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Austin Watershed suggests polystyrene container ban to reduce harmful litter in waterways

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In an effort to find ways to reduce trash in Austin waterways, the Watershed Protection Department proposed looking into banning single-use products from Austin facilities and evaluating the possibility of prohibiting the sale of single-use material that negatively impact Austin’s water quality.On Thursday, the Watershed Protection Department sent out a revised memo to the Austin Mayor and City Council that described current efforts to reduce trash in the waterways and posited recommendations for future policy considerations. The Watershed Protection Department proposed changing policies at City facilities in and around waterbodies, such as limiting City procurement and distribution of single-use plastic and polystyrene in all City of Austin facilities and researching the City of Austin's ability to enact a ban on single-use containers on waterways. This could mirror San Marcos' "can ban," which prohibits people from bringing single-use cans while floating on th...

West Campus rent higher than Austin's citywide average

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- According to data from Apartment List, the West Campus area has higher rent prices than many other parts of Austin. "In that very close University-adjacent area, two bedroom apartments right now are running like two grand a month, which is about $100 to $200 more expensive every month than the citywide average," said Apartment List Senior Research Associate Rob Warnock. It's something University of Texas graduate student Edwin Bautista experienced firsthand. "It's been tough finding actually affordable housing, especially as a student just because my income is so limited," Bautista said.West Campus housing high-rise boomThe University of Texas at Austin has the highest bed count in the nation for student housing projects currently under construction, according to real estate company Berkadia’s 2023 Student Housing Market report.The report shows UT coming in at the top spot with 5,522 total beds. That's nearly double the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which is r...

Hutto ISD voters consider $522 million bond election for rapidly growing district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — Hutto ISD said it's the fourth fastest-growing school district in Central Texas. In May, voters will decide on a $522 million school bond that would bring two new elementary schools and additions to several existing campuses.Dr. Celina Estrada Thomas, superintendent of Hutto ISD, said the district is expected to nearly double in the next 10 years.On the HISD bond web page, the student population is listed at 9,750. That number is projected to surpass 17,000 by 2032.The bond has three propositions, the largest being Proposition A costing $471.5 million.The biggest highlights from Prop A include the addition of elementary schools No. 8 and No. 9 for the district, additions to existing campuses, and purchasing land for future school sites.Proposition B would bring "instructional technology devices" to Hutto ISD; the price tag for that is listed at $10.5 millionProposition C, listed at $40 million, would improve the District Academic Center which hosts HISD's River...

Getting hotter and more humid through Saturday afternoon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thursday afternoon was Austin's first day of warmer than normal weather in nearly a week and a half as high temperatures climbed to 81 degrees. Heat and humidity continue to build Friday and Saturday, with near-record highs in the forecast Saturday afternoon. El Niño watch issued: Here’s what that means Clouds increase tonight into Friday as a storm system passes to our north. The system could generate an isolated thunderstorm locally on Friday, Friday night and Saturday, though rain will remain isolated. The Storm Prediction Center has our northern tier of counties under a 1 out of 5 risk of severe storms Friday and Friday night.Severe thunderstorm risk Friday/Friday nightAfter high temperatures in the 90s on Saturday, an afternoon cold front will drop temperatures and humidity beautifully on Sunday. Those participating in the Capitol 10K Sunday morning will find a cool, dry morning with low humidity and breezy northeast winds. First 2023 Atlantic Hurricane for...

Minnesota DFLers push automatic voter registration, absentee ballots, other election changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

Minnesota lawmakers are politically divided on the best way to better protect the state’s voting system and to encourage more people to participate in elections.Democrats, who hold narrow majorities in the House and Senate, are pushing a bill they call the Democracy for the People Act. They say it would automatically register people to vote, make it easier to cast ballots, protect voters from misinformation and shed more light on who spends money to influence elections.“It really is a bill that makes a choice to protect and expand multiracial democracy,” said Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis, the chief sponsor of the bill in the House where the legislation was debated Thursday.Democrats’ envision that “people of every background, every ZIP code, every generation, every race, every political persuasion come together to make decisions to think big and solve problems and govern together,” Greenman said.Republicans oppose the legislation saying it ...

