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'This is Revenge of the Nerds': Austin hosts space exploration conference New Worlds 2023 this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Astronauts, scientists and explorers are flying to Texas this weekend to discuss the future of life in space. They're attending the New Worlds 2023 conference. The event will host discussions on space travel, award members of the science community and raise funds for Texas schools. "This is Revenge of the Nerds, in a sense, right? I mean, this is, this is those kids who studied science and went into engineering, education tracks and those kinds of things, who are living the dream," said Rick Tumlinson, founder of Earthlight Foundation and the New Worlds conference.The event has been around since 2016. Past award recipients include Jeff Bezos and SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell. This year, Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman will be awarded the Space Cowboy award for his work in bringing civilians to space and raising money for cancer research."I generally feel very unworthy of any of these types of recognitions. I just know that it takes like an army to pull this off," ...

Internal Amtrak memo highlights concerns over St. Paul Union Depot. 2nd train to Chicago, route to Duluth in the works.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

More than a decade ago, Ramsey County poured $243 million into purchasing, renovating and reviving the downtown St. Paul Union Depot, a 1920s-era transit hub that hadn’t hosted passenger trains since 1971. Situated on 33 acres of riverfront property off Kellogg Boulevard, the neoclassical train depot welcomed their return in May 2014 when Amtrak’s Empire Builder began rolling in a morning trip to Chicago and a return trip at night.Transit advocates say discontent with Ramsey County’s management of the depot has created a stir within the nation’s long-distance passenger rail provider. An internal Amtrak memo reportedly outlines concerns about the county using the downtown hub primarily as a banquet facility.That comes on top of worries about crime and loitering inside the cavernous riverfront depot, which is otherwise short on foot traffic. Brian Nelson, president of the rail advocacy coalition All Aboard Minnesota, obtained a copy of the Amtrak memo and recen...

Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has final say on when he returns to field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

Justin Jefferson has been ramping up his workload this week in practice as he gets closer to returning to the field for the Vikings. Though he’s trending in the right direction as he recovers from the hamstring injury, it’s still unclear if the 24-year-old receiver will be available when the Vikings play the Broncos on Sunday night in Denver.“I’m just trying to make sure that it doesn’t come back,” he said. “I’m doing the treatment every single day.”Who has the final say on when he returns to the field?“I’m the main person that’s going to make the decision at the end of the day,” Jefferson said. “I’m the person that’s going out there and putting my body on the line to win games and do things for this organization.”In that same breath, however, Jefferson mentioned that he will work in concert with the team medical staff led by Tyler Williams and Uriah Myrie. The consensus from everyb...

Vikings’ Byron Murphy credits Harrison Smith’s selfless act for his interception

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

It looked like a routine play from cornerback Byron Murphy at first glance. He tracked down a deep pass from backup quarterback Jameis Winston last Sunday, then made the eighth interception of his NFL career to help put the game on ice as the Vikings finished off a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints.It wasn’t until a few days later that team broadcaster Gabe Henderson detailed the intricacies of Murphy’s interception on the website formerly known as Twitter. In a post that has been viewed more than 500,000 times this week, Henderson highlighted that while Murphy deserves credit for making the play, veteran safety Harrison Smith might have actually been in better position.Asked to clarify what happened on the field, Murphy confirmed that Smith indeed deferred to him in that moment.“It happened pretty fast,” Murphy said. “Literally in the middle of the play, the ball was in the air, and he was like, ‘You got it, Murph.’ I was like, ‘H...

Minnesota adds 7,000 jobs in October; unemployment at 3.2%

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

Minnesota gained 7,000 jobs last month, outpacing national job growth, and the state’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.2%, the state Department of Employment and Economic Development said Thursday.The state unemployment rate is lower than the national rate of 3.9% and the state labor force was essentially flat in October, dipping by 84 people, the first monthly decline in eight months.The labor force participation rate held steady for the fourth month at 68.5%. This measures the amount of people working or actively seeking work as compared with the overall adult population, and is used to calculate the benchmark unemployment rate. So the unemployment rate can rise even when more people find work if more people enter the labor force.DEED also announced that October was the first month when the seasonally adjusted jobs estimate surpassed 3 million, at 3,001,300. Minnesota has added jobs nine out of the last 12 months.“There are many opportunities for j...

Lark Street improvements make headway 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The rebirth of Lark Street made some headway on Thursday when crews started work on the final paving operations. Lane shifts and intersection closures are expected to occur between Washington Avenue and Madison Avenue until Friday, expect delays and find alternate routes if possible. The project includes a new street surface, sidewalks, trees, ADA-compliant ramps and street striping.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “It feels great. It’s definitely caused somewhat of a hassle for the residents around here, but it’s just been great to see the improvements overall,” said local resident Amanda Keays. She’s excited about the project and looks forward to the improvements that will benefit people with disabilities.“Ultimately, it’s going to be very helpful but I mean you know I’m thankfully able-bodied and it was tough for me to get around, so I’m sure you know those with disabilities took the toll t...

NYSP: Rensselaer man arrested on child porn charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State Police arrested Sean M. Hood, 49, of Rensselaer, on Thursday. Hood is accused of having and promoting images depicting child sexual exploitation. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hood was taken into custody following the execution of a search warrant at his home. He was charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child.Hood was arraigned at the East Greenbush Town Court. He was remanded to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 cash or a $100,000 bond.

Rensselaer man convicted of killing transgender woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A jury has found a Rensselaer man guilty in a 2022 homicide in the city of Albany. Iaeir Robinson was found guilty of murder in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Jury returned the verdict after deliberating for several hours. Robinson was convicted of killing Ahsid Hemingway-Powell, 30, in May 2022 in her Albany apartment. Hemingway-Powell, a transgender woman, was remembered by those who knew her as a passionate person who had a smile that could light up any room.Sentencing is set for January 19.

East Capitol Park Christmas Tree arrives in Albany

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

BALLSTON LAKE, NY (NEWS10) — Another tree, another Saratoga County neighborhood. The East Capitol Park tree, neighboring the Empire State Plaza Christmas tree, was cut down and hoisted up in Albany on Thursday. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives at Empire State Plaza Construction crews sawed the tree at the stump, and lifted it onto a flatbed Thursday morning. With a Christmas like name straight out of a Hallmark movie, homeowner Angel Serio said that the 15 year old tree had gotten too big. “Like every Christmas, we would decorate it. But the past couple Christmases, the tree has gotten so big that it's been difficult to decorate."Angel's husband  Vito was elated to get the call from New York state to tell him that the tree was chosen. He said, “I got the phone call on Saturday and I was very surprised and thrilled that they were going to come by and consider our tree for the Capitol Christmas tree.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inb...

Four St. Louis men charged over fake checks in vehicle sale scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Four St. Louis men face felony charges in connection with a vehicle sale scheme through which they allegedly used fake cashier’s checks to buy vehicles from private sellers online and resold the vehicles for profit.An 11-count federal indictment charges Alen Saric, 35, Valentino Colic, 32, Emad Hasanbegovic, 33, and Almir Palic, 24. All four are accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Colic and Saric are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods for allegedly transferring the vehicles from Illinois to Missouri. St. Louis police warn of surge in carjackings and break-ins According to court documents, the four men participated in a scheme to defraud people attempting to sell their vehicles on Facebook and Craigslist from 2018 until August 2023. They reportedly used fake cashier's checks to acquire the vehicles. Once the men possessed a vehicle, they would then resell the vehicle to another person for cash be...