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Pumpkin Nights returns to Austin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Pumpkin Nights is expected to return to Austin on Sept. 21 and run through Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.Tickets for the event are now available online for purchase. Early bird tickets for adults start at $16. According to event organizers, there would not be walk-up ticket sales.The event’s venue is Pioneer Farms, located at 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive in northeast Austin, just east of Interstate 35.“At PUMPKIN NIGHTS, you will venture along a half-mile walking path, where you’ll discover the Forbidden City, a Pirate’s Cove, and more fantastical lands built using over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins. The celebration continues with entertainment and games in The Village, our festival area,” event organizers said.According to organizers, Pumpkin Nights was founded in 2016 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds but has since spread to many cities across the US.

Whittington's attitude, consistent play help glue the Texas Longhorns offense together

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Much has been said about Texas' ability to stretch the field with the downfield passing game this season. Quinn Ewers silenced the critics a bit with two long touchdown passes to Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, but a key player who operates in the middle of the field is senior Jordan Whittington.With seven catches for 91 yards in two games this season, Whittington is set to make his 17th start for the Longhorns on Saturday against Wyoming. As the team's best possession receiver, he's asked to do just about everything — from making tough catches in traffic knowing he's going to get hit as soon as he brings it in, and blocking linebackers to help spring big gains for running backs. He's a jack-of-all-trades guy who also plays on special teams, and he's the kind of glue guy head coach Steve Sarkisian loves. Gritty Wyoming comes to Austin as Longhorns try to avoid ‘Bama hangover "Nobody prepares better than he does," Sarkisian said of Whittington. "He can do so many...

Mexican 'Buk-ii's' undergoes makeover after Buc-ee's threatens to take action

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Buc-ee's remains set to take action after an unofficial store named "Buk-ii's" in Mexico underwent a makeover.The off-brand version of the popular store gained national headlines in July after Buc-ee's announced it would take action against it.New photos show that "Buk-ii's" underwent a makeover. The store is now called "Mini Super Buk-ii's" and it traded the logo of the beaver wearing a red cap to a beaver with a brown shirt and mullet.Nexstar reached out to Buc-ee's, who said the likeness would not be tolerated."The business in question has infringed upon the intellectual property of Buc-ee's that has been cultivated for decades," the statement reads.

Texas murder suspect arrested in Dallas trying to flee the country

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

TEMPLE, Texas (KWKT) -- Temple Police Detectives were in Dallas to question a man accused of killing a woman at a Texas hotel.Police said the man and woman checked into an Economy Inn on September 9. Officers performed a welfare check the next day and found the woman dead. Officers say video from the hotel shows no one else entered their room.During a multi-law enforcement agency investigation and manhunt, detectives determined the 29-year-old Columbian National suspect tried to leave the United States through Austin and Dallas airports.Temple Police worked with Belton Police, Texas Rangers, Austin & Dallas Police, ICE, TSA, and Enforcement and Removal Operations Team members to take the suspect into custody.Investigators have not yet released the names of the suspect or the victim.

Body found 23 years ago in New Brighton identified as Minneapolis woman

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

Authorities have identified a woman whose body was found 23 years ago in Long Lake Regional Park as Gail Marlene Johnson, 40, of Minneapolis.Investigators are still trying to solve the cold case and find out how she died and who was responsible.Gail Marlene Johnson (Courtesy of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension)Her body was found in a wooded and marshy area by two teenagers walking in the New Brighton park on Sept. 15, 2000.Investigators believe she had been there as long as two months.Forensic scientists with the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension obtained DNA from the remains but didn’t find a match in any database for missing people or convicted offenders.This summer, however, investigators obtained a DNA profile that would allow them to tap into genetic genealogy resources and were able to make a likely connection to Johnson’s family. After receiving a DNA sample from a family member they confirmed Johnson’s identity.“It’s been 23 years and...

