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346-acre Caldwell County project part of $15B plan to build 'mini cities' around Austin, Dallas

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (ABJ) -- On the heels of announcing a plan to invest $15 billion to essentially build 10 mini-cities around Central Texas, it might come as a surprise to hear Red Oak Development Group CEO Tom Staub admit he fully understands he didn't pick a great time to do it.He listed off the reasons: Many developers are not buying land because of high prices. Builders are being cautious about what projects they are taking on because of rising construction costs. Existing home sales are reaching decades-long lows. Mortgage rates at 8% are making home-buying difficult, and more."It seems so contrarian to go out there and do this now," Staub said. "But doing this now puts lots on the ground in 12-to-18 months. So, really, it's positioning ourselves to have the bulk of supply in Austin for builders going into 2025 and 2026. So timing couldn't be worse if you're thinking right now, but it couldn't be better two or three years out."Read the full story online at the Austin Business Journal.

Salem man pleads guilty to stealing 31 semi-automatic pistols from a licensed dealer

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Salem man has pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hudson Falls. Martin Taft, 48, faces at least five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Taft admitted to breaking into Calamity Jane's Firearms and Fine Shoes with co-conspirator Jonathon Combs. The two reportedly stole 31 semi-automatic pistols and then exchanged the firearms with another individual for cocaine they intended to distribute. Taft and Combs pled guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a licensed dealer and one count of using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Combs also pled guilty to an additional count of theft of a firearm from a licensed dealer. Police took Army reservist suspected in Maine killings for evaluation in July after erratic behavior Combs faces the same minimum and maximum penalties. He will be ...

Missing South Carolina girl found in Kirkwood, Missouri

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- A missing teen from South Carolina was found safe Wednesday night in Kirkwood, Missouri. The Monroe Police Department says that Lauren Heath, 16, was found in a vehicle in the Lowes parking lot near I-44 and Meachum Park. Convicted sex offender Christopher James Porter, 30, was in the driver's seat.Christopher James PorterHeath was reported missing on October 13 from Monroe, South Carolina. She was last seen on a doorbell camera leaving her home. Billboards were put up to help find her last week.Kirkwood police were investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot near I-44 on October 25. They noticed that there was a young girl in the passenger seat. They were able to identify her as Lauren Heath after talking to the people in the vehicle. Multiple people reported dead, injured in Maine shootings Police say that Heath had her birth certificate on her. She also gave officers her mother's phone number and they called her parents.Heath told officers...

Mercury spill evacuates Hazelwood USPS distribution center

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been called to investigate a mercury spill at the United States Postal Service distribution center in Hazelwood. The facility has been evacuated.The Environmental Emergency Response team is on the scene. The Missouri DNR says that there is a report of a mercury release onto a mail processing table and conveyor belt. Teaspoon-size amounts of the toxic substance were visible on a table and mercury beads could be seen on a conveyor table next to the area.Cleanup efforts are being coordinated with an environmental contractor.Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that can be a liquid or a gas. Exposure can cause health issues like eye irritation and respiratory problems. Workers may be harmed by exposure depending on dose and duration.

Kia to install anti-theft software for free at St. Louis Galleria this weekend

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Heads up, Kia owners. You can take your vehicle to the St. Louis Galleria this weekend and get new anti-theft software installed in your car for free. Kia America is holding a software upgrade service center event this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, Kia owners can visit a mobile clinic for a software upgrade. Multiple people reported dead, injured in Maine shootings This comes in an effort to reduce Kia thefts around the St. Louis region. The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County both reported 10 times as many Hyundai and Kia vehicle thefts in 2022 compared to previous years. Police claim the ability to steal a Kia or Hyundai became wide-known from a TikTok trend earlier this year, leading to a spike in such thefts not only in St. Louis, but also nationwide. Many believe these videos first started gaining attention on YouTube last year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

