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Chicago Bears sign nose tackle Andrew Billings to a 2-year extension, keeping the run stuffer through 2025

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

It might not be the contract announcement most figured would be next, but the Chicago Bears got a deal done Thursday.Nose tackle Andrew Billings signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract extension, meaning the run stuffer will be with the organization through the 2025 season.“We’re extremely excited to be able to keep Andrew in Chicago,” general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. “The professionalism, dependability and toughness he brings to our defense exhibit the type of player we want in our organization.”Poles indicated confidence Wednesday in his ability to sign newly acquired defensive end Montez Sweat to an extension, and he also spoke at length about the negotiating process with cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Those remain front-burner issues, but re-upping with Billings ensures a big part of this season’s defensive improvement will remain in place.Billings’ presence has been one key reason coach Matt Eberflus’ defense has impro...

3 things we heard from the Chicago Bears, including the running backs’ reaction to assistant coach David Walker’s firing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

Chicago Bears coordinators and players spoke with reporters before and after practice Thursday at Halas Hall as they prepare for Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints.Here are three things we learned.1. Bears running backs are adapting to a new position coach after David Walker’s firing.The Bears announced Walker’s dismissal Wednesday for workplace conduct, with general manager Ryan Poles saying the Bears have a standard for “how you move around this building and how you treat people, how you talk to people, how you act.”It was a surprise to players, running back D’Onta Foreman said, but they’re trying to stay on task as they prepare for the Saints.“It’s tough,” Foreman said. “We’re all held to the same standard. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to focus on playing football and what we’re here to do.”Running back Roschon Johnson said “it wasn’t really a big, drawn-ou...

Senate confirms three military officers as Sen. Tuberville holds up hundreds more

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed three top military officers on Thursday — including the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — as bipartisan frustration swirled around Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville for blocking hundreds more nominees. Republican senators plan to hold a closed-door meeting next week to discuss the Alabama senator's blockade of senior military nominees, which he has been waging over a Pentagon abortion policy. Republicans have tried, unsuccessfully, for almost nine months to quietly persuade Tuberville to drop the holds on almost 400 nominees. Senior military officials have warned repeatedly that the situation threatens readiness and national security. Anger over Tuberville's tactic spilled out in the Senate on Wednesday evening, when a group of Republican senators held the floor for more than four hours and called up 61 of the nominations for votes, praising each nominee for their military service and challenging the Alabama senator to explain h...

3 men indicted on racketeering charge in connection to Chicago street gang murder

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Three men have been arrested and indicted on a federal racketeering charge for allegedly murdering a man to maintain their position and reputation in a violent Chicago street gang, according to an indictment unsealed in the US District Court in Chicago Thursday.Law enforcement officials said Chicago residents Cameron Callison, Juan Alcaraz and Victor Ramirez were charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering. Callison, a previously convicted felon, was also charged with illegally possessing a handgun.The full indictment can be read at the bottom of this article.Callison, Alcaraz and Ramirez were arrested Thursday morning and were set to appear in federal court in Chicago Thursday afternoon. Lights shut off during immigration chaos at Chicago City Council special meeting The indictment accuses the trio of murdering Victor Ochoa back on June 17, 2019, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the Ambrose Street Gang, a criminal organization...

Heartwarming moment: Child calls 911 to give Florida deputy a hug

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — When a Florida deputy was dispatched to a home for a 911 call on Wednesday, he found himself in the midst of a great lesson — and an even more heartwarming incident. That afternoon, Hillsborough County Deputy Scott Pracht responded to a disconnected call from a home in the Riverview area. When he arrived, he quickly realized the call wasn't for an emergency when a mother explained what might have happened. ‘Like the Hulk lifting the car’: Florida officers save man’s life after car collapses on him The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said a young boy had called authorities — not for an emergency, but for something we all need sometimes — a hug. "Did you call this gentleman? Did you call the police?" the mother asked her son when the deputy arrived. Pracht's body camera and the mother's Ring doorbell captured the sweet moment the boy raced through the front door to hug the deputy and proudly explained he knew how to contact him. "Well, I want...

