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Gov. Abbott signs 2 bills targeting street takeovers, illegal racing

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law two bills this week aimed at cracking down on illegal street takeovers and racing, just a few months after several Austin intersections were targeted.House Bill 1442 is related to street takeovers and illegal racing and is designed to provide additional tools for law enforcement and prosecutors. It's joined by House Bill 2899, which allows the immediate removal and impounding of vehicles involved in street racing, takeovers or other illicit activities impeding traffic. RELATED: Austin Police investigating 'street takeovers' Now signed, state law will be amended to remove the requirement that vehicles can only be impounded "if there was property damage or someone suffered bodily injury," per the Office of the Texas Governor. Instead, impounding is permitted "if the owner is charged with racing on a highway or reckless driving exhibition."HB 2899 is effective immediately, while HB 1442 will go into eff...

Christy Iverson, longtime Pioneer Press front desk employee, dies at 65

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

Christy Iverson helped customers at the front desk of the Pioneer Press lobby for many years, but she also had a way with words.In 2012, in a Pioneer Press Turning Point column, Iverson described the experience of living with a grim cancer diagnosis:During her cancer treatments, Christy Iverson, a longtime employee at the Pioneer Press, continued to help customers from the front desk of our lobby. Iverson, pictured here in 2012, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Molly Guthrey / Pioneer Press)“The doctor said, ‘I know it’s hard to talk about the loss of your own life,’ and I thought, ‘Do you? Do you, really?'” she said. “There are so many cliches when it comes to cancer. I don’t want the disease to define me, but I don’t want it to defeat me, either.“What’s strange is what goes through your head at night, in bed, when you’re trying to fall asleep. You’ll think mundane thoughts like, ‘Gotta clean t...

How to stay healthy as smoke spreads from Canada wildfires

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

NEW YORK — Massive fires are burning up stretches of Canadian forests and sending plumes of smoke into the U.S.As a haze stretches over the East Coast and the Great Lakes, health authorities have raised the alarm about poor air quality.In Minnesota on Wednesday, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reports that “an area of widespread smoke from wildfires in Quebec will continue to linger across much of the state today. Winds will remain light and from the east. The weather pattern bringing airmasses from east to west will hold and bring another wave of smoke into the eastern part of the state beginning late this afternoon. The smoke will impact the eastern half of the state through tomorrow. The smoke may be heavy and another alert may be needed. We’ll continue to monitor the forecast.”All of this is potentially hazardous. Here’s how you can protect your health from the smoky haze.STAY INDOORSThe small particles in wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and can aff...

Advocates call for election legislation to pass

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--With next year being a presidential election year, some advocates are calling for changes to New York election laws. One bill would expand the definition of illness as a reason for getting an absentee ballot."We unfortunately got Polio, Mpox, Measles, all have shown up in our state in the recent past. So advocates and organizations like AARP, the NYS Public Health Association, have asked that the legislature make the expended definition of illness that allows you to get an absentee ballot if you’re afraid of getting sick or getting somebody sick, make that permanent in the law," explained Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York.Recently in the Senate, another bill was introduced to allow no-excuse, mail-in-voting. Advocates believe these bills would help increase voter turnout, but Republican Assemblymember Matt Slater said, voting in New York State has never been easier."With early voting, with absentee voting, Election Day voting—— you almo...

Attorney General Letitia James warns of price gouging due to poor air quality

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to New York Attorney General Letitia James, companies might be taking advantage of the poor air quality in New York and using that as a reason to raise prices on essential goods such as masks, air purifiers, and air filters. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The poor air quality impacting our state should not be an excuse for companies to increase profits on essential items,” said Attorney General James. “My office has zero tolerance for price gouging of any kind, and if New Yorkers notice abnormally high prices for essential items, I urge them to report it immediately. I also urge New Yorkers to follow local health guidance to protect their health and stay safe.”New York has laws prohibiting businesses from taking unfair advantage of consumers by charging excessive prices for goods or services vital to consumer health and safety. The Office of the Attorney General asks consumers to report...

