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Weekend Break: The Laughing Academy in Glenview

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

GLENVIEW, Ill. — A business in Glenview is teaching people of all ages improv. It's a funny thing, but improv is more than just an entertaining art form. Weekend Break: Tron Exhibit at Chicago Gamespace "Just some examples of creativity, communication, confidence, cooperation, all of those skills are going to serve my students in whatever they do," Kim Greene Hiller, the owner and founder of The Laughing Academy said.Greene Hiller offers improv training at The Laughing Academy. It combines her two passions: Acting and teaching."I have a masters in education," she said. "I used to be an actress at the Second City. As I often joke, I was hired at the same time as Tina Fey and Amy Poller and I'll host you on a stage my husband built." Weekend Break: Expo Chicago The academy isn't just for kids. Adults and retirees can come in for classes too."I had done improv in college and then dropped out of it and Miles and done improv since like second grade," Jonathan Chernaik said. "Maybe ev...

Atwood's clutch 3-run homer lifts No. 7 Longhorns over No. 3 Cowgirls; Texas sweeps series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Take a bow, Reese Atwood.The Texas catcher blasted a 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to power the Longhorns past Oklahoma State 3-2 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at McCombs Field.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/newslettersUntil the seventh, Oklahoma State left-handed pitcher Kelly Maxwell was mowing through the Texas lineup. Maxwell carried a no-hitter into the final inning with nine strikeouts, but on the second pitch of the frame, Mia Scott dumped a single into right-center to start the rally and break up Maxwell's no-hit bid. Leighann Goode hit a Maxwell pitch off the end of her bat that had some spin on it, narrowly avoiding the glove of Maxwell and Cowgirls second baseman Rachel Becker to put two runners on, setting the stage for Atwood's game-ending swing."I was looking for a pitch she was throwing over that I missed a coupl...

Dane Mizutani: Wild GM Bill Guerin built a Stanley Cup contender at trade deadline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

Here’s a word to the wise for NHL front offices.If ever Wild general manager Bill Guerin calls, it might be best to send him straight to voicemail.After all, he’s made a habit of winning trades ever since he took over in Minnesota, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soonThis past trade deadline was a perfect example of that. Not only did Guerin decide to be a buyer when some thought he should be a seller, he managed to build a Stanley Cup contender in the process.Never mind that the Wild weren’t in on the Ryan O’Reilly sweepstakes, the Patrick Kane sweepstakes or the Timo Meier sweepstakes, among others. Instead, they made a number of shrewd moves that supplied them with the depth needed to win it all.Just look at the list of players Guerin acquired last month.Marcus Johansson has been arguably the most productive player in the NHL who was moved at the trade deadline. Gus Nyquist recently returned from a shoulder injury and has scored a point...

Rockies’ Kyle Freeland gives up three home runs in 4-3 loss to Phillies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

In the city of Smokin’ Joe Frazier and Rocky Balboa, the Rockies threw jabs while the Phillies landed haymakers.Philadelphia won, 4-3, hitting three home runs off left-hander Kyle Freeland on Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Nick Castellanos hit two of the bombs, including a one-out solo shot in the sixth that was the difference-maker. The stumbling Rockies hit no home runs and were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Little wonder they lost for the 10th time in their past 11 games and own a 6-16 record, the worst in the National League.“The big hit is eluding us,” manager Bud Black told reporters in Philadelphia. “We are hitting balls on the nose at certain times but you’ve got to bunch them together if you’re not hitting homers.”Adding injury to the latest loss was the status of outfielder Kris Bryant, who was pulled from the game before his at-bat in the third inning with pain in the sacroiliac joints (SI) and the glute on...

CU Buffs spring football takeaways: CEO Prime, Travis Hunter’s two-way role, Shedeur Sanders’ weapons at wideout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

BOULDER — The Coach Prime Era began in earnest Saturday with the team’s first spring game under new coach Deion Sanders. Here are five takeaways.Pomp and pageantry.  A long list of former CU Buffs were in attendance and honored prior to the game, including past greats such as Daniel Graham and Alfred Williams and current NFLers Chidobe Awuzie, David Bakhtiari and Laviska Shenault, who drew a huge roar while wearing a technicolor sweater. The crowd of 47,277 was more than the previous nine spring games combined, and there was a buzz around and inside Folsom Field despite freezing temps and a light snow at kick. Sanders, who can’t sprint anymore due to having two toes amputated on his left foot, led the Buffs out of the tunnel wearing a white cowboy hat and hoodie proclaiming “I AIN’T HARD TO FIND.” The pregame had everything but Ralphie, who didn’t run due to wet field conditions.CEO Prime. If it wasn’t clear already, the spring game un...

