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UFO-curious lawmakers brace for a fight over government secrets

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

(The Hill) – A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee say a high-profile hearing on UFOs is just the start of their push for answers.  And they are threatening to use heavier handed tactics if the Pentagon and intelligence agencies stand in their way. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) want more information on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) — commonly referred to as UFOs — beginning with new laws, a classified hearing and the possible creation of a select committee. The lawmakers said they are willing to use subpoena power if needed to get the answers they’re seeking from the federal government.  “If there's not a cover up, the government and the Pentagon are sure spending a lot of resources to stop us from studying it,” Burchett told The Hill.  He added that they hope House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) can aid them ...

Airfares are back to normal — so why do they feel so high?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

(NerdWallet) - Inflation has rattled nearly every aspect of Americans’ finances, including vacation budgets. But one major travel cost isn’t just lower than it was last year — it’s even lower than pre-pandemic.June 2023 airfares are 18.9% lower than what they were in June 2022, according to July 2023 consumer price index data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).Considering that booming demand — alongside other factors like high jet fuel costs — led to record-high airfares last summer, it’s not surprising to see prices normalize. Not only have air travel costs come back down to earth from 2022’s highs, they’re even lower than pre-pandemic prices.According to BLS data, June 2023 airfares are down 1.33% from what they were in 2019, when airfares were already trending lower. Relative to what prices were a decade ago, they’re even cheaper.Pandemic aside, airfares have been trending cheaperBefore the pandemic, airfares had steadily been trending downward since 2014, save...

CDC predicts late summer COVID wave. What are levels like in Austin?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are forewarning of a possible late summer wave of new COVID-19 cases, according to reporting from NPR. Here at the local level, Austin Public Health officials are also prepping in the event of possible upticks.Dr. Desmar Walkes, medical director with APH, told KXAN last week the regional health department is tracking any possible trends that could emerge. Walkes said many people have relaxed on social distancing and masking practices, especially in the warmer summer months."We just want to remind people as we have transitioned to this new normal place that we still need to do the things that we know work to prevent ourselves from getting sick and keep us from spreading disease in the community," Walkes said. "Get vaccinated, mask, distance, that sort of thing."Walkes said APH had noted a slight increase in hospitalizations, but added it's nothing substantial that's overwhelming Austin's healthcare system....

Woman sentenced for role in 2019 robbery-turned-shooting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman was sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication July 6 for her role in a robbery-turned-shooting at a north Austin hotel that left one man dead in May 2019.In Texas, deferred adjudication is a type of probation, which gives the person sentenced the opportunity to keep the conviction off their criminal record.According to court documents, Doris Mabry-Walker must also pay $2,500 in restitution. PAST COVERAGE: Police looking for woman accused of helping set up robbery that turned into fatal shooting As a part of the sentence, Mabry-Walker cannot have any contact with the victim’s family or with the co-defendants in the case.During the 10 years, she must complete 250 hours of community service and maintain employment.Court records showed she pleaded guilty to murder May 16, but an aggravated robbery charge was deferred before her sentencing.

Inside Elon Musk's Twitter rebrand

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The rebrand of Twitter, now known as "X," is part of owner Elon Musk's effort to transform Twitter into an "everything app."A new report by New York Times technology reporter Ryan Mac dug into how Musk was the latest Silicon Valley mogul to pursue an all-in-one app, which has thrived in Asia, but not much elsewhere.Ryan Mac joined KXAN Anchor Jennifer Sanders to discuss the rebrand.JENNIFER: Can you first explain what the idea of an everything app is?RYAN: So an everything app is kind of been the holy grail among, you know, Silicon Valley tech companies for years. It's the idea to have an app that literally could do everything. It can be your social media site, it can be your chatting function, it can order you a taxi, it can, you know, order groceries. You know, in the US, we have apps that do those things individually, but it's the idea that there's one thing, one place, you would go to to do all those things, and that is something that Elon Musk is now pitching.JE...

