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Water restrictions ramp up as drought continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin has now seen 27 straight days at 100 degrees or higher, and it looks like those high temperatures will continue.What does that mean for people living in Central Texas?It could mean tougher water restrictions as some places have already added more restrictions."Has it ever been like this hot in Austin before?" asked Henry Pugh as he walked through his grandfather's yard.Gary Pugh is under Travis County Water Control and Improvement District 17, where they are under stage 2 restrictions."We have a lot of dead grass in the yard," said Pugh. "We've got a courtyard area that lost a lot of plants."Pugh can water two times a week, but some areas are cracking down even harder."Mid-June, we moved to stage 2, which limits the amount of time watering," said Jennifer Riechers with the West Travis County Public Utility Agency. "Then July 20, we had to move to stage 3 watering restrictions which is one day per week watering."Reichers says growth in areas like Dripping Sprin...

Train derails in Texas after crash with semi, one person dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas -- A train derailment was reported at a railroad crossing near US 84 between Amherst and Sudan after a crash on Monday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. One person was killed.The incident was reported around 10:45 a.m. as a crash between a semi and a train. DPS provided an update and said the driver, who was identified as Brent Michael Spahich, 25, of Borger, passed away while being taken to the hospital.(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)Some of the train cars were carrying a "possible hazardous material," according to DPS. Officials said five cars derailed. A Hazmat response was underway, DPS said.Westbound traffic on the Clovis highway was shut down. Eastbound remained open.

Art, music bring awareness to mental health, suicide prevention

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Creative artists in Central Texas came together to support one another and raise awareness towards mental health and suicide prevention. The Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network collaborated with the Music + Art = Positive Digital Magazine so more people could hear about mental health and how to combat suicidal thoughts."Tell somebody, it doesn't hurt. It hurts a lot less when we speak out and let someone know," says Verlyn Johson Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network spokesperson. The event was Waco's first-ever 8-way art conference, with music, theatre, dance, poetry, culinary arts, cinema, graphical arts and illustrative arts. "What inspired me to do this was just seeing that everybody stays in their lane for the most part. Nothing wrong with that. But nothing spectacular happens that way. You get some people who aren't normally in the same circle together that's going to draw people together will make a lot of noise and to be a bigger pop," says eve...

Christian Jones' leadership noticed on and off the field, nominated for Wuerffel Award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Christian Jones has been a pillar on the Texas Longhorns offensive line for the past three seasons, starting in 35 games while playing in 48. Since he decided to use his extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sixth-year 321-pounder out of Cypress Woods has seen quite a bit during his time on the 40 Acres."I've been here longer than some of the bricks in the building," Jones said. "But this locker room is very special. It's a brotherly bond. People are staying late and getting extra reps in voluntarily. Nobody is telling them to do that.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersIt has been a theme early in fall camp that chemistry is going to take the Longhorns where they want to go this season, and with all five starting offensive linemen returning from last season, that position could perhaps shine the brightest in t...

North Dakota lawmakers eye Minnesota free tuition program that threatens enrollment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota lawmakers and higher education leaders are beginning to chart a path for how to respond to neighboring Minnesota’s upcoming program that will offer income-based free tuition to thousands of students.Higher education leaders on Wednesday detailed the situation to an interim legislative panel. A state senator also presented a bill draft proposing a North Dakota program similar to Minnesota’s North Star Promise.North Star Promise takes effect in fall 2024. It will cover undergraduate tuition and fees at the state’s public post-secondary schools for Minnesota residents whose family income is under $80,000, after they have used other sources of financial aid.North Dakota higher education leaders are worried about losing Minnesota students. About 1,400 of them at five eastern North Dakota schools could be eligible for North Star Promise. Minnesotans make up nearly half the student body at North Dakota State University in Fargo, the No. 1 out...

