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Joe the Plumber, made famous during Obama's 2008 campaign, dead at 49

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Samuel “Joe” Wurzelbacher, who was thrust into the political spotlight as “Joe the Plumber” after questioning Barack Obama about his economic policies during the 2008 presidential campaign, and who later forayed into politics himself, has died, his son said Monday. He was 49.His oldest son, Joey Wurzelbacher, said his father died Sunday in Wisconsin after a long illness. His family announced this year on an online fundraising site that he had pancreatic cancer.“The only thing I have to say is that he was a true patriot,” Joey Wurzelbacher — whose father had the middle name Joseph and went by Joe — said in a telephone interview. “His big thing is that everyone come to God. That’s what he taught me, and that’s a message I hope is heard by a lot of people.” Videos capture bright meteor streaking above Colorado He went from toiling as a plumber in suburban Toledo, Ohio, to life as a media sensation when he asked Obama about his tax plan during a campaign stop.Their...

College freshman, entrepreneur hosts giveaway for South Side youth going back to school

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

CHICAGO — A college freshman and entrepreneur from the South Side says he is passionate about helping Chicago youth prepare for a bright future, while also pursuing his. Jaqueza Thomas, 18, just a few weeks into his first year of college, hosted a back-to-school giveaway on Aug. 19 at Cole Park in the Chatham neighborhood, giving away over 100 backpacks funded by himself and other organizations. A boy and a Chicago firefighter were having a 1v1 in a basketball game which was tied 20-20.  "Just seeing the smiles on the faces of the families and being able to inspire others at the event was enough for me," Thomas said. 40th annual Chicago Triathlon underway, swimming removed due to dangerous Lake conditions A total of 110 backpacks were distributed, with 50 donated by the Chicago Architecture Center. The Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department also attended to ensure safety during the event.CFD brought a fire truck along with firefighters and let the kid...

Former State Bar leaders call for disbarring AG Paxton

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A group of fourteen attorneys filed a complaint with the State Bar of Texas Monday, asking the legal regulatory body to investigate the criminal allegations facing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton and seeking possible disbarment."Paxton's conduct is so egregious that the State Bar has no real option other than moving forward with the inquiry into disbarring Paxton. His conduct is shameful, illegal, and unethical," complainant attorney Jim Harrington said. "No attorney in the State of Texas should be allowed to practice law with a record of this kind of nefarious conduct. The Texas House of Representatives decided that the information was serious enough to remove Paxton from office. The State Bar is duty-bound to investigate and take appropriate action, which we would consider to be disbarment."Paxton was impeached in the Texas House of Representatives in May for allegations of criminal conduct including bribery, perjury, and fraud. He now faces possible remo...

Sarkisian wants Longhorns to play with 'fanatical effort' Saturday vs. Rice in season opener

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's the first game week of the 2023 season, and Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian couldn't stop smiling when he met with the media Monday morning to officially kick things off.The Longhorns, ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25 to start the season, take on the Rice Owls at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, and Sarkisian said this is his favorite time of year for numerous reasons.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"I love football, and this is the best time of year. The fall is awesome. It's football time," Sarkisian said. "I'm a fan of football. College, high school, NFL. That part always perks me up."Beyond the general idea that football season is here, Sarkisian feels the team knows him better than they ever had, and he knows the team in the same manner."This team is fun to be around and they've got to a point where they know me beyond being Coach Sa...

Consumer Health: Back to school — and head lice

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

Laurel Kelly | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkFor many families, the start of school is a busy, exciting time of year. For some families, though, returning to school also means unpleasant, unwelcome guests: head lice.An estimated 6-12 million infestations of head lice occur each year in the U.S. among children 3 to 11 years old, predominantly among preschool children in child care settings and children in elementary school, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Members of their households also are at risk.What are head lice?Head lice are tiny insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. Head lice don’t carry bacterial or viral diseases, and having head lice isn’t a sign of poor personal hygiene or an unclean living environment.Head lice crawl, but they can’t jump or fly. They most often affect children and are spread primarily by direct head-to-head contact. The risk of spreading head lice is greatest among children within a family or chil...

