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Where people spotted a rare bird in Texas for the first time

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Birders who flocked to a state park in the Rio Grande Valley recently enjoyed an incredibly unusual sighting that excited a Texas agency enough to declare a "rare bird alert" to its followers on social media. The Texas State Parks account posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that someone photographed a gray-collared becard at Resaca de la Palma State Park in Brownsville, which marks the first time anyone's ever seen the bird in Texas. State leaders further noted it's only the third sighting in the U.S. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? Here’s the top 10 countdown for 2023 "The gray-collared becard just had its FIRST EVER SIGHTING in Texas at Resaca de la Palma State Park!" the social media post read. "This species's first US sighting was in 2009; the second was just six months ago, in May of 2023!"Brandon Nooner, who works as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, snapped the photo of the bird perched ...

LIST: Central Texas festive light displays this holiday season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — 'Tis the season! As holidays festivities ramp up heading into December, so, too are the number of community events aimed at making memories and spreading holiday cheer. Among those include plenty of holiday light displays, designed to elicit plenty of "oh's" and "ah's" from attendees.Here's a roundup of events to fill your cup with holiday cheer this December.Austin Trail of LightsThe Austin Trail of Lights is a nationally renowned annual tradition that illuminates Zilker Park each December. Guests are welcomed to visit the display Dec. 8-23, which features more than two million lights, 90 lit-up holiday trees along with over 70 additional displays. LIST: Holiday light events in Central Texas The Trail of Lights is held in Zilker Park at 2100 Barton Springs Road.(Courtesy: Austin Trail of Lights) Bastrop River of Lights, Lighted Christmas ParadeBastrop embraces two traditions each holiday season, illuminating town with its Bastrop River of Lights display along wit...

Enjoying an afternoon of sun

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A bright and chilly afternoon is forecast with most of our high temperatures reaching the low 60s. Sunrise was overcast. The clearing started in the Hill Country during the 10:00 hour, reaching our eastern counties by 12:30. Most lows fell to the mid to upper 40s.Clouds will return tomorrow as an area of low pressure aloft moves from just west of the northern California coast today into northeast Arizona/northwest New Mexico by Thursday morning.The next upper storm system arrives Wednesday night/Thursday morningThe upper flow will come from the southwest bringing in moisture from the Pacific. There might be a few isolated showers Wednesday but it's Wednesday night to Thursday morning where the rain chances are best.Rain and thunderstorms Thursday morning into the early afternoonThunderstorms are also a part of the forecast during that time with a potential that some may be strong to severe in areas mainly east of I-35. The map below shows where the Storm Prediction ...

Prescribed burn planned for Wednesday at Southeast Metropolitan Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY (KXAN) -- The Travis County Parks service is planning a prescribed burn Wednesday at Southeast Metropolitan Park. Southeast Metropolitan Park is located southeast of Austin, east of State Highway 130 and north of Highway 71 at 4511 Hwy 71 East in Del Valle. FORECAST: Enjoying an afternoon of sun The burn will happen between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and will take around two to four hours to complete, according to Travis County Parks. The service is conducting the burn in cooperation with personnel from local fire departments and natural resource agencies, per a release. According to Travis County Parks, the burn is intended to "reduce wildfire danger and improve ecosystem health by removing invading shrubs, consuming dead and downed vegetation, reducing the number of exotic species, and enhancing the health and diversity of the native plant community."The parks service said north winds are anticipated, which will carry the smoke to the south and across the park and Hig...

With a clutch completion, Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields finished a sloppy night with a signature win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

On his final pass of a challenging night, Justin Fields knew he had one responsibility, one obligation to his team, one chance to author the ending of Monday’s tense and sloppy game with the Minnesota Vikings.Make a damn play.Just make one more play. Of any kind.That was all Fields needed to do, even with all the pressure that was intensifying — from the Vikings defense, from his own miscues earlier in the fourth quarter, from the weight of so many previous games the Chicago Bears had a chance to win but couldn’t.Just make a play.After doing so many things wrong, after again stumbling to the edge of the cliff in a winnable game, the Bears had their final chance to steal a win at U.S. Bank Stadium. The ball was in Fields’ hands near midfield with his team down a point and the clock ticking inside a minute.On third-and-10, Fields kept his nerves calm and his eyes up. A seven-man protection stonewalled a four-man Minnesota rush. And with the Vikings bailing backward in zone coverage, F...

