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'Mystery company' buys nearly $1 billion of land near Air Force base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

(NewsNation) — Nearly $1 billion in land purchases by a mysterious company near a California Air Force base is raising national security concerns.A group called "Flannery Associates" has invested more than $800 million on almost 54,000 acres of land surrounding the Travis Air Force Base since 2018, zoned for agricultural use, public records show.Legal representation for Flannery says the group is controlled by U.S. citizens, with 97% of its capital coming from U.S.-based investors. But after eight months of investigation, federal officials can't confirm or deny this to be true and have not been able to determine exactly who is backing the company. Woman found dead after grizzly bear encounter near Yellowstone This so-called "mystery company" has been ramping up its purchases since the beginning of the year, prompting a federal investigation into its intentions. It is still unclear what Flannery's purpose is for investing in land near the base.The Air Force's Foreign Investment Ri...

See the latest designs for Austin's upcoming 1.7-mile Red Line Trail segment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin's Capital Delivery Services Department is seeking public feedback on the latest designs on a 1.7-mile segment of the Red Line Trail under development.The Red Line Trail is a long-range plan that, ultimately, is expected to become a 32-mile trail and transit corridor running from CapMetro's downtown Austin station up to the City of Leander. The Red Line Trail follows the existing Red Line rail corridor operated by CapMetro.The latest 1.7-mile portion — developed in tandem with the Austin Transportation and Public Works Departments' Urban Trails program — is divvied up into four segments and is poised to connect Braker Lane with the Northern Walnut Creek Trail. It'll feature 15-foot-wide trails designed to separate people walking and jogging from those biking, scootering or rolling. 1.7-mile Red Line Trail segment in development as part of the 32-mile long-range Red Line ...

DOJ files lawsuit against Texas over buoy barrier in Rio Grande

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday over the state's floatation barrier along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass that the federal government says violates international and federal law. In the lawsuit, the DOJ argues Texas' construction of buoys in the river violates the Rivers and Harbor Act, as it obstructs the "navigable capacity" of U.S. water. The filing also notes Texas did not obtain a prior permit from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers as required by the act. The Biden administration is asking the courts to stop Texas from putting any more barriers in the water and to remove the current 1,000-foot stretch of buoys at its own expense."Because Texas installed the Floating Barrier without seeking the Corps’ authorization, the Corps and other relevant federal agencies were deprived of the opportunity to evaluate risks the barrier poses to public s...

Last week of July stays hot with little rain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Our triple digit heat rolls on. We're now in our 17th consecutive day with highs of 100º or hotter, which ties for the 8th longest streak on record at Austin's Camp Mabry. By the end of the month we'll have moved into 2nd place. 2023 AUSTIN WEATHER DATA A very isolated shower or storm remains possible into the early evening, mainly in Fayette County. Otherwise, a drier weather pattern is setting up shop for the rest of the week. High pressure will nudge eastward to put an end to our recent rain chances, while reducing cloud-cover at the same time. High location by mid-weekTemperatures won't change much day-to-day. In fact, we've got a high of 104º (+ or - a degree or so) in our forecast every day for the rest of the month.7 day high forecast for AustinWe're still watching the potential for an "inverted trough" to work into Texas late this week and into the weekend, which MAY bring more humidity, clouds and some sea-breeze showers. Right now the chances are too low...

3M Open: North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III set to tee it up as a pro on the PGA Tour, with his mom on his bag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

Charlynn Capan was meant to be a fill-in caddie. Her son, Frankie Capan III, was in the early stages of the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying process last fall and needed someone to carry his bag until another caddie could pick up the duties.Charlynn caddied for Frankie a few times in the past. She toted the bag for Frankie on an annual basis at a kids regional event in Port St. Lucia, Fla., for three consecutive years when Frankie was younger. The results, per Frankie — two victories and a runner-up finish.Not too shabby.Charlynn was also on the bag when Frankie reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 Western Amateur. The duo combined to win a U.S. amateur qualifier. So surely Charlynn could handle helping her son navigate pre-qualifying stages.Charlynn Capan playfully holds her son, Frankie, by his legs when Frankie was a child. Frankie Capan will tee it up at this week’s 3M Open, with Charlynn serving as his caddie. (Courtesy of Frankie Capan)Sure enough, he breezed through that. Ch...

