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'A hauntingly real tragedy': Why Austin Ghost Tours says national franchises are putting business at risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As spookiness descends upon Austin, small local business Austin Ghost Tours said it is struggling. With Halloween on the horizon, this is a time when it should be booming. Owner of Austin Ghost Tours Jeanine Plumer said she and others in her line of work are living a real-life scary story. "What has happened is the concept of the local ghost tour has become a national franchise," Plumer said. "They spend a ton of money advertising, but the thing that they're doing is using our name... nobody cares."This spooky tale is nearly identical in at least three other cities: Fort Worth and Galveston, as well as Washington, D.C. "With these national chains... I'll get phone calls from people confusing my company with theirs," Gin Keel, owner of Spooky Galveston and Ghost Tours of Galveston, said. David Besgrove, of Cow Town Winery in the Fort Worth Stockyards, said they do ghost tours in the stockyards weekly, and they have also noticed an increasing problem with national ghos...

Clinic hopes to 'Boo the Flu' Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Public Health (APH) and Austin Independent School District (AISD) will host a flu vaccine clinic in southeast Austin Saturday. The annual Boo the Flu Clinic will happen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Allison Elementary on 515 Vargas Road, APH said. Spanish interpreters will be available on-site.   APH said it will provide free essential seasonal flu vaccines for those who lack insurance or have limited coverage. No insurance, ID, or proof of residence is necessary, according to APH.  "It’s that time of the year when respiratory illnesses are becoming more prevalent as we gather indoors," said Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. "Let's kick off this flu season by getting vaccinated to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This tool will set us up for success before the holidays."  September COVID-19 and flu vaccine coverage Everyone 6 months and older is eligible for a flu vaccine in the U.S. "Going to the d...

Why a dead fish was removed from Round Rock creek

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – Round Rock officials said Wednesday that crews removed dead fish at a creek in the city. According to the city, they were notified of the dead fish in Lake Creek in the vicinity of the Round Rock West neighborhood during the week of Sept. 25. City crews found no evidence, the city said, of wastewater spills, breaks or leaks. The city said staff removed the fish from the creek Sept. 29 to lessen any concerns about odor. According to the city, one of its contractors is installing a new wastewater line in the area and recently had to evacuate rainwater from the trench they were digging and push the rainwater into the creek. City crews found deceased fish upstream of the construction site, and the city said that indicated the issue was not related to this activity.The city of Round Rock took water samples and found Lake Creek's dissolved oxygen levels were significantly low, while bacterial levels were elevated. According to the city, the preliminary assessme...

Astronaut Leland Melvin to deliver lecture at UAlbany

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin will be delivering the 10th annual Bunshaft Lecture at the University at Albany’s Performing Arts Center. The event is scheduled for October 5 at 7 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Prior to his NASA career, Melvin was selected in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, and would eventually sign with the Dallas Cowboys in 1987, before suffering a career-ending hamstring injury. After returning to college to earn a master’s degree in material science engineering, Melvin began working for NASA, and was selected to be an astronaut in 1998. Melvin would go on to fly in two missions on the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station in 2008 and 2009, during which he delivered the Columbus science laboratory to the station as well as supplies and scientific equipment. In 2017, he released his memoir, "Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story...

$50K winning PowerBall ticket sold in Latham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A lucky Mobil customer purchased a top-prize-winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000. The winning ticket was from the October 4 drawing and was sold at the Airport Mobil located on Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The winning numbers were 9, 35, 54, 63, 64, and the power ball was 1. The winning numbers for the Powerball game are drawn from a field of one to 69. The red Power Ball is drawn from a separate field of one to 26. The Powerball drawing is televised every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.The New York Lottery is North America’s largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.7B in the 2022-2023 fiscal year to support education in New York. New Yorkers struggling with a gambling problem can contact the confidential HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text HOPENY (467369). Standard text rates may apply.

