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KXAN looks back on some of 2023's biggest stories

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's been a busy year with a lot going on in Central Texas, so we took a look back at some of the biggest stories.From extreme drought and 100-plus-degree weather to extremely cold temperatures and a freeze that caused widespread damage and power outages, Central Texas saw it all this year. KXAN’s top 10 Instagram posts of 2023 KXAN covered stories about education, politics and crime, and we did it with your help. Many of the stories we covered were sent in using our ReportIt! feature.KXAN was in the courtroom to keep you up to speed on high-profile murder trials, was live at crime scenes, and we dug into crime statistics to give you depth in our coverage.When parents wanted answers about issues in the schools we sat down with administrators and lawmakers to get answers and make changes.With 2023 coming to an end, we look forward to continuing to tell your stories. Happy New Year from all of us at KXAN News!

St. David's hospital in Kyle will be major employer in 155-acre mixed-use hub

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

AUSTIN (ABJ) — The long-anticipated St. David's HealthCare hospital in Kyle is planned as part of a 155-acre mixed-use project that could include a hotel and conference center, a swath of retail and office space and nearly 2,000 residential units.San Antonio-based Rick Sheldon Real Estate LLC secured a slew of agreements from the Kyle City Council on Dec. 19 for the project in the fast-growing suburb south of downtown Austin. It's adjacent to the H-E-B grocery store near Farm to Market Road 1626 and Marketplace Ave.St. David's officials previously said they signed a letter of intent for a 65-acre tract, where the company plans to initially build a 160,000-square-foot, full-service acute care hospital. Details could shift once the land is purchased, but plans call for a 24-hour emergency department, inpatient and outpatient surgery, critical care capabilities, robotic services and maternity and newborn services. It's expected to create about 200 full-time jobs and was said to be a ca...

Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens on benching: ‘I feel like I let the team down’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

As he reflected on his game performance on Christmas Eve, veteran quarterback Nick Mullens fully understands why he’s no longer starting for the Vikings.“It’s pretty cut and dry,” he said. “You turn the ball over and probably aren’t going to be in the game.”That indeed is the case as Mullens officially has been benched for rookie quarterback Jaren Hall.The turnovers were the biggest issue for Mullens in his two games as the starter. He threw two interceptions in a 27-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, then four more in 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions.In an honest assessment of himself, Mullens admitted, “I feel like I let the team down.”His final pass attempt against the Lions sticks with him because it should been a touchdown. If Mullens would have led star receiver Justin Jefferson with his throw near the Detroit goal line, the Vikings most likely would have won the game in dramatic fashion. Instead, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu swo...

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins named Korey Stringer Media Good Guy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been named this year’s recipient of the Korey Stringer Good Guy Award by the Minnesota chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. This is the first time Cousins has earned the award named in Stringer’s honor, which recognizes a player who exemplifies professionalism and authenticity in a way that helps reporters do their job on a daily basis.As the starter for the Vikings, Cousins conducts a weekly press conference with reporters in the locker room at TCO Performance Center. He admitted that he started to come out of his shell this season more than ever before, offering deeper insight into playing the position, while routinely cracking jokes, as well.Though the weekly press conferencees stopped after he landed on injured reserve, Cousins voluntarily talked to reporters for about 20 minutes last month, opening up about everything from suffering the injury to having surgery to grinding through the recovery process.This is the first...

Admitted felon picked for City of Troy Clerk's office assistant

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to Troy City Council President Pro-Tempore, Thomas Casey, Troy’s City Clerk requested the appointment of Jason Schofield to the position of Clerk Assistant. You may remember Schofield plead guilty to 12 felony charges of voter fraud, about a year ago. Sheriff Russo reflects on 48-year career in law enforcement The investigation found he filed fraudulent absentee ballots in 2021 and used personal information of registered voters without their permission.  He faces up to 16 months in jail.  NEWS10 asked Casey what would happen if Schofield was sentenced to jail time while employed.  “After talking with not only Jason but several other people we didn't think that it was going to be an issue going forward,” said Casey. Albany Police Union responds to review board lawsuit But, the City Council President-elect, Sue Steele, opposes the choice.  “They are appointing him to a key position in the city clerk's office I consider this a slap in...

