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Austin city staff vacancy levels decrease to 2,400 openings in April

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said it was making progress in its staffing shortages, which have been higher than normal since the start of the pandemic. On Friday, the city said its vacancy rate is 15.3%—the lowest it has been since February 2022. Vacancies have dropped from 2,537 in January to 2,401 openings in April. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin job campaign aims to fill city vacancies The city said this decrease is thanks to a new hiring campaign for hard-to-fill roles and to address shortages. In addition, 29 sworn personnel graduated and joined the Austin-Travis County EMS department. The campaign highlighted 911 call takers and police dispatchers. The city said there was an application uptick in February and March. PREVIOUS: Austin street takeovers highlight persistent problem: Staffing shortages Austin Energy has filled 108 openings in the current fiscal year, the city said, with 71 internal promotions and 37 outside hires. Current critical vacancies are for power sys...

Storms leave Lago Vista marina with 'severe damage'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Friday night storms caused "severe damage" to a Lago Vista marina, impacting 37 boats. The Lago Vista Property Owners' Association marina said they received reports of damage soon after the storms hit between 10 p.m. and midnight. The association's rangers and management, law enforcement and the Lower Colorado River Authority responded to the marina to check for injuries, chemical leaks and downed electric lines, but no significant spills or leaks were found so far. A statement from the board of directors said the LCRA police and emergency management office will help with the oversight of recovery efforts. They will also monitor for environmental hazards from damaged vehicles. From the marina's 137 wet slips, 37 boats were severely impacted, according to the property owners' association.KXAN viewer photos showed the damage to the marina Saturday. Some boats were overturned on shore. Lago Vista marina damage (Courtesy Stephanie Arnold)Lago Vista marina damage (Courtes...

1,200+ housing units coming to Bastrop in new mixed-use development

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 348-acre mixed-use community is headed to Bastrop with hundreds of new housing units planned in the growing Central Texas city. The community, called Adelton, is in its first phase of construction with 90 single-family homes and two commercial projects. The first homes are expected to be ready this summer, according to a release.The more than 1,200 housing units will include single-family and multi-family units. Homes prices will start in the low $300,000s with two-bedroom to four-bedroom floor plans. The developer, West Bastrop Village LTD, is also planning four miles of trails, 50 acres of parks, greenbelts and open space throughout the community. Adelton phase one construction plan (Courtesy Benchmark Land Development)The developer said new Bastrop economic development projects led to the timing of Adelton construction. These include SpaceX's Project Echo, a new film studio and Tesla. The community's grand opening is Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at 126 Adelton Blv...

Real World Economics: In econ, one must be patient

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

Edward LottermanGreat confusion results from the widespread failure of people to understand that much time often passes between the implementation of an economic action and its results.The Federal Reserve expands the money supply to goose economic activity and we may see near-immediate drops in interest rates. Yet the positive effects on output or consumption may not occur for a year. Ditto for the resulting rise in consumer inflation.Respond to a pandemic by raising government spending and we might see immediate relief effects of businesses keeping people on payroll despite falling sales. Yet broader secondary and tertiary effects on prices of more disposable income sloshing around the general economy won’t show up until later.Economists refer to these delays as “lags.”Moreover, in the memorable phrase of Nobelist Milton Friedman, these lags are “long and variable.” As the high priest of the effects of money on economic activity and  prices, the lags Friedman had in mind were of mo...

Wisconsin deputy shot and killed on Saturday night. Suspect later found dead.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

A St. Croix County Sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Saturday night, authorities said. A suspect in the case was later found dead.The shooting occurred at about 6:15 p.m. when the deputy responded to a report of a drunk driver in a ditch, according to a Wisconsin Department of Justice press release. The deputy reported shots fired at the scene.The deputy sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to a local hospital, and died there.“The involved individual fled and was later found deceased in a wooded area with a gunshot wound,” the press release said. There is no threat to the community.At about midnight Saturday, a law enforcement procession that included Minnesota and Wisconsin agencies transported the deputy’s body to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to the Minneapolis Police Department’s Facebook page.The justice department’s Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating, assisted by the Wisconsin State Patro...

Albany man arrested for DWI by drugs, had loaded handgun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On May 6, an Albany man was found asleep at the wheel and in possession of a loaded handgun on North Manning Boulevard. The driver, Tariq Royal, 33, is facing multiple charges from the incident. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! At 4:45 a.m. on May 6, officers responded to the area of North Manning Boulevard and Third Street following reports of a driver unresponsive at the wheel. Officers discovered Royal asleep in the driver's seat and attempted to wake him. Police say Royal eventually woke and attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody. During the investigation, it was determined that Royal was operating the vehicle under the influence of drugs, and a loaded .22 caliber handgun was also recovered from his vehicle. Amsterdam woman charged with grand larceny ChargesCriminal Possession of a WeaponObstruction of Governmental AdministrationResisting ArrestDriving W...

Counties with the lowest cost of living in Missouri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

Kbh3rd // Wikimedia CommonsCounties with the lowest cost of living in MissouriWith inflation still eating into American household budgets, middle-class Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.Nearly three-quarters of Americans surveyed by financial services provider Primerica at the end of 2022 said they are not able to save for their future due to rising costs. Home prices, rent, and food inflation as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before.Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Missouri using 2022 rankings from Niche.TommyBrison // Shutterstock#30. St. Clair County- Overall Grade: C- Public School Grade: C+- Cost of living grade: A-- Population: 9,235en:User:Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons#29. Daviess County- Overall Grade: C+- Public School Grade: B-- Cost of living grade: A-- Population: 8,427Kbh3...

LASD searching for missing at-risk teen in Paramount 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for help in locating missing at-risk teenager Jaqualine Ramos Espinoza. Jaqualine was last seen on Saturday at 1 a.m. in the 8400 block of Fairton Street in the city of Paramount. She is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 80 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a white shirt, black and white spotted pajama pants and black and white Converse shoes. Jaqualine Ramos Espinoza as seen in an undated photo. (LASD)Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lakewood Station at 562-623-3500. Information can also be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-222-8477 or by going to lacrimestoppers.org 

Video captures two vehicles colliding with Santa Clarita deputy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

Security video captured the moment two cars collided with a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on Saturday.The crash happened near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Whispering Leaves Drive around 3:35 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.In the video, a patrol car is seen making a U-turn when a sedan crashes into the passenger side. Within seconds, another car traveling in the same direction also strikes the patrol car.The impact pushed the second vehicle into a nearby wall, authorities said.Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security...

Barricaded armed suspect arrested in Whittier 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:24 GMT

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau responded to reports of a barricaded armed suspect in Whittier on Saturday and have taken him into custody. According to LASD, the incident was reported around 5:30 p.m. Saturday evening in the 1100 block of Dovey Avenue in the unincorporated area of Whittier. Surrounding homes were evacuated during the standoff, but the area was deemed safe, and residents were allowed back home when the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was not identified, and no additional details are currently available. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Industry Sheriff’s Station at 626-330-3322. To submit information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org