'I have some serious problems with that plan'; Mayor Watson talks future of Zilker

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

'I have some serious problems with that plan'; Mayor Watson talks future of Zilker AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Zilker Park Vision Plan has become a hot button topic in Austin.According to the City of Austin's website, the park needs some upgrades.The site said Zilker is in crisis and facing increased ecological degradation, accessibility issues and damage from overuse in certain areas. The Vision Plan looks to address those issues with new parking garages, new pedestrian and bicycle bridges and even an amphitheater, but not all the proposed changes have been welcomed."I have some serious problems with that plan," said city Mayor Kirk Watson.Watson said the park needs to improve on its accessibility, but he's not in favor of the three proposed parking garages."I think we can address the parking issues in ways other than putting a parking garage in one of our crown jewels, or three parking garages," said Watson. "We could get parking nearby, we could get a tram service."Another controversial proposed addition is the amphitheater.The great lawn is a place many people like to...

Man in Douglas County exposed himself, committed lewd acts, in Bluffs Regional Park

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Man in Douglas County exposed himself, committed lewd acts, in Bluffs Regional Park A man on a bicycle in Douglas County exposed himself to a horseback rider and then followed the victim while committing lewd acts.The incident happened on July 22 on trails in the Bluffs Regional Park, 10099 Crooked Stick Trail, Lone Tree, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.The sheriff’s office took a report about the incident on Monday and put out a news release Friday.The suspect, who is at large, is described as a Hispanic man, about age 30, 5’10” tall with dark hair and a thin build. He has braces on his teeth, was shirtless at the time of the incident, and was wearing black or gray sorts. He was riding a black trail bike.“I urge you to always be aware of your surroundings. If you see someone doing this, call 9-1-1 immediately so we can respond and take that person into custody,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.Anyone with information about the Douglas County incident, or similar incidents, is asked to email [email protected]....

Russell Wilson at fighting weight might just be a good sign for the Broncos: “He definitely still has some gas in him”

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Russell Wilson at fighting weight might just be a good sign for the Broncos: “He definitely still has some gas in him” A svelte Russell Wilson smiled at the question.You going to take off and run more this fall?“I’m trying to get moving for you,” he said slyly.The 12th-year quarterback looked capable of doing just that as he started his second training camp with the Broncos, though any grand conclusions after one day in helmets can safely be avoided, just as Wilson sidestepped a question about how much weight he cut over the offseason.“I don’t know, I’m just ready to play football. I’m not worried about the numbers on that,” he said. “I think the biggest thing for me is I feel great, feel confident in what I’m doing. Feel strong. Feel fast. Really worked on everything.”A nine-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, Wilson regressed across the board in Denver. He threw a career-low 16 touchdowns on just 60.5% completions. The Broncos lost 11 of the 15 games he started. He dealt with three different injuries over the course of the season.“Last year is last year,” Wilson said. “It wasn’t anything that I ever wante...

Bomb squad investigates weather balloon, packages found in San Dimas

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Bomb squad investigates weather balloon, packages found in San Dimas A bomb squad team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Special Enforcement Bureau responded to the San Gabriel Valley Thursday night after receiving reports of suspicious packages.The packages were tied to a large balloon and appeared to have come down in a residential area in San Dimas.The bomb squad responded to the scene, which was not disclosed, and found what remained of a large red and yellow balloon that was tangled in a bush overhanging a retaining wall. Tied to the deflated balloon were two packages. A stratospheric balloon that was being used for some type of science experiment came down in a San Dimas neighborhood on July 27, 2023. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department)Investigators analyzed the packages and determined that the devices were being used for some type of science project. The owners of the balloon and its payload were not identified.The scene was cleared and the neighborhood was deemed safe, the Sheriff's Department said.StratoCat.com, a webs...

Alito says Congress lacks power to impose ethics code on SCOTUS

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Alito says Congress lacks power to impose ethics code on SCOTUS By Mark Sherman | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Justice Samuel Alito says Congress lacks the power to impose a code of ethics on the Supreme Court, making him the first member of the court to take a public stand against proposals in Congress to toughen ethics rules for justices in response to increased scrutiny of their activities beyond the bench.“I know this is a controversial view, but I’m willing to say it. No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court—period,” Alito said in an interview he gave to the Wall Street Journal opinion pages. An account of the interview, which the paper said took place in New York in early July, was published Friday.Democrats last week pushed Supreme Court ethics legislation through a Senate committee, though the bill’s prospects in the full Senate are dim.All federal judges other than the justices already adhere to an ethics code that was developed by the federal judiciary. But the Supr...