SLUH star Ryan Wingo chooses Texas over Mizzou

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - From St. Louis, to Columbia, Missouri, to Austin, Texas, the college football world was paying attention to a big announcement Wednesday afternoon. Ryan Wingo, a talented wide receiver for the St. Louis University High School Jr. Billikens, made his college choice. There was hope that Wingo would stay in-state and join the Missouri Tigers. On Wednesday, he committed to the Texas Longhorns. St. Louis CITY SC set to face Sporting KC in first playoff round Mizzou and Texas were long believed to be the top choices for Wingo leading up to his decision. A consensus five-star recruit, Wingo says it was an agonizing decision, and he was leaning toward Texas before Mizzou's recent success. "Picking [Texas] over a home state school that's on the rise, it's pretty tough," said Wingo. "Mizzou's season for sure had me rethinking, especially with how good they're playing. They had a big push for sure. Wingo is believed to be one of the top recruits to come out of Missouri in severa...

Cash reward offered to identify reckless ATV driver in Illinois

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

MOUNT VERNON, IL – The Mount Vernon Police Department is offering a cash reward for information about an individual who has been causing property damage by riding a four-wheeler around schools, businesses, and government buildings. The police department is offering a $500 cash reward for anyone who can provide information about this individual who has been speeding recklessly on a four-wheeler, particularly in Veterans Park and in areas with children present during events. Moreover, the four-wheeler's operator has been traveling at high speeds on major roadways and avoiding law enforcement when confronted.  ‘Basketball Wives’ star Brittish Cierrah Williams sentenced to prison The police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying and apprehending the driver. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Mt. Vernon Police Department at 618-242-2131. Information leading to the identification of the offender(s) is eligible for a $500 reward. For those wis...

Millions stolen from funds meant to feed children in need; Missouri exec charged

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Missouri nonprofit executive is accused of stealing millions of dollars from a program intended to feed low-income Missouri children, including some funds acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic. Connie Bobo, 44, of St. Charles, serves as the executive director of the New Heights Community Resource Center, a nonprofit designed to provide meals to low-income, school-age children after school and during the summer.A federal indictment revealed Wednesday accuses Bobo and New Heights of falsely claiming to have served at least three million meals to children between February 2019 and March 2022. The indictment alleges these were meals that New Heights neither actually purchased nor supplied. ‘Basketball Wives’ star Brittish Cierrah Williams sentenced to prison The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) paid Bobo around $11 million. The indictment claims she spent around $4.3 million on personal expenses, including a $1 million home for herself, other ho...

Coffee shops along Front Range hit by spate of burglaries

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

Thieves have targeted at least six coffee shops across the Front Range over the span of more than a year, according to area law enforcement agencies.One of the latest burglaries was at a Ziggi’s Coffee shop at 7700 W. 67th Ave. in Arvada, owned by Brittany Johnson and her husband Eric, with a safe stolen on Oct. 1.“It’s just super violating,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Are we going to lose our baristas because they don’t feel safe anymore?’ ”According to security camera footage shared with The Denver Post, a male burglar in a hoodie, face mask and black backpack threw a rock through the shop’s drive-thru window around 4:45 a.m. He climbed through, then Johnson said he wheeled the safe out in a trashcan.“He didn’t steal our iPads or anything – just took our safe,” she said.Eric and Brittany Johnson, owners of a Ziggi’s Coffee location in Arvada, provided footage of the suspect who burglarized their s...

Two dead in suspected murder-suicide after multiple shots fired in Severance

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

Police found two people killed in a suspected murder-suicide after breaching the walls of a Severance home while responding to a report of gunshots following a disturbance on Wednesday.After police breached the walls of the home in the 800 block of Emerald Lakes Street, they reported finding the body of a minor with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. They also reported finding the body of a female who appeared to have sustained a gunshot before her death.Police block off the 800 block of Emerald Lakes Street in Severance after a 15-year-old apparently took two people hostage on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)“The team was very methodical and patient and did everything it could. We did numerous callouts anticipating the party may be inside the house,” Severance Police Chief Ken Chavez said. “But it’s a bad outcome, obviously. We have a homicide and suicide, both, and a family tragedy.”Police said they exhausted all options before obtaining a search wa...