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New Austin Energy GM says there are '80 things' to do better after winter storm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One month into his role as Austin Energy's new general manager, Bob Kahn is already bracing for at least 80 to-do list items after thousands of customers lost power during February's winter storm.He told KXAN in a sit-down interview he expects an after-action report released later this month, outlining changes and recommendations from the ice storm, which left almost a third of Austin Energy customers without power at its peak. TIMELINE: How long did it take Austin Energy to restore power during ice storm? Kahn took over the role in July, following the departure of former General Manager Jackie Sargent in March. At the time, the utility provider was facing criticism from citizens and city leaders about how it communicated restoration times during the storm. While Kahn was not in charge when the ice began to accumulate on tree limbs that fell and took down countless lines in the Austin area, he said he believes the utility needs to be more transparent in the future...

A life of service, full of stories: WWII vet, former St. Paul firefighter turns 103.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

Howard Seitzer looked back on a life of service Wednesday, full of stories, as friends and family gathered to wish him a happy 103rd birthday.Seitzer flew air missions into Germany during World War II and later joined the St. Paul Fire Department.All of his five living children were in attendance offering a slice of cake to anyone who stopped in at Oak Meadows Senior Living center in Oakdale to wish their dad happy birthday.World War II veteran Howard Seitzer, center, is feted at his 103rd birthday by his surviving children, from left, Cathy Baron, Jim Seitzer, Victoria Conrad, Joe Seitzer and Marilyn Freberg, at Oak Meadows Senior Living in Oakdale on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Seitzer, who flew 35 missions as an assistant flight engineer on a B-17 bomber over Europe in WWII and had a 30-year career as a St. Paul firefighter, credits his long life to never having smoked and “eating oysters whenever I get the chance.” “He’s like the Energizer Bunny,” said...

Minnesota man escaped Dakota County deputies by slipping out of airport rental car, sheriff says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

A Minnesota felon who escaped the custody of Dakota County deputies last week in Georgia did so by slipping out of a rental car at the airport, authorities said Wednesday.Joseph Harrison Baynes, 35, of Chaska, was captured near Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia on Friday, about 27 hours after he escaped from two deputies who were trying to transport him to Minnesota on a warrant for felony harassment.Joseph Harrison Baynes (Courtesy of the Bulloch County, Ga., Sheriff’s Office)The Dakota County sheriff’s announced the escape last week, but did not explain how it happened.Sheriff Joe Leko provided some details Wednesday, adding that an internal investigation is underway to “find out exactly how this all happened. Obviously it could have been prevented, I believe.”The deputies took Baynes into their custody from the Bulloch County Jail at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. Once at the airport, and while stopped in traffic and waiting in a line to return a rental car, “the ...

New Missouri law will require doctors to assess kids under age 6 for lead exposure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Starting later this month, your child's pediatrician will be required to ask questions about lead exposure in hopes of safeguarding children from lead poisoning.At present, only Missouri kids who are receiving Medicaid or live in a zip code with high concentrations of lead were assessed for lead poisoning. This new policy requires all children under the age of 6 to be screened annually and doctors say this is a good thing."It's not necessarily because anything about Missouri has changed, it's recognizing the complexity of the mandates that we had before," Dr. Heidi Sallee, pediatrician at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, said. "You can't just go by, 'Oh, this child lives in a poor neighborhood,' because there are some very wealthy neighborhoods that just have a lot of old houses."Soon, it won't matter where you live, your socioeconomic background, or which insurance coverage you have. Starting Aug. 28, all health care providers will be mandated und...

Truck hits utility pole in Arvada knocking out power and traffic lights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

A truck driver in Arvada hit a power pole, causing a power outage for several hundred energy customers in the area.The crash happened near West 66th Avenue and Estes Street, the Arvada Police Department said in a 2:48 p.m. tweet Wednesday. The crash caused traffic light outages at West 72nd Avenue and Carr Street and 72nd and Wadsworth Boulevard. Alternate traffic routes were advised.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Naked trail sexual predator suspect nabbed after chase in mountain foothills of Jefferson County west of Denver Crime and Public Safety | Boulder County to pay ex-inmate $2.55 million to settle claims of excessive force, indifference to psychiatric needs Crime and Public Safety | Man fatally shot by Denver police in Valverde neighborhood is identified Crime and Public Safety | Man dies following Federal Blvd. shooting in Denver Crime and Public Safety | Nederland man facing arson, animal ...

