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‘BlackBerry’ film hails the must-have gadget that the iPhone turned into a forgotten relic

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

Almost everyone knows Steve Jobs’ uncanny vision, relentless drive and technological wizardry hatched the iPhone, a breakthrough that continues to reshape culture 16 years after the late Apple co-founder introduced the device to the world.But when Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007, another smartphone was the must-have gadget. It was the BlackBerry, a device so addictive that it became known as the “CrackBerry” among tech nerds and power brokers hunched over a tiny keyboard that was best operated with both thumbs clickety-clacking.Now the BlackBerry is “that phone people had before they bought an iPhone,” a relic so irrelevant that the Canadian company that made it is now valued at $3 billion — down from $85 billion at its 2008 peak when it still controlled nearly half of the smartphone market.But its legacy is worth remembering — and audiences will get a chance to learn more about its origins in the new film, “BlackBerry.” The film out Friday in theaters is th...

Coyote killed after attack on two-year-old child in Port Coquitlam, B.C., park

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. — A coyote has attacked a two-year-old child in the Metro Vancouver community of Port Coquitlam, resulting in the toddler being sent to hospital with minor injuries.The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says on Twitter that the attack happened Wednesday after 8 p.m. at Lions Park near the town centre.The service says Coquitlam RCMP officers killed a coyote near the attack scene, and a search of the park did not turn up other animals.It says on Twitter the coyote ate “non-natural food sources,” later clarifying that it had consumed peanuts and dog food.The service says the public should not feed dangerous wildlife under any circumstances, and violators will incur “enforcement action as warranted.”Wildlife experts say feeding coyotes is one of the biggest causes of attacks, as the animals lose fear of people and may then try to test humans as possible prey.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2023.The Canadian Press

Large police presence in Dolton, search continues for carjacking suspect

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

DOLTON, Ill. -- A search is underway in Dolton after a carjacking suspect led police on a pursuit Thursday morning.A source with police said a carjacking suspect led officers on a chase that ended in the area of 130th Street and South Doty Avenue in Dolton on Thursday. Woman charged in series of baseball bat attacks on Northwest Side According to police sources, an off-duty officer's vehicle was reportedly rear-ended as the carjacking suspect attempted to get away. The suspect has been described as a 30-year-old man driving a red Hyundai.No injuries were reported. No arrests have been made at this time.The Dolton Police Department, Chicago Police Department, and the Cook County Sheriff's Office responded to scene as the search for the suspect continues.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Skilling: Rain possible for most of Friday, Saturday night

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

Spells of wet weather ahead for Chicago--the greatest rain/isolated t-storm concentration expected Friday; a let-up in rain coverage expected Saturday--then an increase in coverage and frequency of rainfall likely again sat night into Sunday morning---longer range: huge warm dome forecast to develop over west Canada next week and this is to buckle the jet stream northward there sending it crashing southward into the Midwest and driving cool weather into Chicago--warming follows the following week.Spells of rainfall in Chicago over coming days are to accompany the arrival of Gulf moisture. But rainfall coverage and intensity is to vary in the Chicago area from day to day---maximizing Friday, dropping off as NE winds off still chilly Lake Michigan stabilize the air mass a bit Saturday. Rains will diminish to sporadic drizzle or sprinkles-- and even stop at times Saturday. Then a surge of moist air up and over an unseasonably cool, full fetch (that means "full length of Lake Michigan" ...

Pritzker re-appoints top tollway official despite Madigan tapes

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

A top official with the Illinois Toll Highway Authority was caught where no one wants to be: On an FBI wiretap. While tollway board vice chairman Jim Connolly was not accused of wrongdoing, the recordings played at a recent bribery trial appear to show him pledging allegiance to former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, who is now under indictment, and his top lieutenant who was just found guilty of bribery conspiracy.“You know it always goes back to that you’re nothing without him,” Connolly is heard telling Madigan confidant Michael McClain on the recordings as they discussed Madigan.  The conversation centered around a lobbyist new to the profession - or “the dark side” as McClain called it – who had apparently crossed Madigan.“I always told these young pups when they start lobbying – I said: ‘Hey guys, you only have one client,” McClain said to Connolly on tape apparently referring to Madigan.  “Long as you treat that client well, you’ll do real well for the peo...

