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Texas House passes bill in attempt to save Fairfield Lake State Park from closure, development

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 24, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill in an attempt to save a popular state park from permanent closure and development into a private community. The measure now moves to the state Senate.Fairfield Lake State Park, about 70 miles east of Waco, was closed to the public at the end of February, after almost 50 years in operation. It has since temporarily reopened but is slated for permanent closure later this summer.The House approved House Bill 4757 Friday by a vote of 131-8, a show of bipartisan support.The bill would require the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to approve any application for new or amended water rights related to Fairfield Lake, as well as adjoining Big Brown Creek. Parks and Wildlife officials had previously raised concerns about how the developer planned to use the water.Right now, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality&nb...

Austin couple surprises each other with double proposal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin couple got engaged over the weekend in a surprising but sweet turn of events. Stevie and Joey both brought engagement rings on a date at Peter Pan Mini-Golf they had planned with mutual friends Saturday, both without knowing what was up the other's sleeve. Austin teen becomes published author, illustrator Stevie's sibling sent KXAN a video of the proposal and said Stevie was planning to propose to their girlfriend Joey, had a date planned out with mutual friends of theirs, and planned to pop the question... until Joey got down on one knee and proposed to Stevie on the same date.Stevie can be heard in the video responding by saying, "I have something for you," and pulled out a ring, got down on one knee and proposed right back to Joey. Stevie explained they planned on proposing later that day, "but here we are!"They both said yes. "Stevie has been through a lot in life and I am so happy that they were able to find love, with someone who loves them just as...

Ancient Roman bust discovered at Austin Goodwill heading back to Europe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a $35 purchase at an Austin Goodwill Store nearly five years ago, resident Laura Young helped discover a lost piece of ancient Roman artwork. ICYMI: How did an ancient Roman bust land in an Austin Goodwill store? Young first purchased the marble bust from Austin's Goodwill Store on Far West Boulevard in August 2018. An antiques procurer, she knew right away there must've been a storied history behind the art piece. What she didn't realize was that story wound its way back to first century A.D. Rome.How did an ancient Roman bust end up in Austin?Prior to Young's discovery in a secondhand thrift store, the last known location of the bust dates back to a museum in Aschaffenburg, Germany during the height of World War II, San Antonio Museum of Art specialists told KXAN in May 2022. Lynley McAlpine, a postdoctoral curatorial fellow at SAMA, said museum lootings were commonly conducted by infiltrating armies throughout the war.Austin resident Laura Young discovered a...

School safety center stage in Texas House

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas House of Representatives on Monday will consider three bills that aim to improve school safety and security by mandating armed officers in every campus, providing more funding for infrastructure enhancements, and adding new guidelines for safety protocols.House Bill 3 is the legislature's most comprehensive overhaul of safety policies and procedures, authored by State. Rep. Dustin Burrows, the Lubbock Republican who chaired the House investigation of the Robb Elementary mass shooting.The bill would require every public school district to place at least one armed school security officer or staff member on every campus. The bill will also create a minimum school safety allotment for every district of at least $10 for every student and $15,000 per campus. Districts must use that additional funding to improve school safety in ways such as hiring officers and school safety directors, installing barriers and security cameras, and providing mental health perso...

Austin teen becomes published author, illustrator

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Not everyone can say they've published a book during their lifetime -- but that's an achievement one Austin high school senior is crossing off her bucket list.Jing Graber, a senior at Regents School of Austin, wrote and illustrated the book, "Can You Sea Me?" The children's picture book published in late February, inspired by Graber's own love for the ocean and marine biology. POPULAR NOW: Missing Austin dog reunited with family nearly 1 year later "I grew up in Austin, Texas, so I was always very far away from the coast. But I would read these children's picture books when I was little, and the stunning illustrations and all of that would really teach me to love the ocean and see it as almost like a magical place," she said. "So when I was finally able to go to the beach for the first time, it's been my passion ever since."An artist since childhood, the specific idea for a children's book first came when the title randomly popped into her head. From there, she wa...

