$4.5M greenlit for Austin Playhouse's proposed new arts center

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

$4.5M greenlit for Austin Playhouse's proposed new arts center AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council approved an allocation of $4.5 million to go toward Austin Playhouse to support the organization's new arts center.The $4.5 million will go toward the new center's projected $7.5 million costs, per a city release. The project will cover two new theaters, rehearsal and classroom spaces, as well as a lobby in the multi-purpose facility that will be open to the public. “We’re intent on raising the profile of Austin’s arts community with our decades-long history of supporting emerging arts organizations through subsidized rent, mentorships, and collaborations,” Austin Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Lara Toner Haddock said in the release. “Having flexible and affordable spaces throughout the city is essential to the sustainability of Austin's cultural ecosystem. We will still need to raise the remaining funds necessary to complete the project, but this tremendous support from the city makes it a gap and not an insurmountable chasm.”For more than...

Wild will play host to Calgary without their two top defensemen

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Wild will play host to Calgary without their two top defensemen Days after placing blue line anchor Jonas Brodin on long-term injured reserve, the Wild learned Thursday that the team’s other top defenseman, Jared Spurgeon, will be unavailable for a 7 p.m. puck drop against Calgary.Head coach John Hynes said Spurgeon, who missed the first 14 games of the season because of an upper-body injury suffered in an Oct. 5 preseason game, is day to day with a lower-body injury.Hynes said the injury “wasn’t directly related” to Spurgeon’s last game, a 3-0 victory at Seattle on Sunday. The team recalled defensemen Dakota Mermis and Daemon Hunt from Iowa on Wednesday, and Mermis will be in the lineup against the Flames at Xcel Energy Center.“Obviously, you’re missing two big-time forwards from your club, but we talk about depth, and obviously I’m a part of that,” Mermis said. “So, it’s our job to step up and play a big role, and that’s what I plan to do.”Brodin was averaging a team-high 23 minutes, 59 seconds a game when he was injured on a reckless hi...

Thacher Park designated National Natural Landmark

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Thacher Park designated National Natural Landmark VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The National Park Service (NPS) recognized John Boyd Thacher State Park as a National Natural Landmark (NNL) on Wednesday. Thacher earned the distinction from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland due to the extraordinary value of the Helderberg Escarpment. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Thacher Park earned the distinction because it has "the most complete and minimally disturbed record of Middle Paleozoic rock layering in the Appalachian Plateaus region, and perhaps across North America," NPS said in the announcement. "The uniquely accessible fossil-rich deposits provide a visible geologic cross section spanning 63 million years that is foundational in the early study and understanding of North American geology and of widespread ancient mountain creation."The park's natural features highlight America’s character, rarity, and value to science and education, NPS said. And according to a statement from the park, t...

Amsterdam Free Library offering free technology tutorials

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Amsterdam Free Library offering free technology tutorials AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Amsterdam Free Library announced they will now be offering their patrons free self-paced technology courses on their public computers. The tutorials will be provided in both English and Spanish. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The self-guided courses will range from beginner computer literacy such as navigating websites and accessing email, to more intricate life skills like creating a resume and buying a plane ticket online. The library will have certifications of completion available to guests. The Amsterdam Free Library is located at 28 Church Street. Patrons can also set up a one-on-one technology assistance appointment by calling the library at (518)842-1080.

St. Charles County joins court battle to defend Missouri county taxes on marijuana sales

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

St. Charles County joins court battle to defend Missouri county taxes on marijuana sales ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - Officials in St. Charles County will head to court with hopes of defending the right for Missouri counties to collect a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana purchases.St. Charles County announced the efforts Thursday in tandem with St. Louis County, which is facing a lawsuit from Florissant-based company Robust Missouri Dispensary.The lawsuit accuses St. Louis County of unconstitutionally collecting a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana purchases, while municipalities within the county also extend their rights to collect a 3% sales tax on such purchases. 15-year-old charged as adult in fatal carjacking from January By challenging the lawsuit, St. Charles and St. Louis counties are both claiming that based on the way that Missouri's laws are written, they allow a county to impose a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana purchases, even if cities within the county have already done so.“We’re intervening in this St. Louis County suit because we think t...

