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Austin to mark coldest spring equinox in 40 years on Monday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The chilly air that has settled into Central Texas to wrap up spring break looks like it will stay with us for the first day of spring.Looking back at data for Austin's Camp Mabry — a dataset that stretches back to 1898 — this could be one of the coldest spring equinoxes ever.The spring equinox doesn't always fall on the same day each year. While most of the time it's on March 20, it can also fall on March 19 or March 21.To figure out the coldest spring equinoxes ever, we had to look at the high temperature data for March 19-21 and cross check those days with the dates of the spring equinox.The coldest first day of spring had a high of 48º back in 1965 and 1970. Those were the only times spring has been in the 40s in Austin.We're currently forecasting a high of 58º this spring equinox, which would make it among the coldest equinoxes in recorded history.Coldest spring equinox in AustinThis would also mean that we're forecasting the coldest spring equinox since 1983 w...

Texas pitcher Estelle Czech flirts with no-hitter, Longhorns go 4-1 in south Florida

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (KXAN) — The Texas softball team wrapped up the South Florida Showdown with a 4-1 record, and if not for some bad luck against the hosts, it would have been a perfect weekend.A walk-off home run by South Florida shortstop Kathy Garcia lifted the Bulls to a 4-3 win in the Longhorns' second game on Friday at the tournament. After that, the Longhorns won three straight including a redemption game Sunday against the Bulls.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/newslettersIn the tournament finale against South Florida, Texas picked up a 6-1 win behind a great pitching performance by Estelle Czech. She went the distance and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing a run on a pair of hits. She struck out five and walked one in 84 pitches while facing 24 hitters. Longhorns head coach Mike White said Czech, "was in control the whole day.""I thought (Estelle) was ju...

Six healthcare institutions devote a year to studying health and housing

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

Six of Minnesota’s largest health systems have dedicated some 30 administrative employees and financial and operational executives toward a joint year-long learning endeavor — probing the intersection of health and housing.It’s an unusual undertaking, but the inaugural Minnesota Healthcare Learning Cohort seeks to deepen growing research into “social determinants of health,” or the everyday aspects of modern living that steer some groups to healthier outcomes and hold others back. Research shows some 80% of health is linked to what happens outside of a doctor’s office or medical institution.The 30 fellows, drawn from wide-ranging departments such as operations, finance, community engagement, patient education and pediatric care, will weigh results from community investments and practices across the country surrounding affordable housing. They’ll convene in six half-day, full-day and two-day sessions between March 28 and Nov. 30.The cohort is...

Students urge UMN to better fund scholarship, Native American studies

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

Students and activists protested in the freezing cold to urge the University of Minnesota to follow through on promises to tribal communities. At the top of their list was an expansion of a tuition program that they say too few can access.“[It] is kind of frustrating and hard for the students that are here already and aren’t getting the support that we feel like we need,” said Laila Gourd, a sophomore from the Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota.A new tuition support program for the university’s campuses, including the Twin Cities, began last fall, but it has limits.The university’s Morris campus has had a full tuition waiver program for all American Indian students since its inception, as stipulated by federal legislation and Minnesota statute due to the site’s history as a former boarding school. In 2021, the university announced the Native American Promise Tuition Program to extend tuition support for Native students attending its four other campuses.At the time, Unive...

Hermann officer laid to rest, remembered as ‘the best friend anyone could ever ask for’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

OWENSVILLE, Mo. – It was a solemn farewell for a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Hermann Detective Sgt. Griffith Mason Griffith was laid to rest Sunday, one week after he and his partner were shot while trying to make an arrest at a convenience store.Nearly 2,000 people filled the gymnasium at Owensville High School to pay tribute to Griffith, a husband and father to two sons.The service featured music and a series of speeches from friends and former colleagues, some providing a much-needed dose of humor. Top story: Remains in Crawford County possibly of woman missing since 2014 “Anybody that Mason knows, that he was one of the most un-athletic people that you will meet in your entire life. Not the first guy you’d pick first for dodgeball,” Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Stack said. “However, he was one of the most genuine people you’d ever meet. He was also the best friend anyone could ever ask for. He was fun to be around. The best example of a coun...