106 dogs rescued from breeders coming to St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The Humane Society of Missouri had a busy week, rescuing 106 dogs across several counties throughout the state of Missouri, including Pettis, Ripley, Perry, and Harrison.One of the two biggest rescues was on Tuesday, when HSMO transported 33 dogs from commercial breeders in the Midwest to its Macklind headquarters, as per the National Mill Dog Rescue's request. The following day, HSMO's Animal Cruelty Task Force, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), rescued 38 neglected dogs from an unlicensed breeder in Harrison County, Missouri. Attorney general urges Tyson Foods to sell two southern Missouri plants All these animals are currently undergoing emergency veterinary treatment and health assessments.The rescued dogs represent various breeds, including Boston Terriers, Poodle mixes, Cairn Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, and Yorkies, among others.The conditions and ages of these animals vary, with some experiencing skin issues and malnutrition. H...

Researchers find microplastics in St. Louis County cave sealed since 1993

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS – For those interested in understanding the impact of human activities on our environment, Saint Louis University has recently published a report on Cliff Cave. This report highlights the findings of a research team that found the presence of microplastics within a cave that had been sealed for the past three decades. In two recent papers, SLU reported the discovery of high concentrations of microplastics in Cliff Cave, located in St. Louis County. This cave has remained sealed off from human exposure for the last 30 years. Elizabeth Hasenmueller, Ph.D., a professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and associate director of the WATER Institute at SLU, led the research team that found plastics in both the water and soil within the cave. St. Louis Airport expansion would see conversion to single terminal Microplastics, which are plastic particles smaller than 5.0 millimeters, can be found in various environments, including marine, terrestrial, and freshwater settings...

Mizzou expansion project expected to help cancer patients worldwide 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A big investment at the University of Missouri will help millions of cancer patients around the world. The MU Research Reactor facility, known as MURR, is the only manufacturer in the nation to produce lifesaving treatments for liver, pancreatic, thyroid and prostate cancers. The $20 million expansion project is expected to help scientists save more lives. Mizzou is the home to the largest university research reactor in the country and it's about to get even bigger.  St. Louis Airport expansion would see conversion to single terminal "We are just at the beginning of a new era in the fight against cancer," executive director of MURR Matt Sandford said. Gov. Mike Parson and other stakeholders broke ground Monday on a 47,000 square foot addition. The three-story building, which will be added on to the back of the current building, will expand the facility's research and medical isotope production used to treat millions of cancer patients a year. "You'r...

Missouri home to a rare two-headed snake, celebrating birthday this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. - A rare two-headed snake has slithered in Missouri for several years, and conservation officials plan to celebrate the snake's birthday this weekend. The Missouri Department of Conservation will host a birthday party to celebrate the sixth birthday of the snake, named Tiger-Lily. Tiger-Lily, a rare two-headed snake in Missouri. (Photo provided by: Missouri Department of Conservation)The party will run from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area in Branson. Tiger-Lily, a female snake, was first found in Stone County in the fall of 2017. Tiger-Lily is almost five feet long and has a healthy appetite, according to MDC officials. St. Louis Airport expansion would see conversion to single terminal Conservation officials have been treating Tiger-Lily for several years. A two-headed snake like Tiger-Lily might struggle in the wild with eating and escaping dangerous situations. MDC officials say a two-headed snake’s chances of survival ar...

Woman charged with arson in rural Metro East fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:59 GMT

JERSEY COUNTY, Ill. - A woman accused of setting a home, farm field, and crops on fire in Jersey County last week is behind bars. Prosecutors have charged Rochelle Maltimore, 31, in connection with the investigation. St. Louis Airport expansion would see conversion to single terminal Investigators say the fire happened during the afternoon hours of Sept. 29 near Jerseyville, Illinois. When first responders arrived, they found a home full engulfed in flames, in addition to various crops on fire. The house was unoccupied during the fire. Authorities tracked down Maltimore after several tips from residents. She is being held at the Jersey County Jail.