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Community members rally to revive historic Taylor theatre

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — A business owner in Taylor is leading the charge to give the historic Howard Theatre an encore. She said as more development moves into the city, she wants to preserve this nearly century-old staple from being torn down.Channing Kingery-Bowles owns the Taylor Soap Bar just a few shops away from the Howard Theatre on Main Street. She said she first saw for sale signs go up in the theatre's windows roughly six months ago.As she waited to see if another local would buy it, Kingery-Bowles said she became increasingly worried the city's longtime theatre would be no more."I was very concerned with all the development coming to the area that someone might come in and tear it down. I didn't want to see that happen," Kingery-Bowles said.She said the theatre had faced some hardships in recent years. Kingery-Bowles said the theatre was closed throughout the pandemic, then reopened from time to time. However, a flood last year has caused this move to sell."It was just a w...

Hays CISD needs 15 additional School Resource Officers

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners approved a resolution supporting Hays CISD in providing an armed School Resource Officer at each campus. The resolution states that the county, the Hays County Sheriff's Office and Hays CISD are working together on a plan to get 15 additional SROs."The HCISD and the HCSO envision implementing a phase-in approach to providing such additional SROs as funding is allocated for the positions," the resolution stated. House Bill 3 This comes as new legislation, House Bill 3, requires school districts to have at least one armed security officer at every campus. Districts have the option to claim a Good Cause Exception to HB 3. Hays CISD did that back in August. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hays CISD approves good-cause exception for HB 3 According to the resolution, the district said it can’t comply because of a “lack of available qualified personnel.”The resolution said the board would develop and document an alternative sta...

Black tech group launches in Austin after AfroTech 2023

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The country's largest black tech conference, AfroTech, is moving to Houston next year, after hosting it in Austin for the past two years.Now, there's a brand new tech group that just launched, hoping to keep the momentum going. It's called, "Black in Tech Group." You could consider it a possible solution to AfroTech's relocation, though forming the community has been years in the making. Black Professional Alliance (BPA) launched the Black in Tech group at its Code & Culture event during AfroTech 2023. "These resources are...for the most part, free," said Nic Hollins, director of technology for BPA. "AfroTech does have a charge to it. So, with this being something that's sustainable throughout the year, you will get similar access."Hollins said through Black in Tech Group, people will have access to workshops, mentorship opportunities and other engaging opportunities to those in tech climb the ladder. There's a specific focus on growth opportunities in Austin, Ho...

St. Paul and Minneapolis report among largest decreases in shoplifting, new study finds

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

A new study of shoplifting in 24 cities found reports were up in the first half of this year compared to the same time in 2019, but St. Paul and Minneapolis were among the cities with the biggest drops in shoplifting reports.The Council on Criminal Justice notes in its report released Tuesday that it doesn’t examine possible reasons for the trends.“Potential factors include changes in retailers’ anti-theft measures and changes in how retailers report shoplifting to law enforcement, which could be based on their perceptions of the extent to which local police or prosecutors will apprehend suspects and pursue criminal charges,” the report says.In St. Paul, for example, some big-box stores that were open in 2019 no longer have stores in the city, including Walmart and T.J. Maxx.“There are many factors that contribute to crime trends in St. Paul, and we are encouraged that our numbers are down,” said Alyssa Arcand, a St. Paul police spokeswoman.“There have ...

2,600 submissions for new Minnesota state flag/seal design to be unveiled this week

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

From the artistic to the simplistic to the sarcastic, the more than 2,600 submissions for a new Minnesota flag and seal run the gamut. And the public should get its first glimpse of the entries later this week.The State Emblem Redesign Commission on Tuesday said it plans to launch a website where the public can view designs and comment on submissions. An early preview of the website showed several designs that included stars — evoking Minnesota’s nickname as the North Star State — and loons as central images.Others were whimsical in nature, including one that played off the tendency of people to draw out the pronunciation of the word “bag” as “bayg.”The panel said some applicants included private information, which delayed the website’s rollout.Later this month, members will narrow the field to five finalists. And it will select single designs for the flag and official seal in December. The new designs will take hold next year unless the Legislature votes to veto them.Submissions we...

