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Austin wants to 'cap and stitch' TxDOT's I-35 expansion -- but can it afford it?

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin has been working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for years to make major changes to the state's Interstate 35 Capitol Express Central project. But as a major funding deadline looms, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes hinted at the question during a mobility committee meeting Thursday: How is the City going to pay for it? The City of Austin needs to fork over roughly $730 million dollars to TxDOT if it wants all of the "caps and stitches" it worked into TxDOT's central expansion plan. As of Friday, a spokesperson for the City of Austin said there are no funds secured, though they said they are "continuing to discuss all options available with TxDOT including funding deadlines" and that it's continuing to work with its finance department to locate funding options. What’s a ‘cap and stitch’ and why do Austin leaders say it’ll revamp I-35? "Austin Transportation and Public Works Department just applied for $105M from the USDOT for a ...

Boat ramp at Decker Lake closed due to low water levels

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Beginning Sunday, public access to the boat ramp at Lake Walter E. Long, or Decker Lake, would be closed, according to the City of Austin.The city said on Sept. 12, the elevation of the lake was 554.07 feet above mean sea level, which was approximately one foot below the normal operational range. Officials said the lake level was too low to safely allow boating.“The lake level is maintained by pumping water from the Colorado River. Flows from the Colorado River have been insufficient to allow pumping into Lake Walter E. Long due to lack of local rainfall and reduced inflows into the Highland Lakes,” the city said.According to the city, the decision about lake access was made in collaboration with Austin Energy, Austin Water and the Lower Colorado River Authority. “Austin Energy, Austin Water and Austin Parks and Recreation will continue to monitor available Colorado River flows and will resume pumping operations as conditions allow which will allow the boat...

'My fight will continue': Paxton whistleblower ready for lawsuit to move forward

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - Two weeks after Attorney General Ken Paxton's acquittal in his impeachment trial, the Texas Supreme Court announced on Friday that the whistleblowers' lawsuit against Paxton can move forward.The lawsuit was filed by former top deputies at the Office of Attorney General who claim they were wrongfully fired by Paxton. The former employees say the firings came after making "good faith" reports to the FBI about alleged actions taken by Paxton for the benefit of Austin-area real estate developer Nate Paul. Whistleblower lawsuit against Ken Paxton can move forward in real court, Supreme Court rules The ruling from the Texas Supreme Court clears the way for the lawsuit to return to a Travis County trial court. The lawsuit had been on hold after a $3.3 million dollar settlement with the whistleblowers was proposed. Concerns over using taxpayer funds to pay the settlement helped lead to the Texas House investigation of Paxton and subsequent impeachment trial.Nexstar s...

White Bear Lake bar parking lot shootout leads to charges

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

A man has been charged in connection with a shootout last weekend in the parking lot of Doc’s Landing in White Bear Lake.During the exchange of gunfire, a bystander inside the bar was grazed with a bullet and one of the suspected shooters was shot in the leg.The Ramsey County attorney’s office charged Kardell Baraka Otae Jackson, 49, of St. Paul, on Friday with second-degree assault and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.The criminal complaint detailed a wild shootout with bullets flying everywhere:Officers were called to the bar Sunday at 12:50 a.m.A man had bumped into a table, knocked over a glass of soda onto his ex-girlfriend’s sister, and the two argued. The woman’s boyfriend, Jackson, became involved and threatened the other man with a pool cue.The first man told investigators he went out to his car in the parking lot to get his 9mm as a “precaution.” When he saw Jackson in the parking lot he said, “Yo,” to him and J...

Dalton Risner got some work with the first team. Will Vikings make a change on offensive line?

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

The good news is Dalton Risner at least knows how to get to the lunchroom at TCO Performance Center now. After joking last week that he already has gotten lost a few times at the practice facility, the recently signed veteran offensive lineman has started to acclimate to his new surroundings, and he could be on the field for the Vikings as soon as Sunday.Though head coach Kevin O’Connell hasn’t announced which players will start on the offensive line, he confirmed that Risner will be available if the Vikings choose to go in that direction.“Just had a conversation with him,” O’Connell said. “He is fired up.”Asked about his progress over the past week, Risner said he’s been working at both guard positions so far, meaning, in theory, he could replace either left guard Ezra Cleveland or right guard Ed Ingram. Frankly, where he slots into the lineup doesn’t matter to Risner, who prides himself on being versatile.“My job isn̵...

