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Local electric co-op reaches milestone

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) – Pedernales Electric Cooperative said Tuesday it reached a milestone by placing its 400,000th meter at a new Buda fire station. The nation's largest electric co-op serves the Texas Hill Country. PEC said it has experienced massive growth across its service area as many areas, including sections of Hays County, have urbanized. Hays is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, with a growth rate of 5.14% between 2021 and 2022. In 1938, PEC incorporated with 3,000 paid memberships. According to co-op, it took more than 60 years to reach 200,000 meters in 2005. The co-op had 300,000 meters by 2018 but only needed five years to reach the 400,000 mark. By contrast, Austin Energy served 520,757 customers in 2021.“As we look ahead, we are deeply focused on meeting the needs of all our growing communities that depend on the member-focused service we’ve provided over the past 85 years," said PEC CEO Julie C. Parsley in a statement to KXAN.PEC said it will continu...

Mandalay Kitchen brings traditional Karen and Burmese flavors to Frogtown

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

The first day Mandalay Kitchen opened was also the first day the new restaurant’s founder and owner, Chris Tunbaw, had worked in food service.But earlier this year, when he told his family and friends that he’d signed a lease, those who knew him well were not surprised: Ever since he was a boy, he said, he’s been dreaming of opening a restaurant serving traditional Karen and Burmese food.Chris Tunbaw, owner of the new Frogtown restaurant Mandalay Kitchen that serves traditional Karen, Burmese and Thai dishes. (Photo courtesy Chris Tunbaw)Mandalay Kitchen opened in early November, in the former Marc Heu Patisserie spot on the corner of University and Western avenues, with a variety of noodle and rice salads, soups, stir-fries and other entrees.Tunbaw’s family is Karen, a minority ethnic group in Myanmar that has long faced persecution and sought independence. Over the past half-century in particular, many Karen people — including Tunbaw’s family — have fled the country. Now, signific...

Other voices: Supreme Court needs a real ethics code

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Holding judges to high ethical standards is essential to the U.S. legal system. The Supreme Court’s recent adoption of an ethics code is an overdue acknowledgement of this reality. But the court’s failure to include any enforcement provisions reduces the code to a paper tiger. The public shouldn’t fall for it.Where ethics are concerned, the high court has long taken the approach of adopting “rules for thee but not for me” — requiring all other federal judges to adhere to high standards while exempting itself. Not surprisingly, the justices have exhibited a series of embarrassing ethical lapses, including failing to recuse themselves despite owning stock in companies appearing before them; failing to disclose lavish vacation gifts; using public employees to help promote and sell books; and accepting free accommodations for themselves and guests.These breaches have led to a public outcry, and rightly so. They stain the court’s reputation and r...

Too Good To Go food waste app offers restaurant deals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Oh man do I love eating and dislike cooking. It’s a conflict-prone combination that lends itself to going out to eat way too much, which has become prohibitively expensive in these inflationary times. Then there’s that unfathomable semi-hidden fee, sometimes as high as 20%, added on to an increasing number of restaurant orders. Who can tell me exactly what happens to my hard-earned cash once that non-tip is shelled out? But I digress.Recognizing my gastric plight, a friend who recently relocated from Minneapolis to New York City turned me on to the smart phone app “Too Good To Go” (TooGoodToGo.com), which presents itself as a way to save the planet while filling your gullet on the cheap. He and his partner buy all their pricey NYC pastries this way. I was instantly smitten with the concept: Restaurants, bakeries and even some grocers create grab bags of day-olds and other items they’d like to get rid of. They list these “surprise bags” onlin...

Letters: Inspiring to read about the life and charity of Rosalynn Carter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

‘Wage peace, fight disease, build hope’In these troubling times of wars, crime and hatred, it was inspiring to read in the Pioneer Press about the life and charity work of the late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, who were advocates of such noble causes as Habitat For Humanity, mental-health care and feeding the hungry.Unlike some politicians and world leaders who grab the spotlight by spewing venom and fomenting divisiveness, the Carters went about their mission to “wage peace, fight disease and build hope” with modesty and dignity.We desperately need more people like Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter, who were true stewards of the Earth and worked for the betterment of mankind.Louis DiSanto, St. Paul The books are disappearingI have a Little Free Library in my front yard, and I used to have problems with people dumping unwanted books into it, including textbooks and strange religious or other books that they did...

