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City finds blue-green algae on Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin; algae may be toxic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Summer is near, and Austin's blue-green algae season is already here. The city said Tuesday that staff has found blue-green algae in Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. These algae are presumed to be toxic. PREVIOUS: Toxic algae season underway in Austin The Watershed Protection Department said blue-green algae was found at every monitoring site on Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin except at the Walsh Boat Landing. The city has documented toxic algae yearly since 2019 in Lady Bird Lake. Toxic algae have been found every year since 2020, when sampling began, in Lake Austin. Algae near Red Bud Isle on May 16, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Algae near Red Bud Isle on May 16, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)These algae toxins are contained in the algae itself, the city said, meaning exposure happens through ingesting or touching the algae. The department's initial tests were between May 2 and May 12, but initial lab results won't be ready until June. After tests are complete...

Ted Cruz's bill targeting dangerous street drug ‘tranq’ gets approval by US Senate committee

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A bill seeking to enhance the understanding of a dangerous and increasingly prevalent street drug, xylazine, is one step closer to passing after receiving approval from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Monday.Xylazine, commonly referred to as tranq, is a non-opiate sedative authorized in the U.S. only for veterinary use. It has had the most severe impact in the Northeast but was first detected in a Texas illicit fentanyl batch in March.  MORE: Xylazine, a sometimes deadly animal tranquilizer, detected in Texas supply Little medical research has been conducted on the effects of xylazine on the human body, but anecdotal reports describe it producing opioid-like highs. People who inject xylazine frequently are at risk of developing severe, necrotic skin alterations that can result in amputations, per the FDA.U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced in April the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quali...

Easy rough puff pastry

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsI have been looking forward to publishing my favourite puff pastry recipe. I cannot take credit for this recipe, as I didn’t develop it. This recipe was originally written and developed by Claire Saffitz, and is published in her debut baking bible, “Dessert Person”, an exceptionally written and photographed recipe book with foundational recipes and techniques, complex and advanced recipes, and everything in between.I have altered the original slightly by increasing the ingredient volume by roughly one third, because Saffitz’s original recipe uses three 113g sticks of butter, I have altered my version to use an entire 454g brick of butter which is most commonly found in most Canadian grocery retailers.Not only is this worth sharing with the price of commodities these days, I think having a frozen sheet of prepared puff pastry on hand opens up a world of culinary possibilities. I personally have used this pastry as a vessel for seasonal fruits and berri...

Northwest ASP given first reading

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsMore public consultation is expected before a public hearing on a bylaw for an Area Structure Plan for Northwest Coaldale.Presented during Coaldale town council’s regular May 8 meeting, the Northwest Area Structure Plan Bylaw – or Bylaw 872-P-05-23 – will allow for the creation of an Area Structure Plan for lands in the northwest portion of the town, surrounding the new high school and recreation centre, located north of Highway 3, west of the Birds of Prey Center and east of 30th Street.Cam Mills, director of growth and investment for the town, said that the bylaw is generally in line with previous presentations to town council and the public consultations held with stakeholders with the plan area, and the Town’s initial overview conceptual framework for the area.Mills noted there are some changes to the proposed map of the area.“As we engage in the process, work in the process, engage in sort of high-level engineering and things like that, things a...

Kate Andrews Pride takes thrilling 11-10 win over Chinook Coyotes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

By Garrett SimmonsSunny South NewsLast week’s win for the Kate Andrews Pride high school baseball team was as dramatic as it gets.The Coaldale outfit scored a thrilling 11-10 win over the Chinook High School Coyotes, thanks to a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning.It was a back-and-forth game, one which didn’t start out that great for the Pride.“We struggled for the first five innings at the dish and defensively,” said Kate Andrews coach Dan Griffith. “After three we found ourselves in a bit of a hole and had to centre ourselves.”That was accomplished through a dominant inning by a Kate Andrews relief pitcher.“We came out in the top of the sixth and Michael Smesman threw a shutdown inning on 10 pitches that really ignited our boys,” said Griffith. “In the bottom of the sixth we came out and put up a number and started to roll. We really thought that we had the edge going into the top of seven up 8-5.”But Chinook rallied, and on the strength of a three-run homerun by Mac Gri...

