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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport breaks ground on West Gate Expansion project

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport broke ground on the West Gate Expansion project Wednesday. The project is led by Journey With AUS, which will increase terminal space beyond current gates 33 and 34, adding 84,500 gross square feet over three levels of space, according to a news release from AUS.Central Texas and Austin leaders gathered at the airport Wednesday for the groundbreaking. “This is just the start of a series of transformative airport projects that will modernize the AUS experience for everyone,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “The Journey With AUS will bring unique changes to the traveler experience as we navigate turning this 24/7 facility into an active constructive site.” The expansion will add amenities for all travelers to enjoy such as new food and retail spaces, art through the City of Austin Arts in Public Places Program, more seating areas, the largest restrooms in the terminal, quiet places and private rooms for nursing or pumping an...

Need to know about lifesaving CPR? It’s probably wise not to ask Alexa or Siri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

Ask Alexa or Siri about the weather. But if you want to save someone’s life? Call 911 for that.Voice assistants often fall flat when asked how to perform CPR, according to a study published Monday.Researchers asked voice assistants eight questions that a bystander might pose in a cardiac arrest emergency. In response, the voice assistants said:— “Hmm, I don’t know that one.”— “Sorry, I don’t understand.”— “Words fail me.”— “Here’s an answer … that I translated: The Indian Penal Code.”Only nine of 32 responses suggested calling emergency services for help — an important step recommended by the American Heart Association. Some voice assistants sent users to web pages that explained CPR, but only 12% of the 32 responses included verbal instructions.Verbal instructions are important because immediate action can save a life, said study co-author Dr. Adam Landman, chief information officer at Mass General Brigham in Boston.Chest compressions — pushing down hard and fast on the victim’s ch...

Byron Buxton returns to center field for Saints while on rehab assignment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

It was a sight for sore eyes, and a site for a sore knee: Byron Buxton in center field for the Saints on Wednesday night at CHS Field.Playing center field for the first time since Aug. 22 of last year, Buxton, on rehab assignment from the Twins as he recovers from a right hamstring strain, has been limited to serving as the Twins’ designated hitter this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last September.The Twins hope to be able to determine this week whether Buxton will be able to return to center field when his rehab stint is completed. The Twins had said that Buxton would sit out Thursday’s game, but Saints manager Toby Gardenhire said postgame that he was still waiting to hear from Twins officials on what the plan will be going forward.Buxton had a quiet night in the field, getting one putout on a soft fly ball and chasing down a double in left-center field. He was not made available to the media after the Saints’ 6-1 win over Columbus. Twins President...

State Fair’s Space Tower breaks down, will remain out of commission for the duration of event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

The Space Tower, a landmark on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, has broken down and will remain offline for the duration of the 12-day event, according to State Fair officials.The Fair opened Aug. 24 and closes on Labor Day, Sept. 4.The Space Tower, a Minnesota State Fair landmark, broke down on Aug. 30, 2023, and was to remain offline for the duration of the 12-day event, according to event officials. (Runner1928 via Wikimedia Commons)A staple of the State Fair since 1965, the tower and its slowly rising and spinning cylindrical rider platform have offered generations of fairgoers a 360-degree view of the Twin Cities and the attractions of the Falcon Heights fairgrounds, and its blinking lights provide a warm goodbye to departing visitors at nightfall.On Wednesday evening, Fair officials released a limited statement about the breakdown by email: “The Space Tower will not reopen during the 2023 State Fair. The ride requires specialized electronic equipment that will not arrive...

Peoria Police: 6 people shot in South Peoria late Wednesday night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - Peoria police have confirmed that five to six people were shot in South Peoria late Wednesday night. Officers were called to the 2200 block of West Marquette Street just before 9 p.m. That's in between South Westmoreland Avenue and Madison Park Terrace. A slew of rescue vehicles filled the street. Crime tape was draped across several parts of the intersection and the street. Multiple ambulances raced away from the scene after patients were loaded inside. On scene are the Peoria Police Department, Peoria County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police. Terry Burnside of the House of Hope said that he believed six people were shot. He believed that all six were teenagers. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said his office has not yet been called. Several on social media were reporting the incident. Videos of people gathered on Marquette were posted in many spots. Gun violence has ravaged Peoria in the past month. And in August, shootings have become an almost ...

