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Austin City Council approves funding to improve APD Sex Crimes Unit

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin City Council members approved several items Thursday as part of a considerable effort to improve the Austin Police Department’s handling of sexual assault cases following years of issues. In 2016, an audit showed that APD lab technicians weren’t using proper techniques when calculating the odds of DNA results, potentially botching thousands of cases. Further, the audit found that evidence had been contaminated in at least one case and that lab technicians were using expired materials. The DNA lab closed in 2017. Later, a group of women filed a lawsuit against the City of Austin, alleging improper handling of sexual assault investigations. In Jan. 2022, the plaintiffs were awarded  $825,000 and an additional $50,000 to their attorneys.Then, in 2022, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) conducted an independent review of the department, making over 100 recommendations for improvement for the APD Sex Crimes Unit.“We're looking at making syste...

Rain storms headed to Metro this weekend as “extreme drought” reported for area

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

A slow-moving wet-weather system is expected to bring cooler temperatures, much-needed rain and possible thunderstorms to the Twin Cities this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.The expected rainfall Saturday and Sunday would be welcome after this week’s report in the U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that much of the metro area is facing “extreme drought” conditions for the first time this year. The Twin Cities are facing an annual precipitation deficit of 7.65 inches as of Friday.Showers and thunderstorms are likely Saturday, with a low of 55 and a high of 80. On Sunday, rain chances continue into the evening. Temperatures cool, with a low of 50 and a high of 70.The rain is expected to move out of the region by Monday.Although it may be a wet weekend, fall colors are beginning to pop in Minnesota.According to an updated fall color report from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, foliage is changing a bit faster than  last year so don’...

Marcus Davenport out for Vikings’ game with ankle injury

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

After testing out his injured ankle last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, pass rusher Marcus Davenport won’t even do that much for the Vikings against the Los Angeles Chargers. He has been ruled out for the game on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.Asked about Davenport’s recovery process, head coach Kevin O’Connell said the hope is to get him back at practice next week.“The timeline that we have in place now, I think we all feel good about,” O’Connell said. “He knows we’re doing everything in our power to help him. We know he’s doing everything in his power to continue to be ready to roll. I know he wants to get out there more than anybody.”That much was apparent simply by talking to Davenport this week. He expressed his frustration with the ankle injury while emphasizing that he tried his best to play last week.“It wasn’t at the place I should’ve been,” Davenport said. “We were able ...

Five vehicles involved in north St. Louis crash, several injured

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An investigation is underway after five vehicles were involved in a rush-hour crash Friday in north St. Louis. Several people are believed to be injured. The St. Louis Fire Department is assisting with the crash response. The department reports at least one person was removed from their vehicle via extrication. Two victims from the crash are also in critical condition, two are in serious condition, and three suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the fire department. Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital The crash happened near the intersection of Humboldt Avenue and North Broadway in the North Riverfront neighborhood. Police have blocked off a stretch of Broadway with tape to assist with the situation. Additional details are limited at this time. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Glenn Zimmerman’s 2023 long-range fall weather outlook

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Over the last three years, we entered fall with the same La Niña pattern. It has meant some dry time for us, and a delay in the onset of the deeper fall chill. But that pattern is now changing to an El Niño flavor, and we have already seen what that has meant to our weather. It’s been a more active pattern through the summer.While the start of September has been mostly uneventful, fall is a transition season, and sometimes, it proves to be a second severe weather season. Here's what to watch for as St. Louis turns the page to fall this weekend: SeptemberSeptember has started pretty quiet and mostly warm. In fact, September is never as cool as you think it should be. The first couple of weeks of the month have felt more like summer. We’ve had a nice stretch of great temps, but as we enter the second half of the month, we see more warm air building. Overall, this September is shaping up like most other Septembers. Last year, our September had some heat in th...

Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival kicks off with three days of cultural celebration

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival is underway in Soulard. It's a three-day event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with dancing, food, crafts and much more. This marks the 24th year of the festival, which aims to increase regional awareness cultural contributions from Hispanic musicians, dancers, artisans and chefs. Organizers are hoping to bring together people from different social, economic, and political backgrounds. Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital “It’s three days filled with live music like salsa, Latin rock, Mexican music and Banda music,” said Elisa Bender, board member of the Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival. “Then authentic foods from all over, Latin and South America, Puerto Rico and Mexico.” Over the years, this festival has grown from other locations like Faust Park to its current home in Soulard Park. From food to vendor to musical performances, the three-day event promises something for everyone. ...

Jet stream positioning affected St. Louis summer weather

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Fall colors will soon be on full display. Taking a look back at summer, it started off quiet, but the weather really ramped up in July.The active weather was thanks to our position under the jet stream. A ridge of high pressure to our west brought big-time heat to places like Phoenix and Death Valley in Arizona, but it was a much different weather pattern for us in the form of thunderstorms.“But that put us on the periphery of that ridge. So when we’re in that type of pattern. It allows these systems to come down out of the northwest, down to the southeast, and right along the stalled frontal boundary that we had right over our area,” meteorologist Kevin Deitsch, National Weather Service St. Louis, said. “Day after day after day, creating rounds of thunderstorms.”The numbers are even more impressive when it comes to storm reports from the public.“During that period in July and August, we had about 400 reports of severe weather,” Deitsch said. “That includes damaging wind...

Weather station ensures plant performance, sustainability at Missouri Botanical Garden

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Metal, wire, and solar panels might not be what you expect to see right in the middle of a plot at the Missouri Botanical Garden.“I’ve likened it to a recently landed spacecraft. It can kind of look strange to guests,” said horticulturist Justine Kandra. She is talking about a weather station, permanently installed in the Kemper Center for Home Gardening in 2010.“Having a weather station here allows us to have really accurate data related to conditions here at the garden,” she said.Precipitation, temperature, and humidity all affect how the plants grow.“The weather station also tracks things you might not expect to find in your local weather report, like soil moisture level, soil temperature, wet bulb temperature even, which is sort of like heat index, but measured in the sun,” Kandra said.This data directly influences everything from the selection of plants on display down to the locations where they are planted. It also helps researchers who look longer term.“Right beh...

How zombie fires contribute more carbon to the atmosphere

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Wildfires and smoke from Canada proved a persistent problem over the summer, not only in our region but across the northern plains, upper Midwest, and Northeast. The smoke created pretty sunsets aloft, but there are lasting effects that are not so welcome here.In fact, some of these fires continue to burn in the permafrost through the winter under the snow. These are called zombie fires. And in the warmer months, these underground fires expand.However, we can’t blame global warming on naturally-started wildfires. According to the National Park Service, humans are responsible for starting 85% to 90% of wildfires.Nonetheless, the emissions of greenhouse CO2 gases from wildfires and burning fossil fuels are key components of the global temperature balance. But there are other natural contributors to global warming.

2022 volcanic eruption contributes to global extremes in 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – There was little doubt that the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga underwater volcano in January 2022 would have at least some impacts on the global climate.Most big volcanic eruptions do.That’s because they inject large amounts of material and gas into the atmosphere. Most eruptions have a cooling effect because of the injection of ash and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.The sulfur dioxide interacts with water vapor to produce tiny droplets of sulfuric acid. Clouds of sulfuric acid act as a blanket and reflect incoming solar radiation back out into space.The drop-off in incoming solar heat translates to a cooler earth’s surface. Following the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, the Earth cooled by an average of half a degree the following year, which was significant on a global scale.The eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga was much different because it was an underwater volcano.“This was the largest volcanic eruption of the 21st century so far,” according to Dr. Michael Wysess...