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Texas veteran walks UT-Austin graduation stage at age 99

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's never too late to graduate. One special University of Texas at Austin graduate proved this true. Lew Griffith, 99, went to his first-ever graduation ceremony this week at the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering, according to the UT school. While he has a high school diploma and two degrees, Griffith was never able to walk across a stage after graduating high school early and serving in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, according to UT.Shortly into his first year at UT in 1942, he served in World War II as a B-25 bomber pilot, according to UT. Griffith flew 42 missions in Italy and Austria. Griffith went back to Austin to finish a civil engineering degree but was called on to serve during the Korean War in 1951. He was deployed to Germany as an engineer, according to the university. He returned to the U.S. in 1956 and received a master's degree in sanitary engineering from the University of California at Berkley. But the Vietn...

Lebarron Johnson Jr. named Big 12 pitcher of the week

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Earlier in the season, Texas Longhorns head coach David Pierce lauded LeBarron Johnson Jr.'s ability on the pitcher's mound. He said he had "electric stuff," the kind that typically would be from a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. Johnson showed it offf May 6 against the Kansas Jayhawks.Johnson struck out 12 Jayhawks in seven innings, both career highs, to help lead the Longhorns to a 6-2 win. The Big 12 Conference noticed the outstanding performance and awarded Johnson with the conference's pitcher of the week honor Monday. It's the first time he's received the award, and it's the second consecutive week a Longhorn has won it. Lucas Gordon was a co-pitcher of the week last week.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersJohnson allowed four hits and one earned run in his start, and most importantly for the Longhorns, he walked only one batter. For the season, Johnson...

Jeff Ettinger, former Hormel Foods CEO, named UMN interim president

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents picked an outsider over a crop of academics Monday in making former Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger the U’s next president on an interim basis.Jeff Ettinger, 64, said he could help restore the U’s reputation with lawmakers and general public following a year of heavily criticized decisions.“I think the public does not fully understand all the great things that are going on at the university,” he said, adding that an outsider would be best-positioned to make that case.Ettinger was one of four finalists who participated in 90-minute public interviews Monday.In the deliberations that followed, nine of 12 regents named Ettinger either as their top choice or one of two favorites.“I just think we’re ready for a very different point of view that embraces the mission, yet brings us something fresh and different that we can build on,” Regent Mary Davenport said.Ettinger, who ran for Congress last year, described himself in his application as a potential ...

Afton-Bayport-Lakeland Lions Club plan day of service

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

Eight service projects and six collections are planned for Afton-Bayport-Lakeland Lions Club’s first Service Day.The event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 at Afton-Lakeland Elementary School in Lakeland.The service projects will benefit local and national agencies and nonprofit organizations, including the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, the Minnesota Lions Hearing Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Color a Smile.“This free event is an opportunity for the community to be involved and make a difference in someone’s life”, said Cheryl Kelly, event organizer. “We hope to make it an annual event.”In addition to the service projects, Lions Club members will be doing free vision screenings for children and collecting used eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lions Club International. They also will be collecting pop tabs, bottled water and juice boxes for the Ronald McDonald House; nonperishable food ...

Minnesota Senate set to pass paid family and medical leave

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

By STEVE KARNOWSKI (Associated Press)ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate was poised Monday to approve a plan to entitle workers across the state to paid leave when they’re sick or caring for relatives who are ill.While Senate Democrats hold only a one-seat majority, paid family and medical leave has been a priority of the party for several years, and a series of preliminary votes showed they were all firmly on board. The proposal passed the House last week on a 68-64 vote, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the final version that emerges from a House-Senate conference committee.The legislation would create an insurance-like system to allow workers to collect up to 12 weeks of partial wages when they take medical leave, including for pregnancy, and up to 12 weeks to take care of family members, starting in 2025. Replacement wages would range from 55% to 90%, averaging 66%. The benefits would be funded by a 0.7% payroll tax. Employers could charge hal...

