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'There is no place here that is safe at all:' Chicago peace activist bringing medical supplies to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

A Chicago peace activist is in Ukraine this week with a delegation of faith leaders and physicians.They’re bringing much-needed medical supplies to the war-torn country.Chicago social justice and non-violence activist Reverend Gregory Seal Livingston is in Kiev, Ukraine where there are symbols of both pain and perseverance displayed in the public square. “We are in a war zone and there is no place here that is safe at all... I heard so many bombs going off it blew my mind,” he said. “They have these Russian vehicles, these Russian armored car vehicles that have been caught in fighting and they bring them here to let them know the Russians are not undefeatable.”Livingston, the former Chief of Field Operations for Rainbow Push, is in the country with a delegation of American religious leaders and doctors.  They’re meeting with diplomats, human rights advocates and wounded civilians and soldiers and delivering medical supplies, including portable ultrasound machines, ban...

Antisemitic graffiti found near UT Austin campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the University of Texas at Austin said it received reports of antisemitic vandalism on or near the campus.“This conduct is not constitutionally protected speech. UT condemns these actions and will refer for discipline any University-associated individuals found to have vandalized University or city property. Moreover, the University condemns acts taken against people because of their race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Such conduct does not align with our institutional values. Our University supports and celebrates the diversity of our community.”UT AustinThe graffiti also read, "God's d--- is white"A KXAN photojournalist arrived at the scene Thursday afternoon, and the antisemitic graffiti had been cleaned.

Unseasonably hot to finish summer, rain to start fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The summertime heat won't go away completely... but it does get more manageable next week. (For those new to Central Texas, fall-like weather isn't expected until... *checks notes*... mid-November.)Our afternoon highs will continue to run well above seasonal average with upper 90s expected Friday through Sunday. Humidity will only add insult to injury, with most of us likely to see heat index values reach 100°+ through the weekend. BLOG: October forecast We'll stay generally dry to wrap up the work week with only a slim rain chance Friday and Saturday (10% or less).We have a little more to work with Sunday as a cold front approaches us from the north (30%), but Monday is still trending the wettest with scattered showers/storms likely late day (60%).Cold front nears the area Sunday/MondayThe latest rainfall forecast brings 0.5"-1.5" of rain for most of us by the middle of next week, with most of the rain coming on Monday.There's some early concern for severe storms...

APD asks for help in search for man who assaulted gas station cashier with beer can

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department asked for help Thursday in its search for a man suspected of attacking a gas station cashier.APD said the assault occurred Sept. 8 at 4:35 p.m. at a Valero gas station in the 11300 block of North Interstate 35 frontage road.According to police, the suspect argued with the cashier and hit him with a beer can.Police described the suspect as a 5’ 11” Black man between the ages of 30 to 40, weighing 200 lbs. with short black hair and a black beard. APD said he was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black Baltimore Ravens hat and blue jeans.APD asked that anyone with information to submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling (512) 472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

Jet company cutting flights out of Austin beginning Oct. 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A private jet company, JSX Inc., said it was cutting roughly half of its flights out of Austin, a spokesperson told KXAN Wednesday. The company pointed to "real estate constraints." JSX is a jet service that offers the perks of private air travel, according to its website. Beginning Oct. 1, JSX said it would drop up to three flights a day between Austin and Dallas.Austin (AUS) – Dallas (DAL): Previously three times a dayAustin (AUS) – Las Vegas (LAS): Previously a few times a weekAustin (AUS) – Gunnison/Crested Butte (GUC): Previously a few times a weekThe Austin (AUS) – Taos, New Mexico (TSM) route will continue as planned this fall and winter, the spokesperson said.Read the full statement below:JSX has reduced its service to/from Austin, effective October 1st, 2023. To clarify, JSX is not pulling out of the Austin market which remains one of our more popular regional hubs. Our seasonal flights to Taos, N.M. will continue as planned this fa...

