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New law could mean fewer parks, less services as Austin continue to grow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Over the next few years, Austin could see fewer and smaller parks as the city continues to grow."Up to 97% less park acreage," Robynne Heymans, with the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department, said.HB 1526 recently passed which requires Austin to make changes to the current parkland dedication ordinance.City rules used to require 9.4 acres of parkland in a development for every 1,000 residents."This new bill reduces that," Heymanns said.Now depending on where a development goes, it could be three acres or as low as 0.075 acres for every 1,000 people. Austin mayor: Zilker Park Vision Plan ‘shelved,’ future plans will focus on common goals The bill's language pointed to how some developers had a harder time moving forward with projects because of those limitations. The new law only impacts multifamily and hotel and motel developments."It is also likely that we will see our level of service decline," Heymanns said.That's because the fees Austin can impose on...

'Comfortable': Quinn Ewers enters Red River Rivalry different than last year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It doesn't get bigger than Texas vs. Oklahoma for a native Texan who grew up watching the Red River Rivalry."I'd been to that game growing up," Longhorns sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers said. "I was always in the stands. Being able to run out there was a pretty good experience. I wanted to soak it in because I know how long I wanted to be there in that position." Texas RB Jonathon Brooks honors father’s memory with every touchdown for No. 3 Longhorns Ewers grew up in Southlake, a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and clearly was soaking in the moment playing in the game last season. He also played his best game of his redshirt freshman season going 21-31 through the air for 289 yards and four touchdowns."They got new people over there," Ewers said about this year's Oklahoma team. "They're obviously better at what they do than they were last year. Super excited for the opportunity."Ewers has seemed much more confident this fall. He missed a portion of the...

Texas RB Jonathon Brooks honors father's memory with every touchdown for No. 3 Longhorns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

AUSTIN (AP) — When Texas running back Jonathon Brooks gets to the end zone, he celebrates with a tap of his right forearm.It is a quick and subtle gesture that can be easy to miss, but it's a powerful one for Brooks. His arm is tattooed with the Roman numerals for 3-28-22, for March 28, 2022, the date his father James “Skip” Brooks died at age 49 after long struggles with kidney failure. ‘The best setting in college football’: Red River Rivalry week begins for No. 3 Texas, No. 12 Oklahoma “I really just miss, whenever I have success, the smile on his face,” Brooks said. “I think about that every time I score.”Brooks has been the breakout player for No. 3 Texas through the first five games of 2023. He leads the league in rushing with 597 yards and has scored five touchdowns for the Longhorns (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) heading into Saturday's showdown with No. 12 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0). He has three scores of 37 yards or longer.In an offense full of big-play potential, coach...

The streak is over: Twins beat Blue Jays to win first postseason game since 2004

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

Pablo López showed up to the ballpark on Tuesday afternoon wearing a look of determination and the jersey of his boyhood hero. Nearly 7,000 days ago, that man, Johan Santana pitched the Twins to a postseason victory in Game 1 of the 2004 American League Division Series.Decades of playoff misery and disappointment followed as the Twins went on an 18-game postseason losing streak, the longest in North American professional sports, that spanned 19 years and 18 games.That all came to an end on Tuesday with the Twins putting behind an unfortunate narrative that has followed them around for years to rest. López, rookie Royce Lewis, who hit two home runs, and the Twins’ defense and bullpen made sure of it. Their efforts led the Twins to a 3-1 win on Tuesday afternoon in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at Target Field, leaving them one win away from advancing to the ALDS.Fans line up to enter the stadium before Game 1 of an AL wild-card baseball playoff series between the Minnesota Twins and...

