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Austin Police: Female recruitment increasing "faster than anticipated" under Chief Henderson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department made a pledge in 2022 to work toward having women make up 30% of the police force by 2030. It's called the "30x30" initiative. "With a consistent effort passionately supported by Chief Robin Henderson, we have increased the numbers faster than anticipated," APD said in an email response to our questions about the progress of the initiative. "The Austin Police Department will remain steadfast in advancing the representation of women in policing for the foreseeable future." Chief’s Run features 25 APD cadets graduating next week Below is a breakdown of the female recruitment numbers spanning from the class that graduated in Nov. 2022 to the current cadet class still going through the academy.APD provided female recruitment data broken down by cadet class applicants and hires. (Credit: APD)"The most recent class, which started in September, started at 29% female," APD said. "The four classes prior showed a combined average of 16...

APD says suspect was holding BB gun before northeast Austin officer-involved shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who was armed with what police said appeared to be a rifle is dead after an Austin Police Department officer opened fire Tuesday afternoon in northeast Austin, according to APD Chief Robin Henderson. APD later confirmed Wednesday that the rifle the male had was a BB gun.APD said the officer-involved shooting took place in the 1500 block of East Howard Lane. That's near Dessau Road. Photos from the scene show police at an apartment complex in the area. APD investigating an officer-involved shooting off Howard Lane in north Austin. (KXAN Photo/Brianna Hollis)Henderson said at about 1:18 p.m., officers responded to a gun/hotshot call concerning a male in a parking lot firing what appeared to be a rifle. The first police unit then arrived at the scene at 1:25 p.m., and a second officer shortly after. As the two officers drove through the parking lot, Henderson said one officer communicated over the radio that a man had pointed a gun at them as they drove past. Nume...

Crow Wing County commissioners will vote to express their criticism of Minnesota’s proposed new state flag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

BRAINERD, Minn. — Crow Wing County commissioners plan to send a letter to the governor and state legislators to voice their opposition to the revised state flag.Commissioner Paul Koering added the issue to the agenda Tuesday. Koering said he wanted to get a feeling for where commissioners in the north-central Minnesota county stood as he’s heard criticism from his constituents from a couple of phone calls and a lot of social media posts regarding the new flag.“I’ve heard displeasure, a lot of displeasure from my constituents about this changing of the Minnesota flag,” Koering said. “In my mind it feels like we’re whitewashing our history because somebody is offended by something on the flag, which I don’t understand at all.”Koering noted there has been an ongoing debate about removing Confederate Civil War images and statues that offend some. Koering said he was just reminding everyone that such symbols represent the nation’s history, whether it’s ugly or bad.The current Minnesota s...

Vadnais Heights Christmas ATV joyride through motorsports store caused $150K in damage, charges say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

A 30-year-old is charged with breaking into a Vadnais Heights business on Christmas, getting on an ATV inside and leaving behind more than $150,000 in damage as he rode it through the store.Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies responded to Tousley Motorsports about 6:20 a.m. Monday on a report of a glass-break alarm. Security cameras showed a person was inside the business. He was crashing an all-terrain vehicle into merchandise and fixtures, and “drove directly” toward a deputy at the south door, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.The man — wearing a Tousley jacket, bright red shoes and a red helmet that the sheriff’s office said was stolen from the business — crashed through the store’s gate on the stolen purple ATV and kept driving, the complaint said.Austin Michael Erickson (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Deputies caught Austin Michael Erickson, of Vadnais Heights, after he ran from the ATV toward a woode...

Timberwolves tend to make life tough on Mavericks star Luka Doncic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

Luka Doncic dominated Minnesota in the first half of the meeting between the Timberwolves and Mavericks earlier this month in Dallas.The all-world guard had 26 points and eight assists in the first two quarters.But the Timberwolves got the better of Doncic after the break, forcing him into five turnovers. That has been a more accurate representation of the way the matchup has played out during Doncic’s career.No one shuts down Doncic, who is one of the very best offensive players in the world. But Minnesota has done a better job than most at making his life difficult.For his career, Doncic is averaging 24.1 points per game against the Timberwolves, the third-lowest of all teams and lowest among Western Conference foes. He is averaging 7.8 rebounds, tied for the fifth-lowest among all opponents.Against the Wolves, Doncic is shooting just 44 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range.On a team level, Doncic and the Mavericks are 2-5 in their past seven games with t...

