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Texas removed mandatory vehicle safety inspections. Do I still need an emissions test?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Tuesday that would eliminate mandatory vehicle inspections in Texas once it takes effect in 2025. ICYMI: Gov. Abbott signs bill eliminating mandatory vehicle inspections in Texas Under current state law, most vehicles statewide are required to undergo annual vehicle safety inspections. Come 2025, that yearly inspection would be replaced by an annual $7.50 fee -- the same as the current inspection fee, but without the added need of taking your vehicle to the shop.While this legislation will remove the necessity for an annual safety inspection, there are still several counties statewide that mandate yearly emissions testing. Currently, 17 counties -- regions primarily surrounding metro areas or with highly concentrated populations -- require those emissions inspections:BrazoriaCollinDallasDentonEl PasoEllisFort BendGalvestonHarrisJohnsonKaufmanMontgomeryParkerRockwallTarrantTravis WilliamsonHowever, some vehicles are exempt fr...

Amber Alert issued for 14-year-old Texas girl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

PRINCETON, Texas (KETK) - An amber alert was issued for 14-year-old Ja'Myra Strawder out of Princeton. ERCOT warns Texas could reach all-time peak electric demand later this week She was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants with a white stripe and black house shoes. According to Texas DPS, she is 5'7", 140 pounds and has black hair.The alert said that the suspect is Lee Carter III, 34. DPS said he is 6 feet tall and 203 pounds. Carter is reportedly driving a black 2014 Mercedes E35 with license plate number RNS-2973. Anyone with information on Strawder's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Princeton Police Department at 972-736-3901.amber_alert-1-1Download

J.J. Watt to be inducted into Houston Texans Ring of Honor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) — One of the greatest players in the brief history of the Houston Texans will be honored during the 2023 season as J.J. Watt will be inducted into the team’s ring of honor in October, the team announced recently.Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will join his former teammate Andre Johnson and late owner Bob McNair in the Ring of Honor on Sunday, Oct. 1, when the Texans host the Pittsburgh Steelers. His brother, T.J. Watt, is a key player on the Steelers' defense. Watt became one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL in the 2010s with 101 career sacks with the Texans, a franchise record and the second most in the league in that span of time. He also had 172 tackles for loss, the most in the NFL since they became an official statistic.That allowed Watt to become a three-time winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2012, 2014 and 2015, along with five Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro picks.Watt was the No. 11 pi...

Wolves that nearly died out from inbreeding recovered, now helping Isle Royale’s ecosystem

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Gray wolves are thriving at Isle Royale National Park five years after authorities began a last-ditch attempt to prevent the species from dying out on the Lake Superior island chain, scientists said Wednesday.Meanwhile, the park’s moose population continues a sharp but needed decline. Overpopulation of the lumbering mammals were causing their own starvation as they outstripped available balsam fir trees — their primary food during long, snowbound winters, Michigan Technological University biologists said.The trends appear to justify federal officials’ 2018 decision to airlift mainland wolves to Isle Royale, the researchers said, arguing that the predators’ return is helping rebalance an ecosystem knocked off-kilter as their number dropped to just two.The scientists’ annual report, based largely on aerial observations last winter, estimated the rebuilt population at 31 wolves— up from 28 last year. It said the wolves appeared to be ...

Cottage Grove to hold Strawberry Fest Thursday-Sunday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

Cottage Grove’s Strawberry Fest will be from Thursday through Sunday in the city’s Kingston Park.The carnival will be open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at 80th St  and Jamaica Ave. going north on Jamaica and east on Indian Blvd. ending at Cottage Grove Middle School.Fireworks will be at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.Live music will include Coconut Tiger 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Rhino 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Ladies of the 80’s 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the Tim Sigler Band 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday.There will also be tournaments, competitions and contests for softball, strawberry pie eating, top chef, medallion hunt and doggie dash. More information can be found at cottagegrovestrawberryfest.com.Related ArticlesThings to Do | Afton: Belwin’s new nature trails open Thursday Things to Do | Duluth could be home to first public fl...

Albany man arrested for stealing from Quail Street Store

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday morning, Albany Police responded to 212 Marketplace for reports of theft. The victim told police a male frequents the store and steals items and that he had stolen beer that morning. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! While police were talking with the victim, the suspect entered the store again and attempted to steal beer. Police identified the suspect as Zacharry Patnode, 36, of Albany, and charged him with petit larceny.Police learned Patnode had an arrest warrant issued by the Albany City Criminal Court for stealing from Lark Central on October 26, 2022. In addition to the arrest warrant, a bench warrant was also issued after Patnode failed to appear in court on a previous grand larceny arrest in Albany.Patnode was arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court. He was sent to the Albany County Jail with bail set at $5,000.

Gloversville Food Truck Fridays return on June 16

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Food Truck Fridays are back! On June 16, stop by Castiglione Park at 47 N. Main Street for live music and plenty of food options! Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Vendors this week include A&S Spice on Wheels, Buena Comida, Jammin Juice Barn, Park Side Hot Dogs, and Teddy's Gyros. Michelle King will perform during the lunch hour.Food Truck Fridays run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Future dates are July 7 and 21 and August 4 and 18.

St. Louis metro leaders plan key trip to London around Cardinals series

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals aren't the only ones who will make a pitch in London this summer. A group of business and civic leaders from the St. Louis metro will precede them next week. A delegation led by organizations Greater St. Louis, Inc., Explore St. Louis, and World Trade Center St. Louis will travel overseas soon in hopes to strengthen London's ties with St. Louis. Next week, the group will meet business reps from other industry sectors considered a priority in the St. Louis region's long-term jobs plan. That includes top officials in agricultural technology, geospatial technology and advanced manufacturing. Family of St. Louis soldier mourns loss after hit-and-run in Texas “To grow the St. Louis metro, we need to be proactive, and we need to pitch ourselves on the global stage,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc. “Our business and civic leadership is working together, going to global markets and speaking directly to international businesses about why...

Proposed plans for old Famous Barr warehouse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Developers are pitching more entertainment and places to live in midtown St. Louis.These are the plans developers have filed to renovate the former Famous-Barr warehouse. They want to bring apartments, office space, entertainment, and shops. The building is right next to the armory and across the interstate from City Foundry.  Green Street Real Estate Ventures plans to add hundreds of apartments and create more entertainment options here in midtown. They're wanting to be a part of a boom of restaurants, housing, and entertainment venues that have opened over the past few years. Two more development groups also want to build hundreds of student apartments just west of St. Louis University.Wednesday night, the St. Louis Planning Commission will review both projects. The Green Street Project is just west of the St. Louis developer's Armory Game Hall Entertainment Complex that opened late last year. It's also across I-64 from City Foundry STL. Violent twist follows parents...

Tony Frank: If the Supreme Court strikes down race-conscious admissions, public universities have our work cut out for us

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:00 GMT

When a student is academically prepared for college but has no family history with higher education, they can find lots of reasons to believe that pursuing a college degree isn’t for them. Sometimes that’s cost – both perception and because they don’t know how much financial aid is available to them. Sometimes – particularly for students of color, rural students, and those with lower incomes – it’s a concern about fitting in and feeling welcome.And sometimes, what students hear in the news sends an overpowering message that the odds may be stacked against their success.A case in point: Among the issues on the U.S. Supreme Court’s docket this spring are a set of cases around “race-conscious admissions” – whether race can be a consideration in the admissions decision-making process.There are serious questions under consideration, and people who care about equity, equality, our nation, and its Constitution can legitimately arrive at different opinions. But the reality is that this ruli...