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Ukrainian refugees find hope in Texas over the holidays

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Pop family is fighting three wars.After Russia invaded their home country, the past two years have brought extraordinary challenges as they find safety in Austin. The father, Fedir, fled Ukraine in a wheelchair. He's fighting a deteriorating diagnosis of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, which has rendered him immobile and impaired his ability to talk. His wife, Natalia, is fighting cancer. And their 25-year-old son Serhii, the only English speaker in the family, is helping care for them in a new environment. He said they may not be alive if not for the support and health care they found in Texas."2022 was the most depressed year as I remember in my life," Serhii said. "A lot of things just changed...I was visiting emergency rooms, hospitals...I was not thinking that it was real."Days before Christmas, Fedir's hospice caretakers helped them celebrate Christmas far from home. Gifts in hand, they bridged the language barrier with the universal gestures of kindness....

Texans are feeling slightly better about their finances, poll finds

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A poll conducted this month by the Texas Politics Project found 40% of Texans feel worse about their personal economic conditions than a year ago, showing widespread economic pessimism but a slight improvement as the year comes to a close.In another Texas Politics Project poll in October, 47% of Texas voters reported feeling worse off than a year ago.In December, the poll found 23% of Texans feel better off about their finances. 35% said they feel about the same as last year."I think if you're looking for  good news going into the new year, we are beginning to see a little bit of easing up of people's negative attitudes towards the economy. Views of the economy have just been dismal," Executive Director of the Texas Politics Project Jim Henson said. "The lag that we see in improvements in the economy is beginning just a little bit to affect voters views."The improving outlook comes as some national and statewide indicators show positive economic signs. An an...

Will the Vikings bench veteran quarterback Nick Mullens in favor of rookie Jaren Hall?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

It seems as if veteran quarterback Nick Mullens has given head coach Kevin O’Connell something to think about as the Vikings prepare to play the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve. Asked if he planned to roll with Mullens as the starter moving forward, O’Connell was notably noncommittal.“We’re working through that right now,” O’Connell said. “Just making sure we go through a full evaluation process.”If the Vikings decide to bench Mullens for the remainder of this season, it would be more than deserved. He has struggled to take care of the ball in consecutive losses, throwing two interceptions against the Cincinnati Bengals, then four interceptions against the Detroit Lions in his two starts, both losses.It hasn’t been much different than journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs, who took the NFL by storm for a couple of weeks filling in for injured franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, then almost immediately came crashing back down to e...

St. Paul police ID pedestrian and dog killed in Christmas Eve crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

A man who died along with his dog after they were struck by a driver on Christmas Eve was identified Tuesday as a 64-year-old from St. Paul.Steven Wirtz was crossing West Maryland Avenue at Park Street in the North End when a 45-year-old man driving a Ford sedan east on Maryland Avenue hit them about 8:15 p.m. Sunday.Paramedics pronounced Wirtz dead at the scene. His dog, a 2-year-old German Shepherd named Gunther, also died.The driver stopped after the crash, was not arrested and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. They’re investigating the circumstances of the crash. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man and his dog hit by a car and killed in St. Paul on Sunday night Crime & Public Safety | Pornhub owner agrees to pay $1.8M and independent monitor to resolve sex trafficking-related charge Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul approves $380K settlement to fiancée of man fatally shot by police Crime &...

As AI deepfakes go mainstream, experts warn of impact on elections

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

NEW YORK — Nearly three years after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the false election conspiracy theories that drove the violent attack remain prevalent on social media and cable news: suitcases filled with ballots, late-night ballot dumps, dead people voting.Experts warn it will likely be worse in the coming presidential election contest. The safeguards that attempted to counter the bogus claims the last time are eroding, while the tools and systems that create and spread them are only getting stronger.Many Americans, egged on by former President Donald Trump, have continued to push the unsupported idea that elections throughout the U.S. can’t be trusted. A majority of Republicans (57%) believe Democrat Joe Biden was not legitimately elected president.Meanwhile, generative artificial intelligence tools have made it far cheaper and easier to spread the kind of misinformation that can mislead voters and potentially influence elections. And social media companies that once invested...

