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'I can taste the air': Photos show smoke from Canadian wildfires lingering over Capitol, obscuring NYC skyscrapers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires poured into the U.S. East Coast and Midwest on Wednesday, covering the capitals of both nations in an unhealthy haze, holding up flights at major airports and prompting people to fish out pandemic-era face masks.While Canadian officials asked other countries for help fighting more than 400 blazes nationwide that already have displaced 20,000 people, air quality with what the U.S. rates as hazardous levels of pollution extended into central New York. Massive tongues of unhealthy air extended as far as Virginia and Indiana, affecting millions of people.“I can taste the air,” Dr. Ken Strumpf said in a Facebook post from Syracuse, New York, which was enveloped in an amber pall. The smoke, he later said by phone, even made him a bit dizzy. Which masks work best in smoky air? In Baltimore, where officials warned residents to stay indoors when possible, Debbie Funk sported a blue surgical mask as she and husband, Jack Hughes, took t...

New trial for APD officer charged with murder set for October

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Jury selection for the new trial for Christopher Taylor, an Austin Police officer accused of murder in a 2020 deadly shooting, is now set to begin Oct. 16, according to court proceedings Wednesday. The trial was supposed to begin May 24, but there were several snags throughout the jury selection process. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: APD officer heads to murder trial for Michael Ramos shooting Christopher Taylor, 31, is accused of shooting and killing Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot in April 2020.Taylor is currently on administrative leave from the department. The defense is also in the process of filing a request for a change of venue. That could impact the start date. Additionally, prosecutors declared plans to file a motion for a "limited" gag order related to the case. We will update this story once a decision is made regarding these motions. First round of jury selectionThe judge was forced to dis...

Attorney: 'Ken Paxton will never, never be convicted' in Senate impeachment trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A prominent lawyer from Houston will discuss why he will defend suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton during his upcoming impeachment trial in the Texas Senate. Attorney Tony Buzbee will hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon, where he promised in a social media post that "you will find what we have to say very informative." He said this will happen at the Austin headquarters for the Republican Party of Texas at 2 p.m. KXAN will offer a live stream of Buzbee's remarks in this story and on the station's Facebook page. IN-DEPTH: What do the 20 Articles of Impeachment against Ken Paxton mean? "I will provide further details at that time, which will include our hopes that the process in the Texas Senate will be fair, reasoned and transparent," Buzbee wrote in another post. Paxton is temporarily suspended from his elected office until the outcome of the Senate impeachment trial is known. He will not receive pay from the state for the time being either, according to...

Cedar Park starts summer-long repairs to Lakeline Boulevard

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Cedar Park has started its Lakeline Boulevard Rehabilitation Project. The 90-day road repairs are being made to fix damage from the 2021 freeze and wear caused by increased traffic.Once complete, the stretch of Lakeline Boulevard from Continental Pass to Cedar Hills Boulevard will be brand new. The southbound lanes are being reconstructed first, followed by the northbound lands immediately after.The main goal of the reconstruction project is to bring the damaged road up to standards better suited for weather and heavy traffic.Jenny Huerta, spokesperson for the City of Cedar Park, said several road-construction projects are underway this summer. She said planning for construction capitalizes on reduced traffic as local schools are out for the break.This project began May 30 and is set to be completed in 90 days. The cost is $1.95 million to be paid with a General Obligation Bond approved by voters in 2022.

High school girls hockey: Natalie Darwitz and Jake Bobrowski named Hill-Murray co-head coaches

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

Hill-Murray made a splash move Wednesday, hiring Natalie Darwitz and Jake Bobrowski as co-head coaches for the Maplewood school’s girls hockey program.“We are thrilled to have attracted two incredibly experienced and talented coaches who have a reputation for being committed to the development of student-athletes on and off the ice,” Hill-Murray president Melissa Dan said in a statement. “We’re confident the two will lead our already-successful girls hockey program to even greater heights.”Darwitz, a Minnesota hockey legend, recently served as associate head coach for the Gophers women’s hockey program. She has high school girls hockey coaching experience, previously taking Lakeville South to the girls hockey state tournament.In between coaching stints at Lakeville South and the University of Minnesota, she led Hamline to the school’s only Frozen Four appearance, guiding the Pipers to the Division III national final.“Hill-Murray’s dedication to academic and a...

