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Man accused of running victim over in 2022 sentenced for murder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Nov. 2 in connection with a north Austin murder.According to Travis County court documents, 38-year-old Isandro Varona-Lopez was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. PAST COVERAGE: APD: Murder suspect in custody after man hit, killed by car The charge was in connection with the death of Bisorquis Pena, whom Varona-Lopez ran over with his vehicle following an argument at an apartment complex near Chevy Chase Drive in June 2022.According to documents, Varona-Lopez had a jail credit of 501 days toward his sentence.

Surveillance footage shows alleged burglar in east Austin neighborhood

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Residents in the University Hills neighborhood of east Austin said they are terrified after multiple burglaries happened nearby, with some reportedly taking place when people were asleep inside.Over the last two weeks and across multiple surveillance cameras, a tall, slim man was captured walking around homes near Loyola Lane and Greensboro Drive. In the footage, he can be seen attempting to unlock backyard fences and open doors.Haley Hensley said it was late at night several days ago when the man broke into her back porch. She said her pets woke her up because of the noise, and that the man tried to enter the home through all of its outside doors."It's terrifying. I haven't slept. Every hour I'm waking up to look at my cameras to check the house," Hensley said.Lorna Torrado also lives in the neighborhood. She said the man has appeared at her home twice but has not stolen anything.Torrado said multiple neighbors have reported valuables being stolen and running into t...

Mexican government says it 'rejects' Texas immigration enforcement bill

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Mexican government reacted Wednesday to the recent passage of the controversial border security bill that would enable Texas state law enforcement officers to enforce immigration law.Mexico wrote in a press release that it "categorically rejects" the Lone Star state's attempt to assume powers currently reserved solely for federal law enforcement. On Tuesday, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 4 — which would make it a state crime for non-citizens to cross into the United States illegally. It’s a power currently only federal law enforcement agents like border patrol have, but the legislation would give any state peace officer the ability to arrest someone who enters Texas illegally or order them to return to the country of origin. The bill requires a formal order from a state judge to force the person to leaved the U.S. and go to Mexico.In a press release originally in Spanish, the Mexican government said the bill would consequently result in the "separation of...

It’s a business trip, but Wild’s Swedes soaking up trip home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

STOCKHOLM — The initial announcement came in April: The Wild would be one of four teams competing in the NHL’s Global Series, with a pair of games in Sweden in November inserted into their busy schedule.The anticipation of the trip has provided something for the team — particularly the Swedes — to look forward to for months now. And now that they’re finally in Stockholm, the team’s Swedish players are embracing the trip back home as best they can.Forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin hail from Karlstad, a mid-sized city a few hours from the capital. Marcus Johansson makes his home there in the offseason, as well.Goaltender Filip Gustavsson’s hometown of Skellefteå is even further away — about eight to nine hours north of Stockholm. Goalie Jesper Wallstedt, the Wild’s first-round draft pick in 2021, whom they brought along with them on the trip, is from Västerås, a city about 65 miles west of Stockholm.While none of the Swedes call the capital city their hometown...

Gophers women’s hockey series at Duluth has NCAA tournament implications

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Despite being only six weeks into the season, the Gophers women’s hockey team is facing a crucial series this weekend when they travel to Duluth for two games against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.The No. 4 Gophers (7-2 overall, 5-2 WCHA) will be tested by the No. 8 Bulldogs (8-2, 6-2), fully aware that the series outcome likely will have postseason implications.“As we look around the country and at how many teams potentially will be selected from the WCHA for the NCAA tournament,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said, “any time you have head-to-head matchups with a top team, they are really important.“We are approaching this weekend as if it is the biggest weekend of the year, because it is.”The only losses to date for both teams came against No. 2 Ohio State. Both teams have two more games against the Buckeyes during the regular season as well as four against No.1Wisconsin, the defending national champion.From an immediate standpoint, this weekend will be a battle for third place in the ...

