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New cars have become luxury items

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

(The Hill) -- At some point in the not-too-distant past, a new car became a luxury purchase. The average price for a new vehicle hit $49,500 at the end of last year, compared to $38,948 just three years earlier. Skyrocketing interest rates pushed the average monthly car payment on a five-year loan to $723 in March. New vehicles priced under $25,000, a range that the average American might deem affordable, now account for less than 5 percent of all sales. Customers who walk onto a dealer’s lot expecting such enticements as zero-APR financing and thousand-dollar rebates are in for a surprise: For the first time in recent memory, the automobile industry is a seller’s market. “It is no longer a $25,000, $30,000 transaction. It is a $50,000, $60,000 transaction,” said Patrick Rosenberg, director of automotive finance intelligence at J.D. Power, the car-consumer company. “It is a greater financial commitment than it has ever been.” The car-and-truck marketplace went ha...

Austin Water breaks down benefits of prescribed burns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

BUDA (KXAN) — As the weather warms up, one tool to help lower risk of wildfires is prescribed burns.In Central Texas, Austin Water plays a pivotal part in planning out these contained fires.In late February, the municipal utility orchestrated a prescribed burn at a 183-acre property off FM 967 in Buda. Fighting fire with fire: What goes into prescribed burn planning? Immediately afterward, most of the site was black and burned.Now — only a few weeks later — it’s hard to tell that there was even a fire in the first place.Spring green has taken full effect, as the wildland is filled with flowers and grass.The Austin Water Wildland Conservation division is now working with volunteers on the massive property, who are helping seed Texas native plants on a section of the wildlands.The water utility currently owns around 30,000 wild acres of land in both Travis and Hays counties. Texas French Bread fire leads to new official AFD protocol related to water Austin Water environmental prog...

Austin Public Library launches podcast to dive into classic, niche horror literature

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After years of operating as a radio show, the Austin Public Library has revamped "APL Volumes" as a podcast that will dive into different topics and themes each season.APL Librarian Maddy Newquist hosts the podcast. Season 1's first episode premiered March 6, with new episodes set to be released every other week. Austin Public Library’s puppetry program delights audiences for 45 years Season 1 delves into horror, discussing books and accompanying media that have defined the genre. Newquist told KXAN she first conceived the idea last May when she wanted to expand her knowledge on the genre.APL offers a personal picks service, where visitors can ask for recommendations and staff compile a list of books, movies or podcasts based on those keywords."When a librarian has a blind spot...we do something called genre studies where we look at what we do, we look at some genres, and we kind of pick one or two books within each and we look at that as a way to kind of get a foo...

Playdates in the Park offers families a chance to bond while enjoying spring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Parks Foundation, or APF, on March 30 released the dates for free community events for families with young children.According to APF's website, the Playdates in the Park sessions will feature "signing, beatboxing, guided movement exercises, and end in a dance party for the whole family." The sessions begin at 10 a.m. and end around noon. Here are the dates and locations:April 12, Garrison District Park, 6001 Menchaca Rd. April 29, Alderbrook Pocket Park, corner of Alderbrook Dr. and Lamplight Village Ave.May 10, Armadillo Neighborhood Park, 910 Armadillo Rd.May 27, Patterson Neighborhood Park, 4200 Brookview Rd.APF has also released the 2023 schedule for Movies in the Park. Playdates in the Park is an inclusive, free community event series designed to inspire creativity, encourage physical and emotional development, and support bonding and connection for parents and children, according to APH's website.

Cyclist killed in March 24 crash identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police on Tuesday identified the bicyclist who died after a crash on March 24 on South 1st Street. According to APD, officers responded around 11:45 p.m. to a crash between the bicycle and a sedan on South 1st between Orland Boulevard and Emerald Wood Drive in the Williamson Creek area. APD said the cyclist, John Phillip Judah, 76, was taken to St. David's South Austin Hospital where he later died. The driver was not hurt and stayed at the crash site and cooperated with the investigation, according to APD.Police say this is Austin's 25th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 25 fatalities for the year.

U.S. Marshals arrest 2nd woman in north Austin homicide investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested a second woman Tuesday morning in connection with a homicide investigation in north Austin. According to the LSFTF, Kendra Johnson, 33, of Austin was wanted on a first-degree murder charge for the March 18 deadly shooting on Deen Avenue in Austin. At the scene, Austin police officers found a man, later identified as 20-year-old Barry Dockery, lying in the backyard with a gunshot wound. EMS attempted life-saving measures, but Dockery was later pronounced dead.APD conducted a homicide investigation and identified Johnson as a suspect, and an arrest warrant was obtained, according to the LSFTF.According to a release, APD requested additional assistance from the task force on March 26 to find and arrest Johnson who "was known to be in the Austin area."The task force arrested Johnson on Post Road in San Marcos. LSFTF says Johnson was transported to the Austin Police Department and will be booked into the Tr...

5 things to know this Wednesday, April 5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- We're halfway through the week, everyone. Happy Wednesday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, after a mild morning, temperatures won't get much warmer today. Readings will be stuck in the 40s to nearly 50° all day under cloudy skies. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Multiple school districts in the North Country and across New York responded to swatting threats on Tuesday. These threats were unfounded, and law enforcement is investigating certain cases. Also, a Dutchess County man was arrested in Albany in connection to multiple groping incidents. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Wednesday morning. 1. Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigating school bomb threatsMultiple school districts within Washington County are operating under a two-hour delay on Tuesday, with some closing for the day. These delays stem from bomb threats made earlier Tuesday morning...

Traffic stop ends in drug arrest for Albany man in U-Haul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was arrested after a traffic stop in Albany on Tuesday and allegedly possessed a slew of drugs. Charkie McCormick, 35, faces several charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the Albany County Sheriff's Office, a U-Haul pick-up truck was pulled over on First Street in Albany for a traffic violation. The driver, identified as McCormick, was allegedly driving with a suspended NYS non-driver ID. During their investigation, deputies say they found over eight ounces of cocaine, approximately 61 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of fentanyl, a digital scale, and packaging for drug sales. Charges:First-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSecond-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceThird-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (four counts)Second-degree criminally using drug paraphernaliaThird-degree aggravated unlicensed operation N...

Multiple student walk-outs advocating gun laws happening today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Students in several school districts across the St. Louis area are doing walk-out demonstrations Wednesday.Administrators at Maplewood-Richmond Heights Middle and High School confirm students will be holding a walk-out on their athletic fields. It will include a tribute and moment of silence for the victims of the Nashville school shooting. These will be happening at numerous schools across the nation at noon Wednesday in their respective time zones.The walkout is being called a coordinated show of solidarity. After the recent school shooting in Nashville, several students approached school leaders at the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District, saying "we need to do something." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW They created wh...

Marijuana taxes approved in St. Louis County, St. Charles County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Voters around Missouri had the chance to decide on recreational marijuana sales taxes during Tuesday's municipal elections.This was represented on ballots at Proposition M in St. Louis County and Proposition 3 in St. Charles County. Both measures were approved by voters.This approval means that St. Louis and St. Charles County will enact a 3% sales tax, in addition to a 6% percent state sales tax on recreational marijuana. Trending: Two St. Louis pizza parlors make ‘Eat This’ top 10 list Some municipalities within these counties also posed ballot questions for an additional 3%, on top of county and state taxes. That means, if both your city of residence and your county tax proposal passed, customers would pay an additional 6% in taxes for marijuana sales at dispensaries. Voters from the City of St. Louis also approved a marijuana sales tax by a 62-38% margin. That will mean a 3% sales tax in the city, in addition to the state of Missouri's 6% sales tax. Nearby Frankli...