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'Not about the wisdom of the policies': City of Austin back in court over zoning notification process

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group of homeowners that has successfully sued the City of Austin over its zoning notification process was back in front of a judge Tuesday arguing the City still isn't following the rules. The group's lawsuit claims the City of Austin neglected to follow a ruling made in 2020 -- which overturned an overhaul of the city's Land Development Code (LDC) -- when city council pushed through several additional LDC changes aimed at affordability over the past few years. "The heart of the prior injunction was that when the city proposes changes to the possible use of land by Austin citizens who own land it must give notice to those landowners and provide an opportunity to protest. That's what they were ordered to do in the first case, upheld on appeal and what they have failed to do in this case," Doug Becker, the attorney representing the homeowners, said. The crux of the claim is that the City of Austin failed to notify residents properly of those overarching zoning...

SMSU student arrested, charged in St. Paul shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

A 20-year-old Southwest Minnesota State University student with a warrant for attempted murder in St. Paul was recently arrested on campus.After Tyrese Alonzo Johnson’s arrest, charges were unsealed against him. He’s accused of shooting a 20-year-old in the face in St. Paul’s North End.Around 3 p.m. April 6, officers were sent to 444 W. Maryland Ave. about a shooting. Officers found 13 spent casings near a parking lot entrance to Maryland Supermarket and Golden Grill.Soon after, a 20-year-old drove himself to Regions Hospital in a Chevrolet Impala that had a flat front tire, heavy front-end damage and bullet holes in the front windshield and driver’s side. A bullet had entered one side of the driver’s cheek and exited the other.A 19-year-old also arrived at the hospital in the Impala. He said he and the 20-year-old went to 444 W. Maryland Ave. together, and he spoke to a cousin he saw leaving the store.He said he got back in the Chevrolet, felt it accel...

City of Troy invests $2M in revitalizing local parks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City of Troy is setting sights on revitalizing and enhancing its parks, including Kinlock Park, Beman Park, Canal Ave Park, Powers Park, 112th St. Park, and Prospect Park. $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds has been allocated for the improvements. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Revitalizing our parks is not just about enhancing green spaces; it's about investing in the heart of our community. As we take pride in our beautiful parks, we also nurture the well-being of our community,” said Troy Mayor Patrick Madden. "By investing in our parks, we invest in the quality of life for every resident, ensuring that our community remains vibrant and strong."Improvements include splash pads, improved playground equipment, proper water drainage, a fitness pad, community pool upgrades, pavilions, and picnic tables. Several developments have already taken place through the summer. New HGTV show featur...

Swim lessons making a big splash at Schenectady CSD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- More than 400 students have signed up for a new swim lessons program at the Schenectady City School District. Aquatics Director Brian Melanson said the wave of enrollment was actually a happy accident. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “We started with a six-week, Thursday night, 50-person time slot," Melanson explained. He said the form was supposed to stop accepting sign-ups after 50 entries. Instead, around 425 students got their names in."We made a mistake, and it was a great mistake," said Melanson.The district hasn’t offered swim lessons for several years. The unprecedented number of sign-ups told Melanson he needed to find a way to accommodate as many families as possible.“There’s obviously a need in this district," Melanson said, "and we need to fit this need.”According to the CDC, in the U.S., for children ages 5–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death. NY l...

Missouri sues Wentzville schools over transgender bathroom policy discussion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is suing the Wentzville School District’s Board of Education for not having an open discussion on transgender student bathroom usage policy. The attorney general's office says that they learned of the policy from members of the school board and over 40 parents. Cloned voice, fake bondsman target St. Louis woman The parents say that the transgender student bathroom usage policy was discussed in a closed-door meeting. They believe the policy should have been saved for a public meeting. They claim a school board member stated, “quite frankly, it’s not the parents’ business.”The Missouri Attorney General's Office says that the school board's closed discussion is in direct violation of Missouri’s Open Meetings Law. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the policy is expected to be reviewed during the school board's October meeting.

