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Taylor makes changes after birds die in July 4 fireworks show, some say it's not enough

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) -- Fireworks are a traditional part of marking Independence Day, but some people in one Williamson County community are concerned the loud bangs and flashing lights will once again impact birds nesting in a park. In 2022, a fireworks show hosted by the City of Taylor in Murphy Park caused nesting egrets to scatter when the fireworks went off. Many of the birds were killed in the chaos, as birds flew into power lines and baby birds were knocked out of their nests.  PREVIOUS: Migratory birds die, babies fall from trees after fireworks show in Taylor This year, city leaders said they're making some changes.“This year the City of Taylor will move the launch of the fireworks display to a location that is further away from the egret habitat at Murphy Park. While the previous launch site was 200 feet from the habitat, the new site will be more than 1,000 feet away from it to avoid harming the egrets that live there," the city said. Some residents told KXAN ...

Travis County eyes $5M investment in FM 812 upgrades

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Amid Travis County's ongoing population boom, voters could decide this fall on nearly $500 million worth of transportation and park improvements -- including work on substandard roads.One of the roads earmarked on Travis County's recommended bond package proposal is FM 812, a 21-mile rural road that spans Travis and Bastrop counties. Less than two years ago, a KXAN investigation found FM 812 joined I-35, U.S. Hwy. 183, U.S. Hwy. 290 and SH 71 as the top five Austin roads for fatal crashes.As of October 2021, there had been nine fatal crashes and 10 deaths on FM 812 in the year to date.Travis County created a citizens bond advisory committee to evaluate the need for a potential November bond package. On Tuesday, committee member John Langmore presented the recommendation at Travis County Commissioners Court, highlighting the need for substantial improvements to several county arterial roads and substandard corridors. ICYMI: Travis County voters could ...

$50M listed Austin home may become the most expensive ever sold in the state

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) –  A Lake Austin home will become the most expensive residential property ever sold in Texas if an interested buyer meets the asking price. In early June, Sotheby’s International Realty listed a nearly six-acre Lake Austin waterfront property for $50 million. The living space – which includes a house and guest house – amounts to 10,505 square feet. Between the two houses, there are nine bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and three partial bathrooms, according to the listing.  Among other luxurious features, the property includes an in-home fitness center, a home theatre, a wine cellar, an artist studio and a private boat dock.Sotheby’s International Realty listed a nearly six-acre Lake Austin waterfront property for $50 million, which will become the most expensive house to be sold ever in Texas if a buyer meets the asking price. (Photo Courtesy Sotheby's)Sotheby’s International Realty listed a nearly six-acre Lake Austin waterfront property for $50 million, whic...

Texas 'panic alert' school safety bill signed by governor

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new law will require Texas schools to have silent panic alert systems in place to notify law enforcement and first responders of an emergency within seconds. The bill requires Texas schools to have alert devices that immediately notify first responders of an emergency. The technology would lock down a school campus in cases of shootings, medical issues or other emergencies. PREVIOUS: Texas House initially passes school safety ‘panic alert’ legislation The bill is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, who was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland, Florida. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum)Gov. Greg Abbott had a bill signing ceremony Tuesday. But the money for the technology is not available until the 2024-25 fiscal period in the funds that lawmakers set aside for school safety.The legislation is called "Alyssa's Law" to honor 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff who was killed in the Parkland school shooting. Similar bills have passed in Florida, New York and N...

State girls lacrosse quarterfinal: Stillwater 13, East Ridge 7

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

Stillwater junior midfielder Maycie Neubauer felt “pretty flat” in the first half of the Ponies’ girls lacrosse state tournament quarterfinal match against East Ridge.She knew that had to change in the second half if Stillwater was to expand its 5-4 halftime lead.“I needed to step it up and I needed to be there for my team to move on to the semis,” Neubauer said.So that’s what she did. Neubauer scored a pair of key goals early in the second half to help create some needed breathing room as the third-seeded Ponies topped Suburban East Conference rival East Ridge 13-7 at White Bear Lake Area High School.Stillwater will face second-seeded Edina in Thursday’s semifinals at 3 p.m. on the Ponies’ home turf.“It was awesome,” Neubauer said of scoring the goals. “It’s just the best feeling to know that your team is right behind you and supporting you in everything you do.”The Ponies beat East Ridge 14-3 in late April. Tuesday was a far closer contest. The Raptors remained within striking dis...