16-year-old reported missing in Pittsfield

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Pittsfield police are asking for the public's help locating a missing 16-year-old boy. Police say Jacob Burdick was last seen wearing a light gray hoodie, dark sweatpants, and white Crocs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Jacob Burdick (Pittsfield Police Department)Burdick is described as 5'9'' and 128 pounds with long, curly, light brown hair and brown eyes. Police say he may also be wearing a black coat. Anyone who has observed Burdick or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Pittsfield Police Department at (413) 448-9700.

Man firing shots at a Lyft driver in August now under arrest

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

BEL-RIDGE, Mo. -- A man accused of firing gunshots after a Lyft ride in August is now under arrest. Cailin Houston is now facing felony weapons charges. He is being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond.Court documents state that a Lyft driver picked up Houston and a woman on August 8, 2023. He pulled over at a gas station near Natural Bridge and Hanley Road after they started acting suspiciously. Both Houston and the woman got out of the vehicle. St. Charles County bill against welcoming immigrants fails to pass Police say that Houston shot at the Lyft driver's car as he started pulling away. Officers found multiple gun shell casings at the scene and placed them into evidence.Houston was arrested weeks later in Granite City, Illinois, during an unrelated incident. The police ran his gun through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network database. It matched the evidence from the August 8 shooting.That wasn't the only evidence linking Houston to the St. Louis County shootin...

The best Advent calendars you can still find for this season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.You still have a little time to get your Advent calendarsAnd just like that, Thanksgiving and Black Friday are both in the rearview mirror, and Christmas and the New Year are fast approaching. With December just days away, it’s almost time to start counting down to Christmas with an Advent calendar — and if you haven’t gotten one yet, the options are starting to get limited. Many of this year’s bestsellers have long sold out.However, you aren’t completely out of luck. If you forgot to buy your Advent calendar, there are still some you can grab before December arrives (or even order, with one- or two-day shipping so they arrive just in time). There are great choices for kids and grownups, including Advent calendars for animal lovers, those who need a skin care refresh and anyone who would love a cup of tea every day this December.Shop this article: PAW Patro...

Yes, you can buy an Advent calendar for your dog (or cat)

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Give an Advent calendar to your favorite being this year: your dogWhen you do your Christmas shopping this year, there’s someone to make sure you don’t leave off your list — because he (or she) has undoubtedly been a very good boy (or girl). Of course, we’re talking about your pet, who definitely belongs on Santa’s nice list this year (and every year). You can make sure they feel the holiday spirit by gifting them their own Advent calendar, so they can join in with the rest of the family in counting down the days until Christmas.That’s right — there are Advent calendars for dogs and cats. And you’re going to want to grab one of these right away for your furry friend, so it’ll arrive in time for this year’s holiday season. Merry Christmas to all — Fido and Fluffy included.Shop this article: Himalayan Dog Chew 24 Joyful Days Dog Advent Calendar, Purina Fancy Feast...

'Merry Swiftmas!' Illinois family goes viral with Taylor Swift-themed holiday lights

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Merry Swiftmas, Swifties! A family's house in Naperville has gone viral for their enchanted Taylor Swift holiday light display.Amy Scott and her daughters, Rebecca, 18, and Emily, 21, have been longtime fans of the pop icon. Unfortunately, like many of us, the family did not go to the 'Eras Tour.' But after seeing Swift's concert movie in theaters, the ladies were inspired.Amy told WGN News that her family has been doing huge light displays for years, but this is the first time they would pay tribute to T. Swift.She said the decorating began in early November and ended late last week after her daughters came home from college for Thanksgiving break."We made almost everything. My husband, Brian, is a printer. We thought of and then he created our vision. The girls and I did all the glittering, of course," Amy told WGN.And oh, what a vision! The two-story Naperville house, located near Atlas Lane and Tupelo Avenue, has completely transformed into a Taylor Swift...