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New DSHS dashboard tracks fentanyl data in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the launch of the Texas fentanyl data dashboard.The dashboard by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is part of the statewide "One Pill Kills" campaign, according to the Governor’s Office.“This dashboard, available on Texas Health Data, reflects the expansion of data on fentanyl and other drug poisoning deaths published by DSHS online. Texans can now access information that includes fentanyl-related deaths from 2014 to 2023 and lets users view them over time, by demographics or by geography,” the Governor’s Office said. Abbott signs Texas bill allowing fentanyl deaths to be prosecuted as murder According to a statement from Abbott, information on fentanyl and other drug poisonings comes from death certificates.“It shows that fentanyl-related deaths have exploded over the last few years, increasing more than 575 percent over a four-year period from 317 in 2019 to 2,161 in 2022. The numbers also reveal that eve...

Texas softball adds infielder Joley Mitchell via transfer portal from Notre Dame

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns softball team added of the best players from the Atlantic Coast Conference through the transfer portal.Head coach Mike White announced Wednesday that Joley Mitchell, an infielder who spent four years playing for Notre Dame, signed a scholarship agreement to play for the Longhorns next season. She has two years of eligibility remaining.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersMitchell was an all-ACC first-team selection last season while hitting .383 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 49 games. She's a classic power-speed threat with a .658 slugging percentage and 15 stolen bases in 2023."Joley will be a difference maker for us over the next two years," White said. "She will be a consistent power threat who will hit for average and have the speed to steal bases as well. More importantly, though, she will add leadership to our program with her wo...

Theater review: History Theatre’s hit murder musical ‘Glensheen’ entertaining as ever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

There’s a palpable sense of absence in downtown St. Paul this summer, as the financially troubled Park Square Theatre sits dark when it would customarily be presenting one of its very popular summer murder mysteries. But if you need a little murder in your life, it’s available blocks away at the History Theatre.“Glensheen” originally premiered in 2015 and has become one of the Twin Cities’ most unlikely theatrical success stories. Who would think that a musical comedy about one of the state’s most notorious murders would become such a hit?Yet the latest incarnation of “Glensheen” makes clear the reasons for its success. Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher and composer Chan Poling have crafted a consistently clever and tremendously tuneful musical about the 1977 murder of heiress Elisabeth Congdon and nurse Velma Pietila, and the subsequent trials of Congdon’s daughter, Marjorie Caldwell, and her husband, Roger Caldwell.And the 2023 production — featuring six of 2015’s original seven actors —...

Gophers lose defensive end recruit after Clemson offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

The Gophers football program’s 2024 recruiting class took a hit on Thursday.Palm Bay, Fla., defensive end Adam Kissayi said he has decommitted from Minnesota. The decision came after the highly-regarded three-star, 6-foot-7, 230-pound prospect received a scholarship offer from Clemson. He also has offers from Michigan, Nebraska and others.“All love to the University of Minnesota, to (head coach) PJ Fleck and to (defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere), those guys are doing a great job In Minneapolis, but I am now decommitting from UM,” he wrote on Twitter. “Thank you Gopher family.”Minnesota’s class for next season has 23 pledges and has slipped out of the top 25 in the nation, per 247sports.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | After wiping away tears, Gophers receiver Chris Autman-Bell found his ‘grit’ College Sports | Gophers football program receives commitment from Kansas offensive lineman for 2024 College Sports | Gophers ...

Bethlehem Drag Queen Story Hour draws supporters, those opposed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Drag Queen Story Hours are not new to libraries in the Capital Region, but decisions over whether to hold them have gotten a lot of attention in recent months. The Bethlehem Library hosted one on Thursday.The library's director said more than 100 people showed up, including supporters and people who opposed it. While leaders acknowledged the controversy it could cause, they said libraries should not stay away from difficult topics and should, instead, teach people how to respect those with different viewpoints. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Lots of people who agreed with the program and some folks who did not agree with the program," Bethlehem Library Dir. Geoffrey Kirkpatrick said. "And everybody was here and engaged peacefully , and the program went off without a hitch."The director said the library would consider hosting another Drag Queen Story Hour given the high level of community interest.