SF Giants pitching prospect shut down with elbow soreness

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

SF Giants pitching prospect shut down with elbow soreness SAN FRANCISCO — The phrase elbow soreness is one of the most ominous combinations of words a pitcher can hear.The Giants will learn Saturday what comes of the diagnosis given to 25-year-old right-hander Keaton Winn, who was scratched from his start Friday at Triple-A Sacramento with — yup — a sore right elbow. That is when Winn will meet with team specialist Dr. Ken Akizuki.Winn developed soreness in his throwing elbow after his last start, the Giants said.It is of particular concern given that Winn underwent Tommy John surgery — the notorious elbow reconstruction operation — less than three years ago. It knocked him out for the entire 2021 season. Since returning, Winn rocketed through the minor-league system to become a contributor at the major-league level this season.Winn has pitched well in those opportunities, holding a 4.09 ERA in five games (two starts) with San Francisco. He was considered a candidate to start more games down the stretch — rotation depth along with other yo...

Tornadoes can turn mobile homes into death traps

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Tornadoes can turn mobile homes into death traps By Seth Borenstein, Camille Fassett and Michael Goldberg | Associated PressROLLING FORK, Miss. (AP) — Many were not just killed at home. They were killed by their homes.Angela Eason had visited Brenda Odoms’ tidy mobile home before. It was a place where Odoms, who had many tragedies in her life, felt safe.In March, a tornado ripped through this small Mississippi town and people in mobile or manufactured homes were hit the hardest. Inside a mobile morgue, Eason, the county coroner, examined Odoms’ gaping fatal head wound. Odoms was found just outside of her collapsed mobile home that was tossed around by a tornado. Blunt force trauma killed her.“The one place she felt safe she was not,” Eason said. Fourteen people died in that Rolling Fork tornado, nine of them, including Odoms, were in uprooted manufactured or mobile homes.Tornadoes in the United States are disproportionately killing more people in mobile or manufactured homes, especially in the South, often ...

Brentwood woman charged with murdering husband

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Brentwood woman charged with murdering husband MARTINEZ — A Brentwood woman has been charged with murdering her husband during a domestic dispute in their home, court records show.Aida Aumentado, 61, was charged with murder and the use of a knife in the death of her husband, Antonio Aumentado. She remains in county jail in lieu of $1 million bail.The couple lived together on the 300 block of MacArthur Way in Brentwood. Police were called there for a welfare check on Tuesday and found Aida there and Antonio dead from stab wounds, authorities say. The suspected motive hasn’t been publicly released.Aida’s arraignment hearing has been set for July 31, court records show.

A's raise ticket prices for 'reverse boycott' game against Giants

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

A's raise ticket prices for 'reverse boycott' game against Giants (KRON) -- Continuing what has been a summer full of protests, Oakland A's fans have organized another "reverse boycott" for the San Francisco Giants' game in Oakland on Aug. 5. If you're planning to go, be prepared to pay more than usual. For the Aug. 5 "reverse boycott" game, the cheapest seat on the team website is going for $44. For the Aug. 6 game against the Giants, the get-in price is $27. The price for all other games, including Labor Day against Toronto and the final home game of the season against Detroit, is $10. LeBron James breaks silence after son Bronny’s hospitalization The fan base conducted its first reverse boycott on June 13, with 27,759 loud fans packing the Coliseum to cheer on the A's beating the Tampa Bay Rays. The purpose of the boycott was to prove that A's fans would show up for the right reasons, with a potential move to Las Vegas pending. After the game, the A's announced that the proceeds from that game would be donated to charity. Another protest is ...

Rabbits rescued in SF Golden Gate Heights Park need forever homes

Published Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:59:32 GMT

Rabbits rescued in SF Golden Gate Heights Park need forever homes SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco Animal Care & Control said it is experiencing a "rabbit crisis." The shelter has numerous rabbits available for adoption, and it's currently over-capacity with bunnies. The crisis was compounded by multiple rabbits coming in from dumping in the parks, hoarding, and irresponsible breeding, according to SFACC.The shelter wrote, "A recent remarkable community rescue of a group of rabbits abandoned in Golden Gate Heights Park has tipped SFACC into crisis mode. The rabbits spent months in the park, fending for themselves and evading capture, until a group of citizens banded together to round the rabbits up. Those involved – including determined teens – netted and trapped the rabbits and transported them to SFACC."This bunny was rescued in San Francisco's Golden Gate Heights Park. (SFACC photo)"Staff at SFACC asks the public to never dump rabbits anywhere – they are not wildlife - and to get pet rabbits spayed or neutered. Rabbits breed like, well...