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Colorado is warning residents about black widow spiders — here's why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KDVR) — The iconic black widow spider calls Colorado home, but the record wet weather this summer means residents may be seeing them more around their neighborhoods."When you have increases in moisture, you usually have increases in insect populations," said Sara Stevens, director of animal collections at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. "So they're most likely thriving more due to the abundance of prey items more so than the weather itself."Stevens said black widows are mealworm beetle specialists but also eat any sort of insect. Stevens said this makes them great at pest management.Black widow spider (AP Photo)"Black widows can be really beneficial for helping to mitigate that [pests] around the house," Stevens said. "Especially because most of the time they're outside. They're pretty shy spiders. They really don't want to come into our homes and interact with us too much. They like to find nice quiet spaces and they're sort of couch potatoes. They make a...

Affidavit: Man set mattress on fire in deadly 2018 San Marcos apartment fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

SAN MARCOS (KXAN) -- A Hays County arrest affidavit obtained by KXAN has revealed new details about what led to the arrest of Jacobe Ferguson, who is facing an arson charge connected with a fire at a San Marcos apartment complex that killed five people in 2018. NEXT: Former resident arrested after deadly 2018 apartment fire in San Marcos During a news conference Thursday morning, the San Marcos fire marshal said authorities served an arrest warrant to the 30-year-old former resident early Wednesday morning. Investigators said no other arrests are expected in the case. The fire happened in the early morning hours of July 20, 2018. In the following days, investigators with the San Marcos Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office interviewed several witnesses. KXAN is not naming the witnesses and will instead refer to them as Witness No. 1, Witness No. 2 and Witness No. 3.Witness No....

TxDOT seeks public feedback on $100B, 10-year plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Transportation hosted a public meeting Thursday for residents to weigh in on the agency's Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, a 10-year outlook on transportation projects statewide.Thursday's virtual meeting was the first of two meetings slated for July. A second, virtual public hearing will be held on July 25 at 2 p.m.The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to approve the 10-year UTP at its Aug. 16 meeting. The draft plan, as proposed, features $100.6 billion in funding to be allocated to thousands of projects statewide, including safety upgrades, preventative maintenance work and congestion mitigation efforts.TxDOT approves adjustments to the UTP annually, which helps determine transportation funding across the state. The UTP doesn't guarantee a specific budget or project will be built, but helps develop a long-form plan for identifying transportation needs across the state.Some of the projects the draft UTP has proposed for pos...

QAnon leader, who said JFK and son are still alive, dies in Rochester after crashing dirt bike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Michael Protzman, the leader of a QAnon cult who led thousands of people to believe a conspiracy that former president John F. Kennedy and his son John F. Kennedy Jr. are still alive, has died in Rochester, according to VICE News.Protzman, 60, died Friday, June 30, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a week after suffering multiple blunt-force injuries from a dirt bike accident at the Meadow Valley Motocross track in Millville. The fatal injuries occurred after Protzman lost control of his dirt bike, according to the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.Known to his followers as “Negative 48,” Protzman built a 100,000-plus-person cult following on the social media app Telegram by spreading conspiracy theories predicting that JFK would reappear at Dealey Plaza, the site of his 1963 assassination in Dallas, on Nov. 2, 2022, according to the Houston Chronicle.Protzman believed the resurrected Kennedy would reinstate former President Donald Trump a...

Five MN drownings reported over Fourth of July holiday weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

RED WING, Minn. — At least five people drowned in Minnesota waterways over the weekend through the Independence Day holiday Tuesday.The deaths nearly double the total drownings in Minnesota waterways so far this year, state officials said Wednesday.Three people from Oakdale died while swimming in the Vermillion River near Red Wing on Monday. Additionally, two 20-year-old men died in separate incidents: one in Wright County, Minnesota, Monday; and the other in Clearwater County, Minnesota, Sunday.The three deaths along the Mississippi River are the first in Goodhue County since 2021. Before Monday, the most recent fatality on the river in Minnesota was June 2 when a 39-year-old kayaker was found after his craft was found capsized May 31.The holiday and weekend incidents unofficially brings the total drowning fatalities in Minnesota to 12 so far this year, said Lisa Dugan, boat and water safety outreach coordinator at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.Among the earlier drownin...

