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Twitter changes could disrupt how public agencies distribute information, expert says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After Twitter-owner Elon Musk announced new limits on its users, the CEO of a communications and public relations agency that specializes in police, fire and public schools says the move could hurt how agencies distribute information, especially when it comes to communicating with media outlets. "We've really seen this be one of the primary ways that public safety engages with the press for several years now," said John Guilfoil, CEO of JGPR. KXAN regularly uses Twitter to track Austin police, fire, EMS and traffic information. Elon Musk put new limits on tweets. Users and advertisers might go elsewhere Musk originally said people without Twitter Blue would be limited to viewing 600 posts per day. Those that pay for the verification would get up to 6,000 views. He later upped that to 800 posts a day and 8,000 respectively. That means if public agencies are largely using Twitter to distribute information to its local news, and the public, it may not reach as many ...

How to protect your pets during 4th of July holiday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Central Texans gear up for 4th of July fireworks and festivities Tuesday, local animal shelters are advocating for pet owners to be extra vigilant in keeping their furry friends safe.Data from national lost pet recovery system Pet Amber Alert reported a 30% increase nationwide in lost pets between July 4-6. Those upticks are largely attributed to animals fleeing in fear of loud explosions caused by fireworks shows.Kelsey Cler, marketing and communication manager for Austin Animal Center, said the organization hasn't historically seen massive upticks in lost pets turning up following the July holiday. She credited local community groups -- such as neighborhood Nextdoor and Facebook groups along with Austin Lost and Found Pets -- in helping locate and reunite missing pets with their owners."Our community is so great at getting dogs back home around the 4th of July," she said. "I think part of that is that owners are being a little bit more proactive, and so these d...

SEC: Three men who died in Bloomington murder-suicide allegedly stole millions from investors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

The three men who died in a February murder-suicide in Bloomington stole millions of dollars from investors in and around the Twin Cities, according to a civil action filed last week by the Securities and Exchange Commission.Richard Myre, 44, of Belle Plaine, and Buffalo men Dale Dahmen, 55, and his son, Dominick Dahmen, 25, persuaded numerous people — including Dale Dahmen’s parents — to invest in their day-trading company, Spartan Trading, but either didn’t invest the funds or did so sparingly and then lied about profitability of the investments, the SEC said.The three men were found dead Feb. 1 in a pickup in the parking lot of the France Place office tower at France Avenue South and Interstate 494. Authorities believe Myre shot the other two men before killing himself.The case filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota seeks to freeze any assets in the men’s estates and ultimately return that money to their investors.The SEC says that between 2019 an...

Animal Protective Foundation to host microchip clinic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

REXFORD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Animal Protective Foundation is hosting a low-cost microchip clinic for dogs only. The clinic will be held at the Rexford Fire Department on July 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! To register, please visit www.animalprotective.org/microchip. Walk-ins are also welcome. The clinic costs $15 per dog. The Animal Protective Foundation is also planning a microchip clinic for cats in September at their Glenville location. For more information about the clinics, contact the Animal Protective Foundation at (518) 374-3944, ext. 107.

Colorado wildfires: Forecast dry weather could complicate efforts to quash Spring Creek, Chris Mountain fires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

Crews are continuing to fight wildfires burning in southwestern Colorado as weather conditions could complicate those efforts.According to weather forecasts, there will be high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, all of which spell potentially increased fire activity.Spring Creek fireThe Spring Creek fire, burning southwest of Parachute, grew by just seven acres overnight Sunday and is up to 37% containment, but challenges keeping the blaze at bay loom.According to an update Monday from fire officials, the Spring Creek fire was measured at 2,932 acres as 539 firefighters continue to fight it. That is up from 2,925 acres and 25% containment on Sunday.But fire officials anticipate potential challenges on Tuesday, when fire weather conditions are expected to worsen, including high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. Wind gusts could reach 40 mph that day, bringing the most critical fire weather conditions to the area since June 26, when the fire grew rapidly, fire off...

