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The 25 best 'hidden gem' restaurants in the US, according to TripAdvisor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – TripAdvisor has revealed its top-rated “hidden gem” restaurants in the United States, highlighting 25 relatively unknown eateries that consistently earn praise from the platform’s users.These top-rated “hidden” restaurants (which likely won’t stay hidden for much longer) were announced Wednesday as part of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards, an annual ranking of the site’s top-rated dining destinations across seven different categories. The origin of toasted ravioli the subject of major debate The honorees in this year’s “hidden gem” category include plenty of no-frills, under-the-radar restaurants serving up everything from lobster rolls and fries to tikka masala and whoopie pies. But only one restaurant can take the No. 1 spot — and this year, that honor goes to a burger-and-shake joint in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.Cookie Dough Monster, located in an unassuming strip mall just a few miles from Dollywood, earned high marks for its food, service, val...

Pflugerville police searching for missing teen girl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- The Pflugerville Police Department is searching for a 17-year-old girl they say was last seen Wednesday. Police are asking for help locating Brie Ann Mitchell, who was reported missing by CPS after leaving a hospital in Pflugerville Wednesday.Mitchell is described by police as a white female, 5'4" and 187 lbs, with brown/blonde hair and blue eyes. Brie Ann Mitchell, 17, was reported missing by CPS after leaving a hospital in Pflugerville Wednesday. (Pflugerville Police Department photo) Police said she is known to frequent the Temple area, which is about 55 miles north of Pflugerville. Anyone with information on Mitchell's whereabouts should contact the Pflugerville Police Department at 512-990-6700.

Hail storm repairs could be slowed by roofing shingle shortage

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

Correction: An earlier headline of this story said there was a shortage in roof tiles. It is actually a shortage in roof shingles. The headline has been changed to reflect that.ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Josh Herrington said the homes in the Cat Hollow neighborhood in Round Rock look like a war zone following Sunday night's hail storm. Herrington is the owner of Sixth Gen Roofing, and he and his team are in the process of helping homeowners who suffered roof and window damage. "The ice storm -- it was bad, it was bad, but it was a lot of clean up. This is going to be a lot of work," Herrington said. That work could be compounded because of a shortage in a certain material that goes into the production of roof shingles. Herrington said there is a lack of production on granular minerals, which serves as a protector from excessive heat for roof shingles. How much damage could it be? Herrington said he expects there is a need of between three million and four million roofing shingles f...

Wait — are there elk in Central Texas?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Along State Highway 45 near Driftwood, a vibrant yellow traffic sign depicts an animal not typically found in Central Texas' neck of the woods.The sign forewarns of elk in the area. But that begs the question: Since when are there elk in Central Texas?KXAN took that question to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to see if there are any herds dwelling in the greater Austin area. A TPWD spokesperson said while there are elk in the Trans-Pecos and western Panhandle regions of Texas, most found locally aren't naturally residing here. "Any free-ranging elk found in Hays County or Central Texas have likely escaped from a high-fenced ranch," the TPWD spokesperson told KXAN over email. Officials added it's not unusual for fences near creeks and river crossings "to become compromised after rainfall events and severe weather." As a result, the official said these animals can be "commonly observed in the Edwards Plateau."Elk can ...

San Marcos to celebrate Uhland Road improvements

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – The City of San Marcos will hold a public celebration Thursday morning to mark the finish of improvements to several city roads. The city will hold a ribbon cutting for the Uhland Road Improvements project at 9 a.m. at 1303 Uhland Road, near the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. The public is invited to attend the event.According to the city, the Uhland Road Improvements project added drainage improvements along the County Road, Uhland Road and a part of River Road.The city said the roads were reconstructed to meet city standards. Crews built a six-to-ten foot wide sidewalk along Uhland Road for pedestrians and cyclists and built a roundabout at the intersection of Uhland and River Roads to improve safety, the city said. The city said crews also also installed a stormwater device to help separate trash and hydrocarbons.“The updates made by the project will bring the surrounding community a sense of safety and reliability during rain events,” said Director of...

