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Michigan man arrested, accused of plotting mass shooting at synagogue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

(The Hill) – A Michigan man has been arrested over an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a synagogue, according to a criminal complaint filed against the teen. The complaint charges 19-year-old Seann Pietila with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure someone. FBI Special Agent Ryan Roskey said in the complaint that Pietila demonstrated through Instagram messages his neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitic beliefs, suicidal ideologies, and his praise of past mass shooters that have had similar ideologies, as well as his intent to copy their actions. The complaint states Pietila specifically mentioned that he admires Brent Tarrant, who carried out mass shootings at mosques in New Zealand in 2019, killing more than 50 people. The Instagram account that Pietila used sent a message saying they needed a camera for livestreaming, as Tarrant did during his attack, and another saying they planned to mimic “b.t’s” attack, per the complaint. Police foil alleged mass shootin...

Veterinarian explains why pet owners should beware of foxtail grass

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – They might look harmless, but those bushy, wheat-like seeds waving in the wind this time of year on stalks of foxtail grass can be incredibly dangerous to pets. The seeds, called grass awns, are pointy and have barbs on them that can easily stick to fur. If they’re not discovered early enough, they can push their way into the skin and, in severe cases, they can even travel all the way into a dog or cat’s body. “They can step on these little barbs, get them embedded in their fur. We can also see them go in other areas of the body, up the nose is not uncommon. As a dermatologist, I've taken quite a few out of ear canals,” Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, a board certified veterinary dermatologist in Portland told Nexstar's KOIN.  See a paw print sticker on a mailbox? Don’t remove it Grass awns tend to be a more common problem for dogs, but can also affect cats. In certain cases, pets suffering from embedded awns can require serious veterinary care that can cost owners t...

Heat alerts and more storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Most heat index readings Friday were between 110° and 122°. The heat index was 122° at Flatonia during the 6:00 hour. La Grange followed with its heat index of 121° brought about by the combination of a 96° air temperature with an 82° dew point. Camp Mabry had one of the higher heat indices with its maximum of 115° at 5 p.m. Austin's heat index did not drop below 100° until after 9 p.m. The Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday for Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties eastward, as well as for Lampasas County. The Hill Country will remain under the Heat Advisory.More extreme heat and humidity making for an uncomfortable dayCamp Mabry also tied a record with a high of 103°. The previous record was first set in 1925, then tied in 2011 and 2022.More cloud cover today will drop temperatures just a little but the forecast will continue triple-digit heat in several locations.Today's highs will be a few degrees lower than FridayThe heat and humidity ...

1 dead in north Austin after vehicle strikes pedestrian

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS said a person was pronounced dead overnight after reportedly being struck by a vehicle in north Austin.ATCEMS said the pedestrian was an adult patient, but the identity of the pedestrian was not disclosed.The collision occurred near the 8800 block of North Interstate 35 heading south at approximately 12:30 a.m., according to ATCEMS.It is unknown if the driver who struck the pedestrian remained at the scene.At the time of the incident, ATCEMS said there would be traffic closures in the area.

TEA no longer monitoring Round Rock ISD board

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Education Agency is no longer monitoring Round Rock ISD's board of trustees, the district said Friday. Round Rock ISD said the end of monitoring was effective immediately. PREVIOUS: Retired Texas superintendent to monitor Round Rock ISD board after 2019 report TEA began monitoring the RRISD board in September 2021 after concerns and misconduct allegations from former board members. The district said the monitoring decision "indicates that the TEA is satisfied with the progress that has been made."“Their decision is a reflection of the collective work of the Board of Trustees to improve their practices and how they serve our community," Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said in a release. A monitor was assigned to the district after the TEA says it received a complaint in early 2020 “alleging that a district trustee engaged in behavior detrimental and counter-productive to the welfare of the district and its students.”The TEA monitor, former Carroll ISD superi...

