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Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill addressing catalytic converter thefts

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Tuesday afternoon that creates new criminal offenses surrounding the theft of catalytic converters. State Senator Carol Alvarado, D- Houston, filed Senate Bill 224 – known as the Deputy Darren Almendarez Act –  which was designed to address the spike in catalytic converter thefts across the state. Thefts of this kind have increased by 1,200% from 2019 to 2021, per the National Insurance Crime Bureau. MORE: Have you been targeted? Catalytic converter thefts on the rise nationwide "These catalytic converter thefts have increased substantially in the past few years," Abbott said. "Catalytic converter thefts have become an organized and often violent crime. So what I'm going to sign today is going to increase criminal penalties for offenses involving catalytic converter thefts as well as to create a new criminal offense for unlawful possession."The law honors Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez, who was sho...

Ozone Action Day declared Wednesday for hot, stagnant weather

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hot, stagnant conditions are expected to lead to higher than normal pollution levels on Wednesday. Consider driving less or carpooling to limit your pollution footprint.Ozone Action Day recommendationsEven as heat and humidity build through the rest of the week, isolated late-day showers and thunderstorms will remain possible as we sit on the eastern periphery of a high pressure system. While most areas remain dry each day, some others may see up to 0.5"-1" of rain.Isolated showers and storms continue this weekend, but shut off next week as temperatures rise to the first triple-digit heat days of the year. 100-degree heat is expected to arrive in Austin this summer on Tuesday next week -- about three weeks ahead of average.Forecast high temperatures in AustinVery muggy air will add to the surging heat, producing heat index values each afternoon this weekend and beyond above 100 degrees.The week two outlook from the Climate Prediction Center shows this area settling ...

Memorial honors dogs lost in Georgetown pet facility fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Georgetown unveiled enhancements to its Bark Park off-leash dog park Tuesday -- including a new memorial dedicated to the pets killed in a September 2021 boarding facility fire.Georgetown's Bark Park is the city's first off-leash facility, featuring dog drinking fountains, benches and an agility course. The six-acre park includes separate areas for both small and large dogs to roam, per the city's website.A memorial at Georgetown's Bark Park honors the dogs lost in the 2021 Ponderosa Pet Resort fire. (KXAN Photo/Christian Marcelli) A memorial at Georgetown's Bark Park honors the dogs lost in the 2021 Ponderosa Pet Resort fire. (KXAN Photo/Christian Marcelli) A memorial at Georgetown's Bark Park honors the dogs lost in the 2021 Ponderosa Pet Resort fire. (KXAN Photo/Christian Marcelli) The city allocated $25,000 to park enhancements, including agility equipment in the small-dog park, replaced equipment in the large-dog park and new waste cans. A seating ar...

Texas, Stanford super regional to begin Saturday from Sunken Diamond

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In order to get to Omaha, the Texas Longhorns will have to go through the Bay Area.No. 8 Stanford topped Texas A&M late Monday night 7-1 to clinch its regional tournament at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto, California, and now the Cardinal will host another team from the Lone Star State with a trip to the Men's College World Series on the line. Huge 3rd inning lifts Texas Longhorns to regional title, spot in super regionals The first game of the super regional will be at 5 p.m. CT Saturday and it will air on ESPN2. Game 2 is Sunday and the if-necessary Game 3 is set for Monday with times to be announced later.It's the 13th super regional the Longhorns have qualified for since the NCAA tournament went to the format in 1999.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/newslettersIt's the second year in a row the Cardinal had to battle through the regional tournament loser's br...

Explore West St. Paul Days to be held this week

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

The second year of Explore West St. Paul Days will take place Thursday through Saturday — with a bike ride scheduled for Sunday. This year a second concert has been added for Friday night. Fireworks also will be held on Friday.Garage sales will be happening throughout the weekend and a map of locations can be found on their website at https://www.explorewsp.com/citywide-garage-sale-mapThursdayThe city open house from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the South Metro Fire Station. The event features booths for more than 30 local nonprofits, businesses and schools; a photo booth; police and fire vehicles and a dunk tank. Free food, root beer floats and live music from Janelle Burrell Trio will be available.FridayA K-9 training demonstration will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the West St. Paul Sports Complex featuring the police department’s two K-9’s Cecil and Bear. Food trucks, including California Dip & Eat, O’Cheeze and The Sizzling Wagon, also will be available from that time through 9:30 p.m...

