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Get to know Travis Bell: Q&A with the new Chicago Bears defensive tackle’s college coach

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

Even after selecting two defensive tackles on Day 2 of the NFL draft, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles could not resist the opportunity to scoop up a third.There was too much about Travis Bell’s makeup and hustle that drew Poles to the player, so the Bears selected him in the seventh round with the No. 218 pick, adding a developmental player from the FCS level to the position group.“This is probably one of my favorite human beings,” Poles said of the Kennesaw State product. “He is a special person. I didn’t want him to leave after his 30 visit and he didn’t want to leave either. There’s something different about this guy. He is passionate about the game.”Kennesaw State coach Brian Bohannon described a similar affinity for Bell and what he meant to the school’s program. Bohannon spoke to the Tribune about the defensive tackle’s development and prospects for a professional career. Here’s that interview, edited f...

Experts urge caution as forest fire season ramps up in Ontario, flames spread in the west

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

As flames continue to fan across parts of Alberta and British Columbia, experts urge caution in Ontario while forest fire season ramps up in the province.“We’ve been lucky we haven’t had a terrible season yet and while there is the potential that we’ll see more fire activity later on this season, we’re already being impacted by forest fires because of the smoke from B.C. and Alberta,” Dr. Eric Kennedy, an associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University, told CityNews during an interview about fires.“Folks need to remember that that smoke can be really bad for your health, not just for those with preexisting conditions, although they can be affected worse by it, for everyone including even our pets.”The haze seen occasionally in southern Ontario in recent days serves as a reminder of what’s coming to the province and reinforces the need to be prepared.“Agencies across Canada have been attuned to t...

How the Kyle Dubas, Brendan Shanahan negotiation fell to pieces

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

An emotional and honest press conference.A request for more money than anticipated.An email expressing a desire that arrived too late.These are the levers that, as President Brendan Shanahan presented in a measured press conference Friday, pulled Kyle Dubas away from the Toronto Maple Leafs after nine years of heart-on-sleeve service, the final five as general manager.“This was ultimately my decision,” Shanahan asserted.Here, according to Shanahan, is how he arrived at the decision to not renew Dubas’s contract Friday and begin an urgent search to hire the next general manager of the Maple Leafs as soon as possible.Flash back to the summer of 2022, Dubas having guided the group to its sixth consecutive opening-round exit, the fourth under the young executive’s tenure.Shanahan walked into Dubas’s office at Ford Performance Centre and informed him that he would not be receiving a contract extension. Dubas would be judged on the full five years of his orig...

Boy, 17, shot and killed on Northwest side

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are looking for a man in connection to the fatal shooting of a boy on the city's Northwest side early Saturday morning.According to police, the 17-year-old boy was walking outside near the 2000 block of North Pulaski Road in Hermosa around 3:37 a.m. when a man wearing a white hooded sweatshirt fired shots at him. Parents want answers after 2 Chicago elementary schools went on lockdown The boy sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen and was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead shortly after.No one is in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Minnesota teen lands monster sturgeon while fishing from dock

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

NEAR BAUDETTE, Minn. — At first glance, it looked as if the boy fishing off the dock last Sunday at Ballard’s Resort near the mouth of the Rainy River was hopelessly snagged.His fishing rod was bent nearly double, but a closer look revealed it wasn’t from a snag.Dawson Erickson was wrestling a fish, and it looked to be a real monster.Erickson, 14, of Thief River Falls, and his dad, Kevin, and sister Ava, 9, had wandered down to the dock Sunday morning, May 14, to try and catch a sturgeon before heading home for Mother’s Day. They’d opened up the family camper for the season in the lot they rent from the resort just across the street, but Kevin’s wife, Alicia, hadn’t made the trip because of a prior commitment.“She was just sick that she couldn’t be here, and we thought, ‘Well, we’ll open up the camper and just fish a little bit from the dock,’ ” Kevin said. “My boat’s still in storage.”About two hours had passed without so much as a nibble from a sturgeon.“They’d been jumping ...

Glenn Zimmerman's long-range summer 2023 forecast

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS – We are in the middle of a major global pattern change. We are moving from our third La Nina year to an El Niño pattern. And there are some indications that this pattern could be what’s called a Super Niño. That sounds pretty ominous – and it could be.The last Super Niño pattern was in 2016, and we saw the warmest global temperature on record. It also could bring a heightened risk of droughts and floods and stronger storms. However, it could also bring a quieter hurricane season. But what does that all mean to St. Louis? Let’s dive into it.JuneWe begin June a bit behind the eight ball. April and May have trended dry and our yearly average for rainfall is running a little bit short.The drought severity across Missouri is heightened just a bit because of this. So, we need rain.Ask your lawn or garden. I’ve seen more sprinklers running in the last few weeks because of this. I think the dry pattern of the last few weeks will continue into June. We will have some opportun...

'Bark in the Park' by Humane Society of Missouri Returns for 28th year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- "Bark in the Park," held by the Humane Society of Missouri, is in its 28th year and is said to be the biggest pet festival in the Midwest. Dog lovers and their furry friends will fill the whole park, taking part in different events and checking out the many vendors. Attendees will find themselves in a dog lover's dream when they take part in the 5K race or take a one-mile walk at their own pace. The event, which is sponsored by Purina, will be a pet fair where there will be stands for all kinds of dog breeds. The money made from this event will go to the Humane Society of Missouri's animal mistreatment fund, which is used to look into, treat, and try to stop cases of animal abuse and neglect.

Man shot on Stan Musial Bridge, critical condition

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A man is shot on the Stan Musial Bridge along I-70 East. This happened around 2:00 this morning. St. Louis City Police say the victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Homicide detectives are investigating.

Get ready for a spectacular weekend: sunshine and mild temperatures await

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis residents are going to have a great weekend. The weather today will be cooler, but there will be lots of sunshine and highs in the low 70s. As night falls, temperatures are expected to drop to the low 50s and high 40s, except in areas outside of STL. On Sunday, it will be sunny all day, and the temperature will slowly rise to the upper 70s, getting close to 80 degrees. During the work week, the weather stays quiet and nice, and the temperature goes back up into the 80s.

Protecting your skin from sun exposure: A guide to stay safe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:22:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Summer is a time for outdoor fun in the sun. However, it's important to be aware of the risks associated with excessive sun exposure, namely skin cancer.Skin cancer can occur at any time of the year, but it tends to increase after summer. Winter sees a decrease in skin cancer cases, likely due to reduced outdoor activities in snowy conditions. As summer concludes, the number of people seeking treatment for skin cancer rises again.Geographical location also affects the risk of developing skin cancer. Areas closer to the equator, like Florida and Texas, have a higher incidence of skin cancer compared to regions like St. Louis. Higher elevations, such as Colorado, expose individuals to more sun damage and increase the prevalence of skin cancer.Cloudy skies might make you think you're protected from harmful UV rays, but approximately 80 percent of UV radiation still reaches the ground on cloudy days. It's important not to underestimate the potential harm of sun exposure, ev...