It’s the first day of spring: Here’s what that really means

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

It’s the first day of spring: Here’s what that really means NEW YORK (AP) — Spring has sprung!Monday marked the spring equinox — at least for those in the Northern Hemisphere.But what does that actually mean?WHAT IS THE SPRING EQUINOX?As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle.For most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. Cherry blossom peak bloom prediction announced The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.The spring — or vernal — equinox can land on March 19, 20 or 21, depending on the year. This year it landed on Monday at 5:24 p.m. Eastern time.WHY ARE THERE TWO KINDS OF...

Winter temps to leave then it's hello 80s

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

Winter temps to leave then it's hello 80s AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Goodbye, winter. Your grip on this weekend's weather didn't dampen the spirits of spring breakers and SXSW goers. But, you can leave now and give us back our feel of spring. BLOG: April showers: Here's the outlook for Central Texas Spring arrives at 4:24 this afternoon with temperatures in the 50s. It does not look like we'll see much of the sun today with the possible exception of the far western Hill Country. There's just too much moisture flowing into the area. NEW BLOG: Monday could be one of our coldest spring equinoxes in Austin Mainly cloudy and cool as we transition from winter to spring Monday afternoonWinds will gust into the lower to upper 20s today. There won't be much change from that going through the entire week. Winds will be strongest Wednesday through Friday.Gusty winds from the south-southeast Monday afternoonA little drizzle/light rain/mist will greet early risers tomorrow morning. A slightly better chance for rain will be part of Tuesday's f...

Texas Senate considers measure to deny bail for violent or sexual offenses

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

Texas Senate considers measure to deny bail for violent or sexual offenses AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Senate is expected to take up a resolution Monday that would deny bail for those facing violent or sexual charges, as part of Republicans' larger push around bail reform after campaigning on promises of "tough-on-crime' policies.If approved by voters, SJR 44 would authorize judges to deny bail "under some circumstances" to a person accused of a "violent or sexual offense or of continuous trafficking of persons." The resolution's author, Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said during a March 7 committee hearing on her legislation that it would give local officials needed tools for making bail determinations."Texas lacks viable options for detaining our most habitual, violent felony offenders without bond," she said. "This bill has been delayed now for a couple of years. And I think it has cost lives to be honest."Currently, the Texas Constitution has little exceptions for cases in which judges can deny bail outright.The legislation has garnered bipartisan supp...

'He has a battle rifle': Police feared Uvalde gunman’s AR-15

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

'He has a battle rifle': Police feared Uvalde gunman’s AR-15 UVALDE, Texas (Texas Tribune) — Once they saw a torrent of bullets tear through a classroom wall and metal door, the first police officers in the hallway of Robb Elementary School concluded they were outgunned. And that they could die.The gunman had an AR-15, a rifle design used by U.S. soldiers in every conflict since Vietnam. Its bullets flew toward the officers at three times the speed of sound and could have pierced their body armor like a hole punch through paper. They grazed two officers in the head, and the group retreated.Uvalde Police Department Sgt. Daniel Coronado stepped outside, breathing heavily, and got on his radio to warn the others.“I have a male subject with an AR,” Coronado said.The dispatch crackled on the radio of another officer on the opposite side of the building.“Fuck,” that officer said.“AR,” another exclaimed, alerting others nearby.Almost a year after Texas’ deadliest school shooting killed 19 children and two teachers, there is still confusion among inv...

St. Paul Public Schools to offer $10,000 signing bonuses to some new hires

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

St. Paul Public Schools to offer $10,000 signing bonuses to some new hires St. Paul Public Schools is offering more than $1 million in hiring bonuses in hopes of filling a range of special-education positions and other hard-to-fill jobs for the 2023-24 school year.“In this competitive job market, we need to do everything we can to attract the best candidates to our classrooms,” Patricia Pratt-Cook, executive chief of human resources, said in a news release Monday.In a report earlier this year from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, 84 percent of Minnesota school district leaders said they were feeling the effects of the teacher shortage. That’s up from 70 percent two years prior.The St. Paul district, which already has the second-highest average teacher salary in the state, at $85,128 last year, is offering $10,000 bonuses to the first 70 teachers, social workers, psychologists and speech pathologists they hire who are licensed for special education.Up to 50 new educational assistants and 50 teaching assistants in special education wi...

