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Austin officials begin relocating people from a Gaines Creek homeless encampment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin officials began the relocation process Tuesday for houseless people staying in a Gaines Creek area encampment which has become a public health concern, according to Austin Public Health.  This effort is part of the Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative, which executes closures of homeless encampments that pose the highest public safety and health concerns. The moving of this encampment is the result of extensive planning across city departments and social service providers, per APH. “I have toured this encampment, and the need to relocate was very apparent. There are many people living there in immediate need of emergency shelter and resources. With evidence of campfires for cooking or warmth, wildfire protection was a critical priority. This relocation is a positive development for the community that will promote public health and safety while connecting many to the vital services they need to strengthen their quality of ...

Why is the sky so hazy in Austin?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A combination of "humidity haze" and light amounts of smoke from agricultural burning in Mexico are leading to unhealthy air quality for some in our area Monday evening, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).Hazy skies obscured some of the searing sunshine across Central Texas on Monday. Copious amounts of atmospheric moisture leading to a sauna-like feeling outside also create more particulate matter in the atmosphere, lowering visibility and decreasing air quality slightly.In addition, the TCEQ is tracking light to moderate amounts of residual smoke from agricultural burning in Mexico transported into Texas by south winds.These two factors combined to worsen air quality in the Austin area into the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" category, meaning people with heart or lung disease, older adults, teens and children should limit strenuous outdoor activities.Air quality was downgraded in Austin to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" on Monday...

Texas heatwave an 'exceptional event driven by climate change,' scientist says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — "The types of temperatures that we're seeing this week are extremely unlikely to happen in a world without climate change," MIT climate scientist Dr. Daniel Gilford said. Record-setting June heatwave builds As the First Warning Weather team predicts Austin's hottest June 14-20 period on record with an average high temperature of 104°+ over the next week, a new tool from Climate Central attributes the heat wave to manmade climate change."The Climate Shift Index is a tool that helps us discover the fingerprints of climate change on our day-to-day weather," Gilford, who works with Climate Central, said.Climate Central's Climate Shift Index tool indicates how much climate change has altered the frequency of daily temperatures at a particular location (image: Climate Central)The tool examines the frequency of Austin's temperatures throughout history, both in an unaltered past climate and in the current human-altered climate. It then compares the probability of recording...

Mystery of bench in iconic Norman Rockwell painting "solved"

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- NEWS10 viewers may recall Anya Tucker’s story about Norman Rockwell model Mary Leonard Whalen celebrating the 70th anniversary of "The Young Lady With The Shiner". The painting was featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. After the story aired, NEWS10 began receiving emails from folks saying they knew where the bench in the picture could be found. THE PRINCIPAL'S DOOR:According to school officials and archivists, Rockwell borrowed the principal’s door from an elementary school in Cambridge, New York as a prop for the iconic painting. It’s now in part of a display created by teacher Steve Butz.THE BENCH:The whereabouts of the bench that Mary sat on as she posed on for the painting remained a mystery. That was until Dave Blanchard saw Anya's original story. “So, Anya, this is the Norman Rockwell bench. I saw it in your story," said Blanchard, who is the Superintendent for the Schoharie Central School District. The bench sits right outside his off...

Pritzker celebrates Illinois-Missouri collaboration on new Chain of Rocks Bridge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. – Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker visited the Metro East to attend ribbon cutting ceremonies for some big transportation-related projects in the Bi-State region.“We’ve got 51,000 vehicles everyday going across the bridge. If we expand the bridge, we’re going to have more. And more is better, on both sides of the river,” Pritzker said. “So, we’ve shared the cost of this. $300 million on the Illinois side, and $200 (million) plus on the Missouri side. When you put that together, you’re replacing one bridge with two.”The governor began his day celebrating construction of the new Chain of Rocks Bridge; a collaboration between the Land of Lincoln and the Show Me State.Over the lunch hour, Pritzker went to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, where he was overjoyed with the completion of the new terminal. Police tie 12-year-old girl to overnight crime spree “Allegiant has served this airport proudly since 2012,” Thayne Klinger, Allegiant Airlines’ director airport affair...