Taylor Swift is a fan of Travis Kelce and suddenly, so is everyone else

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift's trip to watch the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce play football on Sunday didn't just have the internet talking nonstop. Following the 12-time Grammy Award winner's appearance at Arrowhead Stadium, jersey sales for the All-Pro tight-end seemingly skyrocketed.According to sportswear and fan merchandise company Fanatics, Kelce was one of the top 5 selling NFL players Sunday. He “saw a nearly 400% spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites, including NFLShop.com,” a spokesperson told The Associated Press via email.Sales spiked on the same day that Swift was spotted in Kansas City, watching the Chiefs play the Chicago Bears alongside Kelce’s mother, Donna, from one of the football stadium's glass-enclosed suites.Kelce did not speak to reporters afterward, but he was spotted leaving Arrowhead with Swift by his side.Still, just about everyone in the Kansas City locker room was buzzing about the news after Sunday's game, including coach Andy Rei...

High travel costs forcing Coloradans to book holiday trips early

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

More than half the Colorado residents who are planning to travel for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays said they are booking earlier this year, according to a new AAA survey.The survey found that the main reason was the high cost of airline flights, gas and other travel expenditures, according to Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA.“2023 has been a bonkers year for travel, with record-breaking demand throughout the summer,” he said in a statement. “By all accounts, those trends will persist into the year-end holidays.”All told, 60% of Coloradans surveyed said they are planning a holiday trip. Of those, 58% are booking early and 70% are planning to fly. But 36% of the responders said “they are less likely to fly this year because they’re concerned about flight delays and cancellations,” AAA reported.RELATED: “That can’t happen again”: Southwest Airlines CEO prepares for winter in Denver to avoid last year’s ...

Man found dead near Sanderson Gulch prompts homicide investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

A man was found dead early Tuesday morning, and Denver police are investigating the man’s death as a homicide.Police at about 6:30 a.m. received the report of a dead body outside near Mexico Avenue and Julian Way and Sanderson Gulch in Denver’s Mar Lee neighborhood, a Denver police spokesperson said in an email.UPDATE: This incident is now being investigated as a homicide. The victim's ID and cause of death will be released by the #Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. Anyone with information is asked to call @CrimeStoppersCO at 720-913-7867.— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) September 26, 2023The Office of the Medical Examiner will release the cause of death, the spokesperson said, but “there are indications that it is suspicious,” which prompted the homicide investigation.Anyone with information on the death is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | One man killed, one injured in overnigh...

Los Angeles housing market up $202B in past year, Zillow says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

Everyone knows buying a house in Los Angeles is expensive, but the numbers just released by Zillow are likely still jaw-dropping to many.In a report released Tuesday, Zillow estimated the total value of the housing market in the L.A. metro area — the sum of Zillow's estimates for every home — is up $202 billion in the last year alone.The area's total value, $3.7 trillion, has seen a rapid increase since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, rising 38% over the past three years, Zillow said. In August 2023 alone, the median price in Los Angeles County was up 4.2%, according to the California Association of Realtors. "While a small chunk of this growth can be attributed to a 1.3% rise in the average value of a US home over the past year, the powerhouse behind this surge has been new construction," Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy explained. "Builders have chipped away at the housing deficit as a steady flow of new homes have hit the market this spring ...

Why your next Uber may be a Yellow Cab

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:39:50 GMT

A multi-year partnership between Uber and Los Angeles Yellow Cab was announced early Tuesday morning. Under the deal, Uber will combine its operations with Los Angeles Yellow Cab's five partner taxi fleets in Southern California, including, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.Taxi drivers will gain access to Uber trip referrals, which should provide drivers with better earnings opportunities, a news release stated. “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Uber because it’s a clear win-win for drivers and riders,” said William Rouse, CEO of the taxi operations.The deal provides drivers with more earnings opportunities and riders with faster pickups, officials said. “Uber’s ride referrals are going to help fill in our slower times and keep the drivers busy making money. Drivers are going to benefit from this partnership for a long time to come,” Yellow Cab of Los Angeles board member and long-time owner-operator Aydin Kavak said.The six Southern California taxi compan...