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Some in Austin concerned over Zilker Park vision plan, poll shows

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some people in Austin are worried about proposed changes that could be coming to Zilker Park.For the last two years, the city has discussed the Zilker Park vision plan which, city officials say, would improve access and make improvements to the park."It really is supposed to provide a framework and a guide for us," Gregory Montes with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department said. "A roadmap, if you will, on how to restore and enhance the park so citizens can continue to use it."The plan proposes at least three parking garages throughout the park, more bike paths and pedestrian access and more bus stops. There are other improvements being proposed as well."The whole idea of parking structures in the park, it really developed pretty early on in the process, because of the parking situation and the issues we have had in the park and so this was part of the solution, but it was not the only solution," said Montes."I enjoy it from ACL to just a weekend at Barton Spring...

Vandegrift wins 6A girls golf crown, medalist races goes to playoff holes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The final round of the Class 6A girls golf championships was a wild one Tuesday at Legacy Hills Golf Club.Katy Seven Lakes senior Maelynn Kim emerged from a three-person playoff to win the individual state championship, beating defending champion Sydney Givens from Vandegrift and Kate Pickrell from Lake Travis on the first extra hole. Givens won runner-up honors with a win on the second playoff hole against Pickrell. All three players ended the two-round tournament with a 4-under-par 140.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersGivens and Pickrell shot identical rounds of 68 and 72, and both were tied for the lead after the first day Monday. Kim shot a pair of 70s to find her way into the playoff and claim the medalist honors.In the team race, the Vipers led wire-to-wire to win the title and avenged last year's second-place finish. Led by Givens and f...

Twin Cities man who spoke of favorably of mass shootings pleads guilty to gun charge

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

A Twin Cities man who told an FBI informant that he was building an arsenal of automatic weapons to use against police and admired mass shooters pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a machine gun.River Smith, 21, of Savage, entered his plea on the single count before U.S. District Judge David Doty in Minneapolis. His sentencing will be scheduled later. The maximum sentence is 10 years.Smith was initially charged in December with possession of a machine gun — specifically devices to convert guns to fully automatic fire — and attempting to possess unregistered hand grenades. He paid an FBI informant $690 for four “auto sear” devices and three dummy grenades, prosecutors alleged at the time.River William Smith (Sherburne County Jail via AP)“Law enforcement took him down before he could execute his plan,” federal prosecutor Manda Sertich said at a hearing in December, when a magistrate judge denied bail.FBI Special Agent Mark Etheridge testified at that hearing that when Smith...

Lawmakers talk security after baseball bat attack at congressman's office

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Two congressional staff members are recovering after being attacked with a baseball bat at U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly's office on Monday. The assault is now part of a conversation about beefing up security at a time when political violence is dramatically increasing. "Very shocking and I think it's going to take a long time to recover from," Connolly said.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Connolly and his team are still reeling after the violent attack at their Virginia office. While investigators look for a motive, Connolly says lawmakers have other questions. "I think I think it exposes the vulnerability of a lot of district offices all over the country," Connolly said. "I was mobbed by colleagues last night on the floor, commiserating and also expressing concern about their own staffs." Last October, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer inside their San Franci...

Tick, tick, tick: Biden, lawmakers fail to reach breakthrough on debt ceiling

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

President Biden and congressional leaders made little progress toward securing a deal to raise the nation's debt limit at a crucial meeting Tuesday afternoon — though they did express some optimism about future talks between staff from the White House and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).The talks hit a roadblock before the principals arrived at the White House, with McCarthy reiterating his demand to implement stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an idea that has run into stiff Democratic resistance.  House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and many other Democrats dismissed the McCarthy proposal as a “nonstarter,” pointing out it would only save $11 billion over 10 years, hardly enough to make a dent in the nation’s $31.4 trillion debt.  The impasse sets the stage for a dramatic two-to-three weeks of brinkmanship before the Treasury Department finally exhausts its ability to pay the nation’s fiscal obligations on ...

