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'Rare' EF3 tornado hits North Carolina, causing injuries and damaging Pfizer facility

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

DORTCHES, N.C. (WNCN) — A confirmed tornado touched down in northeastern North Carolina Wednesday afternoon, leaving multiple injured and damaging a Pfizer facility. The tornado touched down northeast of Rocky Mount shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time. Based on initial storm surveys, the National Weather Service tells Nexstar's WNCN that winds of up to 150 mph were reached, giving the tornado a rare EF3 rating. Officials say the area sees tornadoes of that strength only every few years. ‘She just held them and prayed’: North Carolina residents recount tornado ripping through their community According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, a severe storm capable of producing 60 mph wind gusts was located near Rocky Mount, moving east at 25 mph just 10 minutes before the tornado touched down.WNCN received reports of roofs being torn off homes, a roof collapse, and power lines down, some of which made long stretches of roads impassable Wednesday evening. Injuries, including lac...

Fire near Jarrell spreads to 100 acres, 10% contained

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County Wednesday, the Williamson County Director of Communications confirmed to KXAN.Texas A&M Forest Service said it is responding for assistance on the estimated 100-acre fire. The forest service said it is 10% contained.The fire is in an area of Cobb Creek Road.Shortly after 6 p.m., officials said no one had been evacuated at this time.Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County July 19, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County July 19, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)The Jarrell Fire Department was leading the response, according to Williamson County. This developing story will be updated.

Volunteer firefighters needed as wildfires pick up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

BLANCO, Texas (KXAN) — Wildfire season is here and that means fire departments around Central Texas are on high alert, but in more rural areas it can be a challenge to respond quickly.Volunteer fire departments like the station in Round Mountain serve an important role around Central Texas. Llano County brush fire contained after burning 707 acres, nearly 20 agencies responded "If we weren't here then they would have to get fire services from the next town over and that could take an extra 15, 20, 30 minutes depending where the call is," said Jeff Opem, a volunteer firefighter with the Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Department.The Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Department has 20 volunteer firefighters, but they would like to have 30. These are men and women who not only respond to fires, but also have other jobs as well."We are a volunteer fire station," Round Mountain Volunteer Fire Chief Bill Burden said. "There are no paid staff"Manchaca Fire Rescue Chief Chris Barron said the re...

Austin in the midst of its hottest July on record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The first 19 days of the month have now tied for the hottest July on record to date, matching the day and night temperature average from July, 2022.For the fourth consecutive day Wednesday, Austin tied or broke a daily record high, reaching 106° which ties the record set just last year. Austin also set an all-time record for number of consecutive days with highs of 105°+. The streak is now at 10 days, and appears it should continue for some time.Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in place nearly areawide through Thursday at 8 p.m. These heat alerts will be extended on Friday.A 10% chance of isolated thunderstorms returns to the forecast this weekend, but rain will be hard to come by. Record high temperatures will be in jeopardy again next week.Other than a few isolated storms this weekend, most stay dry over the next 7+ daysSummer Fan DriveThank you for helping make our 33rd annual KXAN Summer Fan Drive a success! We exceeded our goals thanks to your...

Twins’ right-hander Sonny Gray working out the kinks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

SEATTLE — Why Sonny Gray hasn’t won a game since April 30 is probably a more complicated equation, but pitching coach Pete Maki thinks he knows the reason the right-hander lost his control after cruising through four innings on Monday.“It was just missing with his slider in the same spot,” Maki said Wednesday before the Twins’ 8:40 p.m. CDT first pitch against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. “He kept missing with his slider to his glove side and down. So, he knows that. It’s just (about) making that awareness a little bit sooner.”Gray had a 2-0 lead and had thrown only 46 pitches when he started the fifth inning on Monday. After he retired catcher Cal Raleigh on a grounder, Gray gave up a double, a single, two walks and four runs. He also hit a batter.In the sixth, Gray walked the first batter he faced on four pitches and let him score on a wild pitch for a 5-3 lead. The Twins scored three in the ninth inning but fell, 7-6.“You just have one inning where you do the same thing over an...

Schenectady officials offer NARCAN training while spreading awareness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – With eight overdose deaths in just the first week of this month in Schenectady, officials are now on high alert. Wednesday night, the city was holding NARCAN training for community members.Laura Colmes, Executive Director of New Choices Recovery Center, said that offering training for this type of emergency was critical.“At the moment, it can be quite frightening when something like that happens,” Colmes said. “So the more you practice and know the steps, the better.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Officials said last year, there were over 100,000 overdose deaths across the country, and they are only expecting that number to increase. Keith Brown, Director for Public Health, Schenectady County, agreed that introducing better school programs and providing more emotional support training for teachers and parents is essential.“You have to do the thing that for some of us as parents is hard, and th...

Troy man charged with Attempted Murder after March shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Troy has been charged in connection to a March shooting in the city of Albany. The incident took place around 1:55 a.m. on March 18 in the area of Broadway and Lawn Avenue. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said Miguel Lopez, 33, traveled to the city of Albany and fired several rounds from a 9mm handgun at the victim. A 49-year-old man was shot multiple times in his torso. He was taken to Albany Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.Lopez was charged with one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He was arraigned and sent to the Albany County Jail.

Five takeaways from Hunter Biden IRS whistleblower hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

Republicans and Democrats sparred over the significance of the tax crimes investigation into Hunter Biden at a House Oversight Committee hearing that featured two IRS whistleblowers, with the GOP arguing the president's son was spared from true justice while Democrats argued he was thoroughly investigated by a team formed under the former president and led by a Trump-appointed attorney.IRS special agent Joseph Ziegler and his supervisor Gary Shapley, who investigated Biden, expressed frustration over how U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss and other prosecutors handled the investigation, alleging authorities slow-walked the case and showed preferential treatment to the president’s son. The House Ways and Means Committee had first privately interviewed the two whistleblowers, releasing transcripts just days after prosecutors reached an agreement with Biden to plead guilty to two charges of willful failure to pay taxes.The nearly six-hour hearing relayed little information not...

Ventura County minister charged for allegedly trying to meet teen girl for sex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

A minister and former teacher in Ventura County has been charged with multiple felony counts of child abuse, including accusations that he tried to meet up with a 15-year-old girl for sex.Barry Fike, 67, of Fillmore, was arrested on Monday following an investigation by the Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.Fike, a minister at Fillmore Church of Christ, pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Wednesday.He became the subject of an investigation only days ago, when he allegedly started communicating online with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. "The conversations were sexual in nature and Fike allegedly shared explicit photos of himself with the victim, who was actually an undercover officer," the Ventura County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. Fike has previously taught at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, as well as served as a visiting professor at Pepperdine University. He is not currentl...

Pilot program allows private security cameras to record public in Newport Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:37:30 GMT

A new pilot program that allows private security cameras in public areas is sparking debate among residents in Newport Beach.City council members unanimously approved the program that would allow privately owned and operated cameras to record public areas such as sidewalks and streets.Residents in Newport Beach’s Spyglass community say the security cameras will allow them to better surveil their neighborhood and deter potential thieves from targeting homes.The program would also include signs that warned drivers they're being recorded when they enter the neighborhood.Although residents appear to be generally supportive of the program, a few are concerned about privacy violations.“This is just a wonderful community but I was burglarized soon after we moved in,” said one resident in a recent city council meeting. “I felt so violated as others have. There are three in our street who were burglarized.”A new pilot program that allows private security cameras in public areas is sparking d...