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'We are still shaken': Teen killed during Florida equestrian competition remembered as rising star

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

VENICE, Fla. (WFLA) — The equestrian community is shaken after a Florida teen was killed in a tragic accident during a competition in Venice this weekend. Hannah Serfass, 15, was riding a horse during an equitation class on Sunday when the horse tripped and "suffered a rotational fall," the United States Equestrian Federation said in a statement."The fall was unrelated to a jumping effort. The EMT responded immediately, and Hannah was transported to Sarasota Memorial where she was pronounced dead. The horse was uninjured in the accident," the statement stated. The Federation went on to say it takes every accident seriously and will be reviewing the incident to learn what can be done to minimize risk and increase safety in equestrian sport.Serfass was a talented equestrian with a bright future ahead. Those who knew the teen described her to Nexstar's WFLA as a fierce and talented athlete.As her teammates, coaches, and others in Sumter County mourn her loss, they're remembering t...

Central Texas 6A, 5A high school baseball bi-district matchups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas high school baseball playoffs begin with bi-district action Thursday as teams push toward state title dreams.In Class 6A Region IV baseball, District 25 and 26 teams face off with No. 3 Westlake and No. 9 Round Rock heading into the playoffs fresh off district titles. The Chaparrals (30-3, 14-2) finished a game ahead of rival Lake Travis for the district crown, and they'll take on Vandegrift in a best-of-3 series starting Thursday. Game 1 will be at Vandegrift with the first pitch at 7:30 p.m. The Vipers finished fourth in District 25 and are 19-13 overall.Round Rock went undefeated in district play and will take on Buda Johnson who finished fourth in District 25. They'll start a best-of-3 series at 7 p.m. Thursday in Round Rock. The Dragons feature 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher Travis Sykora who possesses a 100 mph fastball and is listed as the No. 35 2023 MLB Draft prospect by Baseball America.Here's the bi-district schedules for Class 6A teams in the Aus...

Austin Public Library launches pilot program for Enhanced Library Cards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Public Library launched a pilot program for Enhanced Library Cards (ELC), which will feature the cardholder's photograph that are accepted as a valid form of identification by many local agencies and organizations, according to a news release from the City of Austin. Furthermore, the ELC will serve as a new card option for library users who also might benefit from another form of photo identification, the release said.The ELC is a full-access library card for Austin residents 18 or older, which includes the holder's library card number, photograph, address, date of birth, the expiration date and a scannable barcode, according to the city.The card can be used the same as a standard library card to check out materials at all APL locations, as well as online to access eBooks and other digital resources, the release said. The card is also recognized by many other city departments and local organizations as a valid form of identification or as a supplement wit...

Minnesota Senate considers DFL’s tax-cutting bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

A tax proposal set for a vote in the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday evening calls for a partial elimination of the Social Security income tax and direct payments to taxpayers.The bill backed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor majority in the Senate would return $1.1 billion of the record $17.5 billion surplus as a tax rebate. Senate Taxes Committee Chair Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, said the bill provides a record amount of tax cuts and credits.“The Senate tax bill provides $4 billion in tax relief, the largest tax cut in state history,” she told fellow senators as the chamber took up the bill Tuesday.DetailsChecks would start at $279 — significantly lower than the $1,000 starting point proposed by DFL Gov. Tim Walz. Joint filers would qualify for $558 checks, and all filers would qualify for $56 per dependent up to three. Cutoffs for the checks would be $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for everyone else.Besides the rebate checks, cuts would come in the form of $1.3 billion in child tax c...

Call up to Twins for Louie Varland disrupts family reunion in St. Paul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

CHICAGO — The Varland family was looking forward to a family reunion this week in St. Paul with older son Gus in town on a rehab assignment and younger son Louie scheduled to start for the Triple-A Saints on Wednesday.“That would have been a lot of fun,” Louie said. “Have the whole family out there and hopefully me and Gus would pitch in the same game, but things did not work out that way, obviously.”No, they didn’t.It worked out even better for them.Louie Varland, a North St. Paul High School and Concordia-St. Paul University alum, is instead with the Twins in Chicago and expected to start Wednesday’s game in place of the injured Tyler Mahle. The Twins have not yet placed Mahle on the injured list, but they have announced that he will miss at least the next month as he deals with an elbow injury.That has opened the door for Varland to have an opportunity — potentially an extended one — at the major-league level.“It all depends on who’s healthy, who’s not, what the team needs,” Varl...