Vikings express confidence in Alexander Mattison even after trading for Cam Akers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

The fact that the Vikings went out and traded for running back Cam Akers this week speaks to how intentional they are being about fixing their biggest issue. After rushing for a total of 69 yards in losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles, the Vikings view Akers as somebody who could inject some life into the backfield.What does that mean for running back Alexander Mattison? Not too much less than 24 hours after the Vikings acquired Akers in a deal with the Los Angeles Rams.Talking to reporters on Thursday at TCO Performance Center, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips spoke highly of Mattison. Though he deferred any specifics of the starting lineup to head coach Kevin O’Connell, Phillips emphasized that the Vikings feel comfortable with Mattison in his current role.“We haven’t lost confidence in Alexander Mattison,” Phillips said. “I will say that.”There are a number of factors that have contributed to the Vikings struggling in t...

How are St. Paul police trying to recruit more women? Inviting them in to see their work.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

St. Paul police are inviting women and teens to see what they do as they continue grappling with staffing shortages and a stubborn underrepresentation of women on the force.During the free Women in Law Enforcement Seminar on Saturday, for girls and women 14 and older, female St. Paul officers will talk about their work as homicide and gang investigators. Attendees will have a chance to see law enforcement procedures first-hand and tour the department’s gun range.“We are trying to bridge that gap by trying different ways to approach women and invite them to come into law enforcement,” said Deputy Chief Pamela Barragan, currently the highest-ranked female officer in St. Paul. “Sometimes women don’t see themselves as an officer because societal norms have said that women should not do X, Y or Z, so we’re really intentionally trying to break those barriers for women.”The St. Paul department signed onto a national pledge in 2021 to increase the d...

Twins on the verge of clinching playoff berth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

The Twins are ready to pop the champagne and celebrate the achievement of a division title. Now, it’s only a matter of when.With their magic number down to one, the Twins are on the verge of clinching the American League Central and punching their ticket to the postseason. It could happen as early as Thursday, but the Twins needed both Cleveland and Detroit to lose for that to happen.The Twins (81-72) were off on Thursday, watching and waiting to see if it would be the day.“Doing this for a little while now, it’s special to win a division,” Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said after Wednesday’s win in Cincinnati. “I know if and when it happens, no matter what it looks like … that’s special because it’s a group of men that have set out to achieve something. It’s not our big goal, but it’s a step in what we’re shooting for.”No, the big goal is to win a ring, but overcoming the rest of the division is the first hurdle on the way to that jewelry.The Twins have led the division for much ...

What to know about the University of Minnesota’s data breach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

After investigating a data breach report from August, the University of Minnesota announced Thursday that personal information about students and employees across 30 years was compromised.The U began its investigation after an individual claimed to have posted information including admissions, race and ethnicity information online in July. The breach potentially affects students and employees from 1989 to 2021, according to reports.Names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses and passport information were all potentially targeted information in the breach, which University officials said likely came after someone gained unauthorized access to its database in 2021.Although student financial aid applications and work contracts may have been stolen, donation, medical treatment, passwords and credit card information were not in the database and not breached, University officials said in a statement.The University is offering potentially affected indi...

FOX 9’s Tom Lyden and MPR’s John Wanamaker both leaving jobs to care for ailing elders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:14 GMT

Two longtime Twin Cities broadcast journalists have left the airwaves this week to take care of ailing elders. They’re also longtime friends.“We’ve been talking about this for 15 years. We love our families and we know our obligations,” said Tom Lyden, an investigative reporter for FOX 9, which aired a tribute to him Thursday during the 9 p.m. newscast. Thursday also was the last day on the job for Minnesota Public Radio News host John Wanamaker.The pair have a total of 50 years experience in the market. Lyden spent three decades at FOX, while Wanamaker worked for WCCO Radio for six years before moving to MPR in 2010.“A lot of people are dealing with aging parents, the baby boomer generation or older,” Wanamaker said. “I don’t feel I’m any different than any of them. My wife and I are doing the best we can.”Wanamaker, 57, is moving to Indianola, a city 14 miles south of Des Moines, to take care of his wife Lisa Erb’s parents.“We want to keep my in-laws ...