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US Highway 183 in southeast Austin back on the radar for improvements

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Sidelined… by the pandemic… the process of helping ease congestion on U.S. Highway 183 in southeast Travis County is getting back on track.More cars are driving the stretch of road each day, but the road hasn't been improved to keep up. Traffic anchor Erica Brennes reports, that will soon change."This morning, I'm sailing through, right and I'm thinking why is there no traffic? It's a Wednesday--a lot of people go to the office on Wednesdays, right? And then boom, I hit the backup," Bradley Wheelis.TxDOT spokesperson Brad Wheelis knows the struggles drivers face on Hwy 183 in Southeast Austin because he deals with them every day, "Right now most of that section of 183 is a four-lane roadway. There's a big divided section there as well. But we know that we need to accommodate the growth, not only the growth we've seen so far but that in the future."On the north side of Hwy 183 at the intersection of 71, there has been a 43 percent increase in vehicle traffic since 20...

David Schultz: The constitutional right to be rude

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

There is no constitutional right to threaten or intimidate people. This includes public officials. However, individuals have a right to be uncivil and tell public officials to go to hell. And if public officials cannot accept that reality then they should consider a different job.Across the country, including Minnesota, civility is breaking down in public places and meetings. In school board and city council meetings angry citizens shout at public officials and perhaps swear at them too. Meetings have become heated, as seen in Minneapolis, for example.But what also is happening are threats to public officials. We see protests in front of the private homes or otherwise more “in your face” tactics, including what some officials describe as real threats to them or their family. The threats know no political ideology, coming from extremists across political stripes. Some public officials fear for their safety and are calling on the state Legislature to make such behavior illegal, or to ...

Even with Karl-Anthony Towns back, Naz Reid’s minutes aren’t going anywhere

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

It was only fair to wonder if Karl-Anthony Towns’ return from a calf strain that had sidelined him since late November would lead to a diminishing, or even full-on extinction of Naz Reid’s minutes.Between Rudy Gobert and Towns, there simply aren’t available minutes at the center spot. Towns starts at the power forward spot, a position where Kyle Anderson has also excelled.But Reid never pondered the thought of not playing much ahead of Wednesday’s contest against Atlanta.“Even if it was (the case), it is what it is,” he said. “I’ve got to keep fighting to get in my position and do what I do. I’m not really tripping.”There is currently no reason to. Not only did Reid play Wednesday, he tallied 26 points on 11-for-15 in 26 minutes, playing a critical role in Minnesota’s 125-124 victory.“Naz was spectacular. He really was. He played offensively like he didn’t try to change how he played. I think that was key,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Defensively, he was really good. He go...

CHS Field announces new foods for 2023 season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

Mac and meat bowl is one of the new foods for 2023 at CHS Field. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Garlic cheese flatbread with marinara sauce is one of CHS Field's new foods for 2023. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Tuscan chicken salad sandwich is is one of CHS Field's new foods for 2023. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Churros are one of CHS Field's new foods for 2023. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Chicken and biscuits with country gravy is one of CHS Field's new foods for 2023. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Foot-long brisket hash dog is one of CHS Field's new foods for 2023. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Show Caption of ExpandCHS Field has announced its new foods for the 2023 St. Paul Saints season.New options include a footlong hot dog covered in a brisket hash, churros, chicken and biscuits with a country gravy bowl and more.Here’s a list of what’s new, where to find it and how much it’ll run you.Burger Depot• Chicken and biscuits with country gravy bowl, $11....

‘Immersive Disney Animation’ offers a stimulating celebration for the devoted

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

After touring a preview of the new “Immersive Disney Animation” exhibit Wednesday, it struck me that it’s a slam dunk – for certain audiences, anyway.A collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Lighthouse Immersive – the company behind “Immersive Van Gogh” and “The Art of Banksy” – “Immersive Disney Animation” opened Thursday at Lighthouse ArtSpace in Minneapolis. The main attraction is a 45-minute film montage assembled from Disney’s extensive animated catalog and projected in a 360-degree immersive environment.The first part of the show is a somewhat straightforward exhibit focused on both the old-school, hand-drawn animation that put Disney on the map and the computer technology that has taken over the craft. Indeed, the first thing visitors encounter is an animator’s desk with both an analogue character sketch and two computer monitors.“Immersive Disney Animation” visitors are greeted with a replication of an old-school animator’...

