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Nearly half of Texans not confident lawmakers did enough to fix power grid, poll says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a newly released Texas Politics Project poll, researchers found nearly half of participants said they were not confident Texas lawmakers did enough during the legislative session to increase reliability of the state's power grid moving forward. Less than 20% of Texas voters who took part in the poll said they were "very" or "extremely" confident lawmakers had done enough to keep the lights on. "There has been a very long hangover, if you will, from the impact and the experience of [the 2021] winter storm, despite the fact that for two sessions straight now, the legislature has passed legislation and put new money into attempting to both make the grid, as it exists, more resilient and to expand capacity," James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, said. ERCOT asks Texas to conserve energy Tuesday with extreme heat likely Texas Gov. Greg Abbott notably signed HB 1500 into law following the regular session, which forces several grid reforms including r...

Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez named to Team USA for Japan Series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns freshman Viviana Martinez showed what she could do against college talent in her first season, and now she'll display it against some of the world's best.Martinez was selected to represent the United States in the 2023 Japan All-Star Series, scheduled for August 4-7 in Japan. A group of 16 collegiate softball players comprises the roster that will face the world No. 2 Japan national team in a 3-game series. Games will be held in Fukushima, Iwakuni and Yokohama, Japan, all in venues used during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.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/newslettersIt's the fifth consecutive year a Longhorn will put on the Stars and Stripes in international competition. Cat Osterman made a national team from 2019-21 and Janae Jefferson was on a USA roster last year.Martinez was a second-team all-Big 12 selection and one of five Longhorns to make the...

UT System Implementing New Mental Resource Program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The University of Texas System is partnering with TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being platform, to launch a new program that offers free virtual mental health resources to students at all 14 UT institutions, according to a news release from The UT System. The program is part of a $16.5 million investment approved by the UT Regents in 2022 to enhance student mental health and safety.Set to launch at the beginning of the fall semester in 2023, the program will offer a variety of 24/7 virtual care services, including on-demand mental health and emotional support, scheduled mental health counseling sessions, as well as a number of other mental health resources. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: University of Texas granted $612K for mental health resources In the release from the UT System, Kevin P. Eltife, chair of the UT Board of Regents, stated that they "are committed to continuous enhancements that improve student health and educational success outcomes."Data from a surve...

Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul perseveres, evolves post-pandemic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

Worshipers hold hands across the aisles in prayer at Pilgrim Baptist Church during the church's 150th Anniversary service on Sunday, June 23, 2013 in St. Paul. (Sherri LaRose-Chiglo / Pioneer Press)A panoramic photo from 1928 from the opening of Pilgrim Baptist Church's current location at 732 W. Central Ave. in St. Paul. (Courtesy of Pilgrim Baptist Church)Rev. Dr. Charles L. Gill, left, , during a prayer with Minister Richard Daley, center, and Rev. Dr. Fredrick Bacon during a 150th anniversary service at Pilgrim Baptist Church on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in St. Paul. (Sherri LaRose-Chiglo / Pioneer Press)The sanctuary at Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul features images of its past pastors captured in its stained glass windows. Among those is Robert T. Hickman, left, a Missouri slave who came to Minnesota in the 1860's and founded the church. Also seen are Rev. Harris, center, and Rev. Massey. (Courtesy of Pilgrim Baptist Church)Pilgrim Baptist Church, established ...

The latest on the Titan submersible tragedy and what’s next in the search for the victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

Associated PressThe desperate search to find the missing Titan submersible turned into a recovery effort Thursday after officials announced that the vessel imploded sometime this week, killing all five aboard, near the Titanic shipwreck.Deep-sea robots will continue to search the sea floor for clues about what happened deep in the North Atlantic. The pilot and four passengers died in the catastrophic implosion.The Titan, owned by undersea exploration company OceanGate Expeditions, had been chronicling the Titanic’s decay and the underwater ecosystem around the sunken ocean liner in yearly voyages since 2021.Many questions about what occurred underwater remain: When and why did the implosion occur? Will the victims’ bodies ever be found? How could this tragedy have been prevented?Here’s what we do know so far: WHEN AND WHERE DID THE TITAN GO MISSING?The craft submerged Sunday morning, and its support vessel lost contact with it about an hour and 45 minutes later, ac...