It was quite a first week for the Bulls

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun Times joined "9 Good Minutes" on Thursday to discuss the start of the Bulls' season along with other Chicago sports on WGN News Now.CHICAGO — For a team that was returning a majority of the same players, the Bulls managed to come up with a few unique storylines in their first week.There was a 20-point loss on opening night, a somewhat stunning comeback win over the Raptors, a 51-point effort by Zach LaVine in a loss to the Pistons, and a road triumph against the Pacers before coming down a bit in a loss to the Mavericks.Five games are already down for Billy Donovan's team which is doing what it can to get to the paint, using it to generate some chances from the outside in hopes of shaking up the offense. Results, like most of the last year for the Bulls, have been quite mixed. Getting the most out of the team's "Big Three" along with younger players like Patrick Williams and Coby White is the task for Donovan if this core hopes to someday reach it's ...

No. 7 Longhorns have to be sure tacklers to stop Kansas State's punishing rushing attack

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mobile quarterbacks have given the Texas Longhorns headaches in the past, and the No. 25 Kansas State Wildcats have two that will take snaps on Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.Senior Will Howard and freshman Avery Johnson have combined to run for more than 500 yards thus far, and they do it in different ways. Howard, a 6-foot-5, 242-pound road grader can punish defenders while Johnson is a quick and shifty runner that makes people miss. Longhorns No. 7 in first college football playoff rankings "They're very tactical in their approach to running the football, and their quarterbacks are very capable of running it," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "They're going to scheme us up on things and have runs available to them."The running threats only begin there because Kansas State also has an outstanding running back in DJ Giddens who is No. 29 in FBS with 722 rushing yards. The Wildcats' physicality on the offensive line gets defenders out of the way ...

Jarrell mayor addresses County Judge's comments on taxes, city council election

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) — As voters head to the polls in Jarrell, elected officials on social media are also sharing their thoughts on the races they're considering.Williamson County Judge Bill Gravel posted on his social media pages about Place 4 incumbent Rusty Bryson. In his latest post, he said Bryson introduced a measure that would increase taxes by 14%.This is the only contested city council race on Jarrell's ballot this November. There are elections for Place 3 and Place 5 on the council, with both candidates running unopposed.City of Jarrell Mayor Patrick Sherek said the posts are inaccurate.He said the city is not responsible for setting property tax rates as those are appraised by the county. He did say that the city is looking to restructure how it spends some of those funds.Sherek said right now, the city spends most of its property taxes making debt payments for water and wastewater infrastructure. He said the goal of the study is to figure how to pay those debts with uti...

St. Paul: Driver killed, 3 injured in two-vehicle crash in Como Park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

A crash between two vehicles in St. Paul on Thursday left one driver dead and three people injured, police said.The two-vehicle collision in the Como Park neighborhood at Maywood Street and Orange Avenue happened just after 3 p.m.The adult driver of one vehicle was killed and the passenger was injured, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a police spokesman. In the other vehicle, two teens sustained minor injuries, according to Ernster.Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Opponents petition courts for environmental review of proposed St. Thomas arena in St. Paul Crime & Public Safety | A sales tax hike to pay for St. Paul roads, parks is on Tuesday’s ballot. How would it work? Crime & Public Safety | As kitchen store and school Cooks | Bellecour celebrates 50 years, owners reflect on how they ‘have to change to stay the same’ Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul...

Three of the dogs seized from an Andover rescue now up for adoption

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:17:50 GMT

Glimmer, Georgia and Goldfish — three of the 22 dogs seized from an Andover rescue organization — are now up for adoption.The dogs, all given names that start with the letter “G” by the Animal Humane Society, were removed in connection with a case involving eight dogs found dead and dumped in Cottage Grove. Another eight dogs were surrendered by a volunteer at the rescue center.The Humane Society assisted authorities in carrying out the search warrant to remove the dogs from the Andover rescue.While Brittany Baumann, a Humane Society spokesperson, would not comment on why the dogs were seized, she did say many of the dogs seemed hungry, thirsty, fearful or anxious when they arrived at the Humane Society.Since then, Baumann says, the dogs have been “progressing rather quickly” and are waiting for space to open up on the adoption floor. When space allows, the dogs will be put up for adoption alongside those who are already available.Glimmer, a 2-yea...