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Biden surveys hurricane’s toll from the sky and ground in Florida. DeSantis won’t see him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

LIVE OAK, Fla. (AP) — President Joe Biden got a look Saturday from the sky at Hurricane Idalia’s impact across a swath of Florida before setting out on a walking tour of a city recovering from the storm. Notably absent from his schedule was any time with Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican president candidate who suggested a meeting could hinder disaster response efforts.The mayor of Live Oak, which is about 80 miles east of Tallahassee, the capital, thanked the president and first lady Jill Biden for coming to their community and “showing us that we’re important to you.” “Everybody thinks Florida is rich, but this is not one of the richest counties in the state and there are people who are suffering,” said Frank Davis, who was grateful that he knew of no loss of life or serious injury. At Suwannee Pineview Elementary School, local officials offered praise for early disaster declarations by the White House and the quick flow of federal aid. “What the federal government...

Some Ottawa residents lose up to $2,000 in fake Taylor Swift ticket scam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

Ottawa police say they’ve seen an increase in reports of fake ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s sold-out Toronto shows due to what they’re describing as online ticket scams.Demand is high for next year’s six shows in Toronto, the only Canadian stop on Swift’s global Eras Tour, and are expected to draw fans from all over the country and beyond.The OPS Fraud Investigation Unit said they have received an increased number of reports of fake Taylor Swift ticket sales, with fraudsters targeting fans through Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.According to the OPS, some victims have lost upwards of 2,000. In all, scammers have taken more than $12,000 in the last three days from people from Ottawa looking for tickets.Police are urging buyers to take time to meet with prospective sellers and inspect what they are acquiring before closing the deal. Fraud Unit investigators said they’re seeing a recent trend where buyers place large deposits on unseen goods with unknown...

'One in a million:' Art found at thrift store could fetch $250K, expert says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

(NewsNation) – One person's trash literally became another person's treasure after a New Hampshire woman found a valuable painting among the artwork at her local thrift store.The woman, who was searching for frames, reportedly purchased the artwork for $4. It sat in her home for years — and at one point in her closet — until she posted a photo of the artwork to a Facebook group.That's when it caught the eye of art conservator Lauren Lewis, who recognized the painting was an original work by renowned American illustrator N.C. Wyeth dating to 1939.Lewis has worked with the Wyeth family since 1998, and recognized the painting's potential significance."I happened to be scrolling through one day in mid-May, and I saw photos of this piece with the tagline, 'Is this real?'" Lewis said. "That happens fairly often, but what intrigued me about this one is she included photos of the back of the painting, and you can see the labels. And so that made me look a little bit closer."The lost N.C. Wy...

Austin Police searching for suspect involved in 2 bank robberies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it was searching for a man in connection with two bank robberies that occurred in late August.APD said the first robbery occurred at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at a bank in the 1800 block of South Pleasant Valley Road.The suspect showed the teller a note demanding money, and he then left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, according to APD.Image of the suspect from the second robbery (APD photos)Image of the suspect from the first robbery (APD photos)Police described the suspect as a white or Hispanic man with a medium build, a large tattoo across the throat and a tattoo on his right wrist.The suspect was seen wearing a white sun hat, a surgical mask, dark gray sweatpants, a gray long-sleeve t-shirt, white Nike Air Jordan sneakers and a gray neck gaiter. The t-shirt had the print “Popeye” and “1929” on the chest, and "Heavyweight Champion of the World" on the back, according to APD.The second robbery occurred at 1:50 p.m. Aug...

Texas A&M study finds new tool to minimize feral hog populations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

TEXAS (KXAN) — A study conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reported a new tool has been successful in helping to reduce feral hog populations, according to a Thursday release.The study revealed a warfarin-based toxicant was an effective means for landowners to help minimize feral hog population sizes and damage to their properties. The hogs are responsible for millions of dollars each year in agricultural and property damages, while also negatively affecting native plant and animal species statewide. Estimates theorize there are more than three million feral hogs across Texas that account for more than $500 million in those damages each year.Top leaders from the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and the Texas Wildlife Services led the two-year study. It analyzed 23 sites across 10 counties within various portions of the state.“Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service was tasked with evaluating the product’s ability to reduce feral hog n...

