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City of Austin to create tourism improvement district

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is one step closer to creating a Tourism Public Improvement District (PID) to help bring in new revenues while the Austin Convention Center is under construction. The city council signed off on the service plan Thursday.It will go before hotels within Austin's city limits for approval before it's brought back to the council for a final consideration later this fall.Under the plan, Austin hotels with at least 100 rooms would be taxed 2% of the gross room revenue.Money generated would be used to try to attract new events to Austin and bring more tourism revenue into town, as well as fund improvements toward safety and homelessness issues.Austin City Council member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri spoke on the plan."I know we've been working on this thing for years and years and years, and that's why I'm so glad we're finally at the finish line," Qadri said.In a statement, the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association said the PID, which would run for 10 years, would p...

A few storms today, but more expected Saturday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Strong to severe storms brought heavy rain, strong winds and hail to parts of Central Texas Thursday evening. This after a microburst brought damage to a neighborhood in Cedar Park during the morning.Microburst likely the cause of damage in Cedar Park with early morning stormsThanks to a midday arrival of scattered showers and storms today, we expect the afternoon will trend drier with a partly sunny sky. Rain chances for the rest of the day have dropped to 40% as the atmosphere may not "recover" from the midday rain to produce anything else meaningful during the afternoon.Today's forecastHigh temperatures should push into the upper 80s to near 90 depending on how quickly the sun breaks through the clouds where you are. Central Texas rainfall amounts While rain chances the rest of today have gone down, our rain chances overnight and into Saturday have trended higher again. There's a little more confidence in storms approaching during the morning and midday on Satu...

City of Austin, Austin EMS Association approve 4-year contract

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After months of negotiation, a signing ceremony was held Thursday afternoon that celebrated the new four-year contract between the city of Austin and Austin Travis County EMS.The deal included a 4% raise overall to start, and an increase in the entry-level pay rate. RELATED: Austin City Council: Police department data, EMS labor contract According to Selena Xie, president of the Austin Emergency Medical Services Association, members voted 93% in favor of the contract with a majority (65%) of its members voting."Today, we can really start thinking about the future, and we're already starting to do that," Xie said Thursday. “We already starting to have meetings to think about immediately where we should be going tomorrow.”

Motion denied for change of venue request in APD officer's trial

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A request to move the trial for Christopher Taylor, the Austin Police officer charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos, out of Travis County was denied during a hearing Friday.Taylor's attorneys filed a motion to request a change of venue in July, claiming the case is too widely known locally for an impartial jury to be selected. RELATED: Attorneys for APD officer request change of venue for upcoming October trial Taylor is accused of shooting and killing Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot in April 2020.APD said on that day, officers responded after a 911 call reported someone dealing drugs in a car and that the man had a gun.APD said when officers arrived at the scene, Ramos was directed to get out of the car.After getting out of the car, police say the incident escalated and an officer hit Ramos in the thigh with a non-lethal bean bag round.Ramos got back in the car and tried to drive away...

One of the Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned businesses changes hands on St. Paul’s Selby Avenue

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

It’s taken weeks, but the mystery of a shuttered St. Paul laundry service that left dozens of customers high and dry — so to speak — has been solved.Irvin Brewin has been getting his clothes pressed at E&J Drycleaners on the 600 block of Selby Avenue since before he shipped out for Vietnam as a young man of about 20, when the shop bore a different name. Brewin, now 76, no longer lives in the Selby-Dale area, but he still drives in from his Inver Grove Heights home for what he’s long considered reliable service from one of Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned stores, known for its community work.For three weeks, his loyalty was tested, however. A handwritten sign in the storefront informed patrons that an unidentified creature was running amok, and their dry cleaning would not be available that day: “For the safety of staff and customers we will be closed today due to a critter that has entered the building. Animal Control will be removing ASAP! Sorr...

