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Austin holiday tradition: When did the Zilker tree lighting start?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A more than 50-year-old city tradition will continue this Sunday at the annual Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting in Austin's Zilker Park. The Zilker holiday tree tradition started in 1967, according to the city. It was lit by Austin Mayor Pro Tem Emma Long. Since then, the lighting honor has gone to the winner of the city's tree art contest. LIST: Holiday light events in Central Texas There are over 3,300 lights on the tree with 39 streamers stretching from the ground to the double-star topper, per the city. The bulbs were changed to LED lights in 2019 to consume less electricity. A few years of tree lightings were impacted over time, such as in 1973 when President Richard Nixon declared an energy crisis and the tree was not lit. Because of the pandemic, the tree lighting was virtual in 2020View of the Zilker Park Christmas Tree at night during Yule Fest on December 5, 1968. Cars are visible around the base of the moontower. (Courtesy Austin History Center, Austin Publ...

How one company uses Styrofoam to tackle natural disasters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Styrofoam is considered poor for the environment for a number of reasons -- including how difficult it is to recycle, the chemicals involved in making it and the potential for animals to consume it. However, one company is using Styrofoam, along with concrete, to 3D print more resilient structures capable of withstanding more destructive weather that are, in some ways, becoming more common due to man-made climate change.KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with the CEO of Vero Building Systems about their building technology that combines Styrofoam with concrete, and how they're limiting Styrofoam waste in the process.KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin: Annette, you have technology that combines concrete with Styrofoam to protect infrastructure during natural disasters. How does this work?Annette Rubin, CEO of Vero Building Systems: Yeah, absolutely. So we are a U.S. based manufacturer, we manufacture "SCIP" panels. It's called a Structural Concrete Insulated Panel. The...

Andreas Kluth: Warts and all, international law is still better than no law

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Pundits of all stripes are tearing into one another right now about how to interpret international law. Hamas has indubitably broken it in the worst possible ways. But is Israel doing so as well? As political as it is legal, that controversy raises an older question: What is international law, and does it even exist?There’s no question that Hamas committed heinous war crimes on Oct. 7, when it attacked Israel and sadistically slaughtered about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. It broke additional international laws when it took civilian hostages, and yet more when it started using 2 million Gazan civilians as human shields. All of these acts are illegal in both customary and treaty-based international law.As for Israel, the victim nation, international law expressly gives it the “right to war” (jus ad bellum) in self-defense. But it also governs how it must fight “in war” (jus in bello). Here, the legal reasoning is clear in theory but slippery in practic...

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train returns to Capital Region

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- All aboard! The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is returning to the Capital Region on Friday, and making multiple stops into Saturday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The first stop is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Menands, followed by Mechanicville and Saratoga Springs by 7:30. The train will make another stop in Fort Edward on Saturday.

5 things to know this Black Friday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Black Friday! We hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect blustery conditions throughout the day. The Schenectady City Mission hosted hundreds on Thursday for its annual Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, assisted with the Turkey Day tradition of giving back. Meanwhile, the Pittsfield Police Department was sent to Thistle & Mirth on West Street for reports of a stabbing Wednesday night. When officers arrived at around 9:40 p.m., they saw evidence of a stabbing but no victim, according to the Pittsfield Police Department. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Friday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! 1. Schenectady City Mission helping those in need, Gov. Hochul serves mealsThe Schenectady City Mission hosted hundreds on Thursday for its annual Than...

St. Louis Lee's Chicken provided fee Thanksgiving meals

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The Lee’s Chicken location at Natural Bridge and Kingshighway was closed for Thanksgiving, but its employees and staff opened their doors to provide free Thanksgiving meals to those in need. The staff and employees are expressing gratitude by volunteering their time and giving to others, creating a double dose of goodness. Several community members and citizens express gratitude for the selflessness and thoughtfulness of the staff and employees, who ensure that those without a Thanksgiving meal can enjoy one. The Lee’s Chicken staff and employees, through their initiative and actions, showcase that we should all be grateful for everything we have and express our thanks by giving back to others. 

Holy Family girls basketball faces great expectations in quest for eighth state title: “Bring it on”

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Holy Family basketball players Julia Hodell (1), Jennifer Altshuler (24) and Essence Contreraz (13) during CHSAA winter sports media day at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, November 13, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)Great tradition carries the weight of great expectations.The Holy Family Tigers say: “Bring it on.”“Honestly, it’s an honor,” said Essynce Contreraz, the Tigers’ senior point guard.Holy Family is the defending Class 4A girls state champion, having defeated D’Evelyn 49-44 last season to win the school’s seventh state hoops title, but its first since 2014. Coach Ron Rossi had led the team to six 3A state titles before winning his first 4A championship.But a repeat feat won’t be easy. Asked if his Tigers have a target on their backs, Rossi chuckled.“We felt like we were hunted last year, too,” he said. “You just have to have the attitude that when you step on that court you are going to do the best job t...

CSU Rams vs. Hawaii football: How to watch, storylines and staff predictions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Colorado State (5-6, 3-4 Mountain West) at Hawaii (4-8, 2-5)When/where: 9 p.m. Saturday/Clarence T.C. Ching ComplexTV/Radio: Spectrum Sports/ESPN Honolulu, 104.3 HD2BetMGM Line: CSU -5.5, 54.5 over/underWeather: Around 80 degrees with slight wind.Five storylinesAlmost bowling: Overheard in the underbelly of Canvas Stadium a few weeks ago: CSU AD Joe Parker, prior to the Rams’ win over San Diego State, remarked to a fellow staffer that, “If we can win these next three games, this season could be special.” He’s right. And now after beating the Aztecs and hanging on to defeat Nevada last week, CSU is one win away from its first bowl game since 2017. Head coach Jay Norvell needs to avoid a letdown in Honolulu, because a postseason berth would be a huge building block.Horton eyes 1K: CSU star wideout Tory Horton’s dealt with multiple injuries this year, including leg/ankle issues and a hip pointer. But that hasn’t stopped him from again being CSU’...

CU Buffs vs. Utah football: How to watch, storylines and staff predictions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Colorado (4-7, 1-7 Pac-12) at Utah (7-4, 4-4)When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday/Rice-Eccles StadiumTV/Radio: Pac-12 Network/850 AM, 94.1 FMBetMGM Line: Utah -21.5, 52.5 over/underWeather: Sunshine with a high of 37 degrees, slight windFive storylinesShedeur’s status: After Shedeur Sanders suffered multiple injuries in last week’s pummeling at Wazzu, one to his hand and another to his ankle, CU’s quarterback had to leave the game. That exposed the Buffs’ lack of depth behind him, as neither Ryan Staub nor Gavin Kuld looked like they had command of the offense. Sanders was sacked four times before he departed in the first half, continuing a season-long trend of the Buffs’ QB getting battered. He’ll be a game-time decision Saturday.A season spiraling: The Buffs’ 3-0 start featuring an upset of TCU on the road and then emotional victories over rivals Nebraska and CSU at home feels like eons ago. Since then, CU’s lone win came against a bad ASU te...

Letters: Invasive weeds crowd out Colorado’s botanical gems

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Invasive weeds crowding out rare gemsRe: “Some might say it’s futile, but pulling thistles sows hope,” Nov. 16 commentary and “Clearing the path of goat heads,” Nov. 18 letter to the editorI was gratified to read the article on the community and personal benefits to pulling musk thistle near Jackson, Wyo., and the subsequent letter from “Goathead Greg,” who endeavors on Denver’s urban trails. My bête noire is not musk thistle, which, as the writer points out, is a pretty noxious weed that attracts butterflies and bees, but rather Russian thistle. It has the Putinesque attributes of being invasive and relentless, contains no beautiful flowers for pollinators, and engulfs our natural areas.If you visit the picnic stop at Vogel Canyon south of La Junta, be prepared to approach your table through a forest of this prickly menace. The valley floor just beyond is so impenetrable that viewing the petroglyphs is almost impossible. Up north, the Arapa...