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Message in a balloon flies nearly 900 miles from Nashville to Central Texas

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) -- You've heard of a message in a bottle — but what about a message in a balloon that's flown nearly 900 miles?It might sound like fiction, but that was the reality for Kyle residents Jaymes and Rachael Knox. On Wednesday night, Jaymes was playing in the backyard with his dogs when he saw a balloon falling from the sky, carrying what appeared to be a rolled-up note. Can your roof save you some money? "He runs in and he was like, 'babe, put your shoes on! We have an adventure,'" Rachael said.In a field behind their house, they found a blue aluminum balloon. Attached was a note, written in a child's handwriting that read: "Haray, haray! You got this messig today! Olivia Brown sent this."Written on the bottom of the letter was a phone number. Jaymes and Rachael texted it and nearly immediately, they heard back from a family -- located in Nashville.Kyle residents Jaymes and Rachael Knox discovered a balloon and an attached note had traveled nearly 900 miles from Nas...

United to offer nonstop flights from Austin for UT-Alabama game

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — United Airlines is making it easier for Longhorns fans to travel to Alabama for next month's game against the Crimson Tide.The airline will fly nonstop between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, which is about an hour away from Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.Two flights will leave Austin on Friday, Sept. 8, one at 1:20 p.m. and the other at 3:45 p.m. Returning flights will be on Sunday, Sept. 10. Game day is Saturday, Sept. 9, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. A ‘Classic’ and a ‘Rivalry’: UT football games against Alabama, Oklahoma get new looks United is adding 127 nonstop flights to its schedule, designed to help shuttle fans to 30 college football games. The airline said it flew more than 50,000 fans to games last year."We're committed to providing a best-in-class travel experience for our customers, whether they're traveling around the globe, or flying to see their favorite college football team play," said&...

After years of delays, Ken Paxton appears in court for securities fraud case

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar) — After eight years of delays and a change in venue, suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton appeared in a Harris County court Thursday morning in a securities fraud case against him.Paxton faces felony charges and is accused of defrauding investors in a tech startup after being indicted in 2015."It's a good day for Texas because it's on the road to healing. It's on the road to justice. Finally, something's going to be done one way or another," prosecutor Kent Schaffer said.The pretrial hearing lasted just nine minutes. Thursday's developments were simple procedural matters to determine the logistics of a coming trial, yet lawyers on each side stressed the significance of reaching this moment."I think one of the game changers today is being in front of a judge who understands the law, who is dedicated to ruling on motions," prosecutor Brian Wice said. "With all due respect, for the two plus, three plus years this case was in another court, that didn't ha...

Liberty Hill looks to transform its downtown with land purchase

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

LIBERTY HILL, KXAN (KXAN) — The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation recently purchased land in the heart of the city. Agency leaders said the purchase is an effort to attract outside developers to turn the area into a destination for the growing community.The 1.51-acre plot is near the intersection of Main Street and Myrtle Avenue just behind Veteran's Memorial Park.The LHEDC Board President Tiffany Stillwell said the purchase aims to control and lead development in the city's downtown.“The City of Liberty Hill Council and staff, the LHEDC and the City’s Downtown Revitalization Committee believe that to have control of this parcel to develop ourselves, or to use as an incentive to entice outside developers is the stake in the ground we need to further jumpstart downtown development," Stillwell said.Liberty Hill city leadership said the land purchase is a step toward its ideal vision of a bustling downtown with retail, dining, and entertainment."This project will entail a p...

What happens to bugs during wildfires?

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – This may be shocking to some, but grasshoppers and other insects also do not want to be engulfed in flames. KXAN reporters covering a Bastrop fire – 75% contained as of Wednesday night – observed hundreds of grasshoppers fleeing the blaze. MORE: At least one home affected as Powder Keg Pine Fire in Bastrop estimated at 117 acres, 75% contained “[Insects] are going to need essentially the same things that we do – they need food, they need water, they need a place to live,” Texas A&M entomologist Wizzie Brown said. “When you have something like a wildfire, they're going to try to escape that just like us.”Brown said a bug’s temperature-withstanding capabilities may vary. Some may be able to stick it out a little longer while the temperatures rise, while others can’t handle too much heat. But whatever type of insect it is, when the flames get too close for comfort, they are getting out of there. “If they're adult insects capable of flying, then they can ...

