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Grants being offered to Austin music professionals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Grants of $5,000 and $10,000 will soon be available for local music professionals after the City of Austin announced $3.5 million in support through the Live Music Event Program. According to a release from the city, the program will offer grants for local professional musicians, bands, and independent promoters to produce and publicize awarded projects. Grant funds may be used to cover expenses for music events, studio and video production, staffing and professional services, merchandise distribution, music broadcasting, and more.Applications for the Live Music Fund Event Program will be open Tuesday, April 4 at 10 a.m. through Tuesday, May 16 at 5 p.m. Eligible applicants must live in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area -- which includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties -- and must host the proposed activities in an Austin City Council District and/or Austin’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. Grants will be award...

Austin is a leader in air quality attainment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Air quality is just one part of what people pay attention to when watching the weather, especially those who have respiratory illnesses like asthma. It is part of why the Clear Air Force of Central Texas watches our air quality — to make sure our levels of pollutants like ozone and fine particulate matter remain at levels better than what is accepted.Ozone is a colorless toxic gas. It is formed by oxygen through electrical discharges or ultraviolet light.Fine particulate matter or PM 2.5 are tiny particles that reduce visibility and often lead to a hazy sky. This happens when there is little or no wind moving the air. Is it a health risk? These fine particulates will travel into the respiratory area connected to the lungs. Some people experience irritation in their eyes, nose and throat. Lung function can be affected and can worsen medical conditions like asthma and heart disease. A study released by The Guardian revealed the 10 worst places for air pollution. Austin...

Texas lawmaker uses ChatGPT to deliver remarks on AI bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas lawmaker said he utilized an artificial intelligence tool to craft remarks Wednesday when he discussed a piece of legislation that would look further into the emerging technology's influence in the state. State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, had a chance to talk in support of House Bill 2060 during Wednesday afternoon's hearing of the House state affairs committee. The legislation would create a new, seven-person advisory council tasked with evaluating AI products and services used by state government agencies. Texas may create 7-person artificial intelligence advisory council When he got to the lectern, Capriglione shared with the committee members that ChatGPT, the AI system that can generate readable text on demand, wrote his prepared remarks. "Artificial intelligence, or AI, is transforming our lives in many ways," Capriglione said. "AI has the potential to solve problems that were previously unsolvable and create new opportunities for growth a...

Vikings reportedly reach agreement with receiver Brandon Powell

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

In a move that won’t do much to move the needle — namely because receiver Odell Beckham Jr. remains unsigned — the Vikings have reportedly agreed to a 1-year contract with receiver Brandon Powell.The reunion between Powell and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound receiver last played under O’Connell when the latter was the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.After going undrafted in 2018, Powell finally found his footing as a member of the Rams. Although used rather sparingly on offense — he had 24 catches for 156 yards last season — Powell has proven himself as a return specialist since entering the league. He handled the role of kickoff returner and punt returner for the Rams last season.It’s unlikely Powell becomes the kickoff returner for the Vikings next season considering Kene Nwangwu is among the NFL’s elite at that spot. But Powell figures to push Jalen Reagor for ...

Hochul backs bail reform changes in budget

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--Governor Kathy Hochul is sticking to her proposed changes to Bail Reform. "Removing the least restrictive standards for the serious crimes and repeat offenses that the legislature has already deemed eligible for bail," said Hochul. "That’s the only category we are talking about. I want to make it clear that we are not incarcerating people for low level crimes or criminalizing poverty, but giving judges the descression necessary to ensure public safety."The Governor cited John Jay College and the New York Criminal Justice Agency saying bail reform is working for lower level offenses, but for violent felonies, there has been an uptick in people reoffending. "Our own data that we are just releasing today, mirror the trends that were just released in those other studies. Rearrests are increasing for people with violent felonies, while they are decreasing for people charged with other offenses. In other words, a relatively small percentage of people are responsible...

