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Holiday crowds at airports, on highways expected to be even bigger than last year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

(AP) -- More Americans are expected to fly or drive far from home over Christmas than did last year, putting a cap on a busy year for travel.Auto club AAA forecast Monday that 115.2 million people will go 50 miles or more from home during the 10 days between Dec. 23 and New Year's Day. That's 2.2% more than AAA predicted during the comparable stretch last year.“That desire to get away is stronger than we have seen in a very long time,” said AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz. “People are willing to adjust their budgets in other areas of their life, but they want to keep traveling." Deadlines start soon to ship holiday packages via USPS, FedEx and UPS The AAA predicts that the holiday season will still fall 3% short of record travel in 2019, the last Christmas before COVID-19 hit the United States.Air travel in the U.S. has already rebounded, surpassing 2019 levels.The number of travelers going through U.S. airport checkpoints is up 12.4% over last year and 1.4% higher than in 2019, accordi...

'1 in 100,000': Rare elk spotted in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife spotted a rare kind of elk during a big game classification flight last week.CPW is conducting classification flights now through February across the state for big-game species. The flights allow CPW researchers to generate population estimates and assess young animal recruitment within a population.  Why Coloradans might see low-flying helicopters this winter During a flight earlier this week, Montrose-area CPW wildlife biologist Evan Phillips spotted a rare piebald cow elk in a herd.What makes a piebald cow elk rare?The piebald trait is not common in elk like it is in horses or dogs. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, piebald is defined as something of different colors, especially spotted or blotched with black and white.Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Evan Phillips spotted a rare piebald cow elk during a big game classification flight this week. According to CPW, the piebald trait only occurs in about 1 out of eve...

Man accused of molesting child while tutoring at Austin ISD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested on charges of indecency with a child after volunteering as a tutor with the district this semester, according to Austin Independent School District officials.The district said Isaiah Xavier Smith was a college readiness tutor between September and October at Akins High School this semester. But was cut off from accessing the campus on Oct. 25 after a high school student told a school police officer they were sexually assaulted by Smith. Man walks with long rifle in front of Austin schools, ‘terrorized’ students and parents The child told their parents Smith sexually assaulted them during a tutoring session at the school, according to an arrest affidavit. The child also told police Smith previously offered to purchase shoes and underwear and to give them money.KXAN has contacted Smith’s attorney Monday but has not yet heard back.“We are doing everything we can to understand how this incident occurred to prevent situations like this in the future,”...

Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson has ‘good chance’ to play Saturday in Cincinnati

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

It seems as if the Vikings have avoided anything serious when it comes to star receiver Justin Jefferson.After being ruled out a chest injury on Sunday in Las Vegas, the 24-year-old Jefferson was taken to a local hospital out of precaution. He was discharged in short order and arrived back at Allegiant Stadium in time to fly home with his teammates after Vikings escaped with a 3-0 win over the Raiders.Asked about the decision to send Jefferson to a local hospital, head coach Kevin O’Connell noted that the training staff felt it was important to rule out any possible internal complications. The door is open for Jefferson to be back on the field when the Vikings play the Bengals on Saturday in Cincinnati.“I consider Justin day to day with a good chance to hopefully be with us playing,” O’Connell said. “He’s doing pretty well today. It’s just a matter of continuing to monitor any potential things that could arise. You know, what he’s like...

Man pleads guilty to having and sharing child porn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 46-year-old man from Albany County pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography. Joshua White faces at least five years in prison and up to 40 years for both offenses. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! White admitted to sharing sexually explicit images of a minor known to him. He also admitted to having child pornography he received on the internet and social media apps on his phone that depicted other victims.Sentencing is scheduled for April 11, 2024. In addition to the prison sentence, White will be required to serve 5 years to life of post-release supervision and register as a sex offender upon release. He will also be required to pay restitution to the victims and forfeit the device used to commit the offenses.

Federal appeals court strikes down parts of NY concealed carry law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---In a 261 page document, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, said pending decisions in lower courts, concealed carry can continue to be banned in sensitive places. However, an exception was made for places of worship. Republican Assemblyman, Robert Smullen, thinks this is a big win."What if you’re a rabbi running a synagogue right now? Wouldn’t you like to have the idea that you were worshipers, the people who are citizens in your community, can actually defend themselves in your house of worship? Absolutely," said Smullen. "That’s a huge win for religious freedom and it’s a huge win for the Constitution regarding Second Amendment Rights."New York’s Attorney General, Letitia James, released a statement saying in part, “The decision also allows all property owners, including owners of places of worship, to prohibit firearms on their property, including through the postage of signs. The requirements for an in-person interview, character re...

DOJ: Clifton Park man attempted to entice a minor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Clifton Park man is facing at least ten years and up to life in prison after pleading guilty to the attempted online enticement of a minor. Michael Kirkland, 30, admitted to traveling to a hotel with the intent to engage in sexual acts with a 12-year-old girl. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Kirkland said he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with the said 12-year-old on August 11, 2022. Upon arrival at the hotel, he was taken into custody by law enforcement.Upon release from prison, Kirkland will also have to serve at least 5 years and up to life of post-release supervision and register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for April 11, 2024.

Local beauty bar provides free job training to teens, young adults

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A local beauty business is giving back to the community - providing job training and guidance to young adults at no cost. Fox 2's Jasmine Huda spoke with the owners of 220 Eye Candy Beauty Bar about its community-focused business model.

Broncos coach Sean Payton says team is taking aim at the AFC West: “We’re a game out in our division. That’s how we’re looking at it”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Week by week, as the Broncos have tried to lift themselves out of a hole they dug over the season’s first six games, most of the conversation has centered on whether Denver can get back into the postseason picture.Head coach Sean Payton has his sights set on a different destination. It’s not just about sneaking in.“Obviously, we’re a game out in our division,” he said of the AFC West race on Monday. “That’s how we’re looking at it.”Indeed, Kansas City has won the division seven straight years but looks as vulnerable as perhaps at any point during that streak. The Chiefs dropped a home game Sunday against Buffalo and in the process fell to 8-5, just a game clear of the surging Broncos. They have lost two straight and three of their past four.A division title isn’t impossible for the Broncos, but it’s also not particularly likely. Denver and Kansas City split their season series, and the next tiebreaker is division record. Currently the Chiefs are 3-1 and Den...

Staff scrambling after Children’s Hospital Colorado ends full tuition reimbursement for employees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:13:09 GMT

Children’s Hospital Colorado is cutting off its program that offered employees full tuition for certain health care degrees, leaving some staffers scrambling to figure out their next move.A registered nurse at the hospital who is pursuing a master’s degree in a behavioral health field said she can’t apply for financial aid before the next semester starts in January. While Children’s will still pay employees up to $5,250 a year for tuition, that won’t cover the full cost of her program, which the hospital previously had paid in full, she said.“They gave us about a one-month notice,” said the nurse, who spoke to The Denver Post on the condition of anonymity over fears she could lose her job. “A lot of us don’t have five, six grand saved to pay for our next term.”Children’s contracted with a third party to fully pay for some degree programs and partially cover others. The programs the hospital chose weren’t necessa...