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Illinois among 26 states to see 'substantial' spike in COVID hospitalizations, CDC says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The summer surge in COVID-19 spread could extend into fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said hospitalizations rose yet again last week by another 19%. Deaths from the virus also saw a large jump: 21% in one week. The spread of the virus appears to be a problem just about everywhere. Only a few states – Alaska, New Hampshire and North Dakota – saw COVID-related hospital admissions drop last week. The other 47 states saw hospitalizations remain stable or increase. More than half of states – 26 to be exact – experienced a "substantial increase" in people being admitted with COVID-19, the CDC said. Is it time to bring back the COVID mask? We asked 3 doctors A "substantial" jump, shaded in dark orange on the CDC map below, occurs when new hospital admissions increase by more than 20% in a single week. Twenty-six states had a 20% or larger increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations week over week, the CDC said on August 28, 2023. (Map: CDC)The biggest spike wa...

ERCOT asks Texans to conserve energy Tuesday evening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, is asking Texas to conserve energy Tuesday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Due to a "high level of unexpected thermal generation outages and forecasted low wind generation, operating reserves for ERCOT are expected to be low in the afternoon and evening." ERCOT is asking residents to conserve electricity if it is safe for them to do so. This is the fifth time in six days ERCOT has asked Texans to conserve energy. MORE: Here’s why Texans were asked to conserve energy 4 days in a row The council also expects similar conditions through Wednesday, and asks Texans to "stay tuned for additional communications." ERCOT said Tuesday's conservation appeal does not indicate ERCOT is experiencing emergency conditions at this time. Current forecasts are showing a potential to enter emergency operations this evening because of a high level of unexpected thermal generation outages and forecasted low wind generation, it said. ER...

Austin 6th Street mass shooting suspect pleads not guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The murder trial for a man accused of firing into crowds on Austin's Sixth Street in June 2021 began Tuesday after one day of jury selection. One person died and more than a dozen were hurt in the mass shooting.De'Ondre White, 21, also faces an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. He pleaded not guilty in court.De'Ondre White (Austin Police Department Photo)The shooting took place in the heart of the entertainment district, near Trinity Street. The man who died was Douglas Kantor, 25, who had been visiting the city from out of town. Update on Safer 6th Street as man charged in Austin 2021 mass shooting heads to trial Kantor's family was in the courtroom Tuesday, wearing buttons with his picture.Jala Washington will be in court to cover opening statements. Follow her updates below:Tweets by Jala__WashTV This story will be updated throughout the trial.

Austin ISD seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — School is back in session and the Austin Independent School District is seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases.According to the district's COVID dashboard, there have been 230 positive cases since August 14th. "We are seeing a slight increase in cases since the beginning of school," said Alana Bejarano, executive director health services and nursing. For the week of August 21-27 there were 168 positive cases, with 89 of them students and 79 employees. "If anyone has symptoms we are asking them to stay out and see your healthcare professional," said Bejarano. "If they are COVID positive, from the date of that test, or if the doctor says date of the symptoms, they stay out five days in isolation."Austin ISD says it constantly monitors COVID-19 cases and still have masks and other PPE in its warehouse if it is needed.The district says its also relies on parents letting the district, or school, know when a student tests positive. "We are so reliant on them reporting this," said...

Hurricane Idalia could come ashore as a dangerous Category 3 storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Idalia strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday and barreled toward Florida's Gulf Coast as authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding.Idalia was churning in the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 storm, but it was projected to come ashore early Wednesday as a Category 3 system with sustained winds of up to 120 mph (193 kph) in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula. The result could be a big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian.The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend region. Hurricane Idalia forecast to become ‘extremely dangerous’ major hurricane, NHC says On the island of Cedar Key, Commissioner Sue Colson joined other city officials in...

William Shatner talks previous trips to Texas, and space, ahead of weekend Austin visit for GalaxyCon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — You may know him as Captain Kirk, or the oldest person to ever travel to space. William Shatner, 92, is making his way to Austin this weekend for GalaxyCon, a three-day, comic-con-style convention featuring more than 150 guests as well as photo ops, Q&As, panels, costume contests, cosplay events, workshops, parties, gaming tournaments and celebrity meet and greets. Comic-con style event coming to Austin Labor Day weekend It won't be the actor's first time in the capital city. He's been before, but one trip in particular, driving overnight from West Texas, stood out. Shatner told KXAN Austin was "a college town, and it was completely different from the rest of Texas."Shatner is coming for GalaxyCon, where he'll do meet and greets, sign autographs, and what he's looking forward to most — he'll be part of a panel. "In the fullness of my flesh. I shall be there. So, it's a comic con, and I'm coming into town to sign autographs and pose for pictures," Shatner s...

'Terribly inefficient and costly': Council to vote on money for development site plan process improvements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It was one of the major affordability platforms Mayor Kirk Watson ran on during his campaign: make it easier to develop new housing. A consulting firm review initiated by the mayor and city staff found the development site process in Austin is ineffective and city delays cost customers significant amounts of money. For a single family home, the cost of development goes up nearly $10,000 for every month of delay, McKinsey and Company found. For multifamily developments, a month delay could cost more than $540,000. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of applicants surveyed said it took longer than a year to get a permit from the city. "The City of Austin’s development review process is terribly inefficient and costly and has made our affordability crisis worse," Watson wrote in his newsletter. "But, the good news: We’re gonna fix that." McKinsey and city leaders presented findings to Austin City Council Tuesday alongside desired solutions, including having a more cohesive process a...

Mayo Clinic Minute: Reducing viral infection risks when sending kids off to school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

It’s back to school for many kids around the nation. And once they hit the classroom, you may notice more runny noses and other symptoms associated with viral and bacterial infections.Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, says you might not be able to stop some of these illnesses, but reducing viral infection risks is possible.Kids returning to school at the end of summer often coincides with the start of the respiratory virus season.“You’ve got kids from lots of different households who are now coming together in a relatively confined space of a classroom,” says Dr. Rajapakse.And sharing more than their lunches. They are sharing viruses they’ve been exposed to at home. Dr. Rajapakse says some childhood illnesses are inevitable, but there are things families can do to reduce risks.“Making sure that your child’s vaccines are up to date before they return to school is gre...

Moby Rick's in Mechanicville permanently closes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Moby Rick's Seafood opened its Mechanicville location in December 2022. An employee at Moby Rick's in Saratoga Springs recently told NEWS10 that the Mechanicville location is now permanently closed. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! A post on the Moby Rick's Facebook page on May 26 noted that the Mechanicville location was temporarily closed. The restaurant was located at 251 North Main Street in the former Hildreth’s Restaurant, which closed in December 2021 after 58 years.The seafood store part of that location opened in December 2022 while the restaurant part opened in January 2023. Moby Rick's in Mechanicville is still listed as open on Google and has not been taken off the restaurant's website. When do the Capital Region’s ice cream stands close for the season? Moby Rick’s Seafood was founded in 2012 by Captain Rick Lofstad. The restaurant and market offers fresh fish and seafood from Long Island an...

Troy Police search for missing woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:20 GMT

LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Troy Police Department is searching for 39-year-old Terry Bass, who was reportedly last seen in the area of Lansingburgh in early August. According to the police, Bass is described as a white female, approximately 5'2'' and 110 lbs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Anyone with information about Bass and her current whereabouts is asked to contact the lead detective at (518) 270-4682.