Learning about Stillwater history through QR codes is latest ‘Great Idea’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

Stillwater, known as the “birthplace of Minnesota,” is famous for its history, but it can be difficult to envision how and where historical events took place.Stillwater resident and history buff Matt Thueson is working to change that.Matt Thueson(Courtesy photo)Thueson has come up with a plan to install QR codes – square matrix barcodes that can be scanned using a smartphone – in and around Stillwater that would link to historic photos and information about the site.Thueson’s idea, “Stillwater Area History Spots,” is the winner of this year’s Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s Great Idea contest. He won a $10,000 grant to create a series of around 70 QR codes that will be “placed on sidewalks, in shop windows and on signposts particularly used by pedestrians in Stillwater, Marine on St. Croix and Bayport,” he said.Imagine walking on a trail near McKusick Lake and being able to see what the area looked like in 1908 when it was a segment of streetcar ...

Prospects camp the ‘next step’ for Wild draft picks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

For the vast majority of ice hockey players, there are several steps to take before making an NHL club. Wild prospects are taking some of those steps this weekend at TRIA rink.Just about all of them are aiming high.“I feel like I’m trying to do my best to get an NHL spot,” said defenseman David Spacek, a fifth-round Wild selection in the 2022 first-year player draft.That’s going to be a tall order, if not impossible, for most of the 26 players who have been skating at TRIA since Wednesday. A veteran-led team that has made the postseason in each of the past three seasons, the Wild are just about full up for 2023-24.The Wild’s prospects will play the St. Louis Blues prospects on Friday night, then the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects on Sunday. Many, but not all, of the players will then move on to Wild camp, which starts Thursday at TRIA. The games are sold out.“For this rookie camp, my goal is to make the main camp,” wing Riley Heidt, a second-round Wild pick in the June draft, said Fr...

Capital Region Restaurant Rundown: September 11-15

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The restaurant industry is ever-changing with restaurants opening, closing, relocating, or just doing their thing. Here’s a recap of the latest Capital Region restaurant news, September 11 through 15. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Participants for Downtown Troy Restaurant WeekDowntown Troy Restaurant Week begins on Monday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 17. Participating restaurants will be serving up specials for $20.23.New ramen, bubble tea restaurant opens in LathamKobe Ramen and Bubble Tea opened about a month ago in Galleria 7 Market in Latham. The eatery is in the former Charlie’s StreetFood space.Sam’s Chinese in Burnt Hills closes, Mexican restaurant moving inSam’s Chinese Restaurant, located at 824 Route 50 in Burnt Hills, has closed. The owners announced in a Facebook post on September 1 that they are retiring.Joe’s Tavern reopens in CohoesJoe’s Tavern, located at 16 Divisio...

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks returning to MVP Arena

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party is returning to Albany in 2024. The event is set for January 13 and 14 at MVP Arena. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The event brings Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Demo Derby, Bone Shaker, Bigfoot, Gunkster, and the brand new HW 5-Alarm. The production features a laser light show, theatrical effects, dance parties, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways.The Glow Party will also include a transforming robot and the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Freestyle Motocross Team. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party is also making a stop in Uniondale, New York. Trans-Siberian Orchestra returning to MVP Arena "We're thrilled that Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party is expanding next year and that more families than ever before can experience this exhilarating show," said Julie Freeland, Senior Director of Global Location Based Enter...

Denver to pay $550,000 to protester who lost eye after police shot him with projectile

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:50 GMT

The city of Denver is poised to pay $550,000 to settle a lawsuit by a man who lost an eye after police shot him in the face with a projectile during the 2020 protests.Courtesy of Russell StrongRussell Strong shows his injuries the day he was released from the hospital. He was injured by a police projectile during a May 2020 protest in downtown Denver.Approval of the city’s settlement agreement with Russell Strong is on the Denver City Council’s agenda Monday. Strong filed his suit in February 2021, alleging that Denver police officers used “extreme violence” against peaceful protesters on May 30, 2020, in the early days of the racial justice demonstrations sparked across the country by the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd.An officer later identified as Adam Bolton fired a “kinetic impact projectile” at Strong’s head, hitting him in the eye, according to the lawsuit. Despite emergency surgery, Strong lost his right eye on June 4, 202...