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Analysis suggests Texans work longer hours than workers in any other state

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Everything is bigger in Texas, including an employee's drive to work long hours, apparently. According to an analysis of 2022 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, folks in Texas clocked more time on average than any other state.The analysis by personal finance website Wealth of Geeks showed that employees in Texas work around 34.42 hours a week on average. Louisiana came in second with employees working 34.37 a week, and then West Virginia at around 34.11 hours weekly. These findings come soon after Financial Buzz published an analysis showing Austin as the third most overworked city in the U.S. The finance website looked at factors like hours worked per week, percentage of active workers over 65, and percentage of workers with two plus jobs in the analysis. In its study, Financial Buzz found that Austin had a high number of households where more than one person worked a full time job and that Austinites worked a high number of hours per week ...

Wimberley's New Year polar plunge returns

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Wimberley's Parks and Recreation Department announced Wednesday its annual Polar Bear Plunge & 5K event returns Jan. 1.The 5K course begins at Blue Hole Regional Park — located at 333 Blue Hole Lane — and travels through downtown Wimberley before ending with a plunge into Cypress Creek. Event check-in begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 1, with a 5K start time slated for 10 a.m. The polar bear plunge is set to wrap at 1 p.m.Festivities include music, food and drink vendors, games, prizes and a warming fire pit visitors can gather around, the release added.Regular registration costs $35 a person, while day-of registration goes for $45 a person. Those interested can sign up online. Registration includes access to the 5K, an event t-shirt, drink tickets and a swag bag, officials said."We're thrilled to invite everyone to join us for the Polar Bear Plunge & 5K – an event that symbolizes the spirit of adventure, community, and a fresh start in the New Year...

Minnesota Ice Festival canceled because of warm weather that could turn structures ‘hazardous’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

The 2024 Minnesota Ice Festival has been canceled. Organizers said that unseasonably warm weather raises safety concerns for both ice construction workers and visitors.The festival, which would have run from Jan. 5 to Feb. 11 at Viking Lakes in Eagan, was set to have included the world’s largest ice maze, plus other structures and sculptures. These can become hazardous if temperatures are too warm, organizers said.If you already have tickets, the festival is issuing automatic refunds that should be processed within seven to 10 days.“We were really looking forward to celebrating the beautiful Minnesota winter with everyone, but the weather hasn’t cooperated, and we won’t be able to deliver the experience we had hoped for,” said Robbie Harrell, the CEO of ice company Minnesota Ice, in a statement Wednesday. The festival plans to return next year, he said.As for the ice itself, it has already been delivered to the festival site in Eagan, so organizers are keeping it under insulation fo...

Suburban favorite Andiamo set to open on Snelling Avenue next year

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

St. Paul’s Italian food scene will grow one size bigger next month: Longtime East Metro favorite Andiamo Italian Ristorante is headed our way.The restaurant, which has locations in Eagan and Woodbury, plans to open a third spot on Snelling and Ashland avenues, where Buffalo Wild Wings used to be. They’ll be up and running in January, the restaurant announced on social media.Andiamo originally opened almost exactly 13 years ago in Eagan — during its first week, then-Pioneer Press critic Kathie Jenkins praised the food as “irresistible” — and launched its Woodbury location in 2020.The restaurants are owned by chef Ramon Ruiz, who had previously spent over a decade and a half at Bucca di Beppo in St. Paul.For Ruiz, the name Andiamo is a reminder to keep moving forward, he said when the Eagan location opened in 2011.“It means, ‘Let’s go, Let’s go,'” he said. “”It injects energy.”Andiamo Italian Ristorante: Opening January 2024 at 80 N. Snelling Ave.; ...

Minnesota program to provide free school meals for all kids is costing the state more than expected

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

Minnesota’s program to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to all students regardless of income is costing the state more than expected because of a jump in demand.When Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed the legislation last spring, advocates said the free meals would ease stresses on parents and help reduce childhood poverty while lifting the stigma on kids who rely on them. Thousands of schoolchildren who didn’t previously qualify have been getting the free meals since Minnesota this fall became the country’s fourth state to offer universal free school meals. The number has since grown to at least eight.Republican lawmakers objected to the program as it moved through the Legislature, saying it was a poor use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize meals for students whose parents could afford them. Now, with costs rising faster than expected — $81 million more over the next two years and $95 million in the two years after that — some question whether the state can a...