Appeals court revives victim’s lawsuit over sexual abuse by former South St. Paul teacher

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

A woman who says she was groomed and sexually assaulted at school by her former South St. Paul teacher can pursue legal claims against the school district, an appeals court panel ruled Monday.The anonymous woman sued the district in June 2020, but Dakota County District Judge David L. Knutson last year dismissed the case.A panel of three appellate judges on Monday overturned that decision, finding in a nonprecedential opinion that a reasonable jury could conclude the school district is liable for the woman’s abuse. The case now returns to the trial court.The lawsuit is one of two negligence cases against South St. Paul Public Schools involving sexual abuse by former teacher Aric Babbitt and his husband, Matthew Deyo.The other case, involving a male victim and abuse that took place in a hotel and a cabin but not at school, also was dismissed by the district court judge, but the appeals court in March affirmed that decision. The judges in that case said the school district could not h...

Five storylines as the Vikings open training camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

A good amount of Vikings players already have arrived at TCO Performance Center in Eagan for training camp.The group already on campus is headlined by the quarterback room of Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.The rest of the veterans report on Tuesday with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell scheduled to talk to reporters that day.There are a lot of question marks as the Vikings try to replicate their success from last season. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on in training camp:What comes next for Danielle Hunter?It appears the Vikings are still at a stalemate with star pass rusher Danielle Hunter. He doesn’t have a contract beyond this season — he’s set to make $5.5 million for 2023 — and it’s clear he won’t step on the field for the Vikings without a longer commitment. It unclear if the 28-year-old Hunter plans to show up for training camp this week. He will be fined on a daily basis if he’s not pres...

Driver killed in Andover head-on crash ID’d

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

A driver killed after crashing his SUV head on into a pickup truck last week in Andover has been identified as a Brooklyn Park man.The wreck happened near the intersection of Round Lake Boulevard Northwest and 174th Avenue Northwest just after 3 p.m. Wednesday. The driver who died was 40-year-old Jim Fong Xiong, the Anoka County sheriff’s office said Monday.Xiong was headed south on Round Lake Boulevard in his sport utility vehicle when he crossed into the northbound lane and struck a pickup truck driven by a 40-year-old man from Andover, the sheriff’s office said.Xiong later was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The other driver sustained minor injuries.This crash remains under investigation.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Driver dies in head-on crash in Andover Crime & Public Safety | Motorist charged in Columbia Heights deadly pedestrian crash Crime & Public Safety | Suspected drunk driver hits two pedestrians in C...

FEMA funding to clean up flood mess

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- July's extreme flooding left one dead and parts of the state in need of major reconstruction. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use a program known as “public assistance” to provide New York with disaster relief. Public Assistance is a reimbursement program that gives federal dollars to communities to recover from disasters. The following counties will be using the program to help with debris removal, repairs to buildings, infrastructure and more: Clinton, Dutchess, Essex, Hamilton, Ontario, Orange, Putnam and Rockland. Senator James Skoufis’ district occupies Hudson Valley where much of the floods happened. Thousands lose power amid Capital Region outages He said the aftermath of the floods was so bad some of his constituents had to stay in a homeless shelter, "There was really incredibly large and devastating damage, for example roads being washed away. The roads weren’t just flooded, the roads no longer exist in some places, they’re gone, I me...

Women recover from major car crash in Niskayuna

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:22 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A major car crash in Niskayuna back in April sent two women to Albany Medical Center with traumatic injuries, followed by months of rehab at the Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Their healing journey was long, but rewarding, and they are sharing their tale of recovery. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! 82-year-old Ginny Corsi of Boulder, Colorado wheeled herself around the Schenectady Center Monday with a smile on her face, cracking jokes and showing off her wheelchair driving skills. When asked to recall the day she and her partner, Mary, were involved in a crash on their way to the airport after visiting family in the Capital Region, her mood shifted."Oh, that day. I was coming from my grandson’s basketball tournament. My daughter’s driving, we’re on Route 7, and out of nowhere comes a car straight at us in our lane," Ginny said. "The next thing I remember is, 48 hours later I wok...