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'It was a big catch': Tampa mayor finds 70 pounds of cocaine during Keys fishing trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — During a fishing trip with her family in late July, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor caught more than just lobster.In an interview with Nexstar's WFLA, Castor spoke about how she discovered a large shipment of cocaine in the Florida Keys while on her trip. Red Cross ends blood donor restriction against gay and bisexual men The Tampa mayor and former police chief said she and her family were in the area to catch lobster and mahi mahi when her brother saw debris on their trip back to port."What happens is the smaller fish will congregate under the debris for the shade, which brings the larger fish, so you always want to fish around any debris," she said. Being a former narcotics officer herself, it didn't take her much effort to realize what the debris really was."So we went over towards that and the closer we got, I realize that it was a bale of cocaine," Castor said.Castor said the protective seal around the cocaine, marked with a butterfly, had begun splitting apart. ...

Evacuations lifted in Kyle as crews battle wildfire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) -- The Hays County Wildland Task Force responded to a wildfire in the 290 block of Roland Lane in Kyle Tuesday, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services website.Officials with Hays County OES said evacuations were lifted shortly after 4 p.m. The fire was estimated to be 25 acres and 90% contained.Officials responded to the fire at approximately 3 p.m. It was not immediately clear how the fire started.Hays County OES said air support was on its way, and asked people not to attempt to operate drones/unmanned aerial systems, according to the website. Those devices can hinder and lengthen emergency response times, Hays County OES said.This developing story will be updated as information becomes available.

Austin Public Library expanding passport services to 3 new locations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 8, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Public Library (APL) opened new Passport Services offices at three APL locations, which are the Ruiz Branch Library, the Spicewood Springs Branch Library and the Recycled Reads Bookstore, according to a news release from the City of Austin. Spots fill fast at Austin’s July passport fair but you might have other options Opening these three locations will serve members of the community who are applying for new U.S. passports, the release said. Passport services through APL were previously only available at the Austin Central Library.“Passport services have been a very highly-demanded service at Austin Public Library since we first started offering the service at the Central Library, with thousands of people starting their international travel journeys at APL,” stated Austin Public Library Director Roosevelt Weeks. “We are happy to be able to expand the options for accessing pas...

Critical wildfire danger in the longest heatwave Austin has ever seen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- High temperatures soared to 100°+ in the Austin area again Tuesday -- the 32nd straight day of triple-digit heat. Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect nearly areawide again on Wednesday with unusual heat in the forecast, even by August standards. BLOG: When will 100º days end in Austin? A Fire Weather Warning is in again Wednesday as well as south-southwest winds gust over 25 miles per hour -- stronger than recent days. Any fires that start will spread rapidly given ongoing weather and drought conditions. The Texas A&M Forest Service has placed portions of our area in 5-out-of-5 "Extreme" wildfire danger Wednesday.Fire danger Wednesday, reaching extreme levels in the Hill Country (Texas A&M Forest Service)We are seeing hints of at least a chance of rain beginning somewhere around Aug. 20, along with temperatures that may finally drop below 100°, but this is not yet a guarantee. Stay with KXAN and the First Warning Weather team for updates as the heat drag...

City of Austin holds off on Equity Office merger after community pushback

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)—The City of Austin is holding off on merging its equity office with other departments for now.Interim City Manager Jesús Garza made the announcement to council in a budget work session on Tuesday. “Many of you have expressed concerns echoing what others in the community have shared, regarding the creation of the community and business equity department, plus other aspects of our reorganizations. Fundamentally, there have been issues that have been raised that have touched on the history of how the Equity Office, in particular was established. And it’s critically important that you’re able to be able to focus your attention on the resources allocation for all these departments as you adopt the budget for ’24.And as a result I want to take the time to step back. We’re going to reassess the concerns that have been expressed about the creation of these organizational changes.Interim City Manager, Jesús Garza Garza said once the budget is approved, he's considering creating...

