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WATCH: NASCAR driver Ross Chastain throws watermelons off COTA's 251-foot observation tower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ross Chastain won NASCAR's EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix last year at Circuit of the Americas, and as a nod to his family's watermelon-farming roots, he threw a big green melon on the track near the finish line to celebrate his first-ever Cup Series victory.It's a celebration he's continued whenever he wins, but it started in Austin. On Friday, he took smashing fruit to a new level and threw a few off the 251-foot observation tower at COTA ahead of Sunday's race. There was a tarp on the ground with targets he was aiming at, and the aftermath of the gravity-fueled fruit colliding with the ground caused huge holes in the tarp but brought big cheers from fans and other onlookers.March, 24 2023: Ross Chastain (right) throws a watermelon off the observation deck at Circuit of the Americas before EchoPark Automotive Gran Prix practice. Chastain's victory celebration is smashing a melon off the top of his car onto the track, and it started with his first win at Austin last...

Public officials join Meals on Wheels Central Texas for annual campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Friday, local public officials teamed up with Meals on Wheels Central Texas to deliver meals as part of the annual March for Meals campaign. According to MOWCTX, the annual campaign is a nationwide effort to generate public awareness about senior hunger and isolation.During the event Friday, State Rep. Lulu Flores, D-Travis County, said, "This is important, because so many folks find themselves isolated in their homes and don't either have the ability, because they live in a food desert, or because they just don't have the appropriate food access at home, or the ability to make their own meals or hot meals. So, this is really important."With one of the country's fastest-growing populations of older adults, the nonprofit said it needs more volunteers to keep up.To learn how to become a volunteer, visit the MOW website for more information.

Look inside a Texas medical cannabis facility as lawmakers move to expand access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas lawmakers are one step closer to significantly expanding access to medical cannabis. The Texas House Committee on Public Health this week unanimously approved a bill to increase the THC limits in medical cannabis and expand who is eligible to use it.HB 1805 by State Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth) would change the definition of "low-cannabis THC" to 10 milligrams. Cannabis products are currently limited to 1% THC by weight. It would also expand the list of eligible Texans to anyone with a debilitating medical condition or chronic pain "for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid." Currently, only a limited number of chronic illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, and PTSD are eligible.Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, Texas' first licensed medical cannabis distributor, said the changes would allow thousands more Texans to access critical pain relief in a safe way."Medical cannabis is a life-saving medicine for people with multiple condi...

Burnsville woman, who was racing teen brother, gets 15-year prison term for Wisconsin couple’s crash deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

A 21-year-old woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday after being convicted of murder in a high-speed crash in 2021 in Burnsville that killed a young couple.Camille Lashay Dennis-Bond of Burnsville was sentenced by Dakota County District Judge Tim Wermager in connection with the crash that killed 22-year-old Tayler Nicole Garza of Woodbury and 22-year-old Dalton Lee Ford of Burnsville.Dalton Lee Ford and Tayler Nicole Garza (Southwest News Media)A Dakota County jury in December convicted Dennis-Bond of two counts of third-degree murder, two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm and careless driving.According to court documents, Dennis-Bond was racing against a car driven by her brother, who was 17 at the time. Five seconds before the crash, Leon Bond III reached 114 mph. Leon Bond’s Chrysler 200 T-boned a Honda-CRV — Ford was the driver and Garza, the passenger. Dennis-Bond’s Chevrolet Malibu nar...

As Xcel takes nuclear plant offline, it continues to reassure Monticello residents that water is safe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

MONTICELLO, Minn. — Xcel Energy began shutting down its Monticello nuclear power plant on Friday after the continuing release of radioactive material the utility and regulators say is not dangerous but has prompted concerns among nearby residents.Xcel started the shutdown process, and after the plant cools over the next few days, workers will cut out a pipe that is more than 50 years old and had been leaking tritium-contaminated water, said Chris Clark, the Minneapolis-based utility’s president. The utility will then have the pipe analyzed in hopes of preventing similar leaks in the future, he said.Xcel had made a short-term fix to capture the leaking contaminated water and reroute it back into the plant for reuse until a permanent repair could be made next month. But Clark said plant operators discovered Wednesday that the container being used to catch the contaminated water had overflowed, resulting in a secondary leak that was determined to have reached the groundwater unde...

