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September hail storm caused $600 million in damage to Austin area, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms hit the Austin area on Sept. 24, 2023. Large hail stones, estimated to be the size of baseballs and softballs, were reported in Williamson County as the storm moved south to Travis County. Estimated $27M in damages to Round Rock car dealerships from Sunday night hailstorm The National Weather Service office in New Braunfels has worked to come up with the estimated cost for this hail storm. The NWS said the monetary loss numbers are difficult to calculate because insurance companies are no longer sharing their numbers with the NWS. The National Centers for Environmental Information said Texas had an estimated $700 million in insured losses during the hailstorm onslaught. This was out of the $1.3 billion mentioned on their website.The NCEI said it was not able to get a county-by-county breakdown because it does not exist or it was not shared with the local NWS office. Of the $700 million in the state, the NWS determined $600 million of that loss ...

Children with a seriously ill parent get free mental health help through nonprofit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Children in the U.S. continue to struggle with mental health issues at rapidly increasing rates. The American Medical Association says pediatric mental health represents a national emergency.The lasting effects of the pandemic, social media and limited access to mental health resources are all contributing factors, but imagine dealing with all of that while a parent is battling a serious or terminal illness. It's an unfortunate reality for some children.There is a local nonprofit that is growing its footprint nationally to help families navigate parental illness and injuries. It's called Wonders & Worries and it provides free, professional support for children and teens through a parent's illness.A family's storySimple moments like eating lunch, coloring and reading together at the Wiatrek's home, have a deeper meaning than meets the eye.To understand why, we'll have to go back to 2017."It was a really really hard time for us because we were growing a family and ...

CapMetro launching holiday 'Polar Events' series Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- CapMetro is leaning into the holiday spirit this December with a series of specialty events and social media giveaways, the transit authority announced this week.CapMetro will host its Polar Events series all month long with planned music and breakfast items at transit stops, fare pass giveaways and social media contests, per a release. The transportation agency is launching the series with the unveiling of its holiday bus on Friday, while several CapMetro "elves" will make pitstops along routes to hand out passes and other goodies.CapMetro Polar Events (Courtesy: CapMetro)In total, CapMetro will distribute 600 weekly passes in December -- 500 bus passes and 100 rail passes.Those who use the hashtag #CapMetroPolarEvents and post a transit selfie on social media between Dec. 4-31 will be entered for one of three prizes:One yearlong commuter pass for bus and rail, in addition to CapMetro merchandise and free tickets to the Paramount TheaterOne 31-day commuter pass for...

DEC confirms fisher put down in Queensbury was rabid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that the fisher that bit multiple people at Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve on Wednesday was rabid. Those who were bitten should contact Warren County Public Health to determine if rabies treatments are necessary. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “Rabies is a deadly disease, and we need to err on the side of caution when it comes to potential human exposures to rabid animals," said Ginelle Jones, Director of Health Services in Warren County. "It appears this fisher was very aggressive in its last hours, and we are concerned that people or pets may have had contact with it and not realized the gravity of the situation. They should call us to make sure that medical intervention is pursued if needed.”Warren County Public Health can be contacted at (518) 761-6580. This incident marked the only positive rabies case documented in Warren County in 2023.

St. Louis sex offender admits seeking child pornography online

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis resident previously convicted of child sex crimes appeared in federal court on Thursday and admitted seeking child pornography online.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said James Rankin, 47, admitted communicating with individuals he believed to be underage girls and requesting explicit images from them.Rankin pleaded guilty to one count of solicitation of child pornography and one count of transfer of obscene material.In January 2023, detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California were conducting an undercover operation into child exploitation when they encountered Rankin. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW Rankin believed he was messaging...

