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Are Illinois employers struggling to hire workers more than in other states?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

ILLINOIS (WTVO) – Across the U.S., hiring is still a major challenge for employers, even as the national unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in March.However, a new study suggests depending on where you live, some employers may be having a harder time finding people to work than employers in other states.A recent ranking from WalletHub, a personal finance website, sought to rank “states where employers are struggling the most in hiring.” Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on two metrics involving job openings.Those metrics concerned the rate of job openings for the latest month and for the last 12 months.WalletHub ranked Illinois 26th, meaning the state is right in the middle of the pack, not fairing better nor worse than any other state in the nation.Below is the list of the top 10 states where employers are struggling to hire the most, according to WalletHub:AlaskaGeorgiaWest VirginiaLouisianaV...

The scandalous story of how the 'World's Littlest Skyscraper' ended up in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — They say everything is bigger in Texas, but when it comes to skyscrapers in a town just south of the Red River, that couldn't be further from the truth.(Photo courtesy Joshua Hoggard/KFDX/KJTL)The Newby-McMahon Building, better known as "The World's Littlest Skyscraper," sits at the corner of 7th Street and La Salle in Downtown Wichita Falls, Texas. The red brick structure stands a meager 40 feet tall, and its four habitable floors are barely larger than a typical bedroom, measuring 9 feet wide by 12 feet long. It may seem underwhelming today, over 100 years after it was constructed in 1919. But to the residents of a once-booming North Texas city a century ago — residents who were expecting an actual skyscraper — it was downright embarrassing. That's because, according to local legend, The World's Littlest Skyscraper is the result of one of the greatest architectural scandals of all time. The story begins in 1918. Wichita Falls was experiencing a rapid ex...

How to improve your lifestyle this Earth Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

Lifestyle specialist Maisha Wynn joins WGN Weekend Morning News to talk about how she made some lifestyle changes to happier and healthier self.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Austin man arrested on murder charge for north Austin shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – U.S. Marshalls arrested an Austin man in connection with a north Austin shooting Tuesday that left another man dead. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Stacey Easley, 52, for allegedly shooting and killing Johnny Edmondson, 29, at a north Austin apartment complex located in the 8300 block of north Interstate 35 Service Road. Easley has been charged with murder.  PREVIOUS: APD investigating deadly shooting at north Austin apartment complex Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to a 911 call about a shooting Tuesday night just after 10:00 p.m. Officers found Edmondson lying on the ground, and ATCEMS attempted lifesaving measures. Edmondson died on the scene. After his arrest, Easley was booked into the Travis County Jail to await judicial proceedings.     MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? This case is being investigated as Austin’s 24th homicide in 2023.

Traffic alert: I-35 main lanes to close for Williams Drive bridge demolition in Georgetown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Late-night drivers should plan for Interstate 35 main lane closures in Georgetown overnight Saturday into Sunday morning. The Texas Department of Transportation said the overnight closure is for the demolition and partial removal of the original Williams Drive bridge over I-35. PREVIOUS: Demolition starts on Georgetown bridge, I-35 to close This is part of a $61.7 million project to build a new bridge over I-35 with a diverging diamond intersection, according to TxDOT. Construction began in 2020 and is scheduled to finish in late 2023. Here are the closures that will start at 10 p.m. Saturday:Northbound and southbound I-35 lanes will close between SH 29 and Lakeway Drive. NB I-35 traffic will exit at Williams Drive (exit 262) and re-enter after Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will exit at Williams Drive (exit 262) and re-enter at SH 29. Eastbound Williams Drive traffic will detour to SB I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at SH 29 to access Williams...

Austin Energy sends crews to Arizona for Navajo Nation electric grid project

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Soon, many families in the Navajo Nation will be able to turn on the lights in their homes for the first time.A group of utility companies, including Austin Energy and the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, are partnering to make this possible. On Friday, Austin Energy sent 11 crew members and 10 trucks to Leupp, Arizona, where they will spend two weeks working on the Light Up Navajo project. The goal is to connect Navajo families to the electric grid. Last year, Austin Energy sent eight crew members to Arizona to work on the project."We went to a place where people had never had lights, some people who have never had power in their homes for generations. And so to get lights on for people who have never had it - to see the appreciation they had is pretty humbling," said Paul Peterson, an Austin Energy distribution electrician supervisor. Austin Energy said the project is important because Navajo families otherwise may have issues accessing running water, reliable ligh...

Timberwolves’ backs are firmly planted against the wall. Can they at least delay their season’s end?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

The Timberwolves were frustrated, maybe a little embarrassed and clearly stunned after Friday’s Game 3 defeat to Denver that left Minnesota staring down the barrel of a potential first-round sweep in the NBA playoffs.Anthony Edwards left the locker room after the game without even speaking to the media.A team that entered the playoffs on a high after winning a number of critical games to close out the regular season and dominating its play-in victory over Oklahoma City, the Wolves are suddenly missing their mojo.“Yeah, I didn’t think we’d be here. Honestly, I didn’t think anybody in this room did,” Wolves veteran guard Mike Conley said. “We had been playing really good basketball, playing hard, and doing a lot of really, really good things to get into the playoffs. So, it’s frustrating. Guys are upset.”But the pity party must be short lived. Because the fate of Minnesota’s season, which was originally expected to extend at ...

City of Albany receives $500K grant to install EV charging ports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City of Albany has been awarded a $499,769.60 grant from the New York Department of Conservation to install 28 electric charging ports at 14 stations. Funding is provided through the DEC's Municipal Zero Emissions program. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The DEC is proud to work with the communities and local leaders across the state investing in clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and building sustainable infrastructure," said Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the DEC. "This funding will continue to grow New York's electric vehicle charging network in communities as we shift to zero-emissions vehicles to reduce emissions and improve the health and safety of New Yorkers."The locations of the charging ports are:3 dual-port stations in Washington Park near the intersection of State Street and Willet Street3 dual-port stations at the Capital Hills Golf Course on O'Neil Road2 dual-port st...

Police make 7 notable DWI arrests in the Capital Region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State Police made seven notable DWI arrests from April 13 to 19th. In five incidents, the drivers recorded a BAC twice the legal limit. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Shortly before 7 p.m. on April 13, the State Police of Brunswick responded to a one-car crash in the area of Ball Street Extension in Hoosick Falls. Police located the driver, a 45-year-old from Rensselaer, who was uninjured. Police learned there was also a five-year-old child in the vehicle at the time of the crash who was picked up before they arrived.The driver was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated with a Child. She was uncooperative with the investigation and refused to provide a blood sample. She was arraigned at the Petersburg Town Court and released with an order to appear in Hoosick Town Court on April 27.At around 9:36 p.m. that night, the State Police of Wilton received a report of a vehicle in a field. Police ...

Fatal apartment fire in San Gabriel claims 1 life, displaces 4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:10 GMT

An apartment building in San Gabriel caught fire late Friday night, killing one of the building’s residents and displacing the rest. According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the blaze broke out around 11:40 p.m. in the 1600 block of Portrero Grande Drive. Firefighters pulled one person out of the building and attempted CPR, but they were pronounced deceased at the scene. No other injuries were reported. An apartment building in San Gabriel caught fire on April 21, 2023, killing one of the building’s residents and displacing the rest. (KeyNews)An apartment building in San Gabriel caught fire on April 21, 2023, killing one of the building’s residents and displacing the rest. (KeyNews)An apartment building in San Gabriel caught fire on April 21, 2023, killing one of the building’s residents and displacing the rest. (KeyNews)The apartment building was a total loss, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. This is a developing story. ...