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Fact checking statement about APD 911 being 'nearly 100%' staffed by next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- During the City of Austin's update on the first of this month on winter preparedness, Asst. Interim City Manager Bruce Mills said "we'll be close to 100% staffed in the next two-to-three weeks at 911."Staffing issues have plagued the emergency communications center for nearly four years now, with KXAN previously reporting 100 people left Austin 911 between 2019 and 2021. This has resulted in slower police response times as well as callers being put on hold when calling 911. ‘Felt like I was abandoned’: Family on hold with 911 after crash, calls ISD police instead After hearing Mills' comment, we asked the Austin Police Department about current staffing levels. The department provided the following numbers. Call-takers: 21 vacancies out of 104 total positions (20% vacancy rate)Dispatchers: 5 vacancies out of 75 positions (7% vacancy rate)By comparison, in July, there were 47 call-taker vacancies - a roughly 50% vacancy rate.911 operators answer incoming 911 calls d...

Firefighters rescue dog from frigid waters of Duluth Ship Canal. Here’s the video.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Fire Department on Monday released video footage of firefighters rescuing a dog from the eight-foot waves of the Duluth Ship Canal last week. The rescue, which happened on Dec. 7, included firefighters in survival float suits climbing into the ship canal and struggling to find the dark-colored dog as it slipped below each big wave.Firefighters responded to the call at about 6:20 p.m. with some crews going directly to the scene and others headed to the Pier B resort complex where they launched a 14-foot inflatable rescue boat.As crews were en route, St. Louis County Dispatchers were able to use cameras on the Aerial Lift Bridge being controlled by the bridge operator to help pinpoint the caller’s location. Upon arrival, crews found the dog’s owner on the south pier on the lake side of the bridge.The firefighters climbed in and made their way toward where the dog was last seen but had difficulty finding the animal. Firefighters on land and the dog̵...

St. Paul nonprofits benefit from recent largesse of billionaire Mackenzie Scott

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has once again given millions to local nonprofits.In the past, mostly in 2022, Scott donated more than $50 million to nonprofits serving Minnesotans.Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Scott announced $2.1 billion that she’s made in charitable donations since November 2022, in a post Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, on her website Yield Giving. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)In this latest round, Scott announced she was donating $2.5 million to the Battered Women’s Justice Project and $2 million to the Hmong American Partnership, both in St. Paul.May yer Thao, president and CEO of the Hmong American Partnership, expressed deep gratitude for the “unexpected and impactful contribution.”“We are incredibly thankful for Mackenzie Scott’s generous donation, which will undoubtedly play a cr...

First look at Weather Risk Communication Center in-action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The newly announced New York State Weather Risk Communication Center serves one key purpose, to help the state prepare for and respond to severe weather. And it didn't take long for the center to be put to use. The overnight storm that rolled through the area gave meteorologists at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center the first chance to put the new communications center into action.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The New York State Weather Risk Communication Center gave NEWS10 the very first look at its daily briefs and internal operations.“First things first we went through and saw what happened,” said Trey Ryan, one of the three meteorologists working for the new center. “So snowfalls, wind gusts, rain totals. We compared a few different sites from the MESONET and the National Weather Service and we tried to compile it into our briefing for emergency managers so they can refer to it for their ...

CDTA service comes to Warren County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is merging with a north country community and it will increase accessibility to transportation throughout the Capital Region. NEWS10 breaks down what you can expect with the new change. New noise ordinance for Glens Falls You may have already seen the changes at your nearby bus stop. Gone are the old GGFT logos and in its place CDTA. “We are going to merge the Greater Glens Falls Transit system into CDTA effective January 1,” said CDTA CEO Carm Basile. The rates and routes will go unchanged. Basile says the change will be more of a visible one. He says you will notice, “blue busses, gold trim. Blue bus stops gold trim. Consistent, reliable and we hope that we can impress the citizens of Glens Falls.” Feds want lead out of water pipes within 10 years And they will keep the current drivers. Mayor Bill Collins says having CDTA in the area brings all of the benefits of CDTA to the community. He says it w...

