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Texas counties spend millions on ice-storm recovery, when will they be reimbursed?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Central Texas leaders say they're relieved now that President Biden has approved federal reimbursement for millions spent on ice storm recovery.Travis County Judge Andy Brown said recovery efforts from the city and county level have reached a cumulative $56.8 million. That number is made up of expenses for things like debris cleanup, overtime for Austin Energy employees, and first responders being on the job.With this approval Bastrop, Blanco, Burleson, Burnet, Hays, Henderson, Kendall, Lee, Leon, Milam, Robertson, Travis and Williamson counties could be reimbursed for 75% of the money spent on storm recovery.This federal relief has only been approved for these government bodies, not individual home or property owners that experienced damage from the ice storm.Judge Brown said county emergency leaders think Travis County is unlikely to meet the threshold to qualify for such relief. He also said it could take anywhere from 2 to 5 years for the county to be paid back f...

Family donates life-saving AED to Cottage Grove park where son died, and they’re raising money for more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

Teddy Dowdle collapsed and died of sudden cardiac arrest a year ago after going up for a rebound while playing basketball with his older brother and friends at Woodridge Park in Cottage Grove.He was 22.Teddy Dowdle gives a thumbs-up at the Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in April 2022. (Courtesy of the Dowdle Family)His family believes Teddy might still be alive had there been a medical device called an automated external defibrillator in the park. “CPR was administered, but there was no AED readily available,” his father, Craig Dowdle, said. “If there had been an AED applied within the first three minutes of his collapse, instead of when the EMTs showed up eight or nine minutes later, there would have been a much greater chance of his survival.”On Thursday, the first anniversary of Teddy’s death, the Dowdles will install an AED in Woodridge Park — the first outdoor AED device in Cottage Grove.The couple, along with son Carter and daughter Olivia, formed Teddy...

Feds charge 45 people in sweeping takedown of two Minneapolis gangs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

Federal authorities announced racketeering and other charges Wednesday against 45 members or associates of two major Minneapolis street gangs for crimes including seven homicides, plus numerous drug trafficking and firearms violations.U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said at a news conference that the takedown targeted the Highs, who are based in North Minneapolis, and the Bloods, who operate primarily on the South Side. As for a third gang, the Lows, from a different part of North Minneapolis, he said charges against them are coming.“Today’s announcement marks a fundamental change in how we address gang violence. Starting with these charges, we are prosecuting street gangs as the criminal organizations they are,” Luger said. He contrasted that with what he called a traditional local approach to prosecuting gun violence of charging offenders “crime by crime, shooting by shooting, case by case.”All but two of the suspects are in custody, Luger said. Around two dozen of them were arrested in ...

Hate passwords? You’re in luck – Google is sidelining them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

By DAVID HAMILTON (AP Business Writer)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Good news for all the password-haters out there: Google has taken a big step toward making them an afterthought by adding “passkeys” as a more straightforward and secure way to log into its services.Here’s what you need to know:WHAT ARE PASSKEYS?Passkeys offer a safer alternative to passwords and texted confirmation codes. Users won’t ever see them directly; instead, an online service like Gmail will use them to communicate directly with a trusted device such as your phone or computer to log you in.All you’ll have to do is verify your identity on the device using a PIN unlock code, biometrics such as your fingerprint or a face scan or a more sophisticated physical security dongle.Google designed its passkeys to work with a variety of devices, so you can use them on iPhones, Macs and Windows computers as well as Google’s own Android phones.WHY ARE PASSKEYS NECESSARY?Thanks to clever hackers and human fallibility, passwords ar...

Serious crash closes Northway at Exit 9

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Northway northbound is closed at Exit 9 due to a serious crash. The crash took place around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, and at least two people were injured, police said. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The exact number of vehicles involved and the number of people injured remains unclear as several other motorists stopped to help, according to police.The roadway will be closed at Exit 9 for an unknown amount of time. Traffic is being rerouted.

