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Haley briefly surpasses DeSantis in national GOP polling average

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

(The Hill) — GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley surpassed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in FiveThirtyEight’s (538) national polling average on Tuesday for the first time in the 2024 campaign. Nathaniel Rakich, a senior editor and senior elections analyst for the polling analysis website, announced Haley’s move into second place on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday. By Wednesday, however, DeSantis appeared to have pulled ahead slightly once more.Still, Tuesday's polling numbers marked the first time in the 2024 election that Haley has come in second in 538's average — which may highlight her rising popularity over the last few months. Haley, a former United Nations ambassador and also the former governor of South Carolina, has been gaining momentum since August, with fuel from multiple strong primary debate performances. Trump, 14th Amendment put Supreme Court on the spot DeSantis had held second place in the GOP field throughout most of the race, and at one time wa...

Texas is U-Haul's 'top growth state' for third consecutive year; Austin ranks top 5 among cities

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas remains the most popular state for people to move to for the third consecutive year, according to U-Haul.The moving company released its annual rankings of 'top growth states.' The rankings show which states had the largest number of one-way movers using U-Haul equipment in 2023. More than 2.5 million one-way trips were recorded across the U.S. and Canada. Texas added more people than any other state in the past year, new census estimates show Texas remained the most popular state, with Florida remaining in the No. 2 spot. North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee round out the top five for 2023."Migration to states in the Southeast and Southwest is still very pronounced," said J.T. Taylor, president of U-Haul International. "Demand for one-way equipment out of certain markets in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast mirrors what we have seen during recent moving cycles."California ranked last among all states and had the largest net loss of one-way movers...

Alaska Airlines cancels nonstop route between Austin and Boise

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

Editor’s Note: The above video highlights Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s busiest days.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Alaska Airlines is canceling its seasonal nonstop route from Austin to Boise, meaning the Idaho capital will no longer served directly from AUS.The last flight will operate on Feb. 15, according to an airline spokesperson. Alaska launched the route in June 2021."We're always looking for the best ways to maximize our flight schedule," the spokesperson told KXAN in a statement. "Occasionally, we need to make adjustments, including in Boise."Alaska is the fifth-largest airline operating at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, based on passenger totals. Between January and October 2023, the airline flew more than 740,000 passengers in and out of AUS, about 4% of all passenger traffic at the airport.Several other routes from AUS will be cut over the coming months, most notably by American Airlines, which announced 21 route cancelations back in November. In addition, British ...

Shortage of pediatric RSV shots continues to hinder Austin pharmacies

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly six months after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced approval of a new drug aimed to preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants and young children, supplies continue to be strapped nationwide and here in Austin.There are three different types of shots available related to RSV: one for adults aged 60 and older, a second for patients who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant and a third shot for young children. In the thick of respiratory season, many parents of infants and young children are left scrambling as pediatric RSV shots are reserved for patients with underlying conditions that put them at a higher risk of a severe RSV case."Anecdotally, I've had a lot of friends that have recent newborns or young children that are looking for it, and they've called 12, 13, 14, 15 different pediatrician officers," said Rannon Ching, president and chief ph...

First meteor shower of 2024 could be the strongest; Quadrantids set to peak Jan. 3-4

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

The Quadrantid meteor showers are set to peak Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, and NASA and the American Meteor Society say it could be the strongest meteor shower of 2024.The AMS says an average of 25 meteors per hour may be seen, while NASA says to expect 120 meteors per hour during the peak.“Predictions for 2024 show a peak for observers viewing from North America between the local hours of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (Jan. 4),” the AMS states. “Rates could be quite high if observed under clear, transparent skies.”The peak for these showers is relatively short, NASA notes.“The reason the peak is so short is due to the shower’s thin stream of particles and the fact that the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle,” NASA states.How well they can be viewed will depend on the weather. On Dec. 27, AccuWeather was forecasting partially cloudy skies with a high in the low 40s for southeastern Pennsylvania.Another factor affecting visibility will be the phase of the moon. The less light from the moon, ...

