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Mentorship program at Pflugerville Fire Department aims to retain passionate staff

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In addition to fighting fires, departments across the nation face challenges with mental health and recruitment and retention.The Pflugerville Fire Department recently started a program to address all three of those factors: a mentorship program for cadets where mentors meet with them once a month for 90-minute sessions."Some good knowledge that me and the other mentors can pass on to these cadets to at least get them a good start and then see where it grows from there," said firefighter Michael Hernandez, who leads the program.Jeremy Ayers, an apparatus specialist, is one of the mentors. Both he and Hernandez said they're proud to serve in the department but noted the job isn't easy, and it's often grim."We talk about line-of-duty deaths," he said. "So that's important. Speaking on things, how we can prevent certain tragedies in the fire service."According to the U.S. Fire Administration, firefighters are five times more likely to suffer from PTSD and depression th...

Southern Baptist Convention settles high-profile lawsuit that accused former leader of sexual abuse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Southern Baptist Convention and others have reached a confidential settlement in a high-profile lawsuit that accused a former leader of sexual assault, ending a six-year legal drama that expanded victims’ rights in Texas, helped prompt a broader reckoning over child sexual abuse in evangelical churches and showed that a prominent conservative activist and Texas House candidate repeatedly downplayed abuse allegations.In 2017, Duane Rollins filed the lawsuit accusing Paul Pressler, a longtime Southern Baptist figure and former Texas judge, of decades of rape beginning when Rollins was a 14-year-old member of Pressler’s church youth group in Houston.Rollins claimed in court documents that the alleged attacks pushed him into drug and alcohol addictions that kept him in prison throughout much of his adult life. After disclosing the alleged rapes to a prison psychiatrist, Rollins filed the suit in Harris County against Pressler along with other defendants who ...

Affordable housing nonprofit seeking donations to help families pay rent

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Foundation Communities, a local nonprofit that provides affordable housing, is asking for donations to replenish an emergency program fund designed to help struggling families pay for things like rent, utilities, and groceries. For the second year in a row, the nonprofit said the demand for financial assistance exceeded the budget of the program. According to a news release from Foundation Communities, the program helped more than 200 families at a cost of $180,000, which is $30,000 more than its budget. What's causing the high demand? Inflation and the higher cost of living in Austin forced low-income families to request more money from the fund, according to the news release. Karol Iruegas, her partner Jaime Lopez, and their 5-year-old son Elias live in a Foundation Communities development in the Mueller neighborhood. Iruegas is a full-time student at Austin Community College studying cybersecurity, and the family has to live paycheck to paycheck off of Lopez's in...

Police looking for man accused of hitting person, threatening them with gun

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is looking for a man accused of aggravated assault in early December.According to APD, the man forced the victim behind a dumpster and stuck them multiple times before threatening them with a gun. The suspect then fled on foot before officers arrived. Police said this happened around 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 7 at 2407 South Congress Avenue, which is the address of a shopping center in South Congress Square, at the corner of Congress and East Oltorf Street. The suspect is described as a white man, 45-55 years old with light hair in a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans, and a gray and blue ball cap. Suspect of aggravated robbery onDec. 7 at 2407 South Congress Avenue (Austin Police Department pohto) Dec. 7 at 2407 South Congress Avenue (Austin Police Department pohto) Police noted he possibly lives in the area of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street and could be armed with a handgun. Anyone with any information shoul...

Metro Transit routes free after 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve– but Green Line wraps service by midnight

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

For New Year’s Eve revelers looking to avoid driving in the Twin Cities, there’s good news and bad news on the horizon. First the good news: On Sunday, Metro Transit customers can ride free from 6 p.m. to the end of service on all Metro Transit routes, including the return trip on the Northstar commuter rail after the Vikings-Packers game at U.S. Bank Stadium.The “Miller Free Rides” promotion spans all buses and light rail, according to an announcement from the public transit authority: “No fare, no coupons; simply hop on and take a seat for free.” Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is also participating.But here’s the rub: Metro Transit isn’t out to party all night. In fact, the Blue Line and Green Line light rail trains will begin rolling to their final destination before 11:30 p.m. Some buses run later.The final eastbound Green Line train departs Target Field Station in Minneapolis at 11:23 p.m. on Sunday, and the final westb...

