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Hazed and confused: What's in the air over Austin?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Over the last few days you may have noticed a change in the air. Gone is the perfect blue sky in between the clouds. Instead, visibility isn't perfect when looking at distant objects or buildings and there's a thickness to the air that you can almost taste.Check out how Austin looked from The Domain (see image below), you could barely see the sky scrapers Saturday afternoon.A hazy view of Austin from The Domain on Saturday May 6, 2023You can blame two things for this: Humidity and particulate pollution.High humidityThe humidity has been tropical with dew points in the 70s making even the early mornings feel uncomfortable. The relative humidity has ranged from 60-90%+ depending on the time of day. This level of humidity in the air isn't just felt, but you can see the suspended water vapor, which accounts for some of the lowered visibility.Fine particulate matter pollutionAdding to the lower visibility are a type of pollution known as fine particulates. Specifically t...

Rocky fourth inning helps sink Twins in loss to Guardians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

CLEVELAND — Sonny Gray had been cruising.An inning before, he had struck out two of three batters, pounding the strike zone. And then in the fourth, it inexplicably fell apart for the Twins’ ace — and his defense.Gray threw seven straight balls to the first two batters of what would turn into a three-run inning that would force him out of the game early. Though the Twins mounted a comeback after that, the inning played a large role in sinking them to a 4-3 loss on Saturday night at Progressive Field.After walking the first batter of the inning, José Ramírez reached on a single that first baseman Donovan Solano couldn’t corral. On the very next play, Josh Naylor poked a ball toward third baseman Jose Miranda, who slid to stop it but fell over before he could get a throw off. The ball ended up trickling towards Carlos Correa. An alert Ramírez had broken towards third.Correa underhanded the ball toward Miranda, who lunged at Ramírez, failing to tag him. That prompted Twins manager Rocc...

Saints power way past Nashville; rain pushes doubleheader to Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

For the second day in a row, the St. Paul Saints’ regularly scheduled game was postponed due to rain.But they were able to finish Friday’s game against the Nashville Sounds, using four home runs to power their way to a 10-7 win. Since the Saints couldn’t finish Saturday’s doubleheader, their regularly scheduled game will take place on Sunday.Chris Williams and Andrew Bechtold hit back-to-back home runs to put the Saints (17-12) within 3-2 in the second inning. Kyle Farmer, on a rehab assignment, helped St. Paul take a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning, tying the game at 3-3 with an RBI double to left. Michael Helman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Williams was later walked as the Saints went up 5-3.Farmer also tied the game at 6-6 for the Saints with an RBI double in the sixth. He finished the game 3 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.Simeon Woods Richardson had a rough outing for St. Paul, giving up three earned runs and walking two...

Minnesota Senate DFLers back away from corporate tax hike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

Senate Democrats unexpectedly pulled their support for a new tax that would raise more than $350 million in annual revenue from corporations’ overseas profits.Business leaders and Republicans have criticized “combined worldwide reporting,” saying Minnesota would be the only state in the nation to implement it and it would drive businesses away.The added corporate tax is one of several new taxes the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party trifecta in control of state government proposed for the next two-year budget, despite the state having a $17.5 billion budget surplus. There also are proposals for increased sales taxes, a fifth income tax tier and a new payroll tax to fund universal family and medical leave.“The worldwide reporting provision no longer has our support,” Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, said near the end of a Saturday meeting of a bicameral conference committee working to settle differences between the House and Senate tax bills. Rest said there is s...

Gophers add commitment from Auburn safety transfer Craig McDonald

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

The Gophers football program continued to address its biggest roster need in the secondary on Saturday.Auburn transfer and Minneapolis native Craig McDonald committed to his home-state school in a video posted on social media.McDonald, who attended Minnehaha Academy, played two games at safety for Auburn last season. He first attended Iowa State, where he had 41 tackles and two interceptions in 2021. He played one game for the Cyclones in 2020 and will have two years of eligibility for the U.McDonald, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, join Elon transfer cornerback Tre’Von Jones, who pledged to Minnesota on April 29.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | NFL draft: Gophers defensive backs Jordan Howden, Terell Smith go in fifth round College Sports | Gophers football addresses roster need with Elon cornerback Tre’Von Jones College Sports | NFL draft: Gophers center John Michael Schmitz picked by Giants in second round College Sp...

