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Some Texans are relying on lifesaving cooling centers. Find yours here.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- As Texans brace for another week of record hot temperatures, cities across the state are offering cooling centers for those without reliable access to air conditioning or water.The Texas Division of Emergency Management has compiled the local centers into a statewide map. Texans can find the one closest to them at tdem.texas.gov/cool."We know it's hot, but there are things that you can do to try and minimize your heat exposure, like staying hydrated, like seeking shade and finding a local cooling center near to you," TDEM Communications Office Wes Rapaport said. "All disasters begin and end at the local level. So the Texas Division of Emergency Management works to support requests for assistance from local officials, should they have any needs, and one of the tools that the state is able to utilize is this cooling center map."In Austin, city officials offered free water and misting tents throughout the weekend in downtown's Republic Square Park. It was a lifeline...

Seen one of these cones around Texas? They're a radioactive relic of a bogus health treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Lubbock was once a player in the health fad falsely promoting the medical benefits of drinking radioactively-charged water, and the artifacts are still around today.  A coworker recently brought a small concrete cone into the newsroom, calling it a “Lubbock Cone.” She said it was radioactive, and people would put it in water to infuse the water with radon.The newsroom at EverythingLubbock.com wanted to know why anyone would do that, so we asked Dr. Paul Frame from the Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity. He said the actual name of the object was “The Thomas Cone.”“It was a radioactive quack cure,” Frame said. “You could put the cone in a jar of water, typically overnight... You would drink the water.” In the mid-1900s, makers promised “all these health benefits,” but radioactivity is not safe for humans, and such claims led to trouble for the manufacturers. A Thomas Cone in Lubbock, Texas (Nexstar/Staff) A Thomas Cone in Lubbock, Texas (Nexstar/Staff) A Thomas Co...

Barbie collaborations released in anticipation of movie premiere

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Come on Barbie let's go ... shopping? With the anticipation of the new Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, many brands have announced their marketing collaboration for the movie. The Barbie movie has been trending online since fans got a first look at the pink utopia of Barbie Land in the May trailer. The all-star cast has many fans ready for the premiere and to stores for the latest partnerships. As many as 30 collaborations have been announced for the movie and there is still plenty more to come. Build-a-Bear is one of the 30 collaborations that got on the Barbie train and released its own pink Barbie bear with three Barbie outfits and one pair of Ken swim trunks. Van's teased its new Barbie collection on its website and across social media, which includes the 1990s to 1999 Barbie logo with a 90s color scheme background.(Source: Build-a-Bear Twitter page) Source: AirBnB twitter page(Source:NYX Cosmetics Twitter page) The Barbie...

Texas ranked among cheapest energy states in the nation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

TEXAS (KIAH) – As the U.S. continues to experience record-breaking heat, many want to keep the air conditioning on as much as possible – but that’s more costly in some states.A recent ranking from WalletHub, a personal finance website, aimed to rank “the most and least energy-expensive states.” Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, WalletHub compared the average monthly energy bills in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.To do this, WalletHub used an equation that factored in the average monthly consumption of electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and fuel, as well as the average prices of these types of energy.According to the study, Texas is the third least energy-expensive state in the U.S. and stood out for its low motor fuel price and its home heating-oil consumption per consumer.  Data shows Texans pay $153 on average for their monthly electricity and $68 for their monthly natural gas. They also typically pay about $158 a month to fill ...

PD: Texas tattoo artist arrested after minor posing as adult gets tattoo without parent's permission

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Texas tattoo artist was arrested after a minor posing as an adult got a tattoo without her parent's consent, documents detail.Edith Cuthbertson, of McAllen, was arrested on a charge of tattoo regulation requirements, according to Hidalgo County Jail records.A probable cause affidavit stated that on March 22, the mother of a 14-year-old girl reported to police that her daughter got a tattoo without her permission.The mother told police that when she confronted Cuthbertson, she apologized and told her the girl claimed to be 19 years old. Police spoke with the 14-year-old girl, who said she went in an Uber without her mother's consent and signed a contract stating that she was 19 years old. She said the artist never asked for identification. When investigators spoke with Cuthbertson, she said she originally requested a $50 payment and identification. The girl said her wallet had been stolen and did not have an ID, but asked if she could send a birth c...

