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'I love you so much' mural vandalized by Ken ahead of 'Barbie' movie release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The iconic "I love you so much" mural on South Congress is becoming an even bigger draw for selfies after an act of vandalism professes the love of one legendary toy to another. The mural, which is located on the north-facing wall of Jo's Coffee at the corner of South Congress and West James Street, now reads, "Barbie, I love you so much. -Ken." This sweetly destructive defacement is only temporary because it's part of a push to promote the hotly-anticipated release of the "Barbie" movie on July 21. The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken respectively. In the movie, the two dolls leave the imaginary Barbie Land to experience what the real world is like. The studio behind it, Warner Bros. Pictures, is on a marketing blitz that now includes a few stunts in the Texas capital. On Friday morning, people gathered to watch an unveiling and see the changes Ken made to the "I love you so much" mural. Dancers from Melody Dance...

City of Austin deploying 'cooling tents' amid excessive heat, taking other safety measures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – City of Austin leaders spoke Friday morning about efforts to help keep people cool and safe due to the "dangerously hot conditions and high temperatures Austin is experiencing." The city set up a cooling tent that is equipped with misters and distributed water at Republic Square Park Friday morning and said the tent will be up until 6 p.m. Extreme heat, ongoing dry conditions through the weekend The cooling tent is part of a new pilot program the city is deploying during days when Austin is under excessive heat warnings, Ken Snipes, the director of Austin's Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said during the press conference. Snipes said they don't yet know where the tents will be deployed or how long the pilot program will last. Snipes said the city is also taking initiatives to reach the homeless population where they are to help combat the heat. Homeless outreach providers are regularly taking water bottles to homeless encampment sites and informing peop...

Team behind Allianz Field presents scaled-down vision for development — beginning with a sculpture garden at Snelling and University

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

Gone are the twin towers of offices and housing above a multi-level parking podium. A movie theater and mixed-use “live-work” spaces no longer line the concept drawings.Instead, after seven years without visible progress, the updated vision for real estate redevelopment around Allianz Field — the city’s 20,000-seat professional soccer stadium in St. Paul’s Midway — starts small, with a sculpture garden anchoring the corner of Snelling and University avenues, followed by a traditional playground just south of an extended Shields Avenue and Pascal Street.The public would have access to both sites, though they’d be privately owned, managed and maintained by the owners of the Minnesota United soccer team and the development group promoting the Snelling Midway “superblock” for private real estate development.A real estate adviser with the Tegra Group submitted an updated block diagram to the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Commission on...

7 injured when van collides with Metro Transit bus in St. Paul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

Seven people were injured when the driver of a van collided with a Metro Transit bus Friday morning in St. Paul.Ambulances took them to the hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries, according to Metro Transit spokesman Drew Kerr.The crash happened at Rice Street and Pennsylvania Avenue about 7:30 a.m. A Route 3 bus was northbound and the van’s driver was headed east on Pennsylvania Avenue, Kerr said.The bus operator and three bus passengers, along with three people from the van, were injured.The Minnesota State Patrol assisted with crash reconstruction and an investigation is ongoing. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | St. Paul carjackings are down. Cops say new programs are making a difference. Crime & Public Safety | Driver arrested after fatally striking pedestrian in St. Paul’s Summit-U area Crime & Public Safety | 30 displaced by apartment building fire in St. Paul’s Highland Park, poss...

Suspected drunk driver hits two pedestrians in Columbia Heights, killing one

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

A suspected drunk driver hit two people on a Columbia Heights sidewalk late Thursday, killing one and seriously injuring the other, authorities said.A 35-year-old Minneapolis man was driving a 1998 BMW convertible south on Central Avenue while drunk when he left the road at 39th Avenue about 10:30 p.m. and struck Carrie Lynn Rivero and James Junior Beller, the Minnesota State Patrol said.Rivero, 58, of Minneapolis, died at the scene. Beller, 63, of Minneapolis, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.The driver was treated for injuries at HCMC and then booked into the Anoka County jail on suspicion of criminal-vehicular homicide and criminal-vehicular operation, causing great-bodily harm while under the influence of alcohol.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Suspect taken into custody in Long Island serial killings, AP source says Crime & Public Safety | K.C. Chiefs ‘superfan’ accused of string of...