Police release photo of stash from Pennsylvania woods believed to belong to escaped inmate Michael Burham | Manhunt day 7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. (WIVB) -- Pennsylvania State Police released a photo Thursday of a stash that they believe belongs to escaped inmate Michael Burham.It has been one week since Burham, the "prime suspect" in the May 2023 killing of a Jamestown woman, broke out of a jail in Warren County, Pennsylvania.The stash was a camouflaged backpack and some type of other bag. Police said the stash, which was found wrapped in a tarp and hidden partially under a log, contained food, clothing and other materials. Police said it was found in a wooded area outside the city of Warren.Police said they are "confident" that the stash belongs to the escaped inmate.Courtesy: Pennsylvania State PoliceAdditionally, police announced that the combined award between Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, U.S. Marshals and Warren County Crime Stoppers has been increased by another $2,500, bringing it to a total of $22,000.The Warren County Board of Commissioners, along with the Prison Board, held a meeting Wednesday&...

GOP passes amendments that threaten to doom defense bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

House adoption of conservative amendments to a defense bill has thrown the fate of the must-pass package into doubt, sparking widespread opposition from Democrats and putting new burdens on Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to rally enough Republican votes to pass it through the lower chamber. The threat to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is unusual for an annual legislative ritual that sets the budget for the nation’s armed forces — and routinely enjoys broad bipartisan support. But this year, under pressure from hard-liners in his conference, McCarthy brought a series of controversial conservative amendments to the floor. Five of those measures — pertaining to explosive issues like abortion and transgender rights — were approved on largely partisan votes Thursday evening. The most consequential of those is an amendment that would reverse the Pentagon’s policy to reimburse travel expenses for service members who get abortions – a policy that has prompted Sen...

Bandimere Speedway’s 65-year history: How the family-owned drag racing track became world-renowned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

MORRISON — In the fall of 1957, auto parts businessman John Bandimere paid $11,000 for a plot of about 180 acres nestled up against the hogback of the Jefferson County foothills.He then went to an auction and bought a scraper, a grater and two pushers. In 1958, with the help of hired friends, Bandimere moved several thousand tons of dirt and built a track and all the necessary equipment to maintain it by himself.It marked the humble start of a 65-year run for the now world-renowned Bandimere Speedway, which is closing at the end of this year and will host Mile-High Nationals for the last time this weekend.The facility first known as the Safety Proving Grounds of America came from two motivations: Bandimere, who was in the high-performance auto parts business, wanted a place to test his wares. He also wanted a safe space for the area’s youth to race, including his son, John Bandimere Jr. — who was a street racer in his younger days, and has served as the track’s showrunne...

Defendant guilty of first-degree murder in Lakewood man’s death, victim’s body never found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

A Jefferson County jury on Thursday found a defendant guilty of first-degree murder in the death of an 81-year-old Lakewood man whose body was never found.Ricardo Perez, 37, was also found guilty of tampering with a body, attempt to influence a public servant and tampering with physical evidence in connection to the death of Gail Wilson, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.On Nov. 1, 2021, Wilson was reported missing by family members. At the time of his disappearance, he lived with an adopted daughter, Savannah Wilson, 26; her boyfriend, Perez; and a housemate, 22-year-old Jay Griffith.Perez, Griffith and Savanah Wilson were co-defendants in the case.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Argument escalates into deadly shooting in Denver police say Crime and Public Safety | Aurora dentist’s wife fatally poisoned with cyanide and decongestant found in Visine, coroner testifies Crime and Public Safety |...

Video shows smash-and-grab burglary at Downey mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:54 GMT

Police in Downey are investigating a robbery at a jewelry store inside the Stonewood Mall Wednesday afternoon.The robbery happened around 4:30 p.m. at Daniel's Jewelers, according to the Downey Police Department.Video of the smash-and-grab burglary shared to TikTok showed at least three men wearing black hoodie sweatshirts smashing the glass displays of the jewelry store and pulling several items from the damaged cases.The person who shot the video, an employee at one of the mall's businesses, said there have been several burglaries at the mall in recent months and the mall only employs one security guard on site. The TikTok caption claimed that police did not show up to the mall for more than 20 minutes after the crime took place. Downey police have released very little information about the burglary, only confirming that it is under investigation. It's currently unclear if any arrests have been made or if any suspects are outstanding.KTLA was unable to verify the claim that the St...