$100K budget proposed to contract animal behaviorists for Austin Animal Services

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

$100K budget proposed to contract animal behaviorists for Austin Animal Services AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Animal Services Office proposed a Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget July 21 to contract with animal behaviorists in Texas.According to a memo sent to city leaders, an ordinance was approved in August 2022 to have $143,764 in funding to have a full-time Animal Behaviorist Specialist position in the proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. However, a change was proposed. RELATED: Almost a year later, Austin Animal Center still not doing non-emergency intake “Because of the limited number of people qualified to fill this position, contracting the service was determined to be the best course of action. The proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget includes onetime funding in the amount of $100,000 to contract with animal behaviorists within the state,” the memo said.The memo was sent to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin City Council members from Don Bland, the Chief Animal Services Officer at AAS.Bland said if the proposed budget was approved, the funds would benefit...

Twins seek ‘complementary pieces’ ahead of next week’s trade deadline

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Twins seek ‘complementary pieces’ ahead of next week’s trade deadline The Twins are expecting Jorge Polanco back in Kansas City. Caleb Thielbar could be coming back on their upcoming road trip as well. Brock Stewart is making strides towards a return, and Royce Lewis is a few weeks away.As the trade deadline nears, the Twins are on the hunt to make improvements to their roster. But nothing they do will be more impactful than getting that group of injured players back in action.“I don’t think that we’ll match any of that kind of addition, and I don’t think we’re trying to, quite frankly,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “Those are really impactful players.”But the Twins do consider themselves buyers ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline and they’re open for business, as they showed on Wednesday, sending relief pitcher Jorge López to Miami in a trade for another reliever, Dylan Floro.López, along with Tyler Mahle, were the Twins’ two biggest additions at last year’s trade deadline. The Twins sent three prospects away for each play...

Stillwater Lift Bridge to close Tuesday for electrical work

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Stillwater Lift Bridge to close Tuesday for electrical work The Stillwater Lift Bridge will close during the day on Tuesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.The historic bridge across the St. Croix River will close from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. while crews replace an electrical power cable. No pedestrian or bicycle traffic will be permitted, and the bridge will not be lifted to accommodate watercraft.While the bridge will remain in its lower position, smaller boats and watercraft will be allowed to pass beneath.For more information on bridge maintenance and the ongoing closure of Highway 95/Main Street in Stillwater, visit MnDOT’s website.Related ArticlesOutdoors | Southbound I-35W closed from Bloomington to Burnsville this weekend Outdoors | MN 36-Fairview Avenue interchange in Roseville reopens after a month Outdoors | Vikings’ Jordan Addison told trooper he drove 140 mph on I-94 in St. Paul because of dog emergency Outdoors | 1 dead, 8 injured after 2-v...

Bennington's Apple Barn to host inaugural Blueberry Festival

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Bennington's Apple Barn to host inaugural Blueberry Festival BENNINGTON, V.T. (NEWS10) -- The Apple Barn and Country Bake Shop will be presenting their first annual Blueberry Festival. The event is scheduled for July 29. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The festival will feature blueberry picking, live music, food trucks, vendors, family activities, and a plethora of blueberry goods. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Apple Barn is located at 604 US Route 7 S in Bennington. The festival is free to attend and open to the public.

Update on Rail Trail Bridge

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Update on Rail Trail Bridge ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Albany County Executive's Office, initial removal of the Rail Trail Bridge decking began on Wednesday, with demolition to continue through the rest of the week. Starting on Monday, road work on New Scotland Road (SR 85) underneath the bridge will continue, and as soon as it concludes, one-lane traffic will reopen on SR 85E from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! A crane will be on-site Friday to remove the steel girders in order to fully extract the bridge. According to the Albany County Executive's Office, it is expected the temporary bridge will be up and functioning before the original October 31 estimated date.At that time, both lanes on State Route 85 will open. Regarding the bridge buckling on July 12, there is no new information at this time.