For sale: Dreamland Arts theater in St. Paul as well as adjoining house connected by underground tunnel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

For sale in St. Paul’s Midway — the 40-seat Dreamland Arts theater, as well as the current owners’ adjoining single-family home connected by underground tunnel.Kristin Pickering, a broker with Pickering Realty, listed the two properties for sale together on Monday, with a combined asking price of $600,000.“We’re just marketing it at this point to the local arts community, hoping that it can stay as an arts venue of some sort,” said Pickering, who is also based in Hamline-Midway.The two-bedroom, two-bath house has been occupied by theater owners Leslye Orr and Zaraawar “Z” Mistry since 2005, but “it would also be excellent rental property,” she said. “If housing was needed for visiting performers, it would be great for that, or office space.”The 40-seat Dreamland Arts theater in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood is up for sale, as well as the current owners’ adjoining single-family home (shown) connected...

Railroad tracks back in service after Mississippi River derailment in Wisconsin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Railroad tracks damaged after a BNSF Railway freight train derailed in southwestern Wisconsin have been repaired and returned to service, rail and government officials say.BNSF contractors made repairs and reopened the line Saturday, BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent said.“They’ve got that all repaired and they’re at full speed already, running rail overnight,” Craig Thompson, secretary of Wisconsin Department of Transportation, told the La Crosse Tribune.Thursday’s derailment in Crawford County involved two of the train’s three locomotives and 10 cars carrying a variety of freight, including paint and lithium-ion batteries, Kent said. Four railway employees received minor injuries.The Federal Rail Administration is investigating the derailment.Crawford County Emergency Management Specialist Marc Myhre said about 20 BNSF Railway cars were involved.Two cars went into the Mississippi River, but neither contained hazardous materials, Kent said. Some of the containers that de...

Albany County sheriff deputy involved in crash near airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany County Sheriff deputy was involved in a two-car crash near the Albany International Airport on Tuesday.The crash took place around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Albany Shaker Road and Watervliet Shaker Road. The deputy was responding to a report of a stolen vehicle in progress at the airport at the time of the crash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Albany County sheriff said the cruiser's emergency lights were activated as it was making a left-hand turn into the airport when it was hit by another vehicle traveling on Albany Shaker Road. Airbags deployed in both vehicles, and both drivers were taken to the hospital.The investigation is ongoing.

Parolee accused of possessing illegal handgun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A parolee was arrested by Albany police after he was reportedly in possession of an illegal handgun and ran from police.Police received a report of a man with a gun around 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 30 in the area of Clinton Avenue and Quail Street. The man took off running when police arrived but was later arrested on the 300-block of Central Avenue. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The man was identified as 26-year-old Myaire Leigh. Police said he ran through a yard and threw a fanny pack containing a loaded 9mm handgun during the chase.He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, and Trespass.He was arraigned and sent to the Albany County Jail.

Senators fight over control of St. Louis police, prosecutor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:19 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's governor would play a major role in St. Louis policing and prosecution under a bill praised by Republicans as a way to fight crime and criticized by Democrats as an attempt to take away local control from the Black-led city.Debate on the bill, which would give the governor the power to appoint a special prosecutor for five years along with a police board, is expected to last hours Tuesday in the GOP-led Senate.Republican lawmakers are pushing the legislation in the name of fighting crime in St. Louis — a racially diverse, heavily Democratic city long vexed by violent crime. They blame crime on the city's first Black prosecutor, Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, as well as 10 years of local control of the city's police force. 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims “While there are certainly differences of opinions in this chamber as to the causes of violent crime in the city of St. Louis, there can be no doubt that ...