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Mountain Dew bringing 'fan-favorite' drink back to stores nationwide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

(WXIN) – Fans of Baja Blast will have an easier time finding the drink in 2024. The Mountain Dew flavor started as a Taco Bell exclusive in 2004. As it grew in popularity over the years, PepsiCo released limited quantities in stores on a seasonal basis.For the most part, though, quenching your thirst for Baja Blast meant making a Taco Bell run.That’s all changed for the new year. As the lime-flavored soft drink marks its 20th anniversary, you’ll find Baja Blast cans and bottles at stores nationwide year-round for the very first time.The brand has also set up a special website where fans can enter a sweepstakes and collect points to redeem for Baja Blast gear. Starbucks allowing customers to use reusable cups for drive-thru, mobile orders “Mountain Dew Baja Blast has cemented its place as a fan-favorite flavor in pop culture and as a staple in countless Taco Bell orders, so we knew we had to celebrate its 20th anniversary in a big way,” said JP Bittencourt, vice president of m...

Florida GOP chairman under video voyeurism investigation amid rape probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Embattled Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler is under investigation over possible video voyeurism amid claims that he raped a woman, according to court documents. Ziegler recorded himself having sex with a woman who has accused him of rape, according to the documents. A search warrant shows that Sarasota Police asked for access to Ziegler's Instagram account and videos on his phone. Ziegler allegedly texted the woman he's accused of raping and told her to check out an Instagram message in which he sent a copy of the video to the woman in "vanish mode." Content sent this way disappears when a user leaves the chat or turns the function off. Former Sarasota student slams Bridget Ziegler at school board meeting in viral clip Ziegler and his attorney showed the video of the sexual encounter to Sarasota police detectives to prove the sex was consensual, according to the court documents. Attorney Bryant Camareno, who is not involved in the case, said...

Raul Meza, alleged serial killer, possibly linked to 2018 cold-case homicide, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police have found an APD cold-case homicide from 2018 that may be linked to Raul Meza Jr., 63, according to a new search warrant affidavit. Austin Police detectives filed Tuesday a search warrant to gain access to Meza’s Google account, which police believe will help them uncover more details in the murders Meza is already linked to, as well as any additional cold case homicides. In the affidavit, Patrick Reed with the Austin Police Department wrote a detective "identified an APD Cold Case Homicide from 2018 that matches the Modus Operandi of Meza." Police find ‘possible burial site’ tied to suspected ‘serial killer’ Raul Meza Jr. In May, Meza was arrested and charged after confessing to the murder of Jesse Fraga, 80. Meza also implicated himself in the murder of his former neighbor, Gloria Lofton, 65, in 2019, according to police. Additionally, police said after Meza’s arrest that he may be connected to as many as ten cold cases. W...

NYDOH: New reports on adult food insecurity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday, the New York State Department of Health released the "Self-Reported Food Insecurity Among New York State Adults by County, BRFSS 2021." The report revolves around adults from the Bronx, Queens, Kings, Herkimer, and Oswego. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In New York City boroughs, the data shows food insecurity is highest among adults in the Bronx and lowest among adults in Richmond County. Outside of New York City, the highest percentage of adults who experience food insecurity are in Herkimer County at 28.8% and Oswego at 26.6%.The counties with the lowest percentage of adults experiencing food insecurity are Wyoming at 11.2%, Columbia at 12.3%, and Lewis at 12.5%. According to the report, approximately one in four adults (24.9 percent) in New York State experience food insecurity. Hochul proposes “Back to Basics” reading plan “No one should have to go hungry,” State Health Commissio...

Hochul proposes "Back to Basics" reading plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Governor Kathy Hochul spoke today at Watervliet Elementary School regarding a new reading plan that will be a part of her "State of the State" proposal. The plan, titled "Back to Basics Reading Plan," will aim to give teachers all the resources necessary to combat illiteracy, and focus on phonics, decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hochul announced her first proposal on Tuesday. She spoke on affordability in the new budget. A full video including the entire press conference is available above.

