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Harvest Season 2023: Texas vineyards race to pull grapes in scorching heat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) — Right now is the critical time to pick grapes in wine-producing regions across Texas.        Susan Johnson, owner of Texas Heritage Vineyard, surveys grapes. (KXAN photo/Jala Washington)Susan Johnson, owner of Texas Heritage Vineyard, surveys grapes. (KXAN photo/Jala Washington)West Texas produces the most, but Central Texas pumped out close to 2,000 tons just three years ago.The Texas Heritage Vineyard in Fredericksburg said its workers are trying to move fast this harvest season due to the heat.Just as the sun comes up, a machine shook grapes off vines at Texas Heritage Vineyard. Texas Heritage Winery grape harvest. (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)Texas Heritage Winery grape harvest. (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)Texas Heritage Winery grape harvest. (KXAN photo/Ed Zavala)"We have a total of about 15 acres of grapes," said Susan Johnson, the owner of Texas Heritage Vineyard.The industry brought in about $20 billion for the state in 2022. And there are more than 400 win...

Austin needs more than 1,200 hotel workers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Looking for a job in the hospitality industry?Now is the time to apply as Austin hotels are gearing up for a busy fall."For our food and beverage we are looking for front-of-house and back-of-house staff," said Allison Josefowitz, Hotel Ella general manager.Hotel Ella is looking to hire about 20 people to fill a number of positions."I think the industry as a whole is very competitive right now, so there are a lot of different properties that are looking to fill positions," said Josefowitz.According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the Austin area has about 1,200 openings for hotel jobs.In a recent study the AHLA put out, they found more than 80% of hotels experience staffing shortages. Hoteliers are offering potential hires a host of incentives to fill vacancies. Austin’s leisure and hospitality industry booming, 13.4% increase from last year Seventy-five percent of respondents are increasing wages, 64% are offering greater flexibility with hours, and...

Two records to end July

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The month ended Monday with a record-setting high temperature of 107° at Camp Mabry. The previous record of 106° stood for 103 years. The last 24 days of July (8th to 31st) had an average high temperature of 105.1°. Those 24 days are also in second place for most consecutive three-figure highs.It was thought that this July would not be as hot as July 2022 because of fewer 100°+ days. Last year's July had 29 highs in triple-digits. This year? 25. Still, the average temperature at Camp Mabry this July turned out to be a full degree hotter than last July. Thus, July 2023 will go down in history as the hottest July ever.July 2023 is the hottest July everA record high was also set at Austin-Bergstrom where the high was 104°. The former record was 103° first set in 1998 and tied in 2013.Every city with a high Tuesday exceeding 100°An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday for 11 of our counties, including Travis. This is for air temperatures at or above ...

Vikings pass rusher Marcus Davenport knows he has to be better than last season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

Vikings pass rusher Marcus Davenport knows last season wasn’t good enough. He somehow only posted half a sack for the New Orleans Saints, failing to finish plays despite getting close seemingly on a weekly basis.It’s something the 26-year-old Davenport has taken to heart after signing a 1-year, $13 million contract with the Vikings this offseason.Never mind that some of the advance metrics show Davenport might have gotten a little unlucky with the Saints at times last season. That doesn’t matter to him. He knows he has to perform with the Vikings this season.“I wasn’t completing,” Davenport said. “I wasn’t getting there. I didn’t do it enough. That stands out.”It should help that Davenport will get to line up opposite fellow pass rusher Danielle Hunter this season. It’s not hard to envision new defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting the most of out of that pass rushing duo. A major part of that, however, will be hinged on how well ...

‘I want to be a Viking forever’: Danielle Hunter back at practice with new contract in tow

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

Vikings star pass rusher Danielle Hunter is a man of very few words. He always has been. He always will be.It’s something new defensive coordinator Brian Flores noticed right away about Hunter when he first talked to him.Fittingly, when asked Monday if he wants to finish his NFL career in Minnesota, the 28-year-old Hunter managed to make his point using very few words. He paused for a second, stared directly at the reporter, then replied, “I want to be a Viking forever.”That’s not exactly a guarantee after Hunter signed a new contract with the Vikings over the weekend. Though the deal could be worth up to $20 million this season, it lacks the term that Hunter’s representatives were looking for throughout the process.That means Hunter will be a free agent after this season. Not that he’s thinking about that right now“Whenever that time comes, that time comes,” Hunter said. “The big thing is I’m here now for my teammates and ...