A sneak peek of Wrestaurant at the Palace, which opens Wednesday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

House-smoked trout at Wrestaurant at the Palace in downtown St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Dips (tomato pate and sweetie pea hummus) at Wrestaurant at the Palace, which opens Wednesday, Aug. 30 in downtown St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)The entrance and lounge area at Wrestaurant at the Palace, which opens Wednesday, Aug. 30 in downtown St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)The interior of Wrestaurant at the Palace in downtown St. Paul. It opens Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)The Hot Take pizza at Wrestaurant at the Palace in downtown St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Show Caption of Buy images from this galleryExpandA long time in the making, Wrestaurant at the Palace opens next to the Palace Theatre in downtown St. Paul this week.We got a sneak peek at the restaurant, which is a collaboration between First Avenue, which runs the Palace, and Wrecktangle Pizza, which has several Minneapolis locations.The former Wild Thymes sports ba...

St. Paul schools seeks math, reading tutors for new school year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

The St. Paul school district still needs 63 tutors to help with reading, math and early learning this academic year, according to an organization that provides tutors to the schools.Throughout the entire Twin Cities metro, more than 500 tutors are needed, according to AmeriCorps programs Reading Corps, Math Corps and Early Learning Corps.The organization said that fewer than a third of Minnesota students are at grade level for literacy and math. The tutors are needed in the seven-county metro area schools and preschools beginning in October.“Those numbers seem really daunting, but the good news is we have a solution that works,” says Christine Fankhanel, director of Minnesota programs with Reading Corps, Math Corps and Early Learning Corps. “When students work with a tutor, incredible things happen. They often make more than a year’s progress during the school year!”Tutors can choose to work 18, 25 or 35 hours a week. A few locations need tutors to work only 10 hours a week. Tutors ...

Vikings cut former star XFL quarterback Jordan Ta’amu

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

And so it begins.On Monday, the Vikings made a number of cuts, parting ways with 15 players in total. All teams in the NFL must finalize their roster by 3 p.m. Tuesday.Maybe the most notable name the Vikings let go was quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, a former XFL star, who the Vikings signed last week ahead of the preseason finale against Arizona.The Vikings also waived defensive tackle Calvin Avery; cornerback Kalon Barnes, cornerback C.J. Coldon, Jr., offensive tackle Christian DiLauro, cornerback Jameson Houston, linebacker Wilson Huber, receiver Garett Maag, running back Abram Smith, center Josh Sokol, tight end Colin Thompson and offensive tackle Jarrid Williams. They also waived cornerback Tay Gowan with an injury designation and terminated the contract of safety Jake Gervase and linebacker Tanner Vallejo.The roster now sits at 75 players meaning the Vikings must make 22 more cuts in the next 24 hours.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Source: Vikings trade offens...

After Jerry Kill drama in last year’s opener, it’s nothing but love for Gophers’ P.J. Fleck and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

The Gopher football team’s season opener a year ago came with juicy, head-coaching drama: ol’ gruff ball coach Jerry Kill vs. the U’s polished current leader P.J. Fleck.Kill’s trash talk of his successor was recirculated, while Fleck worked to keep it professional before, during and after Minnesota’s let-off-the-gas 38-0 blowout win over Kill’s New Mexico State team at Huntington Bank Stadium.This year, it appears to be nothing but love between Fleck and new Nebraska coach Matt Rhule heading into Thursday’s season opener in Minneapolis. Both coaches consider the other to be a friend, and each of them emphasizes the importance of a team’s “culture” to its results on the field.“They play football the way Nebraska did for many years,” Rhule told reporters of the Gophers last week. “The way we want to play it. They run the football. They don’t turn the ball over; they win the turnover battle. They’re 50 percent on third down (conversions). On defense they don’t give up big plays. ...

Glassblowing fundraiser supports North Creek museum

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:42 GMT

NORTH CREEK, N.Y. (NEWS10) - An Adirondack glass studio is holding a fundraiser in support of local history. This September, Adirondack Glassblowing Studio creates art for a good cause in support of the North Creek Depot Museum.From Friday to Sunday, Sept. 22-24, Adirondack Glassblowing Studio will be littered with hundreds of glass pumpkins for sale, decorating the property for the fall. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, glass-blowing classes and demos will be offered by artist Gregory Tomb, with all classes and sales benefitting the depot museum. The museum tends to the history of the North Creek Railway, including its role in the career of a U.S. president. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! New this year, live music is coming to the studio while the glass gets blown. Jazz group MSL Coalition plays the studio on Saturday, Sept. 23. Chilly Willy Ice Cream will also be onsite providing ice cream, hot drinks, and other treats.