Caribbean restaurant opening in Troy's River Street Market

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Pataconia, a Caribbean restaurant, is set to open in Troy's River Street Market this summer. The eatery will be run by Chef Riany Mena and his wife Alexa. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Mena said his wife is originally from the Capital Region. He is from the Dominican Republic. "Dominican culture is full of love, family, friends and especially food, which we want to share with the Troy community," said Mena."We came up with the name 'Pataconia' over our love for Patacones, a sandwich consisting of a protein and greens between two fried plantains," said Mena. "This sandwich is a staple in Caribbean cuisine and will be the main dish on our menu." Mother’s Day restaurant specials in the Capital Region Korean BBQ Beef Patacone (photo courtesy: Riany Mena)Teriyaki Cauliflower Patacone (photo courtesy: Riany Mena)The menu also features pastelitos, or empanadas, and rice bowls. Mena said they would event...

Child hit by pickup truck in Hudson Falls

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A child from Hudson Falls was severely injured on Saturday after being hit by a pickup truck. The Hudson Falls Police Department said that no tickets have been issued and no charges filed, but that the circumstances are still under investigation. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The 11-year-old was airlifted to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment.Police said that the truck driver tried and failed to stop and swerve. They also reportedly crashed into a telephone pole without sustaining any injuries while trying to miss the collision.Both the driver and the child live in Hudson Falls. Police said that the driver remained on the scene to cooperate.

Troy man pleads not guilty in Easter homicide case

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Troy man has pleaded not guilty in connection to a homicide that happened on Easter. The Albany County District Attorney's Office said Isaiah Anderson, 37, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On April 9 around 4 a.m., police found Alonzo Ford, 60, with multiple gunshot wounds inside a home on the 500 block of Morris Street in Albany. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Anderson was arrested a few days later. The indictment alleges that Anderson intentionally caused the death of Ford. He is also accused of having an illegal, loaded gun at that time. Traffic stop leads to two forged check arrests Anderson was remanded to jail pending a bail application. He is next scheduled to appear incourt on May 24 at 9:30 a.m.

More charges for St. Louis man after guilty plea for rape threats

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - After pleading guilty last month in federal court to making rape threats against a woman he used to date, a St. Louis man faces a new charge in local court.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said Robert Merkle, 54, pleaded guilty on March 16 to five federal felonies, including two counts of interstate communication of threats and three counts of cyberstalking.According to his plea, Merkle admitted to harassing a Town and Country woman while he was on parole for similar crimes with different victims. Top story: Private messages reveal St. Louis warning siren issues The federal investigation into Merkle’s threats began in January 2022, when a woman told the Town and Country Police Department that a man she’d met on a dating site more than seven years earlier sent a series of suspicious text messages. The messages hinted that he had made a copy of her house key and was planning to break into her home and rape her.Merkle's guilty plea in th...

Kiszla vs. Saunders: Do Rockies have five players worth keeping for rebuild?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:38 GMT

Kiz: The Rockies are just another word for nothing left to lose. Can’t anybody around here play this game? These guys are a real threat to be the first team in franchise history to lose 100 times in a season. Colorado seems doomed to be stuck in the dark and dreary basement of the National League West this year, and it’s hard to imagine how 2024 will be much brighter. So let me ask: In the long-term rebuild of the Rockies, are there five players on the current major-league roster worth keeping?Saunders: Geez, Kiz, happy springtime to you, too. Unfortunately, you’re right about the ’23 Rox. The only thing gloomier is the weather here in Cleveland. Five players? I can dig up five, although it’s not easy: Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Ezequiel Tovar, Justin Lawrence and Kris Bryant. That doesn’t mean the Rockies shouldn’t consider trading anybody and everybody, but those five could be part of a rebuild. (Are we allowed to use that word?)Kiz: I...