Dozens of cats removed from Troy house

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Dozens of cats were removed from a home on Lincoln Avenue in Troy on Monday. A homeowner voluntarily gave up around 50 cats kept at the property.Police were initially conducting a wellness check when they found the cats were kept in unclean conditions. The animals were handed over to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Officers said they found several dead cats in the home. No arrests have been made. One official explained the importance of reporting similar situations to authorities."We're here to help in these sorts of situations, but if people don't call us and notify us, then we aren't able to come out and bring the right resources," Andrew Fiumano with MHHS said.Officials also said it could take a few days to remove all the cats from the property.

Deadline to apply for Albany PD exam is Aug. 1

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department is looking to hire more officers, and the deadline to join the department is fast approaching. Tuesday, Aug. 1, is the last day to sign up for the department's entrance exam.The application fee and the residency requirement have been lifted, so applicants no longer need to live in Albany to work for the department. Leaders said it's a great way to be involved in the community. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Albany Police Department is a great police department to work for because the advancement opportunities, the people here in the community are amazing, and no day is the same," Albany Police Det. Megan Craft said.Anyone interested can find the application on the city's website.

Former student teacher convicted of raping teenager

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A jury in Schenectady County found an Albany man guilty of raping a teenager. The Schenectady County District Attorney's Office said Nikos Assimakopoulos, 25, was convicted of one count of Rape in the Third Degree, one count of Criminal Sex Act in the Third Degree, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was acquitted on three other charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Prosecutors said he met the victim online and had inappropriate sexual contact with her repeatedly. At the time, she was 16 years old while he was 21. The crimes took place in December 2019 in the town of Niskayuna.The investigation began in March 2021 when the victim told police about her interactions with Assimakopoulos after he began working as a student teacher at Catholic Central High School in Troy. Assimakopoulos faces up to eight years in prison and 10 years on parole when he's sentenced in September. He...

Centennial building for sale as swingers club admits being swingers club

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

Hopefully it got a deep cleaning.A nondescript office building in Centennial is for sale after its former occupant, a swingers club, acknowledged in court documents that it was, indeed, a swingers club.The admission by the now-defunct The Office Social Club, whose website once boasted it was “the largest adult-themed venue in the state,” brought an end to the establishment’s battle with the City of Centennial.The city sued the business in February, saying it was a “sexually oriented business” operating in a part of town not zoned for that use.At the time the suit was filed, The Office’s website said the establishment had 16 different rooms, including a fake doctor’s office, classroom and office. It encouraged members to “pencil in their closest colleagues.”The website came down shortly after BusinessDen contacted the business about the lawsuit. A company representative at the time told a reporter The Office was merely “renting out office space, just like any other business that rent...

Rockies prospect injury report: Updates on Adael Amador, Helcris Olivarez, Zac Veen and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:00 GMT

The injury bug hit the Rockies hard this year, including at the minor-league level. Colorado farm director Chris Forbes provided The Post with updates on a number of renowned prospects who are currently dealing with injuries.OF Benny MontgomeryMontgomery, Colorado’s No. 6 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, was carted off the field on Sunday in Eugene after colliding in the outfield with High-A Spokane teammate Juan Guerrero. The players ran into each other at full speed and knocked knees.Forbes said that “fingers are crossed that it’s not serious,” and that Montgomery only suffered a contusion. The Indians were off Monday, and the Rockies will re-evaluate Montgomery on Tuesday.OF Zac VeenColorado’s second-ranked prospect underwent season-ending left wrist surgery on June 22. The surgery addressed a lingering issue for Veen, fixing the injured extensor capri ulnaris tendon that zapped his power in his first year in Double-A, where he hit .209 with two ho...