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As Austin's homeless strategy officer resigns, some asking for deeper look at city spending

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly is asking the City of Austin to do a full audit of its homelessness response, according to a memo. The request comes one day after the announcement that Austin's homeless strategy officer is resigning. “We have received Council Member Kelly’s memorandum and are looking into the recommendations outlined in the letter," a City of Austin spokesperson said. The council member is asking the city to provide "a detailed breakdown of the funds allocated for homeless services, including sources of funding (local, state federal) and how these funds are being distributed." It also asks the city to look at how well it's coordinating between departments and other stakeholders while asking for community input on improvements that could be made. "Unfortunately, sometimes the city doesn't do a great job of educating the public on the successes they've had, or the failures," Kelly said. "And so I think it's really important to look for an opportun...

Texas A&M Forest Service rolling out prescribed burn grants

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) -- The Texas A&M Forest Service will be offering grants to aid Texas landowners looking to offset any costs related to prescribed fires, per a Thursday release.More than $500,000 in grant funds are available for eligible landowners "conducting prescribed burns on their property by certified and insured prescribed burn managers," the release said. The grant program offered up more than $362,000 last year to help lead prescribed fire treatments on nearly 13,000 acres of privately owned land statewide.The last day to apply for the grant funds is Sept. 30. Those interested can check to see their eligibility and find an application online.“Prescribed burning can play a crucial role for landowners in reducing wildfire danger, improving wildlife habitats and fostering a healthier forest ecosystem,” said Weldon Dent, fuels specialist with the Texas A&M Forest Service, in the release. Prescribed fires are used to help remove brush, weeds, dried vegetatio...

John Shipley: Twins didn’t put Guardians away, they encouraged them

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

So, the Twins didn’t exactly put the fear of God into the Cleveland Guardians this week.Given the opportunity to mortally wound Cleveland’s chances of winning the American League Central with a sweep, the Twins instead encouraged their closest division to keep fighting.Do something more than keep fighting, in fact.On Thursday, the last day major league teams could add players and make them eligible for postseason play, the Guardians claimed, and were awarded, three pitchers who could start making a difference immediately — right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, and relievers Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore.All three were recently released by the Los Angeles Angels, who, suddenly without both their star players, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, are shedding payroll and roster spots with a zeal that should alarm Major League Baseball’s front office. They are completely focused on payroll tax and compensatory draft picks.By claiming those arms, the Guardians proved they are focused on the last...

Man credits Albany facility in his addiction recovery

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Project Safe Point in Albany provides treatment for anyone whether or not they desire to stop using. It’s also a safe injection site. These protocols may sound controversial but for one man it was a lifesaver. A class to save lives: Free overdose prevention training in the Capital Region“Once you go through addiction and you get to your rock bottom, the only place left to go is up” says Albany County native Kevin. We spoke to Kevin on International Overdose Awareness Day. As of this article, he's eight months clean. The man in recovery says family issues and hanging out with the wrong crowd led him down the rough and tumble road of addiction. An internal war he’s been battling since the tender age of 10. Eventually Kevin had enough.“I got to the point though in my own self where I didn't want to drink honestly. I didn't like the way it made me feel. I didn't like how I acted around people. I didn't like how people acted around me" the Safe Point patient said....

Discovering Saratoga: Beloved 90-year-old Track Greeter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - For 17 years, a beloved employee at the track has been helping answer questions when racing fans walk through the gates at the Saratoga Race Course. NEWS10’s Cassie Hudson introduces us to Ruth Mattiello.

Jennings mayor warns councilman to resign or quit day job

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. - The mayor of a north St. Louis County suburb is calling on a councilman to either resign or quit his day job, alleging it's a conflict of interest to hold both jobs.Jennings Mayor Gary Johnson sent a two-page letter to Councilman Terry Wilson (Ward 2) earlier this week after Wilson and the majority of the council protested by not showing up to a regularly scheduled meeting."It has come to the attention of concerned parties that there is a conflict of interest arising from our dual roles as an elected Councilman for the City of Jennings and an appointed City Manager of the City of Dellwood," Johnson wrote.The mayor argues Wilson holds the responsibility of a full-time Dellwood employee, but he has access to sensitive and confidential information as a councilman."The decisions made in one capacity could directly impact the other city and vice versa," Johnson said. Police: DWI, hit-and-run suspect caught by his own Tesla cameras Wilson received the mayor's letter afte...

