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Pepper X marks the spot as South Carolina pepper expert scorches his own Guinness Book heat record

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

FORT MILL, S.C. (AP) — Ed Currie, the South Carolina hot pepper expert who crossbred and grew the Carolina Reaper that’s hotter than most pepper sprays police use to subdue unruly criminals, has broken his own world record with a pepper that’s three times hotter.Pepper X was publicly named the hottest pepper in the world on Oct. 9 by the Guinness Book of World Records, beating out the Reaper in Currie’s decade-long hunt to perfect a pepper that he says provides “immediate, brutal heat.”Currie said when he first tried Pepper X, it did more than warm his heart.“I was feeling the heat for three-and-a-half hours. Then the cramps came,” said Currie, one of only five people so far to eat a entire Pepper X. “Those cramps are horrible. I was laid out flat on a marble wall for approximately an hour in the rain, groaning in pain.”Heat in peppers is measured in Scoville Heat Units. Zero is bland, and a regular jalapeno pepper registers about 5,000 units. A habanero, the record-holder about 25 ...

Lawyers and judge hash out juror questions for Powell and Chesebro trial in Georgia election case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Defense attorneys and prosecutors sparred Monday over questions for potential jurors who have to report later this week for the trial of Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, who are accused along with former President Donald Trump and others of illegally trying to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.Lawyers for Powell and Chesebro met with prosecutors and the judge overseeing the case to hash out what will be asked on a lengthy questionnaire when the first group of 450 prospective jurors arrives at the courthouse on Friday. Whether that should include questions about their opinions about potential witnesses, the other defendants and issues that go to the heart of the case dominated that discussion.Powell and Chesebro were indicted in Fulton County in August along with Trump and 16 others, accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to keep Trump, the Republican incumbent, in the White House even though he had lost the presidential election to D...

Bears update Justin Fields' status after thumb injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — It looks like the Bears will not have their starting quarterback for at least this upcoming week.But head coach Matt Eberflus didn't have a long-term outlook for Justin Fields after his injury on Sunday afternoon. The third-year signal caller's dislocated thumb has made him "doubtful" for Sunday's game against the Raiders at Soldier Field and there is "no timetable" as of Monday for a return. Eberflus wouldn't rule out Fields playing Sunday, yet wouldn't rule out a long-term absence either.This came after Fields underwent an MRI on Monday after an X-ray showed no breaks at Soldier Field on Sunday."It's really going to come down to grip strength," said Eberflus about Fields' status for Sunday along with future weeks as the Bears wait for swelling around the thumb to go down.Fields was injured on the first drive of the second half of the 19-13 loss to the Vikings, leaving the game after being sacked on third down. He was replaced by rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent,...

Texas considers banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- State lawmakers on Monday considered legislation that would prohibit private employers from requiring their employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, making progress toward Gov. Abbott's call to "protect the freedom of Texans" while inviting criticism from business groups.Senate Bill 7 would subject employers to a $10,000 fine if they take "adverse action" against an employee, contractor, or applicant who refuses to be vaccinated for COVID-19. The bill passed the Senate last week and was left pending in the House Committee on State Affairs Monday. Texas Senate gives final approval to ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers "No Texan should lose their right to work. No Texan should be fired because of their refusal for whatever reason -- religious, medical, reason of conscience -- to get the vaccine," the bill's sponsor Jeff Leach, R-Plano, said. "What...

UT Palestinian organization says it was harassed, members called terrorists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) — As tensions continue to rise oversees between Israel and Palestine, the impact continues being felt locally. On Oct. 12, a University of Texas at Austin student organization called Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) came together in strength, though with heavy hearts as more people die in the Israel-Hamas war. Six key questions about the Israel-Hamas war and America’s role PSC said as they met, three middle-aged men entered Welch Hall and began harassing them. "These three men began screaming derogatory remarks at PSC members and allies that were standing outside of the room, repeatedly calling our members terrorists," PSC said in a statement. According to PSC, they were trying to have an educational moment, talking about the history and current context of Palestine. This story will be updated by Multicultural Reporter Jala Washington.

