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Will the US get giant pandas back?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. (The Hill) — The National Zoo’s three giant pandas departed Washington, D.C. on Wednesday morning, marking the beginning of their trip back to China and an end, at least for now, to 50 years of “panda diplomacy” with Beijing.Giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and their cub Xioa Qi Ji were loaded into crates Wednesday morning by zoo and FedEx staff, and then brought to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. The pandas will be transported on the custom-designed “FedEx Panda Express” Boeing 777F aircraft for the 19-hour journey with a stopover in Alaska. The pandas’ departure follows a series of other pandas being pulled from multiple Western zoos as agreements expire, with some foreign policy experts noting it could be indicative of growing diplomatic tensions between Beijing and several Western governments. But zoo officials say it was simply time for the panda parents to go home, with a three-year extension to their stay set to expire. Mei Xiang is...

Lawsuit against city regarding South Terminal closed following settlement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The lawsuit over closing the South Terminal to expand Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has come to an end with the parties involved claiming the matter was “amicably settled,” according to court documents. PAST COVERAGE: Austin wants to expand its airport to the South Terminal, company operating it files lawsuit The documents, filed Monday and Tuesday in federal court, showed the lawsuit between the City of Austin and LoneStar Airport Holdings officially ended.In June, the Austin City Council approved an $88 million settlement with LoneStar.The city attempted to take the South Terminal property from LoneStar in the summer of 2022, claiming eminent domain. That previous offer was for less than $2 million, despite LoneStar signing a 40-year lease for the terminal in 2016 and making upgrades to the space.

APD: Woman arrested following fatal hit-and-run in south Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police arrested a woman in connection with an Oct. 27 fatal hit-and-run in south Austin.The Austin Police Department said 20-year-old Atira O’Guinn was arrested Oct. 28 and charged with an accident involving death, a second-degree felony.KXAN has reached out to an attorney listed for O'Guinn. This story will be updated if we receive a response.APD said officers responded to the 9300 block of Menchaca Road at approximately 10:20 p.m. for a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. At the scene, officers found an unidentified pedestrian, who later died.According to APD, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as O’Guinn, left the scene following the crash.Police are investigating the incident as Austin’s 75th fatal crash of 2023, and as of Tuesday, APD said the investigation remained pending.

City Council to consider safety lighting projects to reduce crashes, new state law that will lead to fewer parks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin City Council is meeting Thursday to go over 61 agenda items. Here are a few that KXAN is closely monitoring. Contract for safety lighting Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department is asking for nearly $3.5 million to add safety lighting to Slaughter and Howard Lanes.  PREVIOUS: Construction starts next year to make Slaughter Lane safer The Austin City Council voted earlier this year to create a funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the High Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) lighting projects, a federally funded program, per city documents. The HSIP reported that safety lighting can decrease crashes by nearly 50%. Based on city crash data, both Slaughter and Howard lanes qualified for the safety lighting projects. If approved, safety lights will be added along Slaughter Lane from Riddle Road to Brandt Road and on Howard Lane from Scofield Parkway to Dessau Road, according to city documents. ...

Hochul: $2.7M available for Adirondack communities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) - On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced communities and not-for-profits in the Adirondack Park are eligible for grants to keep their lands preserved. The Adirondacks extend north from the capital region, including Lake George and other parts of Warren County, Essex County, and further north and northwest. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Governor Hochul announced $3.7 million to be disbursed by the Department of Environmental Conservation in Smart Growth Grants, with Adirondack Park communities receiving $2.7 million of that disbursement. These grants have been disbursed since 2007 and focus on uniting economic development with environmental protection. This round of grants help projects that focus on a threefold goal: environmental protection, economic development, and community livability in the form of affordable housing in rural areas in the park.“Through the Smart Growth Grant Program, ...

