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Austin Energy trying out lighter, stronger overhead power lines

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — This week, Austin Energy is rolling out a new conductor at its McNeil Substation in north Austin — which the utility says can carry 50% more power. That extra strength could help with overall grid resiliency. The conductor, or overhead power line, has carbon fiber inside of it instead of steel, Austin Energy explained. It's the first time the utility has used this kind of conductor, something transmission engineer Jeff Gauthier described as "a pretty big deal." "So far we've had one day of stringing. Everything went well...behaved exactly like it was supposed to. So it looks really promising," Gauthier said. The inside of two conductors, or overhead powerlines. On the left, a new conductor Austin Energy says carries 50% more energy than the conductor on the right (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)The carbon core inside of the new line is lighter, stronger and less easily damaged by severe weather, Gauthier said. "We've got another project in the pipeline where we're planning ...

Is the mysterious dog illness in Texas? An expert explains why it's hard to tell

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A mysterious respiratory illness is affecting dogs in several confirmed states across the country. But has the illness reached the Lone Star State?Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical professor at Texas A&M Veterinary School, said it's hard to tell if the illness has reached Texas because respiratory illnesses are not reportable in dogs in the state."We are seeing respiratory illness in Texas. Whether it is the same as what is being reported in other states... we don't know that yet," she said. She said the infection can be tracked if owners are willing to have their dogs tested. Teller said some owners elect to not test. Testing also would not impact the care of the dog. Teller said the illness is similar to other respiratory infections. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever and watery eyes, and dogs might not play as their usual selves. Rarely, the illness could lead to the dog developing pneumonia, and some dogs may die, Teller said. But a vast majorit...

Gophers football: Kicker Dragan Kesich, safety Tyler Nubin named all-Big Ten

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

Dragan Kesich became the second Gophers placekicker to win the Big Ten kicker of the year award on Monday.Kesich led the conference with 22 made field goals across 12 games this season. He had a long of 54 yards and converted 84 percent of his field goals and 100 percent of his extra points (24 for 24).Kesich, a junior from Oak Creek, Wis., joins alum Emmit Carpenter, who won the award at the U in 2016.Gophers senior safety Tyler Nubin was named all-Big Ten first team on Monday. He tied for second in the conference with five interceptions and was second on the team with 53 total tackles. Nubin is now first on the U’s career interception list (13).Nubin, of St. Charles, Ill., is the Gophers’ first all-Big Ten first-team selection on defense since safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2019.The Gophers had five other players receive honorable mention: cornerback Justin Walley, punter Mark Crawford and three defensive linemen — Danny Striggow, Jah Joyner and Kyler Baugh.The conference wi...

Wild GM Bill Guerin: ‘I’ve never said we’re rebuilding’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

With fewer than 20 games on the books this season, Bill Guerin has completed two trades and swapped head coaches, introducing John Hynes on Tuesday as the replacement for fired Dean Evason.“I’ve always said if I can make the team better, I will,” the Wild general manager said. “I’d really like to give this group an opportunity to do that.”In mid-November, Guerin traded defenseman Calen Addision to San Jose for a low-end prospect and a draft pick, and replaced him with veteran Zack Bogosian, whom he acquired in a draft-pick deal with Tampa Bay.Both moves were made early to keep the Wild’s 2023-24 season from slipping away. Minnesota entered Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center with a 5-10-4 record and seven-game losing streak.That’s why Evason was fired on Monday, hours after a 4-1 loss at Detroit.One thing Guerin can’t trade away or swap out is the Wild’s tiny salary-cap margin, which, according to capfriendly.com, was only $39,855 after the team re...

2 charged in fatal shooting of father outside South St. Paul home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

Marijuana was the apparent motive for the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man last week outside his South St. Paul home, according to charges filed Tuesday.The Dakota County attorney’s office charged Andrew Michael Fisher, 20, of Cambridge, and Tre Manuel Iglesias, 22, of St. Paul, in the murder of Avontae Troy King, who died of a gunshot to the chest. He was a father of two boys, ages 4 and 2.Andrew Michael Fisher and Tre Manuel Iglesias (Courtesy of the Dakota County sheriff’s office)Fisher and Iglesias made initial court appearances on the charges Tuesday morning. A judge set Fisher’s bail at $1 million bail and Iglesias’ at $750,000. Both remain jailed.Iglesias told investigators that Fisher was the shooter, the criminal complaints say. The documents do not mention investigators’ interaction with Fisher after his arrest.According to the complaints, a man who lives in the 400 block of Third Avenue South told police it was just before 5 p.m. Friday when he heard someone outs...

