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Michigan zoo making changes after fatal pygmy hippo attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Months after a pygmy hippo attacked and killed a sitatunga, a medium-sized antelope, the John Ball Zoo, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has updated its protocols and procedures for introducing animals.The internal review found that the attack was "likely due to individual animal behavior as zoo staff undertook significant efforts to be fully prepared before and during the introduction of the two animals," the zoo said.The attack happened in May during a controlled introduction between the hippo and a male sitatunga named Chopper. The two had visually been introduced in preparation for them to be in a new multi-species habitat together. Those meetings went well, the zoo said. Pygmy hippo attacks, kills sitatunga at John Ball Zoo “Based on our team’s extensive research and the animal behavior we observed, we believed this would be a successful introduction,” Peter D’Arienzo, CEO of John Ball Zoo, said in a press release. "We are deeply saddened that t...

APD identifies man accused of shooting 1 person, seriously injuring another at The Arboretum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Friday, the Austin Police Department identified a man accused of shooting one person and seriously injuring another at the Teapioca Lounge in The Arboretum outdoor shopping mall on Thursday.Police identified the suspect as Tang-Kang Dave Chiang, 38, and identified the victim who died on the scene as Laura Jauregui, 64. It's still not known what the relationship between Chiang, Jauregui and the other shooting victim was, per a Friday APD press release. Teapioca, the boba tea business, was closed Friday afternoon with one of its windows boarded up. Teapioca Lounge posted to its Facebook Friday about the shooting. "It is with heavy hearts that Teapioca Lounge, a dedicated member of the Arboretum in Austin, Texas, expresses its deepest condolences to the victims, families, and communities affected by the recent tragedy that took place," the business wrote in a Facebook post. "We will continue to stand by the Arboretum as we work towards ...

Number of Texans receiving abortions out of state almost tripled in 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The number of Texans seeking an abortion out of state almost tripled in 2022, after a state law went into effect that bans the procedure in almost all cases.New data from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission shows at least 4,718 Texas residents received an abortion in a different state last year, up from 1,712 in 2021.Still, the total number of abortions for Texas residents more than halved in the same timeframe, state data shows. Fewer than 22,000 abortions were performed last year, down from more than 52,000 in 2021.In the first four months of this year, just 17 abortions have been reported in Texas, all due to medical emergency and to preserve the health of the mother.Texas receives reports from other states through the State and Territorial Exchange of Vital Events, a public health reporting system maintained by the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems.Reporting abortion data to the system is voluntary, and not ...

A walk to remember: Sarkisian's pregame stroll is about staying grounded, being focused

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Going on a walk can serve a lot of different purposes. Some use walks for exercise, to take a break from life's stresses or just to have some time to themselves. When Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian takes his pregame walk around DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium before his team hosts Rice, his goal is to enjoy the moment.It's something he does before every game, and when he's leisurely making his way around, he's reflecting on all the work that gives him the opportunity to soak it all in. Players to watch: Longhorns relying on offensive, defensive stars this season "It's like the walks we all go on. I have some music on and I try to take it all in," Sarkisian said. "There's a lot of cool things that come with being a football coach, and there's a lot of hard work to get here. I never want to miss the moment. I want to enjoy the opportunities we have."DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on the University of Texas campus (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) He's typically on...

Lindbergh schools get new Crisis Alert security system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Lindbergh District Schools are using the Crisis Alert school safety solution by Centegix to help staff and keep students safe. Employees wear a badge with a single button that allows quick response in any situation, from minor to emergency. The system also keeps track of where all students and staff are.All Lindbergh employees wear a Crisis Alert badge. It works in any school building and allows them to call for help with the push of a button. Hundreds of flimsy stop signs failing across St. Louis In the event of a school intruder, Crisis Alert allows any staff member to activate a lockdown response in the school building. The lockdown alert instantly reaches every staff member in the building, and first responders, during a time when every second matters.Bond issue Prop R helped fund the security system. The $105 million bond issue is designed to revitalize the Lindbergh campus and help provide safety.

