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Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ receives backlash over tip policy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) -- The popular restaurant in Buda, Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ, is facing some backlash for its employee tip policy. If employees broke certain rules, they'd be at risk of not receiving tips. The owners said the policy has since changed. What was the policy?A woman who said she is a former employee told KXAN tips were taken at their discretion and when they were taken, they'd be taken for the entire week the incident happened. According to a screenshot of the policy circulating on social media, tips could be taken for a number of reasons: An employee was lateNo call, no showWrite-up during a shiftAn employee was fired An employee quit without two weeks' written noticeRestaurant owner, Miguel Vidal, confirmed that was their policy. "That was a screenshot of our handbook that we wrote in 2013 with the policy going in place in 2015 or 2016," Vidal said. But, he said it was never regularly enforced and that it hasn't happened for a few years. Instead, Vidal claimed it was...

APD identifies victim in gas station homicide, still searching for suspect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department identified the victim in the Airport Boulevard gas station homicide Sunday and is also asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect, APD said in a news release Wednesday.Shortly after 9 p.m., July 16, officers responded to reports of a shooting at the Valero gas station, 1135 Airport Blvd, the release said.APD also released video of the shooting on its YouTube page. The video shows a man firing a gun inside the store and running into the parking lot. APD investigating homicide on Airport Boulevard When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man, Tijarious White, 19, with gunshot wounds, according to police. White died on the scene.According to police, White was inside the gas station as a customer when the suspect entered the gas station and shot and killed White.The suspect is described as:Black maleTallHeavy builtThis is being investigated as Austin's 39th homicide, according to police. MAP: Where have Austin’s homi...

Austin moves to #1 for hottest July on record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The first 19 days of the month have now tied for the hottest July on record to date, matching the day and night temperature average from July, 2022.For the fourth consecutive day Wednesday, Austin tied or broke a daily record high, reaching 106° which ties the record set just last year. Austin also set an all-time record for number of consecutive days with highs of 105°+. The streak is now at 10 days, and appears it should continue for some time.Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in place nearly areawide through Thursday at 8 p.m. These heat alerts will be extended on Friday.A 10% chance of isolated thunderstorms returns to the forecast this weekend, but rain will be hard to come by. Record high temperatures will be in jeopardy again next week.Other than a few isolated storms this weekend, most stay dry over the next 7+ daysSummer Fan DriveThank you for helping make our 33rd annual KXAN Summer Fan Drive a success! We exceeded our goals thanks to your...

Lucas Gordon signs with White Sox for $300K, other drafted Longhorns have yet to sign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to sign their draft picks draws closer, a couple of Texas Longhorns are ready to get their professional careers started.Left-handed pitcher Lucas Gordon and right-handed pitcher Travis Sthele have agreed to terms with the teams that drafted them. Teams have until 5 p.m., July 25 to sign their draft picks or else they'll forfeit the player's draft rights.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/newslettersAccording to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis, Gordon and the White Sox agreed to terms Wednesday with a $300,000 signing bonus. Gordon was the No. 179 overall pick in the draft that carried a $314,700 slot value, so technically the White Sox signed him at a little bit of a bargain.According to the MLB.com draft tracker, the Washington Nationals signed Sthele signed for a $150,000 bonus. He was drafted in the 12th round and was not ...

Decision to expand St. Paul downtown improvement district is postponed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

The St. Paul City Council on Wednesday postponed a decision about expanding an improvement district to include a portion of West Seventh Street.Since 2020, the improvement service district has stretched across much of downtown, up to but not including Lowertown. Within the district, businesses pay a fee that supports street clean-up, graffiti removal and street greeters who provide a second set of eyes downtown, including non-police interactions with the homeless.Last spring, several West Seventh Street business owners signed a petition to expand the district further west to Grand Avenue along a corridor downtown West Seventh Street.Since signing the petition last spring, some business owners have retracted their support for the initiative.Dave Cossetta of Cossetta’s Alimentari voiced his concerns at the public hearing Wednesday, noting the proposed district boundaries had changed with time to exclude six lots he owns on Exchange Street.“The spokesperson for the Downtown...

