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Coconut 'coir log' installation on Lake Austin helps prevent erosion

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An installation of "coir logs" on the shore of Lake Austin is showing positive results. A recent visit to the pilot project revealed that erosion in the area has slowed significantly as plant life flourishes in the formerly sandy area.In 2009, Austin's Watershed Protection Department installed the coir logs. "A coir log is 100% coconut fibers, it's the husk," explained Andrew Clamann with the Watershed Department. "This entire object is biodegradable."The department installed two rows of the logs in Lake Austin in a spot near Mansfield Dam. The rows created a barrier in front of an area that was just "sand and silt." The department then seeded four different plants.One aquatic grass took over. According to Clamann, "it grabbed ahold, set the roots through it, and has stabilized this whole area and allowed other plants to move in." Now little trees are taking root in the area, further stabilizing it."The point of the of the pilot project was that if we can demonstrate...

Crossing guard in hospital after being hit by trailer: Leander Police

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) – A crossing guard for the Leander Independent School District was taken to the hospital after being hit by a trailer Thursday afternoon, according to the Leander Police Department. Police said officers were told about the crash at 2:38 p.m. at the intersection of South West Drive and Sonny Drive.Leander PD said the driver of a Ford truck and trailer had just turned onto South West Drive when the crossing guard stepped out into the crosswalk to stop traffic. Police said the trailer hit the guard and knocked her to the ground.According to Leander PD, "it has not determined that any moving violations were the cause."Police said the driver of the truck stayed behind and helped in the investigation. The crossing guard had non-life threatening injuries, according to Leander PD. Police said the department's accident reconstruction team was investigating the collision.

Doctor who branded women in NXIVM cult loses appeal

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) — The doctor who lost her medical license for branding women in the NXIVM sex cult had her appeal denied by the State Supreme Court on Thursday. Danielle Roberts filed a motion of appeal with the high court after losing her license in 2020. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! When she first lost her license, Roberts claimed she was trained in performing the branding procedure. A hearing committee within the state Department of Health disagreed, after watching a video of the disturbing ritual. The branding was part of an initiation ceremony, where the NVIXM founder's initials were branded onto prospective members' pelvic regions. Once the ceremony was completed, membership was granted into an umbrella of NXIVM known as Dominus Obsequious Soroium (DOS). Amsterdam PD arrest two individuals connected to death of 19-month-old "Here, we find that substantial evidence supports the Committee's determination to s...

Saugerties man allegedly pulls shotgun on neighbors

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Saugerties Police say an argument nearly took a deadly turn Wednesday afternoon after one of the men involved pulled out a .12-gauge. It happened around 1:15 p.m. at 549 Manorville Road, they said. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say the argument started when something was stolen from Joseph H. Cantwell III, 21. Cantwell accused his neighbors of taking the item, and when they wouldn't admit to the alleged crime, he went back into his house and pulled out his Mossberg 590 .12-gauge shotgun, the press release stated. According to police, Cantwell then waved the shotgun at the people he was arguing with. Cantwell was charged with second-degree menacing and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Ballston Spa man admits to beating 1-year-old "The shotgun was recovered at the scene by police and secured as evidence," noted a spokesperson for the Saugerties Police Department. Cantwell ...

Washington University hosts 2023 'ThurtenE' Carnival this weekend

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The country's oldest and largest student-run carnival is opening the gates and firing up the rides Friday afternoon at Washington University.  The 'ThurtenE' Carnival will be back in full swing starting Friday with the theme melodies and memories - shining light on St. Louis, and it's mark on music history. You and the kids can enjoy the cotton candy and funnel cakes and games and rides, but the carnival aims to give back and connect the campus with the community. It's been around more than 100 years and this time around expect to see dozens of student-made games, amusement rides, food booths, and live music. A cappella, student bands, and dancers will be threre over the weekend. Of course cotton candy, funnel cakes, and rides to take you for a few spins.   Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

Denver weather: After days in the 80s, cooler and cloudier with possible rain, wet snow

