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The 9th game is the charm for a Matt Mervis first

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

HOUSTON — There was a reason he was called "Mash" when he was in Triple-A Iowa, but he was still waiting to use that nickname in the majors for his first two weeks with the Cubs.But during his ninth game, the moment finally arrived for Matt Mervis, and it was the best part of an otherwise tough night for his team against the Astros in Houston.In the top of the second inning, the first baseman hit his first major league homer, taking a Christian Javier pitch down the line in right and off the foul pole for the solo shot. Mervis pointed to the sky as he reached home plate at Minute Maid Park after the milestone moment, which came after a little bit of a wait. Making his debut on May 5, Mervis had seven hits coming into Tuesday and only one of those had gone for extra bases. But he didn't wait long to hit his first major league homer in the first at-bat of his ninth contest and 33rd at-bat with the Cubs. Power was a big part of Mervis' success in the minors the last two seasons as he h...

WATCH: Here's everything we found investigating your TxTag Troubles

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A steady stream of ReportIt tips about TxTag troubles over the past few years inspired KXAN investigators — who had previously investigated the tollway in 2018 — to see what's been done to fix issues and which problems persist.More than two dozen journalists investigated some of the most common driver dilemmas, efforts to hold vendors accountable as well as solutions being explored at the Texas Capitol and in other states. Not only did these stories air throughout the week of May 7 on KXAN, but we compiled them into an extended special report, which you can watch above. Josh Hinkle and Erica Brennes filming for her story about the future of toll roads in the Austin area (KXAN Photo)KXAN photojournalists Chris Nelson and Richie Bowes film Josh Hinkle and Kelly Wiley for her stories speaking to TxDOT's director and about a common driver dilemma (KXAN Photo)The KXAN team films for the TxTag Troubles investigation (KXAN Photo)KXAN photojournalist Richie Bowes films Josh ...

House gives initial OK to bill requiring transgender college athletes to compete based on biological sex

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas House gave initial approval Wednesday afternoon to a bill that would require transgender college athletes to compete on sports teams based on their biological sex, barring them from competing among athletes matching the gender with which they identify. The vote passed the House by a vote of 93-49. Lawmakers will have to approve it one more time before it officially clears the lower chamber. "It is not fair that young women are watching their records get broken, accolades taken and scholarships awarded, not to other women, but to biological man," State Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, said. "This bill is about fairness."Senate Bill 15 by would prohibit intercollegiate athletic teams sponsored or authorized by institutions of higher education from allowing students to compete on a team designated for the opposite biological sex. That standard would derive from the sex listed on the student's birth certificate.There are no reports from Texas NCAA universiti...

Eyes on Longhorns: Porter Brown looks back at eye modeling career

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - As Texas baseball nears the end of the regular season, they'll eye postseason success that the program is used to achieving. A key cog in the Longhorns lineup all year has been TCU transfer Porter Brown.In his first season in burnt orange, Brown has made a major impact with his glove and bat. A number of outfield assists and a .325 batting average with 45 RBIs have helped Texas stay in the hunt for the Big 12 regular season championship.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersIt's been an outstanding season, one worthy of some compliments. And he sure has been getting some praise, just not always for baseball."I've heard it so many times," said Brown of people mentioning his eyes. "I feel so bad. I'm like 'Oh thank you, that's so nice and so sweet.'"The star outfielder was playing baseball as an 11-year-old when his teammate's mom, who worked at Visionworks, ha...

Invasive hammerhead flatworms spotted in Texas

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

TEXAS (KXAN) -- An invasive, snake-like worm species is making the rounds throughout Texas, with the possibility of causing physical reactions in humans or animals that come into contact with it.What is the hammerhead flatworm?The hammerhead flatworm is a light or honey-colored creature that can grow up to 15 inches long, according to the Texas Invasive Species Institute. Flatworms target and eat earthworms, which are beneficial to soil. Beyond affecting gardens and crops, flatworms secrete chemicals that can be responsible for skin irritation in humans who come into contact with it or can be poisonous for pets if ingested, per TISI. ICYMI: Austin falls in ranking of best places to live This isn't the species' first appearance in the Lone Star State. It has been spotted in the U.S. for more than 100 years, with the flatworm preferring hot and humid climates. Since its introduction to North America more than 100 years ago, it has been found naturally in Texas.Residents in the Dall...