Clifton Park buys land to grow Garnsey Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The town of Clifton Park has purchased a 1.91-acre plot of land as a method of investing in its history. The town has purchased the vacant property at 1503 and 1505 State Route 146 - right next door to a park and trail in need of extension. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The land is adjacent to Garnsey Park, a more than 248-acre area of green land at the western end of Clifton Park. It's home to the Garnsey yellow trail, which is now set to be extended using the new parcels of land. The property also allows the park to grow closer to the historic Garnsey family cemetery.The Garnsey name is significant to the history of Clifton Park. Nathan Garnsey is remembered as an early settler of Clifton Park, and his son, Nathan Garnsey Jr., served as the community's second town supervisor in 1829. Another family member, Mercy Harris Garnsey, was a witness to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln...

Hochul under scrutiny: Budget ads paid for by Bloomberg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Governor Hochul has come under scrutiny after the New York Times reported her most recent campaign initiatives were funded by former New York City mayor and billionaire, Michael Bloomberg. Our Capitol Correspondent Amal Tlaige spoke with experts who explained why this could be an issue.  Jerry Seinfeld among biggest Hochul donors You may have seen recent mail pieces or maybe a digital ad encouraging New Yorkers to support the Governor's budget proposal. Critics are saying because of The Times report, the budget could help billionaires rather than your average New Yorker. "There were suspicions about which billionaire was paying for the ads and it came out clearly yesterday that it’s Mike Bloomberg, the richest person in New York," said Michael Kink, Executive Director of Smart Economy for All Coalition says billionaires use their money to  push unpopular policies. While the Governor is proposing no increase on income taxes the legislature has a different pla...

St. Louis Paneras testing Amazon palm payments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Amazon is testing its palm-scanning payment technology at two St. Louis Bread Company locations. Swiping your palm over the device brings up rewards information, account history, and allows customers to pay. Amazon expects to expand the technology to 10 or 20 more stores over the next few months.The payment system is coming to St. Louis Bread Company locations on Clayton Road in Town and Country and on St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton. It is already in Whole Foods, Amazon Go stores, and some sports venues. Amazon is testing the cashier-less technology at more than 200 stores outside the company, according to Reuters. Person of interest wanted for killing two people in Troy, Missouri How does it work? Customers need to link their Panera loyalty accounts to Amazon One. Then enable identification and payments. The scanners are located near the cash registers. One swipe and you're done.Adding the payment technology to Panera locations would mean a massive increase in sc...

St. Louis man admits robbing escort at gunpoint

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man appeared in federal court Wednesday and admitted to robbing and assaulting an escort at gunpoint in 2021.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Antwan R. Johnson, 24, used an online personals site to meet an escort and arrange a meeting with her on Aug. 17, 2021.Johnson told the court that he pulled a gun on her while they were parked in the 4200 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue, and stole her purse, two cellphones, and cash. He admitted to striking her in the head with his gun and threatening her. He fired two shots at the woman's vehicle as she drove away, and hit the car with one round. Person of interest wanted for killing two people in Troy, Missouri Johnson pleaded guilty to a federal armed robbery charge and to possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.The court will sentence Johnson on June 27. He faces a mandatory minimum of seven years for the gun charge, which will...

Fox, Dominion argue over legal standards to prove defamation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:38 GMT

By RANDALL CHASE (Associated Press)WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Lawyers for Fox News and a voting machine company tangled Wednesday over the high bar to prove defamation in a $1.6 billion lawsuit that has embarrassed the conservative network over its airing of false claims related to the 2020 presidential election.The argument is at the heart of each side’s attempt to persuade a Delaware judge that he should grant summary judgment in its favor and avoid a jury trial scheduled to start next month that would focus in part on media protections afforded in a nearly six-decade-old libel standard.Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems claims that Fox program hosts, with the knowledge of executives for both Fox News and parent company Fox Corp., repeatedly allowed allies of former President Donald Trump to falsely claim that the machines and the software the company used were responsible for Trump’s election loss. Documents released during the lawsuit have shown that top Fox exe...