Grand Avenue French spot Salut Bar Americain will close in the new year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

Salut Bar Americain, a longtime brasserie-style French spot on Grand Avenue, is set to close by Jan. 8.Parasole Restaurant Holdings, which runs Salut locations in St. Paul and Edina, plus other restaurants including Manny’s Steakhouse and Good Earth, has decided not to renew the Grand Avenue lease when it expires in January.“We found that our other stores were supplementing this store, and with prices going up across the board, we couldn’t make sense of it anymore,” said Parasole chief operating officer Donna Fahs. “As I said to the staff… every time we open the door, we lose money.”In St. Paul, Salut Bar Americain was known for its spacious patio and accessible French-inspired menu.The restaurant opened on Grand Avenue in 2008 in the former Sidney’s space. Salut’s first location, in the 50th and France area of Edina, opened in 2005. At the time, Parasole also operated buzzy Twin Cities restaurants like Chino Latino and Figlio.Fahs said several factors contributed to the closure, in...

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 17

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

Packers at Vikings (-2½)The Packers have suspended star cornerback Jaire Alexander for his stunt crashing of the coin toss last week in Carolina. Green Bay fans haven’t been this embarrassed by the clownish, “look at me” antics of one of their players since Aaron Rodgers left.Pick: Packers by 349ers at Commanders (+13½)San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy saw his MVP candidacy implode on Monday night thanks to four interceptions against Baltimore. Analysts agree it is the fastest, most devastating collapse of a campaign since Ron DeSantis.Pick: 49ers by 11Dolphins at Ravens (-3½)Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson took the lead in the NFL MVP race with Monday night’s victory. Jackson won the big game despite the fact that he had a lower completion percentage to Ravens players than Brock Purdy did.Pick: Dolphins by 3Bengals at Chiefs (-7½)Kansas City’s Andy Reid raised eyebrows when he was caught shoving star tight end Travis Kelce on the sideline during their loss to Las Vegas. While they q...

Lake Katrine man arrested on burglary charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

LLOYD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Lake Katrine man has been arrested following a burglary investigation, according to the Town of Lloyd Police Department. Sergio Ulysse, 41, is facing multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On December 27, officers responded to a home on New Paltz Road for the report of a burglary. Police say Ulysse allegedly broke into the residence and attempted to steal personal property before being confronted by the homeowner. Ulysse then reportedly fled the area on foot and was arrested after being located on the nearby rail trail. He was charged with second-degree burglary and attempted larceny. Ulster Police investigating Christmas Eve car crash Ulysse was arraigned at the Town of Lloyd Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail on $5,000 cash bail. He is due back in court on January 2.

Where to find gas for under $3 in the Capital Region

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Gas prices in the Albany area have been steadily declining over the past several months. According to GasBuddy, the average price of gas in the Capital Region is now $3.28 per gallon. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! However, some gas stations in the area are already under the $3 mark. Here's where you can fill up with regular gas for less than $3 a gallon in the Capital Region, according to GasBuddy.$2.87 at Citgo, 253 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa$2.93 at Runway Express, 11402 Saratoga Road in Ballston Spa$2.95 at Sunoco, 230 Church Avenue in Ballston Spa$2.95 at Speedway, 229 Church Avenue in Ballston Spa$2.96 at Valero, 1324 Saratoga Road in Ballston Spa$2.97 at Stewart's Shops, 448 Geyser Road in Milton$2.98 at Citgo, 12800 Route 9W in West Coxsackie$2.99 at Stewart's Shops, 201 Northline Road in Ballston Spa$2.99 at Cumberland Farms, 75 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa$2.99 at Cumberland Farms, 260 West Bridge...

Ulster Police investigating Christmas Eve car crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:36 GMT

ULSTER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Ulster Police Department announced they are investigating a car crash that occurred on December 24. The incident took place on Route 209 southbound between Sawkill Road and Route 28. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Sunday at 5:58 p.m., emergency crews responded to the area following reports of a head-on crash involving two vehicles. Upon arrival, both cars were found with significant damage and both drivers were trapped inside their respective vehicles. Crews were able to remove the two motorists safely in less than 30 minutes using hydraulic rescue tools. Both people were then transported to nearby hospitals to be treated for serious injuries. The investigation remains ongoing.