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A special ring, lost for decades, makes remarkable journey back to owner

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

VALPARAISO, Ind. —A couple in Valparaiso, Indiana say they still can't believe their luck...after a special token of love is returned to them nearly 55 years later.The story begins with Kyle Tobias, a firefighter from Fontana, Wisconsin with a knack for finding what once was lost."I was contacted by a gentleman who lost his ring back in 1976 and wanted to know if there was any chance it could be found," he said.Which brought him from Wisconsin to Bangs Lake in Wauconda, Illinois.He scanned the water where the old J slide at Phil’s Neach once stood.He heard the tell-tale beep of something under the sand."I dug down about 6-7 inches, pulled up my scoop and found the class ring in my scoop,” he said. More from Erin: Suburban PD’s first therapy dog warming hearts wherever he’s needed It wasn't the ring he was looking for, but boy, did that ring ever have a story — one that might have never surfaced, if Tobias and Wauconda Park District’s Debbie Yakimisky hadn't done a little more digg...

Jury finds Kaitlin Armstrong guilty of murdering professional cyclist Anna Moriah 'Mo' Wilson

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Texas jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday in the trial of Kaitlin Armstrong, who was accused of killing professional cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson.Police issued an arrest warrant for Armstrong on May 17, 2022, six days after she shot and killed Wilson at an east Austin apartment. Wilson was staying with a friend in town ahead of a nearby gravel race.You can view details on what both sides addressed during closing arguments of Armstrong's trial here. Throughout the trial, the State’s witnesses presented a series of electronic and DNA evidence that placed Armstrong at the murder scene. Defense attorneys addressed what they suggested were issues or discrepancies in the investigation process and asked questions suggesting the possibility of the involvement of Colin Strickland — Armstrong’s then-boyfriend and a friend of Wilson’s.Strickland testified early on in the trial that he and Wilson were briefly romantic in the fall of 2021 during a time where he and Armst...

NWS Austin to start issuing 'Ice Storm Warnings'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office announced on Wednesday that an alternative warning may be issued in the event a significant ice storm is being forecast. Previously, that office had chosen not to issue Ice Storm Warnings in favor of Winter Weather Advisories or Winter Storm Warnings for impactful or disruptive winter weather, including ice caused by freezing rain.Late January into early February 2023 saw a crippling ice storm impact Central Texas. By Monday morning, Jan. 30, 2023, Winter Storm Warnings were in effect for most of the 15 counties KXAN covers, with significant icing specifically mentioned as the primary threat.Winter Storm Warning in effect from January 30-Feb 1, 2023Avoiding "Ice Storm Warning"NWS Austin/San Antonio had avoided the use of "Ice Storm Warnings" in the past with the belief that "Winter Storm Warnings" are sufficient to warn ahead of multiple types of wintry precipitation and getting *only* ice (not sleet or snow) is...

Austin ISD says expect traffic delays due to APD funeral procession

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Independent School District said to expect traffic delays, as the Austin Police Department will hold its funeral procession for fallen APD Officer Jorge "George" Pastore on Friday."This event will severely impact traffic flow and we anticipate significant delays to our bus routes and morning commutes," the district said in a letter to parents on Thursday.The district said bus routes for elementary schools are completed by 7:15 a.m., so those schools will not "be largely unaffected." Furthermore, AISD said "middle school routes are completed by 8 a.m. and high school routes by 8:45 a.m."AISD strongly encourages families dropping off secondary students to leave early, as well as plan for delays.Although student tardiness related to the procession won't be counted against students, AISD said absences are not excused."Secondary campus leadership have been asked to arrive on campus by 7:30 a.m. to ensure they are prepared to receive students. All staff should...

More clouds than sun as we await a Thanksgiving week cold front

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following a foggy, misty start on Thursday, areas of dense fog may slow down your morning commute again on Friday.Mostly cloudy skies are streaming into Texas from a large storm system slowly moving toward the California coast. Low clouds and fog build in early Friday as more moisture has moved into the area. Patchy mist and drizzle may wet your morning drive.A weak cool front moves into the area late Friday, continuing our stretch of comfortable temperatures under a mix of clouds and sun.The California storm eventually clips our area with mostly cloudy skies and just a few isolated showers Sunday and Monday. Rain looks spotty and light with most areas tallying 0.25" or less.Generally light and limited rainfall Sunday and MondayA stronger cold front blows through late Monday, bringing colder than normal temperatures through Thanksgiving Day. Very strong north winds are in the forecast Tuesday behind the front, potentially gusting to 40 miles per hour in some communi...