What Missourians need to know as lawmakers return to Jefferson City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Lawmakers will return to the Missouri State Capitol next week to kick off the 2024 Legislative Session.As we turn the calendar to a new year, it means it's time for the General Assembly to return to Jefferson City to start session. While every member has an agenda of what he or she would like to accomplish by May, with 2024 as an election year, it could complicate the process."It's a mess and I use that word intentionally," House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said. "I'm definitely worried about how this legislative session is going to go."While some are concerned about what is to come in the new year, others are optimistic."There will be shenanigan days; hopefully those are outnumbered by the normal ones," Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said.Over in the lower chamber, House leadership is expecting fewer pieces of legislation to make it to the governor's desk this year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for ...

Hyperloop One transport project dead, report says; North Las Vegas test track for sale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) - When Hyperloop came on the scene in 2013, it was hailed as a transportation revolution -- the "fifth mode of transport," according to Elon Musk -- with a test track in North Las Vegas that would stun the world with new possibilities.Now, the project appears to be dead.A Bloomberg report last week indicates Hyperloop One is done, a dream that couldn't attract any customers to push beyond concept and testing to operations and contracts.The track at Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas, where a 2017 test sent a Hyperloop pod down a track at 192 mph, will be put up for sale, according to the Bloomberg report.8 News Now has contacted Hyperloop One for comment, but we have not received a response. Kathleen Richards, public information officer for North Las Vegas, said, "The city is not typically notified when a company ceases operations so we would not have any information about a closure."It ends a promising chapter of innovation that began with lofty marketing abou...

Denver’s mayor slams Texas governor over migrant buses after city sees new peak in shelters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joined the leaders of New York City and Chicago Wednesday in lambasting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for continuing to send busloads of migrants from the southern border to their cities.The mayors said the chartered busing strategy was inhumane, reckless and inefficient, and in a joint media call they detailed new time- and location-based restrictions they will place on the buses’ arrivals in their cities.Johnston, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency. That could allow the government to grant financial support and enact a national resettlement strategy for asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing violence and desperation in Venezuela.“We, at this point now, have had more migrant arrivals to our city than any city in America per capita,” Johnston said. “And that is not because there is a thoughtful or coordinated strategy to entry. It is becau...

Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham embraces opportunity to be potential spark on offense

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

The Broncos’ potential spark on offense was dressed in a team Lululemon hoodie, hat and pair of Nike Dunks.Jarrett Stidham addressed reporters as Denver’s starting quarterback on Wednesday after head coach Sean Payton brought the fourth-year signal caller into his office in the morning. There, he informed Stidham that he would replace nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson in a move to find some offensive rhythm in the final two games of the season.Whether or not Stidham is the solution Payton is looking for won’t be answered until Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. For now, Stidham is excited for the opportunity to prove himself.“Your goal is to get out on the field and play. That’s what my goal has always been and how I’ve prepared myself,” Stidham said. “(I’m going) to keep preparing like I have been my whole career and get ready to go.”This isn’t Stidham’s first rodeo. As a backup for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, he replaced quarterback Derek Carr as the start...

Broncos’ Justin Simmons talks “bittersweet” loss of Kareem Jackson, who was claimed by Houston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:05:41 GMT

Justin Simmons arrived to work Wednesday for the first time in a long time without Kareem Jackson as a teammate.Jackson was waived by the Broncos on Monday and the next day found out he had been claimed by Houston.By Wednesday, Jackson was practicing with the Texans and Simmons adjusting to the reality of playing without one of his closest friends.“That one’s bittersweet for me,” Simmons told reporters. “Selfishly I want him here and I think he helps our team in so many ways, but selflessly I’m happy for him because he gets to go back to the team that drafted him. That’s where his home is and he’s going to go in and play. Obviously the Texans are a little bit ahead of us in terms of the playoff picture, so he’s going to be playing some big-time ball for them.“He can still do it.”Jackson had played the past four seasons with the Broncos but had not appeared in a game for Denver since Nov. 19, before he was suspended four games by the NFL for a series of unnecessary roughn...