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Key deadline looms in legislature

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Thursday promises to be a deadly night for legislation in the Texas House as the legislative clock winds down.Any bill not yet passed through the lower chamber on second reading by midnight is practically dead. The deadline will pass as many of the leadership's top priorities are far from finished, but it will not impact the most hotly-debated headline items of the session.Gun safety regulations The most contentious legislative debate to form early Thursday afternoon surrounded the gun safety regulations pushed by the families of children killed in Uvalde. Democrats attempted to revive the bill that would raise the age to buy assault-style rifles to 21. House Bill 2744 died in the Calendars Committee after receiving surprise approval by the House Select Committee on Community Safety earlier this week. Without support from Calendars Committee chairman Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, it was not placed on the schedule for debate in the full House.In lieu of that, Rep. Jo...

Title 42 is ending. Here's what it has done, and how US immigration policy is changing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process. The changes come with the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly turn back migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the last three years. Those restrictions are known as Title 42, because the authority comes from Title 42 of a 1944 public health law that allows curbs on migration in the name of protecting public health. Disinformation is swirling and confusion is setting in during the transition. A look at the new rules (and the old ones):WHAT IS TITLE 42 AND WHAT DID IT DO? Title 42 is the name of an emergency health authority. It’s a holdover from the Trump administration and it began in March 2020. The authority allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants who came to the U.S.-Mexico border on the grounds of preventing the sprea...

Five players to watch as Vikings host rookie minicamp

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

A couple of weeks after the 2023 NFL Draft, the Vikings are set to host their rookie minicamp this weekend at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.This will be the first chance for the rookies to showcase themselves in front of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell and everyone else in the organization.The Vikings will have their members of the draft class on campus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with organized team activities to follow over the next few weeks.Here are five players to watch this weekend:Jordan AddisonUndoubtedly the most intriguing name the Vikings have to offer this weekend is receiver Jordan Addison. Though many thought they were poised to select a defensive player in the first round of the draft, the Vikings simply couldn’t pass on Addison when they were on the clock. He is a player who theoretically should be able to play either on the outside or in the slot with ability to get open. It will be interesting to see how those skills s...

UMN Duluth, Morris, Crookston campuses hope tuition experiments will stem enrollment losses

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

Three University of Minnesota campuses are experimenting with tuition and financial aid in hopes of turning around a downward trend in enrollment.Compared to 2019-20, enrollment is down 30 percent at Morris, 16 percent at Crookston and 13 percent at Duluth. Those three will undertake two- or three-year pilot projects that could lead to scaled-up or permanent efforts to solidify revenue at the struggling schools.Provost Rachel Croson told the Board of Regents on Thursday that the experiments are customized to each campus and will be “dynamic, open and flexible.”At Duluth this fall, students from eight other Midwest states – including those already enrolled – will pay the in-state tuition rate. The program is meant to replace a reciprocal arrangement called the Midwest Student Exchange Program, which saw key states drop out in recent years.Interim Chancellor David McMillan said renewing the tuition offer for Illinois residents should make the biggest difference, but there’s potential ...

CDTA to officially take over Glens Falls buses

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Buses are busy work, and soon, Glens Falls' bus system will get a hand. On Thursday, the Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) formalized a merger with Greater Glens Falls Transit (GGFT), starting a new chapter for the North Country bus system. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Announced earlier this year by Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins, the merger will move management of GGFT to the Capital Region authority, which last year expanded to begin service into Montgomery County. Warren County will become the sixth in which CDTA operates.“Throughout the state, from the largest to the smallest communities, public transit ensures thebasic level of mobility for the local population and for the economy,” said GGFT Transportation Director Scott Sopczyk. “I applaud the Board’s foresight and their decision to approve Warren County’s membership in CDTA. I think that the approval will open the door for a b...

Staying safe during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and with the warmer weather, the number of motorcyclists on the roads across the Capital Region is rising. According to the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, unfortunately, the number of deadly crashes is rising too. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Andrew Liuzzi is the President of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education of New York. He's also been riding for over 40 years. He said the average joy ride has taken a scary turn in recent years. "I've had deer jump out in front of me, I've had vehicles pull out in front of me, people run red lights on a regular basis," said Liuzzi. "Everybody's in a hurry, instead of enjoying the scenery." AAA reminds drivers to share the road, motorcycle helmets are required by law That hustle and bustle has made awareness more important than ever. "You've got to ride with your head on a swivel," Liuzzi suggested. "You have...

As Title 42 expires, Congress proposes HR-2 Border Bill

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- With Title 42 expiring at midnight on Thursday, some are expecting chaos to erupt at our borders. However Congress has proposed a new bill that could help strengthen the presence and resources needed. "The United States has a choice, either we’re going to have a lot of illegal immigration, or we’re going to have a legal migration system that enables people to apply, to enter legally and come, and contribute to this country in a legal way," said David Bier, Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute. Bier said the chaos that’s occurred at the border is the result of an overly restricted immigration system in the US. "And as long as that’s the case - particularly for people without US citizens who are close family members, or extremely high skilled individuals - I mean, those are the people who can find a way to come, but if you don’t fall into those two camps, then there’s not a path for you to come legally and that’s what the administrati...

'Muralgarten' a decade-long dream for Glens Falls

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The project called "Muralgarten" is gaining steam and generating conversation around the Shirt Factory building, and the east side of Glens Falls at large. Artist Hannah Williams has seen sketches and ideas much older than the ones presented to the city by property owner Eric Unkauf. The vision for public art across Cooper, Maple and Lawrence streets dates back 15 years."It's an idea he's had for a while," said Williams, who previously operated out of a studio inside the Shirt Factory's four stories. "He mentioned this to me and I was like, sign me up." Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The proposed project would place 30 new murals on 5 acres of space across the block, centralized in front of Rock Hill Bakehouse and Cafe on Curran Lane. Some murals would be free-standing, and others on fencing alongside the south-facing wall of the adjacent Shirt Factory building. Unkauf projects that the project...

ECO issues tickets to "anxious" turkey hunter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Saratoga County resident was issued tickets for hunting a turkey one day before the spring turkey season opened. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, ECO Shaw received an anonymous tip from someone who heard a single shot on April 30. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The complainant say they witnessed their neighbor run into a wooded area with a large bag. ECO Shaw located and interviewed the suspected hunter. The hunter claimed he was "too anxious" for turkey hunting season to begin and admitted to shooting the bird.DEC Dispatch confirmed that the hunter had yet to purchase his turkey privileges. The hunter also used a rifle that is illegal for turkey hunting. Tickets were issued for hunting out of season, hunting without a turkey privilege, and taking a turkey with a rifle. The bird was seized as evidence.

Bill to ban texting while driving in Missouri heading to governor's desk

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:32:40 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A bill that would ban texting while driving in Missouri heads to the governor's desk after clearing the Senate on Thursday. Missouri is one of only two US states without a law that prohibits people over 21 from texting while driving. Right now, it is only considered illegal for drivers 21 and under to text and drive.SB 56, sponsored by State Sen. Jason Bean (R-District 25), would require hands-free cell phone use for drivers of all ages. Crime ring based in St. Charles targeted small towns Penalties would depend on the violations. According to the bill, there would be enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, violations occurring in a work zone when workers are present, violations occurring in a school zone, and violations that are result in property damage, personal injury, or death.The bill also allows car dealers to collect sales tax on vehicles before the buyer leaves the car lot. Customers would be required to pay a lump sum before they ca...