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Blast at residential building in Germany injures 12; suspect detained

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German police have detained a suspect in connection with an explosion at a residential building that injured 12 first responders on Thursday, some of them seriously, a senior security official said.The interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, Herbert Reul, said that 10 firefighters and two police officers were injured in the blast at a high-rise building in the town of Ratingen. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the blast.A body was also recovered from the building, Reul said. The identity of the person and the circumstances of their death weren’t immediately known.Firefighters and police were initially called to the building in the morning after concerns were raised about two residents.Following the explosion, heavily armed officers took up positions around the site, with television footage showing police snipers on a balcony across the road from the building as smoke poured out of a top-floor apartment.Hours later, a 57-year-old man was detained...

Peloton recalling more than 2M exercise bikes because the seat post assembly can break during use

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

Peloton is recalling more than 2 million of its exercise bikes because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards.The recall includes approximately 2.2 million of the Peloton Bikes Model PL01. The bikes were sold from January 2018 through May 2023 for about $1,400. They were sold at Peloton and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at Amazon, Peloton and Dick’s websites.Peloton has received 35 reports of the seat post breaking and detaching from the bike during use, including 13 reports of injuries including a fractured wrist, lacerations and bruises due to falling from the bike.Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes and to contact Peloton for a free repair. Peloton is offering a free seat post that can be self-installed.Peloton can be reached at 866-679-9129 from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET, seven days a week or online at www.onepeloton.com. Consumers can click on Product Recalls at the bottom ...

'Blossom' the cow thriving after Niles senior prank

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

WOODSTOCK, Ill. — A cow used in a suburban senior prank last month is thriving in her new home at Hooved Animal Humane Society.Blossom, an 8-month-old Scottish Highlander and Heffner mix, escaped from a group of Northridge Preparatory School students at around 3 a.m. on April 27 in a Niles neighborhood.The students conducted a senior prank and bought Blossom via Craigslist from Winneconne, Wisconsin along with a pig.Blossom ended up being secured by authorities and Wagner Farms — who ended up bringing her to Hooved Animal Humane Society, located in Woodstock."She is actually fitting right in and loves to hang out around the horses," executive director Cynthia Glensgard said. "She comes to greet the people and is quite curious."Blossom in the pasture, courtesy Hooved Animal Humane SocietyBlossom loves to nap in the corner of the pasture and has already figured out meal time, Glensgard said.The humane society, who works to re-home animals and investigates animal abuse since 1971, took...

Police search for person in multiple garage burglaries on Northwest Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are searching for a person responsible for multiple garage burglaries in Albany Park and Irving Park earlier this week. Police reported that the offender was reported to have kicked in the side door of the target garages and removed items. The individual then fled the scene with the stolen items. Man, 40, shot dead in residence in Woodlawn The burglaries took place at these times: 4300 block of North Mozart Street between the times of May 7 at 8 p.m. to May 8th at 8 a.m.4400 block of North Mozart Street between the times of May 9 at 9 p.m. to May 10 at 8:15 a.m. 2700 block of West Agatite Avenue on May 10 around 3:46 am. Police described the offender as an unknown man, approximately 5 feet and 10 inches, 180 pounds. If any information is recovered on the incidents, contact the police.

The List: Paul's 5 Steps to Being a Great Coworker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

Paul Konrad may not be good at a lot but he knows how to be a great coworker! He shares his tips in The List.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Peloton is recalling more than 2 million exercise bikes. Here's why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

Peloton is recalling more than 2 million of its exercise bikes because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards.The recall includes approximately 2.2 million of the Peloton Bikes Model PL01. The bikes were sold from January 2018 through May 2023 for about $1,400. They were sold at Peloton and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at Amazon, Peloton and Dick's websites.Peloton has received 35 reports of the seat post breaking and detaching from the bike during use, including 13 reports of injuries including a fractured wrist, lacerations and bruises due to falling from the bike.Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes and to contact Peloton for a free repair. Peloton is offering a free seat post that can be self-installed.Peloton can be reached at 866-679-9129 from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET, seven days a week or online at www.onepeloton.com. Consumers can click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the...

El Niño's arrival is imminent and there's a 90% chance it lasts all year, forecasters say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – El Niño is likely to take over soon — and odds are it will be sticking around for a long time, national forecasters said in an update Thursday. While the Northern Hemisphere is still under "ENSO-neutral" conditions — meaning we are neither in an El Niño nor La Niña — that could change at any time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center said there is about an 80% chance the transition to El Niño takes place between May and July. Once it takes hold, El Niño is likely to strengthen into the fall and winter, when it normally peaks. The odds of it lasting until February of 2024 are upwards of 90%, the Climate Prediction Center said. NOAA issues El Niño watch: Here’s where and when we will feel the impact An El Niño winter would be a switch from what what we’ve seen the last three years, with back to back to back La Niña seasons.El Niño typically brings cold, wet winter to the Southern U.S. A strong El Niño in particular is asso...

FDA updates blood donation policy to include gay, bisexual men

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday loosened restrictions on blood donations by men who have sex with men, a change that could ease blood shortages by allowing more people to donate.The agency said it will recommend a series of  “individual risk-based questions” that will be the same for every donor, regardless of sexual orientation, sex or gender.  Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships will be allowed to donate blood."The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.Under current FDA guidelines for donating blood, men who have sex with men are permitted to donate blood after a three-month deferral period in which they abstain from sexual encounters with men. This change was made in 2020 after the previous guidance had mandated a 12-month deferral period. FDA advisers end...

PHOTOS: WGN anchors and reporters celebrate moms in honor of Mother's Day!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

Happy Mother's Day!There is no shortage of Super Moms among our anchors and reporters here at WGN. Whether they were raised by one, are married to one or are one themselves, we are honoring mothers!Sarah Jindra celebrated her first Mother's Day on her son's first birthday. She says this year the days are the same again as her son turns 7.Marcus Leshock honored both his mother and his wife. “My wife Jonna pours her heart into our kids each and every day. We are so thankful for her wisdom, positivity, kindness and the fun she brings to all of our lives," he writes. “My mother Elaine has been a constant, loving presence my entire life! From waiting seven years to get us into the audience at the Bozo show, to watching me on WGN Morning News every day … she is the best! I don’t know where I would be without my Mom and all of her love, support and encouragement."Dean Richards honors his mom and his YiaYia (grandmother) while Shannon Halligan also honors her grandmother and mother. Ray Cor...

Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter’s biergarten opens Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:14 GMT

How do you say “good news” in German?The Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter has gotten the all-clear from health inspectors and will start serving beer and brats in the biergarten on Friday. Hours are 1-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; it will not be open on Mother’s Day.The Gasthaus should reopen with a full menu on May 24, said Jimmy Martin, who in April bought the German restaurant in Grant from longtime owner Kim Quade. The restaurant, which originally opened in 1966, has been closed since December 2021. Hours will be 1-8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.Martin said he is not planning many changes to the popular German restaurant. It will have the same name, the same decor, the same hours, the same menu and the same 12 taps that serve only German beer.“As I understand it, only one retailer in the nation sells more Paulaner/Hacker-Pschorr than Gasthaus,” Martin wrote in a post on the restaurant’s website. “We also have Sünner Kölsch and beer from the Weihenstephan brewery, which was fo...