Stillwater Lift Bridge to resume operation on Monday; Loop Trail to open May 19

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

Good news for walkers and bikers and boaters.On May 15, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will resume the seasonal operation of the Lift Bridge for marine traffic. Four days later, the Loop Trail is expected to reopen to walkers and bikers.As the floodwaters recede, crews expect to have removed the temporary levee along the river in downtown Stillwater by May 19, allowing walkers and bikers to once again cross the St. Croix River via the Stillwater Lift Bridge. The historic bridge is a key part of the Loop Trail, a 4.7-mile interstate trail between Houlton, Wis., and Stillwater, that also crosses the new St Croix River bridge south of Stillwater.Boaters, take note: The bridge will lift every half hour between 8 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week, if marine traffic is present. The lift schedule will be in effect until about Oct. 15.The bridge tender will respond to special requests for openings after midnight and before 8 a.m. if given a two-hour notice; requests are to be...

Acemoglu, Johnson: The writers’ strike is partly about AI. They’re right to worry

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers agree on one thing: Artificial intelligence is coming. At the same time, they disagree fundamentally on an issue that we will all soon struggle with.Can the owners of capital assets (the studios) use A.I. to substantially replace workers (the writers) and tilt the balance of power in their favor? Or is there a way to address the entirely reasonable demand from writers that this increasingly capable software remain a tool under the control of workers?Silicon Valley has long been infatuated with “machine intelligence,” the goal of creating software that can mimic what humans do. The technology arms race to create human-like abilities has recently become a dangerous obsession, threatening to destroy millions of good jobs. But attempting to stop the development of these algorithms is not the right solution.We need, instead, a pivot on the part of inventors, entrepreneurs and policymakers...

Protesters arrested at One Fair Wage Rally

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--On Monday, Actress Susan Sarandon was among several rallyers who were intentionally arrested and cited by state police in the North Concourse Legislative Lobby.They we’re calling on the state legislature to pass a bill that would allow restaurant workers to get paid full minimum wage along with tips. Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage, said many in the restaurant industry are women."This would allow them the ability to feed their children, this would allow them the stability of a wage than having to say sometimes it’s a lot, sometimes it’s a little depending on the shift. So they’d be able to pay their rent, feed their children, and most importantly contribute to the NYS economy."Susan Sarandon said she happy to help support working and single mothers."I, myself, am a mother. I’ve been a single mother. I have worked in a restaurant for tips and I know how difficult it is," explained Sarandon. "They are very, very, important and need to be treated with ...

Jury hears opening statements in Schoharie limo trial

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The criminal trial of Nauman Hussain is now officially underway with opening statements and the first witness testimony now on the record.Hussain was the owner of the limo company involved in the Schoharie limo crash that killed 20 people in 2018. He is charged with 20 counts of manslaughter and 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide.Opening statements from both Special District Attorney Fred Rench and Defense Attorney Lee Kindlon focused on who should be responsible for the crash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The prosecution said this is a case about personal responsibility: what Nauman Hussain was supposed to do to take care of his business, his vehicles and a pattern of disregard for rules and regulations related to limo safety.The defense argued Hussain was thrown into his father's business with little to no guidance; and misled by the auto-repair company to believe the limo was safe ...

Sportime in Schenectady is getting back to business

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:44:04 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Sportime is making strides to get back into action after a fire destroyed part of the complex. News10 takes you on a tour to show you just how the renovation is shaping up and to take a look at what is next. Inside look at drug recognition expert school Nearly a month after a fire shut down Sportime more and more services are coming back online May, 8. Two fan favorites are now back to operating regularly scheduled business hours.“Things are coming back and available to our members in our community and we're making pretty quick progress, all things considered. Today, our bubble, our two tennis courts and four pickleball courts are officially open and available for play. And, our Fitness Center and gym are back open,” said Sportime General Manager, Sarah Sharpe.“So, now we just toured the bubble, and you showed me the fitness center is open, what's next?” asked NEWS10 reporter James De La Fuente.“Our daycare can officially reopen, tomorrow. So, we're so...