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Austin approves $5.5B budget, largest in city history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 16, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council voted in favor of adopting its $5.5 billion budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, marking the largest-ever budget in city history.Alongside its budget, council approved the FY24 ad valorem property tax rate of 44.58 cents per $100 valuation, marking a 3.4% increase. Both the budget and tax rate were adopted on a 10-1 vote, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting against both items."My vote against the budget stems from my concerns regarding certain budget items that deviate from our core priorities and don't align with a back-to-basics approach," Kelly said, in part, in a statement shared with KXAN Wednesday. "While I recognize the importance of various services, there are areas where government funding should not be directed."Included in the property tax discussion are several property tax exemptions for qualifying parties. Disabled veterans: Exemptions range from $...

Austin's 40-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the longest in recorded history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing the longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means temperatures have reached the century mark for 40 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that's the longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The previous record of 27 days was set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, an 19-day streak is underway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with temperatures hitting 100° or above every day since July 29. That ranks as the fourth-longest of all time.An...

Police ID man killed on Raspberry Island as St. Paul 20-year-old

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Police identified on Wednesday a man who died after he was shot on St. Paul’s Raspberry Island as a 20-year-old from St. Paul.Marcus Anthony Baker Jr. was pronounced dead at Regions Hospital Tuesday night.Officers were called to the Mississippi River park across from downtown just after 9 p.m. Tuesday. There had been a large group gathered, an altercation and shots fired, police said of preliminary information.No one had been arrested as of Wednesday afternoon and investigators asked anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | 14 more members of Minneapolis gangs are charged in federal violent crime initiative Crime & Public Safety | Boy, 6, injured in shooting in Inver Grove Heights Crime & Public Safety | Duluth banning marijuana smoking/vaping in city’s parks Crime & Public Safety | Hinckley father charged after 3-year-old fatally shot himself w...

Twins cough up four-run lead, three-game winning streak in 8-7 loss to Tigers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Twins hitters spotted starting pitcher Kenta Maeda a 4-0 lead in the second inning, but Maeda and reliever Griffin Jax each gave up a pair of home runs as the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat Minnesota, 8-7, in front of an announced crowd of 26,716 at Target Field on Wednesday.Riley Greene went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer, an RBI triple and four RBIs, and Spencer Torkelson homered twice for the Tigers, who split the two-game series and finished the season series against the Twins with an 8-5 record.Trailing 8-4, the Twins started the ninth inning against Detroit right-hander Jason Foley with a single to left by Edouard Julien, who was 4 for 5 from the leadoff spot. Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler followed with home runs to cut the Twins’ deficit to 8-7, and Royce Lewis singled.Matt Wallner, whose grand slam led to a 5-3 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday, lined out to the warning track in left for the first out of the inning, and Donovan Solano grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end t...

Live updates: 2 Maui wildfire victims were Mexican citizens, government says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

Follow live updates about wildfires that have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii, killing more than 100 people and destroying the historic town of Lahaina. The wildfires are the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. Videos showing downed power lines apparently sparking some of the early blazes have become key evidence in the search for a cause.The Mexican foreign ministry said it has confirmed that two people of Mexican nationality died as a result of the wildfires. Personnel from the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco are on Maui and are in contact with the families of the deceased to provide assistance to them, the foreign ministry said in a statement. No details were immediately available, including whether the victims were tourists or among the many foreign workers in Lahaina. The consulate in San Francisco did not immediately respond to a request for details.The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened its first disaster recovery center on Maui to help victims of ...

Invasive insect's favorite tree found in Lake George

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The spotted lanternfly has climbed the ladder of invasive species of concern in New York. First seen on Staten Island in 2020, the Asia-native insect sees many agricultural products as a banquet - creating a tremendous threat for the northeast. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Grapevines, hops, and fruit trees are attractive for the insect, but its favorite is a particular tree - the "tree of heaven," also invasive. This month, Warren County was contacted by a Lake George resident concerned to learn that they have several tree of heaven specimens on their property. "I think it's kind of isolated," said Jim Lieberum of the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District. "It would be surprising to find spotted lanternfly in the area. Hopefully, it was just a rarity, and taken care of before any other introduction."The report of tree of heaven specimens was handed over to the Adirondack Park Invas...

Police confiscate loaded handgun at Albany Airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) –  On Tuesday, Transportation Security Administration officers prevented a Rensselaer County man from carrying a loaded gun onto a flight at the Albany International Airport. A TSA officer spotted the gun in the checkpoint X-ray machine. The 9mm gun was loaded with five bullets. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Albany County Sheriff's Office responded and confiscated the weapon. Although the owner had a state gun permit, he faces a federal financial penalty for bringing a weapon to an airport checkpoint.A gun owner who possesses a New York State Pistol Permit should know the rules and not bring a loaded firearm to the checkpoint,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for airports in Upstate New York. “Not knowing where your handgun is at all times is inexcusable and dangerous to the traveling public.” Local officials weigh in on Albany Airport investment Gun owners must pack their gun...

State parks recruiting police officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- New York's State's Parks and Recs police officers are responsible for protecting our parks, beaches, trails and more. The department is looking for the next class of officers. It’s not your typical nine to five job, according to Captain Christina Hall with the New York State Park Police."You can do so many different things on any given day, you could have to hop on an ATV, you could have to hop on a boat to do a rescue in the Niagara river. I think it’s the diversity of the job. It's never the same day," she said. Local children’s hospital receives grant from Rite Aid The Department oversees 250 parks, historic sites, trails, boat launches and more. Last year, the state welcomed almost 80 million visitors from around the world to these sites, but they need more people who love the outdoors and are willing to serve the state. "We are anticipating running academy next year, so we need to recruit several hundred candidates in order to get qualified candidates ...

Town of Halfmoon hosts End of Summer Family Fun Fest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

HALFMOON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Town of Halfmoon is hosting an End of Summer Family Fun Fest on Saturday, August 19. Town residents are invited to attend the event at the Halfmoon Town Hall Municipal Complex on Harris Road. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The free event runs from 1 to 5 p.m. and is open to all Town residents. There will be live music, food, firefighter demos, a bounce house, face painting, and more! The Town of Halfmoon's 3rd annual GaGa Ball Tournament will also be held at the Fun Fest. The tournament is open to all ages and skill levels. To sign up, contact Ross MacNeil, Town of Halfmoon Recreation Director, at (518) 371-7410, ext. 2274, or email [email protected].  “This is a great opportunity for our residents to enjoy some quality time with their families, friends, and neighbors. We have a lot of fun activities planned for our End of Summer Family Fun Fest and we hope to see you there,” said ...

Officers shoot man in north St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police officers shot a man Wednesday afternoon in north St. Louis.According to Sgt. Charles Wall, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened around 2 p.m. in the 4200 block of Linton Avenue, located in the Fairgrounds neighborhood. Multiple people quit within hours at Jennings City Hall Wall said the man who was shot is conscious and breathing. No officers were hurt in the incident.Police have not yet disclosed what led up to the shooting or what kind of injuries the wounded man might have suffered.This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.