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Texas nursing home COVID-19 data becoming harder to find

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – With pandemic emergency rules declared over by federal authorities in May, state and local health officials have halted their ongoing collection and public display of detailed nursing home COVID-19 case data. The change could make it tougher for residents and their families to find up-to-date, facility-level information.Texas Health and Human Services Commission used to update its COVID-19 case counts and vaccination rates for nursing homes and assisted living facilities on its website. Online display of COVID-19 vaccine data ended in May 2023, and case and death rate data stopped being posted online in March 2023, according to the agency's website.“With the expiration of emergency rules that required this data to be reported, HHSC is no longer collecting detailed COVID-19 data from nursing or assisted living facilities,” according to HHSC. The agency said it has “no plans to resume posting” the data online.Long-term care facilities have been home to one of the most ...

Central Texas Food Bank launches holiday food drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Central Texas Food Bank will announce Wednesday a new initiative to give out 17,000 turkeys and holiday meals to the 21-county region it serves. According to Sari Vatske, Central Texas Food Bank President and CEO, the non-profit is seeing a surge in demand for food assistance with levels seen during the peak of pandemic with an increase of 30% reliance on its services. Vatske told KXAN Tuesday that, "with 1 in 5 kids in the area facing food insecurity, we want to make sure that everyone has a happy holiday season." Are you Team David or Team Kristen? Donate now. The holiday turkey distribution initiative will not only distribute a turkey that serve a family of 4-plus but also "fresh green beans, pies, and dessert." Vatske said the Food Bank spends about $1 million a month on food purchase and not "insulated from the rising cost of food". She said up to $400,000 in donations would be matched for the initiative.The food bank serves about 75,000 people every wee...

VOTE: Help us choose the best KXAN viewer photo of October 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.Help us choose the best viewer photo of October 2023. Look through the 10 pictures below, then vote for your favorite. The winning photo will move on to represent October in the best viewer photos of the year once 2023 is said and done.If you’d like to submit a photo for November, email it to [email protected]. Be on the lookout as KXAN may contact you to send a permission form so we can use your photo on air and online. All submissions must be taken in November 2023.Here are the options for October, in no particular order.Enjoying the ViewKyle, Oct. 14. Courtesy Dustin Allan.4-day-old Joelle enjoying the view during an annular eclipse over Kyle on Oct. 14, 202...

Applications available for home heating assistance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- With colder weather quickly approaching, applications for home heating assistance will be accepted beginning Wednesday statewide, as announced by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Low and middle-income households can receive up to $976 this winter to help older adults keep their homes warm and deal with energy costs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Applications may be submitted online, at local departments of social services, through the mail, or in person. For additional help, you may call 1-800-342-9871. “I applaud Governor Hochul and OTDA for their unwavering dedication to assisting New Yorkers in need," said New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen. "The Home Energy Assistance Program is critical in providing help with heating costs for households across the state. As we’ve seen energy costs rise, I encourage all those eligible to apply, particularly o...

Giant jack-o'-lanterns turning heads in Jericho

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

JERICHO, Vt. (NEWS10) - John and Kerry Young began growing pumpkins in the nineties. What started as a hobby, quickly grew into a lifestyle. Off the Beaten Path: Saratoga County Homestead Their pumpkins have broken records in Vermont and beyond. Every Halloween, the couple will carve faces into their giant gourds for two purposes: to harvest the seeds and to delight their community during the Halloween season.Their pumpkins have broken records in Vermont and beyond. “It's no different than a regular garden, except it's a little eccentric because they’re all big, right or giant. I think it's what keeps us young, it's what keeps us really active and agile,” said the couple. Where to smash (and compost) pumpkins in the Capital Region Every year they have a theme for their pumpkin display. This year's theme is "Women in Rock and Roll." The gourds are named Sweet Caroline and Layla.Carving these gourds isn't easy, but they do it for the joy of the spirit.

Downed pole and wires on NY 32 cleared

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

NEW SCOTLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A downed pole and downed wire on NY 32 that originally closed all lanes in both directions from Lower Flatrock Road to Cedar Grove Road in New Scotland has been cleared. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!Drivers can expect normal traffic in the area.

Car flips on side after crash in south St. Louis City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A driver was hurt after crashing in south St. Louis overnight.FOX 2's Nissan Rogue Runner reporter, Nic Lopez, was at the scene of the two-car collision on South Jefferson Avenue at Lafayette Street. One of the cars was rolled onto its side. Drivers may get rude surprise after alleged DMV fraud That driver had to be cut out and taken to a nearby hospital. The two people in the other car were not hurt.

Using Medicare open enrollment to best fit your healthcare needs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Medicare open enrollment started in early October and runs until December 7. Experts say now is the time to evaluate your coverage and adjust if needed.“They could be out hundreds or thousands of dollars every year because they didn’t do anything in open enrollment,” Darren Hotton, associate director of community health and benefits at the National Council on Aging, said.He says people often choose recognizable Medicare plans instead of what best fits their needs.“What they do, though, is they just watch the commercials, and they’re like, ‘Well, that looks great. I should just join that plan,’ without thinking about all the ramifications associated with the Medicare Advantage plan,” Hotton said.Hotton tells us some people overpay for a plan with coverage they don’t need, while others choose plans without enough coverage, putting them at risk of expensive medical bills. A lot of folks just don’t understand the enrollment process.“They think it’s too hard, it’s too complic...

“Fourth Wing” is taking the book world by storm. Here’s what you need to know about Colorado’s Rebecca Yarros and the sequel “Iron Flame”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

Colorado’s Rebecca Yarros was already a staggeringly successful New York Times best-selling author when Amazon announced Monday that it is planning a TV series based around her latest fantasy novel, “Fourth Wing,” and its sequel, “Iron Flame,” which is due out Nov. 7.But the news reinforced Yarros as a force in global publishing, with 25 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list (13 of those weeks at the No. 1 spot) and an estimated half-million copies sold of “Fourth Wing” as of this writing. Yarros has garnered another 1 billion views to date across all related hashtags of her name and work on TikTok (more on that below), Variety wrote.Colorado Springs author Rebecca Yarros and her London-based publisher, Waterstones, is prepping the new book “Iron Flame,” which is already a preorder hit, for a Nov. 7 release. (Katie Marie Seniors, provided by Kaye Publicity)Yarros is known among fans and critics for her evocative, richly de...

Amore for amaro: It’s a sweet time in Denver for lovers of the bitter Italian liqueur

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:15 GMT

Amaro, simply put, is a liqueur fortified with bittering herbs, honey or sugar and aromatics, often served after a meal. Italian in origin, the flavors showcase ingredients found in each region, where often the beverage gets homemade and dolled out to visitors and family.In the United States, amaro isn’t nearly as well-known as other liqueurs, and its distinct flavor profile can make it polarizing. But commercially bottled versions increasingly can be found on the shelves of top restaurants. While most don’t offer homemade amaro (well, one place in Colorado does), many have curated a list, ranging from very bitter to sweeter. Some also offer amaro cocktails. With so many options, it’s a good time to get a taste of Italy’s old-school, herbal drink and learn not just how it plays into the meal, but how each dram speaks to a place as well.DENVER , CO – JUNE 27: Spuntino general manager Elliot Strathmann, left, chats with customers at the bar while he prepa...