Berube: Blues 'ready to go' after lengthy offseason

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - After falling short of playoffs for just the second time in 12 seasons, the St. Louis Blues are dealing with a longer wait than usual to hit the ice once again. For head coach Craig Berube, the lengthy wait serves as motivation. “That weighs on you all summer," Berube told Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch earlier this week. "Not making playoffs weighs on you, and we’re not in the business of not making playoffs.” How soon could St. Louis CITY SC clinch playoffs? Berube's run with St. Louis has been a largely successful one. He took a last-place squad midway through the 2018-19 season and turned it into the Blues' only Stanley Cup championship. The Blues followed up their title with three consecutive playoff bids and have finished among the league's top teams in attendance in the post-pandemic era. He's even earned two new contracts with the Blues and already has the third-most wins of any coach in team history. Last year, however, presented some roadbloc...

Colorado’s Division of Motor Vehicles now accepts cryptocurrency

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

Coloradans seeking to renew a driver’s license or vehicle registration online have a new payment option: cryptocurrency.The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles announced Thursday that myDMV now accepts cryptocurrency through PayPal for online payments.“At the DMV, we’re always looking for ways to better serve Coloradans and leverage technology to offer our services,” DMV Senior Director Electra Bustle said in a news release. “This new online cryptocurrency payment option is yet another way the DMV is providing innovative and convenient service delivery to our customers.”Coloradans can now use PayPal cryptocurrency when paying for driver’s licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations or other DMV services online.“Those who choose to pay with cryptocurrency will be directed to PayPal, where they can select a specific cryptocurrency to use for the payment,” the release said. “A sufficient amount of cryptocurrency to cover the transaction and fees ...

Castle Rock brokerage accuses former realtors of stealing leads, commissions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

A small real estate brokerage is suing two of its former employees and the massive company they now work for, accusing them of stealing secrets and commissions.One of the realtors being sued said her former employer is just being “vindictive.”Colorado Flat Fee Realty, which is based in Castle Rock, offers discount real estate services up and down the Front Range. It is led by CEO John Vizzi, a longtime broker.On Aug. 25, CFFR sued Kim Niles of Brighton and Rachel Roberds of Thornton, along with eXp Realty, an online brokerage that boasts of 88,000 agents around the world.CFFR alleges that Niles and Roberds, who were both hired by CFFR in 2019 and left early this year, passed along leads to eXp while employed by CFFR and sold CFFR properties after leaving for eXp. That cost CFFR at least $16,500 in lost commissions, it said.Reached by email this week, Niles said that her employment contract with CFFR was “extremely vague” and CFFR’s claim that she violated the contract “is a very obs...

911 calls from Cook's Corner mass shooting released

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

With the sound of gunfire still echoing in the background, emergency dispatchers desperately tried to help witnesses treat the wounded during last week’s mass shooting at Cook’s Corner, a popular bar and restaurant in Orange County.The Orange County Fire Authority released the 911 calls on Thursday.“My buddy just got shot. We’re at Cook’s Corner. He can’t breathe,” one witness tells dispatchers.“Who has the gun?” the dispatcher asks.“Some old man … he was the in the bar and came out shooting at everybody. I’m sure other people are hit ... Please hurry.”Authorities said John Snowling, 59, a retired sergeant with the Ventura Police Department, walked into the Trabuco Canyon bar the evening of Aug. 23 to target his estranged wife.Authorities investigate a deadly shooting at Cook's Corner in Orange County on Aug. 23, 2023. (OnScene.TV)He fatally shot three people, including his wife’s dining companion and a man who approached him, authorities said. Snowling then retrieved additional gun...