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Book Review: John McPhee delivers a lovely ‘reminiscence montage’ in ’Tabula Rasa’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

“Tabula Rasa, Volume 1” by John McPhee (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)What do you do when your writing career lasts seven decades but you haven’t said everything you once thought about saying? If you’re John McPhee, you crack open your notebooks and give fans a taste of the stories you never wrote.That’s the premise behind “Tabula Rasa,” which the 92-year-old McPhee wryly indicates is “Volume 1” because “the purpose of (the project) is to keep the old writer alive by never coming to an end.”There are plenty of snippets here that will make readers wish McPhee had indeed delved deeper into particular topics. A longer profile of fellow writer Edward Abbey would have been nice after hearing him recount the stoning of a rabbit at a Princeton colloquium. Or more color from a 1979 Independence Day fireworks party aboard Malcolm Forbes’ yacht in New York’s East River. Some of the best writing in this collection could be considered memoir — from McPhee’s high school job as a billy club- and flas...

Monitor urges contempt proceedings begin against New York City over Rikers jail conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Contempt proceedings should be initiated against New York City over its failure to meet court-ordered reforms meant to stabilize the troubled Rikers Island jail complex, a federal monitor recommended on Monday.The court-appointed monitor made the recommendation in a filing in Manhattan federal court, where a judge is currently considering a federal takeover of the city-run jail system.The report was issued just days after another monitor found the jail complex forced detainees to live in damp, fetid quarters infested with mold, vermin and other “generally unsanitary” conditions.According to the latest report, the city has failed to address key problems at the complex, including the risk of violence to those in custody, despite eight years of monitoring since a consent judgment went into effect and following the first year of an “Action Plan” that was supposed to speed improvements.“Many of the initiatives required by the Action Plan remain incomplete or have not been...

WATCH LIVE | Illinois hits 'tourism milestone'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

ILLINOIS — Governor JB Pritzker is set to announce a "tourism milestone" for the state.Pritzker has scheduled a press conference for Monday afternoon from Chicago's River North neighborhood. During the event he is expected "to announce record Illinois tourism milestone," according to a press release. Northern Lights could be visible in Wisconsin, Indiana, 15 other states Thursday No additional information was provided.WGN plans to livestream the announcement within this story beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. 

The Amazing Race: Stomach the Challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

Put your mental, creative and physical skills to the test, all while supporting genetic cancer research. Register a team today for The Amazing Race: Stomach the Challenge, fundraiser August 5th. For additional details, and to register, visit: https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/16b96f2e-fc58-4749-81df-4239012d9c16/events/vevt:1ac14e1b-a6dc-4b71-ac28-92b216dadf02/home/story

White Sox scout who signed Luis Robert Jr. discusses outfielder’s trajectory into All-Star performer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

CHICAGO —When the White Sox signed Luis Robert Jr. in 2017 for $26 million dollars, the young outfielder was Major League Baseball’s top-ranked international prospect. Marco Paddy helped the Sox ink Robert, just as he did for the team when they signed Jose Abreu, Oscar Colas, and Yoelqui Cespedes.Paddy is now the Sox Special Assistant to the General Manager in charge of international operations and last year was named international scout of the year.He was in Chicago Saturday to receive the Roland Hemond Award from the Society of American Baseball Research where WGN’s Josh Frydman sat down to discuss Robert's rise to All-Star level and when Paddy remembers first watching him play.

Lakeway police investigate golf course death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for July 10, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lakeway police are investigating what they describe as "an incident involving a deceased person" at a nearby golf course on Monday.The department tweeted about it at 10:30 a.m. and said it happened at the Flintrock Falls Golf Course, which is off Jack Nicklaus Drive. It said portions of the course will be shut down throughout the day.Police added "there is no immediate safety concern to anyone in the community in relation to this incident."

DPS trooper shoots driver after car chase that ended in north Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper shot a man in the arm after a car chase that ended in north Austin Monday morning, according to DPS.The department said a trooper tried to pull over a driver headed north on Interstate 35 who they believed had active warrants out for his arrest, but the person didn't stop.KXAN's Dylan McKim reports it appears the chase ended in a parking lot of a business park near I-35 and Rundberg Lane. McKim reported troopers looking at a black Lincoln car that had some damage to the front right tire. Investigators were also walking around a small grassy area by the parking lot. DPS confirmed the address was 8800 North Park Drive and that the driver tried to run away after he stopped.The trooper shot the man in the arm as he ran, DPS said. He was taken to the hospital.A woman was also in the car at the time. She was detained and released, DPS said, adding it did not know if she faced charges. DPS has not identified her, the driver or the...

5 arrested after Fort Worth street takeover; suspects connected to Austin takeovers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five people were arrested in North Texas over the weekend in connection to a street takeover Saturday in Fort Worth. Police said they are part of the same group that organized February street takeovers in Austin. Fort Worth Police said officers responded to a call around 10:30 p.m. Saturday where they saw a car "doing donuts in the intersection with a crowd starting to gather around them filming." PREVIOUS REPORTING: Austin street takeovers highlight persistent problem The car left the intersection at a high rate of speed after officers turned on lights and sirens, FWPD said. A Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter followed the vehicle, and an officer from a neighboring police department spiked the car. After pulling into a gas station, FWPD said the vehicle's occupants began running away and jumped into a different car. The helicopter followed this car to where it stopped under a bridge, and the occupants fled on foot. Officers were able to locate five peo...

Lights over Central Texas spark concern; what are they?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Mysterious lights appeared over the Austin metro area in the early morning hours on Monday, sparking concerns from viewers. The string of lights moved across the sky to the northeast, before disappearing below the horizon.What is causing these mysterious lights? Blame Austin's own Elon Musk.In 2015, the billionaire and SpaceX founder began the Starlink project. According to the website Starwalk, the company has launched over 700 of these satellites, with plans for 12,000 more satellites to launch. The company hopes to put 42,000 of the devices in orbit at a later time.What are the Starlink satellites? They provide high-speed internet to parts of the planet by forming a net around the globe. Viewers spot lights over Central Texas. The lights are part of Elon Musk's Starlink network. (Courtesy: Kacy Robertson)Viewers spot lights over Central Texas. The lights are part of Elon Musk's Starlink network. (Courtesy: Kacy Robertson)Viewers spot lights over Central Texas. ...

Madonna rescheduling tour leg, including Austin shows, after ICU stay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Madonna has confirmed she will reschedule her North American tour, including two concerts in Austin, after contracting a bacterial infection that forced a stay in the ICU.The popstar tweeted Monday that "the current plan is to reschedule the North American leg of the tour and to begin in October in Europe."The news comes a couple of weeks after Madonna's manager said she was suffering from a "serious bacterial infection." The 'Material Girl' singer had to stay in an intensive care unit for several days after developing the infection on June 24."My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children," Madonna tweeted Monday. "My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn't want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone."The 'Celebration' tour was initially supposed to kick off in Vancouver on July 15. Two concerts wer...