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Austin Public Library launches pilot program for Enhanced Library Cards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Public Library launched a pilot program for Enhanced Library Cards (ELC), which will feature the cardholder's photograph that are accepted as a valid form of identification by many local agencies and organizations, according to a news release from the City of Austin. Furthermore, the ELC will serve as a new card option for library users who also might benefit from another form of photo identification, the release said.The ELC is a full-access library card for Austin residents 18 or older, which includes the holder's library card number, photograph, address, date of birth, the expiration date and a scannable barcode, according to the city.The card can be used the same as a standard library card to check out materials at all APL locations, as well as online to access eBooks and other digital resources, the release said. The card is also recognized by many other city departments and local organizations as a valid form of identification or as a supplement wit...

Minnesota Senate considers DFL’s tax-cutting bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

A tax proposal set for a vote in the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday evening calls for a partial elimination of the Social Security income tax and direct payments to taxpayers.The bill backed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor majority in the Senate would return $1.1 billion of the record $17.5 billion surplus as a tax rebate. Senate Taxes Committee Chair Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, said the bill provides a record amount of tax cuts and credits.“The Senate tax bill provides $4 billion in tax relief, the largest tax cut in state history,” she told fellow senators as the chamber took up the bill Tuesday.DetailsChecks would start at $279 — significantly lower than the $1,000 starting point proposed by DFL Gov. Tim Walz. Joint filers would qualify for $558 checks, and all filers would qualify for $56 per dependent up to three. Cutoffs for the checks would be $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for everyone else.Besides the rebate checks, cuts would come in the form of $1.3 billion in child tax c...

Call up to Twins for Louie Varland disrupts family reunion in St. Paul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

CHICAGO — The Varland family was looking forward to a family reunion this week in St. Paul with older son Gus in town on a rehab assignment and younger son Louie scheduled to start for the Triple-A Saints on Wednesday.“That would have been a lot of fun,” Louie said. “Have the whole family out there and hopefully me and Gus would pitch in the same game, but things did not work out that way, obviously.”No, they didn’t.It worked out even better for them.Louie Varland, a North St. Paul High School and Concordia-St. Paul University alum, is instead with the Twins in Chicago and expected to start Wednesday’s game in place of the injured Tyler Mahle. The Twins have not yet placed Mahle on the injured list, but they have announced that he will miss at least the next month as he deals with an elbow injury.That has opened the door for Varland to have an opportunity — potentially an extended one — at the major-league level.“It all depends on who’s healthy, who’s not, what the team needs,” Varl...

For sale: Dreamland Arts theater in St. Paul as well as adjoining house connected by underground tunnel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

For sale in St. Paul’s Midway — the 40-seat Dreamland Arts theater, as well as the current owners’ adjoining single-family home connected by underground tunnel.Kristin Pickering, a broker with Pickering Realty, listed the two properties for sale together on Monday, with a combined asking price of $600,000.“We’re just marketing it at this point to the local arts community, hoping that it can stay as an arts venue of some sort,” said Pickering, who is also based in Hamline-Midway.The two-bedroom, two-bath house has been occupied by theater owners Leslye Orr and Zaraawar “Z” Mistry since 2005, but “it would also be excellent rental property,” she said. “If housing was needed for visiting performers, it would be great for that, or office space.”The 40-seat Dreamland Arts theater in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood is up for sale, as well as the current owners’ adjoining single-family home (shown) connected...

Railroad tracks back in service after Mississippi River derailment in Wisconsin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Railroad tracks damaged after a BNSF Railway freight train derailed in southwestern Wisconsin have been repaired and returned to service, rail and government officials say.BNSF contractors made repairs and reopened the line Saturday, BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent said.“They’ve got that all repaired and they’re at full speed already, running rail overnight,” Craig Thompson, secretary of Wisconsin Department of Transportation, told the La Crosse Tribune.Thursday’s derailment in Crawford County involved two of the train’s three locomotives and 10 cars carrying a variety of freight, including paint and lithium-ion batteries, Kent said. Four railway employees received minor injuries.The Federal Rail Administration is investigating the derailment.Crawford County Emergency Management Specialist Marc Myhre said about 20 BNSF Railway cars were involved.Two cars went into the Mississippi River, but neither contained hazardous materials, Kent said. Some of the containers that de...

