Georgetown voters to consider $130 million bond election

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Georgetown voters to consider $130 million bond election GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) —The City of Georgetown has asked voters to consider a $130 million bond package. If approved, the package's four propositions would allow the city to expand and build new city facilities to accommodate a growing population.Proposition A, which costs $56 million, would allow the City of Georgetown to build an 80,000 square-foot Customer Service Center.City Manager David Morgan said right now, the city is leasing space to accommodate the need for office space. He said this new service center would house utility billing, fire inspection, planning, engineering and several other services."We've done some analysis to show that over a 30-year period of time, it'll cost $80 million less to own our own facility and build on our existing land than it will be to pay market rate leases," Morgan said.Proposition B's price tag is $49 million and would allow the city to expand its recreation center on Austin Avenue. The expansion would add 30,000 square feet to the facili...

$230 million expansion for Ascension Seton Williamson, 400+ new jobs to be created

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

$230 million expansion for Ascension Seton Williamson, 400+ new jobs to be created ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Ascension Seton Williamson in Round Rock is about to undergo major expansion efforts. The hospital on Tuesday announced a $230 million expansion, which will "meet the needs of the growing Round Rock area," according to a press release. The expansion will include a six-story tower of 216,000 square feet which will house new operating rooms and additional bed capacity. The expansion will include: 160 new beds total capacityTwo new operating rooms  Expanded space for emergency, imaging, cardiac cath and surgery departmentsA 12-bed observation unit  The expansion also includes the build out of an additional 34,000 square feet at the nearby Ascension Seton Williamson Medical Plaza at 301 Seton Pkwy., which will house outpatient wound care, cardiac rehab and pediatric rehab, according to the release. Ascension Seton Williamson said it expects to add more than 400 new positions to staff the additional capacity. “We’re excited to ann...

Fuel supplier announces new AUS pipeline to increase fuel delivery reliability

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Fuel supplier announces new AUS pipeline to increase fuel delivery reliability AUSTIN (KXAN) – The primary jet fuel supplier to the Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS) – Flint Hills Resources – announced Tuesday its plans to build a pipeline to make delivering fuel to the airport easier and more reliable. Currently, AUS is the largest airport in the country to rely on daily truck deliveries for its jet fuel. In order to adequately supply AUS with its daily jet fuel supply, Flint Hills Resources must send 8,000-gallon tanker trucks to travel 40 miles roundtrip from a terminal in Bastrop to AUS over 100 times a day, according to a news release. MORE: Austin airport passenger totals still on track for record-breaking year… again The pipeline, called The Bastrop-Austin Texas Pipeline (BATX), will be 10 inches in diameter and is likely to start from the terminal in Bastrop, travel along Highway 71 and end at the airport, per a news release.The Department of Transportation has reported that pipelines are considered to be a safe and effective way to transport fuel....

Harlem Globetrotters to perform at Moody Center

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Harlem Globetrotters to perform at Moody Center AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a slam dunk for the Moody Center, with the Harlem Globetrotters slated to perform at the Austin venue.The Harlem Globetrotters will return to the Moody Center on Feb. 8, with a live show full of dribbling, spinning and dunking as they battle the Washington Generals.Tickets go on sale Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased on the Harlem Globetrotters' website or on the Moody Center's website. Patrons will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m., with those available through Sunday, Oct. 22 at 10 p.m., per a Moody Center release. Those can be accessed with the presale code MONTOPOLIS. The Moody Center isn't the only Central Texas venue welcoming the Globetrotters during their 2024 world tour. The Globetrotters will perform at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Feb. 4, with tickets available online.

U.S. violent crime dropped to prepandemic level last year; trend also seen in Minnesota

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

U.S. violent crime dropped to prepandemic level last year; trend also seen in Minnesota Violent crime across the U.S. decreased last year — dropping to about the same level as before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic — but property crimes rose substantially, according to data in the FBI’s annual crime report released Monday.The report comes with an asterisk: Some law enforcement agencies failed to provide data. But a change in collection methods in compiling 2022 numbers helped, and the FBI said the new data represents 83.3% of all agencies covering 93.5% of the population. By contrast, last year’s numbers were from only 62.7% of agencies, representing 64.8% of Americans.Violent crime dropped 1.7%, and that included a 6.1% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter. Rape decreased 5.4% and aggravated assault dropped 1.1%, but robbery increased 1.3%.Violent crime had also decreased slightly in 2021, a big turnaround from 2020, when the murder rate in the U.S. jumped 29% during the pandemic that created huge social disruption and upended support systems.The viole...