Respecting essential democratic protocol

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

Although I am not a member of any of the political parties running in this election, I filed a complaint with the Pincher Creek RCMP regarding the recent destruction of campaign signs around our area. From my point of view this disrespect for democratic principals should not go unnoticed and should have substantial consequences for offenders.The casual response by the RCMP; the non-response of the political party spending considerable resources to recover from the loss and the suggestion from Elections Alberta that this is beyond their control sends a resounding signal that we are on the slippery slope that has historically led to authoritarian government.Many of your readers will have ancestors that came here to escape political oppression and to live without fear of persecution for their religious and political beliefs. As we all know that is what a democratic system enables, and we have a responsibility as citizens to uphold the tenets it is built on including the right to promot...

Agriculture sector must remain key election priority

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

Alberta farmers represent less than one percent of Alberta’s population yet contribute billions to Alberta’s economy directly, as well as through exports and supplying value-added processors with high-quality feedstock.The crop and honey sector needs the next provincial government to focus on several key issues:IMPROVED MARKET ACCESS Work with federal, provincial, and territorial governments to reduce trade barriers, open new markets and attract new customers for Alberta agricultural products. Alberta’s economy would also benefit from continued efforts to attract investment into value-added processing projects.BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT Work with provincial and federal counterparts to ensure that Business Risk Management (BRM) programs remain effective. This requires that program administrators recognize the variability in farmer practices and that BRM programs remain free from environmental cross-compliance measures that further increase red tape.COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION Th...

Highway 36 work underway until mid-June

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

By Heather CameronSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterFrom now until around June 15, Highway 36 from north of Highway 504 to south of Taber will be undergoing some rehabilitation work.“This rehabilitation project was required to extend the life of this section of Highway 36 to improve safety and traffic flow,” Chris Poirier, project manager for Alberta Transportation, said. “While Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has not received feedback from the communities impacted by this project, it has been identified as a priority project by the County of Warner. Funding for it was allocated in Budget 2021.”The project, Poirier says, includes asphalt rehabilitation, namely milling and paving; replacement of cable barriers and installation of new cable barriers, flattening approach slopes, minor intersection radius widening, and various other improvements such as culverts and sign enhancements.Poirier says that Aecon Transportation West Ltd., who serves as the cont...

Hinman throws hat into Taber-Warner race

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

By Collin GallantSouthern Alberta NewspapersPaul Hinman has entered the provincial election as a candidate in the Taber-Warner riding and leader of Wildrose Loyalty Coalition, a new party that joins a crowded competition in rural Alberta.The familiar face in Alberta’s political outsider scene joins a five-name ballot in the southern Alberta riding that he represented in the early 2000s among seven of his party’s candidates registered with Elections Alberta.“Our biggest goal was to get a party registered and give people a place to cast their vote who are disenfranchised with legacy parties of the United Conservatives and the New Democrats,” Hinman told Southern Alberta Newspapers.He said that his party won’t “split the vote” in close ridings by running candidates, and at this point that includes both Medicine Hat area ridings.“We’ve been strategic… and have been careful except for areas where are real bad apples (candidates from) the UCP who need to be removed,” said Hinman, a ranche...

NDP candidate Colleen Quintal seeking election in Cardston-Siksika

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:17 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsColleen Quintal is looking to become the next MLA of Cardston-Siksika.She is running for the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) in the upcoming 2023 provincial election. Quintal was among the last three NDP candidates to be named in the final days before the writ dropped on May 1.Quintal has lived in Lethbridge since 2006, where she resides with her partner, Ray. She has been a national labour representative at the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) since 1997. She has also worked as a life skills coach, teaching assistant, and as a paralegal, and is the president of the NDP constituency association in Lethbridge-East.Quintal enjoys volunteering her time and has previously worked with organizations such as the Big Sisters mentorship program and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and spending time taking advantage of the natural beauty offered by southern Alberta.Quintal told SSN, “Throughout my career I saw how important it was to have strong sy...