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

Cloudier, cooler weather returned to Colorado’s Front Range Friday and rain, possibly shifting to snow, was expected to fall in mountain foothills and metro Denver before a warmer day on Sunday.The high temperature in Denver will be 44 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Interstate 25 and other roads in the mountains and foothills could become slick, weather service forecasters said.Much colder today. Slick/hazardous travel at times, especially mountains and foothills. Rain showers mixing with and changing to snow I-25 Corridor, but little travel impacts and lighter accumulations (in grass). #COwx pic.twitter.com/13IGCX0ABQ— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) April 14, 2023Rain likely will fall before sunset, then shift to snow as temperatures decrease to lows Friday night around freezing, weather service forecasters said. Less than an inch of snow, if any,  is expected to stick. On Saturday,  Denver residents likely will see more of the same, with a high temperat...

Opinion: Polis should call a special session to address gun violence

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

When I was growing up, adults firmly believed that children should be seen and not heard. We were usually shooed away whenever grown folks started talking.Such old-fashioned thinking is the mindset of some lawmakers at the Colorado Capitol, and more-so Tennessee lawmakers who refused to listen to students coping with escalating gun violence in schools.The unexpected death of someone you know is hard to take, and doubly difficult for young people. I still recall the death of a well-liked girl in my grade school from an accident in which her dress caught on fire.Sadness and confusion from 60 years ago came rushing back as I saw the faces of Colorado students begging lawmakers for new solutions to prevent the carnage.They are rightfully upset.Given the fierce urgency of now, Gov. Jared Polis should call a special session to hash out these and other differences.This is the generation that learns math, science, and active shooter drills. CDC data show the leading cause of death among chi...

Letters: The truth is Biden’s administration abandoned Afghan allies

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

Don’t downplay Biden administration’s role in abandonment of  Afghan alliesRe: “Biden review of chaotic Afghan withdrawal blames Trump,” April 7 news storyThe White House released a 12-page summary of U.S. policies around the end of the war in Afghanistan. No, this wasn’t an independent review but rather a review by Biden’s National Security Council with input from himself. Of course, the review laid blame where this administration and the media lays all blame — it’s Trump’s fault.I would encourage anyone interested in the truth to read “Operation Pineapple Express” by Lt. Col. Scott Mann, US Army Special Forces (retired). In his book, he details the work of a contingent of special operators with some unsanctioned government help to secure the evacuation of Afghanis who confronted death every day in order to help the U.S. military with their mission. Our government promised these Afghanis safe refuge, but Biden abando...

Beau Jo’s Pizza owner wants to give every worker a slice of the equity pie

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

Chip Bair, the owner of Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza, wants to make sure all his employees, from managers to servers, receive a generous slice of ownership as he plans his exit from the iconic restaurant group he has headed for five decades.“I have had different people talk to me about buying the restaurants,” he said, adding his refrain would go something like this: “I am more than willing to talk to you, but I have to take care of my people.”At a 50th anniversary celebration held at the flagship store in Idaho Springs on April 1, Bair rolled out a succession plan he had been mulling over for several years, one that he believes will take care of his people and keep the distinctive Colorado restaurant group going for generations to come.He and his family will retain 30% of the company, with the remaining 70% of the ownership in the restaurant group, famous for its “mountain pies,” going to the company’s 252 employees. Future profits ...

No wonder you had such a hard time making camping reservations last summer

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:56 GMT

Avid campers are painfully aware of how challenging it has become to secure camping reservations over the past three years. Now we know just how much.Getting a spot was five times harder in 2022 than before the pandemic, according to an annual survey conducted by The Dyrt, a popular camping website and app with 30 million visitors annually.The Dyrt’s 2023 Camping Report, which is based on a random survey of 3,000 Dyrt users and a separate survey of camping property managers in all 50 states, found that sleeping under the stars is more popular than ever. The Dyrt says an estimated 80 million people went camping in the U.S. last year, 7.2 million for the first time. More than 15 million went camping for the first time in the past two years.More than 58.4% of respondents said they had a hard time finding campsites in 2022. That number was only 10.6% in 2019.“The thing that strikes me the most is the continued uptick of camping, which makes me really happy because I truly be...