Are you Up Late? A unique culinary haven for St. Louis night owls

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Are you Up Late? A unique culinary haven for St. Louis night owls ST. LOUIS — Co-owners Nathan Wright and Jason Bockman identified a gap in St. Louis's nightlife scene and decided to fill it with a unique culinary experience. The result is Up Late, a restaurant offering a diverse menu from breakfast to lunch, specializing in late-night delights. Wright and Bockman's Up Late stands out as a late-night haven that offers a fun selection of tacos, breakfast sandwiches, donuts, and beer. Nathan Wright describes Up Late as more than just a restaurant: "a safe place for people to eat late at night and a place to meet new friends or see familiar faces,” he said.  Operating from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. every Thursday to Sunday, Up Late currently resides at 1904 S Vandeventer Ave., inside World's Fair Donuts, with plans for expansion to another location. “We are very blessed by how busy we are. From the start, we have been busy, and it's continued to grow and evolve,” he said.  The menu features breakfast sandwiches with the signature 'late sau...

Update: 'Madman' Mike Marcum's bizarre radio confession

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Update: 'Madman' Mike Marcum's bizarre radio confession ST. LOUIS – In October, we covered the story of "Madman" Mike Marcum, who seemingly vanished after claiming to have invented a time machine and appearing on the Art Bell "Coast to Coast" radio show.Photo by the Sheriff's Office of Albany, MoFOX 2 confirmed that he spent time in jail in 1995 for stealing transformers, which he said were essential for his alleged time-travel device.Recently, we discovered audio has emerged featuring Marcum on Bell's other show, "Midnight in the Desert," several years after he was reported to have "disappeared."On the radio show, Marcum recounts his journey, trying to create a 'time machine.' He goes into the details of how he created the 'time machine', what it looked like, and how a person would enter it.In reality, in his pursuit of equipment for this 'time machine', Marcum stole transformers from the St. Joseph Light and Power generating station in King City, Missouri. A 1995 report from the Stanberry Police Department confirms the theft. He told ...

Kansas City woman killed by stray bullet right in front of sister

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Kansas City woman killed by stray bullet right in front of sister KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City woman is remembering her sister's final moments after she was shot by a stray bullet right in front of her.Her older sister, Courtney Wickman, who was also the mother to a 4-year-old, later died.  It's a loss so difficult that putting it in to words is a challenge for Samantha Wickman. Her ride-or-die, her best friend was snatched from her right in front of her eyes after the two were out on the town in late October.  "No one expects something so violent and cruel to happen right in front of you," Samantha Wickman said. KBI: Lansing inmate was killed less than a year from release Their bond unshakable and their love for one another had already been tested after the trauma of losing their mom and older sister. But Samantha said that only made her sister better."She was really strong, and she was a great mom. She lived for her daughter Lana," Samantha said.Courtney was celebrating her 33rd birthday and was going home, leaving a Midtown Kan...

Best gifts for the Swiftie in your life

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Best gifts for the Swiftie in your life BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.So many Swifties, so many giftsTaylor Swift has been making headlines long before dating Travis Kelce, star tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, and has firmly established herself as one of her generation’s most talented artists. That’s why it’s no surprise that she has earned an army of fervent supporters who have affectionately dubbed themselves “Swifties.”If you know a Taylor Swift super fan, shopping for them for their birthday or the upcoming holidays will be a breeze. We’ve gathered the best gift ideas for the most loyal Swifties, which include everything from slippers and posters to viral handbags and wallets. You’ll find several popular gifts for Swifties, such as posters with inspirational lyrics, table lamps, ornaments, apparel, jewelry and portraits.The 50 best Christmas gift ideas of 2023 The best gift ideas for SwiftiesSwifties ...

Opinion: Don’t give developers and builders a free pass on shoddy work

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:50:40 GMT

Opinion: Don’t give developers and builders a free pass on shoddy work As the unlucky buyer of a poorly built condo, the recent Denver Post editorial advocating for proposals that would weaken the rights for homeowners is infuriating. Buyers should expect developers to build their new home right – and if it’s not, be able to hold developers legally accountable to fix it.I’m a living example of someone who is largely priced out of the housing market. Purchasing my condo in an affordable housing development in Five Points was a dream come true. Not only could I afford to buy my place, but the central location also meant I had access to light rail.Colorado’s predictable late summer rains revealed our builder didn’t grade the structural decking properly and used subpar materials. As water streamed into our front doors and ran down our indoor walls in sheets, the damage was clear.We repeatedly tried to get our developer and builder to repair the damage, but they dragged their feet and offered only pathetic “caulk and walk” efforts that didn’t begin to fix t...