Missouri Task Force 1 dispatched to Florida for Idalia relief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. – On Wednesday night, 46 members of Missouri Task Force 1 sat stationed in Panama City, Florida, as the storm Idalia made its way through the Sunshine State and up to the nation’s southeast coastline. Missouri’s Task Force 1 is now ready to respond to whatever may arise. When they’ll return is anybody's guess.The Boone County Fire Protection District has helped equip first responders for disaster relief efforts.Members of the task force must be ready to deploy in just a few hours notice."It's a well-orchestrated machine to put 100,000 pounds of equipment on a tractor-trailer and getting moving down the road in four hours,” said Gale Blomenkamp, support services bureau director for the Boone County Fires Protective District.

A special supermoon in the skies over St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

ST. LOUIS - On Wednesday, the third and largest supermoon of the year rose in the night sky."People always like to know when it's the biggest, and supermoon is a good name,” Jim Small, president of the St. Louis Astronomical Society, said.It's the second full moon of the month, hence the blue moon moniker. At 222,043 miles away from Earth, it's about 100 miles closer than any other supermoon this year."Visually, it’s really not that spectacular,” Small said. “You’re not going to look at the full moon tonight and say, ‘Wow, that's so different from other full moons.’" In half a century, this St. Louis suburb grew from 500 to 50,000+ people Because it's only about 100 miles closer, Small explained that the difference between Wednesday night’s supermoon and any other is about the difference between a 15- and 16-inch pizza from 100 feet away. The fact that it's a blue moon—which happens once every two and a half years—aligning with a supermoon still makes it a sight to behold."Having ...

Sloppy Rockies swept by Braves, lose 20 games in August for first time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

The dog days of summer are taking a big bite out of the raw, young Rockies. It isn’t pretty to watch.The Braves beat the Rockies 7-3 Wednesday night at Coors Field to complete a three-game sweep and send the Rockies to their 11th loss in their last 14 games. Colorado has lost nine in a row and 13 of its last 14 games vs. Atlanta.The loss also dropped the Rockies to 7-20 this month, marking the first 20-loss August in franchise history. Colorado also went 7-20 in April, which was the first 20-loss April in club history.Manager Bud Black has talked often about “growing pains” and “baptism by fire” for his rookies this summer. Wednesday night, there was a lot of pain and a lot of baptisms:• In the Braves’ two-run fourth inning, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who’s been so good this season, made a costly throwing error. Marcell Ozuna hit a tailormade double-play grounder to Tovar but he threw the ball into right field and his error kept Atlanta’...

Video captures thieves stealing from San Bernardino lingerie store

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

Security video captured two suspects walking into a store, assaulting employees and stealing merchandise from a San Bernardino lingerie store.The suspects, a man and a woman, are seen calmly walking into the store and browsing around before grabbing handfuls of items.As they attempt to leave without paying, a store employee blocks the couple at the front door. The woman eventually exits through the door while the man dashes outside. The employee, the suspect and another woman continue struggling outside of the shop.The couple eventually escaped with about $500 worth of merchandise, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.Security video captured two suspects walking into a store, assaulting employees and stealing merchandise in San Bernardino. (San Bernardino Police Department)Security video captured two suspects walking into a store, assaulting employees and stealing merchandise in San Bernardino. (San Bernardino Police Department)Security video captured two suspects walki...

Rare blue supermoon, with Saturn in tow, to put on show tonight: How to watch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:47 GMT

Stargazers are in for twice the show tonight: a rare blue supermoon with Saturn peeking from behind.The cosmic curtain rises Wednesday night with the second full moon of the month, the reason it’s considered blue. It’s dubbed a supermoon because it’s closer to Earth than usual, appearing especially big and bright.This will be the closest full moon of the year, just 222,043 miles or so away. That’s more than 100 miles closer than the August 1 supermoon.As a bonus, Saturn will be visible as a bright point 5 degrees to the upper right of the moon at sunset in the east-southeastern sky, according to NASA. The ringed planet will appear to circle clockwise around the moon as the night wears on.If you missed the month’s first spectacle, better catch this one. There won’t be another blue supermoon until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.Clouds spoiled Masi's attempt to livestream the supermoon rising earlier this month. H...