'Major problem': Lawmaker's bill would end paper tags

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

'Major problem': Lawmaker's bill would end paper tags AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A years-long series of KXAN investigations into paper license plate fraud is helping drive change at the Texas Capitol, according to a state lawmaker who wants to do away with the paper tag system. "The more we dove into it, and the more we saw stories, like what you do," said State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth. "We realized what a major problem it is."In February 2020, an undercover sting operation at an Austin Walmart led law enforcement to a trove of paper tags. Investigators with the Travis County Constable's Office Precinct 3 found more than 450 phony license plates saved on a cell phone. As KXAN previously revealed, it's part of a booming $200 million black market with sales to all 50 states. The bogus tags turn vehicles into "ghost cars" making them virtually untraceable by law enforcement.Rep. Craig Goldman holds an altered temporary tag showing a fake car dealership named after him. (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)'The only fix'"The only fix, in our opinion, is ...

Tree care company contracted to help with ice storm cleanup in Williamson County parks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Tree care company contracted to help with ice storm cleanup in Williamson County parks WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Contractors with a commercial tree care company partnering with the Williamson County Parks Department are removing tree and limb hazards from county parks and trails as the clean-up continues from February's winter storm.  According to the county, work began Monday near Twin Lakes Park continuing eastward on the Brushy Creek Regional Trail towards Cedar Park and Round Rock. Work will also occur at Champion Park, Southwest Williamson County Regional Park and Berry Springs Park and Preserve. The county says clean-up will occur over the next several weeks, generally between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. According to the county announcement, sections of trail or areas of the parks may be closed for safety reasons. Workers will use chainsaws, pole saws and a chipper. Residents and visitors are asked to observe barricades, closure notices and avoid areas when crews are working. The county did not name the contractor in the announcement.

Georgetown to launch power outage text reporting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Georgetown to launch power outage text reporting GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- Georgetown utility customers will soon be able to text the utility when they lose power. Customers will also be able to get updates on power restoration via text. According to a Tuesday announcement from the City of Georgetown, customers will get a text on April 10 letting them know they are part of the city's power outage texting service.Enrolled customers can report power outages and get updates using the number 512-930-8400.Water outages must still be reported by phone. The city says that update will come in the future. According to the city, customers should still use the City's online outage map to track water and electric outages. It says customers should only report outages they don't see on the maps. The City says it will not text you about the outages unless you text a message to the system first “When services are interrupted, folks need information quickly, and this system lets us do that,” said City Manager David Morgan in the announcement. “...

'Back to the Future: The Musical' coming to Proctors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

'Back to the Future: The Musical' coming to Proctors SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Proctors Theatre in Schenectady has announced its secret 2023-2024 season show. "Back to the Future: The Musical" is coming to Proctors for four performances from June 4 to June 6, 2024. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Based on the 1985 film, the play follows Marty McFly who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean. Before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his parents fall in love to save his own existence."Back to the Future: The Musical" features new songs, as well as songs from the original film including “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.” This tour launches less than a year after the show’s Broadway opening, scheduled for August 3, 2023, at the Winter Garden Theatre. Proctors announces shows for upcoming season Tickets will be available as a subscription exclusive to 2023-2024 KeyBank Subscription Series subscribers and theREP 2023-2024 subs...

Officers injured in Maryland Heights crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Officers injured in Maryland Heights crash ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Multiple St. Louis area police officers were hospitalized early Wednesday morning after they were involved in a multi-vehicle crash on I-70 in Maryland Heights.The incident happened off I-70 eastbound just west of 270. After being closed for about three hours, I-70 east has been completely reopened. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW A spokesperson from the Missouri Highway Patrol shared that just before 1:45 a.m., Lake St. Louis Police units were at the location after a previous chase. We're told, suddenly, Lake St. Louis Police reported that numerous officers had been struck by a vehicle while they were finishing up their work from the earlier chase.A highway patrol spokesperson said that four officers were struck by ...