Central Texas counties part of 150 Texas counties deemed primary natural disaster areas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

(FOX 44) - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 150 Texas counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a qualifying drought. The list includes Travis, Williamson, and many other Central Texas counties.This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. These loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or to refinance certain debts. The FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. The application deadline is November 17, 2023.According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of a severe drought for eight or more consecutive weeks, and extreme drought or exceptional drought.The primary c...

Texas duo sent to prison for attempting to transport 558 lbs of liquid meth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Brownsville resident was ordered to prison for helping traffic 558 pounds of liquid meth in a gas tank, the United States Attorney's Office announced. Ernesto Vargas, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute liquid meth from south Texas to Dallas.According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Vargas was responsible for helping Pedro Rodriguez III, 45 of San Benito, transport the meth across the state in early January.On Jan. 11, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Rodriguez was driving after he switched lanes without signaling.During the traffic stop, officials discovered Rodriguez had pending state warrants and took him into custody. Authorities later conducted a search of Rodriguez's vehicle and found approximately 558 pounds of liquid meth, valued at $650,000, hidden inside a gas tank.Rodriguez admitted he knew the meth was in the gas tank and agreed to transport the drugs to the Dallas area.The U.S. Atto...

Man dies when boat sinks on Lake Pueblo, two others rescued

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

One man died and two other people were rescued when the boat they were riding in sank in Lake Pueblo Saturday, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.The small ski boat sank Saturday evening near the big Lizard Picnic Pavilion on the lake’s north side, about 50 yards offshore in about seven feet of water, according to an agency news release.Two passengers were wearing life jackets when the boat sank and survived after being rescued by park rangers. A third passenger, a man who was wearing boots, pants and no life jacket, tried to swim to shore but was unable to.Frantic witnesses tried to swim out to the man but couldn’t reach him in time, according to the news release. His body was recovered by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s volunteer dive team. The man has not been publicly identified.The survivors told rangers that the boat began taking on water shortly after they left the marina. Authorities believe the weight of the water and the choppy waves on the lake swamped...

World Cup winner Lionel Messi set to be unveiled by Inter Miami and Major League Soccer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The stage is set. Lionel Messi is about to meet his new fans at Inter Miami.An event billed as “The Unveil” — or “La PresentaSíon,” as the club is calling it — is Sunday night at the team's stadium in Fort Lauderdale. It comes one day after Messi and Inter Miami finalized his signing through the 2025 season.It's the start of a busy week of events for Messi with his new club. His first official training session that will be open to reporters is set for Tuesday and — if all goes to plan — he will play Friday in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul. The team had scheduled a Monday news conference with Messi and team officials, then announced Sunday it was being postponed, without any explanation.The World Cup champion for Argentina and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner as the world's best player in a given year is joining a club that has the fewest points in MLS and is mired in an 11-match winless streak. Inter Miami opened the season with two wins and has gon...

SF Giants erupt in 10th inning to sweep series from Pirates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:47 GMT

Slumbering offensively for the better part of the previous 18 innings, the Giants erupted for five runs in the 10th Sunday in an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete a three-game sweep at PNC Park.The Giants opened the ninth with a single by Wilmer Flores against Pittsburgh reliever Yerry De Los Santos (0-1), advancing free runner Casey Schmitt to third base. Pederson was next and flew out to center to drive in Schmitt, and after J.D. Davis walked, Michael Conforto doubled to right center to bring in two more runs.They weren’t done, with Patrick Bailey, who had entered as defensive replacement, doubling in two more runs for a five-run lead.The Giants, 52-41, are 11 games over .500 for the third time this season and have yet to make it to 12 heading into a four-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds. Pittsburgh is 41-52.Heading into the 10th, the Giants had nine hits and had struck out 26 times in the previous 18 innings against Pirates pitching. Conforto also ...