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Veterans: Important deadline coming up for PACT Act benefits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — It's been almost a year since the PACT Act was signed into law, promising sick veterans and their families healthcare and compensation. Now a critical deadline is approaching for veterans who want to apply for backdated benefits. Desert Storm veteran Tim Hauser says he developed life-threatening health issues after being exposed to toxic burn pits. Then, he spent decades fighting for military health benefits. "The day that we got the letter saying that my claim was finally approved, my wife looked at me and said 'yeah your fight's not over is it?' I says, 'no this can't happen to no other veteran,'" Hauser said. He decided he didn't want any other veteran to have to struggle to get benefits like he did, so he joined a movement to demand change. Last August, Hauser and other advocates finally got what they'd been pushing for. Congress passed the PACT Act, promising healthcare benefits for veterans exposed to toxins.  ‘It’s a game chan...

Doctors perform rare double lung transplant on two patients with rare genetic condition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

CHICAGO —Two patients both breathed a huge sigh of relief Monday after receiving new sets of lungs one month apart.A double lung transplant is rare, now add to that the underlying genetic condition Dennis Deer and Yahaira Vega share that caused the organs in their chest to form in the reverse.“To be able to breathe! I spent a lot of time not being able to breathe,” Deer said.“Before I felt like a prisoner, like a bird in a cage,” Vega said.“It’s rare enough to do one lung transplant for this condition, forget about doing two in the span of one month,” Northwestern Medicine thoracic surgeon Dr Ankit Bharat said.It’s called Situs Inversus and the unusual anatomy posed challenges for Northwestern Medicine surgeons. More from Med Watch: Less blood, better outcomes: Combination treatment for women with fibroids “The inside of the body is essentially a mirror image of itself, so the right lung is where the left lung should be, and the left lung is on the right side and then the hea...

Court denies Josh Duggar's child porn conviction appeal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KNWA/KFTA) — A federal court has denied an appeal from former reality TV star Josh Duggar to overturn his child pornography conviction and receive a new trial.Duggar, 34, was convicted on a pair of child pornography charges in federal court in Fayetteville in December 2021. The defense has maintained Duggar’s innocence and filed a federal appeal shortly after sentencing. Federal appeals court hears Josh Duggar oral arguments Judges Lavenski R. Smith, David R. Stras, and Jonathan A. Kobes listened to both sides present their arguments at the Charles Evans Whittaker Courthouse in Kansas City, Missouri on Feb. 16.In a document filed today, the court announced its intention to uphold the original judgment. "After consideration, it is hereby ordered and adjudged that the judgment of the district court in this cause is affirmed in accordance with the opinion of this court," the document said.

APD: Suspect arrested after stabbing at Barton Creek Square mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said a suspect was arrested after a stabbing at the Barton Creek Square mall in southwest Austin on Monday afternoon. Austin-Travis County EMS said they responded to the mall at 2:33 p.m. One person was transported to a hospital with potentially serious injuries. APD said no others were injured, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. This is a developing story. Check with KXAN for updates.

Large grass fire burns 75 acres close to Fredericksburg

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) -- Multiple crews are working a "large, grass fire" Monday near Fredericksburg, the Gillespie County Communications Center wrote on Facebook.The Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire, named the Orchard Fire, has burned approximately 75 acres. Fredericksburg Fire and EMS said structures are threatened by the fire. Oak Grove wildfire estimated at 400 acres, 65% contained The center said Ranch Road 1631 is closed near Klaerner Road and the Palo Alto Creek due to the fire. EMS said RR 1631 is closed about three miles out of Fredericksburg.The communications center said multiple fire departments are at the scene. Fredericksburg Fire and EMS, Gillespie County Rural Departments, and the Texas A&M Forest Service are responding.The Texas A&M Forest Service said it has responded to 80 wildfires that have burned 8,521 acres over the past seven days. Forty-one of those wildfires occurred since Friday.This developing story will be updated with more inf...

