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CTRMA gives MoPac South expansion project update

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority gave a short update on its MoPac South expansion project Thursday before Travis County commissioners. The proposed project could add as many as two express lanes in both directions on MoPac between Cesar Chavez and Slaughter Lane, which is roughly eight miles. There are several options for how the group gets there. Latest on the Barton Skyway ramp project aimed at improving MoPac traffic. What to expect next MoPac South project map (courtesy Travis County)Right now, CTRMA is working on an environmental study prior to bringing the project back to commissioners, documents said. Documents also noted previous public comments made it clear Austinites prioritized making sure the expansion didn't create additional "elevations" over Lady Bird Lake and making sure south Austin was more connected to downtown, among other considerations. Up next, CTRMA will schedule follow-up meetings with commissioners, complete its 2045 traffi...

Virtual summit tackles future of home energy storage, tracking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Market research company Parks Associates held their first of three virtual 'Smart Energy Summit' sessions at midday Thursday. Parks Associates specializes in emerging consumer technology products and services. Thursday's session titled 'Solar Power: Transformation of Home Energy' focused on the changes and challenges within the solar power market, including battery storage technology, devices & equipment as well as the electrical system as a whole. As energy costs rise and outages become more common, consumers seek ways to track their energy consumption, reduce what they use, or generate their own. As their data shows more homes transitioning into more sustainable energy sources, their session highlighted the potential growth for future consumer demand for at-home energy tracking technology to further manage energy consumption.Parks Associates’ latest report “Solar and Storage: Opportunities in the Smart Home,” found that consumers are "concerned about high ...

St. Paul man’s 296th blood donation puts him above 37 gallons of giving over his lifetime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

As a frequent blood donor, 70-year-old Mike Engelhardt of St. Paul never really tallied how much red stuff he’s poured out for a good cause.Mike Engelhardt holds another pint of blood donated during an American Red Cross blood drive at the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul on Thursday, June 15, 2023.  (John Autey / Pioneer Press)The American Red Cross, on the other hand, has kept track for him. Engelhardt, who lives in the Lowertown neighborhood, made his 296th blood donation on Thursday morning in the downtown Union Depot transit hub on Kellogg Boulevard.That adds up to more than 37 gallons of his blood across a lifetime of giving.“When I learned I was type O-negative, and they told me what that meant, I just felt like it was a responsibility,” said Engelhardt, a “universal” donor whose blood can be shared with most anyone. “It’s easy to do, it takes so little time and it can make a difference.”When did he start giving?“I canR...

Jesse Wegman: The impossible task of defending Donald Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

From the moment Donald Trump was indicted last week, top Republican lawmakers and media figures have found themselves in the humiliating position of trying to defend the indefensible. Many of them are lawyers; having seen the overwhelming strength of the evidence in the indictment, they could simply have accepted that Trump is in big trouble.Instead, they have burst forth with an embarrassing slurry of misdirection, illogic and non sequiturs explaining why Trump should not be treated like everyone else in the eyes of the law. They offer legal arguments with no basis in the law or explanations that are nonsensical on their face.On Monday, for example, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was asked whether he was concerned that Trump kept highly classified national security documents in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom. His reply: “A bathroom door locks.”Alas, McCarthy is far from alone in debasing himself for the benefit of the former president. So on the occasion of Trump’s second not-guilty plea in t...

How much prison time could Trump face?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI investigators who searched Harold Martin's Maryland property in the fall of 2016 found classified documents—including material at the top secret level—strewn about his home, car and storage shed. The resolution of that case looms as an ominous guidepost for the legal jeopardy former President Donald Trump could face as he confronts 37 felony counts—31 under the same century-old Espionage Act statute used to prosecute Martin and other defendants alleged to have illegally retained classified documents. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Unlike Trump, the former National Security Agency contractor didn't contest the allegations. Martin ultimately pleaded guilty in 2019 and admitted his actions were “wrong, illegal and highly questionable.” But his expressions of contrition and guilty plea to a single count of willful retention of national defense information didn't spare him the harsh punishment of nine ...