Special committee to study future of earnings tax in St. Louis, Kansas City

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A group of Missouri lawmakers will study and review the earnings tax paid by people who live and work in the state's two largest cities. The committee is tasked with looking for alternatives to possibly replacing a 1% tax. If you live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis, you pay an earnings tax for the services the cities offer, like police, emergency services, and even parks. The 1% tax is a way for Missouri's two largest cities to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars a year. "First of all, it's not the charge of this committee to take away your tax or to, in any way, affect the safety of the public," said chairman of the special House committee Rep. Jim Murphy (R-St. Louis County). Study reveals potential health risks associated with household cleaning supplies In St. Louis City, 55% of nonresidents make up the individual portion of the earnings tax. The city brings in roughly $215 million annually from the tax, which is about 36% of the city's general...

New gun safety legislation in St. Louis gains momentum

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and the Board of Aldermen announced the next steps Friday for new action on gun safety legislation.The latest efforts follow the approval of Board Bill 29 to regulate open carry in St. Louis City. Last month, Jones said she wanted to introduce legislation designed to: Prohibit military-grade weapons on city streetsPrevent the transfer or sale of guns to minorsTake action on military-grade guns and similar untraceable firearmsPrepare St. Louis in the case of bans on celebratory gunfireProhibit anyone convicted of insurrection or hate crimes from having guns in St. LouisJones has received some pushback from the Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Gov. Mike Parson, but plans to continue with legislation and has backing from the Board of Aldermen. "We will be filing a number of bills that we know we are currently preempted under state law from doing, but we are filing them with trigger clauses in them in anticipation that one day we wil...

LA native to creative CEO: Tim Cozine’s story about loss, identity, and mental health

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

Media has painted a violent picture of the daily experience that children growing up in South Central face. While the frequency of drug and crime exposure may have lessened over the years, this community’s residents battle hardships everyday. Studies show that 27.8% of South Central’s population is living below the poverty line. The region’s rate is over double the current number for California and the US, indicating that struggling financially is common.Additionally, only 8% of residents have received a Bachelor’s, which is significantly lower than the federal rate of 35%. This data confirms that South Central youth may be influenced to engage in criminal or drug related activities, making it difficult for some to excel academically and build generational wealth.Tim Cozine is one of these individuals who was raised in South Central Los Angeles and is working to spread the message of mental health awareness as someone who has struggled due to his adversities in life. Brought u...

Scott Martin & The Grand Disaster: A Tale of Resilience in Rhythms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

Scott Martin has created the new album The Grand Disaster, a musical endeavor embodying a profound reflection of his life. In a sea of songwriters conveying the same cliche topics, the work of this journeyman musician stands apart from the norm. Martin offers relief for the tired listener, taking them away to a captivating world. In an industry constantly shifting, he epitomizes the essence of resilience and speaks to this uncommon quality through his newest release to the benefit of his loyal listeners.And if you’re not a loyal listener yet, odds are you’re about to be. When you listen to The Grand Disaster, you experience Martin’s journey with him. From early challenges, including personal tragedies and systematic setbacks to a place where he can calmly reflect on his past, you’re carried through a life holding significant meaning. Instead of reading a fantastical book or listening to the latest copy-cat pop craze, listeners are choosing to dive into the depths ofMartin’s soul, a ...

CEO of Geoff & Tyler Recording, Geoff Countryman says self-motivation is key for success in music

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:00 GMT

Geoff Countryman, CEO of Geoff & Tyler RecordingThe benefits of music to humans cannot be overemphasized. It is a tool for conveying deep feelings of the heart, and unbundling the mind, even when words seemingly fail. Music is a universal phenomenon that speaks directly to the soul. This is probably why a song can stay in a person’s subconscious and they may find themself still vibing to the melody hours after listening to it. Music is also very powerful in connecting people of different ethnicities and races. It has the ability to move seamlessly across nations without barriers.The power of music cannot be thoroughly explained without also examining the critical role played by musicians, as well as appreciating some of the challenges they face on their way to the big hit. These challenges range from career threatening press to a shortage of funds for marketing, to crazy schedules, and disputes over intellectual rights. Building a unique style and creating an acceptable, distinc...