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Leaders celebrate flexible housing pool program in Cook County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

CHICAGO — One-thousand people who have experienced homelessness and other personal challenges in Chicago and suburban Cook County now have permanent and supportive housing.  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and health and housing leaders celebrated the success of the flexible housing pool program Wednesday.Of the program's participants:60% of the adult are identified as having a serious mental illness.70% of adults and 21% of youth have experienced substance abuse disorders.38% of adults and 23% of youth had run-ins with the law. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Preckwinkle said programs like this, with low barriers that connect people to resources quickly, are needed to ensure safe and healthy communities.

19-year-old dangling from tallest bridge in California rescued

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

(KTXL) – A 19-year-old was rescued after becoming stuck hanging from the tallest bridge in California on Monday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said. According to the sheriff's office, the department received a call about the teenager "dangling from a rope" off the Foresthill Bridge around 6:30 p.m.(Credit: Placer County Sheriff's Office)The sheriff's office said the teen and his 17-year-old friend were filming a video of him swinging from the underside of the bridge when the equipment failed, leaving him hanging about 30 feet from the underside of the catwalk. The unbuilt dam that created California’s tallest bridge Members of the Placer County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue team along with CAL FIRE NEU's Technical Rescue Team successfully brought the 19-year-old back up to the catwalk. The sheriff's office said both teenagers were cited for trespassing on the bridge. The 730-foot-tall, 2,428-foot-long bridge was the second-highest bridge in the world at the time of it...

LA assistant police chief on leave over allegations he used Apple AirTag to stalk fellow officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

(KTLA) – A high-ranking official with the Los Angeles Police Department has been placed on administrative leave after allegations he used an Apple AirTag to stalk another officer he was allegedly in a romantic relationship with, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.  The officer who made the allegations against LAPD Assistant Chief Al Labrada claims she found the tracking device in a waterproof Pelican box inside of her vehicle, and that the device was traced back to his city-issued smartphone. Sources for Nexstar's KTLA said Labrada and the female officer had previously dated, though they ended the relationship a few months ago. She filed a report about the tracking device with the Ontario Police Department on Sept. 7, the department confirmed to KTLA. Video shows Alabama police use stun gun on band director who wouldn’t stop performance Labrada’s cell phone was reportedly confiscated shortly after the report was filed, with the officer also reporting the i...

Spirit Airlines cancels international route from Austin citing low demand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Spirit Airlines has canceled a nonstop international route between Austin and Monterrey, Mexico, citing low demand.The route ran through Sept. 4 before being cancelled. Flights operated on the route for less than a year, having started on Oct. 6, 2022."We truly appreciate the support of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the entire Austin community," an airline spokesperson told KXAN. "We have made the difficult decision to discontinue the route to Monterrey due to lower-than-expected demand." AUS Data Hub: How many passengers have flown out of AUS so far this year? No other airline currently offers a nonstop flight to Monterrey from Austin.The airline has offered refunds to passengers who had booked flights after the Sept. 4 cancellation date.Spirit has launched four new nonstop routes from Austin so far this year: Miami, Baltimore, Detroit and Sacramento. LIST: Here are all the new flights from AUS this year The budget airline has seen a slow climb ...

Report: How APD is handling new changes to cadet classes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new report looked at how the Austin Police Department was handling new changes to its cadet classes.In 2020, APD shut down the cadet academy to better train future officers following protests nationwide against police violence and racial injustice.This new report was put together by Kroll Associates, the auditor who gave the initial assessment of ways the academy could improve training.For the large part, in most of the categories reviewed, the report found the academy was in alignment with goals, improving, or a work in progress.However, the report found the academy still had not set up formalized instructor evaluations or an instructional development plan. There was also no video library for training materials.Kroll said it planned to release another report in December.

Office of Police Oversight updates city on its progress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The director of Austin’s civilian Office of Police Oversight (OPO) sent city leaders a memo Monday about its progress.In the letter, the director outlined several updates, including how it handles complaints of police misconduct, and how its policies align with state law.In the spring, a majority of voters approved for the office to have more access to certain police files and participate in investigations of officer conduct, including anonymous complaints.The memo showed the OPO received 72 compliments about the Austin Police Department and 276 complaints.The city council is expected to review the memo Thursday.

Schlotzsky’s launches sandwich-themed home décor line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Who's hungry? Schlotzsky’s announced Wednesday its launch of a limited-edition home décor collection, aimed at paying tribute to its first sandwich.The Original sandwich was first created and rolled out on South Congress in 1971. The home décor line aims to capture a 1970s nostalgic feel "while representing the 13 ingredients of the sandwich," per a company release.Schlotzsky’s announced Wednesday its launch of a limited-edition home décor collection, aimed at paying tribute to its first sandwich. (Courtesy: Schlotzsky’s)Schlotzsky’s announced Wednesday its launch of a limited-edition home décor collection, aimed at paying tribute to its first sandwich. (Courtesy: Schlotzsky’s)Schlotzsky’s announced Wednesday its launch of a limited-edition home décor collection, aimed at paying tribute to its first sandwich. (Courtesy: Schlotzsky’s)Items are available for purchase through the Schlotzsky’s Sandwich Studio, with prices ranging between $8 and $500. Some items incorpor...

Near 100º through the weekend, before cooling rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hot... and only getting hotter.Afternoon highs will run 5-10° hotter than normal this week with most areas running up the thermometer to the mid- to upper 90s. It is possible we reach 100 degrees any day through the weekend. Helping us get hot? Building high pressure. What may keep us below 100º would be the increasing humidity that will show itself in the form of daily morning clouds. More humid air is harder to heat up than drier air. The humidity in the air will make it *feel* like it's over 100º however.Highs over the next weekEyes continue to stay focused on a cold front early next week with a better chance of rain-bearing opportunities. New data points to this front arriving sometime on Monday.Cold front brings opportunity for rain late weekend into next weekScattered showers look possible beginning Sunday and continuing through Tuesday. Meanwhile, temperatures will cool a few degrees to the low 90s.Rainfall projections are anywhere from 0.25"-1.25" from Sunda...

Texas produces and consumes the most electricity in the US 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Sept. 20, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — For nearly two decades, the Lone Star State has generated more wind-sourced electricity than any other state in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration, or EIA. In 2022, EIA reported Texas produced more electricity than any other state and generated twice as much as second-place Florida. RELATED: Understanding ERCOT’s emergency alert levels However, Texas also leads the country in another category. According to EIA, Texas is the largest energy-consuming state in the nation across all sectors with more than half of the state's energy being used by the industrial sector. Pie chart illustrating the amount of energy used by sector in Texas (Courtesy: U.S. Energy Information Administration)As of May 2023, Texas residents paid 43% more for natural gas and around 10% less for electricity compared to the national average, according to EIA. Commercial and industrial sector...

Shifting demographics: St. Louis City's population halves over half-century, but Greater Metro Area unfazed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:40 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Population data for the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area reveals two consistent trends over the last half-century. People are moving away from the City of St. Louis, but the number of people living in the metro has not dramatically changed. FOX 2 recently compiled Census data for the City of St. Louis, plus every county in the St. Louis metropolitan area, from 1970-2020. As part of the data evaluation process, FOX 2 compiled numbers from 15 counties that Greater St. Louis Inc. lists as part of the region. That includes seven Missouri counties and eight Illinois counties. Here's a closer look at the numbers....MISSOURIILLINOISGREATER ST. LOUIS AREAOver the last half-century, the City of St. Louis has lost half of its population, but the population of the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area has increased by almost 12 percent, according to U.S. Census figures. There are a few other notable trends within population figures over the years...Westward expansionSt. Charles, L...