St. Paul Brewing adds lunch, cocktail menu and THC kombucha

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

We have several pieces of good news to share from St. Paul Brewing this week: The brewery has started serving lunch, has added a daytime happy hour and is rolling out its first-ever cocktail menu.Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and includes a variety of sandwiches, salads, shareable sides, and wood-fired pizzas, including $4 slices during those hours.Poutine at St. Paul Brewing. (Courtesy of St. Paul Brewing)Sandwiches include a walleye po-boy, a giant roast beef sandwich and an Italian sub as well as the brewery’s burger and excellent black bean burger and we are definitely eyeing up the warm kale salad and poutine.The daytime happy hour, which takes place during lunch hours, features pints of beer for just $4. Wine, cider and house-made seltzers are also available, as are the new in-house batched craft cocktails, all made using Tattersall products.In addition, the brewpub announced this week a partnership with Koru Kombucha, which is brewed at St. ...

Como Zoo reveals baby giraffe’s name on Give to the Max Day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

A big reveal for a tiny giraffe happened on Give to the Max Day on Thursday:Meet Ivy of St. Paul’s Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.The newborn’s name, chosen over Dahlia and Aster by voters, was announced as part of the excitement during Minnesota’s 15th annual online “giving holiday” for nonprofits and schools.“There’s a lot of synergy, a lot of synergy,” said Laurel Lundberg, director of individual giving at Como Friends, the nonprofit partner of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.With up to $40,000 in matching funds, donations were brisk on Thursday via givemn.org in support of one of St. Paul’s favorite places. Funds raised will help provide expert care for Ivy and her mom, Zinnia, as well as the other animals, in addition to supporting the gardens of the conservatory and one especially popular feature for both the zoo and the conservatory.“When I talk to people, almost everyone expresses that’s it’s because ...

Remembrance Day services held over the weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsIn honour of Canadian Veterans, various Remembrance Day ceremonies were held this past weekend to Honour Canadian Veterans in the past and present, and hold space to reflect on peace for the future.Local Veteran and longtime resident of Coaldale, Karl Samuels joined Town of Coaldale officials for a flag-raising ceremony last Friday in front of Civic Square, in honour of Remembrance Day.Samuels served in the Canadian Armed Forces aboard the HMCS Saskatchewan and as part of the 20th Independent Field Battery and 18th Air Defence Regiment, He has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #4 for 46 years and its also a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Alumni and Veterans UN NATO Canada. Samuels also served in Coaldale’s fire department for over eight years.Councillors Bill Chapman and Lisa Reis, and Mayor Jack Van Rijn joined Samuels for the short ceremony, where the Town’s other three flags were lowered to half-mast. Van Rijn said, “It is impo...

Ottawa’s bail reform bill long overdue: MLA Hunter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

By Trevor BuschTaber [email protected] enforcement agencies along with provincial governments have long sounded a warning about the critical need for bail reform in Canada.The federal government’s Bill C-48 is under consideration before Parliament, which among other reforms should make it more difficult for offenders to receive bail. Both provincial and territorial governments have pushed for the bill to be fast-tracked.Bill C-48 targets offenders with a violent criminal past, and was drafted after premiers and the federal Opposition pressured the Liberals for changes.Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter fully endorses the need for change and to do more to keep violent offenders off the streets.“Absolutely critical. I would say that bail reform is going to be helpful when we have criminals that are repeat offenders, they get a slap on the wrist, and get out without having any bail requirements or financial costs to set up any bail money. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it a...

High cost of CPP backed by numbers, argues reader

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Dear Editor,The article that I found on page 24 of the Calgary Sun in 2014 (“CPP hidden cost”, QMI Agency, Sept. 2014) describes the hidden costs of managing the CPP. In the article the Fraser Institute claimed that in seven years the cost of managing the fund jumped from $600 million to $2 billion, year’s from 2006-2013. The article claims that in 2012-13 that $490 million was spent on operation, $782 million on external management fees, $177 million on transaction fees, plus $586 million for federal government’s administrative costs to COLLECT contributions and PAY the benefits. Wouldn’t it be useful to know what the costs are today? Knowing the numbers and where the money is invested may shed a different light on how Albertans would make a more informed decision about an Alberta Pension Plan.As Mr. Sheen quotes an “esteemed and trusted fellow by the name of Mahmood Nanji at Western University, made the following statement “extracting Alberta from the CPP is complex, disruptive, t...