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More cities crack down on homeless encampments. Advocates say it's not an answer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Tossing tent poles, blankets and a duffel bag into a shopping cart and three wagons, Will Taylor spent a summer morning helping friends tear down what had been their home and that of about a dozen others. It wasn't the first time and wouldn't be the last.Contractors from the city of Portland had arrived to break down the stretch of tents and tarps on a side street behind a busy intersection. People had an hour to vacate the encampment, one of more than a dozen cleared that July day, according to city data.Whatever they couldn't take with them was placed in clear plastic bags, tagged with the date and location of the removal and sent to an 11,000-square-foot (1,020 square meter) warehouse storing thousands like them.A woman gathers possessions to take before a homeless encampment was cleaned up in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Cities across the U.S. are struggling with and cracking down on tent encampments as the number of homeless people grows, largely...

Downtown Austin Alliance to discuss proposed light rail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The future of how Austin moves its people around the city and its downtown will the main topic of a panel discussion Tuesday on transportation.The Downtown Austin Alliance said it will host leaders from Austin Transit Partnership to talk about the proposed Austin light rail.The Alliance said ATP will talk about how it is designing the rail system to move people around downtown better. ATP is also expected to talk about how the rail system will focus on “the user experience that puts people first,” the Alliance said. What does next year look like for Project Connect's light rail development? ATP will send the following three representatives to the panel, according to the announcement. Lindsay Wood is executive vice president of engineering & construction. Peter Mullan is executive vice president of architecture and urban design. Courtney Chavez is senior vice president of equity & community partnerships.The panel happens from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at St. David’s ...

Sunshine briefly returns today ahead of next storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More sunshine and winds swinging around to a southeasterly direction bring a milder day Tuesday with highs in the lower 60s.The next storm, however, starts to impact our weather Wednesday with increasing clouds and a few light rain showers late in the day.Good rain chance Thursday as an upper-level storm approachesPreliminary forecasts are showing a low severe weather threat early Thursday.Severe storm threat for ThursdayThe storm appears to bring a likelihood of rain and thunderstorms early Thursday, with some areas seeing 0.25"-0.50" of rain. Highest totals will be east of Austin. Future-cast radar Thursday morningStay tuned to KXAN and your First Warning Weather app for updates this week. NEW BLOG: NOAA updates December, winter forecasts Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather n...

Santa Claus coming to Kyle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – Santa Claus is making a holiday visit to an Austin suburb Friday afternoon. Kyle officials said St. Nicholas will make a stop in their city for the annual tree-lighting ceremony downtown. Santa's Arrival celebration begins at 4 p.m. at Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park at 101 S. Burleson St., the city said. The tree will be lit at sundown around 5:45 to 6:00 p.m. The city said community can enjoy music from local school choirs and bands as well as starting on their holiday shopping. Photos with SantaPeople can take free pictures with Santa at the Krug Activity Center from 4 to 8 p.m. According to the city, the doors will open for photos at 4 p.m. and the line will be cut off at a certain point at 8 p.m. The city said people must be take their Santa photos with personal cameras or cellular devices because a professional photographer will not be present. Other photo opportunities with Santa will be available in December during the 25 Days of Christmas and Christm...

DPS to hold public safety career fair Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – More than 20 national, state and local law enforcement agencies will be recruiting at a career fair at a central Austin hotel on Friday, the Department of Public Safety said Monday.According to DPS, the 2023 Public Safety Diversity Career Fair will happen at the Hill Country Ballroom at the Holiday Inn at 6000 Middle Fiskville Rd. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.DPS, the Texas Veterans Commission and Workforce Solutions Capital Area are co-hosting the fair. APD, citing staffing issues, takes 3 hours to respond to crash According to the fair’s Eventbrite page, representatives from the following agencies will be at the event:Central Intelligence AgencyFederal Bureau of InvestigationAustin Police DepartmentAustin Fire DepartmentAlcohol Tobacco and FirearmsDrug Enforcement AgencyImmigration and Customs EnforcementTravis County Sheriff’s OfficeU.S. Secret ServiceFederal Air MarshalsVirginia State PolicePhiladelphia Police DepartmentHouston Police DepartmentTexas Depart...

Bruce Yandle: Presidential candidates and the myth of dwindling manufacturing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

It seems increasingly likely that, for a third consecutive term, we’ll have a president who strongly identifies with American manufacturing while believing it needs his help to thrive. Since President Donald Trump’s 2016 arrival and continuing through the Biden administration, we’ve been reminded again and again that America has lost its industrial muscle, that their efforts can recover this might, and that tariffs and subsidies will help “build back better” or “make America great again.”Let’s have a little perspective during this next election cycle. Not only is the downfall of American manufacturing mostly a myth, but it’s a harmful one.Trump and Biden have systematically imposed taxes or tariffs on American citizens for broad categories of imported goods and borrowed billions in world credit markets to subsidize the domestic manufacture of such things as computer chips, electric vehicles and batteries. Assuring us that protect...

Police expand search for missing college student into the Adirondacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Law enforcement has expanded its search for Matthew Grant, a missing college student who attends the Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T). Grant, 22, was last seen Monday, November 20, driving a 2014 Jeep Cherokee with a Michigan license plate (ESR8141). Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The search has expanded into the Adirondacks after Grant reportedly expressed interest in exploring the mountains the night before he left home. Anyone with information on Grant's whereabouts is asked to call 911 with any information.

Civilian board to finally tour troubled St. Louis jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A civilian board created to help oversee the troubled St. Louis City Justice Center will get its first tour of the facility today. The Detention Facilities Oversight Board has been around for 18 months, but until today, members have not been able to get into the facility because authorities say they lacked the proper training.The Justice Center has been the scene of multiple problems and controversies. A 73-year-old guard taken hostage by inmates in August was one of the problems. The guard was eventually freed and taken away for treatment. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured in that incident.That was just two days after the death of Carlton Bernard, who was a detainee at the jail. At least nine inmates have died at the city justice center in the last two years. Accused dogfighter evades jail thanks to surprise plea There have been complaints from detainees about the conditions inside the facility. In October, the Missouri state auditor launched an investigation...

Missouri lawmaker wants to ban Palestinian refugees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A state lawmaker wants to ban Palestinian refugees from coming to Missouri. Iron County Republican Chris Dinkins says she's concerned for the safety of Missourians.Dinkins wrote a letter to Governor Mike Parson saying, "I lack faith in the Biden administration to properly vet refugees from Gaza to ensure we are not bringing a terrorist threat to American soil. We must clearly say we will not accept any Gaza refugees under any circumstances."Parson's office did not respond.Ray Reed, a Democrat running for a seat in St. Louis County, said Missouri should be welcoming to those seeking refuge. He says, "Palestinian refugees bring cultural diversity that enriches our communities and contributes to our economic growth through their skills and talents."

Tuesday is the coldest day of the week, warmer, wet late week 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:58:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Light winds and clear skies have made for a cold night. We’ll wake up in the low 20s and only see highs near 40. Winds swing to the south tonight with a warm front, and we’ll shake off the chill. Not as cold out the door Wednesday morning; wake-up temps around 30; sunny and warmer tomorrow afternoon; highs back into the 50s.  Clouds will increase Wednesday night and rain showers will build Thursday morning. Widespread rain is expected Thursday, Thursday night, and early Friday. Watching another chance of light rain Saturday night into Sunday morning.