Man accused of smashing MetroLink rider in the head with a rock

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A 19-year-old man is facing assault charges for allegedly striking a MetroLink rider in the head with a rock.The incident took place on Nov. 14 on a MetroLink train at the Union Station terminal at 400 South 18th Street, according to a probable cause statement filed by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.Police claim the suspect, identified as Joseph Davis, was on the train and began rummaging through the grocery bags of another rider, whom Davis didn't know. Tow truck operator killed in Illinois served as volunteer firefighter The victim told Davis to stop going through his bags. Davis began punching and kicking the victim.Davis eventually stopped, got up, and paced back and forth through the MetroLink train. He then walked back to the victim and smashed him in the head with a fist-sized rock.The entire assault was recorded on surveillance video. Police arrested Davis days later.The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Davis with second-degree assault ...

Creve Coeur Police Department joins the 'Duck, Duck, Jeep' trend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

CREVE COEUR, Mo. – The Creve Coeur Police Department recently shared a photo of a Lego duck. In the accompanying post, an officer remarked, "Not a Jeep, but this did make us smile," referencing the viral trend known as "duck, duck, Jeep."The phenomenon began around 2020, with Allison Parliament claiming to have initiated it at a gas station. The trend, now dubbed "ducking Jeeps" or "duck, duck Jeep" on social media, has gained widespread popularity.The game involves taking a rubber duck, attaching a note, and placing it on a Jeep. Since its inception, the trend has spread from Canada to the United States, evolving into more elaborate displays over the past three years.The primary objective of this lighthearted trend is to bring joy to others. Jeep owners participate by leaving rubber ducks on fellow Jeep vehicles as a surprise.If you discover a duck on your Jeep, capture a photo and share it on your social media accounts with the hashtags #duckduckjeep or #duckjeep. Afterward, displ...

Opinion: Out-of-state hunters aren’t the problem. Here’s how to sustain and improve hunting in the West.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

A disgruntled hunter wrote a Writers on the Range opinion recently about Westerners getting fed up with the many out-of-staters coming in and buying up draw licenses to shoot bull elk, deer, bear and other big game animals.As a hunter myself, I understand their frustration.But reducing non-resident tags, as Andrew Carpenter suggests, takes us in the wrong direction. The greatest threat to hunting now and in the future is the loss of habitat.Private lands provide up to 80% of the habitat for all wildlife species, including the critical winter range that’s the limiting factor for most big game populations. Yet these family farms and ranches are struggling for economic survival and in many places are under immense development pressure.According to the American Farmland Trust, Colorado is on track to lose approximately a half-million acres of open land in the next two decades. Other states have similarly alarming projections. As these lands disappear, so does the wildlife they support.I...

Pedestrian killed in Federal Boulevard crash in Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

A pedestrian was killed in a crash that has closed Federal Boulevard at West 10th Avenue, according to the Denver Police Department.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Colorado road conditions: I-70 reopens near Silverthorne Crime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run crash on Speer in West Highland overnight Crime and Public Safety | Train derailment north of Central City in Gilpin County delays Amtrak trains, officials say Crime and Public Safety | Woman charged in crash that killed Littleton middle school student Crime and Public Safety | Woman dies after being struck by Cadillac on East Montview Boulevard in Aurora The crash closed Federal Boulevard in both directions on Thursday afternoon, according to a post from Denver on X at 12:18 p.m. The driver remained on scene.Police officials were unable to confirm the type of vehicle involved in the crash.Alternate routes are advised...

What time is tonight’s Newsom-DeSantis debate — and where you can watch?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis face off in the big battle of red-state vs. blue-state governors Thursday night.What time and where can you watch it?Time: The debate airs from 6-7:30 p.m. Pacific time.Where to watch: Fox News Channel.Other ways to follow: If you don’t have cable, you can listen on the Fox News app or find local Fox Radio stations, including San Francisco’s KSFO-AM 560 AM.Related ArticlesPolitics | Appeals court reinstates gag order that barred Donald Trump from maligning court staff in NY fraud trial Politics | 5 things to know about Thursday’s Newsom-DeSantis debate, including how to watch Politics | Krugman: Understanding Bidenomics with rich guys in a bar Politics | On the stump, Trump loves J6 rioters. His lawyers, less so. Politics | Cheney book slams GOP as Trump’s ‘enablers and collaborators’