Albany County sheriff deputy involved in crash near airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany County Sheriff deputy was involved in a two-car crash near the Albany International Airport on Tuesday.The crash took place around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Albany Shaker Road and Watervliet Shaker Road. The deputy was responding to a report of a stolen vehicle in progress at the airport at the time of the crash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Albany County sheriff said the cruiser's emergency lights were activated as it was making a left-hand turn into the airport when it was hit by another vehicle traveling on Albany Shaker Road. Airbags deployed in both vehicles, and both drivers were taken to the hospital.The investigation is ongoing.

Parolee accused of possessing illegal handgun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A parolee was arrested by Albany police after he was reportedly in possession of an illegal handgun and ran from police.Police received a report of a man with a gun around 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 30 in the area of Clinton Avenue and Quail Street. The man took off running when police arrived but was later arrested on the 300-block of Central Avenue. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The man was identified as 26-year-old Myaire Leigh. Police said he ran through a yard and threw a fanny pack containing a loaded 9mm handgun during the chase.He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, and Trespass.He was arraigned and sent to the Albany County Jail.

Senators fight over control of St. Louis police, prosecutor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's governor would play a major role in St. Louis policing and prosecution under a bill praised by Republicans as a way to fight crime and criticized by Democrats as an attempt to take away local control from the Black-led city.Debate on the bill, which would give the governor the power to appoint a special prosecutor for five years along with a police board, is expected to last hours Tuesday in the GOP-led Senate.Republican lawmakers are pushing the legislation in the name of fighting crime in St. Louis — a racially diverse, heavily Democratic city long vexed by violent crime. They blame crime on the city's first Black prosecutor, Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, as well as 10 years of local control of the city's police force. 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims “While there are certainly differences of opinions in this chamber as to the causes of violent crime in the city of St. Louis, there can be no doubt that ...

Rocky Mountain National Park to move to cashless fee collection next month

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

Beginning on June 1, Rocky Mountain National Park will transition to a fully cashless fee system and only accept mobile or electronic payments for entrance and permit fees. Visitors who are only able to pay with cash may purchase a prepaid pass from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store at Beaver Meadows, Fall River or Kawuneeche Visitor Centers.Entrance fees are an important source of revenue used to improve the visitor experience in national parks, including road and facility repairs and maintenance, trail improvements, installation of accessible exhibits, visitor and resource protection services and more.Related ArticlesOutdoors | Rocky Mountain National Park announces summer seasonal Hiker Shuttle operations begin May 26 Outdoors | Yet another hassle awaits Rocky Mountain National Park visitors this year Moving to a cashless system allows parks to be better stewards of visitor dollars by reducing the amount of time park staff spend managing ...

3 victims in single-engine plane crash in Big Bear identified 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:34 GMT

The three passengers who were killed when the small plane they were on crashed in Big Bear on Monday have been identified. The three passengers have been identified as 60-year-old Stormie Seibold of Temecula, 62-year-old Jimmy Fitzpatrick of Perris and 79-year-old Robert Carty of Lake Havasu, Arizona.Crews arrived on the scene at the corner of Paradise Way and Maltby Boulevard in Big Bear around 2 p.m. on Monday after a crash was reported there. The single-engine Beechcraft A36 crashed in a small field about one mile east of Big Bear Airport, which, according to preliminary investigation from the NTSB, is thought to be the plane’s destination. No one on the ground was injured. “There was no fire and no structural damage, which is pretty amazing considering how many houses are in that area,” Battalion Chief Luke Wagner of the Big Bear Fire Department said. Sky5 view of the plane crash scene in Big Bear, California. May 1, 2023. (KTLA)Sky5 view of the plane crash ...