The biggest Capital Region lotto winners of 2023

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Lottery games such as the Mega Millions and Powerball made headlines for their big jackpots throughout the year. In the Capital Region, several winning lottery tickets were sold and some claimed their winnings. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Claimed winning ticketsSchenectady man wins $1M on scratch-off ticketAntonio Riccio of Schenectady claimed the top $1 million prize on the Strike It Rich scratch-off game. Riccio bought the ticket at Stewart’s Shops located at 4240 Consaul Road in Schenectady. He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum, totaling $546,840 after required withholdings.Clifton Park resident wins $1M on Powerball ticketPatricia Van Buren of Clifton Park claimed the $1 million second prize for matching the first five numbers in the July 5 Powerball drawing. The winning ticket was bought at the Sunoco located at 325 Route 146 in Halfmoon. Van Buren chose to receive the prize as a one-tim...

Pittsfield hosts free household items donation pickup

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- On Friday, the City of Pittsfield and CMRK Inc. are hosting a free household items donation pickup. Residents must schedule a pickup online. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! All items need to be in clearly labeled bags and boxes at your curb on Friday. Boxed items should not exceed 50 pounds or have dimensions greater than 4 feet in any direction. Acceptable items are:CategoryAcceptable itemsNon-acceptable itemsArt & CollectiblesFine art prints, paintings, coins, jewelry, one-of-a-kind items, sports memorabilia No sharp objects BooksUp to 3 small boxes (with covers preferred)No encyclopedia or magazinesClothingAll clothing. All sizes. All seasons. Night clothes & robes. Shoes, Boots, Slippers, Sneakers. (All items must be packed securely in plastic bags)DVDsEach DVD needs to be in its case. Up to 3 boxes (with covers preferred)No loose DVDs. No bags.Household itemsONLY: Knick knacks, Dishware, Glassw...

Albany man pleads guilty to 2022 burglary spree

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man is facing at least ten years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary. Abdalon Bruno, 38, will be sentenced on February 23, 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The indictment alleges Bruno burglarized or attempted to burglarize numerous buildings in Albany. Locations include the Hope House on Madison Avenue, Ragonese Italian Imports on New Scotland Avenue, St. Catherine’s Center on New Scotland Avenue, and a dormitory for college students with special needs on South Main Avenue.According to the indictment, the burglaries and attempted burglaries occurred between May 12, 2022, and May 19, 2022.

Police bodycam video after Bar:PM crash under review

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department tells FOX 2 that bodycam video is under review of an encounter that followed a police car crash early Monday morning into Bar:PM.Chad Morris, the co-owner of Bar:PM, was arrested in that encounter, which happened around 12:30 a.m. Monday as he prepared to close the bar.A SLMPD crime summary report from earlier this week alleges that one officer in the crash attempted to calm the situation after Morris made profane remarks. It also asserts that Morris shoved that officer in the chest before he was arrested. Morris’ attorney, Javad Khazaeli, tells FOX 2 that’s not what happened and is calling on police to release bodycam footage of the incident. Stolen car seen in Central West End belongs to long-time police officer Lt. Col. Renee Kriesmann of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says bodycam video is "being reviewed."In recent days, FOX 2 has been working to gather answers from police on questions regarding the crash,...

Colorado taxpayers will receive an $800 refund on their state income taxes

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:33:26 GMT

Coloradan taxpayers can each expect an extra $800 back when they file their state income tax returns early next year, state officials said Wednesday.The refund is based on revenue collected above the cap set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, the state constitutional amendment passed by voters in 1992 to limit the growth of government. Unlike in 2022, when taxpayers received a check in the mail, people will collect the money through their tax filings in the form of higher refunds or reduced tax bills.Overall, the state is refunding nearly $3.7 billion in over-collected revenue. The $800 per taxpayer is slightly lower than prior projections as a result of legislation passed during the General Assembly’s special session in November, when lawmakers also voted to give out flat TABOR refunds to everyone. The session was called to provide relief on property taxes and housing costs.Typically, the state sets varying TABOR rebate amounts based on income, with higher-inco...