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Illinois Red Cross volunteers prepare to head south, aide in Mississippi, Alabama tornado relief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

(AP) — With at least 25 people dead in Mississippi, tornadoes that ravaged parts of the Deep South overnight were the deadliest in the state in more than a decade, according to National Weather Service records.By comparison, 31 people died in Mississippi in April 2011 during tornadoes that tore through several states, mostly in the southeastern U.S., weather service meteorologist Chris Outler said Saturday. Alabama was hit hardest during that so-called “super outbreak” of hundreds of twisters that killed more than 320 people and caused an estimated $12 billion in damage.Just a month later, another deadly twister ripped through Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people. Outler, in Las Vegas, called 2011 “the headline year for tornadoes for the last 20 years or so."The sheriff's office in Morgan County, Alabama, reported one storm-related death on Saturday, bringing the overall total during overnight storms to at least 26. Family seeks tips after woman with disabilities goes mi...

FAA nominee drops out after Republicans question qualifications

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The Federal Aviation Administration has gone nearly a year without a Senate-confirmed administrator. Now, the president's nominee has dropped out after staunch opposition from senators who said he was unqualified.Over the weekend, Phil Washington withdrew as the Biden nominee for administrator of the FAA as Republicans, like Senator Ted Cruz, campaigned against Washington’s nomination -- saying Washington lacked the necessary experience to lead the FAA.“I think every member of this committee knows that Mr. Washington is not qualified for the position,” Sen. Cruz said.During a hearing, Washington said he has not served as a military pilot, commercial airline pilot or an air traffic controller when asked by Cruz.Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) further questioned the nominee on “the six types of special use airspace that protect this national security that appear on FAA charts,” to which Washington said he could not answer the question.Without the needed support, Sen. Maria...

Nashville school shooter ID'd as 28-year-old woman: Here's what we know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The shooter who opened fire at a Nashville private school has been identified as a 28-year-old Nashville woman, Police Chief John Drake confirmed Monday afternoon. Drake said the woman, Audrey Hale, identifies as transgender and was also believed to have been a student at The Covenant School, the small Christian school where officers say she killed six people. Hale allegedly entered the building by shooting through a side door, Drake noted, adding that the shooting was targeted. The shooter was armed with two “assault-style” weapons — a rifle and a pistol — as well as a handgun, authorities said. At least two of them were believed to have been obtained legally in the Nashville area.Hale was shot and killed by police minutes after they arrived on scene, Drake said. FBI data shows why female suspect makes Covenant School shooting unusual When police entered the school's first story, they heard gunshots coming from the second floor, police spokesperson Don ...

Report: Rodney Terry named Texas Longhorns head basketball coach after Elite 8 run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above is from KXAN's coverage of Texas in the NCAA Tournament.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Interim head coach, no longer.After leading the Texas Longhorns to their first Elite Eight since 2008, Rodney Terry is now the permanent head coach, according to multiple sources. KXAN is working to confirm the hiring with Texas Athletics and when they'll officially announce it.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 Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Terry's contract is for five years and he'll earn $3 million per year.Terry, who began the year in his second season as associate head coach, was named the acting head coach following Chris Beard's arrest and suspension Dec. 12, 2022 after he was charged with felony domestic violence. He was elevated to interim head coach when the university fired Beard on Jan. 5, and he was given a pay raise from $500,000 to $1.2 million...

Multiple injuries after Sunday shooting in east Austin park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Multiple people were injured after a shooting at a popular east Austin park on Sunday.The Austin Police Department told KXAN officers were called to the intersection of Nash Hernandez Sr. Road and Chicon Street at 6:39 p.m., located next to Chicano Park.APD said three people were injured and are expected to survive, but no arrests have yet been made.People living nearby provided an audio recording of the shooting to KXAN. Dozens of rounds being fired off can be heard as people yell in the background."People were jumping the curbs, running on the grass, kids running, moms and dads and all you hear is a whole bunch of shots," said a man who lives in the neighborhood. Man arrested after shooting at Chicano Park Easter celebration, police looking for 2 others On Monday, families could be seen using the playground and baseball fields, but people living nearby said Sunday was a chaotic scene."One of our kids came in from outside and saying they had heard a lot of loud ba...

