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'Braids and Brilliance:' Black girls learn empowerment and entrepreneurship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

CHICAGO — A new social enterprise is empowering Black girls to feel good about themselves and their natural hair. The workshop for young girls, 'Braids and Brilliance' takes place in Bronzeville this weekend. The program is run by Ahead Academy and has been in the works for years. "We work with Black and Brown girls. We teach them empowerment and entrepreneurship, but through lessons of hair," said Anyea Taylor, the founder and CEO of Ahead Academy.Taylor was inspired by her experience working in corporate media — which lead to her switching careers. More from Gaynor: PFF Walk for pulmonary fibrosis disease takes off next weekend "I went to work in my box braids and at the time I was up for a promotion I was told by a superior no one would hire me because of my 'Bob Marley braids' … and I was devastated," Taylor said.She wants to make sure every girl participating feels the vibe, feels valued, included, beautiful and empowered. "Our curriculum is co-created with a licensed clinica...

Lake Bluff community raises money playing wiffleball in memory of late Zachary Porter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. — Family, friends and teammates came together Saturday afternoon in honor of Zachary Porter, a 20-year-old man from the northern suburbs who drowned after getting stuck in the Alaskan mudflats last spring.Men's and women's teams converged on Artesian Park Saturday for the annual Lake Bluff Wiffle Ball Classic, a spirited event that's raised tens of thousands of dollar every year for the last 11 years — but this year — participants played ball to raise money for the foundation established in Porter's memory. ‘His presence is going to last a lifetime’: Former teammates honor Lake Bluff man who drowned in Alaska mud flats The Lake Forest High School alum was a standout on the baseball diamond, but while he was known for his abilities on the mound, he was even better known for his compassion for others and his desire to make a difference in the environment.Moving forward, the Zachary Porter Foundation is working to build a nature programming site in Wisconsin, where y...

Man shot while riding in car in Fulton River District

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was hospitalized on Saturday after he was shot while riding in a car in the Fulton River District, police say. According to police, the 36-year-old man was sitting in the passenger seat of a car in the 200 block of North Union Avenue when he was shot just after 1 a.m.  4 men critical after Grand Crossing shooting  Officers say the victim was shot by a man who was standing on the sidewalk. According to police, the man suffered severe gunshot wounds and was taken to a local hospital.Police say no one is in custody in connection to the shooting and an investigation is underway. Mail carrier robbed while on postal route in Grand Crossing Anyone with information on the shooting can leave a tip for police at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

5 sacks, nearly 350 yards from Quinn Ewers lead Longhorns to 34-24 win over No. 3 Alabama

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Alabama fans started filing out of Bryant-Denny Stadium with about 3:30 left in the game, knowing their Crimson Tide just lost at home for the seventh time in the past 16 seasons.Texas used an incredible performance by its defense and quarterback Quinn Ewers to power past No. 3 Alabama 34-24 on the road.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Ewers threw for 349 yards with three touchdowns and the defense sacked Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe five times to end Alabama's 21-game home winning streak and serve notice to the Southeastern Conference.This story will be updated throughout the evening with more details and quotes from the postgame press conference.Game logFinal: Texas 34, Alabama 24. The Longhorns went into Tuscaloosa and took out the No. 3 team in the country.5:00 4Q: Brooks goes straight up the gut for a 14-yard gain...

Veterans spread suicide prevention awareness in Georgetown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The first-ever Irreverent Warriors hike in Georgetown took place Saturday. More than 130 veterans walked to spread mental health awareness in the hope of keeping more veterans from dying by suicide.The hike started at the Georgetown VFW Post #8587, circled through San Gabriel Park, Blue Hole Park and the Georgetown square. On the courthouse lawn, participants did 22 pushups to represent the number of veterans lost to suicide every day.Christian Salazar was the lead coordinator of Georgetown's hike and says there are Irreverent Warriors chapters across the U.S. He says the organization's goal is to help veterans build support networks and friendships."It's our way of improving mental health and preventing veteran suicide, which is very high in this day and age. We're trying to avoid that and get them t...