St. Paul City Council puts sales tax for roads, property tax for child care on 2023, 2024 ballots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

When St. Paul residents head to the polls this November to vote for city council, they’ll also find a question on the ballot asking whether to raise the city portion of the local sales tax by 1 percentage point, or a penny on every dollar. The added sales tax, according to the mayor’s office, could generate nearly $1 billion over 20 years, most of it for arterial road reconstruction, with one-fourth of the funding dedicated to major parks improvements.At the request of the mayor’s office, the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday voted 6-1 to authorize placing the sales tax question on the Nov. 7 ballot, with Council Member Jane Prince opposed.“We have a unique opportunity to make an exceptional investment in our city’s roads and parks, providing future generations with sound infrastructure,” said St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, in a written statement following the vote. “We look forward to bringing this conversation to our residents.”Prince urged the council to a...

Man sentenced in St. Paul marijuana deal that turned deadly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

A judge sentenced a St. Paul man Wednesday to 19 years in prison for killing a 33-year-old man during a marijuana deal in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood.Kemarri Miller Roan, 19, reached a plea agreement with the prosecution in May, admitting he shot Michael Alexander Pleasants in the back of the head in the 200 block of Bates Avenue in April 2022.Kemarri Miller Roan (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Roan’s co-defendant, Traivon Dennis Campbell, 22, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty in January to second-degree unintentional murder. He agreed to a term of 10 years and six months, and to testify against Roan if there was a trial. Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 19.Roan’s guilty plea to second-degree intentional murder was reached a month before a jury trial was scheduled to begin, and included the 230-month prison term handed down Wednesday. He received credit for 447 days already served in custody.Evidence: Video, text messagesOfficers sent to th...

Rotterdam man charged with murder in deaths of mother, stepfather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Rotterdam man is facing charges as part of a double homicide investigation. An arrest warrant has been issued for Anthony Lewis.Lewis was charged with Murder in the First Degree. Police said the 31-year old killed Cathy and Robert Guillaume at their Fern Avenue home in the town of Rotterdam. The victims are Lewis's mother and stepfather. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said Lewis has been in custody at the Carbon County Jail in Pennsylvania on unrelated charges since July 7. He has been charged as a Fugitive of Justice on Murder in the First Degree on a warrant out of Rotterdam and is awaiting extradition from Pennsylvania to New York.The investigation remains ongoing.

Powerball jackpot hits $1 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Patrons were in and out of Colson's News & Deli in Downtown Albany Wednesday afternoon. The convivence store sold a winning lottery ticket years ago. Big-ticket dreams spurred by $1B Powerball jackpot, but expert warns: Take it slow“Well first I would take care of my family for sure make sure that you know they have everything they need" a woman named Kristen told us after purchasing a ticket. "We're pretty humble so I don't think that we would need a whole lot and let's hope not!” she added. Tonight’s drawing will be third largest in Powerball history and the seventh largest in US history. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! If someone wins they have the option of taking the cash in installments over 29 years or lump sum. The winnings would amount to around $500 Million after taxes.

Victim's family speaks out after gas station clerk killed in shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - How a person of interest who was in handcuffs managed to escape from St. Louis City police officers remains a mystery. However, investigators said that person is no longer wanted for questioning in connection to the murder of a gas station clerk.The family of 22-year-old Iyez Ahmed is grieving after he was shot and killed while working at the BP gas station in west St. Louis early Monday morning."He was innocent, and I hope they catch whoever did that and killed him. I'm sad about it," said Nuruddin Khondakel, Ahmed's cousin.Ahmed's uncle and aunt adopted him after his father passed away. He was originally from Bangladesh. His family said he graduated from Parkway Central High School and was working on a college degree in information technology (IT). His family said Ahmed was a hard worker, loved his job, and came to the United States for a better life. Police: Fatal Lemay crash ‘not an apparent speeding situation’ "He wanted to save money for his mom back home so she ...