Mayor Watson addresses homeless spending; City to review homeless services

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

Mayor Watson addresses homeless spending; City to review homeless services AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a public newsletter, Mayor Kirk Watson addressed spending concerns surrounding the City of Austin’s homeless population.“The public safety net that provides mental health care for our most vulnerable neighbors – those who are unhoused – is badly frayed,” Watson said.In the newsletter, Watson said there was a lack of coordination between multiple local jurisdictions, which ultimately “contributed to a near-crisis” toward the end of August.Following the incident, Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly requested in a memo that the city consider a full audit of its homelessness services and spending. RELATED: As Austin’s homeless strategy officer resigns, some asking for deeper look at city spending Watson said representatives of Central Health, Integral Care, Travis County, the City of Austin and Dell Medical School at UT Austin agreed to launch a joint independent review of its homeless services.According to the newsletter, the review would include strategy ev...

St. Paul crash update: Driver, 40, missed stop sign and died in collision with another vehicle, police say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

St. Paul crash update: Driver, 40, missed stop sign and died in collision with another vehicle, police say A 40-year-old driver didn’t halt at a stop sign and died in a crash with another vehicle, St. Paul police said Friday of preliminary information.Officers were called about 3:10 p.m. Thursday to the collision in the Como Park neighborhood. They found the driver and an 18-year-old passenger were unconscious, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a St. Paul police spokesman.Paramedics took the teen to Regions Hospital and, as of Friday morning, his injuries were believed be non-life threatening, Ernster said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released her name.The 16-year-old driver and 16-year-old passenger from the other vehicle were evaluated by paramedics and not transported to the hospital, according to Ernster.Preliminary information indicated the woman was driving a sedan east on Orange Avenue and the 16-year-old was driving a sport-utility vehicle north on Maywood Street. Police continue to investigate. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | H...

Voter turnout and how long it may take to get results in St. Paul City Council races

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

Voter turnout and how long it may take to get results in St. Paul City Council races When St. Paul City Council President Amy Brendmoen first ran for office 12 years ago, she unseated incumbent Lee Helgen by just 36 votes.It was a nail-biter of a political contest, yet fewer than 3,700 residents that year cast ballots in Ward 5, where some 20,000 voters are registered. That speaks to the irony — some might say duality — of St. Paul’s city council and school board races in off-year elections. For candidates and their campaign supporters, including political action committees and advocacy organizations spending heavily to get out the vote, the races can be little short of electric, and they’re made even busier and less predictable as a result of ranked-choice voting.Still, on paper, off-year voter turnout generally looks more like a quiet trickle in St. Paul, which arguably raises the stakes. Nudging just a few extra voters here or there could make all the difference.What kind of turnout can St. Paul expect this year, and how will it take to ge...

Gophers football: Return of linebacker Cody Lindenberg serves as jolt for stretch run

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

Gophers football: Return of linebacker Cody Lindenberg serves as jolt for stretch run When linebacker Cody Lindenberg injured his leg at the end of training camp in August, Gophers coordinator Joe Rossi knew there would be elements of a “void” in the middle of his defense to start the season.Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams had a combined zero starts entering the season. Baranowski, a redshirt freshman, had played zero collegiate snaps at the position, while Williams, a redshirt sophomore, had fewer than 25 in a backup role last season.But Baranowski and Williams got more comfortable and vocal in their roles as the first half of the season progressed. Their play improved, especially for Williams in the 12-10 rivalry win over Iowa on Oct. 21.Then Lindenberg made his season debut in last Saturday’s 27-12 victory over Michigan State. The Ramsey, Minn., native started and added three tackles on a limited snap count of 39.“The cool thing I found is now those (younger) guys have been working for a couple months and (have been) becoming more comfortable with the...

Adams looking for café operator at Greylock Glen

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

Adams looking for café operator at Greylock Glen ADAMS, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The Town of Adams has put out a request for proposals for an operator of a new restaurant/café to be located at the Outdoor Center at Greylock Glen Resort. The Outdoor Center is under construction and is expected to open in May or June 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The town wants the Café to have full food and drink service with healthy options and farm-to-table offerings, as well as a to-go counter. It'll have a kitchen, dining room, and bar that will seat about 75 people. There will also be an outdoor patio dining area where the Café owner could establish an outdoor kitchen. Greylock Glen Resort is in development. The Greylock Glen Master Plan includes a hotel/conference center, year-round campground, and an amphitheater. The campground is expected to be completed by late 2023 or early 2024. Movie theater operator rebrands, buys Huck Finn’s Playland As Greylock Glen is expected to be popular...

