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TX Comptroller office closed following 'technical difficulties'

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Comptroller’s office said it was experiencing technical difficulties Thursday morning and could not answer any calls."Our call centers are experiencing technical difficulties and are unable to take incoming calls. We are diligently working to resolve this issue,” the comptroller’s office said in a social media post.The office said it would post updates on its progress to its social media profiles.While calling, the following automated message could be heard:“Our office is temporarily closed due to an emergency. We cannot take your call at this time.”

Trouble Brewing: A deep dive into why most North Austin breweries have shuttered

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- More breweries in the North Austin neighborhoods around The Domain have tapped out than remain — the numbers have dwindled from seven to three in about a year.Compare that to 14 breweries in South Austin or the 16 counted in Central Austin.There’s a long list of reasons as to why so many breweries have shuttered in the area around Austin's second downtown, but a lot of the trouble boils down to location and zoning. As site selector Robby Eaves, principal at Commercial Industrial Properties LLC, puts it, it's been “death by a thousand cuts” for brewers. Between over saturation, rising rent prices, high overhead costs, the pandemic and a change in consumer taste, breweries have taken many hits. But The Domain area — east of Mopac, west of I-35 and north of U.S. Highway 183 — has suffered more than others. Read the full story at Austin Business Journal.

Mark Gongloff: Human brains aren’t wired to fight climate change

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

Humans are very likely the only species that can imagine very distant futures. Unfortunately, our brains aren’t wired to behave in a way that optimizes those futures. After all, most of us don’t even save enough for retirement. If we have a choice between eating a donut right now and being marginally more healthy later, the donut almost always wins.Individual choices can have broad social implications. If we’re broke in retirement, we’ll rely on public assistance. If we make ourselves sick from eating too many donuts, we’ll be less productive and a drain on health-care resources. But society as a whole is also prone to toxic short-termism. Take climate change. Burning fossil fuels, clear-cutting forests and mass-producing cows serve our immediate needs for lights, farmland and cheeseburgers, but at the cost of ruining the climate for many future generations.How many generations, exactly? Andrew Dessler, director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies a...

Taborton Road Bridge reopening Friday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

SAND LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Taborton Road Bridge, which has been closed since the summer of 2021 due to major flooding, will reopen on Friday. Road crews have been working since the bridge was washed out to restore it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Friday will signify the last major portion of the reconstruction. Rensselaer County officials will be in attendance for the bridge's reopening.

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society receives 200+ food donations

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

MENANDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On November 8, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS) was taking care of 146 dogs, with 124 of them in the shelter, and only had 85 kennels. Overwhelmed, the shelter not only started a "name your fee" promo for November, starting at $50 but was looking for food donations to stock their emptying food pantry. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Six days later, the shelter received over 225 packages in donations, almost all of them containing food for the pantry. According to the shelter, the food will likely last about two weeks for all the animals still under their care.Those looking to adopt or donate can visit their website for more information. MHHS is contractually obligated to accept all stray, unlicensed, and abused dogs from the cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, and to accept dogs from the Cities of Watervliet and Town of Colonie when space permits. 

Dunkin' opens new location in Schaghticoke

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

SCHAGHTICOKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Dunkin' has opened a new shop in Schaghticoke. The location officially opened on Tuesday, November 28. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Dunkin' is located at 6 Main Street. It's in the Shop 'n Save plaza, across the street from the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds.Before this Dunkin' opened, the closest location was about 12 minutes away in Mechanicville. Other Dunkin's in the area include Halfmoon, Clifton Park, Ballston Lake, Troy and Hoosick Falls. Dunkin’ opens next generation stores in Schenectady County Dunkin' has been remodeling stores and holding grand reopenings around the Capital Region including in Schenectady, Rensselaer and Albany Counties. These next-generation stores feature a modern design, an innovative tap system for drinks, and a dedicated space for mobile pickups.Details on a grand opening celebration for the Schaghticoke location have not been announced yet. You can view the men...

Sam's Club to open new distribution center in Edwardsville

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Sam's Club plans to open a new distribution center early next year in the Metro East. Sam's Club is preparing for a 370,000-square-foot facility in the 5700 block of Inner Park Drive in Edwardsville. Officials say it will serve as a distribution center and fulfillment center, creating more than 100 jobs for the St. Louis region.Sam's Club is a division of Walmart, which says hourly associate hiring for the Edwardsville center will begin next month. The current goal is to open the center by January 2024. Tow truck operator killed in Illinois served as volunteer firefighter Officials say the distribution center is meant to help Walmart increase efficiency and speed in getting goods to customers. In addition to the Belleville store, another new Sam's Club distribution center is planned for Shakopee, Minnesota, next year, per Walmart. To check out employment opportunities at the two centers and more jobs within Walmart, click here.

St. Louis County man charged in twins' fentanyl deaths

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis County man faces felony charges in connection with fentanyl-related deaths of two twins earlier this year. Authorities arrested Jesse Charleston, 33, of Florissant, on Wednesday amid the investigation. He is accused of selling fentanyl that killed one customer and his twin brother. Tow truck operator killed in Illinois served as volunteer firefighter A federal indictment alleges that Charleston sold fentanyl on March 21 that proved fatal to the buyer. It also says Charleston sold fentanyl on March 27 in St. Charles County and possessed it that same day in St. Louis.Investigators say the victim who bought fentanyl from Charleston brought it home and fatally overdosed, along with his twin brother. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW ...

Suspect arrested for series of armed robberies at Florissant Red roof inn

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A suspect has been charged in two armed robberies that occurred at the Red Roof Inn months apart at the same location in Florissant. St. Louis County prosecutors have charged Antonio Mickey, a 24-year-old from St. Louis, in connection with the robberies on July 2 and November 25. Charges included two counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of using a gun in the crime.According to the Florissant Police Department's investigation, on July 2, 2023, Mickey, approached a victim's door at the Red Roof Inn located at 307 Dunn Rd. After the victim opened the door, he sprayed her in the face with a liquid. A struggle happened, during which Mickey threw her onto the bed, implied that he had a gun by holding his hand inside his shirt, and then took cash and the victim's cell phone. The victim later identified Mickey in a photo lineup.On November 26, 2023, Mickey knocked on another victim's door at the same hotel, claiming to be a hotel employee. Once admitted to the room, he ...

Polis: I just signed a law to reduce property taxes. Ask your local elected officials to do the same.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

The United States, including Colorado, is suffering from an affordability crisis. Our local districts across Colorado including fire, library, sanitation, school, and counties now have a huge opportunity and responsibility to act in the upcoming weeks to help reduce the cost of living for Coloradans.Reducing property taxes is part of our overall effort to save people money. That’s why you’ve been hearing recently about the vigorous debate around how to reduce property taxes. I’m pleased that a successful special session of the legislature last week passed historic property tax relief that, combined with previously passed property tax relief, will subtract $55,000 per home from state property tax valuation and reduce the residential assessment rate to 6.7%.Coloradans living in a $500,000 home will save an average of about $505 on their 2023 property tax bill. But while these savings will certainly help, property tax bills will still go up for most Colorado families, which is why I am...