Class 3A baseball state quarterfinal: Mahtomedi 3, Byron 0

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

JORDAN, Minn. — Carter Schmidtz didn’t start Tuesday’s game, but the Mahtomedi baseball player had a pivotal mid-game at-bat.Pitcher Ethan Felling struck out 12 as part of a three-hit shutout, and Mahtomedi scored twice on balls that traveled about 10 feet in beating Byron 3-0 in a Class 3A baseball state tournament quarterfinal game Tuesday at the Mini Met.Seeded third and seeking the school’s second state title in three years, Mahtomedi (18-6) will face unseeded Grand Rapids in Wednesday’s noon semifinal.Felling, a sophomore, and Byron senior Quinten Holmes were engaged in quite the pitchers’ duel, each allowing just one hit through three innings before the Zephyrs finally broke through.After leadoff singles by Josh Donna and Max Strecker to start the fourth, coach Rob Garry brought in Schmidtz as a pinch hitter.“I was walking up, and I think it was Jack Erickson who came up and said, ‘All you got to do is bunt,’ and I was like, ‘I can’t mess this up,’ ” Schmidtz said.Garry had no...

Jurors deliberating in Seventh Street Truck Park murder trial

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

Was Terry Brown acting in self-defense when he shot five people at a St. Paul bar, one of them fatally? That’s what his defense attorney argued at the close of the 34-year-old’s murder trial on Tuesday.The prosecution said Brown’s actions didn’t meet the legal standard for self-defense. “You can’t create your own peril and shoot your way out of it,” said Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Treye Kettwick.Jurors began deliberating Tuesday afternoon in the Seventh Street Truck Park bar case.Fifteen people were injured and Marquisha Wiley, a 27-year-old bystander, was killed in the shootout on Oct. 10, 2021, at the bar on West Seventh Street near Kellogg Boulevard. A jury convicted Devondre Phillips, 31, of eight counts of attempted murder in February for his role. His attorney also made a self-defense claim.Terry Lorenzo Brown Jr., left, and Devondre Trevon Phillips. (Courtesy of the Ramsey County sheriff’s office)The prosecution says Phillips an...

Justin Jefferson attends Vikings’ mandatory minicamp. Danielle Hunter does not.

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

Shortly before Vikings practice got underway on Tuesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center, star receiver Justin Jefferson emerged from the locker room. He danced his way onto the field, then went on to participate mandatory minicamp, putting to rest any speculation that he might skip amid ongoing contract negotiations.It’s safe to assume general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, not to mention every Vikings fan across the state of Minnesota, breathed sighs of relief in that moment. Not only does Jefferson bring an infectious smile to the field, his presence ensured he wouldn’t be holding out.“You can just tell when he’s walking the halls in our building,” O’Connell said. “Just the energy and the juice he brings.”Meanwhile, star edge rusher Danielle Hunter was not in attendance, which was not surprising considering he has been trying to secure a pay raise himself. He is only set to make $5.5 million this...

Treat Williams remembered by Vermont community

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

BENNINGTON COUNTY, VT. (NEWS10) -- Treat Williams was a big star in Hollywood. But in Vermont, he led a rather lowkey life. He brought his rides to an auto shop near his home for repairs. There, he became friends with the shop owner, who ultimately was by his side when he was involved in a crash that claimed his life. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "I helped to direct everybody not to move him, and we tried to stabilize his spine," said Matt Rapphahn, Owner of Long Trail Auto.Rapphahn couldn't have imagined the actor and beloved customer would end up in a motorcycle crash right in front of his shop on Route 30. He said the other driver involved was also one of his customers.Describing him as an "automotive enthusiast," Rapphahn added that he helped Williams restore one of his motorcycles. Treat Williams of ‘Everwood,’ ‘Hair’ dead after motorcycle crash "Everybody in town really likes him," Rapphahn remarked, "he was alwa...

New chargers welcome electric boating to Lake George

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:57:00 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Electric vehicles have been a longstanding talking point for those looking to travel with less of a carbon footprint. On the water, it's no different. For the first time, Lake George features the means for boaters to make the electric choice, too, when they hit the water. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Friday, Freedom Boat Club on Lake George became the owner of the first marine-based electric boat charger in New York. The charger in question - an Aqua 75 DC fast charger - allows the boat club to charge its boats up without ever pulling them out of the water. At Friday's event, visitors to Freedom Boat Club's home at Queen Boat Co. on Dunham's Bay got to see the fast-charging future in action."The overwhelming positive feedback we received was further validation that electric propulsion is going to be a major source of joy for a large segment of the boating public, and that there is a need ...