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Gingerbread houses: Where did the festive tradition get its start?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

(WTAJ) — Gingerbread houses are a popular part of the holiday season — whether you like to create and eat them, or just keep them as decoration. But do you know where the tradition started?Historians agree that gingerbread houses originated in Germany. But to really get to the root of the matter, you'll have to go back about 5,000 years to China ,when the ginger root was discovered. According to Food Network, the ginger root was first used for medicinal purposes, and it still is today. What is the Festivus, the holiday ‘for the rest of us’? Ginger eventually found its way to Europe (some believe it was used in Ancient Greece too), and into Germany, where the house-making started.In the 16th century, Germans began making cookie-walled houses around the same time "Hansel and Gretel" was published, PBS said. The story, written by the Brothers Grimm, concerned two young children get lost in a forest before finding a witch with a house made of gingerbread.It is still unclear whether th...

Dylan Disu makes debut for No. 19 Texas in 96-85 win over LSU

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The No. 19 Texas Longhorns held off a second-half rally by Louisiana State to beat the Tigers 96-85 in The Halal Guys Showcase at the Toyota Center in Houston.Texas (8-2) scored 56 points in the first half, the most points for the Longhorns in a half all season, and led by 19 points at the break. Dylan Disu made his season debut after offseason foot surgery kept him out of the lineup for the first nine games of the season. Disu played 20 minutes and scored 17 points on 4 of 8 shooting with five assists and four rebounds. He made all nine of his foul shots.Texas guard Max Abmas (3) shoots over LSU forward Mwani Wilkinson (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) scores over LSU guard Jordan Wright during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)LSU forward Mwani Wilkinson (5) defends Te...

With no snow in forecast, Twin Cities likely to see a ‘brown’ Christmas this year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

Meteorologists predict a “brown” Christmas this year with no snow falling in the foreseeable future — or at least the next 10 days.In line with what is to be expected from an El Niño year, the area is seeing warmer temperatures and less precipitation than normal, according to Joe Calderone, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Twin Cities office.And that means no snow on Christmas.“That’s the way we’re trending,” he said, noting that while temperatures on Christmas and the days surrounding it won’t be as high as the 50s, it will still be higher than normal.Toward the end of next week and into the weekend, temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-40s, he said. The normal this time of year would be highs in the upper 20s and low 30s, he said.This pattern will continue through Christmas week, he said.The next chance of precipitation is on Dec. 22 and that’s only a 20-30 percent chance, he said. And if there is any, i...

St. Louis man sentenced in teenager's shooting death

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A judge sentenced a St. Louis man to 22 years in prison on Friday in connection with a teenager's shooting death in 2021. Stanico Jordan, now 19, previously pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder aspart of a plea deal with prosecutors. North St. Louis nursing home abruptly closes; Residents moved, workers without pay Jordan admitted to fatally shooting Kyle Falker on July 11, 2021, at an apartment complex in St. Louis' Carr Square neighborhood. Investigators say Falker was shot several times and died at the scene. Surveillance video captured a Chevrolet Malibu pulling up next to Falker prior to his death. Jordan was 16 at the time of the shooting and certified as an adult to stand trial. He was originally charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, but prosecutors amended the murder charge and dismissed the count of armed criminal action in exchange for his guilty plea. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in...

Four arrested, including two juveniles, in armed robbery at Edwardsville Best Buy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. - Authorities have arrested four people, including two juveniles, after an armed robbery Thursday at an Edwardsville Best Buy. The suspects were arrested after a brief pursuit into Glen Carbon. Prosecutors have charged Angel Deshaun Crosby, 22, of Berkely, Missouri, and Jakiaya T. McCoy, 20, of St. Louis, with felonies amid the investigation. North St. Louis nursing home abruptly closes; Residents moved, workers without pay Crosby, McCoy and the two juveniles are linked to an armed robbery Thursday evening at the Best Buy at 6670 Edwardsville Crossing Drive. One of the suspects reportedly flashed a weapon and the group took off with several undisclosed items. The Glen Carbon Police Department says officers were informed of the robbery around 9 p.m. and received a tip to track down a silver vehicle. Within minutes, police located the suspect vehicle heading westbound on Interstate 270. Glen Carbon police say the pursuit ended near the Chain of Rock Bridge afte...

Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks hip in fall: Report

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

Los Angeles Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fell and broke his hip while attending a local concert Friday, TMZ Sports reported.It was unclear what show the basketball great was attending or who was performing, but his representative Deborah Morales told TMZ that Abdul-Jabbar was taken to a local hospital for treatment after shattering his hip the fall. His condition was not disclosed, but Morales' statements made it appear to TMZ that Abdul-Jabbar would be OK.Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. He won the league’s Most Valuable Player award 6 times, was a 19-time all-star and was a member of six NBA championship teams.  Kobe Bryant video helped bring Ohtani to Dodgers Abdul Jabbar also held the record for the most points ever scored in the NBA until another Laker, Lebron James, passed him earlier this year. 

Oakland resident pleads guilty to attempting to illegally export firearms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

(KRON) – Oakland resident Fares Abdo Al Eyani pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco to one count of conspiring to export defense articles and seven counts of attempting to export defense articles, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey on Friday. Al Eyani, 40, admitted he acquired four firearms with magazines and ammunition, and at least 44 rifle scopes, monoculars, and goggles with night vision capabilities in 2019, according to his plea agreement. San Francisco resident arrested for vehicle theft in Colma According to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California,  Al Eyani attempted to send the firearms to the Sultanate of Oman in November 2019. The following month, Al Eyani attempted to export the 44 rifle scopes, monoculars, and goggles to the Sultanate of Oman. Al Eyani attempted to send both packages from the Port of Oakland.  Law enforcement searched the containers and seized the firearms, the magazines,...

San Jose renters want better security, language access

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

(BCN) -- Dozens of tenants from two affordable housing complexes in San Jose are calling on their corporate landlord to do more after repeated car break-ins and receiving written notices they don't understand.Residents from the Bella Castello and Corde Terra Senior tenants associations protested Friday in front of ROEM Corporation's offices in Santa Clara, calling for CEO Robert Emami to meet with them. Tenants are demanding better security because their cars are regularly broken into, and for management to provide tenant notices in other languages besides English, since many residents speak another language such as Vietnamese or Spanish. Residents who are frail and disabled worry these notices could lead to an eviction. Oakland resident pleads guilty to attempting to illegally export firearms At Bella Castello, resident Hung Nguyen, 62, said there have been multiple times when up to 10 cars were broken into in the building's secure garage. He is worried his will be next. He said ...

Fire officials determine cause of carbon monoxide leak that sickened Woodbridge family

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

Five adults and five children were sickened by carbon monoxide Tuesday morning at their home on Neabsco Creek Court in Woodbridge.Fire crews were dispatched to the home at 10:03 a.m., where they found 10 people “feeling various degrees of sickness,” Prince William County fire and rescue Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky said in a release.“Based on the situation presented, crews began to take air readings. It was determined the air within the home contained high levels of carbon monoxide,” he said.The patients, all family members who live in the home, were taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.Washington Gas responded to the scene and secured the building. No other homes were impacted, Smolsky said.Building officials determined the cause of the incident was carbon monoxide escaping from a broken furnace pipe in the basement, he said. All homeowners are strongly encouraged to have their gas appliances regularly inspected by a trained professional.The Prin...

Griffin scores 25, No. 17 UConn dominates 2nd half to defeat No. 15 Louisville 86-62

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:21:12 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Aubrey Griffin scored a season-high 25 point s and Aaliyah Edwards added 22 on a combined 19-of-23 shooting and No. 17 UConn pulled away from No. 15 Louisville for an 86-62 win on Saturday.It was the second straight win over a ranked team for the Huskies, who have used six different starting lineups and are 2-3 against teams now in the Top 25. The Cardinals gave up a season high in points and had their six-game winning streak snapped.Paige Bueckers hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Huskies (7-3), with a career-high five blocks. Nika Muhl had 10 of UConn’s 24 assists on 32 baskets. UConn shot 59% and made 15 of 20 free throws, 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter. The Huskies outscored Louisville 40-20 in the second half with Griffin, who had four steals, Bueckers and Edwards combining for 32 points. KK Arnold had the other eight points.Kiki Jefferson had 20 points for the Cardinals (10-2), Sydney Taylor had 13 and Olivia Cochran 12. The game tur...