Texas takes legal action to save Fairfield Lake State Park

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

Texas takes legal action to save Fairfield Lake State Park FORT WORTH (Texas Tribune) — In a new attempt to save Fairfield Lake State Park, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department filed a petition to condemn and seize the 5,000-acre property south of Dallas through eminent domain.The petition was filed in Freestone County District Court Friday morning, after months of unsuccessful negotiations with Dallas-based developer Todd Interests, which plans to turn the former park into a high-end gated subdivision.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wrote in an email that this step was “necessary to pursue acquisition at fair market value to preserve Fairfield Lake State Park and Fairfield Lake for all Texans.”A spokesperson for Todd Interests said Shawn Todd, the company’s CEO, was unavailable to comment. In a previous interview, Todd said his company purchased the land legally and he is not selling. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas Parks and Wildlife votes to limit future use of eminent domain after Fairfield Lake saga Eminent domain experts sa...

This adorable bird could secretly live in your house

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

This adorable bird could secretly live in your house ATHENS, La. (KTAL/KMSS) - During September, a few waterfowl species, like Blue-winged Teal, will begin to make their way into the Bayou State for the winter, along with tons of shorebirds. Most migratory bird species that nest in the state will begin their yearly fall exodus, with most heading to Central or South America. And one of the coolest fall migration phenomena we can experience in Louisiana is that of the Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica.The Chimney Swift is a bird many of you know. Commonly but erroneously referred to in the South as "Chimney Sweeps," Chimney Swifts do live in chimneys. There, they spy on you and drink your milk when you leave the house. But you might ask, "What did they do before chimneys?" And were they just called "Swifts" then? Regardless of what they were then, they nested in hollow trees or caves, but they soon began adapting to chimneys after European colonization. We know of chimney nesting records as early as 1672, and by the 1790s, Chimney Swifts...

New Texas Law forces DUI offenders to pay child support for victims' orphaned kids

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

New Texas Law forces DUI offenders to pay child support for victims' orphaned kids Central Texas (Fox 44) - A new Texas law will force drunk drivers who cause the death of parents to pay for child support. Come this Friday, Sept. 1st, House Bill 393 or 'Bentley's law' -- goes into effect.The law is named after a young boy who lost his parents after a drunk driver in Missouri caused a fatal accident. It's an initiative to crack down on drunk driving. Central Texas Mothers Against Drunk driving, or 'M.A.D.D', says it's about both prevention and accountability.Jacqueline Shaw says M.A.D.D. is educated and ready to assist anyone who is impacted by the passing of House Bill 393."To see them go through this, losing a family member and having to go through the criminal justice process. Then on top of the financial strain, it is a lot because there's not a lot of resources out there," Shaw.When a deadly crash happens at the hands of an intoxicated driver, many children are left without parents-- and a support system. Now, the state of Texas has its back. Bentley's law wil...

Twins’ Byron Buxton pulled from rehab game with Saints because sore knee

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

Twins’ Byron Buxton pulled from rehab game with Saints because sore knee Twins star Byron Buxton was removed early from a rehab game with the Triple-A Saints for precautionary reasons Friday with a sore knee.Buxton played the outfield for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday, spending seven innings in center field. Thursday was a scheduled day off and Friday he got two at-bats before exiting the game.Though he is on the injured list for a hamstring strain suffered at the beginning of last month, Buxton has been kept out of the outfield because of the right knee that flared up.Prior to Wednesday, he had spent the whole season serving as the Twins’ designated hitter as a result of the issue, which impacted him last season to the point where he had a season-ending surgery.The Twins had hoped to bring him back from the injured list as an occasional center fielder, getting him into the outfield a couple times a week. But that plan is dependent on his response to how he felt after playing it while rehabbing with the Saints.“Have to take it one...

German Shepherd successfully sneaks into Metallica concert at SoFi Stadium 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

German Shepherd successfully sneaks into Metallica concert at SoFi Stadium  Thousands of two-legged fans gathered at SoFi Stadium on Aug. 25 to see Metallica perform live. They were joined by one four-legged fan.A German Shepherd named Storm snuck out of her home near the venue and made her way to the gig all by herself, the band said. A German Shepherd named Storm snuck out of her home near SoFi Stadium and made her way to a Metallica concert all by herself, the band said. (X/@metallica)“After a full night of taking in the show with her Metallica family, Storm was safely reunited with her actual family the next day,” Metallica said on social media. “She had a great time listening to her favorite songs ‘Barx Æterna,’ ‘Master of Puppies’ and ‘The Mailman That Never Comes.’” The band advised fans to not bring their pets to their M72 World Tour but did acknowledge that Storm “sure did have her day.” It probably isn't a good idea to bring your furry friend to this weekend's Beyoncé concerts at SoFi Stadium either.