Suspect arrested following 'random' violent assault in Baldwin Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

A suspect seen on video punching a man in Baldwin Park last month was arrested over the weekend, authorities said.The incident occurred around 7:23 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, at Lubican Street near Merced Avenue, according to the surveillance video posted to the Baldwin Park Police Department's Instagram page and the BPPD's Lt. Leon.The video showed the victim walking past a parked vehicle when the suspect, identified by police as Manuel Alejandro Valenzuela, jumped out of the passenger side of the vehicle and punched him in the head. An assault suspect is seen in an image provided by the Baldwin Park Police Department on July, 2, 2023. The victim quickly got up and was punched again by the attacker as he was putting his hat back on. The victim didn't go down after the second punch and put his hands up in an apparent attempt to defend himself from any further attacks when the video cuts off. Manuel Alejandro Valenzuela is seen in this image provided by the Baldwin Park Police Depart...

Chain-reaction wrong-way crash leaves 1 dead in Pomona; DUI driver arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

One person was killed and several others were injured in a wrong-way, head-on crash that was allegedly caused by a DUI driver along the 71 Freeway in Pomona Sunday night, police said.The crash was reported just before 10 p.m. on the highway north of Rio Ranch Road, according to the Pomona Police Department.Responding officers found that a flatbed tow truck heading north had been struck by another vehicle, causing the tow truck to jump the center divider into southbound traffic.A family in a minivan that was heading south then crashed head-on into the tow truck, causing serious injuries to several people inside, police said.The victims were taken to a hospital, but one, described only as a man, later died from his injuries.The driver of the original vehicle that struck the tow truck, identified as 33-year-old Mark Shoemate of Aliso Viejo, was determined to be driving impaired and was under the influence of alcohol, police said.He was arrested and booked on suspicion of vehicular mans...

West Hollywood now has highest minimum wage in U.S.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

West Hollywood now has the highest minimum wage in the nation after the base pay increased to $19.08 an hour on Saturday.Workers in the celebrity-studded city welcomed the increase in pay as the cost of living continues to increase across the county, especially in California, thanks to inflation.A March study from Smart Asset indicated that single-person homes in Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Diego would need to make over $76,000 after taxes to “live comfortably.”In San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, residents would need to make over $84,000 after taxes to "live comfortably" in the area.While West Hollywood has the country's highest minimum wage rate, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., workers also got a pay increase.In San Francisco, the minimum wage increased to $18.07 an hour. Los Angeles now has a $16.68 minimum hourly rate and minimum wage workers in Washington, D.C., now make $17 an hour, the Associated Press reported.Seattle had the highest minimum wage of any...

Vietnam bans 'Barbie' movie over South China Sea map

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

One of the most anticipated movies of the summer has just been banned in one country.Barbie and Ken will not be on the big screen in Vietnam because of one scene in the movie that depicts a map.The map shows a “nine-dash line,” which is used by China to claim its territories in the South China Sea. The country claims it owns about 90% of the South China Sea, reports Time.The nine-dash line was "repudiated in an international arbitration ruling by a court in The Hague in 2016," according to Reuters. "China refuses to recognize the ruling."Vietnam says the map violates its sovereignty. Variety reports Vi Kien Thanh, director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said that the ban was decided by the National Film Evaluation Council. He made that announcement on Monday.This isn't the first time the U-shaped "nine-dash line" has caused a film to be banned in Vietnam. DreamWork's animated film "Abominable" was banned by the government...

Man Dies in Motorcycle Collision on Grand Cadence Drive [Henderson, NV]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:31 GMT

Male Rider Pronounced Dead after Motorcycle Accident on Cabaletta LaneHENDERSON, NV (July 3, 2023) – Sunday night, one man was killed in a motorcycle collision on Grand Cadence Drive.Police responded to the scene around 6:25 p.m., near Cabaletta Lane on June 25th.According to reports, the motorcyclist was speeding on the northbound lanes and eventually collided with a westbound sedan. Investigators say the rider struck the driver’s side door.Medical personnel arrived and transported the 37-year-old male rider to Sunrise Trauma where he later died.Meanwhile, paramedics took the driver of the Kia to St. Rose Siena Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Following preliminary duties, officers say speed was a contributing factor. However, an active investigation is still currently underway.No additional information was added and any witnesses are encouraged to call the Henderson Police Department at (702) 267-4911. Once available, further details will be pro...