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How expensive are Austin's new light rail design options?

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a few weeks' time, Austinites will learn the design and route behind the city's initial investment into light rail transit service. Project Connect leaders are expected to deliver a final design recommendation at the Austin Transit Partnership's May 24 meeting, with an official vote and decision expected on June 6. It comes after ATP debuted five initial investment options March 21. The proposals came after project heads paused light rail design work last summer amid anticipated cost increases. ATP is now giving further insight into the costs behind each of the design options on the table, and the benefits and tradeoffs that come with each.New design renderings shared by the Austin Transit Partnership April 25 feature future investment options for light rail buildout. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partnership)New design renderings shared by the Austin Transit Partnership April 25 feature future investment options for light rail buildout. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Par...

Northwest Austin residents revolt against planned speed bumps, saying they could do more harm than good

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Residents in a northwest Austin neighborhood are banding together to stop the Austin Transportation Department from putting in over a dozen speedbumps on a busy street. The neighborhood is in a part of Austin that is at an elevated risk for wildfires, and Greystone Drive, where ATD plans to add the bumps, would be used as an evacuation route for some during a natural disaster event, neighbors told KXAN. To stop the project, nearly 650 neighbors from around 550 separate homes signed a petition. “What are you trying to do here? You know, if the goal is to reduce accidents, you can do that with neighborhood awareness,” Michelle Estrada, a resident in the neighborhood, said. “For the highest [fire] risk portion of the neighborhood, you would have to go through five speed bumps,” she continued. Estrada said many neighbors were unaware of ATDs plans until several concerned residents started the petition to slow down ATD. Through their campaign, the residents...

Flash flood washes trucks into Walnut Creek

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Flash flood waters last month washed several vehicles away from an East Austin neighborhood into Walnut Creek. One small business owner is still trying to recover several of his work units still stuck in the creek bed.Torrential rain brought flash floods across the Austin area April 20, leading to at least 30 damaged homes and water rescues from cars stuck on US 183. Man describes getting caught in high water during north Austin flash floods The City of Austin just days ago approved relief for residents whose homes were damaged in the storm. City of Austin approves aid for homes damaged in flood Ben Haugh owns All Nation Restoration near the intersection of Springdale Road and US 290. Walnut Creek curves around his business, and when the flash flood struck - he said it took less than 30 minutes for at least 6 of his utility vans to be swept away."It turned into just a full-blown river. And it was running right through the property. Big trees, other people's cars...

SMCISD campuses placed on lockout after social media post; lockout has since been lifted

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — All campuses in San Marcos CISD were placed on lockout around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday after the district was made aware of a social media post circulating regarding a threat.The district said the post was not specific to SMCISD, but the district placed the schools on lockout out of an abundance of caution while the San Marcos Police Department investigated the social media post. SMPD said it was aware of the threat of violence made on social media and circulating in the community.“We are actively investigating this threat and are coordinating with our partners in other law enforcement agencies to keep San Marcos safe. Out of an abundance of caution, all SMCISD campuses are currently on a lockout while our investigation continues. Safety is our top priority. If you see something, say something,” SMPD said in a statement.As of 2:30 p.m., the SMCISD lockout had been lifted, and the district said all campuses would return to a regular schedule.SMCISD said no...

‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’ an engaging and intimate window into star’s complex life

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

Apparently, the credit goes to Michael Harte.It was the idea of the editor of “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” says the documentary’s director, Davis Guggenheim, to use scenes from the beloved actor’s TV shows and movies to tell the story of Fox’s increasingly complicated life.The choice helps make “Still” — debuting this week on Apple TV+ following its premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival — a distinct viewing experience.Of course, were it not for the 61-year-old Fox — the one-time “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future” star who, at 29, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — being so open about the battle with the affliction, so vulnerable as he reflects on his journey, “Still” wouldn’t be nearly as impactful as it is.“Still” begins with Parkinson’s, with the hungover morning in a Florida hotel room when Fox, in the middle of filming 1991’s “Doc Hollywood,” notices his pinky finger twitching.“The trembling was a message,” he says. “From the future.”Guggenheim (“An Inc...

Albany County Sheriff's Office cuts ribbon on new 911 communications center

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

CLARKSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Albany County 911 communications center has come a long way since its launch in the early 1990s. Sheriff Craig Apple said the old office in Voorheesville just won't cut it anymore. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "We simply outgrew it," explained Sheriff Apple. "County got bigger, business got bigger, and we got bigger." That's why he partnered with the county executive, and the legislature, to open a brand-new building in Clarksville. "Four times the size of the original building," added the Sheriff. "But it's built basically for decades and decades to come." Recognizing Albany dispatchers for Telecommunicators Week County Executive Dan McCoy told NEWS10 the transformation is truly one-of-a-kind. "It's amazing," he said. "I've seen it already so my shock value's over with. Not unless something else changed in there."The facility will change the game for emergency dispatching. "We can te...

With hurricane season around the corner, officials detail new evacuation study

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — It's been almost 15 years since New York updated its hurricane evacuation plan. Since then, the state has experienced multiple deadly weather events like Superstorm Sandy and the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On May 4, officials announced that a new Hurricane Evacuation Study is underway, one that they believe will improve planning for and response to hurricanes. There are 22 coastal states in the country that are impacted by Atlantic hurricanes and New York will be the first state to modernize its study, which will include upstate communities."Climate change plays a role for all of us in how we do our jobs and so it's very possible that new communities have to worry about coastal storms that maybe haven't had to worry about coastal storms in the past,” said Jackie Bray, the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.The new plan wi...

Glens Falls bus system opens house, seeks drivers

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Greater Glens Falls Transit (GGFT) operates 18 buses - ten traditional, plus eight red trolleys that move to and from the village of Lake George in the summers. Since late last year, the transit authority has had to adjust to a lack of new staff - and they're working to make up the difference. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Wednesday, the GGFT offered up its staff and buses to prospective drivers, mechanics, and more, in an open house aimed at filling positions in several areas. A couple of interested candidates had come through the doors by around noon - and the authority sees any promising face as valuable."When you think of COVID, you think of sickness. This is because of COVID, but it isn't so much because of sickness," said GGFT Transportation Director Scott Sopczyk. "I think COVID changed work patterns. It changed a lot of things about how the workforce works, and that was a defining t...

Food, Art and Music Festival coming to Gloversville

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts has announced its inaugural Food, Art and Music Festival. The event will be held on June 3. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The family friendly event will include a variety of food trucks, vendors, artists, demonstrations, activities for kids, and hands-on community art projects. The event will also feature a rotating series of musical acts throughout the day, headlined by one of New York's biggest country bands, Skeeter Creek. The festival will take place from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., and will utilize the center's outdoor space as well as having activities inside the building. Admission to the festival is $10 per carload. Tang Museum to offer free admission for military personnel and families The arts center is located at 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville NY. For more information, visit The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts.

St. Clare's pensioners file motion to have day in court

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:16:13 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Mary Hartshorne, leader of the St. Clare’s pensioners, rarely holds back when you ask her about the struggles she and her fellow former hospital workers have been facing for years. She and over a thousand other Schenectady health care workers were left without their retirement money in 2018. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hartshorne was disappointed, but not surprised, to see another state budget without funds or solutions allocated to making her group whole."Again, why are we left out? I don’t get it,” Hartshorne told NEWS10. St. Clare’s pensioners the topic of committee meeting Additionally, when the Diocese of Albany announced they filed for bankruptcy in March, putting a hold on the pensioners' lawsuit, she felt it was a blow to her years of progress. According to the pensioners’ lawyers, they were just a couple of weeks away from a significant milestone in the case.A committee of uns...