Rockies’ Kris Bryant pulled from game in Philadelphia with injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Phillies with an injury during the third inning. The club is calling his status “day-to-day.”Related ArticlesColorado Rockies | Rockies’ Kyle Freeland gives up three home runs in 4-3 loss to Phillies Colorado Rockies | Saunders: Kris Bryant says he can be the quiet leader Rockies need right now Colorado Rockies | Grading the Week: Yes, Colorado Rockies fans, it can actually get worse. Much worse. Colorado Rockies | Rockies waste another promising start by Noah Davis as offense goes silent in 4-3 loss to Phillies Colorado Rockies | Rockies beat Phillies behind Ryan Feltner, snap eight-game losing streak Bryant, the designated hitter Saturday, was due to hit in the third inning but was pinch-hit for by Elehuris Montero. According to manager Bud Black, Bryant experienced pain in the sacroiliac joint (SI) and g...

2 people shot inside Glendale restaurant, suspects arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

Two people were shot at a restaurant in Glendale around 1 a.m. Saturday morning. The shooting took place at the Phoenicia Restaurant on the corner of Central Avenue and Lexington Drive. Two suspects were later arrested on Saturday — 43-year-old Emil Ayrapetian of Los Angeles and 40-year-old Vardan Amolikyan of Glendale.According to preliminary information from the Glendale Police Department, a manager at the restaurant called 911 and reported that shots were fired inside the restaurant.  Suspect wanted for attacking diner at Santa Monica restaurant No suspects or victims were at the scene by the time police arrived as the two victims transported themselves to a hospital for gunshot wound treatment."Our preliminary investigation has found this event to be an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety," said police. "We will keep the public informed as new information becomes available."The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation...

Durant scores 31, Suns beat Clippers 112-100 for 3-1 lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Devin Booker added 30 and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers without Kawhi Leonard 112-100 on Saturday to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.The Clippers, who lost Game 3 by five points, again made a strong run with Leonard watching from the bench. He has missed two straight games with a sprained right knee. They're also without Paul George, who hasn't played since March 21 because of the same injury as Leonard.Russell Westbrook carried the Clippers in the fourth quarter. He had 14 points, including nine in a row when they twice pulled within two points. Westbrook finished with a game-high 37 points. Norman Powell added 14 points and Terance Mann had 13 off the bench.Game 5 is Tuesday in Phoenix.But as the fourth wound down, the Clippers ran out of gas.Chris Paul, the 37-year-old former Clipper, had 12 points in the fourth, hitting big jumpers from all over the court each time the Los Angeles...

Photos: Festivals and clean-ups celebrate annual Earth Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

Nature lovers across the Bay Area took part in trash clean-ups and outdoor festivals Saturday to commemorate Earth Day, the 54th annual global celebration of environmental stewardship.At Cupertino’s Earth Day & Arbor Day Festival at Library Field Park, families enjoyed arts and crafts, rock climbing walls and a nature-themed mobile library. Meanwhile in Berkeley, volunteers with buckets and pick-up sticks clambered along the waterfront near the Shorebird Park Nature Center. They celebrated with a festival of their own later in the day with live music and free boat rides by the shoreline.Gaylord Nelson, a former U.S. senator from Wisconsin, organized the first Earth Day in 1970 as a nationwide rally to raise awareness about environmental threats following a devastating oil spill in Santa Barbara. The demonstration helped spur the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency later that year. Today, Earth Day is celebrated by more than 140 countries around the world.Nikhil Sabni...

Brandon Crawford goes deep, Logan Webb deals to lead SF Giants over Mets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:21 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — With one swing Saturday afternoon, Brandon Crawford announced that he’s still here.Crawford, 36, came a few feet short of the Giants’ 99th splash hit into McCovey Cove and instead had to settle for a three-run home run that merely reached the water beyond right field on a bounce, providing a first-inning lead that proved insurmountable in a 7-4 win over the Mets, only San Francisco’s third win in its past 10 games and its first this home stand.With Crawford’s home run, his third this season, the Giants equaled in the first inning their total runs from their first two games of this series, both losses.The three-run shot also served as a loud reminder that while, yes, the veteran shortstop has shown his age early on this season, he still has something in the tank.Since homering as part of a three-hit effort in the second game of the season, Crawford had accumulated only five hits in his next 45 at-bats (.111) and was 0-for-his-last-14 entering S...