An emotional plea from the family of missing St. Louis woman

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The family of Marquisha Williams is making a plea to the public to help find the missing mother. This comes after the father of her four children was arrested in Wisconsin following the couple’s disappearance last week.“I'm trying not to cry, but we need help. We need everybody’s help," Terrance Chavis, Marquisha's stepfather, said. "We are all hurting. I have a hard time trying to hold up my head. I didn’t even want to talk, cause I knew this was going to happen. Listen; please help us.”The search has intensified on both sides of the Mississippi River, with dozens of volunteers pitching in.Police were originally looking for Williams and the father of her children, Trent Ivy.Ivy was arrested over the weekend, but Williams is nowhere to be found.“We miss her. Her kids miss her. They most definitely miss her. Her baby needs his mom. He's not even two years old yet. He can’t sleep at night,” Norvette Chavis, Marquisha’s mother, said. Close Thanks for s...

New therapy K9 sworn into Ventura County Sheriff’s Office 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

A four-legged “trendsetter” is the newest member of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. K9 Mellow raised his paw and was officially sworn in by VCSO Sheriff Fryhoff on Tuesday morning.  California Pizza Hut operators laying off all delivery drivers The Labrador Retriever is assigned to the Therapeutic Inmate Management Unit (TIMU), VCSO said on X, formerly Twitter. K9 Mellow raised his paw and was officially sworn in by VCSO Sheriff Fryhoff on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (X/@VENTURASHERIFF)K9 Mellow raised his paw and was officially sworn in by VCSO Sheriff Fryhoff on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (X/@VENTURASHERIFF)K9 Mellow raised his paw and was officially sworn in by VCSO Sheriff Fryhoff on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (X/@VENTURASHERIFF)Mellow will be at the forefront of the sheriff's office’s new animal-assisted therapy program, which is focused on “supporting the emotional well-being of inmates struggling with mental illness.”  California rings in 2024 with new laws focused on fir...

Wood burning ban now extended through Wednesday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

The South Coast AQMD has extended its area-wide wood burning ban for a third day, through Wednesday, due to high predicted air pollution levels.No indoor or outdoor burning is allowed in the entire South Coast Air Basin, which includes Orange County and non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.Only those who rely solely on wood to heat their homes and communities above 3,000 feet are exempt from the ban. Gas and other non-wood-burning fireplaces are not restricted.Afternoon air quality conditions in metro Los Angeles on Dec. 26, 2023. (AQMD)The initial No-Burn alert was issued for Christmas Day and then extended through Tuesday.“No-Burn Day alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine particulate air pollution in the region are forecast to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin,” air quality managers said in a news release.Check current air quality conditionsExperts say smoke from wood burning and other particulates ...

Vanessa Villarreal Moreno Killed in 2-Car Accident on Interstate 2 [Mercedes, TX]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

41-Year-Old Woman Pronounced Dead after Two-Vehicle Collision near Texas AvenueMERCEDES, TX (December 26, 2023) – Vanessa Villarreal Moreno died Friday afternoon in a two-car crash on westbound Highway Interstate 2. The incident occurred at approximately 4:36 p.m., near Texas Avenue.A collision occurred in the vicinity involving a Ford Focus and a Dodge Ram, according to investigators. Due to the severity of injuries, emergency medical personnel declared the passenger inside the Ford, identified as 41-year-old Moreno, deceased at the scene.Simultaneously, paramedics transported the female driver of the Ford to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen for critical injuries.In response to the incident, emergency crews temporarily closed off the surrounding area to facilitate cleanup and initial investigative procedures. Additional information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.Sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Vanessa Villarreal Moreno. Thoughts are...

Kiran Olivia Sharma Dies in Motorcycle Collision on Interstate 7 [Live Oak County, TX]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

25-Year-Old Rider Pronounced Dead after Motorcycle Accident near Mile Marker 56LIVE OAK COUNTY, TX (December 26, 2023) – Kiran Olivia Sharma died Sunday night in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 7 on December 17th.Police officers responded to the scene at approximately 9:40 p.m., near mile marker 56.Reports indicate that a woman on a 2007 Harley Davidson Motorcycle was hit by the male driver of a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria. The Ford then veered across lanes before finally stopping near the MM 56 southbound exit ramp. There, 25-year-old Sharma was declared dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries.An ongoing investigation is in progress to determine the circumstances of the crash, and additional information will be disclosed as it becomes available.Sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Kiran Olivia Sharma. Thoughts are with them during this very difficult time.Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident can have devastating effects on the emotional and finan...