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City of Austin employees' telework policy extended, return to office set for new year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Interim City Manager Jesús Garza delayed the timeline of a telework policy that requires city of Austin employees to work in the office at least three days a week. The policy will now start Jan. 1 of next year. It originally would have required non-executive employees to return to the office three days a week starting Oct. 1. The policy required all executive employees to return full time on June 5. This comes after the union for City of Austin and Travis County employees received many calls from upset employees and a May protest against the policy. "We understand employees must make family arrangements and this additional time provides an opportunity to make those changes," a city spokesperson said in a statement. RELATED: City of Austin employees to return to the office, union not on board A letter posted on the union's website called the change "progress," adding "One of our main objections was that the city manager was rushing the development of this policy."T...

Water restrictions evident for Williamson County as lake levels decrease, says water supplier

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A water supplier to multiple cities in Williamson County said it anticipates moving a step higher in its drought contingency plan later this week amid the ongoing heat.The Brazos River Authority oversees water from multiple Texas reservoirs, including Lake Georgetown and Stillhouse Hollow Lake. The agency provides water for the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District, Round Rock and Georgetown.Aaron Abel, BRA water services manager, said the agency anticipates implementing Stage 2 water restrictions this Friday in accordance with its drought contingency plan. This requires customers to reduce water use by 10%."What we need to do is try to extend the supplies, extend the water that's in the reservoir as long as possible," Abel said.Abel attributed the restrictions to the water-evaporating heat, lack of rain, water consumption, and lower lake levels in Lake Georgetown and Stillhouse Hollow Lake.Water Data for Texas shows that Lake Georgetown is just o...

Support varies for Austin's proposed Equity, Civil Rights offices merger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for Aug. 1, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The League of United Latin American Citizens' Austin District is throwing its support behind a new budget proposal from Austin's Interim City Manager Jesús Garza to merge together the city's Small and Minority Business Resources Department with its Equity and Civil Rights offices -- a proposal that has concerned some city advocates.Among its reasonings, LULAC highlighted that the city's Equity Office "has not seen the progress and expectations being met as envisioned," noting in a Tuesday release the departure of the head of the Equity Office in 2022. RELATED: Group concerned power being stripped from Austin’s Equity Office Regarding the Office of Civil Rights, LULAC's release pointed to a 2021 investigation that found six OCR employees had filed a complaint against the OCR director, alleging "abusive, exploitative, unprofessional, and retaliatory management style and personal beh...

After losing beloved chef, Catskill's Piccolo Dal Torrente carries on with new owners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Heather Minew has been with Piccolo Dal Torrente almost since the beginning. She eventually became the owner alongside the beloved founder and chef Rodrigo Silva. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Sadly, Silva passed away from a heart attack in April 2023 at only 54 years old. It was always his dream to open a restaurant and he finally did in 2021 by opening the small Italian restaurant in Catskill.After losing Silva and for various other reasons, Minew decided to step down as owner as of August 1. She spoke with NEWS10 and recounted her experience with Silva and Piccolo Dal Torrente so far.Silva was born in Mexico and lived in Wappingers Falls his whole life. After he opened Piccolo, he commuted an hour and half both ways every day to work 12 to 16 hours at the restaurant, said Minew. The Tailored Tea in Latham up for sale Silva opened Piccolo on Mother's Day in 2021. Minew said he only had one custo...

Brightly flashing 'X' sign removed from the San Francisco building that was Twitter's headquarters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A brightly flashing “X” sign has been removed from the San Francisco headquarters of the company formerly known as Twitter just days after it was installed. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection said Monday that they'd gotten 24 complaints about the unpermitted structure's structural safety and illumination over the weekend. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Elon Musk-owned company, which has been rebranded as X, had removed the Twitter sign and iconic blue bird logo from the building last week. That work was temporarily paused because the company did not have the necessary permits. For a time, the “er” at the end of “Twitter” remained up due to the abrupt halt of the sign takedown. The city of San Francisco had opened a complaint and launched an investigation into the giant “X” sign, which was installed Friday on top of the downtown building as Musk continues his rebrand of the social media...

