Latest news with #DeKalb
TechCrunch
5 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Meta buys a nuclear power plant (more or less)
Meta announced Tuesday morning that it was paying billions of dollars to keep an Illinois nuclear power plant running through 2047. The social media company will buy all the 'clean energy attributes' of Constellation Energy's Clinton Clean Energy Center, a 1.1 gigawatt nuclear power plant in central Illinois, starting in June 2027. Electricity will still flow to the local grid, so Meta's purchase won't directly power one of its data centers, though the company does have one about two hours north of Clinton in DeKalb. Rather, the deal is a bit of carbon accounting to lower the company's overall climate impact. It doesn't reduce emissions on the grid, but prevents them from potentially increasing. Neither company disclosed exact financial terms, but the multi-billion-dollar deal will help Constellation relicense the plant and guarantee a customer for the duration of that license extension. Big tech companies — Meta included — have become vocal backers of the fission industry recently. Before the recent boom in data center construction, nuclear reactors had faced a grim future as cheap wind, solar, and natural gas undercut their power-generating costs. But the surge in AI and cloud computing has sent tech companies searching for power, which in turn has led to a string of investments in nuclear startups. Meta and Constellation have alluded to the deal as a way to save the nuclear power plant from shutdown, though neither said it was at imminent risk of closure. The power provider initially planned to shut down the Clinton reactor in June 2017 as it faced stiff competition from cheap natural gas, but Illinois legislators stepped in with subsidies that encouraged Constellation to keep the lights on. Those subsidies are set to expire in 2027, and Constellation says the Meta deal will help prevent the closure. But since 2017, Constellation has not threatened to shut down the Clinton power plant. Instead, in 2022, the company said it would apply to extend the reactor's operating license through 2047. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW TechCrunch has asked Constellation about its plans for the Clinton power plant before the Meta deal materialized, and we'll update this article if we receive a reply. It's likely that the company would have turned to ratepayers, something Constellation hints at in today's press release: The deal with Meta 'essentially replaces the ZEC [zero-emission credit] program and ensures long-term operations of the plant without ratepayer support.' Meta and its big tech peers have fallen head over heels for nuclear power lately. Meta itself announced earlier this year that it was soliciting proposals for new nuclear power plants that would generate between 1–4 gigawatts of power. Today, the company said it has received over 50 qualified submissions for sites in more than 20 states. With the Meta deal, Constellation has landed another big tech patron for its nuclear fleet. In September, the power provider said that it would restart a reactor at Three Mile Island after Microsoft agreed to buy all the resulting power.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gibbs Softball wins back-to-back state titles
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WATE) — It was a duel of the defense for Gibbs and DeKalb. The game went 10 innings until the Eagles finally broke through to win the Class 3A Championship 1-0. The battle showcased a level of resiliency that the Eagles have built up throughout the entire season. 'I think we just needed to be patient,' said Gibbs Softball head coach Carol Mitchell. 'I think we got better throughout the game with their pitcher. We knew that she moved the ball around a lot. First couple of innings were a little rough, and then we started hitting her a little better and putting a little bit together, and we just kept inching forward.' Jake Dawson takes charge of Clinton football as one of state's youngest coaches DeKalb threatened in the top of the tenth with a runner on third. Gibbs' Malyiah Smith made a diving play to keep DeKalb off the board. 'She's that kind of player,' Mitchell explained. 'That's what she does. She's special.' In the bottom of the frame, senior pitcher Lacey Keck, who pitched all 10 shutout innings, delivered the walk-off hit. 'I was trying to get my runner to come back and tag because it landed right in front of the girl, and I thought she was going to try to catch it, but she didn't,' Mitchell said. 'My runner, she adjusted and made it home.' Football & fireworks: The staples of Anderson County fall Friday nights 'I was a little nervous,' said Gibbs Softball senior Lacey Keck. 'I couldn't really tell where it was. If it was down. I don't even think I saw it when I hit. I'm glad my team was at second and third, so that I could get them in.' Keck and Smith were two of the Eagles' four seniors. Mitchell mentioned that the group of seniors has been the team's go-to all year. Gibbs' back-to-back 3A state titles puts the program's all-time tally at 12.. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville North freshman Lawton Close is ‘not in California anymore.' But he's not out of his element.