Clayton murder suspect's case goes to grand jury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. -- One of the suspects charged in connection with the murder of a Clayton resident was in court this afternoon. The victim was shot and killed after interrupting a car break-in outside his home. Police are still searching for the other suspect.Trenell Johnson, 18, is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center. He is facing charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Joshua Harris, 41.It was a murder that rocked the quiet community of Clayton. Police Johnson shot and killed Harris on November 13, 2023.On Monday, Johnson appeared in court for a preliminary hearing. The case has now been turned over to the grand jury. Court docs: Woman made $100K for unworked hours at Chesterfield nursing home Last week, police said another 18-year-old played a major role in the death of Harris. Investigators are now searching for Darrion Johnson.Clayton police found Harris on Wydown near Hanley Road just before 5:30 a.m. Authorities say surveillance ...

Masks required for BJC Healthcare employees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Starting Wednesday, BJC employees will be required to wear masks while in patient care settings. A BJC spokesperson says the decision was made to control the spread of infection during the current peak respiratory virus season. Patients and visitors are not currently required to wear masks but are encouraged to do so. Court docs: Woman made $100K for unworked hours at Chesterfield nursing home Masks are effective in slowing the spread of diseases like COVID-19 by acting as a barrier to respiratory droplets that may contain infectious particles. They prevent the transmission of viruses by covering the nose and mouth, reducing the risk of both spreading and contracting infections.The preventive measure is a significant role in public health strategies, helping protect communities and vulnerable populations.

Snowflake Village helps give holiday gifts to kids in the hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, but that may not be the case when your child is in the hospital. That's why BJC is helping parents, who don't have the time or money, to shop for gifts for their sick child. FOX 2 reporter Laura Simon is in the Central West End at Snowflake Village.Donations of new toys and gift cards are accepted at BJC at the Commons from December 6th to December 20th. They're supporting a toy store in the hospital for families during the holidays.Items needed include teen gifts (Lego sets, sports apparel, spa items) and infant toys (board books, rattles, lovies). St. Louis Children's Main Hospital cannot receive donations during the holiday season. Online purchases are possible through the hospital's Amazon Wishlist or locally at The Nook, a volunteer-run shop, with proceeds benefiting the hospital.Learn more about how to donate here.

Illinois police begin sober driving holiday traffic campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

SHILOH, Ill. -- Topping police wish lists this season is putting drunk or impaired drivers in jail and keeping your family safe. The Shiloh Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation for their annual "Drive sober or get pulled over" campaign.It kicks off this Friday and runs through January 2, 2024. This is when law enforcement shows zero tolerance for alcohol and drug-impaired driving. They say you should use a designated driver, public transportation or ride-sharing if you plan on celebrating with alcohol at your holiday parties.

Kansas man wanted in Kiowa County double homicide killed one and hid both bodies, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

A Kansas man who is wanted in connection with the deaths of two women in Kiowa County ran one of them over and hid both their bodies, police allege.Phillip Lieurance, a 36-year-old man from Emporia, Kansas, will face one charge of second-degree murder and two charges of tampering with a dead body in the deaths of Linda Estrada, 44, and Amy Ford, 39, when he returns to Colorado, according to a Kiowa County arrest affidavit.Lieurance is detained in the Lyons County Jail in Kansas on charges unrelated to the Colorado homicides, including vehicular assault and other traffic violations.Kiowa County sheriff’s deputies issued an arrest warrant for Lieurance in connection with the deaths of the Kansas women after their remains were found by law enforcement in rural eastern Colorado on Sept. 20.Lieurance told Kiowa County deputies that the two women had gotten into a fight in his vehicle while he was driving on Interstate 70, and he pulled off the road when it escalated to punches bein...