Crews respond to car and bus collision

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Crews respond to car and bus collision ST. LOUIS - Police responded to a car and bus collision early Wednesday morning.FOX 2's Nissan Rogue Runner reporter Nic Lopez was at the scene, located on the 800 block of South Florissant Avenue, where emergency crews had to flip the overturned car back onto its wheels. Top Stories: Kim Gardner gets extra time to respond to A.G.’s lawsuit Drivers were being told to take alternate routes in the area. The car has since been towed away.FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Denver weather: City to see sunny blue skies while mountains face more snow

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Denver weather: City to see sunny blue skies while mountains face more snow Metro Denver residents will see mostly sunny skies Wednesday with light winds, while Colorado’s western mountains are in line for more snow Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.The high temperature in Denver will hit 52 degrees, weather service forecasters said, and on Thursday temperatures should reach into the 60s under sunny skies. The wind speed Wednesday should not exceed 10 miles per hour in metro Denver, forecasters said.The weather service issued a winter weather advisory effective noon Thursday through noon Friday for western Colorado, covering the Park Range of mountains and Rabbit Ears Pass. a storm rolling in from Utah across the mountains is expected to bring up to six inches of snow.Winter Weather Advisory for the Park Range, including Rabbit Ears Pass, valid noon Thursday through noon Friday. Expect generally 3 to 6 inches snowfall and gusts up to 50 mph. Travel may become difficult due to slick and snow covered roads and blowing snow. #COwx pic.t...

Colorado boy injured in shark attack while on spring break vacation in Mexico

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Colorado boy injured in shark attack while on spring break vacation in Mexico A Colorado boy is recovering after a shark attack while on spring break vacation in Mexico.Denver7 spoke with 10-year-old Dillon Armijo who says he was bitten by a shark while visiting Cancún, Mexico, on March 17.“We went to the beach and wanted to swim or jump in waves and then like, five minutes after that, like a shark just came into like, a wave and just bit my leg,” said Dillon.After spending four days in the hospital in Mexico, he was airlifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.He had to undergo several surgeries but his mom, Abby Armijo said he will be able to walk again.Read the full story from our partner at denver7.com.Related ArticlesColorado News | CPW plans to cut NW Colorado hunting licenses by more than 40% to protect challenged herds Colorado News | Opinion: Wildlife crossings work for both drivers and animals Colorado News | Colorado’s next state park will attract a lot of attention; that cou...

Some Colorado communities don’t want psychedelic healing centers — but can they stop them?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Some Colorado communities don’t want psychedelic healing centers — but can they stop them? COKEDALE — Jack Van Heesch experimented hard with all sorts of psychedelics back in the day.“It was a party,” said the full-bearded, 66-year-old resident of this former Colorado mining town perched in the shadows of the Spanish Peaks in Las Animas County.Van Heesch was one of nearly 1.3 million Coloradans last November to vote for Proposition 122, which decriminalized the growing, use and sharing of psilocybin and psilocin — key compounds found in “magic mushrooms” — along with ibogaine, mescaline and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT.But his was a rare yes vote in Cokedale, a tiny hamlet of 150 hardscrabble residents seven miles west of Trinidad. The town, with its 350 defunct coke ovens signifying its legacy as a one-time coal mining hub, isn’t jazzed about psilocybin healing centers coming in.Cokedale, a former coal mining camp seven miles west of Trinidad in Las Animas County, is pictured on March 20, 2023. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denve...

Denver luxury apartment complexes make rare move of allowing tenants to rent units as Airbnbs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:39 GMT

Denver luxury apartment complexes make rare move of allowing tenants to rent units as Airbnbs Tenants at 20 apartment complexes across Denver are now sharing their amenities with out-of-town guests, as building management is allowing residents to rent out their units as Airbnbs.Vacation rental company Airbnb has partnered with building owners in almost 40 cities “to make it easier for renters to find apartments that let them host part-time,” according to its website. Renters can earn money by hosting Airbnb guests in their units, with the frequency and guest rules varying by building and locality.At a time when apartment rent in Denver averages $1,997, Airbnb estimates that a host can earn an average of $786 for a weeklong rental in the city. Out of the metro area’s current options available on Airbnb, the starting monthly rent ranks as low as $1,209 in Glendale, with average weekly earnings of $568, and as high as $2,993 in Denver, with that profit jumping to $749.The following apartment complexes in the Denver area are listed as Airbnb-friendly apartments...