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Austin interim city manager puts forward $5.5 billion budget

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City of Austin Interim City Manager Jesús Garza released his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Sunday, which forecasts a combined projected increase of 2% in local fees for the typical ratepayer.In his message included in the budget, Garza said the budget is "Back to Basics." "The FY 2023-24 Budget we are proposing is Back to Basics in the sense that we are refocusing on the core services our residents need and expect," Garza said. "To ignite and foster a Back to Basics culture, I moved quickly to evaluate and fundamentally shift the organizational structure of the City. We went beyond an organizational chart – we carefully and critically assessed issues that represent our most significant community challenges, like emergency response, capital project delivery, homelessness and affordability, defining the City’s role, as well as the roles of partner organizations."He said that the $5.5 billion budget also targets the city council's priorities of "affor...

Total-loss fire highlights staffing concerns in Elgin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) -- A fire that displaced a family of five in Elgin highlights some staffing and procedural concerns regarding fire operations in the city.The fire happened at the Cooper family's home early in the morning on July 4. Chief Chris Botello, who was in command on scene, said the firefighters did everything they could, but he "wishes [they] could have done more.""We're not walking away with anything besides our lives," Deja Cooper said, adding that one firefighter ran into the house to save the family's puppy when the fire was still raging. She said her husband woke her up in the middle of the night telling her the house was on fire and that they and their three children needed to get out quickly."Looking up at him, and I just see this cloud of smoke," she said. "Entire back of the house was in flames, and there was so much smoke that it was hurting our eyes."The house is gutted. The roof is gone. When you look closely, you can see signs of what it used to look like. A...

Police investigate homicide in southeast Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is investigating a homicide Sunday night in southeast Austin, according to a tweet by the agency.APD said its officers are investigating near the 7500 block of South Glenn Street, which is near McKinney Falls Parkway and Burleson Road. This is a developing story. Check back to KXAN for updates.

Worker rescued after 'heat-related illness' at downtown Austin construction site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A construction worker rescued from a downtown construction site Sunday is now recovering in a hospital from a "heat-related illness." The Austin Fire Department tweeted late Sunday afternoon its crews responded to a worker in need of medical attention "from a crane scaffold about 6 stories high" off a downtown construction site. Austin-Travis County EMS posted the call came in around 3:43 p.m. Sunday at 80 Red River Street, which is close to the Rainey Street area. The Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS are tending to a construction worker experiencing a heat-related issue on a construction site in downtown Austin Sunday afternoon. (Courtesy: Austin Fire Department) The Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS are tending to a construction worker experiencing a heat-related issue on a construction site in downtown Austin Sunday afternoon. (Courtesy: Austin Fire Department) The Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS are tendin...

Twins sweep A’s, regain some confidence for the stretch run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. — It wasn’t always pretty, and often pretty dicey, but the Twins took care of business this weekend at Oakland Coliseum, returning from the All-Star break to sweep a series against a young A’s team going through some growing pains.Oakland gave the Twins all they could handle in each game, but Minnesota found a way to win every time, rallying from a 3-0 deficit on Sunday for a 5-4 victory in front of 9,335. The victory pushed them two games over .500 and 2½ games above second-place Cleveland in the American League Central.“No matter what team we’re playing, I think that’s the way we need to play every game — like we played this series,” said catcher Christian Vazquez, who went 2 for 4 with a walk and put the Twins on the board with a solo home run in fifth inning to cut their deficit to 3-1.“We played good,” he added. “We pitched good. The bullpen was good, and we had clutch hits with men on base.”The big blow was a bases-loaded double by Alex Kirilloff that scored th...

Rockies’ Chase Anderson rebounds with five solid innings vs. Yankees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

Chase Anderson knew he needed to rebound and knew he needed to finally give the Rockies a chance to win.The veteran right-hander delivered in Colorado’s 8-7, 11-inning win over the Yankees on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. The 35-year-old pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out one.“I looked at today like, ‘It’s the second half of the season and I want to provide this team with quality innings and be the starter that can stabilize the rotation,’ ” Anderson said. “To go out there and be able to put up five good innings was not only huge for me, but also for the team.”Anderson ran into big-time trouble in the third when Oswaldo Cabrera and Jose Trevino rapped out one-out singles and Anderson walked Giancarlo Stanton to load the bases. But when Anderson got Anthony Rizzo to fly out to right fielder Kris Bryant to escape the jam, Anderson pumped his fist as he left the mound.“(It was about)...

