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Rat ambassadors try to counter bad press after NYC declares war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — As an ambassador for rats, it's never easy to win over the public. There's that hairless tail after all.But Runa at the San Diego Zoo is doing her best to counter the bad press. She is one of a handful of such so-called ambassadors showing off the virtues of rats at three U.S. zoos. The rats were provided by a Tanzania-based organization that is training African giant pouched rats to combat wildlife trafficking, detect diseases and perform other useful tasks.San Diego Zoo wildlife care specialist Lauren Credidio provides a treat to Runa, an African giant pouched rat, after she searched and found a pouch of chamomile tea during a presentation at the zoo Thursday, April 13, 2023, in San Diego. Runa weekly in demonstrations at the zoo to show how her keen sense of smell can be used to find everything from illegal shipments of wildlife to landmines. The organization that trained Runa has started providing the rats to U.S. zoos with the hope of changing the public's perc...

Person hit, killed by car near Lamar Boulevard, 12th Street intersection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A person has died after they were hit by a car near the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and 12th Street. Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted at 8:38 a.m. that one person was pronounced dead on the scene of an auto-pedestrian collision in the 1100 block of North Lamar Boulevard. MAP: AutoPed deaths endemic along I-35, US-183, Ben White Blvd. Police said on Twitter there are road closures in the north and southbound lanes of Lamar near 12th Street. Expect delays and avoid the area if possible.

Austin City Council to receive briefing on DPS partnership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- During the Austin City Council work session Tuesday, council members will receive an update on the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) collaboration with the Austin Police Department (APD).According to DPS, the AVCTF is a data-driven violent crime suppression task force composed of troopers, special agents and intelligence-level policing.Some council members, like Vanessa Fuentes (District 2) and Ryan Alter (District 5), told KXAN they received questions and concerns from community members about the partnership. The initiative launches as a way to provide law enforcement reinforcement in the city as APD continues to face staffing shortages. DPS: Nearly 200 arrests made since patrols started in Austin We will update this story as the meeting goes on. Background on the DPS partnershipAccording to a memo Chief Joseph Chacon released last week, the department is still down about 300 officers. With DPS' help, police have been able to speed up response times, t...

APD: Son charged with murder in father's death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 18, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said Monday a man faces a murder charge after allegedly striking and stabbing his father on April 13. According to the Austin Police Department, officers responded to a call on Mickelson Drive around 8:15 p.m. April 13. Mickelson Drive lies just east of Onion Creek and Interstate 35 in far southeast Austin. PREVIOUS: APD investigating homicide in southeast Austin APD said Jesse Anthony Rivera, 31, came out of the house shortly after officers arrived, surrendering without incident. Officers entered the house and found his father, Jesse Rivera Jr., 51, suffering from what appeared to be multiple stab wounds and blunt-force trauma to the head, according to the APD announcement. APD said Jesse Rivera Jr. died at the scene.APD said homicide detectives and crime scene specialists processed the scene and interviewed Jesse Anthony Rivera and other witnesses. According to ...

More than a million guns stolen in 5 years nationwide: TPW, DPS remind gun owners to securely store weapons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Department of Safety are teaming up to remind hunters and gun owners to securely lock their weapons to keep them from getting into the wrong hands."A substantial amount of firearms are taken out of vehicles and taken from homes. And where do they end up usually? On our streets,” said Sgt. Deon Cockrell with DPS.According to a report released earlier this year from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 1,074,022 firearms were reported stolen from 2017-2021.The Austin Police Department reported 64% of missing or stolen firearms in 2022 stemmed from car burglaries.The city of Houston saw a record breaking number last year, with more than 4,140 firearms stolen from cars.Those numbers could be higher, as some gun thefts go unreported to police."I think a lot of people don't want to be honest about where they keep their guns and how they keep their guns. So I think that's a statistic that's hard to really get a ...