Adirondack Winery launches High Peaks-inspired cider

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

Adirondack Winery launches High Peaks-inspired cider QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The name suggests that Adirondack Winery is all about the grapes. That may be true most of the time, but this weekend, something else is the apple of the local business' eye. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! From Friday to Sunday, Nov. 3-5, Adirondack Winery will celebrate the launch of Extreme Heights Cidery, a new branch of the Big Bay Road-based company made to brew up a new brand of hard cider. The brand is starting off tall with three varieties - each one named after one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks. "Mt. Marcy" is a classic semisweet cider; "Algonquin" has notes of cranberry and ginger; and "Haystack" tastes like pumpkin pie. All three will be available to sip and sample at both tasting rooms.The High Peaks have a special meaning to the Pardy family, owners of the winery. Sasha and Mike Pardy's daughter, Ella, finished the task of climbing all 46 mountains herself at 15 years old. Just like t...

FireWolves unveil new uniform showing Indigenous roots

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

FireWolves unveil new uniform showing Indigenous roots ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany FireWolves have unveiled a new uniform for the 2023-24 season, highlighting the Indigenous roots of lacrosse. The uniform features symbolic indigenous markings, representing Haudenosaunee tattoos, sky domes, and the Creator’s Game Legend. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The jerseys will debut on opening night at the MVP Arena on Saturday, December 9, at 7 p.m. On opening night, all fans are encouraged to wear black for a black out.Opening night will feature a jersey rally towel giveaway to the first 1,500 fans in attendance. The team also says a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place before the game in the MVP Arena's Atrium, and post-game autographs will be held with the entire team.

St. Louis man pulls a gun over wrong fast food order

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

St. Louis man pulls a gun over wrong fast food order ST. ANN, Mo. -- A man is accused of pulling a gun on a sandwich shop clerk because they got his order wrong. James Demetrius Jackson IV, 29, has been charged with threatening a minor and his bond is set at $50,000, cash-only.According to St. Ann police, Jackson came into a Penn Station sandwich shop on October 19, 2023. He was angry about his order being wrong and threatened to shoot a 16-year-old employee working behind the counter.  The victim told police that Jackson pointed the gun at him, threatened to shoot him, and said he would be back when the victim got off work. The store manager checked the store's order history and found that, after the food had been ordered in-store by Jackson, he called into the store complaining about the order being wrong.   Series of failures? Family blames broken system for inmate’s death The caller's phone number led police to Jackson's address. Officers went to that location and placed Jackson under arrest. He asked a woman at the house to re...

40% of St. Louis car crashes are hit-and-runs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

40% of St. Louis car crashes are hit-and-runs ST. LOUIS - St. Louis drivers are frustrated not only over the number of crashes they see, but also over the amount of reckless driving they witness. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department continues to look for the driver accused in a pedestrian crash near Crown Candy earlier this week. An elderly man was struck in broad daylight after the vehicle failed to stop. On Thursday, an April court date was set for a 2022 hit-and-run case that took the life of 17-year-old Mathew Nikolai. He was walking across Chippewa Street near Ted Drewes when he was struck and killed. Series of failures? Family blames broken system for inmate’s death St. Louis resident Susan Fanter says she’s scared to cross a street, even if she uses the crosswalk and has the right of way.“You never know if they’re going to run the red light and if you’re going to get hit,” she said.  We’ve reported in the past on the city’s efforts to address traffic violence. Enforcement efforts from St. Lo...

Florissant man convicted in 'cold-blooded' killing of ex-wife

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:37:51 GMT

Florissant man convicted in 'cold-blooded' killing of ex-wife CLAYTON, Mo. -- Christopher Turner, 28, of Florissant, has been convicted of murder and armed criminal action. He was found guilty of murdering Charlisa Turner, his ex-wife, on July 31, 2021, in St. Louis County.The prosecution provided evidence, including home surveillance video that captured the murder. The video showed the defendant approaching the victim, shooting her two times, and then returning to shoot her approximately eight more times. The defendant testified in his defense, claiming video tampering and self-defense. However, the jury rejected his claims. Series of failures? Family blames broken system for inmate’s death “This was one of the most cold-blooded murders I have ever seen, and I am grateful for the home surveillance video that enabled the jury to see this heartless murder and render the appropriate verdict. I pray it will provide Charlisa Turner’s family, especially her children, some solace knowing her murderer will spend the rest of his life behind bars,” s...