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Alternative Baseball team providing space for adults with special needs to continue passion of sport

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Years after they thought they saw their last inning, a group of young adults have found their way back to a baseball diamond."I've been playing baseball my whole life and I can't imagine somebody not being able to play the game I love just because they are perceived as different," Co-founder of Alternative Baseball Jackson Berner said.A group of baseball enthusiasts didn't let their challenges with autism and special needs keep them from the game that they loved: Baseball."We started with one. We're up to 15 now, it's really remarkable. And now we have a team and we're so excited to get the ball rolling and play some ball"It's the first month of practice for the growing team of young adults brought together by their varying abilities and love of the game"There just aren't enough opportunities for older teens and adults to play sports who have special needs," Co-manager of Alternative Baseball Beth Engelman said.Often striking out when school age programming falls off"The rules start...

Peso at its strongest point versus U.S. dollar in almost 8 years

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Currency exchange houses along San Ysidro Boulevard are offering less than 17 pesos for every U.S. dollar for the first time since December 2015. Peso is king again in Tijuana’s rental market According to Bloomberg, the U.S. dollar has lost about 10 percent of its value versus the Mexican Peso since the beginning of this year.People like Silvia Solorio have noticed.Silvia Solorio says she exchanges dollars for pesos on a regular basis before she goes shopping and dining in Tijuana. (Salvador Rivera/Border Report"I exchange money regularly," said Solorio. "I get pesos to go shopping, to go out to restaurants and to wash my car in Tijuana."The San Diego resident said she has seen a steady drop in the number of pesos she gets whenever she exchanges currency, making things more expensive south of the border."Even the street tacos cost more now," she said.Solorio stated her yearly vacation with her husband to Mexico is going to cost them more this summer."W...

6-year-old Florida boy dies after being bit by family dog: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- A 6-year-old boy from North Port, Florida died in a Tampa hospital after he was mauled by his family's dog on Tuesday. The child suffered severe injuries and extensive trauma to his upper torso during the attack and was air-lifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, according to a release from the North Port Police Department. The boy died after he was flown to Tampa General Hospital for additional surgeries.Sarasota County Animal Services removed the dog - identified as a 3-year-old pit bull mix - from the home. North Port police said the agency is not aware of any previous incidents involving the dog. See a paw print sticker on a mailbox? Don’t remove it “Our hearts are broken for this young child and his family. As a father and pet owner, I know this is one of the worst tragedies you can imagine,” North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said. “We ask that everyone take a few moments to pay respect and reflect on those you care for in your life. Our time here is ...

Taylor Swift hit with $3K in fines from NYC sanitation department: report

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

(KTLA) - Taylor Swift and the New York City Department of Sanitation appear to have some bad blood. The "Blank Space" singer is reportedly facing over $3,000 in fines for not properly disposing of trash outside of her New York City apartment, according to the New York Post. The outlet cited city records, which reportedly showed Swift has racked up 32 tickets for not keeping the sidewalks in front of her Tribeca home clean. According to the fines, the garbage included "piles of newspapers, bottles and cardboard; napkins and wrappers; and 'scattered ashtray contents' and a cigarette carton."“It’s probably the fans waiting for her and smoking while they’re bored,” 33-year-old Christine O’Connor told the Post. “She doesn’t even smoke!” ‘Phineas and Ferb’ co-creator calls Disney Imagineer after Disneyland ride breaks down Swift's sanitation tickets are reportedly the highest of any buildings on the block. She was able to erase $200 in penalties after disputing the fines.Fans claim the...

Cole Kmet gives out awards & thoughts on Bears' possible move to Arlington Heights

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — He was back at his high school home field in the northwest suburbs not far from where his professional team could call home.Don't think that Cole Kmet didn't think about it when he was back in Arlington Heights to honor two student-athletes on Wednesday morning. While giving out the boys and girls 2023 BODYARMOR Series soccer player of the year awards, the Lake Barrington native, former St. Viator High School standout, and Bears tight end was asked about the team's possible move to the northwest suburbs.Naturally, Kmet sounded like he'd be a fan of it as he took part in the event on the same field he played his prep football on while with the Lions at Roosevelt University Sports Complex on South Goebbert Road."That would be cool," said Kmet. "I know that there's been maybe some hiccups the past couple of weeks or so, but that would be pretty sweet to be able to get that done. We'll see where that goes."That, of course, is years down the road as Kmet continu...

