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Don't be mesmerized - you should kill this dazzling bug

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - It’s hard not to be dazzled by the spotted lanternfly, with its spots and pair of bright red wings. Despite its stunning appearance, experts hope you’ll kill it. The spotted lanternfly, though small, is invasive in the U.S. and can pose serious problems for the agriculture industries in many states. Native to China, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. It has since spread to more than a dozen states, including three that have reported their first sightings since last year. The insect has spread largely throughout the Northeast, with detections reported in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Find one of these invasive, toxin-covered worms? Here’s what you should do New to that list are Michigan, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Dead lanternflies ...

PHOTOS: Oak Grove Fire burns in Hays County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Oak Grove Fire in Hays County started Saturday near San Marcos and continues to burn. The wildfire is estimated to be 400 acres in size with 20% containment as of Sunday morning, according to Hays County and the Texas A&M Forest Service. FIRE UPDATES: One home destroyed, multiple evacuations from Oak Grove wildfire Here are KXAN staff and viewer photos and video of the fire: Officials responded to a large outside fire, known as the Oak Grove Fire, in Hays County Saturday, Aug. 5. | David Yeomans/KXAN NewsThe Oak Grove Fire in Hays County got within two miles of Hays City Store in Driftwood where this picture was taken. Crews said they were able to stop the fire's forward progression Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of Brittany K)Officials responded to a large outside fire, known as the Oak Grove Fire, in Hays County Saturday, Aug. 5. | Jake Sykes/KXAN NewsOfficials responded to a large outside fire, known as the Oak Grove Fire, in Hays County Sa...

Will this be another August like 2022?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This morning when putting together the forecast there was one map that I looked at that gave me a glimmer of hope that Central Texas may soon break out of this relentless heat that has gripped the area since July 8.The Climate Prediction Center has teased us before with a Wetter Than Normal forecast. It's happened a few isolated times during this heat wave. Looking forward to having this actually developThis time, there may be something to the CPC's second-week forecast (August 13th to 19th) where they show much of the state, and all of our region, in a Wetter Than Normal outlook.Why this time? Thinking back first to July--July 2022 was the hottest July ever until this past July when the average temperature was 90.8°. August 2022 started with several triple-digit highs but saw fewer of them during the second half of the month. The last high at or above 100° was on the 20th. August 2022 started hot but ended (the last nine days) with no triple-digit highsA cold front...

Real World Economics: Consider Fitch downgrade to be a warning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

Edward LottermanLast week’s announcement by bond rating agency Fitch that it was downgrading U.S. Treasury securities one notch to AA+ from AAA was simultaneously politically important and financially inconsequential.Fitch is the smallest of the three U.S.-based bond rating agencies along with Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. These track and analyze the financial soundness of tens of thousands of corporate bonds and those of all levels of government from municipalities to nations.They issue alphabetic ratings indicating the safety or risk of investing in a particular bond. This is an extremely important economic function as it generates generally reliable information on which millions of individuals and businesses can decide what to do with their money. Good information makes for better and faster use of scarce capital, reduces costs and increases efficiency. (For concise further information see S&P’s “Guide to Credit Rating Essentials” and Fitch’s “Rating Definitions” on the in...

Business raises money to support vets on helicopter crash anniversary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

WENTZVILLE Mo -- Today is the 12-year anniversary of a helicopter being shot down in Afghanistan. It killed 31 soldiers, including a dog. An area Air Force veteran knew three of those men. This morning, he's paying tribute in his own special way.

Car set on fire with homeless man inside in Green Meadows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

A car with a man sleeping inside was set on fire early Sunday morning. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the arson occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the 400 block of East 102nd Street in the Green Meadows neighborhood of Los Angeles. The suspect walked up to the man's car as he was sleeping and threw a flammable liquid inside, causing the car to ignite, police said.Video footage from the scene shows the car completely engulfed in flames, and once firefighters were able to put out the blaze, all that was left of the vehicle were charred metal fragments. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the arson occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the 400 block of East 102nd Street in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (OnScene TV) According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the arson occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the 400 block of East 102nd Street in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (OnScene TV) According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the arson occurr...

2 arrested for deadly shooting in Irvine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

Two suspects were arrested Saturday after a teenager was shot and killed in a quiet Irvine neighborhood earlier this week.The suspects were identified as Jayden Browndorf, 21, of Irvine and Noah Farmer, 22, of Tustin, by the Irvine Police Department.The victim was identified as Nicholas Alistair Neaimi-Pour, 19, from Costa Mesa.On Aug. 3, police responded to reports of a shooting near Athel Avenue and Sego Street around 12:37 p.m. Callers told police they heard a man screaming for help. Arriving officers found the victim lying on the ground while being attended to by witnesses and residents in the area.Paramedic crews arrived on the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.SWAT Team arrested two suspects at their Irvine home after a teenager was shot and killed in an Irvine neighborhood on Aug. 3, 2023. (County News.TV)SWAT Team arrested two suspects after a teenager was shot and killed in ...

Man found in barrel at Malibu beach was an aspiring rapper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

An aspiring rapper who was found dead inside a barrel at Malibu Lagoon State Beach was shot in the head, according to a new report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.The victim, identified as 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy, was discovered on July 31 inside a 55-gallon drum floating in the water near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge.The coroner’s report also lists Murphy’s cause of death as a homicide. Murphy was found naked and sealed inside the barrel at the time. A park maintenance worker first spotted the barrel and paddled out in a kayak to investigate. When they tried to drag it to shore, it was too heavy so they left it in the water, according to the L.A. Sheriff’s Department.When a lifeguard arrived at work the next day and spotted the barrel around 10 a.m., they swam out to retrieve it. When they opened the barrel, that’s when they made the gruesome discovery, authorities said.Lifeguards discovered a body inside a barrel in Malibu Lagoon. July 31, 2023. (KTLA)...

Los Gatos high schooler wins short film contest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

Award-winning videoA Los Gatos High School student took home the prize for best video in the 2023 Be-You-tiful Contest held by the Eating Disorders Resource Center, a local organization focusing on mental health and body image. The contest was open to all middle and high schools in the Bay Area, and participants created art, poems, essays or videos on the subject of social media.Kian Egami, an 11th grade student in Los Gatos, was recognized for his short video on society’s harsh body standards for men and how heavy social media use can be detrimental for mental health. Winners in all categories received a cash prize. Find the winning video, entitled “HELP – Winner of Be-You-Tiful Multimedia Contest” on YouTube.Brake for catsThe South Bay’s mountain lions gave the Town of Los Gatos its name—and officials are now asking residents to take care when driving to protect the big cats. The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority highlighted the need for safe wildlife crossings on road...

Cupertino climate summit tackles environmental issues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:25 GMT

Students and community members who attended the recent Silicon Valley Climate Summit at Cupertino’s De Anza College came away with information about issues ranging from plant-based diets to clean energy to a circular economy.Besides professionals in the environmental space, the July 27 summit also drew politicians such as State Assemblymember Ash Kalra and former Cupertino mayor Rod Sinks, now a Fremont Union High School District trustee. Also among the guest speakers was State Sen. Dave Cortese, whose office co-hosted the event along with Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA), De Anza College VIDA and the Fremont Union High School District.In keeping with the SVYCA’s mission to empower teens and young adults to combat climate change, summit participants talked with guest speakers about developing actionable strategies around emission reductions, energy, transit and other climate issues.Bill Shireman, president and founder of the nonprofit consultancy Future 500, led a breakou...