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Callahan's General Store owner passes away at age 93

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Callahan's General Store, a south Austin institution, is mourning the passing of owner Murray Callahan, family members confirmed to KXAN. Murray's daughter-in-law, Denise Callahan, said he passed away Saturday at 93 years old."He was a much loved Austin fixture at the family store and beyond," she said in an email to KXAN.In a Facebook tribute Saturday to Murray, Callahan's staff recognized the legions of customers "happily greeted, eagerly helped, and sincerely thanked" by Murray. In an obituary shared with KXAN, Murray's family reflected on his 40-plus-year dedication to serving customers within the agriculture community.Callahan's General Store, a south Austin institution, is mourning the passing of owner Murray Callahan, family members confirmed to KXAN. Murray's daughter-in-law, Denise Callahan, said he passed away on Saturday at 93 years old. (Courtesy: Callahan's General Store)Callahan's General Store, a south Austin institution, is mourning the passing of own...

Texas universities, colleges respond to rise of ChatGPT use on campuses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With increasing use and familiarity with the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT, some Texas colleges are looking at the technology's impact on their campuses. Several Texas higher education institutions told KXAN they became aware of ChatGPT in late 2022 and began looking at its on-campus use at the start of the 2023 spring semester. ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, creates responses to the user's prompts and questions. RELATED: Texas may create 7-person artificial intelligence advisory council Art Markman, the vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, said the university is focusing on using new tools like ChatGPT to learn and teach most effectively rather than focusing on finding students who are cheating. "I think when a tool comes along, like ChatGPT, initially everybody's concern is 'Is this going to destroy our ability to teach?' Markman said. "But very quickly we discovered no, actually, it's a tool that could b...

Round Rock ISD student earns perfect ACT score

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock High School junior Emaan Chhatriwala earned a perfect ACT composite score this year — joining the ranks of fewer than 0.25% of ACT participants who walk away with a top score.Of 1.34 million Class of 2022 students who took the ACT, only 3,376 earned a perfect score, according to an ACT news release. The exam comprises English, math, reading and science sections, each scored between 1-36. A student's resulting composition score is calculated by averaging all four sections' scores together."Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement," ACT CEO Janet Godwin said in a release. "A student's exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead." PAST COVERAGE: Round Rock ISD students launch nonprofit to support Central Texas refugees Chhatriwala's high school accomplishments don't only extend to the classroom. KXAN reported back in December that he...

Letters: Little Free Libraries affect the lives of real people in St. Paul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

Amend and adaptRegarding the news report “Little Free Library may close its door on Selby”:It may be “little” and its books may be “free,” but these words in no way diminish the influence and rich treasures a Little Free Library offers. As they have been “planted” and their numbers have increased in St. Paul from over a decade ago, Little Free Libraries have captured the hearts of most people, and the ire of a few. Occasionally a complaint is presented to our City Council objecting to the placement of an LFL; usually when it is on a public boulevard instead of private property.Case in point is a Selby Avenue LFL on a pedestrian-unfriendly street with heavy vehicle traffic. LFL steward and property owner Greg Trentman appeared before the City Council last week to argue the placement of registered LFL #96307 (that’s 96,307 registered LFLs world-wide, as of our COVID years). According to the March 22 Pioneer Press article, Greg has until ...

South St. Paul school district not liable for teacher Babbitt’s sex abuse, judges find

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

South St. Paul Public Schools is not liable for the sexual abuse of a former student by teacher Aric Babbitt and his husband, according to a panel of appellate court judges.An Illinois man sued anonymously in October 2020, accusing the school district of multiple counts of negligence related to sexual abuse he says Babbitt committed in May 2016, a few years after the man was a student in Babbitt’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes at Lincoln Center Elementary.Dakota County District Judge David L. Knutson last fall granted the district’s motion for summary judgment, writing that until the plaintiff and his parents reported the abuse to police in August 2016, “the District had no knowledge that Babbitt posed a risk to children.”Aric Babbitt (courtesy photo)Knutson also found the district wasn’t liable because Babbitt was acting outside the scope of his employment when he assaulted the plaintiff and the assault was “not foreseeable to the District.”On Monday, a three-judge panel from the ...