Five prospects to keep an eye on at Wild development camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

It’s that time of the year when dozens of Wild prospects descend upon St. Paul for a sneak peek at what they hope life could be like in future NHL seasons.Thirty-six players will be at development camp from July 7-9 at TRIA Rink in downtown St. Paul. Who stands out? That remains to be seen.Here are five prospects to keep an eye on:Brock FaberThe biggest name on the list of participants is defenseman Brock Faber. He made his NHL debut last season in the leadup to the playoffs and performed so well that he found himself in the lineup for the Wild in their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars. Presumably the Wild are most interested in seeing the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Faber take on a leadership role amongst his peers. He already has proved himself as a player who is going to be instrumental on the blue line this season. Especially considering the loss of veteran defenseman Matt Dumba.Liam OhgrenAfter being selected by the Wild in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft...

Former St. Paul teacher sentenced to probation for nonconsensual sexual contact with student

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

A former St. Paul Public Schools teacher was sentenced this week to two years of probation for engaging in a nonconsensual sex act with an 18-year-old student.After a family member reported it, the student told police that she and Pablo Alejandro Cortes, her 50-year-old biology teacher, had been flirting by text message and Snapchat when they agreed to meet after school Dec. 2, according to the criminal complaint.Pablo Alejandro Cortes (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)At a parking ramp near Como Park, Cortes exposed himself and the student performed oral sex on him, she said. She told police she “didn’t want to … but continued because she was scared,” according to the complaint.Though the student was 18, it is a felony for a teacher to have sex with a student. In a plea deal, the felony charge against Cortes was dismissed and he pleaded guilty to fifth-degree nonconsensual sexual contact, a gross misdemeanor.Cortes was sentenced Wednesday to 360 days in the Rams...

St. Louis CITY SC at top of ESPN's 'MLS Watchability Rankings'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Still on pace for MLS expansion-team history, St. Louis CITY SC has also earned some love from ESPN's soccer staff in their inaugural season. ESPN named St. Louis as the top team in its "MLS Watchability Rankings" for the 2023 season. Soccer enthusiast Bill Connelly graded teams based on several criteria to determine which MLS squads are the most exciting to watch. 24% of Missouri under ‘extreme drought’ conditions – Report The rankings are based on quantitative and qualitative measures, including but not limited to: goals scored, shots, offensive aggression, defensive pressure, ability to win close games and entertaining strategies. St. Louis CITY SC earned a score of 9.7. Connelly credits the work of Lutz Pfannenstiel and Bradley Carnell for bringing in players with experience and building a strong culture in year one. He also notes the team has modeled itself like some of the best in the Bundesliga. "They've had an up-and-down season after a sizzling start, but the...

Former Missouri bank executive pleads guilty to embezzling at least $550,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The former vice president of a Missouri bank pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling more than a half-million dollars.Angela Flippin, 51, of Jamestown, entered the guilty plea in federal court in Jefferson City. She could face as many as 33 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.Flippin was vice president and chief operating officer of the People's Bank of Moniteau County. Federal prosecutors said that she embezzled at least $550,000 from 2010 to Jan. 30, 2017, but that they suspect she actually took nearly $650,000.Among other things, an audit found that Flippin received more than $550,000 in improper comp time disbursements and more than $8,000 in improper expense reimbursements, prosecutors said.

Another day, more storms: Metro Denver, Eastern Plains face large hail potential

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:37 GMT

Metro Denver and Colorado’s Eastern Plains face the potential of “very large, damaging hail” as another round of storms looks likely to hit Thursday afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service says.The NWS issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. for all counties in metro Denver, northern Colorado and northeastern communities including Fort Morgan and Sterling.It says Thursday’s storms also may bring damaging winds up to 80 mph, localized flooding and the threat of tornadoes. But the main threat was hail, which could reach golf ball to baseball size in some places.Severe Storm Threat Today Another day, more severe storms possible! Very large, damaging hail is the main threat, but a couple tornadoes, localized flooding, and damaging winds also possible. Be ready to take shelter should a severe storm approach your area. #COwx pic.twitter.com/cUURkRbF1C— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) July 6, 2023In a mid-afternoon tweet, the weather service sai...