NYSP: Herkimer man stole over $5K in goods from Lowe's

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

HERKIMER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Herkimer man is facing charges for allegedly stealing numerous items from the Herkimer Lowe's. State Police arrested Steven D. Vitalo, 29, on November 3. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police say Vitalo did not pay for items while going through the self-checkout. The total value of items taken is $5,521. Vitalo is also accused of switching bar codes to pay significantly less for items.Vitalo was charged with grand larceny in the third degree and falsifying business records in the second degree. He was arraigned in Herkimer Town Court and is scheduled to return on November 21.

Hawley projects Trump as 2024 GOP nominee, says 'I will pull the lever' for him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

WASHINGTON - The next presidential election is less than a year away. Some Republican presidential candidates will face off Wednesday evening in Miami in the third primary debate of the 2024 election cycle.The group debating Wednesday does not include former U.S. President Donald Trump, who formally announced last year he would run for office again in 2024. Some elected officials, including Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, believe Trump is the frontrunner to become the GOP presidential nominee. Iced tea DNA unmasks alleged ‘thirsty burglar’ in O’Fallon "Donald Trump is going to be the nominee; I've been saying this for a long time," said Hawley during a virtual chat with FOX 2 on Wednesday. "I'm not sure these debates are particularly productive. I think at this point, we would do well to rally behind Trump as the nominee. I think he is going to be the nominee. I've said that over and over, and I think voters have made up their minds." The comments come following some big Dem...

Thousands of sturgeon are closer to Illinois lake release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

TOPEKA, Ill. -- Researchers and biologists recently tagged 4,600 young lake sturgeon at the Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery in Mason County as part of Illinois' Lake Sturgeon Recovery Project. Conservationists are trying to bring the ancient native species back to Midwestern lakes and rivers. This tagging initiative is a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term survival of this remarkable species."These PIT tags will provide valuable insights into age, growth rates, and movement," explained a project biologist.Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT Tags) are tracking tags that do not require power. They have a microchip that is activated when it passes close to a special antenna. The tagged sturgeon will be released into the Illinois River and its tributaries, contributing to the recovery of this endangered species in Illinois and the broader Upper Mississippi River Basin. Results: November 7 Missouri Special Election Lake sturgeon, a native species unique to Illinois, can live ...

Kansas City gets served a new professional sports team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In just over a year, Kansas City will have another professional team to cheer on.The Pro Volleyball Federation announced Wednesday that Kansas City is the newest home to an expansion team for the league. Travis Kelce talks Germany match-up against Tyreek Hill The announcement is another signal of Kansas City's prominence as a sports destination and a leader in women's sports.Kansas City will become home for this team in 2025 and is owned by Missy and Kent McCarthy.The owners are KU alumni and have professional sports ownership experience as part of the Kansas City Royals ownership group and a stake in the NBA's Sacramento Kings.The President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC, Kathy Nelson, said this sport is a great addition to Kansas City.“This is a perfect addition to our portfolio of professional teams and will complement the thriving youth and collegiate volleyball programs in our region,” Nelson said.The new pro-volleyball federatio...

Woman dies after being struck by Cadillac on East Montview Boulevard in Aurora

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:52 GMT

A woman died after being struck by a Cadillac sedan while she was crossing East Montview Boulevard on Tuesday morning, according to the Aurora Police Department.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | I-70 westbound reopened at Vail Pass Summit after crash closed roadway Crime and Public Safety | Aurora woman running across South Parker Road dies after collision with SUV Crime and Public Safety | I-70 eastbound reopens in Wheat Ridge after late-night crash Crime and Public Safety | Colfax Avenue eastbound reopened west of I-25 after crash Crime and Public Safety | Man killed in I-70 crash in Wheat Ridge was trying to reattach towed car in center lane when tractor-trailer hit it The crash marks the 61st traffic-related fatality in Aurora this year, the most traffic fatalities Aurora has recorded in a single year. The 2022 total of 50 traffic-related deaths was the previous record, according to spokesper...