Missouri AG continues attacks on St. Louis Circuit Attorney

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Wednesday accused St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner of neglecting her duties as a prosecutor while she took nursing classes.It was the latest salvo in Bailey's efforts to remove Gardner from her office, which has struggled to keep up with prosecutions of criminal cases in St. Louis after several assistant prosecutors resigned.Gardner is the city’s first Black prosecutor and a Democrat. Bailey, a Republican, began legal proceedings in February to force her to resign or be removed. He said too many cases, including homicides, are not being prosecuted by an understaffed office.During Wednesday's news conference, Bailey said Gardner's decision to take nursing classes at St. Louis University violated a state law that requires her to focus her full energy and time on her prosecutorial duties. As legal battles mount, Kim Gardner takes nursing classes “Obtaining a nursing degree is not one of her off...

Rockies podcast: German Marquez might have thrown his final pitch for Colorado, and more analysis from a rough opening 30 games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

In this edition of the On The Rox podcast presented by BetSafe Colorado, Denver Post sportswriters Kyle Newman and Patrick Saunders break down Colorado’s ugly start through the first 30 games as the Rockies are on pace for 108 losses.With German Marquez headed for Tommy John surgery, where does the spiraling Rockies rotation go from here? Has Marquez thrown his last pitch in a Rockies uniform? Could Peter Lambert get called up again soon? What are silver linings from the first rough month-plus?Those questions are addressed plus insight into a fan survey for an upcoming Denver Post takeout story on fan disinterest in the club this year in a packed edition of the show.Subscribe to the podcastSoundCloud | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS

E. 13th Ave. in Denver’s Capitol Hill closed while officers attempt to contact suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

There’s a large police presence in Denver Capitol Hill neighborhood where officers are trying to “contact a wanted suspect” and East 13th Avenue is shut down between Grant and Logan streets.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Both lanes of U.S. 40 reopened after avalanche near Winter Park ALERT: #Denver officers are attempting to contact a wanted suspect in the 1300 block of N Grant St. Expect a large police presence in the area. 13th Ave. between Grant and Logan is closed. Alternate routes advised. pic.twitter.com/n4urrH6o2p— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) May 3, 2023Police are in the 1300 block of Grant Street and East 13th Avenue is closed between Grant and Logan streets, the Denver Police Department said in a 4:50 p.m. tweet.Motorists and pedestrians should avoid the area if possible.This story will be updated. Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.

Disney Parks to host Star Wars themed listening party for May the 4th

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

The Disney Parks’ YouTube channel will host a 24-hour listening party of “the latest hits from around the galaxy” to celebrate May the 4th.DJ Rex, a Star Wars character seen at Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland, will host the listening party, according to the YouTube Page. The new virtual event comes as the Anaheim theme park celebrates Star Wars Month, a celebration of everything Star Wars.The listening party will begin at 9 p.m. and can be streamed here. For those who can't tune into the listening party, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Oga's Cantina: R3X's Playlist #1 and Playlist #2 are available on various streaming platforms. Disneyland fans can listen to music played in the theme parks at home The Disneyland Resort kicked off its Star Wars Month celebration on May 1 with the return of Hyperspace Mountain, “epic encounters," unique Star Wars Month merchandise and themed food and beverage items, according to Disneyland officials.Movie and Star Wars fans alike can also watch Star Wars film...

Thousand Oaks sex offender sentenced to prison for crimes against minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

A previously convicted Thousand Oaks sex offender was sentenced to prison for crimes against minors and human trafficking on Tuesday.Robert Ryan McGraa, 41, was sentenced to 15 years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to six felony charges related to human trafficking, possession of child sexual abuse material and luring a minor for a lewd purpose, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.In 2019, investigators received a tip that McGraa had child sexual abuse material in his email account. Authorities discovered McGraa possessed “numerous images of prepubescent child females being sexually assaulted by adult males,” according to court documents.He also “actively exchanged these types of images over the internet with other child sexual assault predators,” authorities said.McGraa has a history of convicted sexual crimes against minors, the DA’s office said.In 2005, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor amon...