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APD Chief Joseph Chacon on DPS halting partnership: 'Unfortunate but understandable'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) increased patrols in Austin "has been critical given the staffing shortages APD is experiencing."DPS ceased its partnership with APD over the weekend so troopers can focus their attention on border cities in the wake of the expiration of Title 42, according to law enforcement sources. The initiative, called the Austin Violent Crimes Task Force (AVCTF), began on March 30 as a way to assist APD, as the department faces a staffing shortage. APD currently has about 300 vacancies."This impacts operations, including slower response time to emergency calls," Chacon said about the temporary split in an email. "APD officers are working hard to provide the highest level of service possible, and we ask for the community's understanding and patience as APD works to build back its ranks."Since the program began, there have been “significant decreases in violent crime, response times, and ca...

Isolated heavy downpours this evening, then drier weather returns

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are now enjoying above-normal May rainfall after more than a week of on-and-off showers and thunderstorms.A cool front moving through the area this evening interacting with plentiful humidity in place may spark a few additional heavy downpours early this evening. While some areas will remain dry, others may see up to an inch of rainfall.Clouds/radar forecast showing a few heavy downpours Tuesday eveningDrier, hotter weather comingA ridge of high pressure and drier northwesterly flow kicks in Wednesday and Thursday, removing rain chances from the forecast. Seasonably hot afternoons return with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.Temperatures warm Wednesday and ThursdayNext severe thunderstorm riskA cold front moves southeast across our area late Friday night into Saturday morning, leading to our next chance of rain and thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center's Day 4 outlook is suggesting possible strong to severe thunderstorms during this time. The chance...

With its licenses in the balance, Billy’s on Grand seeks to rebrand as Gather Eatery and Bar

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

Days away from a June 1 public hearing that could determine the future of his liquor and entertainment licenses, Wesley Spearman has made a pitch to the Grand Avenue community. Billy’s on Grand, the iconic neighborhood bar that critics have called a magnet for police calls, will close for six weeks this summer for renovations, including freshly painted walls and new flooring and bar and patio furniture.When it reopens in early September, Spearman said Billy’s will be no more, replaced instead by the Gather Eatery and Bar. Led by an award-winning mixologist and veterans of the restaurant industry, Gather will feature creative cocktails, small bites, live music and theme nights such as Karaoke, Latin and country, and ultimately a reservation-only “speakeasy”-style side room and family gathering space.Spearman, a co-owner of the DWD Group, presented a slideshow to a crowd of invited guests in the future speakeasy space on Monday, and was scheduled to do the same...

Soul Asylum and Kevin Bacon’s band among the acts booked for Minnesota State Fair’s free stages

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

Local favorites Soul Asylum, Kevin Bacon’s band the Bacon Brothers and “America’s Got Talent” vet Drake Milligan are among the artists set to play the Minnesota State Fair’s largest free stage.The lineup of evening shows at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell includes the Bacon Brothers (Aug. 24-25), Naturally 7 (Aug. 26-27), Drake Milligan (Aug. 28-29), Nikki Lane (Aug. 30-31), Celebrating Meat Loaf (Sept. 1-2) and Soul Asylum (Sept. 3-4).In all, the State Fair’s free stage entertainment lineup features more than 900 shows throughout the Great Minnesota Get-Back-Together’s 12-day run. The full lineup with showtimes is online at mnstatefair.org.Highlights at other Minnesota State Fair stages:West End at Sunset at the Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater: Mike Hosty (Aug. 24-25), Kiss the Tiger (Aug. 26-27), Heatbox (Aug. 28-29), Gully Boys (Aug. 30-31), First Avenue Goes to the Fair (Sept. 1-2) and Petty Comes Alive (Sept. 3-4).Bazaar After Dark at the...

Legislature poised for final votes to legalize recreational marijuana

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

House and Senate negotiators wrapped up work Tuesday on the details of a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota, setting the stage for final votes in the closing days of the legislative session.It will still take staffers a day or two to prepare the final bill language, the Democratic chairs of the cannabis conference committee, Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, and Sen. Lindsey Port, of Burnsville, said as they closed out their final meeting. The bill can then go to the House and Senate floors, where final approval is expected.“It has been an incredible journey,” Stephenson said, recalling the more than 30 committee hearings held between the both chambers this year to get the bill into its final shape. “Minnesota will be better because of it.”Conference committees are finishing work on the major budget bills of the 2023 session this week as the adjournment deadline of Monday approaches. House Democratic leaders hope to finish earlier, but much work lies...