Here's another way to show your Texas pride with the Adopt-A-Beach program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For more than 30 years, many Texans have been flocking to the coast to help clean up the state's beaches. Dr. Dawn Buckingham, General Land Office Commissioner, reports that since the program started in the mid 80s, more than 500,000 people have cleaned up more than 11,000 miles of beaches by picking nearly 10,000 tons of trash.The program is yearly when the call to help clean up beaches, from Beaumont-Port Arthur to Brownsville, and all beaches in between. Their pride in the state's beaches are so appreciated, because they believe that all who visit the coast should not have to deal with debris and litter.Another facet of the program is that the General Land Office is offering personalized Adopt-A-Beach license plates. The plates cost $30, with all the proceeds going to the Adopt-A-Beach program. The money raised, approximately $12,000 a year, goes to help the volunteers with the supplies and tools they need to neaten the beaches.Myplates.com is the website to go t...

State Wildfire Preparedness Level increases to Level 4 — what that means

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A significant increase in the wildfire activity in Central Texas and across the state is the reason the Texas A&M Forest Service has increased its Wildfire Preparedness Level to Level 4. This has also been done due to the potential of more of these wildfires becoming more severe as time goes by.Over the past seven days, local and state firefighters have battled as many as 119 wildfires that have burned 9,012 acres. Evacuation checklist: What to grab when evacuating Chief Meteorologist David Yeomans spoke with Karen Stafford from the Texas A&M Forest Service. She said rising to Level 4 has more to do with the volume of the wildfires, resulting in an increase in the commitment of the resources needed to battle these fires. She added we've been here before; during the summer of 2022, the Forest Service reached Level 5.If Level 5 would be needed this year, it would not only take into account the volume of these wildfires but also how complex they become to mana...

Lake Travis focused on the road ahead, not what's behind them

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For a program with the success Lake Travis has had over the years, a 7-5 season in 2022 isn't exactly something to be happy about. The Cavaliers are looking to rectify that and go deep in the postseason once again, where they feel like they belong.The Cavaliers kicked off training camp Monday, and senior running back Nico Hamilton said this year will be better than last year's third-place district finish.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"I think we'll be a lot better than last year," he said. "I think we'll beat a lot of the teams we should have beaten last year, for sure. We have the firepower to do it."Hamilton rushed for 1,278 yards last year and 12 touchdowns and has multiple scholarship offers, mostly from Ivy League schools and both Air Force and Naval academies. He said something missing from last year's team was solid senior leadership, and he we...

Massachusetts governor declares state of emergency as shelter for migrants fills up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts Tuesday as local emergency shelters fill up with an ever-increasing number of migrants arriving from other countries and surging housing costs hurt residents already here.Healey is the latest governor to turn to emergency action to respond to migrants fleeing unstable conditions in their home countries. The Massachusetts Democrat also paired the declaration with a full-throated appeal to the federal government for funding and expediting work authorizations for migrants, which she said was a primary driver of the emergency.At a press conference inside the State House with shelter providers, faith leaders, and other advocates, Healey said the emergency declaration directs local officials to utilize “all means necessary” to secure housing, shelter, and health and human services to address the “humanitarian crisis.”“These families include newborns, very young children, and expecting mothers. It’s more families than our sta...

Ramsey County names West director of property tax, records, election services and auditor/treasurer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:37 GMT

Ramsey County has appointed Tracy West to the position of director of property tax, records and election services and auditor/treasurer. West had served in the position on an interim basis since March.Undated courtesy photo, circa August 2023, of Tracy West, who will serve as the Director of Property Tax, Records and Election Services and Ramsey County Auditor/Treasurer after holding the position in an interim capacity since March. (Courtesy of Ramsey County)Since 2016, West has held the positions in controller for information and public relations service team, and principal financial management analyst with Ramsey County.Ramsey County’s Property Tax, Records and Elections Services was established in 1849 to track property ownership, collection and balancing of funds and maintaining legal documentation like birth certificates. The department also administers city and county elections including providing staffing.“I am honored to take on this role as director. This opportunity ...