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UT Austin names Darden Smith its inaugural Texas Songwriter in Residence program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The University of Texas Austin named Texas-based musician and artist Darden Smith was named the first recipient of the new songwriter in residence program UT, according to a news release from the university.The program, which is housed in the College of Fine Arts, is part of the university's efforts to expand live music experiences while integrating the campus community into Austin’s vibrant live music community and economy, the release said.“The location of our University is significant. Being in the heart of Austin creates collisions and synergy with industry, intellectual pursuits, and the arts, including live music. UT has been a big part of making Austin the live music capital of the world, including the talent that is gathered on the Forty Acres or launched from it. I am truly excited that one of those talented artists, alumnus Darden Smith, will interact with our students as our resident songwriter, passing on his life lessons as a UT student and successful m...

University of Texas announces new off-campus lab as advancement of life sciences in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will build a new 10,000-square-foot lab facility at the Parmer Austin site on Center Lake Drive in North Austin, according to a Wednesday press release issued by UT Austin and project partner Karlin Real Estate.The facility will house UT Austin's research commercialization team, Discovery to Impact, which will manage the facility. But the most exciting occupants will be life science startups.“This is a great day for the University and Discovery to Impact,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell in the release. “Austin is poised to become the next major hub for life sciences, and I am thrilled that UT and Karlin can be at the forefront of this movement and make an enormous impact on the city and the world.” Project developer Karlin previously built a life sciences "superhub" in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park in 2020. Locally, the Parmer Austin site is also home to "over 2 million square feet of innovation," includ...

Golden Thyme Cafe sold to Rondo Land Trust for pop-up, incubator effort

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

Mychael and Stephanie Wright, founders of the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest, recently announced they were selling the longstanding Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe on Selby Avenue. They declined at the time to disclose who the buyer was.The secret’s now out. The Wrights this week confirmed they are parting with Golden Thyme after 24 years on Selby Avenue, but the coffee shop — a beehive of Black culture and community activity — is expected to continue in the hands of the Rondo Community Land Trust. The goal is to expand the existing coffee shop into “Golden Thyme Presents,” a pop-up and incubator space driven by short- and long-term leases with restaurateurs and food vendors of color.Sammy McDowell, proprietor of Avenue Eatery, which has run cafes and catering businesses in both North and Northeast Minneapolis, plans to be among the first temporary occupants on Oct. 1.The Wrights “were ready to retire and didn’t have a succession plan,” said E. C...

St. Paul seeks 250 volunteers to build Dunning Park playground

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

St. Paul Parks and Recreation is looking for 250 volunteers to help build a new playground on Marshall Avenue.Major work on the future Dunning Park playground at 1221 Marshall Ave. is expected to take three days of labor to come together, with shifts scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 11, 12 and 13, a Wednesday through Friday. The majority of volunteers are needed on the final day, and yes, this is work with a deadline: a ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 13.The build is being organized with the St. Paul Parks Conservancy, major funders Sierra and UnitedHealthcare, and project partners KABOOM!, a non-profit that works to build playgrounds in underserved communities. The equipment was purchased from Landscape Structures of Delano.“KABOOM!’s role is to facilitate private fundraising,” said Parks and Rec Director Andy Rodriguez. “They help us find private partners to contribute financially, so no city funds will be used ...

Lawmakers propose bills to address asylum seeker situation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--There is a chance state lawmakers could be back in Albany before January."With respect to a special session, certainly I’m entertaining all of our options right now. We are working closely with the mayor," said Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday.This is something New York State Republicans want in order to further address the asylum seeker situation. Republican Senator, Jim Tedisco, is sponsoring legislation that would require New York City to give advance notice and get approval from communities before relocating migrants."I think it should be a choice up to the elected officials by the constituents in that community," said Tedisco. "And I really hope that what they don’t do is to try to provide an unconditional mandate to take control of local autonomy on this."Tedisco announced Utica’s Democratic Assemblymember, Marianne Buttenshon, will be sponsoring this bill as well. It’s quite different from what Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar is sponsoring."The first o...

NYS AG reaches agreement on insulin price cap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – Attorney General Letitia James announced on Friday, September 8 that she has reached an agreement with one of the nation's largest insulin providers to help make insulin more affordable for the uninsured. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! James announced that she has secured an agreement with Novo Nordisk, one of the nation’s largest insulin providers, to cap prices of insulin at $35 per monthly prescription for uninsured New Yorkers for the next five years. The agreement also requires the company to implement a program with pharmacies to automatically let uninsured patients know before they pay that they are eligible for the insulin cap.“New Yorkers who rely on lifesaving medication like insulin should not have to ration their doses or forgo taking their medicine altogether because they cannot afford it,” James said in a statement. “Today’s agreement will mean that uninsured New Yorkers do not have to choose...

Lake George hosts classic cars, countless stories

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - After Thursday night rain and heat lightning, the sky over Lake George was blue again on Friday - just in time for showing and shining. The Adirondack Nationals Car Show came to town this week, running until Sunday, Sept. 10. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Every year, the festival of classic vehicles welcomes around 1,500 cars for four days of cruising and showing off by the lake. Some of those cars could be seen along a crowded Canada Street, but the main event populated Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center, with even more nearby at Charles R. Wood Park.The 2023 Adirondack Nationals Car Show at Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center in Lake George, N.Y.The 2023 Adirondack Nationals Car Show at Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center in Lake George, N.Y.The 2023 Adirondack Nationals Car Show at Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center in Lake George, N.Y.The 2023 Adirondack Nation...

Albany homicide suspect sentenced to 32 years to life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Jaiquan Allah, 26, was sentenced to an aggregate term of 32 years to life in state prison. Allah was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, Allah caused the death of William Hooks by shooting him with an illegal handgun on June 20. Allah allegedly also caused physical injury to another victim.Allah was also sentenced to five years of post-release supervision. Homicide and Violent Crimes Bureau Chief Jessica Blain-Lewis and Trial Assistant Katelyn Kaczkowski handled the prosecution of this case.

Woman admits to fake gift card scheme involving many St. Louis-area Target stores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A woman from China admitted to a counterfeit gift card scheme involving several St. Louis-area Target stores. Hongying Wang, 53, originally of Hunan Province, China, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one charge of using and trafficking in a counterfeit access device. According to the plea agreement, the scheme involved Wang and others placing altered gift cards on the sales racks at Target while retaining the access numbers. Once a gift card was loaded with money by an unsuspecting patron, the suspects acquired codes needed to steal the funds. FOX 2 photographer run over after community threatens to tow cars In January 2023, a Target security officer observed Wang and another person placing gift cards onto the racks of the Belleville store for customers to purchase. Upon further review, investigators determined the gift cards were altered. They had codes scratched off and covered by stickers to appear untouched.Per the plea agreement, the scheme al...

In rare move, city rejects deal with Grateful Dead-themed bar after second police sting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:46 GMT

The city’s liquor license agency on Thursday rejected a settlement agreement with a Denver bar that has repeatedly been the subject of police stings for underage alcohol sales and drug dealing.Molly Duplechian, executive director of Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, declined to comment on why she rejected the settlement, which was made between So Many Roads Brewery, a Grateful Dead-themed bar and music venue at 918 W. 1st Ave., and the City Attorney’s Office. But in her decision, Duplechian wrote that “any agreement reached … must include the penalty to be assessed against” So Many Roads owner Tyler Bishop.An agency spokesman said Duplechian didn’t feel comfortable with the terms. As a result, the City Attorney’s Office will either have to present an alternative agreement, or the case will move forward at a hearing, in late September, where the fate of So Many Roads’ liquor license could be determined.In that scenario, “t...