Carjackers rear-end victim's vehicle before stealing it, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A woman about to get on Interstate 64 in south St. Louis was carjacked overnight after the suspects rear-ended her vehicle.According to a spokesperson for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the robbery happened at 2:40 a.m. at South Kingshighway and I-64.The victim, a 46-year-old woman, told police she was being closely followed by a black KIA Optima on Kingshighway. She stopped at the signal before entering the on-ramp to westbound I-64, and the Optima rear-ended her 2021 Nissan Altima.As she got out of the Altima, the victim noticed an armed man crouched along the passenger side of the Optima, who started running toward her car. The victim fled across Kingshighway and turned to see the armed man enter her car, and then both the Altima and Optima speed away on Kingshighway.The investigation is still ongoing, police said.

Time's ticking on MLB trade deadline, only hours remain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's trade deadline day! Usually, it's a time when the St. Louis Cardinals acquire key pieces to build up hopes of a postseason push. This year, that's not the case. The Cardinals enter the month of August at 47-60, a spot where they will likely not make postseason barring a miracle. Because of that, St. Louis is exploring the seller's market and could use the deadline day to move players with expiring contracts or in positional logjams.Trade deadline is set for 5 p.m. CT Tuesday. The Cardinals and all other 29 MLB teams are required to finish all deals by this deadline. That said, some moves might get announced shortly after the deadline passes as teams work to notify players and get information over to reporters. ‘A day we hoped would never happen’ : Mozeliak reflects on Sunday’s trades, hints more might come The Cardinals dove into the trade market Sunday by dealing three pitchers (Jordan Montgomery, Chris Stratton and Jordan Hicks) in two separate trades, which ne...

Cardinals deal shortstop Paul DeJong, complete third trade with Blue Jays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals have traded Paul DeJong, their longest-tenured position player, to the Toronto Blue Jays just hours before the MLB trade deadline.This marks the third trade the Cardinals have completed with the Blue Jays over the past few weeks. St. Louis also moved relief pitchers Génesis Cabrera and Jordan Hicks in separate deals. The Cardinals formally announced the move just before 1 p.m. Tuesday. In return, the Cardinals have acquired minor-league pitcher Matt Svanson. Cash considerations are also heading to Toronto. Time’s ticking on MLB trade deadline, only hours remain DeJong, a possible pending free agent, departs St. Louis after Toronto's young star shortstop Bo Bichette suffered a brutal knee injury rounding the bases on Monday. The injury should give DeJong a chance to start regularly for a competitor regularly, at least in short-term, until Bichette returns. A 2019 All-Star with the Cardinals, DeJong played seven seasons for St. Louis and slugged ...

Traffic stop leads to charge of unlawful possession of a weapon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A Hazelwood man is accused of being a felon in possession of a weapon following a traffic stop in Overland last week.According to a report filed by the Overland Police Department, on July 24, an officer attempted to pull over a 2021 Dodge Charger for an improper license plate on Page Avenue near Woodson Road.The sped away and got onto northbound Interstate 170 after blowing past at least one red light.Police had deployed a tire deflation device at the on-ramp from Page to I-170, which blew the two front tires on the Charger.The driver continued on the interstate, at speeds of up to 130 miles an hour, through an active construction zone. The Charger got off the interstate at Natural Bridge Road and the driver fled the vehicle on foot. Illinois family still shaken after vandals poured oil into their pool, breaking window Police detained two people in the Charger, and eventually caught the fleeing driver after a brief chase. Police found four guns in the Charg...

Krispy Kreme giving away free doughnuts for losing Mega Millions tickets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:13:17 GMT

ST. LOUIS - If you lose out on winning a billion dollars in Tuesday night's Mega Millions lottery, Krispy Kreme has a consolation prize.Instead of a stack of dough, you get a donut. Illinois family still shaken after vandals poured oil into their pool, breaking window Krispy Kreme is giving a free glazed donut Tuesday and Wednesday to customers who bring in a Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday night's drawing. Krispy Kreme says lottery losers are winners when they eat one of their warm glazed donuts.