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This gene-editing therapy could cure sickle cell disease, and it's close to FDA approval

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- A breakthrough treatment for sickle cell patients could soon become the first gene-editing treatment to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that affects roughly 100,000 Americans, most of whom are Black. The disease causes red blood cells to become sickle or c-shaped, clumping together and clogging blood vessels, causing pain and other complications. There is only one approved treatment that can cure sickle cell disease: a bone marrow transplant in which a healthy donor offers stem cells that create red blood cells in the sick patient. In the vast majority of cases, the best donor is the patient’s fully related sibling, but even then, a sibling only has a 1 in 4 chance of being a match. “Only about 18 percent, or less than 1 in 5 individuals, will have a suitable match. And the best match possible is a sib...

Decorating contest starts in Austin area for trees, homes, gingerbread houses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ready to deck the halls ahead of the holiday season? A contest is aiming to bring Central Texans together with lights and a little friendly competition. Braden Gilbert, the founder of Texas Christmas Light Decorators Contest, said his goal is to bring the community together through Christmas lights. RELATED: Austin takes No. 1 festive city honors, home improvement company says "Being here in Austin...in Central Texas, knowing that there are so many different neighborhoods and subsets that have beautiful Christmas lights displays, I figured that it would be a good opportunity to try and bring everyone together with a little bit of Christmas spirit," Gilbert said.The contest has three parts: house decorating, Christmas tree and gingerbread house. The house decorating contest costs $25 to enter with categories of standard decorations and decorations timed with music. A map of houses will be available Dec. 8 for the public to view.Contest detailsHomes will be judged i...

Dell Diamond getting new clubhouse for visiting teams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Dell Diamond, the home of the Round Rock Express for 23 years, is getting a new clubhouse for visiting teams in order to meet new requirements put in place by Major League Baseball. In 2021, the MLB created new standards for facilities that all baseball clubs across America have to follow. Dell Diamond meets a majority of these standards, but fell short in a few elements. Most notably, the stadium does not have big enough clubhouses for its visiting teams. "They're just way too small," Tim Jackson, the general manager for the Express, explained. He said the team has been making improvements to its stadium the past couple of years, but now the big project is building a whole new clubhouse. Not enough space The MLB now requires that all clubhouses be at least 1,000 square feet. The current clubhouse is 901 square feet at Dell Diamond and is also lacking an office for opposing managers, another requirement put in place by the MLB. This comes as the game itse...

Organization to hold Thanksgiving celebration for current and former foster children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A local organization told KXAN Tuesday it is planning a celebration Nov. 19 for area children in foster care as well as young adults who were formerly in the system. Change 1 said its 10th Annual Thanksgiving Celebration will be 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock.You can register to assist with the event here as well as RSVP. Change 1's founder, Cortney Jones, told KXAN the event will feature music, face painting and the kids will get to play games at Tom Foolerys Adventure Park in the resort. Jones told KXAN she spent 10 years in the foster care system and was moved 25 times. She said her transition out of the foster system was difficult but "college is what saved me." "It gave me a place to lay my head at and a meal plan," she said. Jones said she wanted to become the social worker, "I didn't have", and she founded Change 1 to help children and young adults with their own moves out of foster care. She said, in addition to the Thanksgiving...

'Wicked' coming to Austin next spring, tickets go on sale Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A legendary Broadway musical will return to Austin next year, a national theatre group said Tuesday. Broadway Across America said "Wicked" will play at the Bass Concert Hall from Mar. 13 to 31 as part of Texas Performing Arts Broadway in Austin series. Single tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. 2022: 'Wicked' welcomes a pioneering good witch The times for the March performances are: Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.Friday at 8 p.m.Saturday at 2 and 2 p.m.Sunday 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49 and are available at Texas Performing Arts and Broadway in Austin or by phone at 512-477-1444 or from the Texas Performing Arts ticket office at Bass Concert Hall. For groups of 10 or more, you can call 877-275-3804 or email [email protected].  As the Associated Press reported in 2022, the musical, based on Gregory Maguire’s cult novel, tells the story of two young witches-to-be, one a green brooder who will be the Wicked Witch of the...

Police investigating fatal hit and run in Ballston Spa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State Police are investigating a fatal hit and run that happened on State Route 50 near the intersection with Brookline Road in Ballston Spa. Police say a preliminary investigation found a car driving northbound on State Route 50 struck a pedestrian at roughly 5:43 a.m. Wednesday morning. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police say they're requesting the public's help in finding a white/silver Nissan Altima. The car struck the pedestrian and did not stop, suffering significant front-end damage. Police say State Route 50 will be closed for an extended period of time, and drivers are expected to seek alternate routes. Please contact the State Police at 518-457-6811 or email [email protected] with any information.

Crews respond to car fire on Northway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Multiple crews responded to a car fire southbound just past exit 16 on I-87 around 8:30 Monday morning. The car fire slowed traffic while crews worked to put it out. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! There is little information available on what caused the fire at this time. Stick with NEWS10 as more information becomes available.

Police investigating business burglaries in south St. Louis last Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis City Police need your help identifying two people who broke into businesses on Cherokee Street last Sunday.They say the men took $20,000 worth of property from 'Kuts by Kurtis,' including barber's clippers, blades, and cologne products. AG Bailey responds to new report on Kim Gardner, says her term had ‘radical consequences’ Anyone with information is urged to call St. Louis Police. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Letters: Why voters rejected Prop. HH — in their own words

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

Addressing the property tax burden needs a new approachRe: “How HH became ballot box poison,” Nov. 12 news storyAs one of the majority who voted against HH, I’m becoming frustrated with the barrage of excuses from the proponents about why we voted the way we did. Although nobody is asking me, I’ll tell you. I was not “misled by far-right misinformation,” nor was I “confused by the complexity.” I figured out this shell game by myself using my vast reserve of common sense.After three years of unprecedented economic fallout, including devastating inflation, property owners were hit with huge tax increases due to a combination of market hysteria and some creative assessments. This is going to result in a tax windfall for all entities that receive funding through property taxes.Along comes our leadership with a plan: We’ll give you some relief for this ridiculously unfair mess, and all we’ll require in return is that you give so...

Colorado has “abysmal” recycling rate, but most plastic bags and foam takeout containers are on their way out soon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

So much of Coloradans’ discarded waste — averaging out to 5.6 pounds per person each day — winds up sitting in landfills thanks to a low recycling rate, but coming changes will outlaw most plastic grocery bags and foam food takeout containers that clog that stream.That was one hopeful note sounded Tuesday as environmental advocates released a report showing that Coloradans have diverted 16% of waste from filling landfills over the last six years by recycling or composting — a rate that is half the national average and one of the worst in the country.Eco-Cycle and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, the nonprofits behind the annual research, say recycling rates in Colorado have remained low and stubbornly unmoving for years.“Which is abysmal,” said Suzanne Jones, the executive director of Eco-Cycle.The main reason for the lack of progress is a lack of access to recycling programs, said Rachel Setzke, a senior policy and research associate ...