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'Perfect storm' leading to pandemic-level food insecurity at Central Texas Food Bank

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Over the past several months, demand levels have risen at the Central Texas Food Bank, with an average of 370,000 people served each month. Now, top nonprofit leaders said that number of people seeking services is at or surpassing levels seen at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic — making for a "perfect storm" of food insecurity in Central Texas."It's a perfect storm of a couple of things," said Mark Jackson, chief development officer at CTFB. "Primarily, the reduction in the pandemic-era SNAP benefits earlier in the spring, coupled with the massive increase in inflation and the cost of living in Austin. And it's just really putting a pinch on families and making it hard for them to keep food on the table." Friendsgiving Challenge 2023: Donate to Team David or Kristen to help Central Texas Food Bank The holidays have historically been a busier time of year for the food bank, he said. However, demand levels have steadily increased for the past four to five months...

REPORT: Austin airport ranked 28th out of 30 best midsized airports nationally

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new report from The Wall Street Journal Wednesday ranked Austin-Bergstrom International Airport No. 28 out of 30 best midsized airports in the United States, with an overall rating of 58.5 out of 100.The ranking was the culmination of reliability, value and convenience scores that pulled data from government agencies as well as a survey of travelers conducted by WSJ's research partners, Dynata. Many of AUS' lowest ratings were listed under its reliability score, which received a score of 45.8. It was ranked 26 out of 30 for on-time arrivals, which happen approximately 74.58% of the time. The average taxi-in time was seven minutes and 54 seconds, landing it in 28th place. Its Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) security delay date also landed it in 27th place out of the 30 midsized airports considered.Under its value and convenience score, AUS received a 71.2% approval ranking. AUS landed in the Top 10 listings for nonstop destinations, lounges, child faciliti...

How to learn the benefits of recycling

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nov. 15 is the day set aside for Texas Recycles Day. Rich Segal spoke with Laura Lopez from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the history of this day and the reason it is so important.This event dates back to 1994 when it was National Recycles Day. There are 40 states, including Texas, participating in their respective Recycles Day.Lopez said this day is important because one person throws away seven pounds of of waste per day. It adds up to nearly 30 pounds of waste for a family of four. One of the objectives is to bring both of these numbers down to send less to area landfills.In 2022, 39.7 billion tons of waste went to landfalls across the country. Also in 2022, just 1.7 million tons were diverted away from the landfills due to the efforts of those who do recycle.Lopez urged people to participate in local events, visit websites like Keep America Beautiful, organize a community cleanup, talk to others about the benefits of recycling.Another valuable...

Strong cold front set to arrive before Thanksgiving Day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Lovely autumn weather continues all week into the weekend, but a storm system brings a strong cold front through the area early next week with colder, windy weather just before the Thanksgiving holiday.Overnight low temperatures drop into the 40s Thursday morning under mainly clear skies. Some areas of fog are possible, especially in low-lying metro area valleys and in our eastern communities.Once fog clears, warm sunshine is back Thursday afternoon.Following another warm, sunny day Friday, the first of two cold fronts blows through the area rain-free Friday evening. Temperature impacts will be minimal with this front, but a stronger cold front arriving early next week brings cold, windy weather for at least a portion of Thanksgiving week.Rain totals from this storm system are looking quite meager, with under 0.25" expected areawide at this time. Chillier than normal weather may continue through Thanksgiving Day. BLOG: Peak fall foliage in Central Texas coming soo...

Ramsey County breaks ground on $29.7 million environmental service center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

Ramsey County broke ground this week on a $29.7 million environmental service center in Roseville.Located at 1700 Kent St., the center will span more than 30,000 square feet and feature a covered drive-through so residents can drop off household hazardous waste and electronic waste year-round regardless of the weather. The center also will feature a free product reuse room, space for fix-it clinics and other environmental activities, and both food scrap and general recycling drop-offs.The center is part of the county’s “Enhancing Environmental Health Services” initiative, which aims to redesign and add more recycling and waste disposal services to meet community needs. It’s one of the first projects developed based upon input from a 2020 resident survey.The building, which will use both solar and geothermal power, has been designed for reduced energy use, including a low carbon footprint, based upon the state’s B3 Sustainable Building 2030 standards. It...