“Making them laugh and making them dream.” 157th Highland Games and Gathering returns to Bay Area

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

“Making them laugh and making them dream.” 157th Highland Games and Gathering returns to Bay Area Miri Robinson, sword in hand, approached her opponent.As her adversary, clad in a long green tunic, brandished his wooden blade, 9-year-old Miri pinned the weapon to the ground, disarming her enemy before lunging forward with her saber, completing the final move from her sword fighting lesson Saturday at the Highland Gathering and Games in Pleasanton.Asked if she felt like a warrior during her lesson, Miri, who lives in Contra Costa County, confidently replied: “Yeah, well, I already felt like a warrior.”This year’s 157th Annual Highland Gathering and Games, which continues Sunday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, celebrates Scottish traditions and sports over the Labor Day weekend and is the longest-standing event of its kind outside of Scotland in North America.This year’s festival features games and exhibitions, including Scottish heavy athletics, highland dancing, sheepdog trials, birds of prey demonstrations, whiskey tasting and vendors selling traditio...

American Athletic Conference targets Army as football-only member to replace SMU, AP sources say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

American Athletic Conference targets Army as football-only member to replace SMU, AP sources say The American Athletic Conference has been in contact with Army as it looks for a replacement for Atlantic Coast Conference-bound SMU, two people with direct knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Saturday.The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the AAC was not making public its internal strategy.ESPN was first to report the American’s interest in adding Army as a conference member.AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco has spoken with Army athletic director Mike Buddie about a football-only membership, and the school has shown interest in joining after almost 20 years as an independent in that sport, the people said.Army competes primarily in the Patriot League for its other sports.Army’s rival, Navy, is member of the American Athletic Conference.Army and Navy play the second week of December annually, a standalone game for major college football the week after conference championship games have been played.The two people who spoke to the AP...

Organizadores piden a los asistentes al festival Burning Man que conserven agua y víveres luego de que fuertes lluvias dejaran a las personas sin poder salir del desierto de Nevada

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

Organizadores piden a los asistentes al festival Burning Man que conserven agua y víveres luego de que fuertes lluvias dejaran a las personas sin poder salir del desierto de Nevada (CNN) — A decenas de miles de personas que asisten al festival Burning Man en el desierto de Nevada se les pide que conserven alimentos, agua y combustible mientras se refugian en el desierto de Black Rock después de que una fuerte tormenta azotara el área, dijeron los organizadores del festival.La entrada y el aeropuerto de Black Rock City, un área remota en el noroeste de Nevada, permanecen cerrados y no se permite entrar o salir de la ciudad, excepto vehículos de emergencia, dijeron los organizadores en X, la plataforma de redes sociales antes conocida como Twitter.“¡No viajes a Black Rock City! El acceso a la ciudad está cerrado por el resto del evento y serás enviado de regreso”, se lee en un comunicado.La ciudad espera más lluvias y tormentas eléctricas el domingo antes de las 5 p.m. hora local, dijeron los organizadores en una actualización del pronóstico del tiempo.Noticia en desarrollo…The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Disc...

Zac Larrier rushes for two touchdowns, passes for another in Air Force’s 42-7 win in season opener

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

Zac Larrier rushes for two touchdowns, passes for another in Air Force’s 42-7 win in season opener AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) — Zac Larrier ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, leading Air Force to a 42-7 victory over Robert Morris 42-7 in a season opener on Saturday.Air Force has won 16 straight season openers. the third-longest active streak in FBS behind Ohio State with 23 and Alabama 21.The Falcons led 28-0 at halftime. Larrier only threw three passes, all in the first half, completing two, including an 84-yard score to a wide-open Jared Roznos over the middle. Larrier also had a 26-yard rushing touchdown and added a 4-yard score in the third quarter before giving way to four backups.Cade Harris and Owen Burk added 3- and 27-yard rushing scores with Jensen Jones making it 42-0 with a 7-yard rush in the fourth quarter. Robert Morris got its lone touchdown on a 1-yard pass from Anthony Chiccitt to Chaese Jackson. Air Force outgained the Colonials 266-53 in the first half and finished with a 469-156 advantage while holding the Colonials to 43 yards rushing.___AP coll...

Northern Illinois beats Boston College 27-24 in overtime

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:19:15 GMT

Northern Illinois beats Boston College 27-24 in overtime BOSTON (AP) — Rocky Lombardi scored on a 1-yard, quick-snap quarterback sneak to end the first overtime and Northern Illinois recovered after blowing a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead to beat Boston College 27-24 on Saturday.It’s the second time in three seasons that the Huskies have started their season by beating an Atlantic Coast Conference team, having also beaten Georgia Tech 22-21 in the 2021 opener.Lombardi completed 13 passes for 165 yards and Antario Brown scored a pair of touchdowns — one running and one on a pass from running back Justin Lynch. But after Brock Lampe’s 1-yard run gave the Huskies a 21-7 lead, BC backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos led the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns to tie it. After BC managed a field goal in overtime, Lampe hauled in a one-handed catch on a crossing route for a 16-yard gain. Gavin Williams ran 8 yards to the 1 and then, with BC still getting its defense ready, Lombardi got under center and followed him over the goal line.The Eagl...