After overnight shooting, Cherokee Street holds Cinco de Mayo Festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS - One of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in St. Louis returned Saturday, beginning hours after an overnight shooting on its grounds. Thousands gathered Saturday for the Cinco de Mayo Festival along Cherokee Street in south St. Louis, enjoying a parade, live performances, food, drinks and more. Top Story: St. Louis residents react to deadly downtown shootings Just before midnight Saturday, two people died, and two others were hurt in a shooting right in the heart of Cherokee Street at Exotic Bar and Grill. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says details surrounding what led up to this incident are still being investigated, and no suspect information is available at this time. When officers responded to the scene Friday, they found a 34-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his thigh and elbow. He was taken to a nearby hospital and treated. Officers were told that two victims - one man in his 20's and another in his 40's - were taken to a hospital, and both...

Missouri cannabis expungements likely to miss constitutional deadlines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When Missouri legalized recreational marijuana, it also promised to automatically expunge marijuana-related misdemeanors and felonies for charges related to less than three pounds of marijuana.It's a step only a few other states have taken, but one that would help people with a wide range of convictions get jobs and benefits by making it as if the offenses had never happened.The deadline for misdemeanors to be expunged is June 8 and felonies are required to be wiped clean by December 8. The responsibility to do the expungements falls to Circuit Clerks in each county across the state. KCK crews working to recover body found in Kansas River near GM plant "We cannot meet that deadline, will not meet that deadline, it is not physically possible to meet that deadline," said Greene County Circuit Clerk Bryan Feemster. "We wish that we could."Feemster says it's largely because county employees have to go through every case file to see if there are charges to expunge. ...

Joe Bob Briggs Talks Horror and Hosting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

John Irving Bloom aka Joe Bob Briggs has become today’s answer to Elvira. The film critic and actor, who hosts The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder TV, has built a loyal following for his unique deep-dive research into the horror and exploitation films he presents and his comical commentary, all with a “redneck” twist. He may not have Elvira’s cleavage, but he does have a sexy sidekick, Darcy the Mail Girl, and their banter, themes and guests make for a party-like experience.From The Movie Channel to TNT ‘s MonsterVision to his current gig at Shudder, Briggs’ funny and factual way of celebrating film has made him beloved by movie fans. The fandom –called “The Mutant Fam” is so fierce in fact, that he’s been trending on Twitter since the new season debuted a couple weeks ago. The show runs live on Fridays, screening a double feature of horror that is then available for streaming on Sundays. All five seasons are a...

Freeway off-ramps to downtown San Jose closed again Saturday night for Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

Multiple highway off-ramps leading into San Jose’s downtown will be closed again Saturday night in an effort to control traffic and protect public safety during Cinco de Mayo celebrations, according to Caltrans.The closures, which will take place between 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday, will be repeated from 4 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday. Roads were also closed Friday night.The following off-ramps will be affected: Northbound and southbound Highway 101 at McKee Road, Julian Street, Santa Cara Street and Story Road; southbound Highway 280 at McLaughlin Avenue; northbound Highway 280 at 10th and 11th streets; and northbound Highway 87 at Auzerais Avenue, Santa Clara Street, Julian Street and Taylor Street.While the majority of people who visit downtown and East San José during Cinco de Mayo are law abiding, “in past years, the celebration has also historically attracted individuals that have been responsible for various crimes, including vandalism, and sideshows,” said San Jose pol...

Column: Stench of death overwhelms Kentucky Derby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:39 GMT

They came 150,00 strong for the party of the year, adorned in the gaudiest of hats and sipping on mint juleps, witnesses to what, at its best, is the most thrilling two minutes in sports.Sadly, the stench of death overwhelmed the Kentucky Derby and its magnificent athletes on Saturday.Five horses perished in the past week at Churchill Downs, again raising troubling questions about the sport of kings even before the 149th run for the roses.Then, on the Derby undercard, two more died.Seven horses gone.Just like that.“There’s something going on,” said Derby spectator Pat Murtha, who was attending the race for the first time. “They need to find out, and set some rules and regulations to protect these animals.”Seriously, if this can happen at Churchill Downs, with the eyes of the world focused on its biggest race, what’s happening when no one is looking? Is enough being done to make this sport as safe as possible for 1,200-pound thoroughbreds that can reach top speeds of 45 m...