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City Council set to make major changes to housing development

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin City Council is discussing a resolution Thursday that, if approved, would initiate amendment changes to the city's land development code, which would ultimately lead to higher-density living in Austin neighborhoods. Several organizations think this plan is essential in addressing Austin’s affordability crisis while some environmentalists are against the resolution, fearing it may have a negative impact on flooding.Council member Leslie Pool, District 7, introduced the resolution known as Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment, or H.O.M.E. The main goal of the resolution is to decrease the minimum lot size requirement for single-family homes, from 5,750 square feet to 2,500 square feet, so that smaller homes can be built in hopes they will be cheaper for middle-class homebuyers. The amendments to the land development code would also allow existing single-family lots to subdivide to develop a variety of different housing types. Those include row houses, town...

Fire near Jarrell spreads to 500 acres, 25% contained

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a large grass fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County. The Texas A&M Forest Service is helping respond to the fire, named the Cobb Creek Fire, and estimates the fire has burned about 500 acres and is 25% contained as of 11:40 a.m. Thursday.The grass fire started Wednesday afternoon at 1001 Cobb Creek Road shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to a news release from Williamson County. Shortly before 9 p.m., Williamson County said no evacuations were issued.The forest service initially estimated the fire to be about 100 acres on Wednesday but said in an updated tweet Thursday that it was an estimated 500 acres. The service said the increase in acreage is a result of more accurate mapping. The service also said around noon Thursday the fire was becoming active with afternoon heating, and a helicopter is assisting ground crews. Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in W...

26-year-old man dies in TDCJ prison

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 20, 2023AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A 26-year-old man died Tuesday inside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Estelle Unit in Huntsville, custodial death records confirm.Anthony Deshon Jennings was found "in medical distress" on July 18, a Texas Attorney General's Office report shows. He was taken to the unit infirmary and pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m.A medical cause of death is pending autopsy results. The state does not know if he exhibited any medical problems while in custody. He was in prison after being convicted of Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon.Jennings' death is the latest in a string of so-far unexplained deaths among young and healthy people in TDCJ custody. At least 58 people have died in state prisons and jails since June 1. 23-year-old dies of cardiac arrest in TDCJ prison On June 28, 36-year-old Jon Anthony Southards died at the same unit. He was found unresponsive in his cell after compla...

Props from Beetlejuice 2 filming set stolen in Vermont

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

EAST CORINTH, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Vermont State Police is investigating multiple thefts from the film set of the movie Beetlejuice 2 in East Corinth. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or leave an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to police, movie security personnel reported that a pickup truck had driven to a large lamppost on Village Road, removed the lamppost from its base, bundled it into the back of the truck, covered it with a tarp and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The theft occurred around 12:35 a.m. on Friday, July 14. The vehicle is reportedly an older model GMC pickup truck.The second theft was reported at around 4 p.m. on Monday 17. Movie officials stated that a 150-pound abstract art statue was stolen from the vicinity of the cemetery. Police believe the theft occurred between 5 p.m. on July 13 ...

Wentzville man sentenced in White Castle shooting, armed robberies

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A federal judge sentenced a Wentzville man Thursday in connection with two armed robberies at a White Caste restaurant in University City, including one that led him to shooting an employee. Matthew Sabir, 38, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, nearly one year after both armed robberies and the shooting occurred. He targeted the White Castle restaurant in the 7300 block of Olive Boulevard. Thieves target car washes, business owners band together to fight back According to a plea agreement, Sabir entered the restaurant on June 22, 2022 and demanded "all the $20 and $50 bills" from an employee. Sabir reportedly placed a semi-automatic pistol on the countertop and left with around $180 in cash. Later that week, after a failed robbery of a gas station in Berkeley, Sabir returned to the White Castle. Per his plea agreement, he told employees "Give me money. Don’t move. Don’t run,” and pointed a pistol at them. Several employees ran away, and Sabir opened fire, hitti...

A bike ride with a great purpose-it’s the Stop The Violence Bike Ride

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Make sure your bike is ready to roll because one of the best bike rides is getting ready to roll. It’s free and brings an important message and mission - stop the violence in our community. Joining us Thursday is the organizer, Shawn Walker. See how this year’s ride is gearing up!Stop The Violence RideJuly 28, from 8:00 a.m. to NoonMeet at the YMCA Rec-Plex parking lot at 4343 West FlorissantEventbrite.comCandyShopBikes.com

Time to make a career move with HerMove business workshop!

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Make the next move and level up your business. Learn from the best at this upcoming business seminar. It’s called 'HerMove Workshop,' and it’s happening July 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This isn’t your regular sit-down all day and take notes. It's going to fun, interactive, and mind-blowing with creativity and ideas. Britteney Ofodile is the woman behind this event be sure to sign up and learn from the best!BritteneyTheCoach.com

These areas of California could be underwater by 2050

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

Residents of the northeastern U.S. saw firsthand this summer the devastation flooding can cause in a community. Unfortunately, scientists predict flooding will only become more common as the years go on. A map created by Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change, shows what the future may hold for coastal communities as sea level rises.In the first map (below), we set the projections to include sea level rise and typical annual flooding (weather that can be expected every year). We set the map to include what would happen with "unchecked pollution" between now and 2050. That setting most closely matches the current path we're on, Climate Central said. Earth gets hotter, deadlier despite decades of global climate talks For luck, we set the bar to "medium," which reflects the middle range of possibilities predicted by scientists. Explore the interactive map below to zoom in on impacts around the country. You can...

Ocean water use warning in effect for several L.A. County beaches 

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued an ocean water use warning for multiple beaches as temperatures continue to rise through the end of the week. The warnings advise individuals who visit the following beaches in L.A. County to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the ocean waters due to bacteria levels exceeding health standards: Within 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps at Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach in Malibu Within 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek at Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu Within 100 yards up and down the coast from lifeguard tower #3 at Malibu Point at Surfrider Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms at Malibu Lagoon State Beach at Surfrider Beach The entire swim area at Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey 100 yards up and down the coast from the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica Elsewhere, Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro has ha...

New forecast released for California, and it's looking hot

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:11:25 GMT

This summer of heat waves, "wet bulb" danger, and record temperatures isn't cooling down anytime soon – at least not for most states. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its weather predictions for August on Thursday, showing the vast majority of the U.S. painted in shades of orange and red. The darker the color, the more likely a place is to see above-average temperatures next month. Things look worst in the Pacific Northwest, where western Oregon and Washington have a 60 to 70 percent chance of an extra-hot August. El Niño officially arrives early: What it means for 2023 weather But almost no one is spared. The entire west, south and east parts of the country are favoring above-average heat next month, according to the forecast.Only a handful of states have slight chances to see below-average temperatures this August: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and parts of other nearby states. States shaded in white are a toss up: NOAA meteo...