Naperville North freshman Lawton Close drove the ball over the right fielder's head and raced to second base with a leadoff double. The hit against DeKalb ace Brodie Farrell left Close feeling a surge of adrenaline, and for good reason. Farrell is a Parkland commit who hasn't been beaten this season. 'Oh, I was ecstatic,' Close said. 'It was so fun because I know how great of a pitcher he is, and to get that as a freshman, that was amazing.' Close's double, the only extra-base hit allowed by Farrell on Thursday, was a glimpse of what could be in store for the Huskies (15-15), who will play Oswego in the Class 4A Plainfield North Regional semifinals on May 29. 'It was really good,' Close said. 'I like to face better pitching because it gives me a challenge to have an at-bat against those guys, especially a guy like that with good off-speed and good fastball. 'I trust myself, so as soon as I saw that pitch, I just went and got it.' Farrell, who finished with a four-hitter in DeKalb's 9-1 win in the DuPage Valley Conference Tournament semifinals in Naperville, got Close on called third strikes twice. That wasn't surprising given Farrell's talent and age advantage. The senior right-hander is the DVC co-pitcher of the year and improved to 7-0 with a 1.62 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 52 innings. But Close, a first baseman who scored Naperville North's only run against Farrell, isn't fazed by the tough competition. 'It's been very challenging,' he said. 'I've faced a lot of good pitchers, especially that are older than me, and it's good to see that. 'I've had a lot of fun this year. Definitely the captains taking me under their wings, that was really big.' One of those captains is Illinois State-bound senior catcher Zach Bava, who also played varsity baseball as a freshman. 'I just told him that it's another baseball game,' Bava said. 'Yeah, you're going to be playing against kids that are three years older than you, but at the end of the day, they're still teenagers just like you are. 'So just calm yourself down and do what you know how to do and don't overthink. Just hit the baseball.' Close has done that often enough. In 28 games, he's hitting .231 with four doubles, a triple, 14 RBIs, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases. 'I think Lawton is a fantastic hitter,' Bava said. 'I voiced my opinion that Lawton deserved a spot on varsity. We made that happen, and he's been showing flashes throughout the year. 'Obviously, the batting average isn't exactly where he wants it, but I know he's a competitor.' Close, whose family moved to Naperville from California last summer, quickly made that clear to Huskies coach Jim Chiappetta. 'You watch him work in the cage, you can see right away that he's got some special ability as a freshman,' Chiappetta said. 'Then you see it show up in a game situation against kids that are two to three years older than him, that's a special thing to see. 'I love his demeanor, and I love his work ethic, and I think those are things you notice right away. He plays the game the right way.' Close said he gets his work ethic from his father, James, who was drafted out of UNLV by the Florida Marlins in 1999 and played for two years as an outfielder at the Class A level, including a stint with the Kane County Cougars in 2000. 'He just tells me to simple it down,' Close said. 'Baseball is a simple game. If you speed it up, it's going to be even harder, so simple it down.' Getting Close out may be anything but simple for opposing pitchers in coming years. 'He's shown flashes that he's a truly special player,' Bava said. 'The next three years, the DVC has got a lot to follow up on with Lawton, so they've got to be ready for him.' One thing Close wasn't ready to experience was Chicago's spring weather. He showed up to an early practice very underdressed. 'It looked like a nice day, but he was in short sleeves and shivering,' Chiappetta said. 'I said, 'You're not in California anymore.'' Not to worry, though. Close has acclimated. 'It's really nice here,' he said. 'I mean, winter is definitely different than out there, but you get adjusted.'
