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What causes those ‘unexplainable’ traffic jams?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

CHICAGO (NEXSTAR) - Traffic jams are nearly unavoidable on highways and interstates. Sometimes it’s easy to explain - crashes, construction, and sudden influxes of cars, for example. Americans are spending more time stuck in traffic than in recent years. Data and analytics firm INRIX recently released its Global Traffic Scorecard, showing plenty of U.S. cities are among the most congested. Nationally, the study found U.S. drivers “lost” an average of 51 hours sitting in traffic in 2022. Drivers in Chicago lost more hours - 155 - than drivers in any other metro, according to INRIX. When there is no obvious reason causing traffic delays, it can be a bit more infuriating.The phenomenon does have a name: phantom jam.  Hobby Lobby doesn’t use barcodes: Here’s their explanation It starts when one vehicle on an already busy roadway slows, even slightly, Berthold Horn, a computer science professor with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology told LiveScience in 2018....

One person dead after CapMetro train hits pedestrian

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person is dead after a train-pedestrian crash near Interstate 35 and Clarkson Avenue.Austin Police said it responded to the crash at 9:45 a.m. APD is investigating the incident. One adult died at the scene, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.CapMetro said to expect rail delays. The bus bridge will help customers between Highland and Downtown stations.

Austin African American Cultural and Heritage facility reopens. Here's what to expect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— There have been growing concerns about Austin changing, and some Black Austinites are questioning whether there are enough spaces dedicated to their culture. In fact, many have expressed their neighborhoods just aren't the same anymore. Some blame gentrification and even the fact Black neighbors have been pushed out to the outskirts of Austin with the rising cost of living and equity, among other things. Why Black people are leaving Austin, new efforts bringing culture to retain professionals The City of Austin has an African American Cultural and Heritage facility that’s been shut down for years because of the pandemic, undergoing renovations. Its grand reopening is Saturday at noon.The facility is located at 912 E. 11th St. on the historic east side. Not only did it undergo major renovations when it was shut down, but there are also new partnerships that are expected to take things at the center to a new level. The city is expected to elaborate on these changes i...

These are the top 20 high schools in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — It may be graduation season for millions of Texas students, but for others, the high school journey is just beginning. Texas, meanwhile, is home to some of the country's best high schools, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report. One Dallas school even ranks in the outlet's top 10 for the entire country. U.S. News also broke down its national list into state-wide rankings, to give a more detailed look at the best schools in any given state. In Texas, schools in larger cities dominated the list — but two smaller southern cities, Edinburg and Brownsville, edge close to the state's top 10, earning spots at 11 and 12, respectively. This is what $2,000 in rent will get you in these Texas cities Many of the very top high schools share 99-100% graduation rates, one of several factors used to calculate the list. Among other factors are college readiness of students (30%), state test scores (20%), and underserved student performance (10%). Here's a look at...

‘Celebrate the most intense time of year’: A conversation with new Great Northern director Jovan Speller Rebollar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

The weather is finally warming up, and Jovan C. Speller Rebollar is thinking about winter.Speller Rebollar started May 15 as the executive director of The Great Northern Festival, an annual celebration of winter with a focus on protecting our cold season amid a rapidly changing climate.She’ll co-lead the festival with Kate Nordstrum, who has been the festival’s director since 2019 and will continue as chief programming officer. The organization’s longtime plan has been to split the top job in two once the festival grew enough — a leadership structure they’re hoping will allow Speller Rebollar to oversee internal nonprofit administration and development while Nordstrum devotes her full attention toward curating the festival.The 2024 festival will take place from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4. More details are announced in November.Speller Rebollar is from Los Angeles but has lived in the Midwest for more than a decade. Now, she lives on a small homestead in northern Minnesota where she practices...

Literary calendar for May 21: Title IX story, comedy and literature lovers night out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

SHERI/PEGGY BRENDEN: Sisters discuss “Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX,” about how athletes Peggy Brenden and Toni St. Pierre’s desire to compete on their high school sports teams eventually led to a legal precedent for schools nationwide. Sheri is the author. 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul.Samantha Irby reads from her new humorous essay collection, “Quietly Hostile,” Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Next Chapter Booksellers in St. Paul (Courtesy of Next Chapter Booksellers)SAMANTHA IRBY: Author of the bestselling “An Unkindness of Magicians,” comedian, essayist and bitchesgottaeat blogger introduces “Quietly Hostile,” her humorous new essay collection named one of the most anticipated books of the year. With Lindy West, author, critic, columnist and screenwriter. 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul.TERRI LIBENSON: Cha...

Schenectady man pleads not guilty in drug-related death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady man has been arraigned in connection with a drug-related death. The Albany County District Attorney's Office said Reuben Sangster, 23, pleaded not guilty on May 17. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The indictment alleges Sangster sold fentanyl on November 7, 2022 near 10th Avenue in Watervliet, which caused the death of another person. He has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.Bail was set at $20,000 cash, with the condition of electronic monitoring upon release. Sangster was released to the supervision of probation and is expected to return to court on June 6.

Teen arrested in Crossgates swatting incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 14 year old from Albany was arrested in connection to the swatting occurrence that happened at Crossgates Mall on May 19. The teen has been charged with falsely reporting an incident. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On May 19 at 12:34 p.m., the Guilderland Police Department responded to a call for a shooting at Crossgates Mall in the Macy's parking lot. The caller reported that there were two people shot, and that the suspect fled on foot into a nearby wooded area. This information was quickly determined to be false. Following the investigation, the teen was taken into custody. Man arrested after shots fired call in Schenectady The 14 year old, whose name will not be released due to his age, was released into the custody of a relative and was referred to the Albany County Probation Department. Police say there is no further threat to the public or Crossgates at this time.

Six Flags Great Escape is now open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — As schools are wrapping up for the semester, theme parks are opening up. Six Flags Great Escape had its opening day on Saturday, and Jennifer Mance, Marketing and Sales Manager says the park has been working on renovations from its hotel to some of its attractions since 2019.“When our guests arrive this year, they’re gonna notice that we put a lot of changes into our park, and in improving amenities, and in park beautification,” Mance said. “Including when they first walk through the front gate.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! They have added two new family restrooms right before entering the park, and Mance says many are excited about the renovations that have been done to the Raging River“We added back our in-ride water elements,” she said. “So if you like to get splashed, this is the perfect attraction for you.”They also included a new entrance and waterfall that will be active starting next ...

Eggs, ham, and other groceries that dropped in price in the Midwest last month

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:00 GMT

Grocery shoppers continued to feel a slight reprieve in April as grocery prices fell month-over-month for the second consecutive month, after a run of increases spanning back to September 2020.The decline was moderate, at about 0.2% since March, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. It certainly didn't undo the two years of historically high inflation, and prices were still up 7.1% from April 2022. But urban prices fell in many grocery categories, including eggs, meats, vegetables, grains, and dairy products.Many factors have contributed to past surges in pricing, including producers' increased cost to package goods, extreme weather conditions that destroyed crops, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the lasting effects of COVID-19.While costs remain high overall, the decreases mean dollars can stretch a bit farther at the grocery store. Stacker used monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the grocery items that experienced the largest price decreases over the last mon...