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'It was scary': Central Texas woman recounts moment she saw a tornado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- A tornado touched down in Central Texas Thursday morning.Tornado Warnings were briefly issued in various counties across the KXAN viewing area. RELATED COVERAGE: Tornadoes spotted as severe weather moves through Central Texas 'Hands were still shaking'Some viewers sent us videos of the twister that was spotted near Lockhart. One of those people was Jennifer Vela."When I realized what it was, I had one of those 'Oh, heck. What do I do?' moments," Vela said.While on her way to work from Lockhart to Buda, Vela said she couldn't believe her eyes."It was scary," Vela said. "I think by the time I got to work my hands were still shaking."Vela said her two daughters, who attend Lockhart ISD, sheltered in place twice Thursday morning because of the severe weather."Hard to concentrate on work," she said. "Being away from them during something like that."It was the first time Vela saw a tornado and said she hopes it was her last. "It was kind of a surreal exper...

Northwestern State calls off remaining games following death of Cedar Park player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A college football program canceled the final four games of its season following the death of a Cedar Park native earlier in October.Northwestern State University, an FCS program in Natchitoches, Louisiana, called off its remaining games and head coach Brad Laird resigned after junior Ronnie Caldwell, 21, died Oct. 12. Caldwell went to Cedar Park High School, then attended Tyler Junior College before transferring to NSU. Maalik Murphy will start at QB for No. 7 Texas Longhorns on Saturday vs. BYU Northwestern State coach Brad Laird calls out to the team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Southern Mississippi won 64-10. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)A press release by the university Thursday said "the mental health and wellbeing of its student-athletes" was the primary reason the school canceled the rest of the season."While our instinct was to return to the field of play...

KBVO Game of the Week: Manor, Westwood clash in key 6A-25 matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Manor and Westwood meet Thursday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in the KBVO Game of the Week to hopefully provide clarity to a wild District 6A-25 playoff picture.Vandegrift is the clear No. 1 in the district, but after that six of the seven remaining teams are either tied at 3-2 or a game behind at 2-3. Westwood is one of the 3-2 teams while Manor needs to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The top four teams in the district advance to the postseason with Vista Ridge, Round Rock and Westwood all knotted at 3-2. McNeil, Stony Point and Manor are 2-3.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersBoth teams love to run the ball and for good reasons. Westwood is led by Demani Stewart, who has rushed for 1,474 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Manor has a bell cow of its own in Titus Petteway who has more than 1,400 rushing yards with 19 touchdowns.Roger Wal...

Drug Takeback Day provides a place to safely dispose of unwanted medication, syringes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

Ramsey County residents with unwanted or expired medications in need of disposal will find a safe place to do just that at an event held by the Opioid Prevention and Unified Services Coalition.The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cub Foods Midway, 1440 University Ave. in St. Paul.Along with drive-through, no-questions-asked drug drop-offs, participants will be able to access Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, and test strips that can detect fentanyl and xylazine in street drugs. For the first time, a Clinic 555 Syringe Services Program van will exchange used sharps and needles for clean ones, according to Lizzie Byrne, a spokesperson for the event. Clinic 555 is another Ramsey County program that beyond syringe exchange also provides overdose reversal medication, wound care, and HIV and Hepatitis C testing.“Proper disposal prevents crime, addiction, and misuse,” Byrne said.Older residents typically account for much of the traffic at takebac...

Larry Elder drops out of 2024 GOP primary, backs Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder is suspending his 2024 campaign for the White House and has endorsed former President Trump for the party nominee."As I look at the path forward, and after careful consideration and consultation with my campaign team, I have made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign," Elder said in a statement announcing the end of his campaign."Now that I am exiting the race," he continued. "I am proud to announce my endorsement of Donald Trump for President of the United States."The conservative radio host jumped into the GOP primary with his longshot bid in April, citing a “moral, religious, and a patriotic duty” to run for the Oval Office.Elder had expressed optimism in August about getting on the GOP’s first presidential primary debate stage, but he failed to meet the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) polling and donor thresholds to qualify to join his fellow candidates. In an opinion piece for The Hill, Elder w...

