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Here's what's more — and less — likely to happen than you winning the lottery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Being struck by lightning, being killed by a shark and dying from sunstroke. What do they have in common?They're much more likely to happen than you winning the lottery.Both the Powerball and Mega Millions have been gigantic jackpots in recent years. The trick to winning one of those gigantic jackpots? You need a gigantic amount of luck.The odds of winning the Powerball are roughly 1 in 292,201,338, or 0.0000003%. The odds of winning the Mega Millions are even lower, at 1 in 302,575,350Here are some things that are more likely to happen:But 1 in 302 million — or 1 in 292 million — is still a chance, right?! In fact, you're much more likely to win big than being hit by a meteorite (thankfully!).How's this for a mind-blowing fact: You are 30.4 billion times as likely to win the Mega Millions than you are to get a perfect NCAA bracket, if you just guess or flip a coin to determine your teams. That's right, billion with a B.Even if you know a little about basketball and ...

Austin's 32-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the longest in recorded history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing the longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means temperatures have reached the century mark for 32 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that's the longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The previous record of 27 days was set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's streak of triple-digit days came to an end Thursday, July 27, with temperatures only reaching 99°. The airport had been above 100° every day since July 9. The 18-day streak ranks as the fourth-longest triple-digit streak since records began t...

Travis County pursuing historic courthouse restoration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 8, 2023TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Travis County Commissioners Court approved Tuesday $100,000 to hire a professional preservation architect to help develop plans for restoration of the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse.The Texas Historical Commission (THC) operates the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation program, which provides matching grants to Texas counties working on restoration projects with historic courthouses. Grants are offered in three categories:Planning grants to fund architectural plansConstruction grantsEmergency grants issued for endangered historic courthousesEligible courthouses must have served or currently serve as county courthouses, be at least 50 years old and have a current master plan that's been approved by the THC.Currently, the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse isn't eligible for funding, since it doesn't have a THC-approved master plan. County staff c...

Uncommon plant discovered in the Berkshires for the first time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — For the first time in Massachusetts, a rare plant that is considered endangered in nearby states has been located in the Berkshires. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to MassWildlife, amateur botanist Syke van der Laan was out in the Berkshires when he found a strange-looking plant. He thought it was best to report the discovery to MassWildlife.From MassWildlife, state botanist Robert Wernerehl and retired biologist Tony Gola went to take a look at the plant. They discovered that this was the first time ever that "pine-drops" was discovered in Massachusetts on record. DEC hosts 12th annual Great Hudson River Fish Count Pine-drops discovered in the Berkshires (Credit: MassWildlife)Pine-drops is a unique because it contains no chlorophyll, relying instead on mycorrhizal fungi in the soil for nutrients. The creamy-white flower can appear after rain in the mid-summer. MassWildlife says pine-drop...

DEC: Backpacker encounters a bear in Greene County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, a backpacker reported a bear followed her near North Point in the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness. The individual claimed she tried to frighten the bear, but when that did not work, she dropped her bag and continued up the trail to call for help. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Ranger Clute reached the subject and was able to locate the bear and scare it away from the backpack. The backpacker hiked down the trail and secured a campsite for the night. Ranger Clute ensured the bear did not attempt to follow the hiker.

Over 80 cats found in Berkshire County 1-bedroom apartment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — More than 80 cats were found inside a one-bedroom apartment in Berkshire County last Tuesday. According to a news release from Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, the animal shelter assisted in two separate hoarding cases. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On August 1, the organization brought back several of the more than 80 cats found inside a one-bedroom apartment in Berkshire County to their facility to provide care. And on August 5, Dakin assisted animal control in Hampden County with the intake of over 30 cats and kittens, several of them Siamese and Ragdoll breeds. Dakin brought back 21 cats to their facility to provide care.“It’s very unusual that Dakin responded to two hoarding cases just days apart, but it’s a vital part of our mission to answer the needs of our community," said Dakin’s Executive Director Meg Talbert. Cats that come from these circumstances tend to be very shy, and are typic...

Go-kart race Tuesday in support of Operation Santa Claus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The engines are purring, and the wheels are spinning fast. On Tuesday night, a race roars through a Queensbury entertainment center, all in the name of the kids. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Starting at 6 p.m., Adventure Family Fun Center is hosting the annual Pajama 500 go-kart race in support of Operation Santa Claus. Entry is priced at $200 per racer at the door. Checks can be made out to Operation Santa Claus. On Facebook, the owners of Coach's Corner Food Truck declared some father-child competition among the participants. The business is accepting additional donations directly.Every dollar raised goes right to Operation Santa Claus, a nonprofit that has worked since 1974 to benefit underprivileged children during the holidays. The organization works with individual school districts across Warren, Washington and Saratoga County to get new clothes and other items to kids in need through the ho...

Learn about Monarch Butterflies around a campfire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On August 11, the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is hosting a campfire chat that highlights the monarch butterfly. Participants will learn about the life cycle and migrations of the butterfly. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The free program is open to participants of all ages. In addition to the discussion, participants will be able to enjoy cocoa and s'mores. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Town of Wilton's Camp Saratoga.Registration is required as space is limited. Visit wiltonpreserve.org to access the registration form. For more information, contact the Wilton Preserve & Park office at (518) 450-0321 or email [email protected]. 

St. Louis man sentenced in deadly shooting of girlfriend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison over charges in connection with the shooting death of his girlfriend in 2021. Robert T. Shelton, 21, would have faced trial this week, but pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter that was amended from second-degree murder. As part of his plea agreement, he was sentenced to a decade in prison. 5-year-old girl shot and killed in Belleville, Illinois Investigators say Shelton fatally shot Natasha Selby, 27, on the afternoon of Nov, 16, 2021 in the 3900 block of Evans Avenue in the Vandeventer neighborhood. According to a news release from the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, Shelton shot Selby as she drove a car toward him with "presumed intent to strike the defendant." Per the plea agreement, Shelton admitted to shooting Selby in the chest, then running away from the scene. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ...

Little Mesa fire southwest of Delta growing, burning 300 acres – one of several fires in western Colorado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:18 GMT

A growing lightning-sparked wildfire has burned across more than 300 acres southwest of Delta in the Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area in western Colorado and firefighters on Tuesday planned a full suppression approach.It’s one of multiple fires burning around western Colorado.This Little Mesa fire about 15 miles from Delta, discovered smoldering on July 31, has intensified amid dry conditions, heat, and wind. More than 60 firefighters were trying to control flames devouring pinon pine, juniper trees and sagebrush on Tuesday, with air support from helicopters lugging buckets of water, according to a federal Bureau of Land Management fire bulletin. Helicopters were drawing water from the Potholes Recreation Area, and firefighting commanders asked that residents stay out of that area so that pilots aren’t distracted.No formal evacuations or closures have been ordered.On Monday night, firefighters set backfires along the Tatum Ridge Road reducing vegetation, tr...