'On edge': Neighbors respond to two fatal shootings on East Riverside in 48 hours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- People living near two weekend homicide scenes in the East Riverside area were on edge Monday morning after a violent weekend near their homes. The first happened at an apartment complex near Burton and East Riverside in southeast Austin early Saturday morning, according to police. The other happened in a parking lot just a few minutes away at the nearby AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts. That homicide happened early Monday morning. Police said both of the incidents appeared to be isolated and said they did not believe there was any threat to the public. You can read more about each homicide here: Saturday: 1 person dead in southeast Austin homicide, according to policeMonday: Police investigating after person killed in southeast Austin overnightJason Horton said he was walking in the area overnight Sunday into Monday and saw the aftermath of one of those shootings."Just s...

Man arrested in connection with pickpocketing during Austin City Limits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested over the weekend in connection with cell phone pickpocketing at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, according to court records. Victor Manuel Castro Ordornez, 23, was arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and theft by appropriation, Travis County court records state. RELATED: APD gets 11 theft reports during ACL Weekend 1 Castro-Ordonez was booked in the Travis County Correctional Complex on Saturday on a $22,000 bond. He did not have an attorney listed. An arrest affidavit said officers responded to a call around 9:30 p.m. Friday for police assistance to help find cell phone theft suspects. Austin police officers working at ACL received multiple reports of stolen phones at multiple locations. An officer was flagged by a festival employee who was asked to contact law enforcement after a victim said they received their s...

Bye week ahead of Houston game comes at right time for No. 8 Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With a chance to heal some bumps and bruises from the first half of the season, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns are big favorites on the road in Saturday's Big 12 Conference game against Houston.Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian talked about the matchup in his regular Monday press conference and said the Cougars' quarterback is someone the Longhorns know all too well.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/newsletters"We all know Donovan Smith, the transfer from (Texas) Tech. We know how he played against us a year ago and the challenges he presents."Texas is currently a 22.5-point favorite, but Smith's past success against the Longhorns is certainly a factor in the gameplan. Smith threw for 331 yards with a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 45 yards and another score to help the Red Raiders beat Texas 37-34 in overtime. Smith has traded Lubbock red for Houston red, and Coug...

Tuesday morning will be cold

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The rest of the day will be sunny and seasonably cool with most high temperatures in the low to mid 70s. Humidity will be low thanks to the dry north wind.Wind gusts will in the 15 to 20+ mph range for much of the afternoon. The gusts will ease off by sunset.High pressure in the upper atmosphere is over the desert southwest this afternoon. A dry northwest to southeast flow aloft means sunny days and clear night during this week.The coldest air since mid April will settle in tomorrow morning. Most lows will be in the 40s but there will be some lows, particularly in the Hill Country, in the 30s. Austin's last low in the 40s was April 17 ... 49°A few lows in Central Texas did fall to the mid to upper 30s this morning. There will likely be more tomorrow morning. A cold front moves across the area Friday delivering more dry air off a northwest wind. But there won't be enough moisture for any rain. In fact, there is no rain in our forecast going out to Sunday. Map models...

Big dreams of an Asian mall, but the future of the St. Paul Sears site is up in the air after back-to-back sales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:29 GMT

A sports and digital arts-focused charter school that would come complete with an adjoining community sports complex. A wellness center. A “3D theme park” geared toward entrepreneurs. A hotel, housing and parking ramp. And an international designation as the cornerstone of a “World Cultural Heritage” corridor.All of that could, in theory, take root on St. Paul’s Rice Street, alongside food courts, a mix of housing and other new additions to the shuttered Sears department store near the Minnesota State Capitol building.The future preservation and redevelopment of the Sears building remains uncertain following back-to-back property sales this spring, but new owners are advertising ambitious and wide-ranging plans hand-in-hand with local partners from the Twin Cities Chinese and Southeast Asian community.They are the latest concepts in a decade-long progression that has seen the 17-acre site reimagined every few years for a varying mix of office, retail an...