PGA Championship: Stillwater native Alex Beach is due

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

Everything was seemingly working against Alex Beach early on at the PGA Professional Championship a couple of weeks back.The Stillwater native was part of featured group coverage, meaning the added pressure of cameras was constantly present. He couldn’t catch a break, as every bounce went against him to leave himself in a tough spot. He was on the wrong end of the draw, which left him playing in the more difficult end of the conditions in each of the first two rounds.All that added up to a first-round score of 4-over 76, leaving him in danger of missing the two-round cut that trimmed the field to the top 90 players with ties. He went out in Round 2 thinking he needed to play good golf. And he did. The problem was, nothing went in the cup.“I’m hitting it pin high, I’m hitting great putts,” Beach said, “they’re just not going in.”He still turned in a solid 1-under round, but that left him around 130th in the standings as he exited the course with many golfers still to play Round 2. He...

Trudy Rubin: Meet the Israeli military reservists who are fighting to preserve democracy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — Ofir Korazim, an Israeli air force pilot with 30 years of F-16 experience, hardly has the profile of a protester.The community leader of a small village in central Israel, head of a parent-teacher association, and a military reservist who has done 50 to 60 days of reserve duty yearly, he was galvanized when an extremist cabinet minister named Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to “wipe out” a West Bank town.During a long conversation in a Tel Aviv office, Korazim recalled his initial upset over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to end the Supreme Court’s independence. That unease turned to dismay when Netanyahu tried to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant — for asking him to listen to the concerns of reservists over the judicial overhaul. It became pure anger over Smotrich’s illegal demand.At that point, Korazim (who no longer flies but serves at headquarters) joined a growing movement of reserve pilots, navigators,...

String of fires in Colonie under investigation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A rash of brush fires in Colonie are under investigation. The latest fire destroying a garage and coming dangerously close to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Czestochowa Parish. Investigations continue into fatal fire in Amsterdam “I was told it burned down. I thought there'd be something that looked a little bit like a garage left. I didn't realize it was going to be pretty much down to the ground,” said Parishioner Chair, Mark Roach.Pastor Mark who was on scene Monday night when the fire was burning, he did not want to go on camera, but he tells NEWS10 it was very scary. He says he was not allowed on the property.Officials say the fire started around 10:30 p.m. behind the church in a wooded brush area.“From what I understand, a brush fire that started off to the little left of the garage that somehow came down and engulfed the garage itself,” said Roach.Roach says that fire officials tell him this the third brush fire to happen in the area in as many wee...

Watervliet Police Department warns of rising car thefts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Watervliet Police Department, there has been a rise in thefts of belongings left in cars. There are also more vehicle thefts involving cars being left running unattended. Thieves get into the car due to doors being left unlocked or open windows. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! To avoid thefts and to protect your car and belongings, police suggest following these tips:Do not leave your car unlockedDo not leave spare keys or a key fob inside your vehicleDo not leave your windows openPark in a well-lit area if possibleDo not leave the title or important documents insideStore valuables out of sightNever leave your car running unattendedIf you witness suspicious activity, contact the Watervliet Police Department immediately at (518) 270-3833 or dial 9-1-1.

White Creek man sentenced on attempted murder charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:39:27 GMT

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Friday, the White Creek man found guilty of trying to kill his landlord while being evicted in July was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Matthew Parant was found guilty of three counts of Attempted Murder, one count of Menacing, and one count of Reckless Endangerment. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The charges stem from an incident that escalated after Parant got into an argument with the property owner on July 7, 2022. When he discovered that the police had been called, Parant got a rifle from his home. Police said they were trying to talk to the property owner when Parant threatened to kill them. He then began to fire in their direction.The incident was resolved without any reported injuries. Parant was also sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison for the Reckless Endangerment conviction, which will run concurrently.