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Led by Bozo, WGN's kids' shows were a Grand March of fun

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

CHICAGO — When the new medium of television was taking hold, kids in the Chicago area lucky enough to have a set got their first tastes of shows made "just for them" on WGN.The very first children's host was singer and radio personality Richard "Two Ton" Baker, whose "Wonder House" puppet show debuted on the second day of broadcasting.“The Blue Fairy" with Brigid BazlenIn the late 1950s, there was the Peabody Award-winning “The Blue Fairy" with Brigid Bazlen, who would fly around WGN’s Michigan Avenue studios on wires, connecting with the imaginations of kids who would flock to public appearances."Lunchtime Little Theater" introduced Ned Locke to WGN-TV's young audience in 1956 as “Uncle Ned,” with Ted Ziegler as Uncle Bucky, Dardanelle Hadley as Aunt Dody and, later, Bob Baron as “Uncle Bob.” Skipper NedIn 1960, Ned moved on to "Paddleboat" as Skipper Ned. He'd later take on a different role on WGN’s most famous kids' show.Other early shows included "Romper Room" with games and act...

Students surprise classmate with head-shaving birthday party

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

CHICAGO -- Teachers, students and their families at Forest Road School spent Thursday evening before Spring Break giving back."We’re celebrating a family that’s near and dear to us," Sixth grader Joshua Thomas said.In honor of their classmate Gwen Coia, who's been battling cancer for the past year. "It was just one week after Reese was born, Gwen was really tired, not feeling herself," Hilary Coia, Gwen's mother said. After doctors at Loyola Medicine ran blood work, they diagnosed Gwen with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.Tthis whole year we’ve gotten so much support," A.J. Coia, Gwen's father said.That support – on full display for the school’s annual fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds children’s cancer research.A head-shaving party that just so happens to fall on a special day for the Coia family.Gwen followed through on her birthday wish. With clippers in hand, she helped her dad go just about bald. Her mom got a fresh cut, too. And Gwen’s classmates even got in o...

Abilene Christian University professor arrested, accused of sexually abusing adopted children

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - An Abilene Christian University professor has been accused of sexually abusing his adoptive children, including at least one incident that happened on campus.Charles Wadlington was arrested on a warrant for Sexual Abuse of Child and now remains held in jail on a $75,000 bond.Court documents state that in March 2023, a child came forward to police and said she and her sister were sexually assaulted by Wadlington, their adoptive father, and their brother may have been harmed as well.The brother was interviewed first. The documents state he described an instance where Wadlington touched him painfully in an inappropriate area after he got in trouble for play fighting with his sister. He also told detectives Wadlington "raped his sisters", and that's why one had moved out.During a Child Protective Services investigation, the documents state one of the sisters reported Wadlington had engaged her in sexual activity multiple times, "and that one of those times w...

Class 4A boys basketball semifinal: Park Center’s late-game defense leads Pirates past Eastview

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

That Thursday’s Class 4A state semifinal between Park Center and Eastview came down to the wire was no surprise to Pirates coach James Ware.What else would be the result of a contest between two such similar teams?“They play the same way we do. Their guys mirror our guys. I love their team. I would actually love to coach their team,” Ware said. “We knew it was going to be a heavyweight fight. Our guys talked about that. They’re going to make big plays, we’re going to make big plays; we’ve just got to keep making plays all the way through the game.”In the end, it was Park Center that made just enough plays — particularly on the defensive end — to rally late for a 61-56 victory over the fifth-seeded Lightning at Target Center.Park Center will have a chance to defend its state title in Saturday’s championship game back in downtown Minneapolis against the winner of the late game between Lakeville North and Wayzata.Eastview featured a hyper-efficient second-half offense that left t...

