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What's the 'Taylor Swift Challenge'? How to help your local shelter on her birthday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

(WSYR) – In celebration of Taylor Swift's 34th birthday, animal shelters all over the United States are using fans to take part in a "Taylor Swift Challenge."Swift — who joked that she only accepted Time's Person of the Year award by asking, "Can I bring my cat[?]" — is known to be a cat lover, owning three famous felines: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button, the last being the rescue cat she's pictured with on the Time magazine cover.Knowing this, shelters across the country are hoping to inspire Swift's fans to donate a few bucks to their cause.Taylor Swift accepts the Icon award — a surfboard covered in cat photos — at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Hermosa Beach, California. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which is credited with the idea, said the #TaylorSwiftChallenge could do a world of good for animals in need."On December 13, you have the chance to be person ...

FOP contract biggest focus of Wednesday's City Council meeting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

CHICAGO — City Council is discussing several issues involving the Chicago Police Department Wednesday.The biggest item for council members is the FOP contract. The FOP and Mayor Johnson's administration agreed on a new deal to get rank-and-file officers five percent raises next year and in 2025. That's double than the previous raise.New stipends of $1,000 annually for officers with emergency medical, crisis intervention or bike training certificates.There's also a $2,500 retention bonus for every union officer.On the operational side, CPD leaders will be able to create rotating teams of homicide investigators, who will take up all the murders in a particular area. They deal said they would work exclusively on those cases for one week.But the most contentious part of the deal is police discipline. A council committee rejected an arbitrator's ruling that would allow officers accused of serious wrongdoing to hold proceedings behind closed doors — bypassing the police board.Mayor Johnso...

AFD hosts 19th annual Senior Holiday Lunch

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday, the Austin Fire Department hosted its 19th annual Senior Holiday Lunch.The lunch was held at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center in east Austin.“The event was the brainchild of retired Austin firefighter Tim LaFuente, who not only organizes the event each year but cooks all of the food himself!” organizers said.19th annual AFD annual Senior Holiday Lunch at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)19th annual AFD annual Senior Holiday Lunch at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)19th annual AFD annual Senior Holiday Lunch at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)19th annual AFD annual Senior Holiday Lunch at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)19th annual AFD annual Senior Holiday Lunch at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)19th annual AFD annual Senior Holiday Lunch at the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)19th annual AFD ann...

TABC debuts new opioid overdose training course

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced Wednesday it had created a new training course to help alcohol retailers both recognize signs of an opioid overdose and learn how to apply life-saving measures to those overdosing.Senate Bill 998, authored by state Sen. Royce West and passed in the 88th Texas Legislature, went into law on Sept. 1. The newly-minted law requires "certain Mixed Beverage and Private Club permit holders, and certain members of their staff, to complete an opioid overdose training course provided by TABC" annually, the release said.“Not a week passes without hearing of another opioid-related death. The course developed by TABC following the passage of SB 998 will instruct those who work in venues where alcohol is sold on how to identify a person in the stages of an opioid overdose and train them to administer an opioid antagonist,” West said in the release. “SB 998 creates a safety net in this fight against the fentanyl and opioid-rela...

Police target impaired driving over the holidays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Beginning on December 13, New York State Police will increase patrols and DWI checkpoints to crack down on impaired driving this holiday season. The national enforcement initiative will run through January 1, 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! "Impaired driving is reckless, dangerous, and illegal, and we have zero tolerance for it on New York roadways," Governor Hochul said. “We’re sending a clear message this holiday season that those in violation of our vehicle and traffic laws will be ticketed or face criminal charges.”In addition to cracking down on impaired driving, police will be on the lookout for distracted drivers and those not properly buckled. Law enforcement will also target drivers violating the Move Over Law, which requires motorists to use caution when passing emergency vehicles stopped in or on the side of roadways. Motorists who need to use their phones are urged to stop at rest stops, servic...

