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Downtown Austin businesses pitch in to hire private security

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In efforts to deter things like illegal drug activity and unruly behavior near Sixth and Brazos Street downtown, a group of businesses - including Stream Realty, the Littlefield Building and The Driskill - have hired private security guards to patrol the sidewalks, according to Stream's attorney Richard Suttle."The best news I've heard in four years," Jesse Fortney, owner of Gnar Bar, said. Gnar Bar is near the intersection where security guards are patrolling. IN-DEPTH: Challenges of hiring private security for downtown Austin businesses The businesses hired the guards from Next Level Security. The guards patrol the intersection of Sixth and Brazos from the corner to the alleys. KXAN spoke with one of the guards off camera, who said their primary goal is to break up large groups of people experiencing homelessness who gather on the street. The Austin Police Department said it has been made of "several areas where quality-of-life crimes are occurring," and such di...

APD searching for suspect accused of assaulting older woman in south Austin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help identifying a suspect accused of assaulting an older woman in south Austin last month, according to a news release from APD.Shortly before 10 a.m., June 14, officers responded to the 2500 block of Wallingwood Drive in reference to the assault, the release said.The suspect assaulted the woman when he was told he was trespassing at an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting on Wallingwood Drive, according to police.The Austin Police Department seeks the public's help in locating a suspect accused of assaulting an older woman in south Austin. | Courtesy Austin Police DepartmentThe suspect is described as:White man30-40 years of age6’ tallThin build, approximately 150 lbsShort/shaved dirty blonde hairLast seen wearing a long shirt and dark pantsAnyone with any information should contact APD's Child Abuse unit at (512) 974-6880. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by ...

St. Paul may have $6 million in funding for downtown Pedro Park

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

In downtown St. Paul, a long-stalled park project could benefit from a domino funding effect following a major cash infusion from the state.When the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, or DEED, recently smiled on the prospect of funding a new public recreation center in St. Paul’s North End, the $6 million state grant created a bit of a ripple effect, freeing up some money already allocated for the North End project from the city’s general fund and capital improvement bonds.And what kind of parks project could use $6 million? In two words: Pedro Park.St. Paul’s Capital Improvement Budget Committee is scheduled to meet Aug. 14, and two back-to-back items on the published agenda call for approving budget changes that would shift $6 million in construction and development funding from the North End Community Center — which is already fully funded — over to the long-stalled construction of Pedro Park off 10th and Robert streets.The ...

St. Cloud lawmaker charged with DWI after July arrest in east-central Minnesota

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

A St. Cloud lawmaker has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor DWI in connection with his July arrest in east-central Minnesota.State Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, will appear in Kanabec County District Court on Sept. 6.Wolgamott faces one fourth-degree DWI charge and one DWI charge for having a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.08.Minnesota state Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud (Minnesota House of Representatives)According to a Monday statement from the Kanabec County attorney’s office, Wolgamott’s BAC was measured at 0.09.Just before his July 7 arrest, Kanabec County dispatchers received a complaint involving a motorist drinking in a liquor store parking lot, according to the State Patrol incident report. At about 6 p.m., a trooper located the car on Highway 23 in Arthur Township.The car appeared to be weaving within its lane, according to an incident report, and the trooper made a traffic stop and Wolgamott was identified as the driver.Wolgamott was placed u...

On location: Movies filmed in Alberta

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsWhen it comes to iconic filming locations in North America, Los Angeles and New York City are often the first cities that come to mind.Hollywood has been the longstanding epicentre for film production, often thought to be synonymous with the film industry at large, with New York city home to some of the most iconoclastic, culture-defining entertainment of the past century. In recent decades, the Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver have become beacons of indie film and even larger scale productions for both television and film, and while southern Alberta has gained quite a bit of traction as a desirable production location, the region has been featured in some surprising blockbuster hits, and Hollywood classics over the years.There have been plenty of well-known projects that have filmed in southern Alberta in recent years, particularly in Kananaskis country, a desirable backdrop notably visible in movies such as The Revenant, Bourne Legacy, Incep...