Broncos buddy cop duo of Alex Singleton, Josey Jewell and rookie Drew Sanders’ potential makes up strong inside linebacker room

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

Josey Jewell’s optimism for the Broncos’ inside linebackers group was glowing.“I think it’s the deepest we’ve had,” he said. “A lot of guys can step in and play.”Jewell’s confidence is understandable, especially when you watch Alex Singleton burst into the backfield with ease or rookie Drew Sanders clotheslined wide receiver Michael Bandy at practice last week.Even after inside linebacker Jonas Griffith suffered a season-ending torn ACL, the expectations for the position group has stayed the same because of Sanders, a freakish athlete with star potential and the inseparable duo of Jewell and Singleton.“Before Jonas went out, it was great, and it’s still great,” Singleton said. “Guys are playing fast (and) taking bigger roles, which is good.”Going into training camp, Denver’s inside linebacker room looked like one of the defense’s biggest strengths. In 2022, Jewell recorded a career-best 128 tackles while Singleton, who signed a three-year deal in March, tallied the fifth-most ...

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic’s NBA 2K24 rating revealed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

Nikola Jokic should trade that jester hat for a crown, because the Joker received the highest overall rating in the upcoming NBA 2K24 game.2K Games on Wednesday tweeted that the 28-year-old Nuggets center will have a 98 overall rating, the highest among all players in the upcoming release.For Jokic, this is his highest rating the video game series’ history, rising from his previous mark of 96 in last year’s edition. It is the fifth consecutive year he has reached the 90 mark in the initial ratings. He had initial 90 overall scores from the 2K20 and 2K21 editions of the game and a 95 in 2K22. It’s also a substantial improvement from his rookie season when he was rated just 68 in NBA 2K16.The defending NBA Finals MVP led Denver to its first-ever championship last season.Rounding out the top 10 players in the game are Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (96), Lakers forward LeBron James (96), 76ers center Joel Embiid (96), Suns forward Kevin Durant (96), Warriors guar...

Massive brush fire breaks out in Riverside County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

Fire crews are battling a massive brush fire in Riverside County on Wednesday.The Rock Fire is burning just east of Lake Perris and was first reported at 75 acres and burning at a dangerous rate of spread around 2:35 p.m., according to CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department.By 4 p.m., the flames grew to around 106 acres and by 5 p.m., the blaze had expanded to 150 acres and still growing. Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (CAL FIRE)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (KTLA)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (KTLA)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (KTLA)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (KTLA)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (KTLA)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on August 9, 2023. (KTLA)Fire crews battling the massive Rock Fire in Perris on Augu...

Veterinary sedative that causes skin rotting detected in some illegal drugs in L.A. County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

A veterinary anaesthetic known to cause lesions and rotting skin has been detected in limited quantities of illegal drugs seized by law enforcement officers in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's crime lab.Xylazine, a veterinary sedative that is not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for human consumption, has been found in the local drug supply, raising concerns among law enforcement about the increased risk of drug overdoses.Xylazine, also known as “tranq” or “tranq dope,” can cause blood pressure to drop to "dangerously low" levels, decrease breathing and heart rate, and damage tissue which can lead to skin lesions and large sores.The damage it's capable of causing to the skin can lead to disfigurement and has led to its comparison to a flesh-eating disease, with some in the law enforcement community calling it a "zombie drug."Earlier this year, Los Angeles Department of Public Health alerted the public about the drug's gro...

Helicopter footage shows wildfire devastation on Maui

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:03:53 GMT

Surreal helicopter footage shows the extent of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Wednesday.Richie Olsten shared the footage on Facebook after flying over historic Lahaina Town. His video shows entire blocks of buildings reduced to rubble with smoke still billowing in many areas."Oh my gosh. Look at the harbor," he says. “This looks like Baghdad or something."At least six people have died and at least two dozen others have been injured after fire raced through the popular tourist destination.Surreal helicopter footage shows the extent of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Aug. 9, 2023. (Richie Olsten)“Do NOT go to Lahaina Town,” the county tweeted hours before all roads in and out of West Maui’s biggest community were closed to everyone except emergency personnel. More than 2,100 people spent Tuesday night in evacuation centers.The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which was passing to the south of the island chain at a safe ...