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Hyundai, Kia agree to pay $200 million to settle lawsuit after rise in thefts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

(The Hill) - Automakers Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc. have agreed to pay roughly $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit after the car companies saw a rise in thefts.“The agreement, which could be valued at approximately $200 million depending on how many customers elect to participate, will provide cash compensation for customers who incurred theft-related vehicle losses or damage not covered by insurance, in addition to reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums, and other theft-related losses,” Hyundai said in a release.Security concerns about certain Hyundai and Kia car models were raised after a viral TikTok challenge highlighted security weak points and showed how to hot-wire the vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration said in February that the social media challenge had led to at least 14 crashes and eight fatalities. Hyundai and Kia rolled out free software updates to shore up the cars’ security, for wh...

More than 30 million drivers don't know if they're at risk from a rare but dangerous airbag blast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — More than 33 million people in the United States are driving vehicles that contain a potentially deadly threat: Airbag inflators that in rare cases can explode in a collision and spew shrapnel.Few of them know it.And because of a dispute between federal safety regulators and an airbag parts manufacturer, they aren't likely to find out anytime soon.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding that the manufacturer, ARC Automotive of Knoxville, Tennessee, recall 67 million inflators that could explode with such force as to blow apart a metal canister and expel shrapnel. But ARC is refusing to do so, setting up a possible court fight with the agency. Hyundai, Kia agree to pay $200 million to settle lawsuit after rise in thefts NHTSA argues that the recall is justified because two people have been killed in the United States and Canada and at least seven others have been injured by ARC's inflators. The explosions, which first occurred in 2009, have co...

Youth mental health awareness campaign aimed at parents, caregivers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Public Health and Integral Care Wednesday announced a public awareness campaign aimed at getting parents and caregivers to help children and teens when it comes to mental health. According to APH, there has been a national rise in depression, trauma, and suicidality among youth, which resulted in a declaration of a national state of emergency in children's mental health. APH said those trends are mirrored in Austin and Travis County, which is why APH and Integral Care launched a public awareness campaign called "Ask, Listen, Talk, Repeat." The campaign aims to help parents and caregivers start critical conversations with children and youth about mental health. According to APH, suicide deaths among children and youth in the City of Austin rose by 65% in five years.  Suicide was the underlying cause of death for 33 people aged 24 and younger in 2022.  In that same year, children and youth in Travis County visited emergency departments a total of 40,254 tim...

Hail, damaging winds possible late Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A quiet and dry morning, but we'll likely finish our Friday with storms, some of which could be severe.Mainly sunny skies will help temperatures return to the low 90s this afternoon. It's not until late afternoon (4-5 p.m.) do we start to see a few isolated storms bubble up in the northwest Hill Country.Friday afternoon forecast highsAs the afternoon turns to evening, storms will grow in coverage and intensity. Well-developed thunderstorms will be capable of large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall causing flooding concerns.Friday's severe risk: 2 out of 5A few isolated storms begin to develop in the Hill Country late afternoon / early eveningStorms grow in coverage and intensity Friday evening and night ‘Potentially significant’ El Niño to begin by summer Behind Friday night's cold front, high temperatures drop to the low 80s this weekend. Only a few isolated showers are expected during your weekend plans.FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Cent...

Oliver and Charlotte top the list of Minnesota baby names for 2022

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Welcome to the world, Oliver. Here’s to Charlotte, Henry and Olivia, too.The U.S. Social Security Administration has released the most popular new baby names in Minnesota for 2022, and Oliver and Charlotte top the list for boys and girls, respectively, followed by Henry, Olivia, Theodore, Emma, Liam, Evelyn, Jack and Nora.That’s a bit of a departure from the national rankings, which put Liam at the top of the list of most popular baby boy names in the U.S. for six years in a row, and Olivia at the top for girls for four years in a row.Nationally, the dynamic duo were followed by Noah, Emma, Oliver, Charlotte, James, Amelia, Elijah and Sophia.The Social Security Administration, which recently unveiled a fresh homepage and website design, began compiling the baby names list in 1997 with names dating back to 1880.Related ArticlesLocal News | ‘Avoid prolonged time outdoors’: Air quality alert from wildfires expanded to all of Minnesota until Friday ...