Twins infielder Kyle Farmer ‘in fairly good spirits’ after surgery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

A day later, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was still marveling over the fact that Kyle Farmer managed to escape a facial fracture after taking a 91.6 mph fastball to the face on Wednesday afternoon.His lip, well, that’s a different story.“He’s a handsome guy and all that,” Baldelli said. “The scar is probably going to be there. It’s significant. I don’t know if we’re going to be able to hide that one.”The Twins officially placed the infielder on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, selecting the contract of outfielder Kyle Garlick and transferring Gilberto Celestino (thumb) to the 60-day IL to make room for Garlick on the 40-man roster.For now, there is no timeline for Farmer’s return, but Baldelli said the infielder appeared to be “in fairly good spirits.”“He’s texting everybody, He’s talking about the game,” Baldelli said. “ … All things considered, what he went through was beyond horrible and I think he’s probably missing everyone already. Luckily, his wife is there wi...

Grey Cloud Island mining company withdraws petition to have 120 acres annexed to Cottage Grove

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

A mining company that operates a rock quarry in Grey Cloud Island Township on Thursday withdrew its petition to be annexed into neighboring Cottage Grove.Officials from Aggregate Industries, which had filed an annexation petition last month to have 120 acres annexed to Cottage Grove, said they had decided to “further evaluate our options.”The company owns about 600 acres in the township.Grey Cloud Island Township Supervisor Richard Polta said he was happy to hear the news. “This means the township will survive,” he said. “I want to thank all the people who helped gather information and show why the annexation should not take place.”Township officials had worried that the annexation of the land into Cottage Grove would have been the first step in three different annexation proceedings. “They would have been back in a year with a petition to annex another 120 acres,” he said. “This would have been just one of three.”The company’s annexation petition listed several reasons for the requ...

Witness: Woman pumping gas seriously hurt chasing after stolen purse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A woman pumping gas is now fighting to live after witnesses said she was thrown from the hood of a car during a reported robbery.The St. Louis County Police Department received a call just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to the QuikTrip on Union Road near Reavis Barracks.Marty Carney, who works across the street, just got off work when his normal drive home changed."Just got done pumping gas, heard a lady scream 'No,' a very horrific sounding no," he said. "Seen her jump on the hood of the Dodge Charger."Police confirmed the woman's purse was taken. Top Story: Missouri students physically restrained, secluded thousands of times Carney said the victim gave chase.“Whenever they turned to go around the pumps, that’s when she came off the hood of the car," he said.Carney said the suspect's car sped away from the gas station and drove into oncoming traffic before taking a left on Reavis Barracks, headed toward Interstate 55.Angela Carosello lives nearby and stopped at...

First zoo-raised Ozark hellbender successfully reproduces in the wild

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Missouri recently reached an important milestone in the recovery of an endangered species.On Thursday, the Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed that a zoo-raised Ozark hellbender has reproduced in the Current River.Hellbenders are the largest aquatic salamander in North America. Missouri is the only state to have both subspecies of hellbenders – the Ozark and eastern. Its closest relative, the giant salamander, lives in China and Japan.Both the Ozark and eastern hellbender populations in Missouri have declined more than 70% over the past 40 years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and were added to the federal endangered species list in October 2011. At present, fewer than 1,000 hellbenders exist in the wild. Top Story: Missouri students physically restrained, secluded thousands of times A species assessment showed all hellbender populations had a 96% risk of extinction over the next 75 years unless the population increases. Common threats are a...

Lynnzee Brown caps college gymnastics career at NCAA national championships as DU’s season comes to close

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:23 GMT

Lynnzee Brown brought the Pioneers to tears.In her final event as a college gymnast and DU great at the NCAA national championships in Fort Worth on Thursday, Brown scored a 9.9500 on the flour routine. She walked off with tears streaming down her cheeks and was greeted by crying teammates and coaches, too.Brown, a sixth-year graduate student who overcame two Achilles tears, is the heart and soul of a Pioneers team that made its sixth appearance at nationals and first since 2019, when DU advanced to the Final Four. But Brown and the Pioneers wouldn’t get that far this time. No. 14 DU failed to get out of its semifinal, as No. 2 LSU and No. 6 Florida moved onto the Final Four while the Pioneers and Cal saw their seasons come to a close.Brown’s floor routine is an ode to two Black gymnasts who also went to DU. She won the 2019 national championship in the event, but her routine wasn’t good enough to be atop the leaderboard in floor after the first semifinal. However,...