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Illinois' first hospital-based donor care center to open in 2024

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

CHICAGO — A new way to handle organ donation is coming to RUSH University Medical Center. A first in Illinois, the hospital-based donor care center will see deceased donors be taken to RUSH to ensure organs remain viable and the donor's wishes are honored. Andrea Collins, the fiancée of donor Alphonso Parker, spoke about the importance of honoring the wishes of fallen loved ones. More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch "When it was determined that Alphonso would not make it, I was kind of comforted to know that his gifts went on to save so many lives. To date, it's been 114 lives that his gifts have touched."Scheduled to open in July 2024, the Gift of Hope Organ Donor Care Center at RUSH will have six ICUs, two dedicated operating rooms, a family lounge and specialized 24-hour staff. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team including latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reportin...

Eating your way to better health — and more

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

For Tuesday, Oct. 10, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Specialized diet to fight 'long Covid'Certain foods may be able to help patients suffering from long Covid. USC investigators are studying a low-carb diet that lowers blood sugar levels to relieve symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, headaches, chest pain and heart palpitations associated with a long-term reaction to a Covid infection. The symptoms are believed to be caused by inflammation and the nutritional intervention appears to aid patients. A large study is now planned which also includes a food to raise blood ketone levels. There is currently no medication or treatment to relieve symptoms in long covid sufferers.  Approximately 7% of Americans have ongoing post-pandemic health complications dubbed long Covid. Kids close to their parents tend to be more social Want your children to grow up to be kind, empathetic and generous? Develop a close, loving...

Man shot dead after he attacked another man, police say

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man killed in Austin's 51st homicide of the year was shot after he attacked another man, police said.Curtis Caldwell, 71, was shot in the 10100 block of Middle Fiskville Road on Friday, according to the Austin Police Department. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police initially responded to the call, near Interstate 35 and E. Rundberg Lane around 3:30 p.m. Friday. Officers found Caldwell suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, according to police. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? Detectives learned during their investigation that Caldwell allegedly attacked a man he knew, and that man shot him.No charges have been filed at this time, police added.

Texas Senate committee passes expanded ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A key Texas Senate committee approved legislation Tuesday afternoon that would expand the ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates to apply to all private employers and would not include an exemption for health care facilities. It now moves to the full chamber for consideration, advancing one of the governor's handpicked priorities. Members of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services are limited on what bills they can consider during the third special legislative session, which officially began Monday. Gov. Greg Abbott narrowed the scope of their work when he identified his four agenda items for this 30-day session. Those included banning private employers in Texas from requiring their workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Texas Senate unveils its priority school voucher-like legislation Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, introduced Senate Bill 7 during Tuesday's hearing and laid out what it would do. His legislation would bar employers from adopting or enforcin...

A few showers possible today and tonight

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The morning was dry across much of the area. A few small showers moved over Fayette County between 10 and 11 a.m. A 30% chance of rain continues in this afternoon's forecast. Most rain totals will be only a few hundredths up to a tenth of an inch. Moisture from what is now Hurricane Lidia and former Tropical Storm Max is moving over the area off a southwest wind aloft. Surface winds are coming from the Gulf. If nothing else, the sky will remain cloudy through tomorrow morning.Afternoon maximum temperatures will peak in mostly the upper 70s to low 80s. A few showers will still be possible tomorrow morning. Some clearing will take place during the afternoon. A period of dry weather extends from Wednesday afternoon until at least Monday.Another autumn cold front heads here. It will arrive Friday. It will leave a dry northwest wind after it passes. Winds will come strong out of the north Saturday. The wind will be the biggest weather issue for those headed to Zilker Par...

Williamson County Fair and Rodeo returns this October

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- This ain't their first rodeo.The third annual Williamson County Fair and Rodeo returns Oct. 25 and runs through Oct. 28. The festivities will include carnival rides, a rodeo, a beer and wine garden, food, local craft vendors, music, pig races and a petting zoo, per a county news release.The fair is offering free gate admission to attendees on Oct. 25. That evening will also feature a junior rodeo, per the release.On Oct. 26, free admission will be available for veterans, first responders and active military members as part of the Central Texas Community Foundation Veterans Night, per the release.The rodeo will take place in the evening on Oct. 27-28, with concerts held after the rodeo. Friday's Tejano Night musical theme will feature a Selena tribute by singer Amanda Solis, along with music from Mariachi Del Toro and a performance done by the Round Rock Ballet Folklorico.On Oct. 28, Hutto resident and former "The Voice" contestant NOIVAS will perfo...

Cottage Grove City Council member Steve Dennis resigns. Applications open for seat.

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

In his nearly nine years on the Cottage Grove City Council, council member Steve Dennis never missed a meeting.“Let’s see … 27 times 9 is about 243 meetings,” said Dennis, who resigned on Oct. 4. “That’s a pretty good streak. I think people got their money’s worth with me.”Cottage Grove City Council member Steve Dennis resigned his position on Oct. 4, 2023. Applications to fill the vacant seat on the council are being accepted until Nov. 9. (Courtesy of Steve Dennis)Dennis, 57, said he closed his longtime business, Dennis Brothers Liquor, in July and has moved out of the city. Stepping down from the council and leaving the city was an “extremely difficult decision,” he said Monday.“I lived there for 34 years,” Dennis said. “I love the community, and I have a lot of friends and people that I care about there, but it was time for me to do some new and different things in life.”Oct. 4 was named “Steve Dennis Day” in Cottage Grove.“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments made ...

Election 2023: St. Paul City Council Ward 1

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL WARD 1On Nov. 7, St. Paul voters will elect the seven members of the city council by ward. The ranked-choice ballot allows voters to rank their picks in order of preference. Ward 1 spans the neighborhoods of Thomas-Dale (Frogtown), Summit-University, the portion of the Union Park area that is east of Snelling Avenue, part of the North End and the Lexington-Hamline and Snelling-Hamline communities.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Anika BowieAge: 31Undated courtesy photo, circa September 2023, of Anika Bowie, candidate for St. Paul City Council, Ward 1, in the November 2023 election. (Courtesy of the candidate)What qu...

Election 2023: St. Paul City Council Ward 4

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL WARD 4On Nov. 7, St. Paul voters will elect the seven members of the city council by ward. The ranked-choice ballot allows voters to rank their picks in order of preference. Ward 4 spans the neighborhoods of Hamline-Midway, Merriam Park, St. Anthony Park and parts of Mac-Groveland and Como.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Robert BushardAge: 76What qualifies you to hold this position? I am a life long Merriam Park resident and a Vietnam Volunteer. I have been carjacked and my garage broken into in the last year. My brother tells me to move out of St. Paul. We ran from Saigon, Benghazi and Kabul. I am not running from...

Election 2023: St. Paul City Council Ward 7

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:56 GMT

ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL WARD 7On Nov. 7, St. Paul voters will elect the seven members of the city council by ward. The ranked-choice ballot allows voters to rank their picks in order of preference. Ward 7 spans the East Side neighborhoods of Dayton’s Bluff, Mounds Park, Swede Hollow, Battle Creek, Highwood, Conway and Eastview.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Dino GuerinAge: 64What qualifies you to hold this position? I’m a life-long St. Paul resident who served 31-years as a St. Paul firefighter and EMT, rising to the rank of District Chief. Currently, I’m the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Ramsey County Sher...