UnitedHealth shares rebound after health care giant beats Street 2Q forecasts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

By TOM MURPHYUnitedHealth beat second-quarter expectations as an acquisition and more Medicare Advantage customers fueled growth that balanced a jump in care use.The health care giant also raised the low end of its 2023 earnings forecast range on Friday after its profit jumped 8% to $5.47 billion in the quarter.UnitedHealth runs a health insurance business that covers more than 50 million people, mostly in the United States. It also has an Optum business that provides care and runs one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers.Optum revenue jumped 25% to more than $56 billion in the quarter, helped in part by UnitedHealth’s roughly $8 billion acquisition of Change Healthcare, a deal that closed last fall.The company also said it squeezed more revenue out of customers served through its Optum Health business by treating more people through value-based care arrangements. That business runs clinics, outpatient surgery centers and provides home care.Value-based care involves bas...

Greek fest this weekend in South Glens Falls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This weekend, things are getting Greek in the village of South Glens Falls. The Adirondack Greek Festival is serving souvlaki, pastries and more on Main Street this weekend. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Friday and Saturday, July 14 and 15, the food will be coming out and music will be playing at St. George Church, 55 Main St. The festivities run from noon to 7 p.m. both days.The Greek festival is all about iconic Greek food. On the menu, visitors will find moussaka, pastitsio, Greek potatoes, rice pilaf, stuffed peppers, spanakopita, Greek salads, stuffed grape leaves, loukoumades, gyros, and pastries. Live music will play through the weekend, and tours of the church will be available. Blueberry fest coming at Warrensburg farmers market Admission and parking are both free. No phone or web food orders will be accepted.

Sona Jobarteh to perform at Music Haven

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Gambian kora virtuoso and singer Sona Jobarteh will be performing at the Music Haven concert series in Schenectady's Central Park. The show is scheduled for July 23 at 7 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The multitalented artist is a pioneer in the international music scene, being the first woman in a seven-century tradition to become a professional performer on the kora, a 21-string instrument sharing similarities with the harp and the lute. Jobarteh is an educator and activist as well, founding The Gambia Academy in 2015 to empower youth and promote education reform. Jobarteh was featured on "60 Minutes" in 2022. She is also the cousin of Malian kora artist Toumani Diabate. Actor and comedian John Cleese coming to Proctors The show will kick off with a performance by local jazz collective Heard. The concert series offers a variety of food and beverage options at all shows, including Mi...

Travers artist poster signing Friday night in Saratoga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Travers poster artist Greg Montgomery will be in Saratoga Springs Friday night for an annual poster signing. The signing will be at Impressions of Saratoga, located at 368 Broadway from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Montgomery studied serigraphy at the College of St. Rose and received formal art training at the University of New Mexico, studying painting and lithography. The Washington D.C. native has traveled to every continent except for Antarctica.Montgomery's Travers Stakes race series posters are the longest series by a single artist for a single event in racing history. This year, the poster is titled Glory Road. ACSO: Man pulled over found with mushrooms and more “One of the most distinctive aspects of the historic Saratoga Race Course is its marvelous trees,” said Montgomery in a statement. “Everywhere you look, beautiful trees shade the barns, the paddock, an...

Storms expected near St. Louis Friday evening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:32 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Thunderstorms are again likely Friday afternoon and evening. Ahead of the storms, temps should climb into the low 90s. A few of the storms could bring strong to severe, bringing threats of damaging winds and large hail. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Some showers and storms may linger until early Saturday morning. We’ll wake up Saturday around 70 and see clearing skies and highs near 90. Sunday also looks mostly quiet, just a spot storm chance north of I-70. Highs in the low 90s.  Monday and Tuesday will both bring some spot storm chances, highs around 90 both days.