Despite recent rainfalls, much of Missouri still dealing with drought

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Despite recent rainfalls, much of Missouri still dealing with drought ST. LOUIS - Despite a series of pop-up storms and sporadic rainfall this month, much of Missouri continues to deal with drought conditions. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, around 78% of the state is considered to be in a moderate, severe or extreme drought stage. Roughly another 17% is considered to be abnormally dry. FOX File Photo - Drought Conditions (July 25, 2023)Only around 5% of the state is not dealing with drought concerns right now, and that includes much of St. Louis City and St. Louis County. The National Weather Service reports that St. Louis is slightly ahead of normal precipitation this month with around 4.5 inches of rainfall. Highs in upper 90s Thursday, triple digits on Friday Similar storm systems have formed in Kansas City and Springfield this month, but both are below average in rainfall this year, aiding in regional droughts. In Columbia, Missouri, the largest city under an "extreme drought" rating, it's shaping up to be five consecutive months w...

Excessive Heat Warning for St. Louis until Friday

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Excessive Heat Warning for St. Louis until Friday St. Louis weather from Meteorologist Angela Hutti:ST. LOUIS - Dangerous heat is expected Thursday and Friday. We start the mornings warm, in the upper 70s to low 80 in metro St. Louis, and we heat up quickly. Temperature highs will be in the upper 90s to low 100s and peak heat index values of 105-110 in the afternoons. An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued through Friday. You're urged to drink plenty of water. Stay in an air-conditioned space and out of the sun during peak heating hours, noon to 5:00 p.m. Take extra precautions if you work outside.   St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Rain chances are slim, but not zero the next two days. Scattered showers and storms are expected across northern Missouri and central Illinois late in the day Thursday. A few isolated showers may impact especially the northern counties overnight. Watching a cold front Saturday for more widespread rain chances. Temp highs on Saturday depend on when that front arrive...

Archdiocese of St. Louis to host gun violence summit

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Archdiocese of St. Louis to host gun violence summit SHREWSBURY, Mo. -- The Archdiocese of St. Louis is holding a conference on Saturday, July 29 at 9 a.m. to discuss gun violence. The one-day summit will be held at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury, Missouri.The Archdiocese said in a press release, “Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Inaction is not an appropriate response. Doing nothing is not an option. We as Catholic people of goodwill and disciples of Christ need to work to end this culture of violence—and promote a culture of life.”  Lincoln County mother pleads for answers 32 years after son’s disappearance  Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will hold a welcome address. There will be talks from local health officials and frontline workers and firsthand accounts from victims and advocates who have experienced gun violence. The event will include informative sessions, prayers, and breakout discussions covering legislative advocacy, gun violence in schools, gun violence involving children, and more.  You can jo...

Missing 2-month-old girl found safe; parents arrested

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Missing 2-month-old girl found safe; parents arrested An Amber Alert for a missing two-month-old girl has been canceled after the infant was found safe.No details about where the girl, who was taken Tuesday evening from a relative’s home in Pueblo West, was found were released in the Thursday morning bulletin.A tweet from the Pueblo County Sheriff noted the girl’s mother, Ashley Ardolino, was taken into custody.Two-month old Elsy Ardolino has been located and is safe. Her mother, Ashley Ardolino has been taken into custody. More information will be released as it becomes available. Thank you to everyone who shared our posts and provided information on their possible whereabouts. pic.twitter.com/pjdF8oID0z— PuebloCounty Sheriff (@PuebloCountySO) July 27, 2023The sheriff announced earlier Thursday morning that the girl’s 35-year-old father, Luis Novelo-Rojas, was arrested overnight in Denver.Luis Novelo-Rojas, 35, father of missing/endangered 2-month-old Elsy Ardolino, was arrested overnight in Denver. Elsy and he...

Sean Payton on Broncos’ 2022 season: “It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”

Published Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:34:22 GMT

Sean Payton on Broncos’ 2022 season: “It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.” Broncos coach Sean Payton didn’t sugarcoat anything when addressing the performance of last year’s team in an interview this week.Addressing the franchise’s 5-12 season in an interview with USA Today’s Jarrett Bell, Payton saved his most unkind assessment for former head coach Nathaniel Hackett.“Everybody’s got a little stink on their hands,” Payton told USA Today. “It’s not just (quarterback) Russell (Wilson). It was a (poor) offensive line. It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL. That’s how bad it was.”Under Hackett, who was fired after 15 games, Denver had one of the worst offenses in the NFL, finishing last in points per game (16.9). From pre-snap issues to Wilson posting career-low numbers, Payton said the Broncos were an embarrassment in 2022.“It doesn’t happen often where an NFL team or organization gets embarrassed,” Payton said. “And that happened here. Part of it was their own fault, relative to spending so much (exple...