'This is Revenge of the Nerds': Austin hosts space exploration conference New Worlds 2023 this weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Astronauts, scientists and explorers are flying to Texas this weekend to discuss the future of life in space. They're attending the New Worlds 2023 conference. The event will host discussions on space travel, award members of the science community and raise funds for Texas schools. "This is Revenge of the Nerds, in a sense, right? I mean, this is, this is those kids who studied science and went into engineering, education tracks and those kinds of things, who are living the dream," said Rick Tumlinson, founder of Earthlight Foundation and the New Worlds conference.The event has been around since 2016. Past award recipients include Jeff Bezos and SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell. This year, Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman will be awarded the Space Cowboy award for his work in bringing civilians to space and raising money for cancer research."I generally feel very unworthy of any of these types of recognitions. I just know that it takes like an army to pull this off," ...

Internal Amtrak memo highlights concerns over St. Paul Union Depot. 2nd train to Chicago, route to Duluth in the works.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

More than a decade ago, Ramsey County poured $243 million into purchasing, renovating and reviving the downtown St. Paul Union Depot, a 1920s-era transit hub that hadn’t hosted passenger trains since 1971. Situated on 33 acres of riverfront property off Kellogg Boulevard, the neoclassical train depot welcomed their return in May 2014 when Amtrak’s Empire Builder began rolling in a morning trip to Chicago and a return trip at night.Transit advocates say discontent with Ramsey County’s management of the depot has created a stir within the nation’s long-distance passenger rail provider. An internal Amtrak memo reportedly outlines concerns about the county using the downtown hub primarily as a banquet facility.That comes on top of worries about crime and loitering inside the cavernous riverfront depot, which is otherwise short on foot traffic. Brian Nelson, president of the rail advocacy coalition All Aboard Minnesota, obtained a copy of the Amtrak memo and recen...

Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has final say on when he returns to field

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Justin Jefferson has been ramping up his workload this week in practice as he gets closer to returning to the field for the Vikings. Though he’s trending in the right direction as he recovers from the hamstring injury, it’s still unclear if the 24-year-old receiver will be available when the Vikings play the Broncos on Sunday night in Denver.“I’m just trying to make sure that it doesn’t come back,” he said. “I’m doing the treatment every single day.”Who has the final say on when he returns to the field?“I’m the main person that’s going to make the decision at the end of the day,” Jefferson said. “I’m the person that’s going out there and putting my body on the line to win games and do things for this organization.”In that same breath, however, Jefferson mentioned that he will work in concert with the team medical staff led by Tyler Williams and Uriah Myrie. The consensus from everyb...

Vikings’ Byron Murphy credits Harrison Smith’s selfless act for his interception

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

It looked like a routine play from cornerback Byron Murphy at first glance. He tracked down a deep pass from backup quarterback Jameis Winston last Sunday, then made the eighth interception of his NFL career to help put the game on ice as the Vikings finished off a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints.It wasn’t until a few days later that team broadcaster Gabe Henderson detailed the intricacies of Murphy’s interception on the website formerly known as Twitter. In a post that has been viewed more than 500,000 times this week, Henderson highlighted that while Murphy deserves credit for making the play, veteran safety Harrison Smith might have actually been in better position.Asked to clarify what happened on the field, Murphy confirmed that Smith indeed deferred to him in that moment.“It happened pretty fast,” Murphy said. “Literally in the middle of the play, the ball was in the air, and he was like, ‘You got it, Murph.’ I was like, ‘H...

Minnesota adds 7,000 jobs in October; unemployment at 3.2%

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Minnesota gained 7,000 jobs last month, outpacing national job growth, and the state’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.2%, the state Department of Employment and Economic Development said Thursday.The state unemployment rate is lower than the national rate of 3.9% and the state labor force was essentially flat in October, dipping by 84 people, the first monthly decline in eight months.The labor force participation rate held steady for the fourth month at 68.5%. This measures the amount of people working or actively seeking work as compared with the overall adult population, and is used to calculate the benchmark unemployment rate. So the unemployment rate can rise even when more people find work if more people enter the labor force.DEED also announced that October was the first month when the seasonally adjusted jobs estimate surpassed 3 million, at 3,001,300. Minnesota has added jobs nine out of the last 12 months.“There are many opportunities for j...