Sonny Gray picks up first win since April in 5-3 victory over Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS — Sonny Gray went all of May without picking up a win. All of June too. July as well.It’s hard to believe, given Gray is in the midst of an All-Star season and has been relatively consistent throughout the year. But that long drought, Gray said after his last start, was something he was “definitely aware of.”That drought exists no longer. Gray picked up his first win since April 30 on Thursday in the Twins’ 5-3 victory over the Cardinals in the series finale at Busch Stadium.Gray threw seven efficient innings, needing just 77 pitches to get through his outing. He struck out eight and walked none in his start, for his second straight outing. The starter gave up a run in the second inning and a solo home run to Alec Burleson in the sixth, but otherwise was highly effective in his first seven-inning start since April.Gray, whose long streak without a win is in large part due to a lack of run support, was staked to a four-run lead in the second inning thanks to a pair of two-r...

Vikings host night practice in Eagan with thousands of fans in attendance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

The official time of the sunset in Eagan on Thursday was 8:36 p.m.The lights at TCO Performance Center were on long before that.It’s become an annual tradition for the Vikings. They host a night practice in front of fans at some point in training camp. They are actually doing a couple of them this year.“Something we’re really excited about,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “My first exposure to it last year, I was shocked by not only the turn out, the energy and the environment that we can create for a training camp practice.”It was a similar vibe on Thursday night, with fans braving the 90-degree temperatures, lining up at the gates a couple of hours before the practice even started.Though the spectacle was designed to get the fans in the spirit, the Vikings made sure to get some good work in under the lights.“I told our guys we do it as much for them as we do our fans,” O’Connell said. “We’ll do some diffe...

Cranesville Volunteer Dept. receives helipad for three counties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

CRANESVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Out in Montgomery County, when it comes to medical help, the Cranesville Fire Department got a new tool. A small crowd gathered outside the fire department to watch the LifeNet helicopter land on the new helipad.Chief Jake Champain says the need for the platform became more apparent as time went on. “Last year we had a handful of calls, a helicopter was needed. In this area there is no easy landing zone so I had the idea in November of 2022.”According to the Montgomery County Sheriff, helicopters have landed in the area previously for medical emergencies, but not in this dedicated, safer setting. Landing lights are installed around the edge of the pad, along with reflectors to alert traffic of the location. Local musician defended and praised online by Metallica “The pilot of this chopper here said that this is one of the best landing areas that he’s seen so far. We’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished," described Highway Superintendent for the To...

Seniors 'running low' on food, faced with broken elevators at St. Louis apartment building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Some seniors inside a St. Louis apartment building say they're stranded after the elevator in their building started operating for an hour but is now broken again.Residents at Roosevelt Towne Apartments, located on Euclid near Delmar, said the elevators have not worked in nearly three weeks.Bertha Darty is 69 years old and relies on a walker to get around."I cannot walk down the steps; I cannot stand up on my leg," she said.Her husband, William Darty, is in his 70s. The right side of his body is paralyzed."They don't know when the elevators are going to be repaired," he said.Despite the couple's invite into their home, security told FOX 2's team to leave the day before. The husband and wife did a phone interview instead while standing in the stairwell windows."I haven't heard anything, but they said they were going to put us up in a hotel," William said. Harper Finn passes away, St. Louis Medical Examiner confirms According to records from the Missouri Secretary of Sta...

Three suspects arrested in shooting outside 7-Eleven in Arvada

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:19:39 GMT

Three suspects have been arrested in connection to a shooting at a 7-Eleven store in Arvada.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man killed in City Park West shooting Crime and Public Safety | Suspect arrested in southwest Denver shooting that killed one Crime and Public Safety | El Paso County officials arrest six juveniles in February Falcon homicides Crime and Public Safety | Man found guilty of attempted murder for shooting Littleton police officer Crime and Public Safety | Man pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Denver shooting death The shooting happened July 28 outside the store at 7355 Ralston Road, according to the Arvada Police Department. Three people who were shot were treated on scene and at a hospital for injuries. The suspects fled the scene.Investigators developed information on two male suspects and a third suspect, a woman, who were all arrested this week without further incid...