Gophers rely on ground game to run over Eastern Michigan, 25-6, in nonconference win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

The Gophers’ offense threw more passes in the season-opening win over Nebraska than in any other game of head coach P.J. Fleck’s seven-year tenure.They balanced it out against Eastern Michigan at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday night.After Athan Kaliakmanis threw 44 passes in the comeback win over the Cornhuskers — the most since Mitch Leidner in 2015 — Minnesota ran the ball 56 times Saturday for 296 yards and two touchdowns in a 25-6 win.True freshman tailback Darius Taylor made the most of the expanded opportunity given with Bryce Williams’ injury. Taylor finished with 33 carries, 193 yards and a touchdown.Gophers starting tailback Sean Tyler had 17 carries for 93 yards before Taylor took over in the second half. Tyler, after grinding out for 41 yards on 10 caries against Nebraska, produced 69 yards in the first quarter. The Western Michigan transfer had rushed for more than 52 yards in three Mid-American Conference games against Eastern Michigan.The Gophers (2-0) were a 20-p...

Video captures thieves escaping with $40,000 worth of high-end bikes from SoCal shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

Security video captured the moment thieves ransacked a bicycle shop and escaped with around $40,000 worth of merchandise.Owners of Irwindale Cycles located on Arrow Highway said the brazen burglary was planned and the thieves knew exactly what they were looking for.The break-in happened in the early morning hours of Aug. 28. Five masked suspects were seen breaking into the shop through the back door using an angle grinder to cut through the steel security gate.They then head directly to the most expensive bikes in the store.Some of the stolen bikes include Bianchis, which cost over $1,700 each, along with other high-end brands, the owners said."I couldn’t believe what’s happening,” said Norma Corlindres, co-owner of Irwindale Cycles.Security video captures thieves escaping with $40,000 worth of high-end bikes and accessories from Irwindale Cycles on Aug. 28, 2023. (Irwindale Cycles)Security video captures thieves escaping with $40,000 worth of high-end bikes and accessories from Irw...

Zack Gelof stays hot with another homer, but Oakland A’s fall to Texas Rangers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

A’s rookie sensation Zach Gelof may be having an even hotter month in September than he had in August, when he won American League Rookie of the Month.But after tying the game against the Texas Rangers in the top of the seventh with his 11th homer of the season, the Rangers answered back in the bottom of the inning and held on for a 3-2 win over the A’s on Saturday in Arlington.Gelof’s two-run homer in the seventh off of Rangers reliever Chris Stratton was part of a two-hit day for the rookie shortstop. Gelof has now had multiple hits in six of Oakland’s eight September games.In August, the 2021 second round pick batted .286 with seven homers, eight doubles and 15 runs batted in. Through eight September games, he’s now batting .353 with one home run, four doubles and four runs batted in.Oakland Athletics’ Zack Gelof (20) celebrates in the dugout with the team after hitting a two-run home run athat also scored Tony Kemp in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas...

What we learned from San Jose State’s 59-3 win over Cal Poly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

SAN JOSE — Jaylan Lawson helped San Jose State set the tone on Saturday against Cal Poly – and the Spartans hope for the rest of the season – from the opening kickoff.The senior linebacker laid a huge hit to Cal Poly returner Xavier Oliphant, popping the football loose. Jalen Bainer recovered the ball on the Mustangs’ 17-yard line. Kyle Halvorsen kicked a field goal a few plays later, sparking the Spartans to a huge first half and a 59-3 victory before 14,224 at CEFCU Stadium.San Jose State’s Quayli Conley (7) is congratulated by teammates Tyler Ostrom (71) and Malikhi Miller (12) after rushing for a touchdown against Cal Poly, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Coming off lopsided losses to No. 6 USC and No. 16 Oregon State to open the season, the Spartans (2-1) knew they could not afford to fall to 0-3, especially with another difficult matchup – at defending Mid-American Conference champions Toledo – next week.“Sta...

High school football: St. Bonaventure grounds Archbishop Riordan’s high-flying offense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:11 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Archbishop Riordan’s passing offense, a brilliant collection of talent directed by decisive sophomore quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr., can score from anywhere on the field.St. Bonaventure-Ventura coach Joe Goyeneche knew that, so he unveiled a perfect “defense” for the Crusaders’ air attack in the visitor’s 24-14 victory in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon.The Seraphs lined up behind tight ends and fullbacks and ran the ball for short but consistent gains, totaling 202 yards on 44 attempts. It’s a tactic Southern California opponents can expect to see from St. Bonaventure later this season.“We both play in competitive leagues, two highly competitive leagues,” Goyeneche said. “We wanted our non-league schedule to prepare us for that.”SAN FRANCISCO – St. Bonaventure RB Koen Glover (25) runs the ball in the fourth quarter. Archbishop Riordan and St. Bonaventure-Ventura played in a high school football game at Archbishop Riordan High School in San F...