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NHTSA: Distraction, speeding, alcohol drive up 2021 traffic deaths

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, the highest number in 16 years with deaths due to speeding and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.The 2021 final numbers, released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, confirmed earlier estimates by the agency showing a 10.5% increase in deaths over 2020. That’s the highest number since 2005 and the largest percentage increase since 1975.Data shows a 12% rise in fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver, with 3,522 people killed. That prompted the agency to kick off a $5 million advertising campaign in an effort to keep drivers focused on the road. Agency officials said such cases likely are under-reported by police. North DuSable Lake Shore Drive resurfacing project to begin in April The number of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and cyclist fatalities were up 2% for the year. The number of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, while fatalities involving alcohol-imp...

New federal rules make fewer EVs eligible for tax credit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Drivers considering an electric car may need to put the pedal to the metal to get to the dealership. The Biden administration just announced new rules likely to slash the number of electric vehicles eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit."The list (of eligible cars) … may be shorter but it's going to be worth it,” said Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council.He said the new rules, which mandate eligible cars include more American-made parts, are part of a long-term strategy."Over time, we're going to develop this industry domestically, increase jobs and at the end of the day, there will be more cars eligible for that tax credit,” said Ramamurti.The administration insists it will only be a matter of years before U.S. automakers can bridge the supply chain gap. It claims the delay will not hinder the U.S.'s ability to drastically slash carbon emissions by 2050."I think the targets are very achievable,” said Albert Gore, son of...

Nutria spotted in Lady Bird Lake — what is it?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — What started as a mysterious animal swimming in Lady Bird Lake has been identified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Kayakers find alligator near Longhorn Dam in Lady Bird Lake KXAN viewer Tracy Barden sent us this video of a creature gliding with its head just above the water. The video was taken Friday morning just before sunrise near the boardwalk in the 1500 block of Riverside Drive. KXAN sent the video to TPWD and its experts believe the animal is a nutria.Nutria are common in Central Texas. They can also be found in East Texas and along the Texas coast. The rodent is often compared to a beaver, according to TPWD. The rodent isn't always a great neighbor.In a post titled "Texas' most unwanted plants and animals," TPWD said nutria eat aquatic vegetation and burrow, "which can lead to erosion and damage roads."This video was sent to us through ReportIt. You can send photos, videos or tips to KXAN at [email protected].

Legislation to itemize medical bills meets opposition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – State lawmakers and a representative of the Texas Hospital Association expressed concern Monday about legislation that would require health care providers to send patients an itemized bill when billing for medical services, according to testimony at a House Public Health Committee meeting.House Bill 1973, by State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round Rock, said a health care provider would not be allowed to pursue debt collection against a patient without providing an itemized bill.Currently patients can request an itemized bill, but they don’t get it automatically, Harris said.“The lack of an itemized bill continues to hide actual prices from patients – even after they're being told what they owe – and doesn't allow patients a chance to check and make sure that the correct services were billed for,” Harris testified Monday at the Capitol. “I think we can all agree that transparency in health care is critical, especially when it comes to costs. Research shows that six out o...

Record hot Monday afternoon with an isolated strong thunderstorm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hot, humid weather is in place across the area this afternoon. Austin has eclipsed its record high for Apr. 3, which stood previously at 90° set most recently in 2017.A few isolated strong to severe storms are possible this evening in the Hill Country with large hail, wind damage, and a low tornado threat.The Storm Prediction Center has the area under a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms.1 out of 5 risk for severe weather late this afternoon/early evening UPDATED April forecast increases chances for rain Tuesday will be dry albeit with a mostly cloudy sky. The next round of showers and thunderstorms arrives late Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. A brief break from the rain happens for most of the area Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning.Then we get into excellent chance for showers and thunderstorms Thursday to Saturday with the precipitation beginning to wind down on Easter Sunday. By the time we get to the end of Easter Sunday some rain totals averagin...