O'Fallon considers new gun range for law enforcement

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - A new gun range for law enforcement could soon be coming to O'Fallon, Missouri.City officials say a proposed 20-lane, 200-yard indoor firing range is needed for the expanding police department, which now has 121 officers. They won't know the price tag for it until early next year. Police: St. Louis woman Marquisha Williams found deceased in Illinois Some people who live nearby aren't happy about the proposed site. Opponents are concerned about gunfire, noise, and how much it will cost.The new gun range is the first phase of the O'Fallon law enforcement training center project. The center would also be used by St. Charles city police. The city council will vote on the proposed project in January.

Russell Wilson: Broncos said he’d be benched for second half of season without contract adjustment on $37 million guarantee for 2025

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

Russell Wilson on Friday said the Broncos approached him during the team’s bye week and informed him that if he didn’t agree to delay a contract trigger guaranteeing his 2025 salary, he’d be benched for the team’s final nine games.The Broncos were 3-5 at the time but coming off back-to-back wins against Green Bay and Kansas City, the latter of which ended a 16-game losing streak to the division rival.“We beat the Chiefs. They came up to me during the bye week, beginning of the bye week — Monday or Tuesday — and told me that if I didn’t change my contract, my injury guarantee, that I’d be benched for the rest of the year,” Wilson told reporters at his locker in his first public comments since he was benched Wednesday by coach Sean Payton. “I think we had nine games left or so.“I was definitely disappointed about it. It was a process throughout the whole week, the bye week.”Wilson said the NFL Players Association and the league office got involved in the conversations during the...

8 Tips for Crafting Irresistible CTAs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” Mahatma Gandhi’s famous words summarize the mission and purpose of a marketing call to action — or CTA.But what is a call to action, really? It’s a short phrase that prompts a target audience to take a desired action — like purchasing a product, downloading a white paper, or subscribing to a newsletter. Some common CTA examples you’ve likely seen include Buy Now, Subscribe, Contact Us, Read More, and Add to Cart.CTAs can appear anywhere on the user journey — from social media posts to emails, paid ads, landing pages and websites, blog posts, and more. In digital formats, they can be clickable buttons, pop-up boxes, or banners. They can even be as simple as a piece of hyperlinked text.While CTAs are short and sweet, thriving businesses and successful marketers always give them attention. That’s because they are crucial in getting your target audiences to act.A Good CTA Makes a DifferenceThe best, most ...

Former Denver Nuggets player James Ray, drafted fifth overall in 1980, dies

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

Former Nuggets player James Ray, who spent three years in Denver after the franchise drafted him fifth overall in 1980, died Tuesday due to complications from a surgery in Gainesville, Florida. He was 66.Ray lived in Jacksonville with his wife of 43 years, Phyllis (P.J.), who cared for him as he faced a number of medical obstacles after his basketball career. In 2007, he was given three months to live without a lung transplant. The National Basketball Retired Players Association established a fund that received donations from Nuggets great David Thompson among others, and Ray eventually underwent a successful transplant in February 2008.He was told he had five years to live after the transplant but lived 16 more. Along with his wife, Ray is survived by his son, Jarvis.“Every day after that was a gift to us,” P.J. Ray said. “And I just take comfort in that. He’s been through a lot.”A 6-foot-8 power forward from New Orleans, Ray was drafted by the Nuggets...

How to recycle your 2023 Christmas tree around Denver

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:25:49 GMT

What do you do with your Christmas tree once the holiday is over?For those with artificial trees, it’s as easy as sticking back in the closet. But if you took home a natural Christmas tree this holiday season, Denver is opening recycling centers across the city to give those trees a second life — as mulch.Beginning Jan. 2, Denver residents can recycle their Christmas trees at 11 drop-off sites across the city, as long as all decorations, lights and tree stands are removed first, according to a Wednesday news release from the city.On weekdays from Jan. 2 to Jan. 31, residents can recycle their trees at the Cherry Creek Transfer Station (7301 E. Jewell Ave.), Havana Nursery (10450 Smith Road) and Central Platte Campus (1271 W. Bayaud Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.If you wait until Saturday, you can choose from eight locations, also open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.:Sloan’s Lake Northwest Parking Lot (West Byron Place and Yates Street)Bruce Randolph (East 40th Avenue and Steele Stree...