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New bill filed to prevent state park from becoming multi-million dollar private community

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 9, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new bill has been filed in the Texas Senate aiming to prevent the development of a state park into a multi-million dollar private community.Senate Bill 1656, filed by Sen. Charles Schwertner on Monday, would allow the state of Texas to acquire the land through eminent domain, in a bid to keep Fairfield Lake State Park publicly accessible.The language of the bill is an exact copy of a House Bill filed last month by Rep. Angelia Orr.The park, about 70 miles east of Waco, closed to the public at the end of February after almost 50 years of operation. The park welcomed more than 80,000 visitors in Fiscal Year 2022.KXAN previously reported the current landowner, Vistra Energy, has leased land for the park to the state at no cost since the 1970s. Vistra is selling the land to Todd Interests, a Dallas-based developer.Todd Interests plans to turn the property into an exclusive commu...

Statewide brush burning ban begins March 16

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Although we've just experienced some heavy snow and most likely aren't done with the winter weather, the DEC explains warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to rise. A statewide spring brush burning ban will begin March 16 and run through May 14. Columbia County hosts a hazardous waste collection day The annual brush burning ban has been enforced by the DEC since 2009. The DEC explains the ban aims to prevent wildfires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires each spring.  Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. Local fire departments, many of which are staffed by volunteers, often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires.

Things to do in the Capital Region this weekend: March 10-12

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The weekend is almost here! From concerts to Monster Jam to St. Patrick's Day parades, there are quite a few things happening on March 10, 11, and 12. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Here are some of the events going on around the Capital Region this weekend.March 10Dark Star Orchestra, Palace Theatre in Albany, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Ticketmaster website.Jazz Reach Presents: She Said/She Says & Metta Quintet, Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the UPH website.Enter the Haggis, The Egg in Albany, 7:30 p.m. You can buy tickets on The Egg website.The International Martial Arts Expo, Lake George Holiday Inn Resort, 5 p.m. Best restaurants in Poughkeepsie, according to Yelp March 11Albany St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Central Avenue in Albany, 2 p.m.Dark Star Orchestra, Palace Theatre in Albany, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Ticketmaster w...

Columbia County hosts a hazardous waste collection day

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

GHENT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Columbia County is holding household hazardous waste collection day just in time for spring cleaning. The collection day will take place on April 29 where residents can bring their items to the Columbia County Fire Training Center. Troy takes on trash problems with new barrels Amid spring cleaning, this is a perfect opportunity to get rid of some old stuff that may not be of use to you anymore. Check out the list below for what items are allowed on the collection day.What to bring Latex paint, oil-based paint (no empty or hardened paint)Stains and varnishesWood perservativesSolvents adhesivesLighter fluidFuels, gasoline, keroseneAntifreezeEngine degreasersBrake fluidCarburetor cleanerCar wax, polishRoofing tarDriveway sealerSwimming pool chemicalsPoisons, insecticides, fungicidesChemical fertilizersWeed killersMoth ballsFlea control products, pest stripsAerosol cans (not empty)Rubber cementHousehold batteriesFiberglass resinsPhoto chemicalsChemistry setsFu...

St. Louis Arby's offering a deal to celebrate renovations

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- You may have noticed that many St. Louis area Arby's restaurants have been under renovation over the past year. The work is now complete and customers are being offered a deal to help celebrate.The Flynn Restaurant Group says that they invested $11.5 million revitalizing 32 locations across the area. The restaurant group says that the refreshed locations added 500 jobs to the local economy. Top story: Suspected Schnucks shooter appeared to be targeting suburbs The remodeling work began in January 2022. The improvements took a few weeks to complete at each location. Drive-throughs remained open with special deals for customers while the work was being done. Work on the restaurants is now complete.The renovated businesses have new exteriors, and improved interiors. That includes modern lighting, chalkboard graphics, multi-colored wood, and more.You can now grab a special deal at St. Louis area Arby's locations. They are offering a four for $10 Classic Roast Beef Sandwic...