Gateway Cup bicycle races go through St. Louis neighborhoods this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The Bommarito Audi Gateway Cup takes place this Labor Day weekend. It is four days of cycling, and racing, through four St. Louis neighborhoods. Each day there are races for amateur adults, kids, and pros.It began Friday at 1:30 p.m. with the Tour De Lafayette. Saturday is the Tour De Francis Park. Sunday is the Giro Della Montagna Race, and Monday is the Benton Park Classic.Learn more about the races and the schedule here.

The Japanese Festival returns to the Missouri Botanical Garden for Labor Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- It’s a Labor Day weekend tradition at the Missouri Botanical Garden, The Japanese Festival celebrates a long-standing and meaningful partnership. “We love working with the Missouri Botanical Garden. Is a great partnership. Committee, volunteers that work together, work with the garden. And we try to put on a great festival for the public here in St. Louis,” said Mike Kimzey of the Japan America Society of St. Louis, organizer of the event. The 46th annual Japanese Festival is set with the 14-acre Japanese Garden, the largest in North America, as its backdrop. It has a special history. “Japanese Americans that were released from the camps and embraced here in St. Louis,” Kimzey said. “There are performances, there are martial arts, dancing, and drumming. There’s lots of great food to eat. There’s something for everyone,” said Catherine Martin of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The celebration runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m....

Six people arrested after apparent fake hostage situation, police shooting in Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

Denver police arrested six people overnight Aug. 25 after a police pursuit that led to a forced stop, a fake hostage situation and a police shooting in the Cole neighborhood.Denver police on Friday released body camera footage from two police officers who responded to the scene of the forced crash that appears to show a man holding a woman hostage and threatening to kill her before an officer shot the suspect.However, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas at a news conference said the man and the woman were known to each other and that the pair planned the hostage situation to dupe police and try to escape arrest.The incident happened about 11:20 p.m. Aug. 25 in the 3500 block of York Street, police said.Body camera footage from two officers released Friday shows shots being fired at police from inside a pickup truck as police were pursuing suspects in the truck.In footage from the body camera worn by the officer who shot the suspect, the officer is seen pursuing the truck at a high speed ...

1 hospitalized after Metro train stabbing in Highland Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

A suspect remains at large after a person was stabbed while riding a Metro train in Highland Park on Friday.Los Angeles police received reports of a stabbing at the Southwest Museum station on the 4500 block of Marmion Way around 12:47 p.m.Authorities discovered the victim and the suspect were involved in an argument while riding on the northbound train. During the confrontation, the suspect brought out a knife and stabbed the victim, police said.A person was hospitalized after being stabbed on a Metrolink train in Highland Park on Sept. 1, 2023. (KTLA)A person was hospitalized after being stabbed on a Metrolink train in Highland Park on Sept. 1, 2023. (KTLA)A person was hospitalized after being stabbed on a Metrolink train in Highland Park on Sept. 1, 2023. (KTLA)A person was hospitalized after being stabbed on a Metrolink train in Highland Park on Sept. 1, 2023. (KTLA)A person was hospitalized after being stabbed on a Metrolink train in Highland Park on Sept. 1, 2023. (KTLA)A pers...

4 charged as part of organized shoplifting ring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:21 GMT

Four men have been formally charged for partaking in two organized shoplifting sprees at Los Angeles area Ross Dress for Less stores in late August.The two thefts took place on Aug. 25 at a store in Los Angeles and Aug. 28 at a store in Culver City.The Los Angeles incident happened at a store on the 8900 block of Venice Boulevard, in which two men, identified by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office as 22-year-old Valentino Skinner and 31-year-old Marquis Marshall, allegedly entered the store and immediately began taking merchandise from the store in front of employees.The Culver City theft took place at the Ross store located at 108181 Jefferson Blvd. Again Skinner and Marshall entered the store and began taking merchandise, alongside a third man, 32-year-old Isaiah Tobias. As the three ransacked the store, a fourth person, 42-year-old Avery Tywann, allegedly waited outside in a getaway vehicle. After the crime, the four men allegedly traveled to an area of the city tha...