Baby killed in buggy crash in Missouri Ozarks

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

SEYMOUR, Mo. — A infant is dead and two others injured after a crash in Webster County.A Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report says a baby boy was ejected from an Amish buggy just after 5 p.m. when a 1999 Mercedes 320 attempted to pass the buggy. Theodosia man charged for demanding explicit photos from minors The Mercedes hit the rear of the buggy, ejecting the infant and two others, identified as 23-year-old Sammy W. Schwartz and 24-year-old Barbara Schwartz. All three of the buggy occupants were transported to a local hospital where the baby died. The wreck happened two miles north of Seymour on State Highway C. This is MSHP's 52nd fatality crash for 2023.

No, Missouri is not sending a bunch of buffaloes to your home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The famous tune Home on the Range starts, "Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam." It's a message oddly similar to one piece of paper circulating around Missouri mailboxes. Fake flyerThe Missouri Department of Conservation wants landowners to know, no, they are not sending buffaloes to your home. An apparent prank has some Missourians wondering if that might be the case. St. Charles County residents upset over home value assessment Imposters are placing letters into various Missouri mailboxes with the MDC logo stamped onto it. MDC shared about the letters Wednesday via Facebook, catching the attention of thousands and leading some to comment with buffalo puns. The letter's message reads:"Greetings Land Owner: Your Conservation Commission wishes to announced that the land surrounding your home has been selected as a Game Preserve and that the first shipment of 500 Buffaloes will arrive at your home Thursday at 3:45 a.m. on June the 29th, 2023." The letter...

Pro Motocross Championship returns to Colorado with Toyota Thunder Valley National

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

The Pro Motocross Championship is making its annual pilgrimage to Lakewood on Saturday as it comes to the Thunder Valley Motocross Park for the 19th time.The highest professional motocross track in the world, at an elevation of 6,128 feet, will play host to the Toyota Thunder Valley National, which serves as the third leg of the 11-round series.This year, the Pro Motocross Championship will be a part of the SuperMotocross World Championship’s inaugural season, which combines its 11 races with the winter AMA Supercross Championship for a 31-race campaign, including the Denver Supercross at Empower Field earlier this spring. This is capped off with the SuperMotocross World Championship playoffs and final in September.The race will include champions from across the globe. Among them are American Chase Sexton, who won the Denver Supercross in May, and Australian brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence, who currently lead the 450 Class and 250 Class championships, respectively. The Lawre...

What started the Marshall fire? Boulder County set to announce findings of 17-month investigation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

Boulder County’s sheriff and district attorney on Thursday will announce the findings of their investigation into the origin of the deadly Marshall fire in late 2021.A news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, but no hint of what will be announced has been given. A media advisory says Sheriff Curtis Johnson and District Attorney Michael Dougherty will speak on “the investigative outcome into the cause and origin of the 2021 Marshall fire.”The Dec. 30, 2021, wildfire was the most costly in Colorado history, destroying more than $2 billion in property. Two people died in the fire, and more than 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed in Superior, Louisville and unincorporated Boulder County. The fire burned across 6,000 acres as it was fueled by hurricane-force winds and dry grass and brush.Since the fire’s start, speculation around the cause has wavered between multiple theories. It is believed to have started nea...

3 Los Angeles restaurants and chefs win prestigious food award

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:24 GMT

About two dozen lucky (and undoubtedly hardworking) chefs and restaurant teams around the country received one of the food world's top honors this week. The James Beard Award winners were announced Monday at a ceremony in Chicago. Los Angeles restaurants, or one of their chefs, took home the top prize in three categories. Margarita Manzke, of French restaurant and bakery République, won the prize for outstanding pastry chef or baker. On weekend mornings, passersby will often see a line snaking outside the restaurant as people wait for pastries or a brunch seat. 18 new California restaurants awarded Michelin stars Los Angeles Times restaurant critic Bill Addison wrote in 2019 he found himself recommending République more than any other restaurant. Addison recommends the raspberry pistachio kouign-amann, a flavorful twist on the buttery viennoiserie pastry from the Brittany region of France.Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai (Sherman Oaks, CA) wins Best Chef: California at the 2023 J...