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'The Austin Chronicle' cofounder sued by former employee alleging forced sexual relationship

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lawsuit filed on Tuesday alleges that "The Austin Chronicle" co-founder Louis Black sexually harassed and abused a former employee.The lawsuit, brought by local reporter and artist Ariel Cassone, claims Black coerced Cassone into a "state of sexual servitude under the guise of mentorship" while she was employed by Black.The two were introduced in 2008, according to the lawsuit, but Cassone started working for Black in 2016. "Over the course of many years, Mr. Black carefully manipulated Ms. Cassone and her working relationship into a forced sexual relationship that preyed on Ms. Cassone’s desperate financial situation. Mr. Black routinely withheld or delayed payment of Ms. Cassone’s salary," the complaint states.Black's attorney Jacob T. Smith provided a statement to KXAN: Mr. Black has been made aware of the article published October 5, 2023, in the Austin Chronicle.Mr. Black categorically denies the allegations asserted in Ms. Cassone’s complaint. Theallegations ...

Austin woman has gone to ACL every year, 'As long as I live here, I will go.'

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Thousands of festival goers flooded the Austin City Limits gates Friday afternoon. Among the crowd was Denise Cavness, 64, who hasn’t missed a day of ACL since its first year in 2002. Cavness was born in Austin and has worked at the Paramount Theatre for more than three decades. “I figure as long as I live here, I don't really feel like it's an option not to go,” she told KXAN.  MORE: Hotels, short-term rentals face high demand during ACL through end of the year “It's a party in the backyard,” she added. “One of the things about ACL is it's always been a time where all your friends get together. Whether at a house beforehand or at the festival at a flagpole – everybody meets up [and] you might only see those people once a year.”Growing up in Austin, Cavness naturally attended many live music events over the decades. She said it came as no surprise when stakeholders announced the ACL festival at the turn of the century. Like the city of Austin, Cavness said the...

I-94 lane closure set for overnight Tuesday in Oakdale and Woodbury

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

Eastbound Interstate 94 will be reduced to single-lane traffic Tuesday night in Oakdale and Woodbury.Part of the I-94 Oakdale to St. Croix River project, construction crews will start resurfacing the pavement at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, between Highway 120 and Century Avenue in Oakdale and Woodbury Drive and Keats Avenue North in Woodbury, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.(Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation)Resurfacing work and the lane closure are projected to last until 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.After this closure, three-lane traffic will resume through the winter, according to MnDOT, and the merge lane between the northbound I-494 ramp to eastbound I-94 and Radio Drive will also be reopened.The Department of Transportation said in a release that the work will improve “safety, traffic flow and ride smoothness.”For more information, visit the project webpage at mndot.gov/metro/projects/i94oakdale-stcroix.Related ArticlesLocal N...

Chiefs at Vikings picks: Somebody’s likely to get barbecued, and it’s not Kansas City

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings forecast Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium:DANE MIZUTANIChiefs 31, Vikings 20After completely overwhelming Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young last week, the Vikings will quickly find out that superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a different beast. As hard as the Vikings try, they won’t be able to keep up with the Chiefs.JOHN SHIPLEYChiefs 42, Vikings 24The Vikings ended a three-game skid to start the season with a road win at Carolina last Sunday, which was great. Anyone watching that game, however, left with the distinct impression that the Panthers aren’t very good. The Chiefs are good.CHARLEY WALTERSChiefs 35, Vikings 21Even a Taylor Swift appearance at U.S. Bank Stadium can’t disrupt the Chiefs. Meanwhile, pay attention to the glaring difference between QBs Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Vikings center Garrett Bradb...

Twins tap Bailey Ober to pitch ALDS Game 1 against Justin Verlander, Astros

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

HOUSTON — Someday when they’re old enough, Bailey Ober is looking forward to telling his four young children — daughters Blake and Olivia and sons Jax and Kollins — about the time he pitched against a future hall of famer in the postseason.First, Ober has to author the conclusion to that story. That will come on Saturday when the Twins take on ace pitcher Justin Verlander and the Astros at 3:45 p.m. in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park.“It’s unbelievable,” the 28-year-old said. “… It’s just a surreal moment to be able to throw against Verlander in the postseason.”Ober found out on Friday afternoon that it would be him, not Joe Ryan, who would have pitched Game 3 of the Wild Card Series had it gotten there, or even veteran Kenta Maeda that would draw the important start against the defending World Series champions.It was a decision that manager Rocco Baldelli said he hadn’t come to concretely until about 10 minutes before he called Ober int...

