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City Council approves major changes to housing development

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin City Council approved Thursday a resolution that will initiate amendment changes to the city's land development code, and ultimately lead to higher-density living in Austin neighborhoods. Several organizations think this plan is essential in addressing Austin’s affordability crisis and reducing sprawl, while some environmentalists were against the resolution, fearing it may have a negative impact on flooding."Together we can we will tackle the challenges middle-income families face and deliver true benefits to those looking to buy a home and staying in Austin as well as those who continue to work to stay," Council member Leslie Pool, District 7, said. Council Members Alison Alter and Mackenzie Kelly were the only members of the Austin City Council to vote against the resolution. Pool introduced the resolution known as Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment, or H.O.M.E. The main goal of the resolution is to decrease the minimum lot size requirement for sing...

Fire near Jarrell drops to 300 acres, 50% contained

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a large grass fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County. The Texas A&M Forest Service is helping respond to the fire, named the Cobb Creek Fire, and estimates the fire is about 300 acres and is 50% contained as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday.The forest service initially estimated the fire to be about 100 acres on Wednesday but said in an updated tweet Thursday morning that it was an estimated 500 acres. The service said the increase in acreage is a result of more accurate mapping. On Thursday afternoon, the forest service said crews built a containment line "closer to the fire's edge," dropping the estimated size of the fire to 300 acres. "Aviation and ground crews are making good progress," the Texas A&M Forest Service wrote on social media.The grass fire started Wednesday afternoon at 1001 Cobb Creek Road shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to a news release from Williamson County. Shortly before 9 p.m., W...

‘The Life and Times of Charles M. Schulz’ opens Saturday at MN History Center

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

It was 1950: The Korean War was starting and the Cold War was underway. Jell-O salads were trending at dinner parties and Disney’s “Cinderella” was playing on the big screen. And, on Oct. 2, 1950, the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz debuted in syndication in several newspapers.Schulz and his comic strip’s connections to St. Paul (and this newspaper!) go back much further than 1950 — connections that are explored in an exhibit that opens at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul on Saturday and runs through June 9, 2024.Cartoonist Charles Schulz draws a picture of his cartoon character Charlie Brown in his Sebastopol, Calif. home in this 1966 file photo. Schulz will retire Jan. 4, 2000, after nearly 50 years of drawing his Peanuts comic strip, his wife confirmed Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1999. (AP Photo/File)“The Life and Times of Charles M. Schulz” was originally curated by the Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa...

Twins’ hot offense subdued by Mariners’ George Kirby

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

SEATTLE — The Twins started Thursday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners with one of the hottest offenses in baseball, averaging seven runs a game while going 5-1 on a seven-game road trip.The Twins had been hitting .287 as a team since returning from the all-star break, with 10 doubles, 14 home runs and a plus-14 run differential and taken two of three from the Mariners in their four-game series.George Kirby wasn’t impressed.The Mariners’ right-handed pitcher shut down the Twins, allowing just four hits while striking out 10 and walking none over seven innings in Seattle’s 5-0 victory at T-Mobile Park.Kirby (9-8) didn’t allow a hit until Matt Wallner squibbed a single to left in the fourth inning. Kirby’s 10 strikeouts and zero walks were career highs. Wallner, a rookie outfielder from Forest Lake, had two of the Twins’ four hits, each an opposite-field single.Seattle jumped on Twins starter Jorge Lopez early, loading the bases in the first inning on two single...

Port of Albany offshore wind project first of its kind in U.S. 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Construction has been underway at the Port of Albany where upgrades are being made and the foundation is being laid for a new manufacturing facility that will support offshore wind power. According to Port of Albany CEO Richard Hendrick, it’s never been done in the country before.“The number one thing to make this unique is, this is pioneering. It’s the first offshore wind tower manufacturing site in the United States,” said Hendrick.The new facility will have the strongest structural capacity in the U.S. and is expected to hold up to 6,000 lbs per square foot. But it comes with an equally hefty price tag. It’s expected to cost between $600 and $700 million and there’s a roughly $400 million funding gap right now.“We’re looking under every rock,” said Hendrick.The Port of Albany is expecting to create over 500 jobs. And the economic impact is expected to reach neighboring states, according to the port’s Chief Commerce Officer Megan Daly “When this l...

