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'Never seen anything like it': Wildlife photographer captures photo of alligator launching out of water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – While on a photography trip at a Florida state park earlier this year, wildlife photographer Tim Smith captured a stunning picture of an alligator launching itself. "I have lived in Florida for almost 50 years, and I have never seen anything like it, nor have I found anything quite like it on the internet," Smith told Nexstar's WFLA. Back in April, Smith ventured to Myakka River State Park in Sarasota with a woman who was a ranger at the park for 10 years. The ranger also said she had never seen anything like it, according to Smith.Courtesy of Tim Smith As for what prompted the alligator to launch itself? Smith said the animal seemed to be reacting to a school of fish that got stirred up in the water.According to Experience Kissimmee, alligators can leap up to five feet out of the water to snag their dinner. They do it by pushing up with their tails.On April 18, Smith posted the amazing photo on a Myakka River State Park Facebook group. Since then, the snapsh...

VIDEO: UT unveils new burnt orange stadium lights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In just a few weeks, the Texas Longhorns take on Rice University to open the 2023-24 football season, but when the first night game comes to Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, you might notice something brand new.On Thursday, The University of Texas at Austin’s athletics department gave a preview of what the new burnt orange stadium lights would look like.UT Athletics Director Chris Del Conte posted a video on social media showcasing DKR bathed in a burnt orange glow.“Doesn’t that look Purdy,” Del Conte said.The first night kickoff is set for Sept. 16 against Wyoming.

How hot is it in Austin? Hot enough for cookies!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A KXAN viewer said she conducted an experiment this week just to see how hot it really was in Austin.Jennifer Grube, a resident in northwest Austin, said it was hot enough to bake cookies on her car’s dashboard.The cookie experiment begins shortly after noon (Courtesy Jennifer Grube)Cookie edges begin to get crispy around 3:45 p.m. (Courtesy Jennifer Grube)A look at the finished product by 4:45 p.m. Freshly (car) baked cookies anyone? (Courtesy Jennifer Grube)“Started at 12:30 pm. After an hour I flattened them with the back of a spoon, by 3:45 the flattened cookies had baked edges but raw centers. By 4:45 pm they were done and crispy,” Grube said in a ReportIt sent to KXAN.She also said the ones that were thicker to start with were easier to remove from the baking pan than the thinner ones.This story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to [email protected] or through KXAN's contact page.

Saranac Lake woman charged with murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

INDIAN LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Saranac Lake woman has been arrested in connection to a homicide investigation, according to state police. Ann Favro, 57, has been charged with second-degree murder. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On August 12 at 8:12 p.m., police responded to Big Brook Road in Indian Lake for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, troopers located David Chenier, 32, of Indian Lake, who was found deceased. Following a traffic stop in the area, police took Favro into custody. She was arraigned in the Town of Indian Lake Court and remanded to the Hamilton County Jail. Cohoes Police investigating homicide Police stated that an autopsy will be conducted at Glens Falls Hospital at an undetermined date. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact state police at (518)873-2750.

2-time NBA champion, Lakers legend Pau Gasol inducted into NBA Hall of Fame 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

Yet another legendary Los Angeles Laker has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. Pau Gasol, who played seven seasons with the Lakers and won two championships alongside the late Kobe Bryant, was inducted in a ceremony on Saturday night, where he expressed gratitude for his fans and paid respect to Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who passed away tragically in a helicopter crash in 2020. “[Kobe] just wanted to make sure that right away, firsthand, I got the message,” Gasol said at Saturday night’s induction ceremony. “He said ‘Welcome to the team, I’m happy you’re here, now let’s go win a championship together.'” “I wouldn’t be here without you brother,” he continued. “I wish more than anything that you and Gigi were here today with us.” The six-time All Star also played for the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks during his 18-year career in the NBA, where he was the Rookie of the Year in 2002, becoming the first non-American ...

