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Clarence Avant, ‘Black Godfather' of entertainment, and benefactor of athletes and politicians, dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the "Black Godfather" of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.Avant, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement released Monday.Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much you know, and ask for as much money as possible, “without stuttering.”Sometimes called “The Godfather of Black Music,” he broke in as a manager in the 1950s, with such clients as singers Sarah Vaughan and Little Willie John and composer Lalo Schifr...

6-foot long boa constrictor found in Target shopping cart

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) - People at an Iowa Target were in for a surprise after a 6-foot long snake was found in a shopping cart Saturday.Animal control was sent to Target on Sunnybrook Drive in Sioux City around 11:30 a.m. after a Columbian red boa was found in a shopping cart, the Sioux City Police Department told Nexstar's KCAU. Snake in a toilet: Slithering visitor to Arizona home camps out where homeowner least expects it The snake was found in a cart in one of the cart corrals and wasn't noticed until brought inside the store. Courtesy Lindsay AlvarezCourtesy Lindsay AlvarezCourtesy Lindsay AlvarezAnimal control believes the snake was placed in the cart intentionally. Police said they were unsure if a customer or employee saw the snake first. According to the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin, male Columbian red tailed boas are typically 6 to 8 feet in size, while females are 7 to 9 feet. Females, which are larger, can weigh up to 30 pounds.

'Question mark' spotted by in deep space by Webb Space Telescope; what is it?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

SPACE (KXAN) -- A new photo from the James Webb Space Telescope is leading to a giant question: What in the cosmos formed a giant "?" in space?The photo was released by the European Space Agency on July 26th. This week, people online noticed what appeared to be "question mark" in the image. A recent image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope shows what appears to be a "question mark" in deep space. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. DePasquale (STScI), CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)The original image shows two stars, Herbig-Haro 46/47, forming in the center of a disc of gas and dust, according to the ESA. Just beneath the stars, the "question mark" can be spotted.In an interview with Space.com, a representative with Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) said the object is likely one or more galaxies "interacting". The color implies it is quite distant.In the full image released by the ESA, James Webb Space Telescope, a tightly bound pair of actively forming stars, known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, in...

AFD investigating smoke in northwest Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department is investigating reports of smoke Monday morning in three areas of northwest Austin.Crews were called to McNeil Road, Palmbrook Drive and Pearson Ranch, AFD said. In a later update Monday, AFD said the fire may be in Round Rock.AFD said the call came in around 10:30 a.m.This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available.

How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Wildfire season is upon us with several large fires already having burned in Central Texas over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, whether near or far, wildfires can put out a lot of harmful smoke into the air. Particulate within that smoke can be harmful to the general public, and more specifically, those with pre-existing conditions.MAP: Wildfires in Central Texas in 2023Meteorologist Kristen Currie spoke with Dr. Matthew Ashley, chief medical officer at Centre for Neuro Skills and a board member with the American Heart Association, to learn how those in sensitive groups can protect themselves from harmful toxins in wildfire smoke.Below is a transcript of their interview. Edits have been made for clarification. Kristen Currie, KXAN News: Dr. Ashley, let's first start with wildfires. Unfortunately, we're in the thick of it when it comes to fire season. We've already had our fair share of wildfires so far. Are there certain health impacts the general public nee...

Passengers steal ride-share driver's car in north St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Early on Monday morning in north St. Louis, a ride-share driver had his vehicle stolen.A ride-share driver picked up three men and drove them two miles to their destination in the 3400 block of Klein at around 12:30 a.m. Monday. Two of the passengers then flashed their handguns, pulled the driver out of the vehicle, and took his key fob out of his pocket. They drove off in his silver 2019 Acura MDX.The suspects are not in police custody. The police did not give a detailed description of the suspects. Please call the police if you see the stolen Acura.

Boulder’s modular home factory sparks community debate about location, noise, environmental impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

A new modular home factory being built in Boulder has stirred excitement as well as a healthy dose of controversy among members of the community.The city announced Monday that construction on the factory is due to start this month. City officials who have championed the project say the factory — which is expected to eventually produce up to 50 permanently affordable homes every year — will be a game changer in terms of creating more affordable housing in Boulder. They also say it will provide an unparalleled hands-on learning experience for students in a local construction program.However, numerous residents in nearby neighborhoods have vehemently opposed the project for a variety of reasons. Some are concerned about potential extra noise and traffic, while others worry about the environmental impact of the factory, which will sit adjacent to Sombrero Marsh, a protected wetland and habitat conservation area.The factory site at 6500 Arapahoe Road is a large plot of land owned by the ...

Vandal slashes fiberoptic cables, crippling internet access for some in Hesperia, SBSD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

Hesperia residents were without internet access for hours on Sunday after an apparent vandal slashed fiberoptic and copper cables on a utility pole, authorities said.Shortly before 11:30 a.m., deputies responded to C Avenue and Hercules Street, where they found "a span of fiber optic cables [had been] cut from poles," the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. The primary service provider, Charter/Spectrum, told deputies about the damage, which was caused by an unknown person and was estimated to cost about $40,000, officials said.The outage lasted "several hours until the restoration was completed," and it "appears the vandalism may have also affected customers of other network providers," officials added.No suspected vandal has been identified, and the motive remains unknown.Anyone with information is asked to call 760-947-1500 or 760-956-5001.To remain anonymous, call the WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or visit wetip.com.

Rapper Magoo, former partner of Timbaland, dies at 50 according to social media posts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

Rapper Magoo, who famously collaborated with Missy Elliot and rapper/ producer Timbaland and late R&B singer Aaliyah, has passed away according to multiple posts on social media. He was 50 years old. Word of the artist's passing came from posts on Instagram. R&B singer Ginuwine, who worked with Magoo in the late-90s and early-00s, penned a note to Instagram on Sunday night. Clarence Avant, nicknamed the ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92: Reports "I don’t even know how to say anything at this point, I have lost three friends now within a month to LIFE and its due date ….this dude always pushed me …I will miss you maganooo that’s what we called him," the artist wrote. "Totally one of the best ever in my eyes, always pressing forward. I know we didn’t talk a lot but the love was and will be always there my brotha, I will see you soon bro. We all have our date and I’m expecting the bro hug when I get there." I’m truly effed up right now foreal, life is crazy… I hate goin...

1 Killed, 2 Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Highway 9 [Lake Stevens, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:59 GMT

Two-Car Collision on Market Place Left One Dead and Two HurtLAKE STEVENS, WA (August 14, 2023) – Monday evening, a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 9 left one person dead and two others with injuries.The collision happened around 6:00 p.m. at Highway 9 and Market Place.According to the police, witnesses reported seeing a white Infiniti vehicle moving at “a high rate of speed,” per the authorities.The accounts of witnesses, the Infiniti drove through the Market Place traffic light “at high speed” and crashed with a black Honda SUV going left towards Market Place.According to the news in the press release, one woman died at the site. Another two were rushed to a medical facility with significant wounds.The report did not specify who was in either vehicle. Moreover, both directions of the roadway were temporarily shut down to allow for cleanup and preliminary duties.Authorities did not release any additional information at this time. However, a further investigati...