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Austin company unveils humanoid robot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The future has arrived in the form of a robot resembling a human, ready to take on any task and transform the way we work.Apptronik has unveiled Apollo, the world’s first commercial humanoid robot.For the last seven years, the Austin-based startup company has been out of the limelight and in the lab, working day after day to design this robot. RELATED: Austin-based startup designing humanoid robot with NASA Now, Apptronik is ready to take off with their creation, which could alter the way we live."We're excited to show the world what we're capable of building and the amazing work that's happening right here in Austin,” Apptronik co-founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas said.Back in 2016, Apptronik was founded by Cardenas and three other men within the human-centered robotics lab at the University of Texas at Austin.Since its inception, the robotics company has grown and expanded to 85 employees, who’ve helped design over 10 unique robots.This has all culminated in Apollo, ...

KXAN Investigates: Texas program to fight pregnancy substance use

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The in-depth reporting from KXAN Investigates will receive a new spotlight that viewers can interact with Wednesday morning.Investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree will bring back their new weekly show to focus on some of the top trending stories reported by the station’s investigative journalists. KXAN Investigates: Texas prison heat illnesses, new school safety rules People can watch the live stream starting at 9 a.m. in this story and on the KXAN News Facebook page. The stories that Wiley and DuPree will discuss more in-depth Wednesday will include:Data from the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee released in December shows substance use is one of the leading factors in pregnancy-related deaths, contributing to 8% of deaths. That’s why the Texas Department of State Health Services is focusing on opioids and other substance use. Nine participating hospitals are working together with community organizations...

PragerU among educational lesson plans allowed in Texas schools, company says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, PragerU announced it is now an educational vendor in Texas, according to a video posted to its website. The company said that means teachers have the options to use its lessons in classrooms.Texas is the second state, after Florida, to approve material from the conservative nonprofit to be used in schools, according to its release. The Hill reported in Florida, the videos aren't required content but "aligns to Florida's revised civics and government standards and can be used as supplemental materials." The approval did not come from Texas Education Agency or the State Board of Education, it came from the Texas Comptroller's Office, according to the TEA.In Texas, the use of PragerU content is similar. The "State Board of Education has authority under new statute to review and approve commercially available instructional material, such as those sold by PragerU. We welcome all publishers to participate in the SBOE's review and approval process," the TEA said....

'Harmful to public schools': Over 100 Texas chaplains issue letter of opposition to school chaplain bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 Texas chaplains issued a letter Tuesday urging school board members in the state to keep chaplains out of public schools. The letter, organized by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Interfaith Alliance and Texas Impact, asks school board members to reject the opportunity to recruit government-approved chaplains to public schools to “provide support, services, and programs for students." The opportunity is part of Senate Bill 763, which was passed by the Texas Legislature this year. Citing mental health concerns, Texas to allow chaplains as uncertified school counselors The bill is set to take effect on Sept. 1. The new law requires districts to vote on whether or not to create chaplaincy programs. The chaplains who signed the letter said the chaplaincy programs are an "affront to the religious freedom rights of students and parents as well as church-state separation, and the programs would take funding away from trained mental health ...

Black leaders protest hiring of Hmong city staffer for St. Paul reparations commission

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

For months last year and the year before, a committee assembled by the St. Paul City Council explored the concept of racial reparations. Could there be a role for local government in righting race-based historical wrongs?Following the recommendations of the committee, the seven-member council voted unanimously in January to take things two steps further, assembling a long-term reparations commission under their auspices, with a city staffer assigned to help dig deeper into how reparations might be structured.On Tuesday morning, with the city’s new reparations commission still in its infancy, some leading proponents of the idea stood outside City Hall to protest an initial staffing decision — the hiring of Jennifer “JLor” Lor to lead its work as the commission’s sole dedicated staffer and policy analyst.The problem, they said, is that Lor, who has served as a legislative aide to City Council Member Nelsie Yang, is Hmong. The job, they said, should go to ...