Cities with the most expensive homes in Illinois

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers. High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of May 4, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits at 6.39%.Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in Illinois using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes as of March 2023. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib.All 30 cities on the list are in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area.Read on to see which cities made the list.1 / 30 Stacker#...

Heads up: Construction projects to impact weekend commutes in Chicagoland

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

CHICAGO — There are major construction closures planned across Chicagoland this weekend and in the weeks ahead. Detailed information on the closures is below to help you plan your commutes.   Kennedy Expressway construction: What you should know about adjusting to the delays DuSable Lake Shore Drive constructionCrews have been working on resurfacing the northbound lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive between LaSalle and Lawrence. Southbound lane closures will begin on Sunday with two full closures of the drive expected.  Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane from 8 p.m. Thursday through 2 p.m. Friday from LaSalle to Lawrence with exit/entrance ramps at LaSalle, Fullerton, Recreation, Irving Park, Montrose, Wilson and Lawrence also closed. One lane of traffic will remain closed from 2 p.m. Friday through the morning rush hour on Monday.  Southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday from Lawrence to Irving Park Road. The southbound entrance ramp ...

Travis County eyes $450M roads, parks bond package

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- New roadway improvements and parks enhancements in Travis County are on the table this November, with voters slated to weigh in on a $450 million mobility and parks bond package.The proposal comes six years after county voters last approved roadway and parks improvements in November 2017. The majority of Travis County voters approved both a $93.4 million transportation plan as well as $91.5 million in parks investments and conservation efforts.This latest consideration comes as both Travis County and the City of Austin continue to see tremendous growth, with more residents equaling a greater strain on local infrastructure. Travis County Judge Andy Brown told KXAN Thursday he hopes these investments can solidify and preserve county infrastructure for generations to come."Travis County and Austin have grown tremendously since [that last bond]," he said. "What this bond is doing is trying to make sure that we still have the same quality of life, the same ...

Austin busing migrants from San Antonio to AUS as Title 42 ends

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Title 42 expires Thursday into Friday, Austin says it's working to help other Texas cities with the expected influx of migrants. Five days a week, Austin will bus roughly 50 migrants from San Antonio -- which has a migrant shelter -- to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. From there, migrants will fly to a more permanent spot. "That's gonna help them by being able to move asylum seekers to their sponsor's hometown and be able to bring the number that are in the migrant resource center that down to the level that they can handle," Juan Ortiz, the director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the City of Austin, said. Title 42 ends tonight: Live updates from the border Ortiz said at this point, the city is only helping with transport and doesn't have the capacity to help anyone who isn't already sent to our city with a ticket, which migrants will get from a nonprofit in San Antonio. When asked why Austin hasn't opened a shelter itself, Ortiz exp...

Elon Musk says he's found a woman to lead Twitter as new CEO

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:25 GMT

Elon Musk said Thursday he has found a new CEO for Twitter, or X Corp. as it’s now called — and it's a woman. He did not name her but said she will be starting in about six weeks. Musk, who bought Twitter last fall and has been running it since, has long insisted he is not the company’s permanent CEO. The Tesla billionaire said in a tweet Thursday that his role will transition to being Twitter's executive chairman and chief technology officer. In mid-November, just a few weeks after buying the social media platform for $44 billion, he told a Delaware court that he does not want to be the CEO of any company.While testifying, Musk said “I expect to reduce my time at Twitter and find somebody else to run Twitter over time.”More than a month later, he tweeted in December: “I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job.” The pledge came after millions of Twitter users asked him to step down in a Twitter poll the billionaire himself created and promised to ...