Impact paddle boarders, kayakers have on Lady Bird Lake

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Impact paddle boarders, kayakers have on Lady Bird Lake AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the midst of holiday celebrations, numerous people took to Lady Bird Lake, whether by paddle board, kayakers or other means, but how does the increase in people on the lake impact the ecosystem?The City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department said a lot of paddlers and people walking on the sediments could dislodge aquatic plants and stir-up sediments, temporarily increasing turbidity and nutrient contents.And with any large gathering in the water, there is the potential to increase, on a local scale, bacteria and E. coli in the water.The department said the number of visitors on Lady Bird Lake increases in the summer, especially on weekends and holidays; however, following Fourth of July celebrations, it said the Lake Crew did not observe anything out of the ordinary while working Wednesday.The cleanup efforts by the department are expected to continue through the remainder of the week, according to the city.“Cleaning Lady Bird Lake is an ongoing effort betwe...

Longhorns earned $15.5M in NIL deals so far; new information now limited by Texas law

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Longhorns earned $15.5M in NIL deals so far; new information now limited by Texas law AUSTIN (KXAN/Austin Business Journal) -- In the two years since University of Texas student athletes were allowed to ink name, image and likeness deals, they've earned at least $15.5 million, according to reporting from the Austin Business Journal based on public records requests. Inside the future of NIL and how Texas stack up Most of the money -- $13, 579, 662 -- went toward football and men's basketball, but student athletes from 15 different sports reported 2,980 deals to the university as of June 30, ABJ reported. It added the total was $15,698,439 but that some information -- such as athlete names, businesses and specific amounts -- was redacted in its request to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, so the list was incomplete. Part of a new Texas law will also make it harder to get information about NIL deals as it exempts the release of public information.The NCAA adopted rules in 2021 that allowed student athletes to benefit from these NIL deals. Coll...

Q&A: Construction on Loop 360 will eliminate traffic lights in parts of west Austin

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Q&A: Construction on Loop 360 will eliminate traffic lights in parts of west Austin AUSTIN (KXAN) — Construction on Loop 360 in west Austin has marked a year into the project, where the Texas Department of Transportation is removing the signals at Westlake Drive and Cedar Street. Our traffic anchor, Erica Brennes, sat down with Bradley Wheelis from the TxDOT Austin office for an update on the project and to learn more about the long-term vision for 360.Construction at Westlake Drive and Loop 360 (KXAN Photo)Erica Brennes: What's going on with construction on 360? I've actually had several people ask me, so fill me in on the 360 project.Bradley Wheelis: There's a lot going on at Westlake Drive. So it's our Westlake Drive at Cedar Street Project, which is removing signals from the main lanes of Loop 360 to keep traffic flowing and increase safety there. We're putting in underpasses, meaning the main lanes of Loop 360 will go under Westlake Drive and under Cedar Street.Brennes: What's the long-term plan for 360?Wheelis: The long-term plan and the Loop 360 program incl...

19-year-old who drowned at St. Paul apartment pool ID’d

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

19-year-old who drowned at St. Paul apartment pool ID’d A 19-year-old who drowned in a pool at an apartment last week has been identified as a St. Paul resident.Abdikadar Abass Osman was swimming in an indoor pool in the 1900 block of Burns Avenue in St. Paul the night of June 28. Surveillance video from the apartment showed other people at the pool left, and Osman remained and swam alone, said Steve Linders, a Ramsey County sheriff’s office spokesman.Osman started struggling and went under the water. Two juveniles went into the area 23 minutes later, saw Osman in the pool and notified adults, who called 911, Linders said. First responders pulled Osman out of the pool and he was pronounced dead. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Daughters of fallen St. Paul fire captain get financial boost from nonprofit: ‘We’re so thankful for people like your dad’ Crime & Public Safety | Downtown St. Paul crash kills man operating motorcycle, police say Crime & Public Safety | ...

Ballston Spa boosting traffic enforcement for summer

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Ballston Spa boosting traffic enforcement for summer BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Village of Ballston Spa is increasing its traffic law enforcement for the summer months. Mayor Frank Rossi said he's seen many community members voice their concerns on social media about traffic safety issues in the village. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to Rossi, he and Ballston Spa Police Chief David Bush have developed a new test program to put an officer on the streets during the day specifically for traffic law enforcement. The program will have no negative budget effect, said Rossi.The officer will be stationed on the streets at least two days a week, said Rossi. They will be focusing on "hot spots" where traffic laws appear to be disregarded the most. Swimming closed at Brown’s Beach on Saratoga Lake "I know that the many people that have been requesting this type of enhanced enforcement will be happy to see that we’re not sitting idly by as risks continue to mount. M...