Trial opens in child sex trafficking trial of Republican political operative Tony Lazzaro

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

A young woman told a federal jury in Minneapolis on Wednesday that she had just turned 15 in mid-2020 when she first met Anton “Tony” Lazzaro.The teen said she didn’t fit in at her exurban high school, though she met regularly with a group of friends from another school. She also said that Gisela Castro Medina, now 21, had befriended her on Instagram and Snapchat.The woman, now 18 and identified in court documents as “Victim C,” testified that Castro Medina urged her to meet “a rich friend” who liked to “have fun,” and that in early August 2020, Lazzaro, now 32, sent an Uber driver to take her and three other girls, then ages 14 and 15, from a slumber party to his luxury apartment at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis.Attorneys and U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz addressed the alleged victim by her first name in court, but Minnesota Public Radio News is not naming her to protect her privacy.Anton LazzaroThe teen testified that she did not have sex with Lazzaro during that ini...

Wisconsin high court candidate welcomes campaign ally despite presence at U.S. Capitol insurrection

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court said Thursday that he had no problem with someone who was on the U.S. Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection campaigning for him across the state in the waning days of the high stakes race, calling his work “invaluable.”Dan Kelly on Wednesday posted a video on Twitter of himself standing side-by-side with conservative activist Scott Presler and thanking him for his work. Presler, a Virginia native, planned several “stop the steal” rallies in addition to being on the Capitol grounds the day of the insurrection. Presler also described the siege on the Capitol as “the largest civil rights protest in American history.”When asked Thursday about Presler’s attendance at the insurrection, Kelly said he was “not really familiar with his background.”“But what I can say, I appreciate a great deal the work that he’s doing here in Wisconsin,” Kelly said. “I think it is invaluable.”Majority cont...

Minnesota pollution control, health officials press need for legislation on ‘forever chemicals’ cleanup

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

Minnesota pollution and health officials made the case at the state Capitol on Thursday for legislation to restrict nonessential uses of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, and for the $45.6 million that Gov. Tim Walz has requested in his budget to prevent, manage and clean up the ubiquitous compounds.State agencies launched a drive two years ago to protect communities from PFAS, which don’t break down in the environment but accumulate in human bodies. They’ve already tested water supplies for 98% of the state’s population, pioneered new cleanup technologies and started statewide monitoring.“PFAS is an urgent public health and environmental issue facing Minnesota and the nation,” Katrina Kessler, commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said at a briefing for reporters.PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated substances, are widespread and expensive to remove from water. They’ve been linked to a broad range of health problems, including low birthweight...

Capital Region concert roundup: March 24-30

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- This is your weekly roundup of concerts happening around the Capital Region from March 24 to March 30. From tribute bands to regional and local favorites, here are the upcoming concerts for the weekend and the following week.March 24: Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 7 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Troy Music Hall website.March 24: Haley Reinhart, Cohoes Music Hall, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Cohoes Music Hall website.March 24: Under the Paige, Rivers Casino, 8 p.m.March 24: Gianna Robustiano at 5 p.m., Skeeter Creek at 8:30 p.m., at Frog Alley Brewing in SchenectadyMarch 24: Beppe Gambetta, Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Eventbrite website.March 24: Seth Warden and Doug Moody of Warden and Co., The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, 7:30 p.m.March 24: The Wheel: Deadheads Choice, Lark Hall in Albany, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Eventbrite website.March 25: Hootenanny At The Hall, C...

Rensselaer County opens new, full-service DMV

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:35:50 GMT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles opened a new office in Rensselaer County Thursday. The new, full-service DMV is at the county office building in East Greenbush.It combines the two previous offices in the Schodack and East Greenbush town halls. Officials said the new location will offer more services. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "A lot of DMVs are limited service," Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola said. "Some only do residents that live in that district. We're open to everyone, so we're looking for business to come."The new office will eventually offer real and enhanced ID upgrades but is still waiting for the state to install the system.