CPRIT approves $73 million in cancer research, prevention grants

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) approved $73 million in new cancer research grants Wednesday at its quarterly meeting.“The fight against cancer got another major boost from CPRIT—$73 million in awards are going to go out to nine different institutions and organizations across the state of Texas. So, that's a big boost for the fight against cancer,” said Mark Loeffler, Communications Director for CPRIT.CPRIT announces new cancer research grants four times a year. The sizable award announced Wednesday will go toward researcher recruitment and investing in companies developing new early-stage drugs and treatments for cancer. “The fight against cancer is a long one, and a lot of these developments of drugs and treatments can take many, many years,” Loeffler said. “[For] a lot of these companies, as you can imagine, it can be hard to find funding, especially in the very early stages before some of the technology has been developed. And that's...

Gophers men’s golf: Stillwater native Ben Warian finishes in tie for 11th at NCAA regional to end junior season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

Stillwater native Ben Warian carded a 1-over round of 72 on Wednesday to close out the NCAA Bath Regional golf tournament at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Michigan.That put Warian at 4 under for the tournament, good for a tie for 11th overall. Unfortunately for the Hill-Murray grad, that left him three strokes off the lone individual qualifier position to advance to the NCAA Championships, which went to Kansas State’s Luke O’Neill, who tied for second overall in the tournament with a score of 7 under. O’Neill was the top-finishing individual who wasn’t on an advancing team.Georgia’s Ben Van Wyk won the individual tournament with a score of 10 under, which helped power the Bulldogs to the team title, as well. Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Florida and Texas advanced through the regional as teams.So the Gophers junior’s season is over, though there is still plenty of important golf to come. He will compete in a U.S. Open qualifier in early June at a to-be-dete...

Student documentary chronicling Central High School graduates’ cycling journey across Europe debuts Friday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

At 17, Adam Swanson set out on a two-year bike-packing adventure that was supposed to take him from Amsterdam to Tokyo. Henry Phillips, a childhood friend and fellow St. Paul Central High School graduate, asked to join him, and the two St. Paul teens landed in Europe in the fall of 2021 without so much as a hotel booked, eager to see the world by bicycle.A third childhood friend and longtime camping buddy, William Blackwell Kinney, figured cycling alongside them for a few months would jumpstart his own filmmaking career. Kinney, who had graduated Central a year ahead of the pair, had grown frustrated with his film studies at Emerson College in Boston and wanted to dedicate a gap year to the “Adam & Henry Adventures.”His 42-minute documentary premieres Friday at the Art House North in St. Paul, a repurposed church about a block off West Seventh Street, but be warned — the trio never make it to Tokyo. In fact, after about two months in Europe together, they run i...

With monthly rents of $2,300 to $6,900, Marvella senior campus at Highland Bridge caters to choosy seniors

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

When Doug and Mary Smith looked for senior residences, they and four other couples they’ve known since their kids were in high school together considered Waverly Gardens, Presbyterian Homes’ lakeside senior community near their home in North Oaks.“That’s kind of resort-style senior living,” said Doug Smith, who instead chose to relocate with his friends to St. Paul. “This is more like an urban hotel.”The “this” in question is the Marvella, an upscale, 300-unit, two-building senior campus located on Mount Curve Boulevard, about a block off Ford Parkway in the new Highland Bridge development.With monthly rents ranging from $2,300 for a 700-square-foot one-bedroom to $6,900 for an 1,800-square-foot two-bedroom with den, the Marvella is priced for a choosy segment of the senior market, yet there’s been no shortage of demand.Half of the building now occupiedHousing adviser Mary Hoffer recalled prospective tenants walking into he...

Antonio Brown reportedly aiming to play for the Albany Empire

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:15:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A couple of weeks ago, news of changes for the Albany Empire football team made headlines as the former head coach Damon Ware and six players left after claiming they had not been paid. Since then, Tom Menas, another former head coach of the Empire, returned and leads a team consisting of many new faces. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Now, representatives of Antonio Brown and head coach Menas have confirmed with NEWS10 Sports Director Griffin Haas that Brown is planning on playing for the Empire. Brown is aiming to suit up for their home game against the Fayetteville Mustangs on May 27 at the MVP Arena.