Austin airtanker base opens for wildfire response

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Airtanker Base is now activated for faster wildfire response times and better cost efficiency for Texas wildfires, a release from the governor's office said. Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that he directed the Texas A&M Forest Service to open the base to help local and state wildfire responders ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend. MAP: More than 3,500 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year The base will serve as a reload station for aircraft, including aircraft that drop fire retardant during wildfires. This will supplement the airtanker base in Abilene. The airtanker base at Austin-Bergstron International Airport is the only airport in the state set up for a "Very Large Airtanker, or DC-10," the governor's release said. The Austin base will be manned by personnel from the Texas A&M Forest Service, the US Forest Service and the Austin Fire Department. Abbott also added 10 counties to the state's wildfire disaster declaration for ...

Transient accused of sneaking into California home, touching 12-year-old girl on the face

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

(KTLA) -- A convicted felon accused of sneaking into a California home in the middle of the night and touching a 12-year-old girl was being held without bond Monday, according to police.Around 12:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a home in Riverside on a report of a possible burglary.Police said the suspect, Daveon Alvarez, 28, entered the home through an unlocked door and encountered the 12-year-old girl, who was sleeping on the couch.“He touched the girl’s face, which startled her, and she ran off to alert her family,” police said.Daveon Alvarez is seen on dash camera footage from Riverside Police. Aug. 28, 2023. (Riverside Police Department)As officers canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses, they learned that Alvarez had been going through cars and fled the home with a set of car keys.He was arrested nearby.Police said Alvarez is a transient from the desert area who was on parole for auto theft. He was booked into jail for what they said was annoying or molesting a child, bu...

Twins’ Byron Buxton pulled from rehab game with Saints because of soreness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

Twins star Byron Buxton was removed early from a rehab game with the Triple-A Saints on Friday after experiencing soreness in the patella tendon, per reports.Buxton played the outfield for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday, spending seven innings in center field. Thursday was a scheduled day off and Friday he got two at-bats before exiting the game.Though he is on the injured list for a hamstring strain suffered at the beginning of last month, Buxton has been kept out of the outfield because of the right knee that flared up.Prior to Wednesday, he had spent the whole season serving as the Twins’ designated hitter as a result of the issue, which impacted him last season to the point where he had a season-ending surgery.The Twins had hoped to bring him back from the injured list as an occasional center fielder, getting him into the outfield a couple times a week. But that plan is dependent on his response to how he felt after playing it while rehabbing with the Sain...

Troy Police investigating River Street homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Troy Police Department announced they are investigating a fatal stabbing that took place on September 2. Police stated that the victim's identity will not be released until the appropriate family members have been notified. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Saturday at 1 p.m., police responded to the area of River Street and Douw Street for reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers located an unconscious adult man who had sustained multiple stab wounds. The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were involved in a dispute, which escalated into the suspect stabbing the victim. According to police, the suspect fled the scene after the assault and is not yet in custody. Albany Police investigating Central Avenue homicide Detectives were active on the scene interviewing potential witnesses, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Troy P...

Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:32 GMT

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Illinois using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the dollar change in the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes from the 12 months ending July 2023. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib. Data was available for 1,034 cities and towns in Illinois. The typical home value in the United States was $349,679 in July, 1.4% higher than the year before, and a new record.Metros with the most cities in the top 50#1. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: 24#2. Bloomington, IL: 6#3. St. Louis, MO-IL: 4#4. Peoria, IL: 3#4. Pontiac, IL: 3#6. Charleston-Mattoon, IL: 2#7. Dixon, IL: 1Read on to see which cities made the list.Stacker#50. Mount Carroll- Typical home value: $132,041- 1-year price change: +$21,893 (+19.9%)- 5-year price change: +$51,150 (+63.2%)- Metro area: not in a metro areaStacker#49. Tamaroa- Typical home value: $102,354- 1-year price change: +$21,912 (+27.2%)- 5-year price ...