Stillwater’s sunken garden is a hidden gem in need of repair, garden club members say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

One of downtown Stillwater’s hidden gems is a small city-owned garden and fountain on Second Street, across from the Lowell Inn. It’s called the Henry Clay Farmer Sunken Garden and Fountain, and it’s a popular site for wedding and prom photos.Members of the Trillium Chapter of the Perennial Garden Club of Stillwater operate and maintain the garden, which was designed and built in the early 1930s, but club members say it needs some TLC. The fountain hasn’t been turned on, the pond’s water feature isn’t working, and some of the stone stairs leading down to the garden are crumbling, members say.On Monday evening, the Trillium Chapter of the Perennial Garden Club is holding a garden party – which is open to all – to raise awareness and interest in the garden. They’ve invited city officials to attend and hope that they’ll soon sign off on restoration plans for the garden.“So many people have a stake in this garden – adjoining businesses, community members who use the garden f...

Earthquake shakes parts of Westchester County, Hudson Valley

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (PIX11) – Did you feel it? A minor earthquake hit parts of the lower Hudson Valley shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The agency said the tremor was a 2.2-magnitude earthquake. The epicenter was located at a Yonkers nature preserve near the border with Hastings-on-Hudson.Residents in the area, including parts of White Plains and New Rochelle took to social media to report feeling vibrations from the earthquake. No injuries have been reported.

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Do you buy a gift when going to a destination wedding?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Ali and it's about a destination wedding. Here's the email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I have a real dilemma and I'm little annoyed by it. Here's the situation. A good friend of mine's daughter is getting married. I have met that daughter only once as she is an adult who lives in another state. However, my friend has invited me to the wedding as her friend to support her. She said she would really need me to be there to help her out with everything as the mother of the bride. It is a destination wedding. My husband and I said we would go, because I love my friend. However, we are paying for our plane ride to the Caribbean, plus our room and everything else. Also, it's a formal wedding, which means I had to buy a gown, because I don't have one. I was happy to do all that. However, yesterday when I got the actual invitation, there was a note tha...

DA: Woman tries to kidnap kids from Pittsfield mom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) — On Wednesday evening, Pittsfield Police were sent to North Street after dispatchers heard about an attempted kidnapping. A mother and her two children—a toddler and a baby—had been walking down the street when Sharon Kranich, 55, allegedly grabbed and assaulted the toddler. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The mother immediately called 911. While she was on the phone, police say Kranich tried to take the baby and the toddler away from the mother. According to police, Kranich didn't get far. She made it 10 to 15 feet down the street before the mother caught her and got her kids back. Albany shooting suspect sentenced to 20 years Kranich allegedly ran into a nearby building, where she was arrested by Pittsfield Police. She was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and kidnapping. Kranich was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Thursday. At the arraignment, ...

Governor Parson to name new St. Louis circuit attorney today, following Kim Gardner's resignation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Governor Mike Parson will name a new St. Louis circuit attorney in less than six hours. This follows Kim Gardner's resignation. After 18 applications and five interviews, Governor Mike Parson is set to announce his pick for the next St. Louis Circuit Attorney at 11 this morning. This comes three days after Kim Gardner abruptly resigned, two weeks ahead of schedule.She had previously said her last day would be June 1. According to our reporting partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, several names are circulating as possible replacements. And the person appointed today will replace the current interim circuit attorney, Evan Rodriguez. He's led the circuit attorney's office on a temporary basis since Gardner resigned. Governor Parson says he wants the best person for the job who can restore law and order to St. Louis. The Republican governor listed four qualities he would look for in the winning applicant: a commitment to the written rule of law; strong manageri...