Map: One part of California drinks more than others, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

You may have an idea of how much alcohol your community drinks. There may even be a certain sense of pride regarding how much or how little that is. But recently released data helps illustrate which areas in the U.S. are prone to excessive drinking and those that aren’t. Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released its 2023 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report, which is meant to raise awareness about factors that can impact health outcomes and disparities nationwide.Researchers use numerous data points to determine the length and quality of life on a state-by-state basis. Among those factors is alcohol use, including reported excessive drinking. To determine the rates of excessive drinking per state, researchers used self-reported data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system. For the 2023 report, the University of Wisconsin used data from 2020 — the first year of the COVID pand...

Remains of missing elderly Belmont man found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

The remains of an elderly Belmont man have been found four years after he was reported missing.In August of 2019, 84-year-old Paul Farmer disappeared after going for an evening walk. After police learned the Belmont resident suffered from memory loss, an expansive search was set in motion, authorities said.“Over the course of the next three years, multiple searches were conducted, and dozens of tips were investigated,” police said in a statement on Friday.By March of this year, Farmer had still not been found. But after his identification card was uncovered in a waterway in lower San Mateo, police began searching the heavily forested area just south of Highway 92 near Hillsdale Boulevard.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Missing California hiker found dead on Arizona path during extreme weather conditions Crime and Public Safety | Man who died on trail had been on a trip to scatter father’s ashes in Sierra Nevada Crime and Public Safety ...

Outside Lands closes popular dance venue for second day in a row

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

The SOMA Tent, the popular dance music space at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco, unexpectedly closed down for the second consecutive day on Saturday (Aug. 12).“SOMA Tent is closed until further notice,” organizers posted on the festival’s X (formerly known as Twitter) page. “We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to resolve this issue and will provide updates when available.”No reason was given for closure in the social media post, but it reportedly had something to do with the flooring. “After diligently monitoring the flooring throughout Saturday, we decided to close the SOMA Tent for the remainder of the afternoon out of an abundance of caution,” a festival spokesperson reportedly told the Chronicle in a statement.The Tent was first closed down on Day 1 (Friday, Aug. 11) of the festival and then reopened for a bit on Day 2, before being closed down again.Dance fans were, not surprisingly, upset with the news and vented o...

Gunfire erupts at prominent Shiite shrine in southern Iran, wounding at least 4 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Gunfire erupted Sunday night at a prominent shrine in southern Iran, wounding at least four people, authorities said.Information on the attack at Shah Cheragh remained unclear immediately after the shooting, with state media and semiofficial news agencies offering differing details. The state-run IRNA news agency said four had been wounded, including two workers at the shrine and two pilgrims. Shah Cheragh is one of Iran’s top five Shiite shrines. It draws pilgrims to Shiraz, which is some 675 kilometers (420 miles) south of Iran’s capital, Tehran. The attack Sunday night comes after an October 2022 attack on the same shrine killed 13 people and wounded dozens of others. The Islamic State group claimed the assault, which Iran said had been carried out by a man from Tajikistan, who later died in a hospital after succumbing to injuries he suffered while being detained by security forces. Source

Kopecky makes it a trifecta of world title gold medals with her road race win in Scotland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:00 GMT

Lotte Kopecky made it a trifecta of gold medals at the cycling world championships on Sunday.After winning the points and elimination races during the track portion of the 11-day event, the Belgian standout shook free from a powerhouse breakaway and rode solo to the finish of the women’s road race in Glasgow, Scotland. Kopecky was far enough ahead of Demi Vollering and Cecilie Ludwig that she had time to sit up and celebrate as she crossed the finish line.“I thought after those two on the track, I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s almost impossible to win again on Sunday,’” Kopecky said, fighting back tears. “Becoming a three-time world champ in just seven days — it’s too crazy for words.”Vollering, who was trying to follow in the footsteps of recent Dutch champions Annemiek van Vlueten and Anna van der Breggen, had to settle for the silver medal. Ludwig lost their heads-up sprint and finished with bronze.Kopecky had to be wondering whether she ever would win one of the world’s prem...