Mike Kehoe launches campaign for Missouri governor

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. - Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe officially announced Tuesday he will run for governor in 2024. Kehoe joins Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft as the only two candidates who have officially launched campaigns for the governor's office. Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigning immediately Kehoe, a Republican candidate born and raised in the St. Louis area, has served as lieutenant governor since June 2018. He was appointed to the role by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, who previously served as lieutenant governor but assumed office as governor in 2018 due to the resignation of Eric Greitens. Before that, Kehoe served in the Missouri Senate from 2011 to 2018, including nearly three years as the Senate majority leader. Kehoe made his campaign announcement Tuesday at the Capital Bluffs Event Center in mid-Missouri.

Man who paralyzed Missouri officer with car enters mental disease plea

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Greene County judge accepted a not-guilty plea by reason of mental disease or defect for a man who paralyzed a Springfield Police Department officer by ramming into him with an SUV.Jon Routh will be committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health to receive treatment. Man who paralyzed Springfield officer with SUV court appearance scheduled There were four impact statements given by Mark Priebe, his wife Heather, his son Conner and there was a letter written by his daughter read aloud. The common theme of all the statements is the impact this has had on their family and say Routh does not weigh on their mind at all. The incident occurred at Springfield Police Headquarters in June 2020, where court documents state Routh was seen “causing a disturbance and urinating on the front door.” According to court documents, when asked to leave, Routh got into an SUV and crashed his car into an officer standing in front of the building, continuing to accel...

Cardiologist now faces 16 felony counts for alleged sexual assaults of ten women

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

A Denver cardiologist who was charged with sexual assault after an alleged date rape now faces 16 felony counts involving ten women, prosecutors said.Stephen Matthews, 35, was arrested March 22 for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office. Matthews was charged with three felonies in that case.On April 18, Denver police investigators announced that they had information indicating that Matthews was allegedly involved in multiple incidents and police asked that anyone who believed they were victimized to come forward. The request generated calls from an additional nine women, according to the DA’s news release.Initial charges against Matthews have been folded into a new criminal case, alleging 16 felony counts involving ten victims, the release said. Matthews was arrested on Monday in connection to the new case and new charges.Matthews is now charged with three counts of sexual assault (victim helpless); one coun...

Rockies’ Ryan Feltner resting at home after skull fracture

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner, who sustained a skull fracture and concussion Saturday night when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos, remains home and is resting comfortably, manager Bud Black said Tuesday.“I think he will come back (to the clubhouse) on Monday,” Black said before the Rockies hosted Cincinnati at Coors Field. “It’s probably best that as he continues his recovery he just takes it easy. His folks are here. Overall, he’s doing well.”The ball came off Castellano’s bat at 92.7 mph and Feltner crumpled to the ground when the ball struck his head. He was taken to the hospital Saturday and spent the night there under observation. Feltner was able to text with Black and his teammates on Saturday night, which eased some of the concern, Black said.Feltner’s skull fracture did not require surgery, but there is no timetable for his return to the team or when he will begin throwing again.Inju...

‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark tiff flares anew between fast food competitors

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:38:52 GMT

By MEAD GRUVER (Associated Press)CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Declaring a mission to liberate “Taco Tuesday” for all, Taco Bell is asking U.S. regulators to force Wyoming-based Taco John’s to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark.Too many businesses and others refer to “Taco Tuesday” for Taco John’s to be able to have exclusive rights to the phrase, Taco Bell asserts in a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing that is, of course, dated Tuesday.It’s the latest development in a long-running beef over “Taco Tuesday” that even included NBA star LeBron James making an unsuccessful attempt to claim the trademark in 2019.“Taco Bell believes ‘Taco Tuesday’ is critical to everyone’s Tuesday. To deprive anyone of saying ‘Taco Tuesday’ — be it Taco Bell or anyone who provides tacos to the world — is like depriving the world of sunshine itself,” the Taco Bell filing reads.A key ...