Double drowning confirmed in St. Croix River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

The bodies of two men were pulled from the St. Croix River, just south of the Interstate 94 bridge, on Tuesday a few hours after a fishing boat was seen unoccupied and spinning in circles near Town of Troy, Wis., Beach.A boater called 911 at 9:35 a.m. Tuesday to report seeing “an unoccupied boat doing circles in the middle of the St. Croix River,” said St. Croix County, Wis., Sheriff Scott Knudson. “They also thought they saw a body next to the boat.”When deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived by boat, however, they could not locate anyone in the water, Knudson said. Members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team found the body of the first man at 12:20 p.m.; the second man’s body was located shortly before 6 p.m. Their names were not immediately released pending positive identification and family notification.The men’s bodies were found about 650 yards from the Wisconsin shore; the St. Croix River is 30 to 40 feet deep at that point in...

Unhoused face new deadline to leave city hall encampment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The large homeless encampment outside of St. Louis City Hall has another deadline of 10 p.m. Tuesday to move out as the city tries to relocate everyone.This comes after numerous police and EMS calls to the camp for issues including overdoses, seizures, and other medical emergencies.A spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura Jones said they would begin disbanding the encampment Monday night, but that never happened.The mayor’s office postponed the shutdown so outreach workers with the Department of Human Services could try to get individuals into shelters and more permanent housing.The city will now enforce a curfew law that effectively closes the park between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Police: Person in custody for Webster Groves shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. - One person is in custody Tuesday after a Webster Groves woman was shot the night before while laying on her bed.The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Tuxedo Boulevard, according to Lt. Jillian McCoy, a spokeswoman for the Webster Groves Police Department.The victim was on her bed when she was shot in the arm. She was rushed to a hospital and treated. Her injuries were not life-threatening.Four shots were fired into the home, McCoy said.

Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin’s fiery attitude, displayed through touchdown celebration, has him in line for expanded role on offense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

In the two times Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin crossed the goal line for a touchdown, he marked his territory and showed that he belonged. He kicked his feet back like a raging bull before pointing to the heavens.McLaughlin’s celebration is simple, but the meaning represents who he is and his fiery attitude on the field.Standing at 5-foot-7 and weighing 187 pounds, McLaughlin, an undrafted rookie, was one of the smallest players during Sunday’s 31-28 win over the Chicago Bears. But his spirit and impact weighed heavy.He had 104 total yards and a receiving touchdown, while head coach Sean Payton expects the Youngstown State product to have an expanded role on offense.“Every time a bull goes out, they mark their territory,” McLaughlin said. “I try to bring that aspect of me being a bull (and) wanting to win.”McLaughlin, the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher across all divisions, started that touchdown celebration as a junior in college. He recalled boxer Errol Spence Jr. ...

Wyatts Towing owner resigns from judicial commission amid state investigation into his business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

One of the owners of Wyatts Towing has resigned from a governor-appointed commission that nominates judges to serve in Colorado’s district and county courts amid a state investigation into his business.Troy Porras, who owns the towing giant along with his brother Tony, vacated his post on the 18th Judicial District Nominating Commission “under his own terms” in September, said Conor Cahill, a spokesperson for Gov. Jared Polis, in an email.Porras did not respond to requests for comment.Judicial nominating commissions interview applicants and recommend individuals to the governor when a vacancy occurs for a county or district judgeship. They consist of seven citizens who reside in the district. No more than four can be from the same political party.Four of the seven people must be individuals not admitted to practice law in the state, while three can be practicing attorneys.Porras went to law school, according to his LinkedIn page, but is not admitted to the Colorado...

Man fatally shot by police near Disneyland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:19:00 GMT

Police in Anaheim fatally shot a man during an encounter at a gas station Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The incident unfolded around 1:10 p.m. near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue, roughly a mile south of Disneyland Resort, according to Anaheim Police. The circumstances were not immediately available.The scene of a fatal police shooting in at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2023. (KTLA)The scene of a fatal police shooting in at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2023. (KTLA)The scene of a fatal police shooting in at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 3, 2023. (KTLA)"The first police cars were at the apartments about a half a block east," a witness who was driving through the area told KTLA's Chip Yost. “I drove further west on Orangewood and heard gunshots … and I could see the body on the ground in the parking.”A large crime scene perimeter encompas...