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APD to get new $1.1M incident command vehicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it planned to buy a new incident command vehicle "to continue safety efforts in the city of Austin," the department announced Tuesday.The $1.12 million vehicle will replace the current incident command vehicle (ICV) "that has reached the end of its useful life, APD said. The ICV is used as a mobile command post during large-scale events like sporting events, festivals and weather events.The vehicle will be bought with APD's fiscal year 2023 asset forfeiture budget. APD will use the vehicle and the city's fleet department will be responsible for maintenance and long-term upkeep.APD said its training unit will create training for ICV users to take advantage of the vehicle's technology and equipment.

New partnership expands student housing for Huston-Tillotson students at St. Edward's University

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Huston-Tillotson University students will have an opportunity to have student housing starting this fall at the St. Edward's University campus, the two universities announced Friday. The partnership will give housing to 150 HT students at Teresa Hall on St. Edward's campus in south Austin. The program will last three academic years. HT President at CEO Melva K. Wallace said in the release that the partnership is cost-effective for students and allows them to interact with a broader network across both institutions. HT students will also have access to on-campus dining, recreation, wellness and health clinic services. HT has two residence halls, one for female housing and the other for male housing, according to its website. St. Edward's said this partnership is the start of expanding housing opportunities to external groups such as interns and conferences.

IDEA students in Austin to get free breakfast, lunch this school year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — All students at IDEA Public Schools across Austin will get free breakfast and lunch in the 2023-24 school year, the district announced Monday. The charter school district said families do not need to take any action to receive the free meals. RELATED: Research shows number of children receiving free summer lunches down by almost 45 percent The free meals are part of the community eligibility provision under the USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast programs. IDEA has eight schools in the Austin area: IDEA Bluff Springs, IDEA Health Professions, IDEA Kyle, IDEA Montopolis, IDEA Parmer Park, IDEA Pflugerville, IDEA Round Rock Tech and IDEA Rundberg. During the pandemic, students across the country received free breakfasts and lunches thanks to a federal waiver, but the program ended in June 2022.

New APD cadets could get up to $15K in bonuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department announced it was offering bonuses to new cadets.“The updated pay range for police officers has increased to $65,411.00 - $109,382.00, and officers may qualify to earn additional monthly pay incentives such as shift differential for working nights/evenings, bilingual pay, and education pay. Overtime opportunities are available, and base pay increases further as officers promote,” APD said.The department said it was hiring multiple upcoming academy classes through 2024 and that prior law enforcement experience was not required to apply.“The Austin Police Department (APD) is searching for qualified men and women who have the heart and desire to serve and protect our diverse and growing Austin community,” APD said.According to a release, new cadets beginning with the 152nd class starting in February 2024 would receive a financial incentive of up to a total of $15,000.The bonuses will be paid out as cadets reach certain milestones in their tra...

2 St. Paul men plead guilty to assaulting a federal agent during drug sting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

Two St. Paul men pleaded guilty this week to assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a March undercover drug sting.The U.S. attorney’s office announced Friday:On March 30, an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent made arrangements to buy about 1,600 M30 fentanyl pills from Dion Darnell Miller, 27, and Aaron Maurice Amir Harris, 28, both of St. Paul, in a sting operation.At about 1:15 p.m., an undercover law enforcement agent arrived in the 600 block of Van Buren Avenue to buy 1,600 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl for $2,400. After he texted he was there, a silver Volkswagen arrived with Harris in the driver’s seat and Miller in the back seat. The undercover agent was told to get into the front passenger seat. He did so reluctantly, leaving the door ajar with his leg sticking out.Shortly after the agent asked to see the drugs, Miller, who was in the back seat, reached into his jacket and took out a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and...