NYSP: Albany man chases child bicyclist with his car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was arrested on Sunday after chasing a child who was riding a bike with his car, according to New York State Police. Robert Duncan, 54, faces multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Sunday, around 9:25 p.m., state police say they were patrolling Central Avenue in Albany when they saw a car drive onto the sidewalk and nearly strike a kid riding a bike. Police stopped the car and identified the driver as Duncan. Police say after interviewing Duncan, they determined he intentionally chased the child after they allegedly attempted to steal his property. The child was turned over to their guardian. Multiple crews battle structure fire in Pittsfield Duncan was arrested and taken to New Scotland State Police for processing. He was taken to the Albany County Correctional Facility prior to being arraigned. On Monday, Duncan was arraigned in the City of Albany Criminal Court and ...

Cherry Hills mansion sells for $7.3M, tops March sales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

A Cherry Hills mansion sold by a plastic surgeon topped March’s local home sales list at $7.3 million.Andrew Wolfe and wife Heidi, who moved to a home in Wash Park, initially listed their six-bedroom, eight-bath home in Cherry Hills for $7.7 million in January.Designed for entertaining, the 10,601-square-foot home completed in 2019 by Cornerstone Custom Homes features a kitchen with a 72-inch French Lacanche range, two Miele dishwashers, and two refrigerators. The couple converted the pantry into a walk-through kitchen to make the home more functional for entertaining.Helm Weaver Helm with Compass-Denver represented the sellers. Janet Kritzer with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyers.According to data from REColorado, March recorded 3,911 home closings, up more than 40 percent from February but down 16 percent from March 2022.Here are the next four priciest March home sales in the Denver metro, according to MLS data:hofner Development built this brand-new 7,100-...

Denver weather: Warm dry day with Red Flag Fire warning through sunset

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

Hot weather and wind hitting dry terrain combined Tuesday to raise fire risks from Colorado’s mountain foothills across the eastern plains including metro Denver.The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Fire danger warning effective from 11 a.m. through sunset.In Denver, the high temperature will reach 76 degrees, weather service forecasters said. The wind is expected to gust at speeds up to 37 miles per hour.Temperatures around the city Tuesday night are expected to stay above freezing. On Wednesday, the high temperature probably won’t exceed 58 degrees and rain likely will fall in the afternoon, forecasters said.A Red Flag Warning remains in effect today (11am-7pm) for eastern Colorado. Please avoid outdoor burning or activities that could produce sparks. #COwx pic.twitter.com/oCZQA02rjV— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) April 18, 2023 

Letters: Don’t meddle with the zoning laws that protect Coloradans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

Invested: Zoning allowances alter our home life too muchFor most Americans, their home is, by far, their largest investment. There is usually a great deal of care when choosing where one will live. Now, at a stroke, the governor and legislature could put this at risk.How would you like an investor to erect a four- or six-plex next to your home? In 2021 nearly one-quarter of Denver homes were purchased as investments, so this is a very real possibility. Bear in mind that the people who build four- and six-plexes are never going to live there. If you think that parking is an issue now, what will happen when the four-plex goes up next door? The developer will make a quick buck, and you will be left to deal with the noise and parking issues while you watch the value of your property decline.The reason that zoning was invented is because people were tired of having their lives uprooted by someone who could do whatever they wanted with their property because “they owned it.” T...

Tuesday is Tax Day, but most Californians have an extension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:16 GMT

The 2022 tax filing season is ending on Tuesday, but most Californians can still file their returns after the April 18 deadline.Most Californians have received a federal tax filing extension due to the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that plagued the state over the winter. The new tax deadline is Oct. 16.The tax extension also applies to Californians who need to file federal business tax returns or make tax payments.Here is a list of the California counties that are eligible for the filing extension:AlamedaAlpineAmadorButteCalaverasColusa Contra CostaDel NorteEl DoradoFresnoGlennHumboldtInyoKingsLakeLos Angeles MaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedMonoMontereyNapaNevadaOrangePlacerRiversideSacramentoSan BenitoSan BernardinoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan JoaquinSan Luis ObispoSan MateoSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta CruzSiskiyouSolanoSonomaStanislausSutterTehamaTrinityTulareTuolumneVenturaYoloFor Californians who don’t live in any of the counties listed above, their t...