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LIVE: Austin moving to Stage 2 drought restrictions Tuesday; Watering times shortened by 3 hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said it would move to Stage 2 of its Drought Contingency Plan Tuesday, as water levels on Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan continue to drop.A press release from the city last week said the combined storage level in the lakes was projected to drop below 900,000 acre-feet within a few days. LCRA enters Stage 2 drought response; asks water cutback of 10-20% Interim City Manager Jesus Garza ordered the move to Stage 2 effective Tuesday, Aug. 15."For many years, Austin has leaned into water conservation in normal weather as well as drought," said Shay Ralls Roalson, director of Austin Water. "As our current drought continues, we know that the entire Austin community will respond to the need to conserve our most precious resource. We’re all in this together, and there is no substitute for water." LIST: What are the current water restrictions in your city? Here are the changes to watering restrictions under Stage 2:Automat...

Williamson County launches donation drive for wildfire victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Williamson County said Monday all four county Justices of the Peace along with the Austin Disaster Relief Network were collecting donations for families impacted by area wildfires. The county announcement said people can drop off new socks and undergarments for children and adults at any of the JP offices in Williamson County. Workers will collect donations will be collected through Friday at each JP office. Justice of the Peace, Pct. 11801 E Old Settlers Blvd., Suite 100, Round Rock, TX 78664Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 350 Discovery Blvd., Suite 204, Cedar Park, TX 78613Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4211 W 6th Street, Taylor, TX 76574Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How a son's journey with addiction inspired a Texas farm's recovery program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- His hands are calloused and covered in a thin layer of dirt and soil, and the thick fabric of worn blue jeans stick to his skin in the Texas summer heat.If it weren't for the straw hat atop his head, the black Metallica cotton t-shirt he wears would've made for an unbearable choice of clothing. His left earlobe is pierced with a single diamond, the sun's rays dancing off the shimmery gem.The middle-aged man kneels before a row of crops, his body leaning into a bed of weeds.A hand holds out a pepper picked from the field. (KXAN Photo/Katharine Vaughn)The row he now crouches before produces peppers, of various colors and kinds. The red ones — ghost peppers and habanero peppers. The yellow ones — Jamaican yellow mushroom peppers. The green ones — well, those are tricky. They can be jalapeños, serrano peppers or shishito peppers.He tugs at a stubborn root tucked deep into the earth, finally pulling it free. With a quick motion of his arm, he tosses it aside to the mound...

Altercation on St. Paul’s Raspberry Island on Monday night ends with man fatally shot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

A man died after he was shot on St. Paul’s Raspberry Island Monday night.Police were called to the Mississippi River park across from downtown just after 9 p.m. on a report of a shooting. There had been a large group gathered, an altercation and shots fired, police said of preliminary information.Officers found a man with apparent gunshot injuries. Paramedics took him to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Homicide investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting and who was responsible. Police didn’t announce arrests early Tuesday.Officers located possible witnesses Monday night and also asked anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650.Police said they will release the victim’s name after the Ramsey County medical examiner’s office confirms his identity and cause of death.The man’s homicide was the 23rd of the year in St. Paul. There were 22 homicides in St. Paul as of this date last year. Related ArticlesCrime &...

Gov. Mike Parson updating Missouri NIL law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Missouri Governor Mike Parson will sign updates to the state's NIL bill. It allows athletes to make money from their name, image, or likeness.The law passed in 2021 and was amended last year. The new changes allow a coach or school official to assist students with negotiations, though the officials cannot be the player's agents. City of St. Charles shuts down water treatment plant due to ammonia drop The bill will also extend NIL benefits to high schoolers as long as they sign a letter of intent with a public university in Missouri. The law takes effect in August.

Missouri School Board of Education adopting social and emotional standards to improve student behavior

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri School Board may adopt some new proposals today to improve student behavior in the classroom.A research group was appointed to help with recruiting and keeping teachers. The state board of education hears from them Tuesday in Jefferson City. ‘Blind Side’ lawsuit: Michael Oher alleges family pushed ‘false’ adoption story to make money They also proposed 15 standards to improve students behavior, including ways to process and manage emotions. The experts presented a draft proposal to the school board in May.

Firefighters respond to flames at North Florissant home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Crews are at the scene of a house fire Tuesday morning.Our Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX helicopter is flying over the area located on North Florissant Avenue and Herbert Street, where fire crews are currently putting out the flames. The building was occupied at the time the fire broke out, but so far, no injuries have been reported. ‘Blind Side’ lawsuit: Michael Oher alleges family pushed ‘false’ adoption story to make money The cause of the fire is still unknown. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Oriental Theater trying again to restore historic neon sign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

One of Denver’s most historic theaters is trying again to restore the neon sign and marquee that have been aesthetic hallmarks of the North Side for decades.Morry’s Neon employees working on the Oriental Theater’s marquee restoration on Tuesday, Aug. 8. (Provided by Scott Happel)The owners of the Oriental Theater, which was built in 1927, have begun a full overhaul of the exterior. The vertical “blade” displaying the theater’s name will be repainted, and the letters themselves, made of real neon, will be replaced, said general manager Scott Happel. The marquee that spells out upcoming shows will also be re-painted and restored to look brand new.Previous attempts to restore the sign — dating back to 2016 — have failed to withstand the test of time, Happel explained. “We’ve had it done twice, apparently by people that weren’t quite sure how to do it correctly. But I’d say it’s needed to happen for decades.”This time, th...

Denver satellite company adds fourth production facility in metro area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

York Space Systems, which manufactures and deploys satellites, has opened a fourth production facility in the Denver area, boosting its production capacity to about 1,000 spacecraft a year.York’s new 60,000-square-foot plant is in the Denver Tech Center, where in 2022 it moved its headquarters, which also has production capabilities. The company has two other production sites in downtown Denver.Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York Space Systems, said the company has invested $20 million so far in its facilities. He declined to say how many people work at York, but added that the company is adding employees.“Our contract values and our revenue have increased over 250% for the past three years in a row,” Wallinger said.Colorado has the country’s second-largest aerospace industry behind California’s and the highest concentration of private aerospace employees. There are about 290 companies and more than 500 space-related businesses in Colorado, according to a repor...

Denver titan lists Cherry Hills mansion for $18.5M

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

Charlie Gallagher is selling his 23,000-square-foot mansion adjacent to the 10th green at Cherry Hills Country Club.Gallagher, a private-equity executive inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 2011, owns the eight-bedroom, 14-bath mansion on Cherry Hills Drive with his wife, Diane.Chicago architect Gregory Maine designed the brick and stone mansion with a cobblestone circular drive. Constructed in 1993, the house, designed to be reminiscent of a 14th-century French country home, features painted ceilings, plastered walls, eight fireplaces and 18 sets of French doors.The home includes multiple staircases, an elevator, and a two-story dining room with a marble fireplace. The walled, 2-acre grounds include a pool and patios.Gallagher’s success story started with the 1986 acquisition of Applied Industrial Materials Corp. His strategies transformed the company and led to a series of acquisitions that prompted him to form Gallagher Industries, a private equity investment firm...