Felon pleads guilty to illegally possessing ammunition

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 32-year-old convicted felon pleaded guilty to illegally possessing ammunition. Derbie Michel faces up to 15 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Michel admitted to throwing five rounds of ammunition from a car while being chased by Troy Police on October 15, 2022. Court documents indicate Michel also discarded a ghost gun during the pursuit.Michel has three prior felony convictions. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2024.

Streaker arrested in Disneyland's 'It's a Small World'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ANAHEIM, Cali. (KTLA) — Disneyland guests on “It’s a Small World” got an unexpected and unwelcome show Sunday when a man stripped nearly naked and got up close and personal with some of the set pieces on the iconic ride. Video of the streaker sent to NEWS10's sister station KTLA captured the man eerily lit in blue, orange, and pink lights. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Video shows the figure, nearly in the buff, walking around to the sound of Christmas music. Officers with the Anaheim Police Department responded to the theme park at around 1:30 p.m. to assist Disney security with the incident.“I am on Small World and there was a streaker,” Ashley Esqueda posted to X, formerly Twitter. "I cannot believe this is happening."Disneyland officials told KTLA that the man exited the ride while it was still operating, and that park employees stopped the ride as soon as they found out what was going on.“At some point, somebody snapped ...

Albany Common Council to vote on fluoridated water

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Legislation to add fluoride to Albany’s drinking water is on the table. If passed, the capital city would join neighboring Schenectady and Troy, which have fluoridated their water for years. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "I was not aware that Albany did not have fluoridation in the water," said Steve Shafer, a Pine Hills resident. "As far as a question of fluoridation versus not, I don’t have any opposition to it.”If you look for opposition, you can find it from a group called the Fluoride Action Network based in Binghamton."I think you deserve clean, safe drinking water for all," said Stuart Cooper, FAN's Executive Director, "and if people want fluoride, there’s no shortage of it. You can get cheap, abundant fluoride from topical applications.”According to Whitney Young Health Director Dr. Katie Rothas, topical fluoride options like toothpaste and varnish serve a completely separate and different pur...

Guns drawn over turn signal in a Wentzville parking lot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. -- A man is accused of threatening several people, including children, after becoming upset over a turn signal. Johnny Tracy of Foristell now faces felony weapon and child endangerment charges. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.Court documents state that Tracy was driving behind someone on November 24 and got upset after they did not use their turn signal. He blocked their car after they parked in the Lowe's parking lot to confront them. He rolled down his window as the family with children, six to nine years old, got out of the vehicle and started an argument.Tracy eventually got out of his vehicle while the victims took pictures of his license plate. They asked him to leave and police say he pushed a man into a vehicle. The man got up and lifted his shirt to show Tracy that he was armed. U.S. Steel idles steelmaking at Granite City Works ‘indefinitely’ "I have a f### gun," stated Tracy.Tracy then drew his weapon. The man who was pushed into the vehicle said tha...

Colorado Rapids announce year-end moves with some surprises

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

There was a feeling the Colorado Rapids’ year-end roster moves could be sizable. On Tuesday, those moves were confirmed by the club as it announced its decisions.Colorado announced it had exercised extending contract options on three players and declined seven. Two players’ contracts expired, while another player’s loan ended. The Rapids also said they remain in contract discussions with three of the players whose deals were declined.Those that had their options renewed included defender Andrew Gutman, forward Calvin Harris and midfielder Ralph Priso. All were on the final year of guaranteed contracts with their prior teams before arriving in Colorado over the course of the last 18 months. Harris was on a three-year Generation Adidas deal when he was selected by FC Cincinnati in the MLS 2021 SuperDraft. Priso was on a Homegrown Player contract from Toronto FC. Gutman signed with Atlanta United in 2021 on a three-year deal with a team option for 2024 before coming t...