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CASA seeing dip in volunteers, uptick in alleged neglect and abuse cases

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- CASA of Travis County said since the end of the pandemic, it's seen a dip in volunteers. Meanwhile, the number of complex cases involving foster care kids is going up. CASA -- which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates -- is a volunteer-based group that steps in when a child enters the foster care system. CASA volunteers serve as an advocate for and the voice of a foster child during the legal process. But CASA of Travis County said they've seen a roughly 20% drop in new volunteers by this point in the year as compared to last. They're also seeing an uptick in complex cases, which are the ones most often involving allegations of extreme abuse or neglect. "So we're definitely looking for more volunteers. Our goal this year is to get 200 people all the way through our training and screening process and so far we're at 59 so we've got a ways to go," said Laura Wolf, the CEO of CASA of Travis County. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old but does not need to ...

Support strong, but effort dies for safer emergency vehicle intersections in St. Louis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Despite strong support from the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for a measure to make intersections safer for the public and emergency vehicles, the effort failed.You Paid For It started tackling the prospect of an emergency vehicle intersection last year after it was initiated and put into effect by St. Charles County. Executive Steve Ehlmann put the technology in place at more than 300 lights, which allows lights to stay green for the first responders coming through the intersection. The lights would be red for everyone else. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway Elliott Davis took the idea to St. Louis Alderman Joe Vaccaro who rallied support on the Board of Aldermen. The former board voted unanimously for it.Even current board president Megan Green was all for it, saying back in April: ”I think that kind of timing of lights is important to make sure that emergency vehicles can get to where they need to go in the fastest manner ...

Local organizations helping the unhoused beat the excessive heat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The hot weather is taking a toll on the homeless in the St. Louis area, with many struggling to find things like cold water and shade. Several organizations were out Friday helping them cope with the heat.For people like Jennifer, this heat is a huge challenge.Hot, really hot. The heat is really bad. We need water," she said. "Try to go into wherever I can to stay in the shade.”Organizations like Affinia Healthcare were out to help supply some of their needs. They set up shop in a park across from city hall, where the homeless congregate. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway "Very challenging; you see how I’m sweating, Elliott. I've been out here for an hour," said Deandre Commons with Affinia Healthcare. "Could you just imagine being out here all day like with nowhere to go? If we were not passing out water and cooling towels like what would they have? So yes, it’s very challenging.”Affinia was not the only group out. The New...

Ezequiel Tovar, Austin Gomber lead Rockies over Tigers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

On fireworks night at Coors Field, Ezequiel Tovar delivered a star-spangled performance.The Rockies’ rookie shortstop hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning and also singled in Colorado’s five-run second in an 8-5 win over the Detroit Tigers in front of a sellout crowd of 47,239.Tovar finished the night 2-for-4, extending his career-high hitting streak to 13 games, the longest by a Rockies player this season.Colorado also got a huge boost from starter Austin Gomber, who became the first Rockies starter to pitch seven innings during a home game this season. Gomber gave up three runs on six hits and struck out seven. Best of all, he walked only one, reversing a trend of free passes that has plagued Colorado much of the season.Tovar, at 21 the youngest position player to make his debut in franchise history, is hitting .358 (19-for-53) during his 13-game hitting streak. The shortstop has a hit in 26 of 29 games since May 27 and is batting .336 (38-for-113) over that sp...

Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon, out for at least two more weaks, itching to return

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

In what is likely his final season in a Rockies uniform, Charlie Blackmon is trying to stay patient as he waits for his broken right hand to heal.“It’s different. It’s an adjustment,” the veteran outfielder/designated hitter said Friday before the Rockies hosted the Tigers at Coors Field. “I’d rather be playing, certainly.”His absence is made more difficult by Colorado’s June swoon in which the Rockies will win fewer than 10 games in the month for just the fourth time in franchise history.“It’s tough not really being a contributor,” he said. “No matter what I do, it’s rarely critical. Whether it’s bringing energy to the dugout or talking to guys off the field, that’s not a lot of impact.”Blackmon said Friday that he will have to wear the cast on his right hand for two more weeks. He’s not sure how long it will take for him to get back in the lineup.“I think it’s pretty v...