New York Times ranks 20 of the best 'new generation' Texas barbeque joints, 3 Austin businesses make the list

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The New York Times said Texas barbeque is in a “golden age,” with emerging pitmasters bringing dynamic flavors from different cultures, thus reinvigorating the classic cuisine. NYT made a list of 20 Texas barbeque restaurants that best reflect the new generation of pitmasters and chefs, which included three Austin joints. One of the authors, Brett Anderson, traveled to Texas seven times to seek out the best barbeque haunts across the state, and the second author, Priya Krishna, is a Dallas native, according to NYT. “A renaissance in Texas barbecue has transformed what was once a hidebound tradition into one of the country’s most dynamic vernacular cuisines, changing the landscape of American barbecue in the process — and turning Texas into the country’s ultimate barbecue destination,” the authors wrote. Distant Relatives The Times wrote that Damien Brockway left a career in fine dining to open Distant Relatives, a food truck in southeast Austin, i...

School safety audit: More than 95% of Texas campuses not accessible to 'intruder'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Texas (KXAN) -- The Texas School Safety Center released findings from audits on school campus safety during the 2022-23 school year. The findings revealed that most campuses did not need corrective action. The report is a compilation of information gathered during school inspections where security experts showed up unannounced at schools to conduct random, in-person intruder audits at campuses across the state. RELATED: Texas school report shows 95% of campuses didn’t allow access to ‘intruder’ The audits began in September and were conducted through May. They were a direct response to the May 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde. Typically, these audits are due every three years. Campuses originally had until September 2023 to get them submitted to their districts, but Gov. Abbott in June of last year directed the Texas School Safety Center, or TxSSC, to immediately review safety policies after the Uvalde school shooting. PREVIOUS: Texas districts to fast-track audit ...

Scattered showers and thunderstorms again on Thursday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Gulf of Mexico sea breeze brought some Central Texans welcome rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday, and we expect another round of late-day rain in some areas Thursday.A slug of tropical moisture from the Gulf is expected to lead to mostly cloudy skies and a 40% chance of scattered rain on Thursday. While some areas will miss out, others especially east of I-35 may tally 0.5" to 1" of rain.The heat ridge over the Desert Southwest is forecast to build back into the area Friday through the weekend, bringing the return of 100-degree heat and dry weather. Hotter than normal temperatures continue in the 8-14 day outlook through mid-July.Light amounts of Saharan dust are blowing across the Atlantic into our area. While you may notice a light haze in the sky at times this week, there is no impact expected to air quality.Summer Fan DriveOur Summer Fan Drive is underway! Please click here to find out how you can make an online donation and learn more about Family Eldercar...

Ford leads a group of five Longhorns on preseason All-Big 12 Team

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In their final season in the conference, Texas leads the way with five players named to the 1st Team All-Big 12 team voted on by the media.Linebacker Jaylan Ford was not only voted to the 1st team but named preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Ford's 119 tackles was the most by a Longhorn since 2004 and his team-leading four interceptions was most by a Texas linebacker since 2003. Junior defensive lineman Byron Murphy II joins Ford on the All-Big 12 defensive team. Murphy made just one start in 2022 but recorded 26 tackles including three tackles for loss and one sack. Days before the 2023 MLB Draft, Sykora is focused on pitching for Longhorns Wide receiver Xavier Worthy leads a trio of Longhorns on the All-Big 12 1st-team offense. Worthy had 60 receptions for 760 yards, and a Big 12-leading nine touchdowns. Tight End Ja'Tavion Sanders is also on the 1st team after leading Big 12 tight ends with 54 receptions for 613 yards. Sanders also had five touchdown catche...

Ransomware criminals post kids’ private files after school hacks in Twin Cities, elsewhere

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

The confidential documents stolen from schools and dumped online by ransomware gangs are raw, intimate and graphic. They describe student sexual assaults, psychiatric hospitalizations, abusive parents, truancy — even suicide attempts.“Please do something,” begged a student in one leaked file, recalling the trauma of continually bumping into an ex-abuser at a school in Minneapolis. Other victims talked about wetting the bed or crying themselves to sleep.Complete sexual assault case folios containing these details were among more than 300,000 files dumped online in March after the 36,000-student Minneapolis Public Schools refused to pay a $1 million ransom. Other exposed data included medical records and discrimination complaints.Rich in digitized data, the nation’s schools are prime targets for far-flung criminal hackers, who are assiduously locating and scooping up sensitive files.Often strapped for cash, districts are grossly ill-equipped not just to defend themselves but to respon...