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Greece plans hourly caps on visitors to ancient Acropolis and will let in up to 20,000 daily

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Visits to the Acropolis of Athens, Greece’s most popular archaeological site, will be capped starting next month at a maximum 20,000 daily and subject to varying hourly entry limits, the Greek government said Wednesday.Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the controls are needed to prevent bottlenecks and overcrowding at the UNESCO World Heritage site. As many as 23,000 people a day have been squeezing into the monument complex, mostly large groups visiting before noon.“That’s a huge number,” Mendoni said in an interview with the Real FM radio network. “Obviously tourism is desirable for the country, for all of us. But we must work out how excessive tourism won’t harm the monument.”The new entry limits will be implemented on a trial basis from Sept. 4, and will come permanently into effect from April 1 2024, the minister said. There will be no limit on how long visits may last, although Mendoni said people who come with organized tours or from c...

Court rules Austin short-term rental ordinance unconstitutional

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A federal judge ruled Tuesday in a lawsuit against the City of Austin for its short-term rental (STR) ordinance, which a Houston couple said unfairly prevented them from listing their Austin property, according to court documents.The ruling from Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra granted plaintiffs Robert and Roberta Anding's motion for summary judgement, and rejected the City's motion to dismiss the Anding's claims.“The City is disappointed with the ruling and is evaluating how best to regulate short-term rentals going forward," a City of Austin spokesperson said. Austin’s crackdown on unlicensed short-term rentals loses steam due to legal questions Ezra's full ruling can be read below:show_temp.pl_DownloadThe Andings, who are Houston residents, acquired a six-bedroom property next to Lake Austin in 2014 with the intent of operating it as a STR. In 2016, the City of Austin issued an ordinance that prohibited non-residents from listing properties in such a...

Specialized therapy team for at-risk youth coming to Hays County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- Hays County will welcome a specialized response team to support at-risk youth. According to a press release by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the new Multisystemic Therapy (MST) team is a family and community-based treatment for at-risk youth from 12 to 17 years old. "It has proven most effective for treating youth who have committed or are at risk of committing violent offenses, have serious mental health or substance abuse concerns, are at risk of out-of-home placement, and have experienced abuse and neglect," the release read. The team is funded through part of the state's $105.5 million response to the Uvalde school shooting. RELATED COVERAGE: One year after Uvalde shooting, fight for transparency and accountability beats on $4.7 million was included to fund seven new MST teams across the state. The seven new MST teams include: Hill Country MHDD (Uvalde, Comal, Hays Counties)Bluebonnet Trails Community Services (Guadalupe, Caldwell a...

The Rio Grande's new reality: Kayaking through Operation Lone Star

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

EAGLE PASS, Texas (Nexstar) -- Life on the river is not as it once was. As Jessi Fuentes sets his kayak free in the Rio Grande, he's struck by the abrupt entrapment of his favorite pastime - the river, once free-flowing and free for all to access, now outfitted like the outer walls of a prison.The banks are bogged in mud, and the Carrizo cane is uprooted for concertina wire. Its razors are strewn with torn T-shirts, perhaps the only thing their one-time owners had on their backs before they surrendered to state troopers.Fuentes said it looked like Texas was fortifying for an army to invade."For me, it hurts," he said. "We live and die by how this river flows. If people don't take care of it, everybody's gonna suffer."Nexstar received special access to join Fuentes on a kayaking excursion down the river, which is now closed to the public as the state ramps up border security efforts under Operation Lone Star. The goal: reach the buoy barriers. Governor Greg Abbott ordered the thousan...

Ohio officer's 'crying,' disclosures led to firing after K-9 attack: records

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Newly obtained records from Ohio's Circleville Police Department shine a light on how it handled a K-9 bite that grabbed national headlines.The July 4 incident unfolded when Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers chased a truck driver, Jadarrius Rose, who didn't pull over for an inspection for a missing mud flap.The chase stretched about 30 miles across three counties. It ended in Circleville, Ohio, after troopers used spikes to pop one of Rose's tires. There, Circleville K-9 officer Ryan Speakman joined the response, releasing his dog as Rose was surrendering to troopers.Speakman was fired three weeks later, but the Circleville records show he was not let go because of anything he did at the scene, but rather due to his actions afterward. Footage from Speakman's body camera shows that the officer shouted commands before he fully exited his vehicle."Get on the [expletive] ground or I'm going to send the dog!" he shouted at Rose while he was emerging from his v...