Cause of fatal Cahokia Heights apartment fire under investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – An apartment fire at a senior living complex claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman Wednesday night. Firefighters rescued other tenants in the building, but many of those residents are still displaced as investigators search for a cause of the fire.Firefighters were called to Touchette Elderly Apartments on Bond Avenue in Cahokia Heights around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Camp Jackson Fire Chief Chris Davis said that when his crews got to the scene just a couple of minutes later they were met with heavy smoke coming from the second floor of the building.The fire quickly grew to five alarms, with more than 40 firefighters from 12 departments responding to evacuate tenants and extinguish the blaze. More than 50 residents were rescued.“We went door-to-door, banging on the doors, banging for the residents to get out,” Camp Jackson Assistant Fire Chief Sharon Davis said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

Positively St. Louis: SLDC focused on business retention and expansion in downtown St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is focused on growth and development in downtown St. Louis, specifically to attract more businesses that will create additional employment, residential, retail and hospitality options, and make downtown safer. The focus is to improve connectivity between downtown, the riverfront, and other districts within the urban core through business retention and expansion.Stephen Davis, vice president of strategic partnerships and initiatives at SLDC, says the Downtown Activation Plan is a partnership with Greater St. Louis, Inc., and the mayor’s office. He explains that the partners are seeking funding from both public and private sources to ensure the initiatives identified in the plan can come to fruition. "We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really define the narrative of downtown St. Louis and shape the future that we want for the city," Davis said.City leaders know that Downtown St. Louis is the front door to the State of M...

How artist Teezo Touchdown honored Broncos’ P.J. Locke at Travis Scott concert at Ball Arena

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

For Broncos safety P.J. Locke, last Sunday was one of those moments that’s hard to put into words.He recorded his first career interception to solidify Denver’s 19-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Later that night, he attended Travis Scott’s Circus Maximus Tour at Ball Arena, where artist Teezo Touchdown wore Locke’s game-worn jersey while performing the song “Modern Jam” with the Houston rapper.Locke and Teezo Touchdown, whose real name is Aaron Thomas, are both from Beaumont, Texas, and have known each other since middle school. Teezo gave Denver’s fourth-year safety backstage passes. And in return, Locke signed his jersey and gave it to Teezo.“That was a blessing, man. I don’t even know how to explain it,” Locke told The Denver Post.Locke has enjoyed watching Teezo’s rise in the music industry. In addition to Teezo appearing on Scott’s latest album “Utopia,” he has a feature on Drake’s album “For All the Dogs,” which released earlier this month, and Tyler, The Creator’s “Ca...

Police search for suspect after 2 people stabbed in downtown L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

At least two people have been hospitalized after getting stabbed in downtown Los Angeles Thursday afternoon, according to police.Officers responded to the area of West 6th and South Spring streets at about 3:45 p.m.Initial reports indicate one victim, a male in his 60s, was found with stab wounds to his stomach outside of a Starbucks. Two people were transported to area hospitals, a LAPD spokesperson told KTLA.Additional officers were called in to apprehend the suspect.This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA 5 News for updates.

SoCal family of U.S. citizens trapped in Gaza plead for their safe return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:08 GMT

The Council on American-Islamic Relations held a news conference in Anaheim Thursday alongside families who have loved ones trapped in Gaza to plead for the safe return of those caught in the war zone.  Riverside County resident Helal Kaoud, whose father, brother and uncles went to visit family in Gaza when the war broke out, stood with her cousins during an emotional plea to get the Palestinian-Americans back home.  "My dad, my 20-year-old brother and four of my uncles who are all U.S. citizens went to visit our family in Gaza,” Helal said, unable to hold back tears. “Two weeks into their vacation, the attacks started, and they are no longer safe and now our conversations have shifted from daily vacation updates to proof of life updates.”  Shamiss Kaoud, whose father is also trapped in Gaza, spoke as well, saying their family is no different from anyone else’s in the U.S. “We just want this nightmare to be over and bring our families home,” she added.  Memb...