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Austin mayor talks affordable housing, police, political future in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

Part of the mission of KXAN News is to foster a more informed and engaged community. We deliver in-depth coverage on topics like affordability, safety and mobility that affect the daily lives of Central Texans. And we explore sustainable solutions to economic, systemic and social problems. One way to achieve those goals is providing direct and consistent access to leaders who make decisions that shape local policy — seeking to understand their stances, holding them accountable for promises and asking tough questions when needed. This series of interviews with City of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is designed with that in mind.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson on Wednesday sat down with KXAN's Daniel Marin to discuss a variety of challenges and opportunities for the City of Austin as the new year gets underway. This is their conversation below which has been edited for clarity and length.Daniel: Last year saw a lot of change within the city organization itself. Change can be hard f...

Timberwolves suffer consecutive losses for first time, falling to Pelicans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

Minnesota may have found the team it’d least like to play in a playoff series come April or May: the New Orleans Pelicans.For the second straight meeting between the two teams, New Orleans wiped the floor with the Timberwolves. And unlike last time, Minnesota was at full strength for Wednesday’s 117-106 defeat.Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram got whatever they wanted Wednesday at Target Center, while Minnesota struggled to knock down shots.That combination resulted in a contest that was essentially over midway through the third frame. For the first time all season, the Timberwolves have dropped back-to-back games. They were the last NBA team yet to do so. And they did so while at full health and with the Pelicans playing on a second consecutive night.The Timberwolves simply don’t have a matchup for Williamson. The 6-foot-8 bulldozer makes Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards look too small and Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert appear too slow. The former No. 1 ov...

Minnesota beats Boston in first PWHL game, Heise scores league’s first goal on U.S. ice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

Brittyn Fleming #18 of Minnesota and Emily Brown #2 of Boston battle for control of the puck during the first period of the PWHL game at Tsongas Center on January 03, 2024 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Taylor Heise and Sophia Kunin each scored less than eight minutes into the game, Nicole Hensley made 33 saves and Minnesota beat Boston 3-2 on Wednesday night in the Professional Women’s Hockey League debut for both franchises.Heise, the No. 1 overall pick, scored the first goal in Minnesota history — and the first league goal scored on American ice early in the first period. Kunin capitalized on another Boston turnover and beat Aerin Frankel with a shot from the circle.Theresa Schafzahl, a former star for Vermont, scored the first goal in PWHL Boston history, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 at 7:59 of the second period. But Grace Zumwinkle, a University of Minnesota alum, scored just 55 seconds later with a shot off the crossbar from the slot to regain...

Belmont Stakes task force to be formed in Saratoga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The new mayor of Saratoga Springs is getting ready for a first in his city -- the Belmont Stakes is coming to the Saratoga Race Course in June. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Mayor John Safford is forming a task force to ensure their hosting of the third leg of the Triple Crown is successful for visitors and local businesses. Members include the Chamber of Commerce, NYRA, and Saratoga County.The task force will look at how to best allocate resources on everything from marketing to security.

New senior housing nearing completion in Guilderland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new senior living facility will open soon in the Capital Region. Hamilton Parc in Guilderland is getting ready to open this year and is hoping to address the critical need for senior housing in New York State.According to AARP, almost four million New Yorkers are older than 65, but independent senior living facilities have not kept up with the population or demand. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "There is a shortfall in today's industry," Violet Dechnik, Dir. of Asset Management at Webster Management, said. "Ever since COVID-19, senior housing has not been built. There's over 4.6 million adults entering into baby boomer stage where they are going to hit retirement and there is going to be a need for communities to help cater to those individuals."When both phases of the project are completed, more than 250 units will be available to rent.