Bomb threats lead to brief lockdowns and the evacuation of multiple state capitols, including Minnesota

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

Multiple state capitols received bomb threats Wednesday morning that led to brief evacuations or lockdowns as police investigated, but no evidence of explosives was found.The warnings came after a spate of false reports of shootings at the homes of public officials in recent days.Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana were among the states that evacuated statehouse offices or buildings. Lawmakers in Kentucky and Mississippi have begun meeting in legislative sessions.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on X, formerly Twitter, that the Capitol was evacuated while state police investigated a threat received by the Secretary of State’s Office. He said everyone was safe and officials were aware of similar threats made to other offices across the country. The threat was received as Kentucky lawmakers were meeting in the Capitol annex for ethics training.Public safety officials locked down the Mississippi Capitol Wednesday morning following a bomb threat o...

Lanesborough Police investigate alleged armed robbery on Route 7

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Police are investigating an alleged armed robbery reported on Route 7 on Wednesday morning. The victim told police they stopped to check on what appeared to be a disabled vehicle near the Lanesborough/New Ashford town line. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the victim, there were two suspects involved. One male reportedly exited the vehicle while another approached the victim from behind. The victim believes the second suspect pressed what he believed to be a firearm against his head. Police say the two robbed the victim and departed southbound in a dark-colored pickup truck. The truck is described to be an older model with some rust, a ladder rack, and Vermont license plates.Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information or possible camera footage of the area is asked to contact the Lanesborough Police Department at (413) 443-4107.

Schenectady IDA to buy old, blighted restaurant building

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City of Schenectady Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is set to buy the former Fireside Restaurant at 1631 Eastern Parkway in Schenectady. The IDA will be buying the building for $110,000. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, the old Fireside building is vacant and blighted. The money used to buy the building will be from fees collected from developers on other projects.“The absentee owner of 1631 Eastern Parkway has never improved the building and the façade is in terrible condition,” said Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair. “Despite code enforcement efforts by the city, the owner based on Long Island never made needed repairs, so we are buying the building to improve the neighborhood and remove this blight.” TGI Fridays closes in Stuyvesant Plaza “We are pleased that the City IDA is taking this action to address a long–vacant and neglecte...

Missouri GOP leaders say LGBTQ+ issues will take a back seat to child care, education policy in 2024

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's five-month annual legislative session began Wednesday, and top Republican leaders say passing more laws directed at LBGTQ+ people is not a priority.Republicans spent much of last session crafting two new transgender-related laws, despite considerable pushback from Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates.One measure outlawed gender-affirming surgeries for minors and instituted a four-year ban on the use of hormones and puberty blockers as a part of gender-affirming health care for minors who were not already receiving those medications. Another law limits athletes to school sports teams based on their sex as assigned at birth, an act that also expires in August 2027.Bills filed this session would repeal the expiration dates for both transgender-related laws, make public drag shows a crime, require teachers to notify parents if students express confusion about their gender, and put limits on what books are available to minors in public and school libraries...

Illinois attorney general shares how to avoid phone voice-mimmicking AI scams

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:47:42 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill., - Attorney General Kwame Raoul has urged locals in Illinois to avoid scams over the phone that could mimic the voice of a loved one via artificial intelligence.A new ploy has developed that allows scammers to mimic the voice of a target’s family member, which results in the target sending payments or personal information. Attorney General Raoul advises people to hang up and return phone calls with confirmed numbers. Sharing a code word is also an alternative.With these new technological scams come new tactics. Here is a list that Raoul has provided of warning signs to watch out for: Scorched building in Pine Lawn has ties to high-profile federal suspect Scammers come onto you - Beware of unsolicited phone calls, texts, or emailsScammers pressure you to act quickly - The ultimate goal is to send payment before getting chance to think about Scammers want your personal information - IRS, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Postal Service will always be aware of pe...