Vikings center Garrett Bradbury does not have an injury designation

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

After being a full participant in practice twice in the past 48 hours, starting center Garrett Bradbury appears to be on the verge of returning to the Vikings’ starting lineup. He has not played since suffering a back injury early in a Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Though head coach Kevin O’Connell wasn’t ready to guarantee anything at this point, the fact that Bradbury does not have a injury designation is a good thing with the Vikings set to host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.“We’ll see how he does after today,” O’Connell said. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re excited to have Garrett back.”What would Bradbury’s presence bring to the offensive line?“He’s just such a pillar of communication,” O’Connell said. “There’s a reason why we feel real comfortable when Garrett is out there.”In that same breath, O’Connell made sure to praise backup center Austin ...

Former baby food plant to start growing marijuana

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The former Beech-Nut plant stood as a pilar of the local community, a driver of the Canajoharie economy and workforce. Since Beech-Nut relocated to the town of Florida, new ideas have circulated for reviving the site.   Beechnut factory site transformation proposals So long as it doesn’t all go up in smoke, plans are in motion for a $15 million indoor cannabis growing facility at the site. Shovels are reading to break ground on a new facility named for its location just off Thruway exit 29. E29 Labs is the proposed name for the new company primed to support a growing Montgomery County cannabis industry. Planners have already applied for official approval from state regulators for the operation. “We entered into a purchase and sale agreement with them a few years back,” said Vincenzo Nicosia, the Director of Program Development at the Montgomery County Business Development Center. "They’re waiting on the licensing proc...

Suspicious death on Vermont rail trail

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

CASTLETON, V.T. (NEWS10) — Authorities in Castleton are investigating the suspicious death of a woman near a local rail trail. Vermont State Police are not yet naming the victim and they don’t officially have a suspect. As of the afternoon Friday October 6, they have a description and they said that the killer should be considered armed and dangerous.Paroled sex offender arrested in Gloversville Rail Trail assault"The male suspect, as I will call just him, was described to us as somebody in their possibly late 20s. Short. Dark hair…One witness described it as dark red hair…Wearing a dark colored shirt. That dark colored shirt–I think we referred to in our release last night as dark gray– one person described it as black. So it could be a combination of that, and it depends on their angle… and the sunlight" said State Police Major Dan Trudeau.A witness in the area reported a possible suspect was northbound on the rail trail walking towards the Castleton University Campus after gunsh...

Advocates say oil companies should pay costs of climate change

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) –  A coalition advocated for the state to create a new revenue source that will cover the costs of adapting to climate change. They said the costs currently fall on New York State taxpayers and should fall on the fossil fuel industry. “The climate crisis costs are in the tens of billions of dollars and the taxpayer should not be burdened with these climate crisis costs. Big oil companies are making huge profits, they should pay their fair share,” said Anne Rabe, the environmental policy director for the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Friday more than 200 environmental, religious and labor groups sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul that asked her to include the Climate Change Superfund Act in the upcoming budget. Rabe said they want the public to be aware of the bills they’re footing.“They’re unknowingly paying for the climate crisis costs.They ...

Some limousine safety regulations still waiting to be passed

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:55:19 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Five years ago, a limousine carrying a driver and 17 passengers celebrating a birthday, experienced brake failure and crashed near the Apple Barrel Country Store in Schoharie. Everyone in the vehicle and two pedestrians were killed."It was a devastating event that effected our communities in so many ways," said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. "It left a scar on our community, and we continue to think of the families that lost loved ones."Following the crash, the state took action to make limousines safer. One of the laws created a limousine safety taskforce. In January of this year, both the Senate and Assembly passed a bill to extend that taskforce, so it could continue to provide recommendations to the state."This task force is critical for being a fresh set of eyes each and every year to advise the legislature on may be something that we haven’t done yet, but maybe need it in the future. That bill is a very important bill," explained Santabarbara. "I urg...