Pittsfield Police looking for suspect in armed bank robbery

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Members of the Pittsfield Police Department are searching for a suspect in an armed bank robbery that happened around 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Police say the robbery took place at the NBT Bank located at 609 Merrill Road. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to law enforcement, the suspect entered the bank, showed a firearm, and demanded cash. The suspect fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled in an unknown direction. Police say the suspect is believed to be a white man. Anyone with information or who saw any suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact Detective Goodrich at (413) 448-9700, extension 554. You may also text an anonymous tip to TIP411 (847411).

5 things to know this Thursday, November 30

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One more day until Friday! Happy Thursday! According to Meteorologist Matt Mackie, we can expect milder temperatures with some sunshine and a light breeze. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Two years after discontinuing more than a dozen academic programs in an effort to lighten its financial burden, the College of Saint Rose is still in trouble. Also, over 50,000 drivers could have their licenses suspended Friday due to a COVID-era rule. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Amid money woes, Saint Rose looks to city, county, state for helpTwo years after discontinuing more than a dozen academic programs in an effort to lighten its financial burden, the College of Saint Rose is still in trouble.2. Over 50K driver’s licenses could be suspended FridayMore than 50,000 drivers could have their licenses suspended Friday due to a COVID-era rule. This rule al...

Letters: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter set best example as citizens

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Carters: leading by exampleRe: “Tributes highlight reach as first lady, humanitarian” and “Trump hints at expanded role for the military within the U.S.,” Nov. 28 news storiesI couldn’t help but chuckle at the juxtaposition on page 13A of Tuesday’s Denver Post, where the article memorializing the life of First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who spent nearly a century alongside her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, devoting their lives to the welfare of others, sat side to side with the continuation of the story about former President Donald Trump suggesting the use of America’s military against its own people.Could the comparison be any more striking?While President Carter and his wife weathered a difficult presidency, they went on to use their position to show what true civil service looks like. It looks like humility, compassion, kindness, selflessness and service. It is putting the well-being of others before yourself.In comparison, Trump ha...

Ask Amy: Young bully weaponizes friendship

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Dear Amy: My daughter, in third grade, made friends with a second-grader, “Lucy,” who lives across the street. They go to the same school.The two girls were getting along great when all of a sudden Lucy started making friends with all my daughter’s classmates, and then telling her that the other kids don’t want to be her friend.She also heard Lucy tell another girl that my daughter is ugly. She came home sobbing.I know this happens all the time, but it’s wrong.This little girl has spent a lot of time at our house. Her mom is a school counselor. Should I talk to the mom?(My daughter doesn’t want to go to this school anymore — she’s only in third grade!)I’m afraid this woman might be one of those mothers who thinks her child does nothing wrong, since she counsels kids as a profession.— Outraged in OmahaDear Outraged: Friendship is the primary currency in primary school, and the dynamic you describe is one way that children believe they attain status. Litt...

EU and Montenegro strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

The European Union and Montenegro have signed a renewed bilateral arrangement on the Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism. The arrangement will be signed by Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Minister of Interior of Montenegro, Danilo Šaranović. The arrangement aims at strengthening cooperation between Montenegro and the EU on counter-terrorism, as well as on countering and preventing violent extremism. Montenegro and the EU will work together on the removal of terrorist content online, terrorism financing, explosive precursors, critical entities resilience and supporting Montenegro to align to EU legislation on counter-terrorism. Furthermore, it aims at strengthening Montenegro's law enforcement capacity to deal with extremism and terrorism-related investigations. The EU will continue to support the implementation of the arrangement through the regional and bilateral programmes already in place. This is a further step in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan...