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Texas House Speaker announces new education committee ahead of anticipated special session

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 12, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Speaker of the House announced Monday a new committee to begin working ahead of a special session tackling education.In a tweet, Speaker Dade Phelan said a special session on education matters was “all but certain.”It comes after a regular session ending with no movement on giving raises to a dwindling public education workforce in Texas or on the governor’s main priority – school choice. Central Texas school districts call for more funding as lawmakers talk public education The committee consists of 12 members, including Brad Buckley, R- Salado, who led the House Committee on Public Education during the regular session.Rep. James Talarico, D- Round Rock, and Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D- San Antonio, are the only former educators on the committee.The group must submit a report identifying the “current menu of choices available to K-12 students in Texas and highlightin...

East Metro boys lacrosse player of the year: Lakeville North’s Quinn Power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

Quinn Power can’t walk by his lacrosse stick at home without picking it up to do a couple of extra reps. He puts in countless hours wearing out the carpet in his basement.It may seem tedious, but that’s the work required to be a face-off phenom.“Face-offs is just a thing that the only way to get better is by doing it. So you just have to be willing to always be working in your free time,” the Lakeville North junior midfielder said. “I enjoy it, so I just always do it. That’s what really makes you good at face-offs is just constantly getting reps and working on that technique and making it muscle memory.”The proof is in the pudding. Power leads the state this spring with 289 face-off victories, and also owns the top spot with 207 ground balls. He has won 79.4 percent of his face-off attempts this season, which is perhaps the biggest reason the Panthers are 14-2 and the No. 2 seed in this week’s boys lacrosse state tournament. Lakeville North will meet unseeded Cretin-Derham Hal...

New laws to crack down on unlicensed Cannabis dispensaries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The state is passing new regulations to crack down on unregulated Cannabis dispensaries and help consumers identify unlicensed dispensaries. The moves come as Office of Cannabis Management agents seized products from 11 unlicensed dispensaries in New York City. MORE NEWS from NEWS10 “When you don't have a licensed business that's abiding by the state regulations, there's concerns that there's laxer enforcement in terms of purchasing the products from people who aren’t 21 years of age and older, making sure that really cannabis products are going to the people who are allowed to purchase and have them” said Brandon Kurtzman, Partner at Vincente, LLP New York. The firm represents Cannabis dispensaries across the country. The OCM & the Department of Taxation will adopt new measures such as criminalizing the sale of unlicensed Cannabis products, and creating a new tax fraud crime for vendors that knowingly fail to collect or pay required Cannabis taxes.W...

Child rushed to fire station, hospital after shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A 5-year-old is being treated for a gunshot wound at a local hospital after being shot Monday afternoon.According to a spokesperson for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened around 4:35 p.m. in the 1600 block of McLaren Avenue.The victim was shot in their right side. They were brought to a nearby fire station for immediate help. EMS then took the child to the hospital.They were said said to be conscious and breathing.This is a developing news story and will be updated later as more information becomes available.

Ameren Missouri donates 800 AC units, energy assistance to Cool Down St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS – On a cool Monday morning, business and political leaders, Ameren employees, volunteers, and meteorologists gathered at Ameren headquarters in downtown St. Louis.The gathering marks the kickoff of the 23rd annual CooldownStLouis.org’s Save Our Seniors (S.O.S.) Cooling Summer Project. The nonprofit helps citizens in need of assistance during the soaring summer heat.It’s Ameren Missouri’s 18th year participating in the program.“Cooldown’s partners will deliver to qualified seniors and the physically disabled, so they can have a cooler, healthier, and safer summer as a result,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said.One by one, brand new Energy Star-rated window air conditioners were loaded by hand and by forklift onto trucks waiting to get the units out into the St. Louis region. ‘Worst roads in America’ : St. Louis man makes viral videos in push for change “Today, 800 donated Ameren energy-efficient air conditioners in support of their energy assistance grant speaks volumes...

St. Louis attorney sentenced for faking legal documents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a St. Louis lawyer to federal prison on Monday for faking legal documents.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Andrew Wynne, 35, pleaded guilty in March to five felony counts of identity theft.Wynne admitted to forging signatures on documents for cases in St. Louis City, as well as St. Louis and St. Charles counties. He'd make fictitious court orders, judgments, and emails in the name of at least 10 different judges. Some of those documents claimed to award money to Wynne's clients. Former St. Louis alderman under federal indictment for insurance fraud In one instance, Wynne emailed a client in February 2020 with a phony judgment and "decree of dissolution," along with the forged signature of a judge. That fake decree said the couple would share joint legal and physical custody of their children, and that the client was owed $900 per month in child support, as well as $5,000, a car, ...

Denver to pay $450,000 to family of teen who bled to death after officers failed to render aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

The city of Denver will pay $450,000 to the family of an 18-year-old shooting victim who bled to death while two Denver police officers watched for more than 10 minutes and did nothing.Jalonte Jones, 18, died Sept. 7, 2020, on the pavement outside an apartment complex in the care of Officer Dewayne Rodgers and Officer David Clough. Neither officer rendered first aid even as Jones begged for help, according to a Denver Department of Public Safety disciplinary letter. Public safety officials found that it’s reasonable to assume Jones would’ve been alive when paramedics arrived had Rodgers acted.“At no time did Officer Rodgers crouch down near the victim,” the disciplinary letter stated. “At no time did Officer Rodgers touch the victim. At no time did Officer Rodgers offer words of comfort. The callous lack of humanity that Officer Rodgers displayed is best exemplified by his response to the victim saying ‘Oh my God, help me,’ when Officer Rodgers replied, ‘Do you live in this co...

Former Broncos kicker, Ring of Fame inductee Jim Turner dies at 82 years old

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

Former Broncos kicker and Ring of Fame inductee Jim Turner died Saturday, his family and the franchise confirmed Monday afternoon.Turner, a Martinez, Calif., native and longtime Denver resident, was 82 years old.“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Denver Broncos Ring of Fame kicker Jim Turner,” the team said in a statement. “Retiring as the second-leading scorer in NFL history, Jim was instrumental in helping establish the Broncos’ winning tradition in the 1970s as a key member of our first Super Bowl team. While his competitive spirit and reliability defined him as a player, Jim’s dedicated mentorship and support of youth following his career will leave a lasting legacy within our community.“Our hearts go out to Jim’s wife, Mary Kay; daughters Lisa, Chris and Alison’ and the entire Turner family.”A 19th-round draft pick in 1963, Turner began his professional career with the New York Jets. Among his highlights there, Turner...

Nuggets vs. Heat: Live updates and highlights from Game 5 of the NBA Finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

With a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, the Nuggets are on the cusp of winning the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Heat in Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver.Live updatesPre-game updatesHow they match up (4 p.m.): For the first time in franchise history, Denver is one game away from winning the NBA championship. Denver Post sports reporter Bennett Durando breaks down the three keys they need to do in Game 5 to bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy.Want to see the game in person? It’ll cost you. Post sports reporter Ryan McFadden takes a look at how much tickets for Game 5 are going for — and it’s a pretty penny. — Joe NguyenNuggets-Heat Game 5: Must-readsNuggets treating NBA Finals closeout chance as must-win situation: Act like we’re down 3-1If coaching doesn’t work out — and there’s little evidence to suggest it won’t — perhaps Nuggets coach Michael Malone can take up a career in psyc...

Orange County Transportation Authority declares emergency over threatened track in San Clemente

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:29 GMT

The Orange County Transportation Authority has declared an emergency related to a sliding hillside in San Clemente that has threatened a railroad track and led to the intermittent halting of train service in parts of Southern California.The OCTA Board declared the emergency Monday, just days after the land beneath the historic Casa Romantica cultural center began to slip away, sending dirt and rocks onto the train track below. The emergency vote will allow OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson to take the necessary actions to "protect and reopen the track," according to a release from the Board.OCTA is working with Metrolink, the commuter rail system that serves Southern California, to develop a new plan and implement safety measures to protect the rail line, which is located beneath the cultural center just north of the San Clemente Pier.Both organizations hope to have the track reopened for passenger rail service "as soon as possible."As part of the joint efforts, a temporary barrier wall a...