Vikings will be without young safety Lewis Cine at Carolina

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

Though he was inadvertently left off the initial injury report, young safety Lewis Cine did not practice at all for the Vikings this week.As a result, Cine will not be available for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C. He is dealing with a hamstring injury.Asked for more details on Cine’s injury, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed it happened in the middle of a drill.“Just opened up and kind of felt the hammy a little bit,” O’Connell said. “Everything I’ve been told, he is working through it pretty quickly.”It’s not a major loss for the Vikings in the grand scheme of things. As of right now, Cine doesn’t see much playing on defense, buried behind safeties Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, Josh Metellus, and Theo Jackson on the depth chart.But Cine has a role on special teams, replacing injured receiver Jalen Nailor as a gunner last week against the Los Angeles Chargers.The biggest issue for Cine i...

Tommies found a diamond in the rough and the quarterback they need in Tak Tateoka

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

Just over a year ago, St. Thomas offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jake Landry saw enough from a well-put-together quarterback taking part in the program’s summer camp to believe that the Tommies might be on to something in Tak Tateoka.While not in the mix at other Division I programs, Tateoka, about to begin his third season as the starter at South Waukesha High School in Wisconsin, convinced Landry that, as a bit of a diamond in the rough, he could be a good fit for the Tommies.Fast forward to this summer, when the 6-foot-2, 196-pound Tateoka, who accepted a relatively late offer to join the Tommies, found himself quickly moving up the depth chart. Redshirtfreshman Amari Powell was the presumed starter, with sophomore Travis Plugge expected to be the backup.“We do a personnel meeting in fall camp every day,” Tommies head coach Glenn Caruso said. “We were two weeks into camp, and coach Landry pointed out that Tak was showing theabilities we need.“I think when Jake identi...

Flooding across NYC, NJ as storm slams region with rain, wind

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- A massive coastal storm swamped New York City and the surrounding areas on Friday, bringing flooding and high winds to the region.Flooding has been reported in multiple neighborhoods and towns as well as on major highways and inside subway stations, affecting service.Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to stay inside. A State of Emergency was declared for the New York City area. This is a developing story. Refresh this page for live updates.

St. Louis officials grapple with homeless encampment outside City Hall

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS - There's a large part of lawn outside of City Hall in Downtown St. Louis that has become a growing homeless encampment.And recently, there's been increasing conversation on what to do about it.On Friday, ahead of a busy weekend in St. Louis, FOX 2 has learned of at least 30 tents on the lawn of City Hall. With that comes piles of trash and smells growing daily. Sherresse Anita Jackson, a mother of four, tells FOX 2 she was evicted for not being able to pay her rent. "Where is the money being spent? They say the homeless are a problem if they had some place to go. I'm out here too,“ said Jackson. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick Board of Aldermen President Megan Green says there's just not enough shelter space. "Until we get to a place where we build that shelter capacity, we are going to see things like encampments," she said. Aldermen are considering a homeless bill of right to mandate places where the homeless could camp ...

New wildfire burning 170 acres in Moffat County

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:00:31 GMT

Fire crews are responding to a wildfire burning north of Craig, the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office announced today.Related ArticlesColorado News | Wildfire sparked Sunday near Montrose grows to 16 acres Colorado News | I-70 reopened; McDonald Creek fire near Fruita contained at 80 acres Colorado News | Crews quickly contain small grass fire north of Evergreen The Iron fire was an estimated 170 acres as of 4 p.m. and burning in tall grass and sagebrush in an area previously burned by a fire in 2018, according to the sheriff’s office.High winds are pushing the fire north from County Road 17. Members of the public should avoid the area.This is a developing story.