McDonald's closing in the Empire State Plaza

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

McDonald's closing in the Empire State Plaza ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- McDonald's is set to close in the Empire State Plaza food court. The Office of General Services (OGS) confirmed the closure to NEWS10. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to OGS, the restaurant's lease ends on November 22 and the franchisee chose not to renew the lease. The McDonald's location will permanently close on October 27. "We have a new food vendor lined up for that space that will meet the needs of the state workforce and visitors to the Plaza," said OGS. "We expect to make an announcement once a lease has been finalized." Community-focused pickleball facility opening in Ballston The Empire State Plaza's current food court options include Au Bon Pain, Honest Weight Cafe, Kuma Ani, PBD Kitchen, Pho Yum, and Umana Yana. Other restaurant options are available elsewhere in the Plaza.OGS said they are also in discussions for vendors to take over the former Bomber’s Burrito Bar space and for...

Meetings set on Minerva-Johnsburg school merger

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Meetings set on Minerva-Johnsburg school merger WILTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Two small communities in the Adirondack Park are looking into a merger between their school districts. A set of meetings, all open to the public, have been set to tell the residents of Minerva and Johnsburg what the future could look like for their children. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The merger would see Minerva Central School District merge into Johnsburg's own Central School District. Minerva is an Essex County town with a population of 809, compared to Johnsburg, in Warren County, which sits at 2,143 (both as of the 2020 census). Johnsburg Central School District already incorporates children from the hamlet of North Creek. Minerva and Johnsburg share a border along the Hudson River.To that end, Johnsburg and Minerva's school boards of education have hired Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) to weigh the scales and study what a merger between the schools would look like. CASDA ha...

Bill Maher to perform in Albany

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Bill Maher to perform in Albany ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Comedian and television host Bill Maher will perform at Albany's Palace Theatre on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, which will be available online, range from $49, $69, $99, and $149 plus applicable fees. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Maher is best known for his HBO political talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher." He is also known for the late-night show "Politically Incorrect," which first aired on Comedy Central and then later on ABC.Maher specializes in political satire and political commentary. "Real Time with Bill Maher" first aired in February 2003, where he speaks on topics such as political correctness, religion, public ideals, and mass media.

Governor announces economic support payment for families

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Governor announces economic support payment for families ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) -- On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced federal funding will be used to assist low-income families with children. Over $12 million will be administered through the federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The funding will provide a one-time Family Economic Support payment to households with children aged 17 and under. Qualifying households will receive approximately $100 in assistance. “Due to our success in providing assistance from the federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund to some of our most vulnerable residents, New York has qualified for additional funding that went unused by other states,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “This federal funding further helps households that suffered from the economic toll caused by the pandemic and gives these families a quick infusion of cash to assist with their expenses.”In 2022, New York State used some of i...

Alleged trunk-or-treat shooter enters not guilty plea

Published Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:21:54 GMT

Alleged trunk-or-treat shooter enters not guilty plea KIRKWOOD, Mo. – The St. Louis County Police Officer charged with firing multiple shots into the air during a trunk or treat event this past weekend made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.39-year-old Matthew McCulloch appeared inside the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton. He was in prison khakis and shackles and had two security guards near him at all times. The arraignment and initial appearance was brief only lasting minutes.McCulloch answered “yes Judge” when the Judge spoke to him. McCulloch’s attorney entering a not guilty plea on McCulloch’s behalf. McCulloch is facing 11 counts for firing around a dozen shots into the air at a trunk or treat event on Sunday afternoon. Pickleball noise level exceeds ordinance; country club remains unable to play The event was for students at Tillman Elementary School in Kirkwood and took place at North Kirkwood Middle School. The charges against McCulloch include child endangerment, armed criminal action, making a terrorist thr...