Colony of prairie dogs disappears from El Paso Zoo, according to USDA report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- A colony of more than a dozen prairie dogs disappeared from the El Paso Zoo in 2021. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection report, it wasn't discovered until they failed to emerge in the Spring of 2022. The information was part of an open-source dataset detected by Stanford University's Big Local News and the Data Liberation Project, which tracks animal-care inspections across the United States. The USDA report from January 2023 indicates that an entire colony of black-tailed prairie dogs went missing around the same time as a 7-year-old slender-tailed meerkat named "Pink." The Zoo staff became aware the 14 prairie dogs were missing in March when they failed to appear from underground at the end of the colder season. Staff last reported seeing the prairie dogs before going underground on September 26, 2021. Zoo staff reportedly began searching for them, using camera equipment to explore the tunnels and burrows and f...

Texas baseball drops road series to Oklahoma State, returns home for 5 of next 6

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns baseball team couldn't hold on to an early lead against Oklahoma State on Sunday, losing the game 4-3 and the series 2-1 in Stillwater.The Longhorns won the opening game of the series 5-3 on Friday to extend its winning streak to 16 games, the nation's longest active streak at the time, but the Cowboys bounced back to take the remaining two games of the Big 12 series 4-1 on Saturday as well as the 1-run win Sunday.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersOn Sunday, Texas catcher Garret Guillemette provided the Longhorns with all their runs in the first inning with a 3-run home run. It was his fifth home run of the season.The Longhorns had a golden opportunity to add to the lead after loading the bases in the top of the ninth with nobody out, but the Cowboys were able to squirm out of the jam and then they tacked on two runs in the bottom half...

Monello and Constantine in Hotel Ivy closing at end of May

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

Monello and Constantine in the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis will close at the end of May.The dual concepts — Monello is an Italian restaurant on the main level while Constantine is the bar below — have occupied the upscale hotel for eight years. The restaurants are owned by Jester Concepts, which also owns Borough, Parlour, Butcher and the Boar and P.S. Steak.Last year, the hotel was acquired by New York-based Monarch Alternative Capital, and the new owners have enlisted New York-based APICII Hospitality to run the food and beverage program.“It’s been a fantastic eight years of food, hospitality and memories at Monello and Constantine,” Brent Frederick, owner of Jester Concepts, said in a news release. “While we’re sad to go, we’re thankful for the opportunity and to the community for so widely embracing us. We wish nothing but the best for APICII and their new concepts.”No word yet on what the new concepts will be, but the spaces are expected to reopen this fall.Re...

State considers appeal after judge strikes down Minnesota law limiting gun permits for age 18-20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

A federal court ruling that a Minnesota law prohibiting 18-to-20-year-olds from obtaining permits to carry handguns in public is unconstitutional remained on hold Monday while the state pursues a potential appeal.A reluctant U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez struck down the state law on Friday, citing a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on gun rights last year. But after the state attorney general’s office filed an emergency motion for a stay, she agreed to hold off, meaning 18-to-20-year-olds still can’t apply for carry permits in Minnesota until the matter is resolved.The ruling is the latest example how the Supreme Court case, known as the Bruen decision, has upended gun laws nationwide, dividing courts and sowing confusion over what restrictions can remain in force.The plaintiffs are three gun rights groups, including the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and three individuals who were over 18 but under 21 when the lawsuit was filed in 2021. They have until Wednes...

Kickoff to Summer at the Fair returns May 25–28: What you need to know for the mini-State Fair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:22 GMT

The wait for cookies and French fries just got shorter.The Minnesota State Fair’s now-annual Kickoff to Summer at the Fair is returning next month for four preview days — May 25–28; Memorial Day weekend, though not the holiday itself — to give us a taste of the fair a few months early.A limited number of tickets are available and go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 6, on the State Fair’s website. This year’s kickoff is open for fewer days than last year’s event, and tickets will now be available for purchase on a first-come-first-served basis rather than via a lottery drawing.Many of the Fair’s most iconic food stands will be open during the kickoff event, including Big Fat Bacon, Café Caribe, Dino’s Gyros, Fresh French Fries, Giggles’ Campfire Grill, Mouth Trap Cheese Curds, Pronto Pups, Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar and Tiny Tim Donuts, among about 30 other vendors. Plus, a couple dozen merchants will set up shop at the Fairgrounds, and there’ll be three stages for...