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Bastrop film studios to open in late 2024, CEO said

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A massive film studio project in Bastrop is moving ahead, with the project's developer estimating the site's first part to open next year.Alton Butler, CEO and owner of Line 204, said the nearly 600-acre project is scheduled to finish in December 2024 with some grounds opening before then. Details of the project were first shared in 2021, and Butler's plans have only grown from there. The development along the Colorado River will have stages, office space, warehouses, roadways for filming and more. The entitlements step of the project is complete, and the site is in the grading process. Butler said construction will be in phases with the first 28-acre section having production offices and studios."It's really a long project with a lot of big projects inside of it," Butler said. He said the studios will be a self-sustaining unit with nearly everything needed for film production — including grip and lighting equipment, truck rentals and a working ranch.Butler said wha...

We Are Blood cites 'historic patient need' in donor call

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 12, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We Are Blood is seeking additional blood donors amid a "historic patient need" exacerbated by ongoing blood supply shortages, officials said in a release.In August, We Are Blood reported its highest local patient need for transfusions in the organization's history, with 9% more red cells -- or 386 units -- needed compared to August 2022.“Blood shortages across the country mirror our struggles here in Central Texas with protecting our community’s blood supply,” We Are Blood's Vice President of Community Engagement Nick Canedo said in the release. “Donations are urgently needed at We Are Blood as we experience record high local patient need and decreased donations.”Officials said the organization needs a minimum of 200 donors every day to help meet transfusion needs at its partnering hospital and medical centers in its 10-county coverage scope. We Are Blood works as the singular pro...

Walz announces special election to fill vacant House seat in Mendota Heights

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

A special election will be held on Dec. 5 to fill a vacancy in the Minnesota House of Representatives following the resignation of Rep. Ruth Richardson, according to an announcement by Gov. Tim Walz.State Rep. Ruth Richardson of Mendota Heights. (Courtesy of the candidate)Richardson represented House District 52B, which covers Mendota Heights in Dakota County, and was selected as CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States last year.Although Richardson initially planned to hold both positions, turmoil surrounding future abortion access in the region caused her to reconsider, according to an interview she did with Minnesota Public Radio.“It has been the honor of a lifetime to have been elected three times to serve the people of MN House District 52B,” Richardson wrote in a Sept. 1 statement on social media. “I’m filled with gratitude for my family, my community and my colleagues.”Since being elected to the House in 2018, Richardson worked on several p...

Minnesota legislators help Black business owners with letter-writing campaign

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

Black business owners gathered in St. Paul last weekend to write personal letters to members of Congress about the obstacles their businesses face — and some Minnesota lawmakers showed up to help.DFL Senate Majority leader Sen. Kari Dziedzic and Sen. Judy Seeberger were in attendance Saturday at Flava Cafe to help business owners craft their messages, which will be read on Wednesday.Sheletta Brundidge, who organized the letter-writing event, will hand-deliver each of the letters to Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Dean Phillips and Rep. Ilhan Omar in Washington, D.C., when she is recognized as a finalist for a national advocacy award.Brundidge, the founder and CEO of podcasting platform and production company ShelettaMakesMeLaugh and the organizer behind the first Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol, will be recognized at the National Small Business Association’s Annual Advocate of Year Award luncheon on Wednesday.“Black entrepreneurs are skilled in running their bus...

Meet Austin Schlottmann, the Vikings’ starting center if Garrett Bradbury can’t go

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

Austin Schlottmann started a handful of games for the Vikings in the final month of last season with starting center Garrett Bradbury nursing a back injury. That experience should give Schlottmann some confidence if his number is called by the Vikings in Thursday’s primetime game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.Though he hasn’t officially been ruled out, Bradbury is once again dealing with back injury, and that isn’t a good sign for the Vikings moving forward.He left last Sunday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the second possession and did not return.  Asked if Bradbury’s back injury was the same thing that plagued him last season, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that it is at least similar.“I don’t want to speculate on exactly the pinpoint area,” O’Connell said. “We’re still working through that.”If Bradbury can’t play this week, and it seems to be trending in that direction, Schlott...