Here's how you can check the air quality in Missouri and Illinois

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

(KDVR) — Wildfires in Canada have caused poor air quality and smoky skies across several U.S. metros for days. On Wednesday, the air quality in New York City was ranked the worst in the world. ‘I can taste the air’: Canadian wildfire smoke spreads hazardous haze at home and in the US That’s according to IQAir’s Air Quality and Pollution City Ranking, which is updated hourly, the air pollution advocacy organization explains. It’s important to note that while New York City is currently in the top spot for unhealthy air, it will likely drop back down once the aforementioned smoke disappears. A few weeks ago, Denver, Colorado, was ranked among the top 10 worst in the world due to wildfire smoke. As of Wednesday, the city ranked 96th on IQAir's list.IQAir's live Air Quality and Pollution City Ranking ranks cities based on AQI, or Air Quality Index points. Cities/areas are assigned a series of ranges for how healthy or unhealthy the air currently is.How to check the air quality whe...

Proposed water bill rate increase goes before Wentzville utilities committee

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. – A major water main break on Interstate 64 and subsequent severe flooding last month in were something of a wake-up call for Wentzville city leadership.There is much-needed investment for the city's aging pipes and water system."It's needed, it just provides a good illustration that this infrastructure doesn't last forever," said Curt Skouby, director of Public Utilities. "And we need to – not only do we need to replace it, but in the meantime, we need to be able to respond and make the repairs."One way to do that is through Bill 49, which proposes an average rate increase of $5 a month, or a total of $15 a quarter, beginning in July 2023, as well as another $5 monthly increase in January 2024. Police in search of Amazon delivery driver after he keeps lost wallet This bill was presented and discussed at the Public Infrastructure and Utilities meeting on Wednesday.Dogs for Our Brave is a nonprofit organization that rescues dogs and trains them to be service dogs fo...

52-year-old in custody for homicide in rural southern Illinois

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

CLINTON COUNTY, Ill. - One man is in custody following a shooting early Thursday morning at a home in rural southern Illinois.According to Clinton County Sheriff Dan Travous, the shooting happened around 1:10 a.m. in the 600 block of Main Street in Jamestown.The sheriff's office received multiple 911 calls for a shooting. Deputies and other first responders arrived to find a man shot to death at a residence. The victim's name has not been released, pending notification of family members. St. Charles County residents upset over home value assessment The suspected shooter, a 52-year-old man, was taken into custody at the scene. He's being held at the Clinton County Jail pending formal charges.Sheriff Travous said investigators believe the suspect and victim knew one another and that this was not a random attack.Jamestown is located approximately 50 miles east of downtown St. Louis.

Suspect wanted in Chippewa Street murder

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police are asking for the public’s assistance with identifying a man accused in a murder investigation from earlier this year on Chippewa Street. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says Kobe Dotson, 19, was fatally shot in the 2800 block of Chippewa Street on April 26, 2023, leading to a crash. Three other teens also suffered minor injuries in the incident. St. Charles County residents upset over home value assessment Police are asking for the public’s assistance with identifying a man accused in a murder investigation from earlier this year on Chippewa Street. (Photos courtesy: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department)Investigators say all four victims were inside a truck that was reversing on Chippewa Street when a suspect fired shots. The driver then hit a fire hydrant, causing both driver side doors to be ripped off. The driver then crashed into a home. Police say Dotson suffered gunshot wounds and was also ejected from the vehicle after the crash. He lat...

Greeley police return parent’s ashes to victim after vehicle theft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:14 GMT

Greeley police reunited a Texas woman with her parent’s ashes that were inside her vehicle when it was stolen in late April.Kimberly Magnusson reported April 28 to the Greeley Police Department that her Hyundai Tucson was stolen from a property in west Greeley. Magnusson came from Texas to pick up the ashes of both her parents, according to a Greeley police news release. The ashes, along with an American flag gifted to her family for her father’s service in the military, were inside her Hyundai at the time of the theft.For several weeks, officers and property unit detectives from the investigations unit tracked down leads, spoke with people and worked to identify a suspect, the release said.On May 27, almost a month after the theft, Hudson police officers located the stolen vehicle in the Love’s Travel Stop parking lot, at 201 Bison Highway. Hudson police contacted a male suspect, 37-year-old Nickolas Anderson, inside the business.Anderson was booked into the Weld County Jail for ch...