Alt-metal bands Tool and Queens of the Stone Age book fall concerts in the metro

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

Fans of alt-metal are in luck as two of the genre’s biggest bands have booked fall concerts in the Twin Cities.Tool will play a Halloween show at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center and Queens of the Stone Age are booked at the Armory in downtown Minneapolis on Sept. 17.Both shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through Ticketmaster. Neither the promoter nor the venue announced prices, although the QOTSA Ticketmaster page shows $127.50 and $142.50 platinum tickets currently available for presale. Citi cardholders also have access to a QOTSA presale through 10 p.m. Thursday.ToolTool emerged from Los Angeles in the early ’90s with a dark, brooding and brutal sound as well as an unusually sophisticated visual presentation for the band’s videos and album art. Heavy touring, including Lollapalooza stints in 1992 and 1993, helped the band’s 1993 debut album “Undertow” go gold in five months.That fame allowed Tool to forge their own path in the music industry. TheyR...

St. Croix Lutheran grad Garett Maag living out childhood dream with Vikings

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

You could argue that receiver Garett Maag should thank the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans for passing on him. If any of those teams offered him a contract, Maag wouldn’t be living out his childhood of playing for the Vikings.“It’s been a roller coaster,” Maag said Tuesday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan after wrapping up organized team activities. “It worked out in the end.”No kidding. As a kid growing up in the East Metro, like so many Minnesotans across the state, Maag idolized longtime Vikings star Adam Thielen. He wanted to be just like him when he got older, and while Maag missed out on playing with Thielen, he’s trying to follow in his footsteps.After turning some heads at St. Croix Lutheran in high school, Maag really started to make a name for himself at North Dakota in college. He emerged as a matchup nightmare thanks to his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, finishing his college career with 162 receptions for ...

Local WWII veteran, 100, remembers D-Day invasion

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's been 79 years since U.S. troops took part in the largest invasion in U.S. history. There are fewer and fewer men left from the Greatest Generation to remember D-Day. One of those men still alive lives locally in Rotterdam. At age 100, he recounted that fateful day for NEWS10."It was brutal. The whole D-Day operation was a brutal atmosphere. I can't explain it. It was terrible," described World War II veteran Julius Boreali. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The sixth of June 1944 is not a day he reminisces about often. "Believe me when I tell you I was scared. I was really scared," Boreali said.He enlisted with the Coast Guard on the LST-27. Boreali was the baker on board tasked with making the pies. A menu, along with his memories, are still well preserved. The keepsakes document the history that would unfold."The admiral wrote a message; I have the message," Boreali told NEWS10.It is a piece...

NBA commish hints at expansion. Is St. Louis an option?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - As the NBA Finals move along, commissioner Adam Silver recently hinted that the league might consider expansion as soon as 2024. In April, the league and the National Basketball Players Association agreed to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement. Silver discussed the new CBA ahead of Sunday's NBA Finals broadcast, noting that two of next priorities were addressing the league's next media rights deal and exploring expansion possibilities. “We don’t have anything specific in mind right now,” said Silver via the Associated Press. “But I think it makes sense over time if you’re a successful organization to continue to grow. There’s no doubt there’s a lot of great cities we’re interested in having in the NBA.” Missouri governor denies clemency for man facing execution today Could St. Louis be a potential destination for expansion? It's far from a guarantee, but St. Louis does make an intriguing case. To start, there's some respectable NBA history to build on in the...

Bear spotted in southern Illinois as sightings rise near St. Louis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:25:09 GMT

RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ill. - Another day, another bear sighting not too far from St. Louis. One was spotted roaming around southern Illinois over the weekend. The Randolph County Sheriff's Office says one person spotted a bear around 8:30 p.m. Saturday near Evansville, Illinois. Deputies investigated the call, then determined a bear had traveled through the area. Missouri governor denies clemency for man facing execution today Conservation agents say bears are very active throughout the spring. Their population has been rising around Missouri and the St. Louis region in recent years. That includes sightings in Kirkwood in 2021, Rolla last year and Festus just this year, though the bear in Festus was fatally struck by a driver. Randolph County deputies remind people not to make contact with any bear you might see. Conservation agents also note not to feed bears food as it could lead them to search for more food and damage property along the way. If you spot a bear in Illinois, cli...