$2.85M Colorado house with link to John Denver hits market for first time

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

A home in Morrison designed by the same architect behind John Denver’s Starwood home in Aspen is available for the first time since it was built in 1975 for an asking price of $2.85 million.The listing at 7558 S. Turkey Creek Road includes a 7,062-square-foot home with five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half-bathroom. It also includes five parcels covering over 75 acres in the foothills near U.S. 285, about 30 minutes from downtown Denver.“To find that unique buyer we have to cast a wide net. It is a cool opportunity,” said Matt Bachus, co-owner of the Tupper’s Team at Madison & Company Properties in Evergreen, which has the listing.The property is vintage mid-1970s design with lots of interior oak finishes, skylights, carpeted bathrooms and a fireplace built with stones from the property. While acquiring a “time capsule” might appeal to some buyers,  remodeling costs will probably be part of the financial equation for most.The archite...

Broncos roundtable: Dan Campbell, Sean Payton or somebody else for NFL coach of the year?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat reporter: Please take your seat at the roundtable and you shall have your voices heard. It’s mid-December. The Broncos are playing meaningful football. And they’re going into a Saturday night, prime time tilt against the Detroit Lions with plenty on the line. Denver’s 7-6 and, really, the most important thing is to win the three remaining AFC games on their slate after this weekend. But a win in the Motor City could still be the difference and it could put the division more realistically in play if Kansas City stumbles any further (although, the Bengals are the best team left on the Chiefs’ schedule). Here’s the topic for today: Lions coach Dan Campbell is a Sean Payton protégé and also the odds-on favorite for NFL coach of the year. Can Payton press him for it? And, if not one of these two former Saints, then who? A couple of rookies in DeMeco Ryans (Houston) and Shane Steichen (Indianapolis) have been impressive and, uh, h...

Colorado Rapids great Steven Beitashour announces retirement: “This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary”

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

Steven Beitashour went from an obscure SuperDraft selection to one of Major League Soccer’s ultimate diamonds in the rough. After shining for 14 seasons, he is ready to call it a career.On Wednesday, the 36-year-old announced he is retiring from professional soccer. Beitashour played for five teams — his final four seasons came with the Colorado Rapids — over a sterling MLS career that included nine trophy-lifting ceremonies.As part of the statement announcing his retirement, Beitashour expressed gratitude for a career that saw him appear in more than 300 games across all MLS competitions, including the postseason, after being selected in the second round of the 2010 SuperDraft out of San Diego State.“This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I leave the soccer field with a heart full of memories, lessons learned and gratitude,” the statement read. “… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, I am forever grateful.”His trophy c...

Protesters block 110 Freeway in downtown L.A. demanding cease-fire in Gaza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

Dozens of protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war brought traffic to a halt on the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday morning.A group called IfNotNow, which described itself as a movement of American Jews supporting the end of U.S. support for Israel's war on Gaza, claimed responsibility for the protest, which began around 9:30 a.m.Sky5 news helicopter footage showed the demonstrators sitting in the southbound lanes of the freeway near 3rd Street behind a banner reading, “Permanent Ceasefire: Equality, Justice, Safety For All.” A large Jewish Hanukia, or Menorah, had also been placed on the freeway.Anti-war demonstrators are seen blocking the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles in KTLA 5 News coverage on Dec. 13, 2023. Police, protesters and stopped cars are seen on the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2023. Anti-war demonstrators are seen blocking the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2023. Anti-war demonstrators are seen ...

SoFi Stadium to host Super Bowl LXI in 2027: Sources

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:44 GMT

The NFL is expected to announce that SoFi Stadium will host its second Super Bowl, multiple sources reported Wednesday.The stadium, which is located in Inglewood, will be the site of Super Bowl LXI in 2027, ESPN, Bleacher Report and other websites reported, citing league officials. SoFi is currently home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. The stadium previously hosted Super Bowl LVI, where the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. A general view of the interior of SoFi Stadium is seen during Super Bowl 56 on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)The NFL still has three Super Bowls scheduled before the big game returns to the L.A. area. 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas2025 at the Superdome in New Orleans2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa ClaraThe Los Angeles area will also be hosting the Summer Olympics in 2028.