Here’s a look at the 26 players the Twins plan to take north

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. — And then there were 26.After a month and a half in Southwest Florida, the Twins finally have settled on the 26 players they’ll begin the season with. There are few surprises with the group; this year’s camp didn’t feature many roster battles, though a couple of injuries did open doors for players who otherwise might have started the year in Triple-A.Here’s a look at the 26 players the Twins are planning on opening the season with and how they’ll be utilized:Pitching rotationPablo López, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle, Kenta MaedaThe Twins had six major-league starters for five spots — good news for the team, bad news for Bailey Ober, who will begin his season at Triple-A awaiting a call up. Ober was optioned to St. Paul on Sunday, one of the last cuts of camp.After a 2022 season in which Twins starters pitched five innings or fewer innings in 110 of their 162 games, most in the majors, Gray expressed his higher hopes for the rotation this season.“I don’t ...

Elizabeth Shackelford: As the Iraq War showed, the allure of consensus in foreign policy can be dangerous

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

With the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Iraq War, I’m reminded of the remarkable consensus behind that decision, which passed with strong bipartisan support. Experts, journalists and well-known media personalities joined the bandwagon too.Often, consensus is good. It clears away opposition and helps make things happen. But too often, quick agreement on hard problems is a sign of dangerous groupthink instead.This wide support has not aged well. It launched a bloody war, at a cost of $2 trillion and an estimated 300,000 lives. It led to a violent insurgency and the creation of the Islamic State militant group. Generations of Iraqis will continue to suffer the consequences.And so will America. Although the material suffering in Iraq dwarfs our own, I’m not sure America will ever escape the long tail of distrust that has understandably followed us since then.The original sin was the decision to go to war on a dishonest pretext. That foundation gave rise to our use of ...

Final push for tax the rich before budget deadline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- According to a recent Siena poll, most New Yorkers are in favor of raising income taxes for those earning more. While this is not part of the Governor’s budget proposal, it is part of the Assembly and Senates. Push for min wage of $21.25/hour "I think modest rate increases on the richest individuals and corporations are things they can absorb," said Michael Kink, Executive Director of the Strong Economy For All Coalition. Kink said New York has 21% more millionaires since taxes were raised on the wealthiest in 2021.  The Siena poll shows around 75% of New Yorkers are in favor of the increase. The one house budget proposals would increase income taxes for those making over $5 million from 10.3% to 10.8%. And for those earning over $25 million, a shift from 10.9% to 11.4%. Advocates said this would help with a slew of issues like a minimum wage increase and health care for all. "That's money into the pockets of people that will spend it on their everyday need...

Pacific animal shelter takes in 27 Shih Tzus from local breeder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

PACIFIC, Mo. - An animal shelter in Pacific, Missouri, is in need of foster volunteers after taking in more than two Shih Tzus from a local breeder.Home 2 Home Canine Orphanage posted on its Facebook page Monday morning that this is a sudden rescue and foster scenario, because the breeder is being evicted.There's no word on the condition of the dogs.Anyone interested in fostering one of the dogs can fill out an online application.

Megabus partnership adds service for 48 Midwestern cities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- One of the largest bus companies in North America is expanding operations in the Midwest. Megabus is adding service options for 48 cities through a partnership with Burlington Trailways. This includes eleven destinations from St. Louis.“This partnership will offer robust expansion opportunities in the Midwest,” states Colin Emberson, VP Commercial for Megabus. “Creating the opportunity for customers to travel as far west as Denver is particularly exciting. We’re proud to be able to offer customers new convenient travel options.”Megabus offers bus service between cities in North America. Since it started in 2006, Megabus has helped more than 50 million people in over 280 cities.Trips were also added between Chicago and 12 cities, Denver and 22 cities, Des Moines and 33 cities, Iowa City and 20 cities, and Indianapolis and 22 cities.Destinations from St. Louis now include:Bowling Green, MissouriBurlington, IowaCanton, MissouriCedar Rapids, Iowa,Fort Madison, IowaHannibal,...