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Lights over Central Texas spark concern; what are they?

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Mysterious lights appeared over the Austin metro area in the early morning hours on Monday, sparking concerns from viewers. The string of lights moved across the sky to the northeast, before disappearing below the horizon.What is causing these mysterious lights? Blame Austin's own Elon Musk.In 2015, the billionaire and SpaceX founder began the Starlink project. According to the website Starwalk, the company has launched over 700 of these satellites, with plans for 12,000 more satellites to launch. The company hopes to put 42,000 of the devices in orbit at a later time.What are the Starlink satellites? They provide high-speed internet to parts of the planet by forming a net around the globe. Viewers spot lights over Central Texas. The lights are part of Elon Musk's Starlink network. (Courtesy: Kacy Robertson)Viewers spot lights over Central Texas. The lights are part of Elon Musk's Starlink network. (Courtesy: Kacy Robertson)Viewers spot lights over Central Texas. ...

Madonna rescheduling tour leg, including Austin shows, after ICU stay

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Madonna has confirmed she will reschedule her North American tour, including two concerts in Austin, after contracting a bacterial infection that forced a stay in the ICU.The popstar tweeted Monday that "the current plan is to reschedule the North American leg of the tour and to begin in October in Europe."The news comes a couple of weeks after Madonna's manager said she was suffering from a "serious bacterial infection." The 'Material Girl' singer had to stay in an intensive care unit for several days after developing the infection on June 24."My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children," Madonna tweeted Monday. "My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn't want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone."The 'Celebration' tour was initially supposed to kick off in Vancouver on July 15. Two concerts wer...

Who regulates driverless vehicles in Texas?

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Last week, KXAN reported on two autonomous vehicles blocking lanes of traffic Friday evening. General Motors' Cruise has been testing its driverless vehicles in the state capital since late 2022 -- but despite operating in Austin, it's not under the city's purview to regulate these vehicles.Back in 2017, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2205, which amended the state's Transportation Code to include new policies related to autonomous vehicle, or AV, technology. Under that piece of legislation:Owners of AVs are required to adhere to state registration and title laws, as well as traffic and motor vehicle lawsAVs must be equipped with a data-recording system, meet federal safety standards and have insuranceIn the event of a crash involving an AV, the vehicle should immediately stop and notify the proper authorities of the incident"State law pre-empts local authority of self-driving vehicles," an Austin Transportation and Public Works Department spokesperson told...

East metro: Scattered storms — some severe — possible Monday afternoon and evening

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

There’s a chance of severe weather in the east metro on Monday afternoon and evening, according to the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service.If these scattered, severe storms do develop over the Twin Cities, says meteorologist Melissa Dye, they are most likely to do so over Ramsey, Dakota and Washington Counties.Large hail, damaging winds and frequent lightning are the primary threats, the NWS reports, with heavy rains a secondary threat.Scattered, severe storms are possible for the east metro o the Twin Cities in the afternoon and evening on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Illustration courtesy of the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service.)Wisconsin could be facing the bigger storm threat, Dye said in an interview on Monday morning.If you want to enjoy Monday’s hot weather — with sunshine and highs in the 90s — it’ll be best to do so before late afternoon.“If the storms do decide to pop up right over the Twin Cities, it could ha...

Here’s how Minnesotans can update their information to get the tax rebates this fall

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

Minnesotans have until July 28 to make any needed updates to their address and bank information with the state Department of Revenue to ensure eligible taxpayers will get a one-time rebate check this fall.Individuals who earned $75,000 or less and couples with $150,000 or less of income are eligible for one-time rebates with $260 per taxpayer and up to three dependents. The state Department of Revenue use taxpayers’ 2021 adjusted gross income, line 1 on most state income tax forms, to determine eligibility.Residents can visit taxrebate.mn.gov to submit new or updated address and banking information until July 28. Taxpayers do not have to apply for the rebate, if address or banking information is unchanged rebates will be sent to those who qualify.State officials expect the rebate checks to be sent out via mail or electronic deposit in early fall.The rebate checks are part of the latest tax bill approved by lawmakers in May. The one-time rebates will cost the state about $1.1 b...

Fingerpaint building in downtown Saratoga Springs sold

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ed Mitzen founded the marketing company Fingerpaint in 2008. The company moved into the building at 395 Broadway in Saratoga Springs 10 years ago, with Mitzen buying the building after 5 years. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Now, Mitzen has sold the building, a prominent fixture on Broadway, for $11 million. And the company is already fully moved out.Mitzen said most of his staff has transitioned to remote work, meaning that they did not need that big building. The building went from being fully occupied to only 10 to 15 people working there. Corinth winery plants new roots in Lake George "We loved it. It's a beautiful building downtown," said Mitzen. "If COVID had not happened, we would still be there. Times have changed."The building, which used to be a Borders bookstore, was sold to Robert Moser of Prime Group Holdings, which is a private owner of several self-storage facilities. The...

WATCH: NYSP help stranded motorists amid flooding

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State Police have shared a video working to assist residents impacted by flooding. Watch this video of residents being helped after being stranded due to severe flooding in Orange County.

Convicted felon charged with firearm possession, fleeing police

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A man seen driving a stolen vehicle was arrested last month after a high-speed pursuit in St. Ann.According to a report filed by the St. Ann Police Department, the incident took place on June 24. Earlier that morning, a woman reported her 1995 Saturn SLI had been stolen. She identified the suspected car thief as Brent Kirby.Around 3 p.m., street surveillance cameras notified police of the stolen vehicle's whereabouts. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW A St. Ann officer, in a fully-marked police vehicle, attempted to pull the Saturn over near St. Charles Rock Road and Ashby Road. The driver of the stolen vehicle accelerated and fled police, running red lights and weaving in and out of traffic.Police claim the stolen ve...

Police: Man forces his way into apartment, assaults girlfriend

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A St. Louis man is facing domestic abuse charges for allegedly forcing his way into his girlfriend's apartment and attacking her.According to a report filed by the Ferguson Police Department, the incident took place in the early morning hours of June 28, in the 1300 block of Ferguson Avenue.Police claim Robert Stokes, 31, drove to his girlfriend's residence to confront her about the state of their relationship.Stokes banged on the door, but the girlfriend refused to let him inside. Eventually, he pushed the door open and entered the apartment uninvited. St. Louis woman finally gets towed vehicle back from Streets Dept. Police say the girlfriend picked up a phone to call 911, but Stokes knocked the phone from her hand and slapped her. He then dragged her across the floor by her hair.EMTs responded to the apartment, and the victim was treated at the scene for her injuries. Stokes was arrested.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Stokes w...

Editorial: Don’t pack the Supreme Court, reform it with transparency and ethics rules

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:57 GMT

As Americans reel from the destabilizing impact of a U.S. Supreme Court intent on tearing down decades of precedent in a matter of years, the question is what happens when a court with lifetime appointments goes rogue at the same time as lapses in ethics are exposed?Confidence in a once-beloved institution plummets.But even as the public clamors to strip power from those who have breached public trust, we still believe in reform of the court not tearing it down. It will not serve America well to impeach justices. Nor will it work to pack the court with more justices who can water down the influence of the religious radicals and those with dubious ties to Republican donors.Our founding fathers established the Supreme Court with lifetime appointments “during good behavior” so it would be a stabilizing force in America, checking the whims of elected officials and public sentiment with a body immune to elections and even insulated from the consequences of their decisions.Eve...