California has a new millionaire as Mega Millions jackpot now estimated to be largest in game's history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

Someone in California is a new millionaire, but no one was able to claim the billion dollar prize on Friday night, causing the jackpot to increase to the largest in Mega Millions history.The current Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $1.55 billion dollars.For now, though, that figure is only an estimate: Officials say there’s a slight possibility Tuesday’s jackpot could fall short of the record (a $1.537 billion jackpot awarded in 2018), but it doesn’t look likely.“With enthusiastic players across the country, many of whom are newcomers to the game, it is indeed likely that there will be a new record Mega Millions jackpot,” reads a press release issued by Mega Millions. “However, we won’t know for sure until we get closer to Tuesday’s drawing; at this level, jackpots are hard to predict with complete accuracy.” Why the Mega Millions jackpot winner won’t actually get the jackpot amount Friday night’s winning numbers — 11, 30, 45, 52, 56, and the Mega Ball 20 — went unmatched onc...

A Natural Alternative? CBD’s Potential for Athletes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

To read the original article about CBD for Athletes at Real Tested CBD.When it comes to a strong sense of resilience, athletes are known to have some of the best. But that doesn’t mean that they are resilient to over exertion or injury.These days there are a ton of great options for athletes and active people to incorporate into a recovery routine, and CBD is swiftly becoming one of them. CBD can be utilized for several ailments or injuries, whether directly related to sports or not.Researchers are currently looking at the benefits of using cannabidiol (CBD) to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, pain,mental health disorders, inflammation and more. This natural compound is becoming a newfound natural alternative for athletes, those with active lifestyles and just about everyone in between. Let’s see why!1. Help With StressEven if you are an amateur athlete or maybe are new to competition, you know how stressful participating in sports sometimes can be. One of the greatest advantages of ...

Saratoga teen exhibits artwork he hopes inspires environmental legislation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

Saratoga teenager Aiden Chen is exhibiting his paintings of endangered bird species in the hopes of raising awareness and promoting conservation efforts to protect them.“I’m currently advocating for a bill in the California Legislature, AB 38,” Aiden said, “and I believe it would reduce light pollution in California, which would help protect a lot of birds, because artificial light at night can confuse them and cause them to crash into buildings. So millions of birds die every year due to light pollution, so reducing it would be a great help for the population.”The paintings are on display through Sept. 5 at the Saratoga Library, located at 13650 Saratoga Ave., and Aiden will host an artist’s reception on Sunday, Aug. 27, 3-4 p.m. The 28 paintings in the exhibit include landscapes, portraits and plein air works.Aiden said he separated his artwork into thematic groups, one of which showcases the growth and evolution of his skills over time. His plein air series feat...

Mike’s Diner Bar in Palo Alto faces eviction after owner paid rent one day late

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

After 29 years of business in Palo Alto, Mike’s Diner Bar faces eviction, because owner Mike Wallau paid rent a day late following a family medical emergency.His rent was due July 17, but he was unable to drop off the rent check until the following day, he said, because he was at the hospital with his disabled daughter.In a letter dated July 20, his property manager, Eugenia Seraia of Ventana Property Services, returned his rent check of $22,052.81 and told him the property owners had initiated the eviction process.Wallau is working with his lawyers to request a halt to the eviction proceedings. In the meantime, the Midtown neighborhood and the city of Palo Alto are looking for ways to rally their support for the longtime eatery and for Wallau. If the eviction proceeds, Mike’s Diner Bar will be the latest in a run of business closures that have faced the neighborhood, which has lost 15 businesses in five years and has still not recovered from the pandemic’s economic effe...

Bay Area air-quality agency a discriminatory ‘old boys club’ hostile to minorities: lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:51 GMT

Racism, misogyny and anti-LGBTQ harassment permeated the public agency responsible for controlling pollution in the Bay Area, a pair of new, related lawsuits claims.Two former managers accuse the Bay Area Air Quality Management District of operating “a hostile and discriminatory ‘old boys club’ where heterosexual, White men are in charge, while others are deprived of equal opportunities and treatment.”Terri Levels and Stephen “Rex” Sanders contend in their lawsuits that the district fired them for pushing back against discrimination at the agency. Both lawsuits were filed this week in San Francisco County Superior Court by the same law firm, and contain many similar claims.In response, the district said the lawsuits contained misleading and false claims, though it did not respond to the specific allegations. “The Air District works to foster an inclusive culture and we view diversity as one of our greatest strengths,” the district said...