Seven years after Minnesota hunter slain with own rifle, sheriff says investigation still active

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office continues to look for answers in the 2016 homicide of deer hunter Terrence “Terry” Brisk.Brisk, 41, was apparently hunting alone on his parents’ property on Nov. 7, 2016, in Belle Prairie Township when he suffered a fatal gunshot wound. The sheriff’s office responded shortly after 5 p.m. to the area where Brisk was found, near the intersection of Hawthorn and Jewel roads east of Little Falls in central Minnesota.Terrence “Terry” Brisk (Courtesy of the family)Based on evidence at the scene, it is believed the suspect was in close proximity to Brisk, and investigators also believe the two would have interacted prior to the homicide taking place.“Our office, along with the (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), are able to use new and advanced technology to perform more extensive testing on evidence that was previously collected,” Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen said in a news release. “This case wi...

Man killed in shooting near River Des Peres, suspect in custody

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A man died in a shooting Tuesday along the River Des Peres in south St. Louis. One suspect has been taken into custody. Homicide detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to the river just before the 5 p.m. hour Tuesday. Incriminating comment helps solve 1993 cold case Arnold, Missouri murder Police have closed off a stretch of River Des Peres Boulevard near Gravois Avenue while investigating. It's unclear what led up to the shooting. Police have not yet disclosed any additional information on the victim or suspect at this time. This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

East St. Louis Housing Authority deals with leadership change, payroll problems

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - There's more turbulence surrounding the troubled East St. Louis Housing Authority, which is holding a meeting Tuesday after the dismissal of its former interim executive director. For one, the housing authority is meeting with plans to name a new acting executive director. A You Paid For It investigation last week revealed that interim director Jacqueline Powell was fired over allegations of inappropriate spending. Also, the jobs of nearly a dozen workers are caught up in the chaos. These workers were reportedly added to payroll that shouldn't have been, and the housing board could possibly cut them from the budget. Incriminating comment helps solve 1993 cold case Arnold, Missouri murder All things considered, there's more chaos than meets the eye at this meeting of the East St. Louis House Board of Commissioners.The East St. Louis City Council previously made a move to try to oust commission president Shonte Mueller. She says that's because she led the ef...

Results: November 7 Missouri Special Election

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

A series of special elections are taking place on Tuesday in the area, including a vote on the annexation of a 2-square-mile unincorporated area of St. Louis County into Manchester. This area houses businesses and about 6,500 residents. Voters can decide whether to approve or reject the annexation, a divisive and controversial issue. The annexation may lead to higher property taxes, according to St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, who also expressed concerns about losing the county's police services. Manchester officials argue that the issue revolves around taxes, with the city needing the revenue from businesses in the annexed area. Both sides are actively campaigning, and the annexation must be approved by voters in both Manchester and the proposed annexation area to pass.Balloting is also happening in St. Charles, Arnold and St. John to adopt a special three percent municipal tax on recreational marijuana sales.

Men’s basketball notes: J’Vonne Hadley starring under the radar for CU Buffs

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:42 GMT

Can a player remain overlooked and unheralded even if his head coach and teammates continually laud his praises publicly?If that player is J’Vonne Hadley, the answer is a resounding yes.Thanks to an injury that cut short his solid first season with the Colorado men’s basketball team, Hadley’s offseason layoff was longer than those of his teammates. Yet Hadley picked up where he left off during CU’s season-opening 75-57 win against Towson on Monday, turning in an all-around performance that drew raves afterward.“He’s just a dawg for us,” CU point guard KJ Simpson said. “A lot of the stuff that he does does not show up on the stat sheet. The reason why we got a lot of good shots is because he would set screens and roll real hard, put pressure on the rim. And he was boxing out their opposing big man. He just does so much for us.“I talked a lot with him last year, obviously with me and him being out (down the stretch). And I knew this was the mindset he was going to have and the w...