Ozark man sentenced to prison after mushrooms found in slot machine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

OZARK, Mo. - An Ozark man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was found with psilocybin mushrooms in a casino-style slot machine at his home. 42-year-old Scott Cannon was charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute after law enforcement found the drugs in his bedroom after executing a search warrant on his house on June 28, 2021, according to a press release from the Western District of Missouri. Another inmate dies at Licking prison Police also found three plastic bags containing 59.43 grams of pure methamphetamine hidden in a wooden speaker box, two digital scales, two small plastic bags that contained methamphetamine residue, and a broken glass pipe in his home.Cannon pleaded guilty to the charges on July 19, 2022, and was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison without parole.

Broncos WR Tim Patrick invited KJ Hamler, facing critical season, to live with him: “I just know how talented he is and how good he is”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

Being a good teammate is one thing. Being a good roommate is another entirely.Tim Patrick is trying to do both.The Broncos wide receiver invited position-mate KJ Hamler to live with him and his family in Denver during the offseason in pursuit of a simple goal.“We’ve got a routine right now and that’s one of the things I’ve been preaching to him,” Patrick said Tuesday. “Do the same thing every day and don’t get bored with it, because that’s what’s going to get you far.“That’s what we’re working on right now is holding each other accountable and doing the stuff that’s going to make us healthy and better versions of ourselves this year.”It’s one thing to give a teammate advice and hold him accountable in the locker room. It’s quite another to tell him he should come live with you so that you can both live by the same standards. Especially when Patrick has a partner and young child at home.Clearly, though, Patrick and Hamler have a tight bond. When Patrick went down Aug. 2 with a torn A...

Police release video of hit-and-run that critically injured pedestrian

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

Los Angeles police have released surveillance video with the aim of catching a hit-and-run driver who plowed into a pedestrian last weekend.The crash happened at the intersection of Central Avenue and Vernon Avenue at 6 a.m. on Saturday, according to LAPD.Video from two different angles shows the male victim jogging through the intersection in a marked crosswalk when the driver of a dark-colored sedan runs through the red light and hits him, sending him tumbling into the air and onto the asphalt. Police say the victim had a "Walk" signal.Surveillance video shows the male victim jogging through the intersection in a marked crosswalk when a driver in a dark-colored sedan runs through the red light and hits him. June 10, 2023. (LAPD)The driver didn’t stop.“The pedestrian had emergency surgery for his severe injuries, was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit, and is in critical condition,” LAPD said in a statement.Police say the vehicle will likely have front-end, hood, and possibly wi...

Los Angeles parks begin offering free lunches for children, teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

The City of Los Angeles has begun providing free lunches to children and teens now that school is out for summer break, officials announced Tuesday.Anyone under the age of 18 will be able to pick up a free lunch at any of the 100 city parks participating in the program. The menu includes fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, salads and occasionally deli sandwiches.The program will run from Tuesday, June 13, until Aug. 4.“Through this program, we are not only providing nutritious meals but also fostering a supportive environment where children and teenagers can thrive”, said Jimmy Kim, General Manager of L.A.'s Department of Recreation and Parks.  “We invite all children and teens to have lunch with us this summer in a fun, safe and welcoming environment. “Parents can find a list of the participating park locations and lunch pick-up times on the L.A. Parks website, by calling 818-346-2700 or by texting “Summer Meals” to 97779.The summer lunch program will be funded by the U.S. Department o...

NicAnne Lamoureux: A Mother’s Journey Advocating for Transgender Children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

As we celebrate Pride Month, we spotlight a story of love, acceptance, and advocacy. NicAnne Lamoureux, a mother of two transgender children and a beacon of support for parents navigating similar journeys, shares her experiences and insights. Her story is one of transformation – from confusion and struggle to understanding and advocacy – and it offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of raising transgender children.Lamoureux’s journey began in a strict, conservative, Christian home. Despite her upbringing, she knew from a young age that she was part of the LGBTQIA+ community. However, it wasn’t until her oldest child came out as gender fluid 11 years ago that she was thrust into a world she admits she knew little about. “I had the best of intentions and unquestionably loved and accepted my child, but I didn’t have the education or knowledge needed to know how to support my child as they transitioned,” she says.She recalls the ea...