Water rates likely going up after St. Louis aldermen ‘perfect’ bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

ST. LOUIS – After a lengthy, hours-long discussion about Bill 49 and two amendments, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted to perfect the bill Thursday afternoon.One amendment passed. The additional amendment, which aimed to remove the Consumer Price Index (CPI) language of automatic rate increases, did not pass."We had some amendments that we considered. One of them passed; it added a review process to the bill so that yearly, going forward, there will be – the Water Division will have to present documents to the board of alderman," said Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, the bill’s sponsor. A Missouri doctor’s death is steeped in mystery and speculation. Authorities aren’t talking Those documents would help clarify the operation of the Water Division and how the money is being spent.Bill 49 would raise the typical water bill for city residents by an additional $15 in July.Starting in January, water bills would go up $30 a quarter.Alderwoman Schweitzer said there hasn't been a water inc...

Man says Tesla's security camera caught woman vandalizing vehicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – A random act of vandalism could cost a Metro East man thousands of dollars in car repairs.The vehicle’s owner is making a plea to the public to help him find the woman who keyed his Tesla and possibly several other cars.Adam Mongold says his Tesla was keyed while he was enjoying a concert at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. For Mongold, it’s less about repairing the damage, but holding the person responsible.Security video taking from Mongold’s Tesla shows a woman vandalizing his car while it’s parked outside the concert venue. A Missouri doctor’s death is steeped in mystery and speculation. Authorities aren’t talking Police are aware of the video and have asked it be shared in the hopes of identifying the suspect.“I noticed the scratch. I thought something was on (the camera), so I tried to get it out of there. I was able to pull the flash drive out of the car and plug in my computer,” Mongold said. “I just went back and started looking through everybody...

CDOT building temporary bridge in push to reopen flood-damaged Colorado 133 east of Paonia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

State highway officials facing an “emergency need” to reopen Colorado 133 — the McClure Pass linking Glenwood Springs with Paonia and Montrose — are building a temporary bridge.The highway could open by Monday, Colorado Department of Transportation officials announced Thursday morning.The work includes pouring concrete that would have to dry — likely “determinative of when the bridge is safe to drive,” officials said in a news release.Related ArticlesColorado News | Denver weather: Rain storms, thunder and lightning expected through Friday Colorado News | 2023 is one of Colorado’s wettest starts to a year. Here’s how much rain has soaked your city. Colorado News | Flagler Reservoir closed by recent heavy rains and flooding Colorado News | Denver weather: Cloudy morning, leading to rain and possible flooding Colorado News | Tornado warning issued for El Paso, Lincoln counties Build...

Southern California couple found dead at Mexican resort

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

A Newport Beach business owner and his girlfriend were found dead at a resort near Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday under circumstances that remain under investigation.The bodies of John Heathco, 41, and Abby Lutz, 28, were discovered inside a room at the upscale Hotel Rancho Pescadero in El Pescadero around 9 p.m. Tuesday, the Baja California Sur Attorney General’s Office confirmed to ABC News.El Pescadero is located on the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula roughly one hour north of Cabo.The bodies of Abby Lutz, 28, and John Heathco, 41, were discovered inside a room at Hotel Rancho Pescadero on June 13. (Facebook/LinkedIn)Their cause of death was listed as "intoxication by substance to be determined," the AG’s office said. In a GoFundMe post, a friend of Lutz says the couple may have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.“Abby and her boyfriend thought they had food poisoning and went to the hospital to get treatment. We were told they were feeling much better a few days later,” Gabrielle...

Ex-dean of Watts high school accused of sending inappropriate messages, pursuing student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:07 GMT

A man who worked as a dean at a Watts school is accused of sending messages to a student and pursuing her for more than two years, officials announced Thursday.Last week, Roger Scott, 43, of Lakewood, was arrested and booked on suspicion of contact with a minor with knowledge and intent to commit specified sexual offenses, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.He worked as a dean at a school near the 9700 block of Holmes Avenue until last November, when his employment “ended,” police said without elaborating. The address matches a charter school called College Bridge Academy - Watts.Scott was arrested after a student said she received ongoing inappropriate sexual text messages and emails from Scott, who allegedly pursued her for sex while he worked at the school, police said.He was later released on $25,000 bail and is set to appear in court on June 29.Authorities believe Scott may have victimized others.Anyone with information about Scott, or believes they may have been vi...