Cardinals react to pitch clock, other changes ahead of 2023 season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

JUPITER, Fla. - Nearly two weeks into spring training games, the St. Louis Cardinals are preparing for the upcoming season with the reality of several new changes.Major League Baseball is introducing two significant rule changes and one new field arrangement for 2023. Among those…PITCH CLOCKA pace-of-play adjustment for pitchers and hitters alike, MLB now adopts a pitch-clock system similar to that of the minor leagues. Pitchers are required to throw to hitters within 15 seconds if bases are empty or 20 seconds if runners are on base.Hitters will only be allowed one timeout per plate appearance and must return to the box with eight seconds remaining on the clock. Otherwise, they run the risk of getting called for a strike.Also, pitchers get two disengagements per at-bat, whether that come as a pickoff attempt or mound step-off per batter. Testing that out a third time in an at-bat means a balk if a runner is on base.SHIFT RESTRICTIONSThose odd, but occasionally effective moments whe...

Adams County deputy cleared in Interstate 70 police shooting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

An Adams County Sheriff’s deputy who fired shots that critically wounded an unarmed man after a high-speed chase that forced a closure of Interstate 70 northeast of Denver in May will not face charges, Colorado prosecutors have decided after an independent review.There’s no evidence the shooting wasn’t legally justified, investigators concluded.“Based on the evidence presented and the applicable Colorado law, there is no reasonable likelihood of success of proving the elements of any crime beyond a reasonable doubt against the involved deputy and no charges will be filed against him,” 17th Judicial District District Attorney Brian Mason wrote in a March 8 letter notifying Adams County Sheriff Gene Claps.The chase and shooting happened on May 24 just after midnight. Adams County Deputy Joseph Archuleta and his partner Deputy Jonathan Eller were patrolling and spotted a Dodge pickup with no license plates and started pursuing it. The driver later was identified as Matthew ...

Pandemic walloped metro Denver and Greeley economies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

Metro Denver had the eighth strongest economy heading into the pandemic, but two years later, its economic ranking slipped to 121st out of 192nd metro areas, making it among the most deteriorated economies during the pandemic, according to a study from Brookings Metro.The region joined the “tested” category of top-half economic performers between 2011 to 2019 who dropped to the bottom half between 2019 to 2021. About 40% of very large metros, defined as having more than 1 million residents, moved into that tested group, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston and San Diego.“There are a lot of theories, but not a lot of firm answers as to why. Very large metros had this tremendous run of growth and they were where economic activity was increasingly concentrated. Denver was a poster child for that inclusive growth,” said Joseph Barilla, fellow and director of applied research at Brookings Metro Monitor and a co-author of the stu...

Opinion: The West’s iconic conifers will not regrow if wildfires continue to burn too hot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

Wildfires and severe drought are killing trees at an alarming rate across the West, and forests are struggling to recover as the planet warms. However, new research shows there are ways to improve forests’ chances of recovery – by altering how wildfires burn.In a new study, we teamed up with over 50 other fire ecologists to examine how forests have recovered – or haven’t – in over 10,000 locations after 334 wildfires.Together, these sites offer an unprecedented look at how forests respond to wildfires and global warming.Our results are sobering. We found that conifer tree seedlings, such as Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine, are increasingly stressed by high temperatures and dry conditions in sites recovering from wildfires. In some sites, our team didn’t find any seedlings at all. That’s worrying, because whether forests recover after a wildfire depends in large part on whether new seedlings can establish themselves and grow.However, our team also found that if wildfires burn less int...

EU and international community closely monitoring events in Bangladesh ahead of crucial elections

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:46:36 GMT

All eyes currently remain firmly fixed on bitter events in Ukraine but there are rising fears that another huge country could be about to tear itself apart.Bangladesh is set for potentially explosive parliamentary elections in late December, poll vital not just for the country’s own future but for the EU and wider international community.The fear is that the outcome may result in yet further instability in a very large country, something that, with the Ukraine conflict rumbling on, is the last thing the West wants.Victory for its pro-India and pro-West incumbent government is likely to see Bangladesh looking further Westwards in the coming years.While less is known about exactly how the opposition would pivot itself in the event of victory, the feeling is that electoral success for the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) could see Bangladesh lean more towards China and Russia.The election is not until the end of the year but, already, there have been numerous demonstration...