Albany International Airport to host Fear of Flying class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany International Airport will be hosting a "Fear of Flying" class to help those who deal with aerophobia, or the extreme fear of flying, conquer their fear. The fee for the program is $125, and those interested in registering can do so by calling the Airport's Office of Public Affairs at (518) 242-2230. The class is limited to 30 participants and will be held on Thursday, September 28 at 6:30 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Fear of Flying class will aim to help people with aerophobia who feel intense anxiety before or during a flight. Aerophobia can interfere with one's ability to travel for work or pleasure. The class will utilize psychotherapy, which helps most people conquer their fear of flying, according to the Albany International Airport. The class will be led by Dr., Griffan Randall and Rick Weiss, a retired Southwest Airlines 737 pilot and former U.S. Army helicopter pilot. D...

Denver weather: More heat on the way Wednesday with slight afternoon rain possibilities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

Another day of highs in the 90s is expected Wednesday in Denver, but slight late afternoon shower chances could offset some of the heat.The high Wednesday is 94 degrees, and after several days of lows in the 70s, Wednesday’s low will drop below that to 66 degrees.Heat continues Wednesday with highs in the 90's across the plains. Scattered thunderstorms will occur in the mountains with isolated storms along the I-25 Corridor. #cowx pic.twitter.com/RxJKEOCCW5— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) August 23, 2023Moisture is continuing to increase across the state, moving eastward into the mountains, so thunderstorms and showers will also increase over the mountains.A few showers will probably move east off the foothills later in the day, and Denver has a 10% chance of showers after 4 p.m. The main possibilities are for sprinkles and some strong 45 mph winds.Thursday and Friday have better storm chances so far, though.An Ozone Action Day Alert was issued in Denver Tuesday aftern...

Reggie Bush to file defamation lawsuit against NCAA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

Reggie Bush is holding a news conference Wednesday to announce a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA. The news conference will take place at 11 a.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where Bush played for USC, becoming a two-time All-American and winning the Heisman trophy in 2005. In this Nov. 19, 2005, file photo, Southern California tailback Reggie Bush walks off the field holding the game ball after the Trojans defeated Fresno State. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)Bush was forced to give up his Heisman in 2010 following an NCAA investigation that found he accepted compensation in violation of NCAA rules. Bush still has not answered media questions about what benefits he or his family did or did not accept during his time at USC, the Los Angeles Times reported.Bush tried to clear his name and get the Heisman back in 2021 arguing that the NCAA now allows college athletes to make money for their names, images or likenesses (NIL). The NCAA responded by saying the new rules do ...

'Domestic violence dispute' leads to man's fatal stabbing in Malibu, LASD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

A man was fatally stabbed in Malibu Tuesday night in what the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department described as a domestic violence dispute.The unidentified man, believed to be 20 to 25 years old, was attacked at about 11:11 p.m., officials said in a news release.Deputies were called to a domestic violence dispute between a man and woman in the 19400 block of Pacific Coast Highway, and when they arrived, they found the man suffering from blunt force trauma to his chest.While the man's killing was described as a stabbing death, deputies did not indicate how he sustained any blunt force trauma injuries or what role they may have played in his death.He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No information about the suspect has been released, and no further information was available.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacr...

Will A Little THC Ruin My CBD? — New Theories On Microdosing Delta-9 THC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:02 GMT

Lawmakers have had issues with delta-9 THC for decades. Even though more states have begun opening up to legal marijuana, there are no signs the federal government will reverse its stance on delta-9 anytime soon. According to the DEA, delta-9 is a “Schedule I” drug, which means it has zero supposed therapeutic value.Understandably, new CBD customers are often concerned to see even small traces of delta-9 in their products. If the DEA believes delta-9 is a “Schedule I” drug, doesn’t that mean THC is bad for you? If so, why is there some delta-9 in full-spectrum CBD oils? Also, why are more people requesting CBD oils with the highest legal amount of delta-9 THC?There’s still a great deal of debate surrounding the science of delta-9 THC, but the info below should help CBD customers make an informed decision.Can A Little Delta-9 Detract From CBD Oil’s Effects?Per the 2018 US Farm Bill, legal CBD oils in the USA must have ≤ 0.3 percent delta-9 THC. The reason lawmakers gave farmers this ...