Groundbreaking for new, affordable home in Rotterdam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A groundbreaking ceremony took place for a new home in Schenectady County. Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County started to build a home on Cramer Avenue in Rotterdam.The property has been vacant since 2020 when a deteriorating home was demolished. The Capital Region Land Bank donated the property to Habitat for Humanity as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to affordable housing. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "There is a need for affordable housing in not only Schenectady County but in a lot of communities around the country, so it's really important to be able to have options like this for families," Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County Exec. Dir. Kathy Fernandez said. "Home ownership provides stability not only for the family but for the communities as well."This will be Habitat for Humanity's second home in Rotterdam. The first was completed in 2019.

New nominees for chief judge vacancy released

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York state still needs a leader for it's court system, and the process to pick a new chief judge has taken a step forward. The state's commission on judicial nomination has released seven possible appointees for chief judge.Gov. Kathy Hochul must make an appointment by April 23. That candidate will be evaluated by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will make a recommendation to the full senate. The senate will then decide whether to confirm the nominee. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The nominees are Hon. Anthony Cannataro, Hon. Elizabeth Garry, Caitlin Halligan, Corey Stoughton, Hon. Shirley Troutman, Hon. Gerald Whalen, and Hon. Rowan Wilson.The previous nominee, Judge Hector LaSalle, had his nomination rejected by the full senate in February. A republican lawmaker filed a lawsuit over the process after the judiciary committee voted against advancing his nomination to the full senate. Some...

Adirondack Thunder hosting 'Stick It To Cancer' weekend fundraiser

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A massive fundraiser kicked off in Glens Falls on Friday. The Adirondack Thunder hosted their annual Stick It To Cancer weekend. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The fundraiser hopes to bring awareness to cancer prevention and raise money for local cancer programs. After Friday night's game, those who donate are invited to Paint the Ice. Fans can write a personal message or name of a loved one affected by cancer and seal them onto the surface for Saturday night's game. Event organizers said it's a weekend where the community can really come together."It's a very emotional time," Adirondack Thunder Dir. of Group Sales Jeff Casey said. "You kinda get people out on the ice that they paint the name and stand there for a second and reflect. You see the tears of joy and sadness. It's just a great emotional weekend for everybody." Supporting the Red Cross mission Not only are fans from all over the C...

Missouri House approves new round of income tax cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Just months after the General Assembly passed the largest tax cut in state history, the Missouri House approves another round of cuts. By a party-line vote, the lower chamber approved a proposal Thursday to reduce Missouri's income tax rate, cut the corporate income tax and eliminate the tax on social security. While some Republicans say it was a priority, Democrats warn this could hurt the state financially in the future. "It may be the largest, most irresponsible thing that we could possibly be doing at this moment," House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said after Thursday's vote. This tax cut package comes less than six months after the governor called a special session to lower the income tax rate. This session, it's priority for some GOP members to slash the rate again.  Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions "This legislation will bring with it new jobs, higher wages and overall growth to our st...

Police ask public's help to track down thieves in University City break-ins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:40 GMT

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. - Police are investigating two overnight break-ins that may be linked, and it was all caught on camera.Police asked for the public's help in tracking down the suspects.The surveillance video provided by the owner of Star Buds marijuana dispensary in Olive showed at least four suspects in hooded sweatshirts smashing their way through the front door to get inside. Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions Chris Chesley, the manager at Star Buds dispensary, was able to call the police when he saw what was happening on the video, and they were there within minutes.“Last night, just after 2 a.m., I got an alert on my phone saying that our alarm was triggered," Chesley said. "I got on the phone with University City police to let them know that there is a future break-in going on. They got here extremely quickly. They were able to see the individuals exiting the parking lot and gave chase."Investigators said that once the thieves forced ...