Strengthening property rights part of the answer to Canada’s housing crunch

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

Housing is a big issue for Canadians. Even though house prices fell slightly after the pandemic, it’s still tough for young families to find and afford a home.A poll from Ipsos in the spring showed that about 63 out of every 100 Canadians who don’t own a house have given up on ever getting one. Almost seven out of 10 said that only rich people can afford to own homes.However, many Canadians may not understand how property rights – or, in many cases, the lack thereof – play a part in the housing shortage, and how robust property rights can help alleviate the problem.The recently released Canadian Property Rights Index from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy identified how local laws that control how people can use their land are a major cause for concern across Canada. These laws, known as ‘regulatory takings’, can be very limiting. Regulatory or ‘constructive’ takings refer to local land use or zoning laws that limit how individuals may use their land.Many jurisdictions, province...

Battle of the Bands lineup announced for Coaldale’s Summer Fest celebration

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsEven small towns have a treasure trove of musical gems to be discovered.This year will be the first year the Town is hosting a Battle of the Bands since the rebranding of Coaldale’s main summer celebration event officially launched in 2022.New in 2023, the Battle of the Bands competition is bringing together talented musicians from Coaldale and southern Alberta to compete for the chance to be named Summer Fest’s first Battle of the Band’s winning act. The winners will also receive a recording session and performance video sponsored by Cottonwood Records, and a chance to perform in front of the community and panel of esteemed judges. Battle of the Bands will begin at 2 p.m. at the ATCO stage on Aug. 12, along 18 Street just off of 20 Avenue.The judging panel includes drummer and manager for the Chevelles, Don Plett, owner of Lethbridge Music Academy, James Zack, long-time musician Kelly Kimchuk, and the legendary, Juno-award winning Ron Sakomoto.Sakamo...

Sugar beet farmer says no-till grow trial worth repeating

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsSugar beets which were seeded directly into barley stubble have proven to be a successful venture for one farmer in Lethbridge County.Gary Vucurevich farms in Lethbridge County and shared his findings on a no-till sugar beet trial, presented on July 27 as part of Farming Smarter’s Rolling Innovation Tour, a bus tour which transports participants from site to site, providing direct access to various agricultural experts and producers in the Lethbridge County region.Gary Vucurevich said this year’s sugar beets “look very good. Sugar beets like warm dry weather, and we’ve had that in abundance so far, and I don’t see any end in sight for a while,” adding, “the sugar beets are doing well provided we can get enough water on them and I think so far we have, and hopefully we can get a little bit of a reprieve from the heat so we can save some water.”Vucurevich presented on a no-till experiment his team did on a field of sugar beets, and although it was the f...

County approves subdivisions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsLethbridge County council approved three subdivision applications last week.During their Aug. 3 meeting, three separate subdivision applications were presented to council.The first, Subdivision Application #2023-0-075 – Bezooyen – NE1/4 23-08-19-W4M, would split a title of 18.6 acres into two titles. The land in question is located two-and-a-half miles southeast of the Town of Coaldale, on the southside of Highway 512. The applicant wishes to revive a subdivision proposal from about ten years ago that was approved but not finalized. The land is proposed to be split into a 7.2 and a 11.4 acres sections for county residential use.The proposed smaller parcel contains an existing yard with a dwelling and other improvements, while the proposed larger parcel is vacant. While there were hog barns located on the latter portion, they have been removed, and the applicant will need to provide confirmation from the NRCB that the hog facility has been decom...

Schow announces Province will not pursue bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:58 GMT

Southern Alberta NewspapersMinister of Tourism and Sport, and MLA for the Cardston-Siksika riding, Joseph Schow made a statement on the decision for the Province to withdraw their support for the 2030 Commonwealth Bid.Since receiving his mandate letter from the Premier in July, Minister Schow did not confirm whether or not a referendum would be held on the matter of pursuing a bid for the 2030 event, but told reporters the bid would, “need to make sense” for Alberta taxpayers.In a statement issued Aug. 3, Schow said, “Alberta has a successful history of hosting major, international multi-sport games in our province and any proposal to host major games is considered with the interests of Alberta taxpayers at top of mind.”According to the Province, current bid estimates show hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games could cost as much as $2.68 billion. Citing the corporate sponsorship model place and “limited broadcast revenues,” for the event, Schow announced the Province had opted to not ...