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Austin City Council extends Downtown Austin Community Court services to entire city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The Austin City Council approved starting the process to extend funding to its Downtown Austin Community Court, as well as expanding its service area. The court serves as a homeless diversion program and would now serve the entire city not just downtown.A memo from the City of Austin earlier this month shared recommendations the DACC submitted for consideration in the next fiscal year.The recommendations formed at a DACC meeting in March included adding two clinical case managers to its staff, securing a permanent facility for the DACC, and providing ongoing funding for its currently employed clinical case managers as well as maintaining the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program.The total cost of these budget recommendations as listed is $2,856,400.The DACC was established in 1999 and provides defendants who are homeless with sentences that aim to address quality of life issues that could lead to repeat offending.Among its recommendations, the DACC has also asked the city ...

LIVE: Governor Abbott to sign border security bills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Governor Greg Abbott will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to sign several "critical" border security bills that were passed during the 88th Legislative Session.Abbott will be accompanied by Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, bill authors and sponsors, as well as other legislators and law enforcement officers. While several bills the governor will sign fall under his broader priorities of ongoing border security efforts, the keynote legislation he called for during his State of the State address did not pass. The main border security proposal Abbott had mentioned was creating a “mandatory minimum jail sentence of at least 10 years for anyone caught smuggling illegal immigrants in Texas.” Differences between the House and Senate versions of the smuggling bill were not worked out in the regular session. Now, it's one of Abbott's central calls for the first special session. The press c...

Austin joins list of Central Texas cities changing fire codes in response to Ponderosa Pet Resort fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council passed an agenda item Thursday that would change the city's fire code for pet boarding facilities following a tragic Georgetown fire that took the lives of 75 pets staying at a pet resort. In September 2021, a fire broke out at the Ponderosa Pet Resort, killing 75 dogs belonging to 59 families. None of the facility’s staff members were on-site at the time, and there was no sprinkler system. Memorial built after at least 75 pets killed in Central Texas boarding facility fire The City of Georgetown told KXAN after it happened that its fire code, as well as federal and state standards, did not require sprinkler systems for a facility of this type and size. Months after the incident, Georgetown City Council unanimously approved amendments to the fire code, creating stricter fire precautions for pet care facilities.Round Rock City Council also recently approved changes to the fire safety requirements for dog daycare facilities. MOR...

Juneteenth business forum to be held Thursday in Minneapolis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

A Juneteenth business forum will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at 3001 Broadway St. N.E., Minneapolis.The event includes free cocktails and a traditional Juneteenth meal.The forum features two discussions: “A strategic roadmap to financial literacy” and “Forging a black agenda in the 21st Century.”The discussions will be moderated by Tracey Williams-Dillard from the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the oldest black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and Glenn Ford, founder of In City Farms.

Court hearing postponed in case of Stillwater bar facing criminal charges in George Musser death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

The first court hearing in the criminal case against a bar in downtown Stillwater accused of serving liquor to George Musser prior to his death has been postponed until July.Representatives of Brian’s Bar and Grill, which has been charged with providing liquor to a person under 21 and permitting someone under 21 to consume, had been scheduled to appear in Washington County District Court on Thursday. The first appearance is now set for 1 p.m. July 27.George Musser (Courtesy of Bradshaw Funeral Home)The attorney representing Brian’s Bar, Dennis Johnson, a partner at Chestnut Cambronne law firm in Minneapolis, requested the continuance “to allow time for further investigation of the matter,” according to a letter he submitted to the court.Musser, 20, of Stillwater, was seen leaving the bar at 219 S. Main St. around 2:10 a.m. Christmas Eve. His body was found around 7 p.m. on Christmas Day about two miles from the bar, near the 5400 block of Osgood Avenue North in Baytown Township.Acco...

Loons consistently lean on summer additions to help ailing attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

A special guest sat amid thousands of empty bleachers watching Minnesota United train at the National Sports Center stadium in Blaine on a May morning in 2017.Sam Nicholson had traveled from Scotland to begin his move from Edinburgh club Hearts to MNUFC, and the young winger praised for his pace would join the Loons when the summer transfer window opened that July.MNUFC was an expansion club in need of upgrades throughout its starting XI that spring, and Nicholson’s addition wasn’t considered a seismic move. At age 21, he had scored four goals in roughly 1,100 minutes in the Scottish Championship the previous season and was out of contract before coming to MLS.But Nicholson represented the first of what has become many new attacking players United has brought in midseason. It’s become an annual rite of passage to enhance — and sometimes resuscitate — the club’s goal-scoring punch. As if it’s a revolving door, those incoming players are often met on the other side of the glass with t...

Water Safari keeps summer cool starting June 14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

OLD FORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - In the western Adirondacks, the hamlet of Old Forge offers wet and wild summer fun every year. This month, the slides are slippery, the river lazy, and the fun in store at Water Safari. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Enchanted Forest Water Safari water park opens for the season on Wednesday, June 14. The park sports 50 rides, including 33 water attractions. This year, the twice-daily Hanneford Circus show will feature an aerial web, clown, tops act, and motorcycle high wire. The park cites a prediction that this summer will be "scorchingly dry," according to the 2023 Farmer's Almanac, and knows that means a popular season for its refreshing attractions. In addition to its water slides and events, Water Safari also offers cabana rentals, including tables, lounge chairs, and onsite attendants. Bookings are recommended in advance. Warrensburg’s annual jamboree turns 60 this summer And, like an...

Mini City hosts 7th annual Bubble Party in Congress Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Looking for some outdoor summer fun at the end of the month? Head to Congress Park on June 29 for a giant bubble party with crafts, face painting, and more! Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The event is free and runs from 3 to 5 p.m. The bubble party will be held rain or shine and will only be canceled in the case of thunderstorms.

Police officer resigns after being charged with sodomy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. - An officer with the North County Police Cooperative has resigned over allegations he inappropriately touched someone in police custody.According to Major Ron Martin, assistant police chief for the NCPC, the incident took place on June 3 on the grounds of Normandy High School.Police claim Officer Marcellis Blackwell arrested a 37-year-old man that day, placed handcuffs on him, and drove him to a secluded part of the campus. Blackwell then put his hands down the victim's pants without their consent and while he was still handcuffed.The victim reported the incident to the NCPC on June 4, Martin said. Revisting Mike Shildt’s comments on his Cardinals departure The NCPC investigated the matter and found evidence to corroborate the victim's story, Martin said. Blackwell resigned from the force when presented with the allegations. He was arrested June 7.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Blackwell with one count of first-degree sodomy or attempted s...

GoFundMe page created for injured Gabe Osabuohien

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:24 GMT

Mountaineer Nation is aiming to take care of one of its own.A GoFundMe page has been created for Gabe Osabuohien, the former WVU hoops star, who was injured in a vehicle accident over the weekend. According to social media posts and the fundraiser page, Osabuohien suffered various injuries, including a pair of broken vertebrae, a concussion, and a broken nose. The GoFundMe page was created Monday evening. It has a goal of raising $15,000 for the former Mountaineer enforcer. As of Noon ET on Tuesday, more than $5,600 has been raised in the roughly 16 hours since the page was set up."WVU takes care of our own, and we have started this fundraiser to assist Gabe in a speedy and successful recovery," the page, created by WVU graduate Dan Fox, states. "Our goal is to assist Gabe this summer in medical bills and weekly living expenses until next season starts." Osabuohien played three seasons at West Virginia, appearing in 88 games for the Old Gold and Blue. He averaged career-highs in p...