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Homeless beds: Marshalling Yard opens ahead of schedule, Pecan Gardens sees delays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin is moving forward with two massive efforts to house people who are homeless. One project, a large city warehouse -- the Marshalling Yard near the airport -- has rapidly been converted into roughly 300 emergency shelter beds. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson told KXAN Thursday the facility is already sheltering people, ahead of schedule. A City of Austin spokesperson said the city is moving people from camps, including those that are high-wildfire risk and those surrounding the Marshalling Yard, to the facility starting this week. As of Thursday, roughly a dozen people are being housed there. Those numbers will increase over the next two to three weeks, the city said. The other project, a years-long, city-funded conversion of the former Candlewood Suites motel in northwest Austin, will serve as permanent supportive housing for more than 70 homeless, elderly and disabled people under the eye of Family Eldercare. Council to approve $510K for emergency rep...

Will voters approve Lake Travis ISD bond for athletic facilities?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) —  As growth in Lake Travis ISD continues, the district will soon begin work to add another high school."I have seen it come towards us, just the growth on 71," said Lake Travis ISD parent Jessica Walker. "I have seen new elementary school's built, I have seen new middle schools built."The district will also be adding a second high school by 2027. Enrollment in the district has grown to 11,400 students which is up about 33 students from 2019."Currently building high school two and in planning phase of high school 2," said Lake Travis Superintendent Paul Norton. Lake Travis ISD: 2022 bond would add new high school, elementary schools Voters approved the move to add new schools during the 2022 bond, but they rejected the part of the bond that would fund new athletic facilities, which was proposition C and looked to proved almost $94 million for athletic facilities and upgrades."There are no athletic facilities at high school 2," said Norton.The Lake Travis school ...

What on Earth is Föhn? Explaining unusual weather system names around the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The world is full of unique weather events, but many of them aren't as unique as you may think. Sometimes weather systems are given wild names, but they're actually the same type of system.In this First Warning Weather University lesson, we look at some of these weather systems and the wild names they have.In this FWWU lesson you'll learn:What's the difference between a hurricane and a cyclone?Where do typhoons happen?What is a chinook and a Föhn?There's more in the First Warning Weather University:How are hurricanes being effected by climate change?Why do some clouds look weirder than others?How does an old tool help meteorologists forecast the weather?

Exceptional drought affecting much of Central Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Drought conditions in Central Texas intensified dramatically in Thursday's weekly drought update. KXAN First Warning Weather forecast As we bake in Austin's hottest summer on record to date, data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the area of Texas impacted by the worst drought classification, "D4 Exceptional Drought", jumped from just 1% last week to 11% this week. Isolated rain showers some recent days are not making any measurable difference in severe drought conditions nor in very low lake and aquifer levels.Camp Mabry has only recorded 1/4" of rain in the last two months. This July was Austin's hottest on record, and August has been record-hot as well -- by a wide margin of 1.6 degrees at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Hot temperatures evaporate moisture more rapidly from the soil, vegetation, and water reservoirs.The U.S. Drought Monitor describe...

Body of missing North Shore ultralight pilot recovered from Lake Superior

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

HOVLAND, Minn. — The body of a missing pilot was recovered from Lake Superior on Thursday, six days after he was last seen flying his ultralight aircraft near the North Shore community of Hovland.The body of Denny Pechacek, of Hovland, was discovered after a helmet confirmed to be his washed up on the beach near 3568 E. Minnesota 61 early Thursday morning, according to a news release from Cook County. Crews, which had been searching the Hovland area for days, then focused their efforts on the beach and that area of the lake.A side scan sonar unit located Pechacek’s body after three hours. The body was recovered and the family was notified, the county said.“This is not the outcome that we wanted, and our thoughts and prayers go to Denny’s family and friends. We are so very fortunate that we live in a community where people will drop what they’re doing and rally to assist those in need,” Sheriff Pat Eliasen said in the news release.Pechacek took off near Hovland last Friday and ...

Man jailed for killing man, 74, and injuring woman in attack at Bloomington home, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

A suspect is jailed for allegedly killing a 74-year-old man and injuring a 72-year-old woman in a Bloomington home early Thursday, police said.The attack, in which both victims appeared to have been beaten and stabbed, was not random, Bloomington police said in a statement.Officers were sent to the 1000 block of 105th Street at 4:40 a.m. Thursday after a 911 caller said someone was inside their home and they needed help, police said. Once there, officers found the woman on the ground in the home.Officers saw a suspect running away from the home and arrested him.The man was then found inside the home.Both victims were treated for their injuries before being taken by ambulance to the Hennepin County Medical Center, in Minneapolis, where the man was pronounced dead.The 44-year-old suspect was being held Thursday at the Bloomington Police Department on suspicion of murder, police said. He had yet to be formally charged.Police did not say if there was a relationship between either or bot...

Warren County Sheriff's Office investigating use of counterfeit money

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Warren County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying people of interest in a counterfeit money investigation.The sheriff's office said a group at Aviation Mall in Queensbury on Tuesday allegedly used fake $100 bills to purchase items. Deputies said the suspects hit multiple stores within the mall. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! They also said that some of the individuals also hit another business in the town of Queensbury with the fake money.Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 518-743-2500, or you can leave an anonymous tip at 518-761-9800.

Troy honoring Ukrainian Independence Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - August 24 is Ukrainian Independence Day in honor of the Declaration of Independence of 1991. Rain poured into the Collar City all throughout the commemoration. With this being the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, the group had no plans to stop. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! With positivity beaming throughout the event, still not everyone had their spirits high. The city looking to the milestone as bittersweet. “The people of Ukraine, while free and independent, are marking their eighteenth month of being brutalized by an authoritarian neighbor," said Mayor of Troy, Patrick Madden. Between passionate speeches from local leaders, the community joined in song and prayer. Thinking of family many miles away. “To remember that what our Ukrainian brothers and sisters are still fighting for; for the freedom and independence of our country," described Pastor of Saint Nichoals Ukranian Catholic C...

Deputy shot during standoff in Lincoln County; suspect apprehended

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. – A Lincoln County man is in custody after allegedly initiating a standoff and shooting a sheriff's deputy before briefly fleeing authorities.The incident happened in the 1600 block of Creech School Road, between Moscow Mills and Old Monroe.Police, fire, and EMS units were dispatched to a home for a reported house and vehicle fire.A deputy was shot in the arm, and the suspect fled into a nearby wooded area. The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a Blue Alert for a 54-year-old suspect, who was apprehended just after 9:40 p.m.The deputy's injury is not life-threatening.

Town hall to discuss affordable housing in St. Louis City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The state of housing in St. Louis was the topic of discussion at the very first town hall about housing.Board of Aldermen President Megan Green partnered with the Urban League to host the event.“We know that safe, stable housing is critical for the well-being of our community,” Green said. “It impacts every single part of our lives, whether it’s jobs and opportunities or physical/mental health.”Earlier this month, the FOX Files reported on seniors trapped in their apartment building because both elevators were broken for three weeks.Green said research shows that access to high-quality, affordable housing is key to increasing economic mobility, equity, and health outcomes. Jennings City Council sends ‘no confidence’ letter to mayor Many residents in St. Louis can’t find affordable housing. According to President Green, 60% of people living in St. Louis are renters.There are efforts underway at the board of aldermen to improve and address access to quality housing, like...