Recent rainfall makes slight improvement on local drought conditions

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A warm and muggy start to Thursday led to more rain and storms through the morning.St. Louis Lambert International Airport picked up a quick half inch of rain around 11 a.m.The good news with the stormy pattern we’ve been in is that the drought situation has improved for much of the area.Taking into account rainfall received up until Tuesday, most of St. Louis County and City are no longer considered to be abnormally dry in the newest drought monitor issued Thursday morning. Thieves target car washes, business owners band together to fight back Other surrounding areas also showed improvement. The bad news is that the areas experiencing the worst of the drought still have a way to go.“We went in to 2023 with a lack of water supply. So, we are going to need rain and a lot of snow this winter to get us out of this,” said Chris Chinn, the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “It’s not just a few rains here and there. This is something that’s going to take mo...

NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal Osage Beach plane crash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. - The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on an Osage Beach plane crash that left two dead and one seriously injured.According to the report, no mechanical issues with the airframe or engine that would have hindered the plane's flight were visible upon inspection. The airplane was equipped with a system designed to warn the pilot of mechanical failures. NTSB asks witnesses of Osage Beach plane crash to come forward Investigators found that the trim tab jackscrew was extended above the drum, with about 17 threads exposed (about 1 and ¾”), which corresponded to a full nose-up trim setting.Witnesses of the crash told investigators that they saw the plane flying with the tail lower than the nose before it banked heavily to the right, crashing into a wooded area.The witnesses did not report any unusual sounds coming from the plane.The plane crashed just over half a mile from where it took off. The preliminary report did not reveal t...

2 men charged in O'Fallon, Illinois Walmart shooting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

O'FALLON, Ill. - The St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office charged two men Thursday for their roles in a shooting at a Walmart parking lot in O'Fallon.The shooting happened just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter off West Highway 50.Officers arrived and learned several acquaintances got into a fight in the parking lot. During the altercation, one of those individuals took out a gun and fired several shots at a vehicle as it was leaving. Missouri & Illinois players win $1M in record Powerball jackpot People in the vehicle had been involved in the fracas, police said.Investigators identified and arrested two people for their involvement: Raphael Madison Jr. of East St. Louis and Marquis Hayes of Belleville.Prosecutors charged Madison, 25, with one count of aggravated battery in a public place. His bond was set at $50,000. Hayes, 27, was charged with one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle. His bond was set ...

Winds up to 50 mph with large hail possible for areas south and west of Denver

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

4:49 p.m.: A flash flood warning is posted through 7 p.m. for the East Troublesome burn area.Flash Flood Warning for East Troublesome burn area until 7 pm. #cowx pic.twitter.com/X7RyHLjxIO— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) July 20, 20234:39 p.m.: Severe weather and thunderstorms are causing delays and cancellations at Denver International Airport. Arrival delays for airborne aircraft are 29 minutes, according to FlightAware.com. Inbound flights are being delayed at airports of origin an average of 2 hours and 28 minutes. Thursday at DIA there have been 697 delays, arrivals and departures. Flight cancelations at DIA on Thursday are 163 flights, with Southwest Airlines leading the pack with 81 flights canceled.4:27 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is posted for Lakewood, Centennial, Littleton and surrounding areas by the National Weather Service until 4:45 p.m. Half-dollar-sized hail is possible with winds up to 50 mph.Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Lakewood CO, Centennial C...

Live updates | Grillo makes long putt at 18th to take share of lead at British Open

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:54:00 GMT

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Emiliano Grillo rolled in a birdie putt from 51 feet at No. 18 to take a share of the lead at the British Open on 5-under par.It’s now a three-way tie for first place between Grillo, Christo Lamprecht and Tommy Fleetwood.The par-5 last hole at Royal Liverpool won’t be remembered so fondly by a slew of other players during the first round, particularly Kho Taichi.The player from Hong Kong took four strokes in a greenside bunker on the 18th on the way to shooting a 10 for a 12-over 83.Rickie Fowler had an 8 there in his round of 72 after twice going out of bounds. Ryan Fox (78) also had an 8 after his drive went out of bounds.___— South African amateur Christo Lamprecht is a big man with a big game— A brown British Open turns green— Rasmus and Nicolai first set of twins playing the British Open— New hole on an old links getting all the attention at Royal Liverpool— Niemann among LIV players wondering if this major...