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'Tremendous drop in interest': Austin Fire recruitment down, union chief says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nearly 2,000 fewer people applied for the 2023 Austin Fire Department recruitment process than the previous one in 2021, the chief of the Austin Firefighters Association says. The application process was open from March 15-29. "We're seeing a tremendous drop in interest in the fire department right now," Association Chief Bob Nicks said. Roughly 1,370 applications were received during the recruitment period this March, Assistant Chief Richard Davis, who oversees our recruiting division at AFD, told KXAN. That number matched what Nicks provided us. In 2021, which Nicks said was the last time AFD opened up its application portal, 3,270 candidates applied, he said. That number was already down from years prior. "Usually we would have closer to 4,000," Nicks said. AFD did not provide application numbers for previous years, but KXAN filed a public information request to access that data. "I can tell you that submitted applications were less than expected which seems to b...

APD makes arrest in January north Austin homicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department arrested a man wanted for a January homicide in north Austin, APD said in a news release Friday.The man was identified as Demonte Harris, 26, police said. Victim identified in North Lamar homicide, APD continues investigating At approximately 1:15 a.m., Jan. 5, officers responded to a crash in the 8600 block of North Lamar Boulevard, the release said. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the driver of the vehicle, Fritzgerald Bissereth, 20, shot and unresponsive. Bissereth died on the scene, police said.Detectives previously said they believed Bissereth was shot by an unknown suspect, later identified as Harris, who left the area immediately after.The case remained under investigation Friday.

Cooler start to April following record heat on Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin tied the Mar. 31 record high temperature of 90° on Friday ahead of a cool front moving through this evening. This front will drop humidity and bring cooler morning temperatures on Saturday, on our way to a lovely first day of April. UPDATED April forecast increases chances for rain This front has the potential to trigger isolated storms and showers along, but mainly east of I-35 during the evening hours. One or two storms may have just enough strength to turn severe in in Milam and Lee counties (northeast of Austin), but the risk and coverage is low. Wind damage is our primary concern.Low severe storm risk in northeast counties late FridaySaturday is the annual ABC Kite Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Zilker Park. The forecast is for dry weather under a partly cloudy sky with comfortable, low humidity. A chance of showers and thunderstorms returns Sunday, then more record heat is in the forecast early next week.FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date wi...

Saints’ rally falls short in 7-4, season-opening loss to Mud Hens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

The St. Paul Saints rallied with three ninth-inning runs but stranded a runner at third on a strikeout to end a 7-4 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens in the opener for both Class AAA teams Friday afternoon at Fifth Third Field in Toledo.Saints second baseman Edouard Julien, the Twins’ fourth-rated prospect, homered in his first Triple-A at-bat to cut St. Paul’s deficit to 3-1 in the sixth inning, but Toledo answered with a four-run seventh to put the game out of reach.Right-handed pitcher Bailey Ober (0-1), a late cut in Twins camp, surrendered three runs on five hits in three innings. He walked one and struck out four, but two errors — a throwing error by outfielder Matt Wallner and fielding error by first baseman Tyler White — helped Toledo score two runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead.Toledo right-hander Brenan Hanifee gave up one hit and one walk in four innings, and left-hander Zach Logue (1-0) earned the victory with two innings relief. He gave up a one-out single to H...

Bald eagle sighted in Gloversville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) —When people in the city of Gloversville got ready for the day on Thursday, the last thing they expected to find was a bald eagle. On the corner of Kingsboro Avenue and First Avenue, Gloversville resident, Carly Alling, acted quickly to take photos of the bald eagle, followed by other members of the community."I was taking my daughter to school, heading south. Seeing the eagle right here, I pulled over, it was huge," described Alling. Albany High meeting on shooting hoax Alling reached out to NEWS10 to share the sighting. She wanted to do something to bring awareness to the bald eagle."We'd like to see them protected as much, and definitely spread the word around, as we don't see them very often at all," said Alling.On the opposite side of First Avenue, Dr. Tom Eagan recalled the last time he had seen a bald eagle in the area. Dr. Eagan has family in other states who also enjoy seeing bald eagles. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community ev...

Students battle it out in robotics competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Students from all over the world traveled to the MVP Arena to put their robotics skills to the test. Forty-eight teams created bots to battle it out during the First Robotics Competition.Hundreds were in attendance Friday to watch the excitement. The matches measure different abilities of each robot -- such as their power and how they complete obstacles -- and score points in the fast-paced game play. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The challenge is released the first Saturday in January of every year," First Robotics Upstate NY Regional Dir. Janice Martino said. "From the time that challenge is released to the competition, the teams have maybe six to eight weeks to completely design and build a robot from the ground up."The games continue on Saturday. Students are vying for a spot in the championships in Houston. Admission is free and open to the public.

Crumbl Cookies opens Latham location

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new store serving up delicious treats opened its doors in Latham on Friday. Crumbl Cookies was founded in 2017 in Utah and has locations in 45 states.Now, it's bringing its freshly baked cookies to the Capital Region for the first time. The owners are excited to be in the area. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "We have loved it, loved it," co-owner Bre Lynn said. "Yesterday, we had a soft opening, so just word of mouth opening, and holy cow, the line was through the parking lot, and we are so, so grateful."A second location will be opening soon in Clifton Park in the Clifton Park Center Mall. The Latham location is in the Fresh Market Plaza.

Groundbreaking held for new vehicle maintenance facility

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Construction began on Friday on an expansion project at the New York National Guard Headquarters in Troy. Officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new vehicle maintenance facility, which will be next to the New York State Armory.The old facility was more than 50 years old. Officials said the new one will nearly double the amount of work and storage space. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Our service maintenance facilities not only facilitate the equipment readiness for unit's specific mission, but also serve as the initial response capability for the civil support operation during state and local emergencies in the Capital Region," Dir. of Logistics Pat Clare said.The new facility is expected to open by May 2025.

UPDATE: Tornado watch remains around St. Louis, many warnings expire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis metropolitan area remains under a tornado watch through 8 p.m. Friday, but many warnings have already passed through the area. Tornado warnings had been issued for Franklin, Crawford and Washington counties in Missouri and Greene County in Illinois within the 5 p.m. hours. Those warnings have now been downgraded to watches. When a tornado warning is issued, a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar and there is imminent danger to life and property. If you’re in the area of a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately.During a tornado watch, atmospheric conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop, but a tornado has not yet been sighted or indicated by weather radar.The St. Louis Metropolitan is under a Level-4 risk for severe weather through late Friday. Mother Nature means business on Friday, as winds will become quite gusty from the south as temperatures climb towards 70 degrees. Severe weather threats include 70 to 80 miles per ho...

PHOTOS: Thick clouds amid tornado-warned storms around St. Louis region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Under a tornado watch for several hours Friday, the St. Louis region indeed see some tornado-warned systems through the early evening hours. Mother Nature brought many forms of severe weather to the area, including tornado and thunderstorm threats, heavy winds, hail and some rain. Top Stories: Severe weather expected near St. Louis Friday As of 6 p.m. Friday, it seems as if many of the large threats have cleared. However, the St. Louis area does remain under a tornado watch through 8 p.m. FOX 2's weather team is learning more about impacts, spotting some photos of thick clouds around St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County along the way. Check out those photos in the gallery above. And just moments ago, FOX 2 photographer John Gerding captured this snapshot of a rainbow from St. Charles County.