Texas is home to 1st Barbie to fly in space

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Long before Margot Robbie traipsed through space to reach the real world in the 2023 film "Barbie," one of Mattel's iconic dolls made history as the first Barbie to fly in space — and its roots are here in Texas.Austin resident Steve Denison joined NASA as an aerospace engineer in 1989, after finishing undergrad at the University of Kansas. There, he assisted in space shuttle crew training with a few flights, including the Nov. 15, 1990, launch of STS-38. TRENDING NOW: What Texas farmers and ranchers are tracking as heat, drought continues It was on that flight that Barbie — dressed in a full NASA Space shuttle training uniform — spent nearly five days in space before she and the rest of the STS-38 crew landed at the Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 20, 1990.But how did Barbie end up on that flight — and in space, no less — in the first place?"I received [the Barbie doll] during a white elephant gift exchange party amongst the team," Denison said.Austin resident Steve ...

Texas Longhorns at No. 12 in preseason coaches poll; future SEC foe Georgia at No. 1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With 10 of 11 offensive starters returning and a much-improved defense, the Texas Longhorns landed at No. 12 in the preseason edition of the USA Today Coaches Poll released Monday.The Longhorns earned 848 points in the poll, placing them between No. 11 Washington, who beat the Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl last season, and No. 12 Notre Dame. The Associated Press preseason top 25 poll will come out Aug. 14.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/newslettersThree of the top five teams are from the Southeastern Conference where the Longhorns will begin play next season. The two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs received 61 of 66 first-place votes to sit atop the rankings, followed by Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State and Louisiana State.Southern California, Penn State, Florida State, Clemson and Tennessee round out the top 10. Picked by media members to win the Big...

ERCOT extends 'weather watch' through Aug. 11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As high temperatures and electrical demand persist throughout Texas and the possibility of lower energy reserves lingers, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is extending its weather watch through Aug. 11. Grid conditions are projected to remain normal throughout the weather watch, per an ERCOT release. ERCOT officials added they're monitoring conditions and "will deploy all available tools to manage the grid, continuing a reliability-first approach to operations." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ERCOT issues Weather Watch as forecast anticipates higher temperatures So what, exactly, is a weather watch? According to ERCOT, this is an “earlier (approximately 3-5 days ahead) notification of forecasted significant weather and high demand.” When one is issued, ERCOT recommended people to monitor the grid conditions, but it does not indicate an emergency situation — that’s what its emergency alerts do. ERCOT advised people to sign up for grid condition notifications online, o...

'We're not in control': 75-year-old vet with stage 4 cancer loses home in wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

HAYS COUNTY (KXAN)— Michael Hinz and his son Travis walked through smoldering, devastation on the land where they just lost their home of 45 years. Michael (right) and Travis Hinz (left), stand in front of their burned down home. (KXAN photos/KXAN).Michael (right) and Travis Hinz (left), stand in front of their burned down home. (KXAN photos/KXAN)."It's just total devastation, it's just torn down to the bare ground," Hinz said. Their home, now a pile of ash and rubble was engulfed by flames in the Oak Grove wildfire on Saturday. Hinz, 75, is a veteran and has stage 4 prostate cancer. He said his family got him out of the house just in time. LATEST: Oak Grove wildfire "My daughter and son-in-law just came out to pick me up and they noticed smoke and they said we got to get out of here because we don't know which direction it's going to go."The family said they didn't expect their home to be totally lost to the fire. Hinz family home. (KXAN photos/Jala Washington)."Sunday afternoon ...

Highest wildfire danger of the year as hot, breezy weather persists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As an unprecedented heat wave still shows no signs of abating, vegetation is drying out further. As humidity drops each afternoon and winds pick up, the National Weather Service says the highest wildfire danger so far this year is expected Tuesday through Thursday. BLOG: When will 100º days end in Austin? An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for most of the area until 9 p.m. Monday evening, and again from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday. A Heat Advisory is in effect for Blanco and Gillespie counties.Statistics released today by the Texas A & M Forest Service show that 80 wildfires have been reported in the last week, 41 of them since Friday.A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 11 p.m. Monday, then again from noon until 11 p.m. Tuesday. Any fires that start will spread rapidly and be very dangerous.The National Weather Service says that the highest wildfire danger so far this year is expected Tuesday through Thursday. Texas A&M Forest Service experts diagnose ...