Washington County deputy to appeal ruling in wrongful-death lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

Washington County officials said Tuesday they are appealing a portion of a U.S. District Court judge’s order that let stand a wrongful-death lawsuit against a sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed a suicidal man during a 2018 standoff in Lake Elmo.In a ruling issued July 6, U.S. District Judge Michael Davis denied Deputy Brian Krook’s motion for summary judgment in the case involving the death of Benjamin Evans on April 12, 2018. Krook in 2020 was acquitted of manslaughter by a Washington County jury.Benjamin Evans, 23, of Lake Elmo, was shot and killed by a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy on April 12, 2018. (Courtesy of Benjamin Evans family)Krook is appealing the portion of Davis’ order denying his “qualified immunity on (Evans’) Fourth Amendment excessive force claim, which is the only surviving claim in this action,” according to the notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, filed on Monday.“We do have a pending appeal, and we believe that there is a st...

The Local FFF in Rotterdam adding new attractions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Local FFF (Fun, Funner, Funnest!) is adding new attractions and having a grand reopening. The entertainment center is located inside Viaport Rotterdam. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In addition to its karaoke, axe throwing, and arcade games, The Local is adding boutique roller skating, laser tag, escape rooms, and 3D black-light mini golf. Each attraction has a unique theme."When I acquired the space, I had a vision to make it amazing for Schenectady families,” said owner Jacki Kurtz. “I have always loved doing escape rooms to connect with my own sons and I am thankful for the business opportunity to help other families and friends experience that kind of joy." Vintage clothing, artisan shop opening on Albany’s Lark Street The Local will be announcing soft openings of the new attractions on its social media over the next few weeks. The grand reopening is set for August 18. 

Police looking for missing 10-year-old girl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Troy Police are asking the public for help in finding a missing 10-year-old girl. Police say Rosa Elizabeth is missing and is believed to be endangered after getting into an unknown car on Tuesday around 11:40 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Elizabeth was last seen wearing a grey sweatshirt and may be traveling to New York City or Long Island. Anyone with information on Elizabeth's whereabouts is encouraged to call Troy Police at (518) 270-4421.

Robert Fisher pleads not guilty to rape, murder of 3-year-old

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Robert Fisher, 33, pleaded not guilty to murdering and raping a three-year-old child in Rensselaer County Court Aug. 2. Fisher walked into court in handcuffs, facing a full courtroom including about a dozen first responders. He pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and first degree rape of a three-year-old child. Investigators tell News10 they responded to the scene, on Broadway in Rensselaer, shortly after 7:00 a.m. on Jul. 7 to a 911 call about a child in distress. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! They said it was immediately clear something was wrong, took the child to Albany Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead by, what prosecutors called, "homicidal violence." Mary Pat Donnelly, Rensselaer County District Attorney, said Fisher is believed to be the romantic partner of the child's mother. The mother called 911 the morning of Jul. 7; prosecutors explained they believe she was home...

Sushi restaurant coming to former Lake George Howard Johnson's

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:29 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The former home of the last remaining Howard Johnson's restaurant in the U.S. is adopting something new this year. The restaurant is trading in American family fare for sushi. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Washington County Japanese restaurant Sushi Wa is set to open a new location inside the former Howard Johnson's on Route 9 in Lake George, an employee confirmed to NEWS10 this week. Sushi Wa opened in 2021 at 368 Broadway in the village of Fort Edward.According to reporting by the Albany Times Union, Sushi Wa intends to open the new location by the end of August, with the same menu as the restaurant's existing location. Sushi Wa offers standard and specialty sushi rolls, hibachi, and other Japanese entrees.The Lake George Howard Johnson's first went up for lease in December 2021, remaining closed and vacant through the 2022 summer season. First opened in the 1950s, the restaurant was part of a n...