Driver swept away by floodwaters in Weld County dies after driving past road closure

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

A motorist died in Weld County Friday morning when a vehicle was swept away by floodwaters. The driver had disregarded a road safety closure, the sheriff’s office said.The incident happened about 9 a.m. in the area of Weld County roads 73 and 16 south of Roggen, according to a  Weld County Sheriff’s Office news release.“The occupant of the car drove past the roadblocks that are there to prevent vehicles from entering the dangerous floodwaters in the area,” the release said.The driver was pulled from the car by witnesses on scene and life-saving measures were attempted, the sheriff’s office said.Keenesburg police responded to the incident and one officer’s vehicle was swept away by floodwater. The officer was able to escape the vehicle and was uninjured.In Weld County on Friday, six vehicles were disabled in floodwaters and six people were rescued, the sheriff’s office said. On Friday evening, barricades remain at the incident site and a depu...

Alhambra 'bridge house' sells for $180K over asking price

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

A unique home in Los Angeles County that captured the interest of California homebuyers and started a wider conversation about the high cost of getting into the real estate market has found a new owner.The home, located on the 1300 block of Main Street in Alhambra, was a popular open house destination for Angelenos because of its price - a modest (for California) $250,000. But it also made nationwide headlines due to its location. It's built into the side of a bridge that overlooks a drainage ditch. A one-of-a-kind real estate listing in Alhambra has captured the attention of hundreds of prospective buyers since it went on the market in May 2023. (Douglas Lee Real Estate)If you don't know what you're looking for, you'll drive right past it — it's not visible on Google Maps. You need to take a flight of stairs down to the home's front door. Inside you'll find one bedroom, one bathroom and a living time capsule from the home's construction. Douglas Lee, the realtor who's been working ...

SAG-AFTRA union, studios extend contract deadline amid labor negotiations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

The SAG-AFTRA actors union has extended contract negotiations with Hollywood studios to July 12, narrowly avoiding a strike for the time being on Friday.The current contract expires at midnight on July 1. If no deal was made, either with the contract or extension, SAG members would hit the picket lines as soon as the first of the month. No deal has been made yet, as negotiations continue.A statement from the negotiating committee said:“We have been in negotiations with the AMPTP for more than three weeks under an unusually tight negotiating schedule while fighting for a comprehensive and inclusive contract."In order to exhaust every opportunity to achieve the righteous contract we all demand and deserve, after thorough deliberation it was unanimously decided to allow additional time to negotiate by extending the contract until 11:59 p.m. PT on July 12, 2023. No one should mistake this extension for weakness. We see you. We hear you. We are you.”Earlier this week, more than 300 ...

Patrick Bailey’s late homer fuels SF Giants’ comeback win over Mets

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

NEW YORK — Considering the disparate directions the Giants’ and Mets’ seasons have taken so far, it should have come as no surprise.Before the ball had even found a landing spot, eventually settling on the batter’s eye in center field, the air had been sucked out of the 30,116 spectators at Citi Field, who braved smokey skies from Canadian wildfires to see something that’s become a regular occurrence this season.The Giants’ lineup woke up late to erase an early deficit.The Mets’ bullpen blew a late lead.And the big hit came from none other than rookie catcher Patrick Bailey, who hammered a hanging breaking ball from David Robertson 432 feet to center field for a three-run homer that completed San Francisco’s comeback in a 5-4 win in the opening game of its weekend series in New York.“That was as good as it gets,” manager Gabe Kapler said, breaking with his typically even-keeled nature to downplay expectations for a young player. “...

Best High Roller Online Casinos in 2023 – Top Casinos for VIP Players with High-Stakes Games

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

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