MN Veterans Affairs commissioner Herke to retire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

Larry Herke, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, is retiring due to an ALS diagnosis.Larry Herke, Department of Veterans AffairsHerke, who was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz in January of 2019, had previously served for more than 30 years as a member of the U.S. Army and Minnesota National Guard. He also served as state director of the Office of Enterprise Sustainability, helping agencies to develop sustainability planning.His last day as commissioner will be Sept. 22. Deputy Commissioner Brad Lindsay will work as a temporary commissioner until a permanent successor is appointed.Herke, who is from Mankato, said in a statement Tuesday he was saddened to leave the post.“I am saddened to announce my retirement from my position as Commissioner for Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs due to my ALS diagnosis,” he said. “It was an honor to serve veterans and their family members in my role as commissioner and I am grateful to Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor...

Extradition process underway for Niskayuna man 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A Niskayuna man was arraigned on Tuesday facing extradition to Virginia for a murder case that dates back to 1994. Virginia’s Fairfax County Police Department was advised that Stephan Smerk waived his right to an extradition hearing.The 30 year old cold case arrest was described as “justice finally being served” by Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis on Monday at a press conference. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! “Doggedness is a powerful trait our cold case detectives have that trait in spades. I thank them for their diligence and it’s because of their diligence, it’s because of their doggedness, that we are here today making this important announcement,” said Davis.Smerk is being held without bail while the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office awaits the arrival of his handlers from Virginia.  Investigator John Madden, with the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, says he’s been in commu...

DeWitt: Missouri teams 'all on the same page' in new sports betting push

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A coalition of Missouri’s six professional sports teams has backed a new effort to legalize sports betting in the Show Me State. The coalition filed four ballot initiative petitions that address "sports wagering" to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office late last week. The coalition consists of the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, CITY SC and three Kansas City teams. The petitions call for changes within the Missouri State Constitution to legalize sports betting by Dec. 31, 2025. The coalition wants a plan that would allow sports betting at sites run through their sports teams and Missouri's casinos. Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase Through an initiative petition, sports betting could potentially end up on Missouri ballots by November 2024. For that to happen, Ashcroft's office must approve an initiative summary, then supporters would need to gather roughly 180,000 signatures by next May to qualify for the ballot deadline.Bil...

Missouri governor appoints appeals court judge to the state Supreme Court

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

Kelly C. Broniec, chief judge of the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis, was named Tuesday to the Missouri Supreme Court.Republican Gov. Mike Parson announced the choice during a news conference in Jefferson City. Broniec will replace the retiring George W. Draper III, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2011. Parson appointed Broniec to the state appeals court in 2020.“Her experience and perspective ensures that she will be a balanced and fair judge,” Parson said. “And we are confident that her appointment will help reshape and strengthen the Missouri Supreme Court and our judicial system as a whole.”Broniec pledged that she "will not be attempting to make laws. I will interpret them and apply them to the facts in each case in determining if there were prejudicial legal errors made in the cases that come before us." Challengers seek rewrite of Missouri abortion-rights ballot measures, calling them misleading Parson will have another oppor...

Crews battle raging structure fire in downtown L.A.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:14 GMT

Firefighters in downtown Los Angeles are battling a massive fire at a three-story commercial building.Crews responded to the 300 block of East 4th Street just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon for a "heavy fire involving dense storage" on the third floor of a 5,000-square-foot building," LAFD said.A fire burns in a multi-story building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (KTLA)Over 100 firefighters were on the scene of -what is now dubbed- the "4th Street Fire."The three-story commercial building is comprised of masonry construction, LAFD said. The first floor is commercial space and the second and third floors were originally offices.No injuries had been reported as of 2:20 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation. This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.