Bennington man crashes into moose, suffers minor injuries

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

SHAFTSBURY, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A Bennington man suffered minor injuries and was sent to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center early Thursday morning in Shaftsbury, Vermont. Police say the man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the crash happened at 5:41 a.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to Vermont State Police, the 56-year-old driver was traveling northbound on U.S. Route 7 near mile marker 21.8 when a moose appeared in front of his car. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and was taken by the Arlington Rescue Squad to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center for further medical treatment.

Winners and losers of the second GOP presidential debate

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

Seven GOP presidential rivals tangled Wednesday night on a Simi Valley, Calif., stage, arguing over who is the best to take on President Biden next fall.  It was a rambunctious night filled with personal attacks by candidates battling for survival, culminating in a clash over curtains between Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and his state’s former Gov. Nikki Haley. None of the contenders are within spitting distance in polls to former President Trump, who for a second time didn’t bother showing up for the debate.  That added to the sense of desperation for some of the would-be contenders, who know the time for catching up to Trump is running out. Here are the winners and losers. WINNERS Former President Trump Former President Trump without a doubt felt like the biggest winner on Wednesday night.  He wasn’t on stage, and instead appeared at an event in Michigan that signaled he’s already moving his focus to a November 2024 general election against Presi...

Missouri restaurant among TripAdvisor's 25 best 'hidden gems'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – TripAdvisor has revealed its top-rated “hidden gem” restaurants in the United States, highlighting 25 relatively unknown eateries that consistently earn praise from the platform’s users.These top-rated “hidden” restaurants (which likely won’t stay hidden for much longer) were announced Wednesday as part of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards, an annual ranking of the site’s top-rated dining destinations across seven different categories. The origin of toasted ravioli the subject of major debate The honorees in this year’s “hidden gem” category include plenty of no-frills, under-the-radar restaurants serving up everything from lobster rolls and fries to tikka masala and whoopie pies. But only one restaurant can take the No. 1 spot — and this year, that honor goes to a burger-and-shake joint in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.Cookie Dough Monster, located in an unassuming strip mall just a few miles from Dollywood, earned high marks for its food, service, val...

Rapids Takeaways: Colorado comeback falls short as Vancouver Whitecaps equalizes late

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

COMMERCE CITY — Already out of the playoff picture after last weekend’s loss in Portland, the Colorado Rapids could only play the role of spoiler Wednesday night.The Rapids stormed back from a 1-0 first-half deficit with two second-half goals, only to give up a late equalizer in a 2-2 tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.Diego Rubio scored his second goal in as many games for Colorado (4-15-11, 23 points), while Cole Bassett added a fourth goal contribution in his last four, as he found the back of the net in the 68th minute. However, Vancouver scored on a pair of corner kick goals, including a Triston Blackmon 78th-minute equalizer.Here are three takeaways from the tie:Sitting back and slipping upBassett was perplexed as to why the Rapids haven’t been able to hold onto leads as the team slipped to 0-6-2 when giving up two goals in a game. For him, there has to be a better commitment to find a third goal rather than be comfortable...

Woman hit by car in Aurora dies Tuesday night

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:55 GMT

A woman crossing Chambers Road in Aurora Tuesday night died after a driver hit her with a car.The crash happened near Chambers Road and Pheasant Run Parkway, Aurora police reported at 11:17 p.m. on X.#APDAlert Officers are responding to a fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on S. Chambers and E. Pheasant Run Pkwy. A silver sedan was driving northbound towards Pheasant Run when an unidentified woman crossed the roadway eastbound. The two collided. The woman was transported… pic.twitter.com/B1we2QnmhH— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) September 28, 2023The driver was headed north on Chambers and the woman crossed the road headed east.The woman was taken to a hospital and died a short time later.The driver stayed on scene and is cooperating, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man arrested in connection to fatal Littleton hit-and-run crash Crime and Public Safety | One person hit, killed on I-25 near Castle Rock Crime and Public Safe...