Police make 6 notable Capital Region DWI arrests

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Police make 6 notable Capital Region DWI arrests ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State Police made six notable DWI arrests around the Capital Region from June 29 to July 5. Police reported a two-car crash and one incident where the driver led police on a pursuit on I-87. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On the afternoon of June 30, police responded to a car off the roadway in Halfmoon. The driver, a 56-year-old from Mechanicville, was arrested for DWI and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. The driver recorded a BAC of 0.22%. He was issued tickets returnable to the Halfmoon Town Court on July 12 and released to a sober third party.Later that afternoon, police responded to a two-car crash on Alternate State Route 7 on the Collar City Bridge in Green Island. One of the drivers, a 27-year-old from Troy, was arrested for DWI and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. He recorded a BAC of 0.21%, issued tickets returnable to the Green Island City Court on July 18, and...

Greenfield drug investigation yields two arrests

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Greenfield drug investigation yields two arrests GREENFIELD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two people were arrested following a lengthy drug trafficking investigation in Saratoga County. Riley Older (26, Greenfield) and Travis Smith (23, Greenfield) face multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said a search warrant was executed at 90 North Greenfield Road in Greenfield. Deputies report the search yielded quantities of powder fentanyl, pressed fentanyl pills, crack/cocaine, and an AR-15 with four thirty-round ammunition feeding devices. Deputies say Smith and Older are accused of distributing the narcotics and possessing the rifle and ammunition. Older Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (three counts)Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substanceThird-degree criminal possession of a weapon (five counts)Smith Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (three counts)Third-degree c...

Prosecutor and police chief call for 'common sense gun laws' during Ferguson summit

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Prosecutor and police chief call for 'common sense gun laws' during Ferguson summit ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. -- An overnight murder in Pagedale leads to the Major Case Squad being activated this morning. Pagedale Police tell us 15 to 20 Major Case detectives are now working on the investigation into the killing.Police got a call from a passerby at around 1 a.m. saying there was a person down on St. Charles Rock Road at Engelholm. When police got there, they found a male victim on the sidewalk along the Rock Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Shell casings were close to his body. Mayor refuses to talk about expired tags until he gets 25 push-ups At this point Pagedale Police will only confirm that the victim in this case is a male. Neither his age nor his name have been released. Authorities are also not confirming how many times he may have been shot. Pagedale Police tell us that there are no suspects yet in this case. The murder scene is not far from a Metrolink station.The investigation into that murder is unfolding as a crime prevention summit took place ...

Police: Man shot, killed his own passenger in Pine Lawn road rage incident

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Police: Man shot, killed his own passenger in Pine Lawn road rage incident PINE LAWN, Mo. - A man fatally shot his own passenger during a road rage incident with another driver in Pine Lawn earlier this week. Prosecutors have charged Elijah Boykins, 41, with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal actions and several other gun-related felonies in the investigation. Mayor refuses to talk about expired tags until he gets 25 push-ups According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Boykins and the passenger got involved in a road rage situation with another driver in Pine Lawn. They started following him for a few blocks, then pulled next to him and started firing shots. Per court documents, the passenger got out of the car and started firing shots at the driver being followed. More gunfire emerged, and Boykins reportedly shot his own passenger while he tried to shoot at the other driver. Police say the other driver's car was struck multiple times, and that driver was shot in the leg, leading to undisclosed injuries. Per Missouri court records, Bo...

Jeff Co. park closing for weekend over public safety concerns

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:22:19 GMT

Jeff Co. park closing for weekend over public safety concerns JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. - Rockford Beach Park and its river access will be closed to visitor this weekend as authorities aim to tackle public safety concerns. The closure took effect at 3 a.m. Friday. The park is expected to reopen on Monday, July 10. Mayor refuses to talk about expired tags until he gets 25 push-ups According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, authorities have responded to variety of issues at the park since Memorial Day weekend. That includes fights, thefts, physical disturbances, assaults, underage drinking and one drowning. "This unfortunate but necessary action is attributed to recent influxes of visitors from the St. Louis region who have overwhelmed the ability of first responders to provide services to those in need," said the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in a news release. "While this temporary closure is likely an unpopular decision, not addressing it would create a danger to visitors and first responders." Close Thanks f...