You Paid For It helps solve problems for 3 women across St. Louis area

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The You Paid For It Team goes to bat for viewers from water woes north St. Louis, to an abandoned motel in Belleville, Illinois.Rosemary Williamson couldn’t get the City of St. Louis Water Division to fix a broken water line in front of her house. It was causing flooding outside her home, and causing low water pressure inside. It got so bad, it made it hard to take a bath.When Williamson could not get the water crews moving, she called You Paid For It. It took two You Paid For It reports and a few visits by the Water Department to finally take care of the problem. Williamson was once again a happy camper. Top story: Remains in Crawford County possibly of woman missing since 2014 “I watch You Paid For It, I thought, ‘Well, Mr. Elliott, let me think about this for a minute.’ I texted you,” she said. “But you know, God is good though. God gave me you, so all is good, all is good. You kept my sanity, you really did.”Annette Smith had a different problem. The abandoned hous...

Spring break travel increasing nationwide, but flyers report smooth sailing at St. Louis Airport

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Millions of people are traveling this time of year for spring break. That includes the thousands of passengers flying in and out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. TSA's website shows travel numbers are up for the month of March compared to 2022. The website shows 36 million people have travelled so far this month, compared to 32.5 million last year.AAA said you might notice higher prices this spring break. They said domestic airfare is up at least 20% compared to last year, and hotel prices are up at least 20% too. They said another increase this year is international travel numbers. AAA data shows spring break travel is up internationally by 30% from 2022.“It really wasn’t the crowded. We were surprised. There was a lot of traffic, but the numbers in the airport weren’t that bad," Scott Morris said. Top story: Remains in Crawford County possibly of woman missing since 2014 AAA said hot spots here in the U.S. include Florida, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. One family...

Kapanen, Walker, Vrana score in Blues' 3-0 win over Jets

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kasperi Kapanen, Nathan Walker and Jakub Vrana each scored to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night.Rookie goalie and Winnipeg native Joel Hofer started in his first home appearance with St. Louis and stopped 33 shots in his fourth NHL start to help the Blues win for the fourth time in six games. He didn't get the shutout because he had to leave the ice for a skate repair in the second period. Thomas Greiss had a save while filling in. Hofer started in place of the suspended Jordan Binnington on Friday and had 33 saves in a 5-2 win against Washington — his first NHL game since Nov. 13, 2021. Hofer, called up from Springfield of the AHL under emergency conditions Thursday after Binnington was suspended, is now 3-1-0 in the NHL. Trending: What’s the most popular last name in Missouri and Illinois? Connor Hellebuyck, starting for the second straight day, had 14 saves for the Jets, who have lost three of their last four games...

Keeler: Coach Prime’s got one thing right. For CU Buffs, only numbers that count are on the scoreboard.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

BOULDER — The new sheriff of Boulder County rode into the room wearing a black cowboy hat, his right foot draped in a black sock, left foot stuck inside a cowboy boot, fashionably late.Deion Sanders disembarked slowly from his steed — not a horse, but a black-and-gold Segway, adorned with his now-familiar “PRIME21” logo up the front and glittering CU gold hubcaps at the base. The left wheel featured Sanders’ autograph, which spun as he rode like the label on an old LP.“What’s the show I’ve been watching?” the Buffs’ new football savior asked a staffer Sunday afternoon, kicking off the very first news conference of his very first spring on the job.“’Yellowstone,’” came the reply.“Yeah, I’m sorry,” Coach Prime continued, “I’ve been watching a lot of ‘Yellowstone.’ This explains everything. My foot is about to bust, though.”“Favorite character?” a reporter queried.“Who would you think is my favorite character?” Prime replied. “I’m a boss. So who’s the guy?”“John Dutton,” th...

Larchmont Village residents, businesses on edge after 2 armed robberies

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:51 GMT

Residents and business owners in Larchmont Village say they are shaken and on edge after two armed robberies earlier this week.  The robberies, one in the 4400 block of Beverly Boulevard and another in the 800 block of 3rd Avenue, occurred Mar. 15 between the hours of 9: 55 p.m. and 11:50 p.m., authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed.  Authorities said the suspect, described as a Black male, approximately 30 years old, who is around 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, brandished a semi-automatic handgun and robbed victims of cash, debit cards, cellphones, tablets and designer handbags.  People in the area told KTLA there’s been a recent increase of similar crimes in the neighborhood destination, popular with residents for its retail shops and restaurants.  “Just the fact that it’s been kind of a common thing around here for a while...it's been quite unfortunate,” said a man who works in a pet supply store in Larchmont Village that was robbed in Janua...