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Why you'd better get used to a hot, smoky summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smoke from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say.And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest and East.That’s because neither the 235 out-of-control Canadian wildfires nor the stuck weather pattern that's responsible for this mess of meteorological maladies are showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer, according to meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center.First, the stuck weather pattern made abnormally hot and dry conditions for Canada to burn at off-the-chart record levels. Then it created a setup where the only relief comes when low pressure systems roll through, which means areas on one side get smoky air from the north and the other gets sweltering air from the south.Smoke or heat. “Pick yo...

Rhino at Buffalo Zoo briefly breaks free from enclosure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A young male rhinoceros at New York's Buffalo Zoo briefly left its primary enclosure Wednesday, the zoo said, prompting emergency protocols to be enacted at the facility.However, the rhinoceros remained behind multiple public barriers, and at no time was there a threat to the public, a zoo spokesperson told News 4.Mohan, a greater one-horned rhino, was spotted in an area adjacent to his enclosure around 11:55 a.m., according to the zoo. He was returned to his exhibit less than 10 minutes later.Mohan, the Buffalo Zoo's young male greater one-horned rhino (Courtesy of the Buffalo Zoo)Mohan, the Buffalo Zoo's young male greater one-horned rhino (Courtesy of the Buffalo Zoo)Nevertheless, the zoo was required to activate its emergency protocols, including sealing off entry points and directing guests to secure indoor locations. The spokesperson described the area Mohan entered as a back-of-house area, adding that he did not advance more than a few feet beyond where...

Icky chicken tenders help lead to conviction of NYC's ex-school food chief in bribery case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who oversaw food service for New York City schools was convicted Wednesday in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were served for months in the nation's biggest public school system.Former city Department of Education official Eric Goldstein and three men who founded a school food vendor — Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey — were found guilty of bribery, conspiracy and other charges after a monthlong trial.Eric Goldstein, Chief Executive, Office of School Support Services, New York City Department of Education, speaks during a discussion with other school leaders and experts surrounding school nutrition in an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, May 27, 2014. Goldstein, who oversaw food service for New York City schools, was convicted Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were s...

Temperature slide continues through July 4th weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Although it might be a bit deceiving to use the term "cool down", no matter what you call it, it's encouraging to see temperatures getting "less hot" moving into the weekend.Afternoon highs will warm into the upper 90s and low 100s across Central Texas this afternoon. A Heat Advisory is in effect for Lee, Fayette and Milam from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. today for heat index values up to 110°. Although most of the area is alert-free, it's still going to be hot so heat safety precautions are still strongly encouraged.Heat Advisory in effect 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday for far eastern countiesAs the highly-talked about "heat dome" continues to drift east and weaken, our temperatures will come down a bit and our atmosphere will become less hostile for storm development. Afternoon highs will warm into the upper 90s - closer to normal for this time of year.Low rain chances will return to the forecast Sunday through the July 4th holiday. A few storms are likely to develop but data do...

Teen killed in June 18 auto-ped crash on 360, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said Wednesday a teen died on June 18 after being hit by a car on the southbound lanes of Loop 360 just north of the Pennybacker Bridge in West Austin. According to police, Griffin Frederick Von Roenn, 18, was struck by the sedan just before 5 a.m. on June 18 and died at the scene.APD said the sedan driver stayed and cooperated with police and was not impaired. The crash is being investigated as Austin's 47th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 47 fatalities for the year, according to APD. Anyone with information should call APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You can also submit an anonymous tip through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.

MetroRail, SH130 to get millions in federal grant money

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (KXAN) – The Department of Transportation announced Wednesday the Biden Administration awarded $97.2 million from a grant program to six different infrastructure projects across Texas. Two of those projects are in Central Texas. $22.9 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE grant program will fund the design and construction of a commercial truck parking plaza on the northwest side of SH 130 and SH 80 intersection in Caldwell County.According to the fact sheet provided by the department, the plaza will include approximately 20 short-term and 100 long-term truck parking spaces, entry/ exit gate control, lighting, fencing, a rest stop with restrooms and showers, and amenities, all with 24-hour monitored security.The department said the plaza would "provide safe parking for drivers and help reduce crashes and fatalities involving trucks parked in unauthorized locations due to lack of options."  KXAN Investiga...

