-21, in the third set, then led, 28-27, before falling. Meg Wolowicz led the Huskies with eight kills and two aces. Miranda Karlen had 16 digs. … [Read more...] about Area roundup: DeKalb bowling picks up win; NIU volleyball’s season ends
Bears’ secondary no longer a weak link
It’s amazing what leading the league in interceptions can do for the perception of a secondary. Last year, when the Bears had a top-10 defense, their secondary received little credit. That was partly because, for the third straight season, the Bears had a franchise-record-low eight interceptions. This year, in only nine games, the Bears have an NFL-best 16 interceptions, and 12 of them have come from six different defensive backs. The secondary is no longer the weak link of the defense, which has ascended to the top five in most major categories, ironically, largely because of the play of those same defensive backs who have caught more flak than interceptions the past couple of years. “They’re getting more credit because we’ve gotten more interception, so that’s obviously the main reason,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “But overall, we’ve been defending the pass better, and we’ve come up with some balls in the takeaway … [Read more...] about Bears’ secondary no longer a weak link
Women elected in record numbers in state races
Women’s winning streak in this year’s elections has extended to statehouses across the country. More than 2,000 women will serve in state legislatures when those chambers convene for their upcoming sessions, representing about a quarter of all state lawmakers across the country. That mark will eclipse the record of 1,875 who served this year, according to reports Thursday from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The number could rise as ballot-counting concludes in close contests across the country. The Associated Press has not yet called 216 state legislative elections, races that include about 185 female candidates, according to the center. In another first, women could end up holding the majority in two state legislative chambers at the same time – the Colorado House and Nevada Assembly, according to tallies by the center and the National Conference of State Legislatures. “It’s about time,” said Lisa Cutter, a … [Read more...] about Women elected in record numbers in state races