Police search for man missing from closed nursing home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

ST. LOUIS – After a FOX 2 report that a man was missing, apparently slipping through bureaucratic cracks following the closure of a north St. Louis nursing home weeks ago, police are asking for help in finding Frederick “Freddie” Carruthers.There are calls for the state of Missouri to take decisive action against the owner of the Northview Village Home in north St. Louis, which closed December 15 with little to no warning for residents, their families, and staff.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed it has launched an investigation of Northview’s operator, Healthcare Accounting Services, LLC, or HAS. The company has an office in Brentwood. Staff there had no comment regarding Northview Village.Police issued an Endangered Silver Advisory for Carruthers, 61, on Wednesday, saying he suffered from schizophrenia and was without needed medication.Police believe he may still be in the area around Northview Village. He’s been known to frequent a White Castle restau...

Vandalism at former St. Alexius Hospital on Jefferson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

ST. LOUIS – There are growing concerns over vandalism and break-ins at the old St. Alexius Hospital Jefferson campus. One neighbor said the old hospital is an eyesore and dangerous."They're in there shopping, tearing, getting all their stuff, getting the copper, and that's it. Packing up," Dan Vancil said.Vancil lives across the street from the old hospital. He’s concerned the people vandalizing the building will turn to the nearby houses next."I caught somebody in my garage out here about two months or so ago and they come at me," he said. ‘St. Louis was all in’ – UFL leader Daryl Johnston speaks on Battlehawks and new merger According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, police have responded to a range of calls at the property in the last six months, such as disturbances, cutting, and building checks. Vancil said he can see people walking around the campus, to the underground parking and in the building at all hours of the night. He knows the owners are doing everyt...

Jeffrey Epstein documents: Here's what we know so far

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Dozens of previously sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were made public late Wednesday, as a court releases more details of a years-old lawsuit connected to the late financier.They’re likely to disappoint sleuths online, where the plan to release documents prompted rumors of a list of “clients” or “co-conspirators.” In fact, the judge who made the call wrote in December that she was ordering the records released because much of the information within them is already public.The first 40 documents, of an expected 250 ordered unsealed, largely mention figures whose names were already known, including high-profile friends of Epstein’s and victims who have spoken publicly.Ahead of the documents' release, misinformation about their contents ran rampant on social media. Users wrongly claimed that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s name might appear, spurred by a joke New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers made Tuesday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”Kimmel said...

SSM Health Medical Minute: Combatting the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. - It’s easy after the hustle and bustle of the holidays to feel like what’s actually normal is a bit slow. Once the excitement has ended and strands of twinkling lights are pulled down from the rooftops, it can feel extra dark when you leave the office since the sun has already set.However, some individuals experience a more serious low this time of year. People who persistently feel depressed around this time may suffer from seasonal affective disorder, also known as seasonal depression. SAD is a type of depression that cycles annually and it overwhelmingly affects people in the fall and winter. About 5% of Americans suffer from this type of depression, according to the National Psychiatric Association. Women are four times more likely than men to be diagnosed, and younger adults have a higher occurrence than older adults, the National Institute of Mental Health reports.Symptoms can include sadness, irritability, anxiety and trouble sleeping. “If it reaches that lev...

Bioluminescent algae lighting up the Southern California coast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:18 GMT

For the past month, Southern California's coastal tour operators have been busy tracking a rare pod of killer whales. Now, they’re offering an entirely different experience once the sun goes down.Bioluminescent microalgae is creating a natural blue glow when the ocean water is stirred up by waves, wind or watercraft.Finding high concentrations of the algae can be hit or miss, but the sightings have been common enough lately that Newport Coastal Adventures is offering nightly 90-minute cruises to see it.“Jump on board with us on the search for the Bioluminescence glow that illuminates the night sky as the waves crash around the shorelines, wake from our ships, possible dolphin swimming through, large fish schools, and anything else that triggers the blue natural phenomenon,” the whale watching company advertises.Bioluminescent water off Newport Beach, California. January 2024. (Newport Coastal Adventure & Newport Whales) Bioluminescent water off Newport Beach, California. Ja...