St. Paul City Council proposes city enforcement of skyway litter, graffiti removal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

When a downtown St. Paul building owner fails to remove graffiti, pick up litter or fix a broken window in the skyway, city officials find they have precious few tools to force better property management.“Most of them are doing phenomenal jobs, and when that’s not happening, we need to be able to do more than send a letter,” said St. Paul Council Member Rebecca Noecker, in an interview Wednesday. “We can take them to criminal court, but that takes years to assemble the evidence, get into court and get a determination. It’s not an effective tool when we’re talking about stained carpet, graffiti, broken windows, litter. It just doesn’t make sense.”Noecker on Wednesday introduced an ordinance amendment that would give the city’s Department of Safety and Inspections the power to issue abatement orders, which are similar to what can happen when a homeowner neglects to clear their sidewalk of snow. DSI would have the authority to hire ...

St. Paul likely to reduce tobacco shop licenses, eliminate tobacco vending machines

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

The St. Paul City Council has proposed officially eliminating something that’s largely fallen by the wayside in the capital city — tobacco vending machines — while also reducing the number of available tobacco shop licenses.In addition, penalties for underage tobacco sales, sales of single cigarettes or sales of flavored tobacco other than specialty shops would switch to criminal misdemeanors, up from $500-$1,000 fines, license suspensions and revocations.The proposed ordinance amendment was introduced to the full council for its first official reading on Wednesday.The ordinance would eliminate tobacco vending machine licenses entirely, though the federal Food and Drug Administration has barred cigarette vending machines since 2010 in establishments open to patrons under the age of 18.Tobacco shop licenses would be reduced through attrition from 150 to 100, and tobacco product shop licenses for flavored tobacco and electronic delivery devices would drop from 25 to ...

High school football: For St. Thomas Academy, less has led to more

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

St. Thomas Academy enters Friday’s Class 5A state tournament semifinal game against Alexandria as perhaps the healthiest football team in the state. Sure, the Cadets have bumps and bruises, but injuries won’t hold a single player on the roster out of competition.Which, in mid-November, is remarkable.“It is kind of a little miracle that we’re all as healthy as we are,” senior linebacker Cade Caruso said.And there is certainly luck involved. Cadets assistant coach Chad Abbott noted there are certain plays that can happen on the football field that could cause injury, regardless of preparation or prevention methods.But it is also possible that one contributing factor to St. Thomas Academy’s health — knock on wood — is the Cadets’ practice approach this season.First-year head coach Travis Walch at one time served as special-teams coach at the University of St. Thomas. So he was accustomed to the college level’s three-day practice schedule. He was such a believer that he decided to bring...

Driver, victim identified in fatal Ballston Spa hit-and-run

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady man was arrested in connection to a fatal hit-and-run in Ballston Spa on Wednesday. Gary Lucas was charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police said Lucas, 37, was traveling on Route 50 in Ballston Spa when he struck Meredith Hamilton, 47, who was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Brookline Road. The Ballston Spa woman died at the scene.Police do not believe Lucas was impaired at the time of the crash. He was arraigned and sent to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or a $500,000 partially secured bond. 

Train service partially restored between Albany, NYC

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Amtrak has partially restored service between New York City and Albany as of Thursday, after structural issues shut down a track in Manhattan. An expert said when private property owners don’t maintain structures, Amtrak is limited in what it can do to limit disruptions to its service.“That’s a big problem for amtrak. it has some degree of ability to regulate and inspect things,” said Executive Director of the Empire State Passengers Association Steve Strauss. Questions remain over central warehouse development Commuters started to arrive at the Amtrak train station in Rensselaer on Thursday morning,  after service to one track was partially restored. This time at the center of the issue is the ability to regulate and inspect structures adjacent to tracks.A hole was spotted above the Amtrak Empire Service line in Manhattan, it’s one of the many structural issues found with the 747 Tenth Avenue parking garage located directly above that Amtrak line, nea...