Lakeville star swimmer Regan Smith wins relay gold to wrap up World Championships

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

Lakeville swimmer Regan Smith completed her World Championship schedule with a bang, bringing home gold in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay Sunday in Japan.Smith swam the backstroke — the opening leg — of the relay for the U.S. team, turning in a time of 57.68 seconds. Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass combined to win the race with a time of 3 minutes, 52.08 seconds. That was more than a second faster than Australia, which finished second.“I think Team USA knows how to do medley relays really well, and I think we had something to prove tonight,” Smith said. “We’ve all had great weeks, but we’ve also had our ups and downs, and I think we wanted to end on a really positive note. I think we all really executed (this race) perfectly and did just that.”Smith leaves Japan with five medals — gold in the relay, silver in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter backstroke races and bronze in the 200-meter butterfly. The 21-year-old, who turned pro last year, ...

Sex-trafficking sting nets 11 arrests in St. Paul, authorities say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

Eleven people were arrested on suspicion of attempting to solicit minors for sex or promoting prostitution in connection with a sex-trafficking sting, authorities announced Saturday.The sting on Thursday and Friday in St. Paul was led by investigators with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force and the St. Paul Police Department.During the operation, undercover agents and investigators posed as minors or sex buyers and chatted with the suspects online. After a meeting place was arranged for an encounter, the suspects were arrested and booked into the Ramsey County Jail.Ten people were booked on suspicion of felony solicitation of a minor under 18 years of age for prostitution. One person was booked on suspicion of felony promotion of prostitution. They are expected to be charged in the next few days.Four females were recovered from trafficking situations as a result of the arrests.“We are committed to helping Minnesota’s traf...

SF Giants pitching staff dealt a blow; Crawford to start at shortstop

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants pitching staff was dealt a blow Sunday prior to their series finale against the Boston Red Sox as right-handed starter Anthony DeSclafani was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow flexor strain.Giants manager Gabe Kapler said DeSclafani, who is 4-8 this season with a 4.88 ERA, will rest for several weeks before he is reevaluated. “Anthony was feeling some fullness in his forearm, and that was the last (bullpen) he threw,” Kapler said. “That was enough for our medical staff to check him out, and we got an MRI scan done and found the grade one strain.”With DeSclafani out, the Giants recalled rookie righty Tristan Beck, who appeared in 50 innings over 20 games with the team earlier this season, with a 1.12 WHIP and a 3.06 ERA.  Beck, a Stanford alum, went sent to Triple-A Sacramento after July 16. “We’ll look to keep him in that very flexible (role),” Kapler said. “(He) could come in after an opener, could start a game, could pitch out of...

49ers QB Roll Call: Sam Darnold excels while Brock Purdy idles

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers returned to practice after their first day off at training camp but Brock Purdy was not among those participating. Here is Sunday’s roll call:BROCK PURDYThe Purdy Plan is for him to practice two consecutive days, then not throw the next two days, hence his absence from Sunday’s drills even after a day off. The 49ers typically are planning three consecutive days, so Purdy is limited to individual conditioning (see: running on the side) when not practicing. “That’s why it’s perfect for him,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.Purdy, the incumbent and presumptive starter, was 3-of-10 Thursday and 6-of-12 Friday in team drills. “He’s done great. Had no arm troubles. He’s getting all this timing back,” Shanahan said. “I was really impressed with him in those two practices. He’s deliberate in everything he does.”Camp total: 9-of-22TREY LANCEHe opened Sunday taking the first-team reps, and his first throw was o...

19th Street BART station closed due to police activity in Oakland

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:10:48 GMT

(KRON) -- The 19th Street BART Station was closed due to police activity on Sunday afternoon in Oakland, Bay Area Rapid Transit announced. Elderly man dies in Santa Clara crash BART trains are not stopping at the station. No further information was immediately available.