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Group pitches last-chance plan to save historic Barton Springs tree Flo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With hours left before a celebration of life ceremony for the 120-year-old pecan tree "Flo" at Barton Springs, a local group is pitching a plan to save it by adding structural reinforcements.Save Our Springs, or SOS, said that its "Pergola Concept" provides an alternative to removing the historic tree. SOS added it plans to pay the bill for the project."With SOS’s offer to pay for the artful enhancements needed to make certain Flo’ cannot hurt any person or property, there is simply no rational basis for killing and removing the tree at this time," the group said in an email.A sketch of the proposed plan, which will create a support structure to catch Flo and protect pool visitors. (Courtesy: Lauren Woodward Stanley)The design of the project was created by Ben Livingstone and local firm Stanley Studios, according to SOS.In August, Flo was diagnosed with "brittle cinder fungus," which weakens the tree's roots and trunk near the base of the tree. The Austin City Counc...

Warm today, but a stormy start to Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Unseasonably hot weather persists for one last day with high temperatures climbing into the middle 90s. Factoring in the very high humidity expect "feels-like" temps to be in the triple digits. But finally some prolonged relief is heading our way! Two strong cold fronts and a rain-making storm are approaching Texas.The Rain and TimingIsolated to scattered showers and storms will be possible Wednesday through the evening. The chance of rain however remains relatively low (30%). The main event bringing us widespread heavy rain doesn't arrive until the Thursday morning commute along the approaching cold front.Rain coverage peaks at 80% on Thursday morninghe cold front begins to push into our viewing area around sunrise Thursday morning.Heaviest rain arrives during the early morning commuteHeavy rain then pushes into the Austin area between 6 AM and 9 AM.Heavy rain likely continues through the morning with it gradually tapering off by the late afternoon.Rainfall Amounts...

Tropical Storm Philippe dumping heavy rain in parts of the Caribbean

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center continues to track Tropical Storm Philippe as it brings heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of the Caribbean.The NHC said Philippe remains disorganized as it slowly moves northwestward.The storm is currently dumping heavy rain across portions of the British and U.S. Virgin Islands. Its maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph. What’s causing that smoke over the Tampa Bay area? Philippe is forecast to turn toward the north-northwest Wednesday, followed by a faster motion toward the north on Thursday and Friday, the NHC said.The storm will approach Bermuda by Thursday night and Friday.Philippe is forecast to produce the following rainfall amounts through today:The United States & British Virgin Islands: 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts to 12 inches.Puerto Rico: 2 to 4 inches.Meteorologists said the rainfall is likely to result in scattered flash flooding.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett files legislation to revamp federal vaccine injury compensation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) has filed legislation to update the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to incorporate any pending COVID-19 vaccine injury claims.Currently, COVID-19 vaccine injury claims are filed into the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program. Under Doggett's latest legislative proposal -- the Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act, filed alongside U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) -- those COVID-related claims would file into the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. "Vaccines save lives, but in the rarest of cases, usually caused by an error in administration rather than the vaccine itself, they involve injury," Doggett said in a statement. "While strongly disagreeing with the dangerous misinformation spread by anti-vaxxers, I believe that those who suffer rare injuries associated with vaccines, including those to fight COVID-19, should receive prompt, reasonable compensation for medical bills and other losses."Doggett added in a statemen...

How barring medical debt from credit scores could impact borrowers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

(The Hill) — A White House proposal to bar medical bills from being used in credit reporting won’t get rid of the debt itself or prevent future debts from being accrued, but the move could be transformative for many.The Biden administration and debt advocates argue medical debt is not a good predictor of a person’s credit worthiness, hence why it should be excluded from the information creditors can use. Biden aiming to scrub medical debt from people’s credit scores, which could up ratings for millions And they say shielding the debt from credit reports could free up borrowers to make big purchases or cover basic expenses. Allison Sesso, CEO of the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, said a person with good financial habits in every other aspect of their life can be stuck with an enormous bill they can’t pay off.“The number one predictor of medical debt is not your insurance status. It’s whether or not you get sick,” Sesso told The Hill. “Which is pretty telling and really speaks to ...