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chasing greatness, NIU recruit Jamie Saran becomes more complete player for Naperville Central
Naperville Central senior first baseman Jamie Saran is a fearsome slugger in the eyes of opposing pitchers. There's a legitimate reason for that. The Northern Illinois recruit's 35 home runs and 204 RBIs are the program's career records. But Saran has other, often overlooked qualities, which she demonstrated when she scored from second base on a single to right field by senior Avery Hayward on Friday. 'Jamie's a really smart base runner,' Naperville Central junior Natalie Lau said. 'I know she can get the job done when we need her to.' Saran slid into home plate in a cloud of dust to give the Redhawks a 3-1 lead over DeKalb in the third inning of a DuPage Valley Conference game at Aurora University. Three innings later, Saran tried to score from first base on Lau's double to center field but was tagged out at the plate. Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said after the game he shouldn't have sent her that time. The Redhawks still won 15-5 in six innings. 'I knew there were two outs on both,' Saran said. ''Nuss' was telling me to go, and I was cutting those corners and I was just going as fast as I can to try to score.' Saran, a four-year starter who is hitting .413 with eight doubles, five home runs, 36 RBIs and 25 runs scored for conference co-leader Naperville Central (18-12, 10-3), has been emphasizing movement as she expands her repertoire of skills. 'I got more fast over the summer because I did a lot of agility training and I worked on turning fast,' she said. 'I love running drills. I do them quite often, and I'm definitely going to be doing them a lot more getting ready for college. I'm still working on it.' Those agility drills came in handy against the Barbs. In the first inning, Saran snagged a line drive and stepped on first base to double off a runner. It was the first of five putouts for Saran, who also successfully navigated a fierce wind to make a lunging catch of a pop-up in the fourth inning. Saran made another nifty play in the sixth. DeKalb's Izzy Aranda was on first after a leadoff single when she got caught off the base by Naperville Central senior catcher Meredith Cann. Saran caught Cann's pickoff throw and chased Aranda nearly all the way to second base before flipping the ball to Lau, who tagged out Aranda. 'I love making great plays and helping out my teammates,' Saran said. 'They made a lot of great plays as well today.' Saran went 1-for-3 with a walk but had two hard-hit balls turned into outs, one of which got to the right fielder so quickly that Naperville Central senior Shea Meech was forced out at second. Saran's presence in the lineup and her ability to make adjustments boosts all of the Redhawks. 'What's difficult for Jamie is not the really good pitches, it's the variance in speed,' Nussbaum said. 'You'll get somebody like (Neuqua Valley ace Ava) Drehs, who is as fast as we see, and then you'll get some people that aren't as fast, depend more on junk and get the ball over the plate. 'It's hard for high school hitters to adjust to that, and I think she's done a good job of that. She hits with power, hits the ball the other way and knows the game.' Saran also knows how to encourage her teammates. 'Jamie is one of the best teammates you could ask for,' Lau said. 'She brings a lot of positivity into the dugout. 'You know whenever you're upset about making an error or messing up, you can always go talk to Jamie, and Jamie will make you feel better about it. I aspire to be like her. So I'm definitely going to miss having Jamie in the dugout and on the field with me next year.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
DeKalb County police remember fallen officers at memorial service
On Wednesday, police remembered officers who have died at the annual DeKalb Police Fallen Officer Memorial Service. One by one, the names of the fallen officers were read. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson said nothing can match the courage of first responders. 'We also reaffirm our promise here in Dekalb, that their sacrifice to Dekalb and the community will never be forgotten- that their service was not in vain and that the county is safer and stronger because of their service,' she said. Families walked to the stage at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts & Community Center in Decatur. Loved ones quietly added white flower to a hear that's forever blue. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Alpharetta dealership employee says she was kidnapped after customer had his car serviced Mother says toddler fell through window at Cobb pre-school, but director disagrees Beloved Hall County teacher, coach dies after motorcycle crash on his way to school [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
