HOCKLEY, Texas — A suspected gas leak prompted the evacuation of one Waller Independent School District elementary campus and precautionary shelter-in-place orders at two nearby schools Friday morning as emergency crews worked to contain the situation and ensure student safety. According to the Spring Creek Fire Department, elevated gas levels were detected at Roberts Road Elementary School shortly after the start of the school day. Officials determined that conditions inside the

Berlin’s main airport remained closed on Friday as dangerous black ice and freezing weather conditions made flight operations unsafe, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers and forcing airlines to cancel or delay services across the region. Airport authorities said persistent ice on runways and taxiways had made it impossible for aircraft to safely take off or land, with no immediate timeline for when normal operations could resume. The disruption began a day earlier

Air travel across North Texas remained heavily disrupted Monday as a prolonged winter storm continued to impact operations at major Dallas-area airports. Snow, sleet, and persistent freezing temperatures have forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights and adjust schedules, leaving travelers facing ongoing uncertainty at both Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. According to flight-tracking data, cancellations remained widespread as of Monday morning, wit

Dozens of schools, libraries, museums, and local businesses across the Chicago area closed Friday as extreme cold grips northeastern Illinois. The region is under an Extreme Cold Warning, with wind chills expected to drop as low as -35 degrees, creating dangerous conditions for travel and outdoor activity. Public safety officials have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid exposure to the frigid temperatures whenever possible. More than 100 schools, including the city’s largest

A graduate student in Chicago is taking on an extraordinary challenge: running every street in all 77 neighborhoods of the city. Joabe Barbosa, who studies at Roosevelt University, treats the sprawling urban landscape as his personal treadmill, running at all hours and in all kinds of weather. “I run 1 a.m., 3 a.m., 7 a.m., 5 p.m. — any time of the day, any weather,” Barbosa said. “I’m always safe and I always meet lovely people.” Barbosa’s journey began in August 2024 a

The state of Texas has given the city of Dallas until the end of January to remove several decorative pavement markings, including rainbow-painted crosswalks in the Oak Lawn neighborhood and a large “Black Lives Matter” street mural on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. State officials have warned that failure to comply could put millions of dollars in transportation and infrastructure funding at risk. The dispute traces back to an order issued on Oct. 8, 2025, when Texas Gov. Gr

Hundreds of homeowners in the Berkeley Hills are being directed to remove vegetation surrounding their homes as part of a newly enforced wildfire prevention measure that took effect at the beginning of the year. The regulation, which became active on January 1, requires properties to maintain a clear buffer zone to reduce the risk of fire spreading in residential areas prone to wildfires. Under the new fire safety rules, all combustible vegetation and growth must be cleared within f

As egret season approaches, city officials in Fort Worth are urging residents to prepare ahead of the annual migration to reduce the impact these birds can have on neighborhoods. Each year, large numbers of egrets arrive to nest, often settling in residential areas where their presence can create challenges for homeowners. To address concerns before the birds arrive, local animal care authorities have launched an outreach effort focused on education, prevention, and community cooperation.

Thousands of nurses across several major hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after labor negotiations failed to produce a new contract before the deadline. The walkout, which began early January 12, involves nurses from Mount Sinai Hospital and two affiliated campuses, as well as staff at New York-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Union officials say the action represents one of the largest nursing strikes in the city’s history, both in scale and i

ADELPHI, Md. — Thelma Beall, co-founder of the Maryland-based restaurant institution Ledo Pizza and a defining figure in the region’s culinary history, died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 101. Her passing marks the end of an era for a brand that began as a small neighborhood restaurant and grew into one of the most recognizable names in Maryland-style pizza. Beall was born in 1924 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and spent her early years rooted in Prince George’s County. After

Mass transit agencies across the tri-state area have announced special service schedules for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with adjustments aimed at accommodating holiday celebrations while maintaining essential transportation access. Riders are advised to plan ahead and review schedules carefully, as service levels will vary by mode and day. In New York City, subway service will largely operate on a regular schedule on New Year’s Eve, with additional overnight service on

Eurostar suspended all of its train services on Tuesday after a power supply failure in the Channel Tunnel forced operations to a halt during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The disruption came as thousands of passengers were travelling between Christmas and New Year, with services to and from London particularly affected. The sudden suspension triggered widespread delays and uncertainty for travellers relying on high-speed rail connections between the United Kingdom and mainla

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has released the official schedule for the 2026 fair season, giving communities across the state an early look at one of Ohio’s most anticipated summer and fall traditions. The announcement confirms dates for fairs in all 88 counties, along with independent fairs, bringing the total number of events scheduled statewide to nearly 100. The calendar allows families, exhibitors, and fair organizers to begin planning months in advance for a season rooted in agr

The holiday season took on a deeper meaning at a restaurant in Naples, Florida, where a routine staff meeting turned into a moment of collective generosity that has since captured widespread attention online. What began as an announcement about the cancellation of a holiday party quickly became an emotional surprise centered on compassion, teamwork, and support for family. During the gathering, general manager Brandon Newton informed employees that the restaurant would not be holdin

In a forceful rebuke of President Donald Trump’s proposed tax and immigration legislation, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has issued a stark warning about its potential impact on blue states like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Speaking during his first interview in the tri-state region since becoming DNC chair, Martin described the bill as devastating and accused Republican lawmakers of targeting essential health care and economic protections under the guise of fisc

The economic disparity among US states has been sharply illustrated by new data showing that more than half of the nation’s billionaires reside in just four states, while three states do not have a single billionaire. Out of a total of 902 billionaires across the country, 528 live in California, New York, Florida, and Texas. This geographic clustering of immense wealth reveals growing inequality in wealth distribution across the United States. California tops the list with 1

The Golden State Warriors are officially back in the NBA Playoffs, securing the No. 7 seed after a strong play-in victory and setting up a first-round showdown with a familiar postseason rival — the Houston Rockets, who hold the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. This matchup rekindles one of the more competitive playoff rivalries in recent years, with Golden State previously besting Houston in all four playoff series between 2015 and 2019. Now, in 2025, the two sides are meeting for