St. Croix River drowning victims identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

The Hudson, Wis., men whose bodies were recovered from the St. Croix River on Tuesday have been identified.Neither Demetrius A. Kekedakis, 51, nor Perry D. Montpetit, 65, were wearing life jackets at the time of the drowning, according to the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office.Rescue crews pulled the men from the St. Croix River, just south of the Interstate 94 bridge, on Tuesday a few hours after Kekedakis’ fishing boat was seen unoccupied and spinning in circles near Town of Troy, Wis., Beach., said St. Croix County, Wis., Sheriff Scott Knudson.A boater called 911 at 9:35 a.m. Tuesday to report seeing the boat and possibly a body next to the boat, Knudson said.When deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived by boat, however, they could not locate anyone in the water. Members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team found Kekedakis at 12:20 p.m.; Montpetit was located shortly before 6 p.m., he said.The men were found about 650 yards from the Wisconsin sh...

Tyler Childers to perform at SPAC in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Tyler Childers, known for mixing the genres of country, bluegrass, and folk into his music, is coming to Saratoga Springs. He is set to perform at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on July 3, 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Childers is expanding his "Mule Pull ’24 Tour" through next summer with newly added dates. The first leg of his tour kicks off on December 30 and is almost completely sold out.The singer-songwriter's newest album "Rustin' In The Rain" debuted at number 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Childers is best known for the songs "All Your'n," "Feathered Indians," and "Lady May." For the SPAC date, S.G. Goodman and Wayne Graham will be the openers. Dates announced for 2024 Lake George Music Festival Fans are asked to register for tickets before they go on sale to avoid bots and scalpers. You can register on the Ticketmaster website now until October 8 at 11:59 p...

Capital Region Aquatic Center to offer adaptive swim lessons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Capital Region Aquatic Center is partnering with the Autism Society of the Greater Hudson Region to offer adaptive swim classes in the future. Children will be partnered with their own instructor, and lessons will be catered to each child's needs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “When we started planning the Capital Region Aquatic Center a decade ago, we knew we wanted water safety to be the cornerstone of all of our programming,” said Kara Haraden, Capital Region Aquatic Center board president. “Adaptive swim lessons are crucial in our community. More than 30% of parents of children with autism report they’ve had a close call with drowning. We need to do the work to make sure everyone is equipped with the proper skills.”Classes are expected to cost around $90 for four sessions. There will be scholarships available for families. “We are so thankful to have a community partner in the Capital R...

Amsterdam adding driving range to its golf course

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A full-service driving range and practice facility is being added to the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course. The range will be named in honor of PFC Joseph P. Dwyer. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The mission of the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program is to empower veterans and their families to find passion, purpose, and hope as they transition from military to civilian life. The initiative continues the PGA HOPE program which introduces golf to veterans and active military to help their physical, social, mental, and emotional well-being.The Joseph P. Dwyer Driving Range will be free of charge to all active and retired military members. Non-military golfers will also be able to use the range for a small fee. FilmColumbia returning to Chatham for its 23rd year The practice range is set to open in the spring of 2024. It's being funded by Montgomery County and is a collaborative project between th...

Hillsdale worker charged for running over FOX 2 photographer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

HILLSDALE, Mo. – A Hillsdale employee is facing charges after a FOX 2 photojournalist was run over with the village's top leader in the passenger seat. Earl Longmeyer, 57, is accused of operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, according to court records filed Wednesday. Records show Longmeyer works in the village's Public Works Department. The incident happened in August, as Fox Files investigators were looking into the village’s threat to tow multiple cars for code violations.The Fox Files saw Dorothy Moore’s vehicle parked in front of Village Hall. Moore is the mayor, or her official title, the Chair of the Board of Trustees. While the police chief claimed Moore was not at Village Hall, Fox Files investigators heard them talking inside. Moore, who is not facing any criminal charges related to the incident, went out the back door, climbing into the public works truck as the Fox Files team tried to ask questions. She slid into the passenger seat of the truck wh...