Get a Yellow Dot for your car today!

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

Get a Yellow Dot for your car today! ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- If you start seeing a yellow dot in the windows of vehicles, do not be alarmed! Introduced by the New York State Sheriff's Association, the Yellow Dot program will help law enforcement provide life-saving medical attention immediately after a crash or emergency. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Yellow Dot will alert first responders that vital medical information is stored in the glove department. So far, over 2 million free Yellow Dots have been distributed to New Yorkers. New Yorkers interested in getting a free kit can request one here. The kit contains two personal information cards and two Yellow Dot decals. Recipients are asked to complete both sides of the personal information card in pencil, attach a recent photo, and place the card in their car's glove compartment. Complete one card for each person who regularly occupies the vehicle and place the Yellow Dot decal on the rear driver's sid...

NEWS10 wins 5 Capital Region Living 'Bestie' awards

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

NEWS10 wins 5 Capital Region Living 'Bestie' awards ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Capital Region Living Magazine has released its 2023 Besties winners for the people and places categories. NEWS10 members took the top spot in five of the categories. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! NEWS10 won Best Morning Team overall, with Christina Arangio also winning Best Morning Anchor and Best Afternoon Anchor. John Gray won in the Best Evening Anchor category and Steve Caporizzo won Best Meteorologist.Each year, residents from around the Capital Region vote in several different categories for the Capital Region Living "Besties." Voting ran from November 2022 to January 2023. NEWS10 wins 4 New York Emmy awards Congratulations to all of our Besties winners! You can view the full list of winners on the Capital Region Living website.

Amtrak's Adirondack Line to restart on April 3

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

Amtrak's Adirondack Line to restart on April 3 GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - After three years of dormancy, it's official. Amtrak's Adirondack Line is getting back on the rails again, recently announced by the company and state officials. On Monday, the relaunch got a date. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Tickets are on sale now for travel from New York City to Montreal, and just about anywhere in between on the south-north line, starting April 3. The Adirondack Line reaches Albany, Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, Plattsburgh, Whitehall, Ticonderoga, Rensselaer, Port Henry and Rouses Point on its journey north.“Whether you’re experiencing the greatness of New York City, the culture of Montreal, or the beauty of the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain region, the return of the Adirondack provides customers with a reliable, relaxing, and sustainable way to travel,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “Thanks to the strong support and advocacy of Senators Schumer and Gillibran...

Police investigate fatal crash at The Landing on 20

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

Police investigate fatal crash at The Landing on 20 DUANESBURG, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A truck crashed into The Landing on 20 Restaurant at 5055 Western Turnpike on Sunday night. Police say the male driver was transported to the Ellis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:18 a.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Preliminary investigations suggest the driver might have had a medical emergency as he was pulling into the Stewarts Shops at 5060 Western Turnpike. The vehicle then rolled into the restaurant, causing some external and internal structural damage.

World on 'thin ice' as UN climate report gives stark warning

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 22:45:10 GMT

World on 'thin ice' as UN climate report gives stark warning BERLIN (AP) — Humanity still has a chance, close to the last, to prevent the worst of climate change ’s future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists said Monday. But doing so requires quickly slashing nearly two-thirds of carbon pollution by 2035, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said. Bruce Willis’ family celebrates actor’s birthday with moving social media posts The United Nations chief said it more bluntly, calling for an end to new fossil fuel exploration and for rich countries to quit coal, oil and gas by 2040. “Humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “Our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.”Stepping up his pleas for action on fossil fuels, Guterres called for rich countries to accelerate their target for achieving net zero emissions to as early as 2040, and developing nations to aim for 2050 — about a decade earlier than most current tar...