Xcel Energy to power down Monticello nuclear power plant to fix leak of radioactive water

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

Xcel Energy will begin powering down its Monticello nuclear power plant Friday to allow the utility to more quickly perform repairs needed to fix a leak of radioactive water.In a Thursday night announcement, Xcel said it doesn’t expect any impact to its electrical customers.The utility also said that monitoring had revealed that a small amount of the contaminated water had reached the groundwater on the plant’s property 35 miles northwest of Minneapolis. However, the leaked water hasn’t been detected beyond the facility or in any local drinking water, Xcel said.“While the leak continues to pose no risk to the public or the environment, we determined the best course of action is to power down the plant and perform the permanent repairs immediately,” Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy–Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, said in a statement Thursday night. “We are continuing to work with and inform our state, federal, city and county leaders in the process.”W...

Wild recover from slow start but lose to Flyers in shootout

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — The optimists will say the Wild got a point on a night they probably didn’t deserve one. The pessimists will say that playing against a team completely out of the playoff picture, the the Wild should have gotten both points.“Lackadaisical,” Marcus Foligno said. “I think that’s the word.”Bingo.On Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena, the Wild let the Philadelphia Flyers skate circles around them — at least when they weren’t falling to the ice themselves. There was no flow to the game in the early stages, and while the Wild found their legs down the stretch, they suffered 5-4 shootout loss that left a sour taste in their mouths.“We feel like if we would’ve been on from the start, maybe it would’ve turned out differently,” Marcus Johansson said. “That’s the way it is.”Still, the point the Wild (41-22-9, 91 points) earned pushed them into first place in the Central Division. At least for a ...

Free Food Fridge placed near Siena College

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Free Food Albany launched its twelfth fridge at Siena College on Thursday. The fridge is located at the corner of Route 9 and Fiddlers Lane to aid both students and people living near campus. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! For several months, the college has been freezing leftovers from its dining hall for Free Food Fridge Albany to pickup and distribute, officials said. The meals are then ready to eat once they are cooked in an oven or microwave.Some of the meals given to the Free Food Fridge in the past include stuffed peppers, chicken parmigiana, and beef stew.

Willowbrook documentary plays at The Egg

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) –More than 50 years ago, the Willowbrook State School in Staten Island was exposed for its horrific treatment of those with developmental disabilities. The documentary, “The Path Forward: Remembering Willowbrook”, was produced by the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, in partnership with OGS Media Services to remind the world of the importance of inclusion in all aspects of community life. Documentary “Hudson, America” shown at Time & Space Limited “Children with special needs weren’t even allowed in the Board of Education until 1974. They were considered ’ineducateables’. The concept blows your mind," explained former Willowbrook employee Diane Buglioli.Willowbrook State School was the largest institution in the world for people with disabilities. When Geraldo Rivera’s ‘TV Expose’ revealed the inner workings of the institution to a national audience, a domino effect of change began. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events d...

Capital Cup for Kids packet pickup takes place

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Packet pickup for the Capital Cup for Kids hockey event took place Thursday. The fundraiser will take place at the Capital Arena in Clifton Park from April 25 to April 30. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! More than 400 players on 28 teams will be competing for the cup this year. Players picked up their fundraising packets on Thursday and met some of the kids who are honorary captains during the event. It raises money for several organizations, including Building on Love and Make a Wish of Northeastern New York. The event has a fundraising goal of $175,000.

City pushing absentee Millennium Hotel owners to make improvements

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Another vacant landmark building in downtown St. Louis is now being hit hard by crime: the former Millennium Hotel. Its cylindrical tower has been a fixture on the riverfront for decades, just south of the Gateway Arch.FOX 2 has obtained police records showing a growing number of calls for burglaries and suspicious activity inside the building. The lower levels are covered with boarded windows. People have been stealing various metals, like copper wiring, for scrap, according to police.The same thing has been rampant inside the beloved, former Famous Barr department store, also known as the Railway Exchange building. Top Stories: Jana Elementary School shuts down after radioactive waste concerns The two buildings have absentee owners. A Texas company owns the former Millennium. A Florida company owns the former Famous Barr.The City of St. Louis Problem Properties Unit is pushing them to step up preservation efforts.There are signs of that happening: a new security pres...