Parkview Apartments inspected by City of Albany

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Management of Parkview Apartments, CRM, met with Councilman, Uwusu Anane, and Code Enforcement to take tours of individual apartments. Tenants say the building has been experiencing issues since 2022, and much more needs to be done.The Parkview Apartments Tenant Association has been advocating for themselves since 2023. “Our tenant association, we might be small, but we’re loud," described President of the Parkview Apartments Tenant Association, Diane Deitz. “I’ve been getting a lot of complaints over the last couple of months about inadequate water conditions, mold, terrible living conditions in this building," explained Anane. Parkview and Bleecker tenants voice housing concerns Once inside the apartments, Codes checked every bathroom for hot water. Anane saw firsthand that results varied from door to door.“Some of these apartments don’t have adequate hot water. I think that’s the basics for any living condition," stated Anane.Deitz says with the help of t...

St. Louis alderman recuses himself from hearings after FOX Files uncovers connection to short-term rentals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Alderman Shane Cohn (Ward 3) will step aside from future hearings on short-term rentals after the FOX Files discovered Cohn currently has properties available for rent on Airbnb.Cohn serves as chairman of the city’s Transportation and Commerce Committee, the same committee holding hearings on two bills that would crack down on short-term rental properties.He’s also an Airbnb “superhost” – which he did not publicly disclose during a hearing earlier this week.The committee met for more than two hours on Tuesday. They discussed two bills, one of which would require a permit to operate a short-term rental property. Cohn did not disclose at the time that he has two different properties listed on Airbnb. Woman charged with ramming, shooting thieves who stole sister’s car In a phone interview with FOX 2, Cohn said he hadn’t planned on voting on either bill, but thought it was important that he be included in the hearings. He said the properties available on Airbnb a...

Fatal explosion at Olin Corporation in East Alton, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

EAST ALTON, Ill. – One person died in an explosion Thursday at the Olin Corp. ammunition plant in East Alton.The explosion happened just before 4 p.m. at the plant, located on Powder Mill Road.First responders at the scene said a primer truck exploded.This is a developing story and will be updated as we acquire more information.

Local leaders meet to discuss youth outreach due to rise in gun violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and community leaders held a meeting to discuss youth outreach on Thursday. This comes after last weekend's deadly mass shooting downtown.The meeting was held at the Gateway region YMCA, located in the Midtown neighborhood. The group gathered to talk about the alarming trend of violence surrounding youth and to give teens safe and fun places to hang out over the summer.With 17-year-old Makeo Moore dead and 10 other juveniles injured during a party at a short-term rental early Sunday morning.Community leaders and youth program coordinators said they plan to expand the hours of weekend youth programs at Wohl and Marquette recreation centers.From Friday and Saturday, it will be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for kids 15 and under and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. for ages 16 and up. The extended hours will continue until August.Leaders said they want to keep youth engaged.“We talked with many mayors across the country. One of the things is reducing crime," Jones said....

Response to fiery Ohio derailment frustrated by poor communication and incomplete information

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:19 GMT

By JOSH FUNK (AP Business Writer)OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters who responded to February’s fiery train derailment in Ohio struggled to immediately identify the hazardous chemicals the train was hauling due to a lack of communication from the railroad, officials said Thursday.During a public hearing in East Palestine — where thousands of residents had to evacuate their homes because of the derailment — National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy asked why Norfolk Southern was able to provide details of the freight to one of its contractors within 10 minutes of the Feb. 3 derailment, but that it took an hour to get that information to first responders.Knowing what was on the train helps firefighters determine the proper response.The two-day NTSB hearing was designed to provide information to residents, officials and investigators about the emergency response and the crucial decision three days after the derailment to release toxic vinyl c...