Texas baseball enters national rankings after sweep of Texas Tech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With its sweep of previously No. 14 Texas Tech last weekend, the Texas baseball team entered the national rankings.The Longhorns are now No. 21 in the country according to D1Baseball.com following their 14th consecutive win Sunday, powered by a Garret Guillemette walk-off solo home run, to go 3-0 against the Red Raiders at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.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/newslettersIt's the first time the publication has put the Longhorns in its top 25 rankings. It dropped Texas Tech eight spots to No. 22.Baseball America also included the Longhorns in its rankings for the first time this season and slotted them at No. 19. The publication moved the Red Raiders down four spots to No. 20.The Longhorns face Texas A&M on Tuesday in College Station, and the Aggies fell out of both polls after getting swept by No. 12 Tennessee. Texas travels to No. 17 Oklahoma ...

Callahan's General Store owner passes away at age 93

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Callahan's General Store, a south Austin institution, is mourning the passing of owner Murray Callahan, family members confirmed to KXAN. Murray's daughter-in-law, Denise Callahan, said he passed away Saturday at 93 years old."He was a much loved Austin fixture at the family store and beyond," she said in an email to KXAN.In a Facebook tribute Saturday to Murray, Callahan's staff recognized the legions of customers "happily greeted, eagerly helped, and sincerely thanked" by Murray. In an obituary shared with KXAN, Murray's family reflected on his 40-plus-year dedication to serving customers within the agriculture community.Callahan's General Store, a south Austin institution, is mourning the passing of owner Murray Callahan, family members confirmed to KXAN. Murray's daughter-in-law, Denise Callahan, said he passed away on Saturday at 93 years old. (Courtesy: Callahan's General Store)Callahan's General Store, a south Austin institution, is mourning the passing of own...

Texas universities, colleges respond to rise of ChatGPT use on campuses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With increasing use and familiarity with the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT, some Texas colleges are looking at the technology's impact on their campuses. Several Texas higher education institutions told KXAN they became aware of ChatGPT in late 2022 and began looking at its on-campus use at the start of the 2023 spring semester. ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, creates responses to the user's prompts and questions. RELATED: Texas may create 7-person artificial intelligence advisory council Art Markman, the vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, said the university is focusing on using new tools like ChatGPT to learn and teach most effectively rather than focusing on finding students who are cheating. "I think when a tool comes along, like ChatGPT, initially everybody's concern is 'Is this going to destroy our ability to teach?' Markman said. "But very quickly we discovered no, actually, it's a tool that could b...

Round Rock ISD student earns perfect ACT score

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock High School junior Emaan Chhatriwala earned a perfect ACT composite score this year — joining the ranks of fewer than 0.25% of ACT participants who walk away with a top score.Of 1.34 million Class of 2022 students who took the ACT, only 3,376 earned a perfect score, according to an ACT news release. The exam comprises English, math, reading and science sections, each scored between 1-36. A student's resulting composition score is calculated by averaging all four sections' scores together."Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement," ACT CEO Janet Godwin said in a release. "A student's exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead." PAST COVERAGE: Round Rock ISD students launch nonprofit to support Central Texas refugees Chhatriwala's high school accomplishments don't only extend to the classroom. KXAN reported back in December that he...

Letters: Little Free Libraries affect the lives of real people in St. Paul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:58:25 GMT

Amend and adaptRegarding the news report “Little Free Library may close its door on Selby”:It may be “little” and its books may be “free,” but these words in no way diminish the influence and rich treasures a Little Free Library offers. As they have been “planted” and their numbers have increased in St. Paul from over a decade ago, Little Free Libraries have captured the hearts of most people, and the ire of a few. Occasionally a complaint is presented to our City Council objecting to the placement of an LFL; usually when it is on a public boulevard instead of private property.Case in point is a Selby Avenue LFL on a pedestrian-unfriendly street with heavy vehicle traffic. LFL steward and property owner Greg Trentman appeared before the City Council last week to argue the placement of registered LFL #96307 (that’s 96,307 registered LFLs world-wide, as of our COVID years). According to the March 22 Pioneer Press article, Greg has until ...