Clayton Kershaw says three of his 'toughest at-bats' are against Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES - Clayton Kershaw, one of the most prolific pitchers in 21st-century baseball, has an interesting history against the St. Louis Cardinals. Clayton Kershaw made his MLB debut against the Cardinals in 2008. He's 10-6 against St. Louis all-time in the regular season with a 3.00 ERA over 135 innings. However, that hasn't generally translated to postseason success against the Cardinals, as Kershaw is winless against them in five head-to-head starts.On Tuesday, in a recent episode of Bleacher Report's digital series "On Base With Mookie Betts," Kershaw offered some interesting insight with a Cardinals connection.Betts, a teammate of Kershaw's on the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last four seasons, asked the southpaw to reflect on his "five toughest at-bats" at the MLB level. Kershaw couldn't quite come up with five definitive answers, but he immediately named four players that came to mind. Five things to follow with the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues in 2024 His list included...

Missouri awards over $7.9M in ARPA funds to expand statewide phone service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The plan to expand cell phone service is currently in the works. The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced Wednesday that they were granted more than $7.9 million in the second phase of the 'Cell Towers Grant Program.'Funded through the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), 14 new projects will be established throughout the state. Along with cell phone service, the program aims to improve 911 connectivity.“This second round of funding awarded through the Cell Towers Grant Program will further promote economic growth and public safety statewide,” said Governor Mike Parson. “As we continue to improve Missouri’s critical infrastructure, including cellular service, we appreciate the efforts of the Office of Broadband Development. As a result of this program, thousands of locations lacking adequate coverage will now receive quality, reliable cellular connectivity.”With over 18,000 locations that lacked quality service, the DED's Office of Broadband Developme...

Opinion: How an Israeli family who lost their home on Oct. 7 found community in Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

I recently led a delegation of rabbis to Israel to provide financial and moral support to the people there. Around 7,000 miles and over 15 hours of flight time — with a connection in New York — separate Colorado and Tel Aviv, Israel. However, for myself and my community in Denver, these two places couldn’t be any closer.Following the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, people turned to me as a communal leader for guidance on how to respond. Immediately, our community sprung to action to help however we could. We held prayer vigils, raised funds, and supported the half-dozen families whose fathers were called for reserve duty by babysitting, grocery shopping and hosting them for dinner.But more impactful than what we sent to Israel, is what Israel sent to us.The Shalev family from Kibbutz Be’eri sought refuge in Denver following Oct. 7. With their house destroyed, friends and relatives murdered and a shattered community, they turned to their cousins the Niv’s, longtime Denver residents, to seek...

Colorado Catholic preschools make their case at trial challenging nondiscrimination rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

Enrolling preschoolers from LGBTQ families would conflict with the religious beliefs and obligations of Catholic preschools, attorneys for two Denver-area Catholic parishes said Tuesday as the trial began in a lawsuit challenging the nondiscrimination rules in Colorado’s universal preschool program.Two Catholic parishes that run preschools — St. Mary’s in Littleton and St. Bernadette’s in Lakewood — and the Archdiocese of Denver sued the state in federal district court in August. They argued that a nondiscrimination clause in an agreement required by the state for participation in the preschool program conflicts with their mission to provide a Catholic education. Senior U.S. District Judge John L. Kane, who is presiding over the trial, recently issued an order dismissing the archdiocese as a plaintiff.Attorneys for the state said Catholic preschools under the archdiocese are being treated the same as other preschools in the program, and that the nondiscrimination agreement in ...

Rockies Mailbag: What’s the TV situation? Will Todd Helton make Hall of Fame?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:57 GMT

Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.Quick question: Any news on the Rockies’ broadcast situation? Have a great holiday!— Renee, Cody, Wyo.Renee, you are one of many Rockies fans who sent me the same question. I expect that the club will announce its television plans very soon, perhaps within the next week.The negotiations have been pretty hush-hush but this is what I’ve been told:• Now that AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain will no longer televise Rockies games, Major League Baseball is poised to move in, acquire the broadcast rights, and begin producing games this season. The setup will be similar to what happened in Arizona and San Diego last summer. Last March, the Diamond Sports Group declared bankruptcy and by mid-July had stopped televising Diamondbacks and Padres games. At that point, MLB took over and made games available to local fans v...