Stephen L. Carter: The mystery of Gorsuch’s passionate support for tribes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

During Justice Neil Gorsuch’s six years on the Supreme Court, the justices have faced 10 cases involving the rights of Native American individuals or tribes. Every time, Gorsuch has voted in favor of Indian rights — including thrice in the past two weeks. Whether in the majority or the minority, he defends tribal sovereignty with power and passion.Many have professed amazement that so “conservative” a judge would defend the rights of Indigenous people. It should instead serve as a warning against our tendency to essentialize the justices, to carve out categories of “conservative” and “liberal” to fit our prejudices.The strength with which Gorsuch writes enlivens our debates and has much to teach us about subjects we often know less about than we imagine. Writing for the 5-4 majority in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the court’s controversial 2020 ruling that a large chunk of Oklahoma still comprises the Creek Reservation established in 1833...

Franklin, Weinstein: If a lab leak led to COVID-19, there are truths we must not ignore

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

Since 2019 when COVID-19 emerged in China, scientists worldwide have been trying to ascertain the origin of the virus.The two major theories are a natural spillover from bats to an animal source and then to humans or a laboratory accident. A related question is whether the virus emerged from nature or was the result of human-made genetic manipulation.Until recently, although no animal intermediary between virus-carrying bats and humans has been identified, Chinese scientists and many of their Western counterparts, including prominent American researchers, argued that animals transmitted the virus to humans. They downplayed the lab leak theory and essentially dismissed the possibility that the virus was engineered rather than a creation of nature.Particularly notable was a report on the pandemic’s origin released in March 2021 by the World Health Organization, which failed to identify the source of the virus but claimed an animal source was “likely to very likely.” ...

Herbst Eatery & Farm Stand lives up to high expectations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

Lots of restaurants have opened in St. Paul in the past few years, but very, very few have fallen into the “it” category.The entryway at at Herbst Eatery & Farm Stand in St. Paul’s St. Anthony neighborhood. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Enter Herbst Eatery & Farm Stand, the new restaurant on Raymond Avenue in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood, which is popular not only with neighbors, but also the crowd that shows up to all the hot new spots in the Twin Cities.Owned by husband-and-wife team Angie and Jörg Pierach, the latter of whom is a founding partner in Minneapolis’ Tilia, the restaurant is a fulfillment of a dream for the couple, who are residents of the neighborhood, but also own a hobby farm in the Driftless area of Western Wisconsin. They helped form a co-op of young Driftless-area farmers, which exclusively provides products for the restaurant and adjoining market (still in its infancy and pretty sparse when we visited).Chef Eric Simpson is a relative newcomer...

Letters: Rename Ford Parkway in St. Paul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:22 GMT

‘George Latimer Parkway’With the Ford plant long gone — and with Henry Ford’s reputation of being a major anti-Semite — I have been thinking about renaming Ford Parkway.The replacement name I would like to recommend is “George Latimer Parkway.”According to one current city councilor, “Latimer was hands down the best mayor we ever had.” So who could be more deserving of having a major St. Paul street named after him? What an honor!Yes, I know, it’s a huge deal, renaming a street. All of the stores and all of the residents who live on Ford Parkway would be inconvenienced. But, if it’s ever going to happen, there’s no time like the present. Right?John Fineberg, St. Paul An ugly, false ideaI take great offense at Rob Hubbard’s  maliciously false comment in last week’s review of “Tootsie.” He says, “The protagonist’s self discovery might seem pretty inconsequential in an America roiled by vitriolic hatred toward transgender people.”America does not hate...