Things to do in the Capital Region this weekend: August 4-6

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The weekend is almost here! From concerts to festivals to Disney's "The Lion King," there are quite a few things happening on August 4, 5, and 6. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Here are some of the events going on around the Capital Region this weekend.Friday, August 4Black Arts & Cultural Festival, Empire State Plaza in Albany, 5 p.m.Pink Martini and The Philadelphia Orchestra featuring China Forbes, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. You can buy tickets on the SPAC website.Disney’s "The Lion King," Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Proctors website.Honky Tonk Angels, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on theREP website.The Pretty Paw Lounge, the Capital Region's first cat cafe, opens at 370 Mariaville Road in Rotterdam at 2 p.m. You can book an appointment on the Pretty Paw Lounge website.The Happie Collective grand openin...

Investigations launched into structure fire in Perth

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

PERTH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday night, multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire in the Town of Perth. All occupants were out of the building but one sustained injuries and suffered from smoke inhalation. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Fire crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. The injured individual was treated by the Lake Valley EMS before being transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam. He was then flown to the Upstate Medical Hospital in Syracuse.Agencies involved include the Perth Volunteer Fire Company, the Broadalbin-Kenyetto Fire Company, the Berkshire Fire Department, the Hagaman Fire Department, the Mayfield Fire Department, New York State Police, Lake Valley EMS, the Fulton County Fire Investigation Team, Fulton County Emergency Management, Montgomery County Fire Coordinators, and Fulton County EMS Coordinators.

Cohoes fitness center ending memberships end of August

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

Clarification: Gateway Sports Complex is ending its membership operations. The building itself will remain open and is being used by others including those who lease parts of the building.COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Gateway Sports Complex, located at 22 Remsen Street in Cohoes, is ending its pool and fitness operations. The announcement was made on the Gateway Sports Facebook page on July 31. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "As much as we would love to continue to service Cohoes and its surrounding areas, Gateway must close its doors until further notice," said the post.The last day for membership operations will be the end of the day on August 31. The post encourages those interested to monitor its social media for updates and programs they might still offer. The Local FFF in Rotterdam adding new attractions The complex has a weight and cardio room, a basketball court, and a pool. For the last few weeks, the hours of the cente...

Man pleads guilty to murder in 2022 Pine Lawn drug deal

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Less than two weeks before he was slated to go on trial for a 2022 murder in Pine Lawn, a Ferguson man agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.Henry Simmons, 28, appeared in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to second-degree accessory murder for the shooting death of Bryant Jones.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office had initially charged Simmons with second-degree murder, but agreed to amend that charge, and declined to prosecute three other charges: first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. The trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 14. Harper Finn passes away, St. Louis Medical Examiner confirms A county judge sentenced Simmons to 12 years in state prison.Prosecutors said Simmons gunned down Jones in the early morning hours of July 4, 2022, near the 3700 block of Salome Avenue. Jones, who was in his car at the time of the shooting, crashed into a telephone pole a few hundred fe...

Jennings man charged in connection to car thefts

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:11:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A Jennings man has been charged in connection with a pair of recent car thefts in Maryland Heights and Creve Coeur.According to a report from the Maryland Heights Police Department, officers were notified of a stolen car on July 15 via a Flock camera system. Police found the stolen vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot.The man behind the wheel of the stolen car, identified as Mitchell Jackson, allegedly tried driving away from one officer and struck a parked vehicle. Another officer at the scene drove their police vehicle toward Jackson.Police and prosecutors claim Jackson later admitted knowing the vehicle he was driving had been stolen.It’s unclear if Jackson was taken into custody in Maryland Heights and released, or if he simply evaded arrest. Harper Finn passes away, St. Louis Medical Examiner confirms On the morning of July 21, a 2018 Hyundai Tucson was reported stolen from the parking lot of a Creve Coeur apartment complex.Two days later, Creve...