Buddy Holly: Lubbock’s native son changed the world, still offers something to visitors today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas (KLBK) – In the land of cotton and oil, a music legend was proud to call West Texas home.Rock 'n' roll icon Buddy Holly was born and raised in Lubbock. After graduating from Lubbock High School, Holly rose to prominence with his band “The Crickets” and quickly became a household name in the music industry with hits like “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue.”“He really rewrote what music was,” said Sebastian Forbush, curator at The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock. “The Crickets were the very first of the traditional four-piece band with a guitar, bass, drums and vocals.”Holly’s life and career were cut short on Feb. 3, 1959, when he was killed alongside singers Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa.Explore Buddy Holly's worldwide legacyThe Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock is a popular tourist destination visited by thousands every year. The interactive museum chronicles Holly’s childhood and documents his short but impactful music career tha...

St. Louis Juneteenth celebrations and third annual Caribbean Heritage Festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- This weekend, the St. Louis Metro is abuzz with multiple Juneteenth celebrations. One of the notable events is the third annual Caribbean Heritage Festival, held in Missouri, known as the gateway to freedom and justice. The festivities kick off bright and early at 7 a.m., as the lawn fills up with enthusiastic attendees, gathering to honor Juneteenth, a day that marks the emancipation of slaves. The celebration is part of Africans Rising Together 2063, a movement supporting Africans in their quest for freedom and justice. Teen drowns in Meramec River in Crawford County The day's activities include a walk, flag raising, inspiring speeches, delectable food, lively music, and engaging kids' activities, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day. At 8:00 a.m., the walk commences, allowing participants to traverse the space while symbolizing the journey towards liberation for African Missourians and Caribbean Americans throughout history. Live music serves as the me...

New renderings of Cherry Creek West show plans for interior ‘shared street’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

The firm that will redevelop the west side of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center has released new renderings for the first time in 18 months.The broad elements of “Cherry Creek West,” which is still more than a year out from breaking ground, remain relatively the same. Developer East West Partners intends to build seven structures ranging from eight to 13 stories, with a mix of office, residential and retail space. There will be open space between them, and an underground parking garage.All that will replace what is currently a sea of parking and a handful of largely vacant big-box stores.A new rendering of the Cherry Creek West project. (Courtesy East West Partners)The new renderings do, however, reflect a couple of ways plans have shifted since late 2021, when Denver-based East West announced it had reached a deal with the owners of the mall and property to embark on the project.Originally, the plan was for the interior of the 13-acre site to be pedestrian-only. Now, however, there ...

Colorado logs a second straight month of employment gains on strong government hiring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

Since last fall, Colorado employers have gone from adding jobs one month to shedding them the next, resulting in an economy that has behaved more like a sputtering lawn mower than a finely tuned engine that fires up on the first pull of the cord.But that changed in May, when the state finally strung together two consecutive months of respectable job gains, according to an update Friday from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Despite that, 2023 still appears to be lagging.“After five months it seems the Colorado labor market is underperforming the U.S., assuming there will be no major revisions in the future. It is easy to look at the data and see where changes are occurring. It is more difficult to understand the structural changes in the economy that are causing these changes,” said Broomfield economist Gary Horvath in an email.“In other words, why is the Colorado economy struggling more than other states?” he asked.Colorado employers added 3,9...

A Colorado man saved a dog’s life. When the story went viral, it changed his life.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:59 GMT

When Breckenridge resident Zach Hackett first rescued Riley — a 9-year-old sheltie dog who had run away five weeks earlier — in May, nothing happened for about 10 days.Then the story swept across the country. After Summit Daily News and KDVR reported the story, Hackett received congratulations from Congressman Joe Neguse’s office, and the national nonprofit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) honored him with a compassion award. Soon, The Washington Post, The Dodo, Fox Weather and other major news outlets were reaching out to interview Hackett.But before all that attention, Hackett said he had been struggling. The days between when Hackett first heard Riley’s faint “yip” while exploring the trails near Peak 4 behind his new apartment and when the media caught wind of the story had been difficult ones, he said.The uplifting story of the rescue, though, has helped Hackett connect with a wider community and find happiness and hope for the future. It also inspired him to ...