Large fire breaks out in 3 one-story structures in El Monte

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

Firefighters battled a large fire in a commercial building that quickly spread to two other buildings in El Monte, officials announced Sunday.  Just after 2 p.m., crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the 9200 block of Garvey Avenue where heavy smoke could be seen billowing out of a commercial structure. Firefighters quickly took a defensive position on the fire, officials said. Not long after crews arrived, the blaze moved into two adjacent buildings and was upgraded to a three-alarm fire, meaning L.A. County Fire requested more than 100 firefighters and additional equipment to fight the fire.  Video posted to the Citizen App showed thick, dark plumes of smoke in the area near the fire.  Crews with L.A. County Fire on the scene of a commercial structure fire in El Monte on July 16, 2023. (LACFD)Crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department on the scene of a commercial fire involving two one-story buildings on July 16, 2023. (LACFD)Thick, dark smoke...

Golden Gate Fields racetrack in East Bay to close this fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

In another blow to the Bay Area sporting scene, Golden Gate Fields will permanently close at the end of the season in December.The closure of the Albany-based horse track, which opened in 1941, will leave Northern California without a major track. Bay Meadows, the San Mateo-based track that opened in 1934, closed in 2008.Like the Raiders and presumably the A’s, horseracing in the Bay Area will exist only in history.The Stronach Group, which owns Golden Gate Fields, said Sunday it will “double down” on its racing at Santa Anita and training at San Luis Rey Downs.“We believe that the future of success of racing depends on a business model that encourages investment in Southern California, one of North America’s premier racing circuits,” said Belinda Stronach, chief executive and president of the group that has owned the track since 2011.Golden Gate has come under scrutiny from animal-rights activists lately, although it’s not likely that it pl...

Steph Curry sinks 18-foot eagle putt for improbable Tahoe tournament win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

Steph Curry one-upped himself on Sunday.  A day after his iconic ace, he sank a final-hole, 18-foot eagle putt to capture the American Century Championship title in dramatic fashion.Needing to make the long-shot putt on the 18th green to win, the Warriors star did what he seemingly always does in the clutch – he delivered. And he did it in style, turning away to begin his wild celebration even before the ball landed in the cup.STEPH CURRY WITH THE CLUTCH EAGLE ON THE 18TH HOLE TO WIN THE AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP pic.twitter.com/in7jCsUTkk— Guru (@DrGuru_) July 16, 2023Curry sprinted toward the gallery at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, stopping to hug his wife Ayesha and then triumphantly picking up his son Canon as the crowd roared its approval.For Curry, winning the popular tournament in Stateline, Nev., on Sunday was a dream come true. Heading into the 18th hole, he trailed former tennis star Mardy Fish by 3 points in the modified Stableford scoring system, meaning he needed t...

Manassas man killed by ‘neglectful discharge’ of handgun, suspect charged with manslaughter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:52 GMT

A man in Prince William County is facing involuntary manslaughter charges after a handgun was “neglectfully discharged” at a private home in Manassas, according to police.Early Saturday evening, 21-year-Reynaldo Jesus Villalobos Hernandez was passing around a handgun with two acquaintances at a home in the 8300 block of Scotland Loop, when one of his acquaintances “neglectfully discharged the handgun,” striking Hernandez in the chest, officials said in a news release.Officers responding to the shooting arrived at the scene around 6:26 p.m. and provided first aid to the victim before he was transported to the hospital. He died a short time later, according to police. No other injuries were reported.Police have identified 27-year-old Daniel Villalobos Marquez of Manassas as the suspect in the shooting. Marquez was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter on Sunday. He is currently being held without bond.Source