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Bill to close 'dead suspect loophole' one step closer to final vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Uvalde approaches, a bill that would end a controversial legal loophole used to block victims and families from seeing important records is the closest its ever been to closing.The “dead suspect loophole” refers to an exemption in Texas’ public records law that gives police discretion to withhold information in criminal cases that haven’t gone through the court process — even when a suspect dies in police custody.“There’s no greater need for the people to know the truth then when an interaction with their government leaves one of them dead,” said State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, at a hearing earlier this month. He filed House Bill 30 and has been pushing for years to close the loophole, which is blocking Uvalde families from getting answers.“Law enforcement refused to release those [Uvalde] records,” Moody previously said. “And, we all knew very well that they never had to release them, ever, because of th...

Austin ISD plans to pull millions from reserve funds to give educators 7 percent raise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin ISD Board of Trustees on Thursday approved using up to $53 million dollars of the district's reserve funds to give teachers and school employees a raise next school year.It comes as the legislature has yet to get a bill addressing teacher pay to the governor’s desk after months of promising solving the state’s teacher shortage was a top priority.In a statement to KXAN, the district’s Chief Finance OIfficer Ed Ramos said it could not wait on legislative decisions because educators were making employment decisions now. Why this Texas teacher stayed amid an education vacancy crisis “These raises projects we will have to use our savings based on current state funding. It is a much-needed investment in our employees who struggle with inflation and cost of living increases,” Ramos said. “We hope the state also chooses to invest in our students and teachers.”Round Rock ISD Trustees also approved a 3 percent raise for its teachers and librarians this week.The mo...

Woman says lemur attacked her at Austin Aquarium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Charmaine Dickerson's trip to visit her boyfriend ended with her in pain - and is considering a lawsuit. "I remember looking down and my face was like dripping blood," she said. The culprit was a lemur at the Austin Aquarium, according to Dickerson. The location is one of two in the United States that allows guests to interact with lemurs, according to the aquarium's website. Dickerson said she signed up for an "animal encounter," where she was told she could pet a lemur under supervision of a handler. "I take probably two steps in, the lemur lurches at me," she said. "It lands on my shoulder. I turned my face. There's a bite on this side, and then a scratch. I just felt bleeding."Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. The aquarium told us in a statement that it's conducting an internal investigation to gather and find...

‘Fast X’ review: An unleashed Jason Momoa saves the latest in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

Michael Phillips | Chicago TribuneUnlike “Fast X,” let’s keep this review quick and fuel-efficient.“I’ll kill Dominic Toretto. I’ll kill ‘em all.” So says the disturbed, ballet-loving Dante (the movie comes pretty close to implying the two adjectives are interchangeable), the son of the Rio drug lord killed off in “Fast Five.” An extraordinarily campy Jason Momoa dines out upon this vengeance-driven role, sporting dandy pigtails one minute and “Swan Lake”-ing around the next, when he’s not blowing up half of Rome or kidnapping Dom’s son.Momoa is the chief, merrily depraved reason to sit through “Fast X,” even as he becomes its emblem of code-switching, tone-juggling mania. The movie’s OK. Produced on a reported $340 million budget, it’s 340 million dollars’ worth of OK.On Instagram, while filming, star Vin Diesel called “Fast X” the “beginning of an epic ending.” Now, unless you’re “The Empire Strikes Back” or thereabouts, that sort of project can feel like time spent watching track...

Students discuss use of phones in school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--- There’s no denying cellphones are a big part of our everyday lives."Cell phones are not going away. We know that. They are here to stay," said Kyle Belokopitsky, Executive Director of the New York State Parent Teacher Association. So that begs the question, should cellphone usage be restricted in schools and should it be done on a state or local level? The New York State Education Department says cell phone policy decisions are made at the school and/or district level. The New York State Parent Teacher Association encourages schools to have a policy."Whether you allow them out during free time again those policies have to be developed at the local level each school district all 750 of them are very different," said Belokopitsky.Recently, one New York State school district decided that starting in September, high school students would need to keep their phones sealed during the school day with a magnetized locking device.https://www.news10.com/news/bethlehem-...

Displaced veterans story unfolds as false

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- More reports are finding veterans getting kicked out of a hotel to make room for migrants as untrue. On Wednesday at the Capitol, republican lawmakers pointed to an article first reported by the New York Post stating that 20 veterans were being displaced from the Crossroads Motel in Newburgh to make space for migrants, causing an uproar.  Multiple reports have since come out finding holes in that story, and the motel denying that any veterans were being displaced.  NY GOP proposes two “migrant crisis” bills The source of the initial claim comes from Sharon Tony-Finch, a disabled military veteran. She’s also the Founder of Yerik Israel Toney Foundation for Preemies. The website claims it provides housing assistance for families of preemie babies as well as homeless and military vets. According to that initial Post article, Tony-FInch stated that veterans were being placed in another hotel due to the migrant situation - a story that’s now being falsified. Sena...

Lawmakers aren't monkeying around with this bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- New legislation could eliminate the use of primates for entertainment use. The bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing a permit that would allow primates such as monkeys, apes, chimpanzees, and orangutans from being used for entertainment purposes. This legislation comes after a lawmaker said he saw that the Orange County Fair had monkeys dressed up, chained and forced to ride on dogs. It’s unknown how long this practice has been going on at the fair, but Senator James Skoufis says it must come to an end. "I guess whoever came up with that idea, thought, somehow that that constitutes entertainment meanwhile, the vast majority of good people look at that as animal abuse. This is an issue that speaks directly to just being humane to animals. It’s not a democratic or republican issue," he said. The bill states that using primates for entertainment can cause severe physical and psychological harm to animals. That bill has not ...

TAP NY Beer & Music Festival opening in Bethel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

BETHEL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- TAP NY is returning for its 24th year of the New York Craft Beer & Music Festival. The event will be held on May 20 and May 21. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The festival will showcase 100 breweries from across the state, unlimited sampling of more than 200 carefully crafted beers, and an eclectic food court. The celebration will also feature live performances from The Wailers, The Classy Wrecks, Blues Traveler, Black Dirt Bandits, and Vanessa Collier. The event will be hosted at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, located at 200 Hurd Rd, Bethel, NY. It will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 20, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on May 21. Carnival opens at Cook Park in Colonie The New York Craft Beer & Music Festival is presented by Sloop Brewing Company and Blue Point Brewing Company. For more infomation, visit the Bethel Woods Center.

Missouri officials, executives react to new St. Louis Circuit Attorney selection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Gabriel “Gabe” Gore was officially named the newest St. Louis Circuit Attorney on Friday. He was appointed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson following the abrupt departure of Kim Gardner earlier this week.Gore brings more than 23 years of experience in private law practice to the table. He has served with the Dowd Bennett law firm since 2010. He also has experience as an assistant U.S. Attorney and as a member of the Office of Special Counsel John C. Danforth’s Waco Investigation. Road rage fight sends 73-year-old man to hospital with life-threatening injuries Gov. Parson, who appointed Gore to the position, said "Mr. Gore has shown he is a strong manager, talented attorney, proud community leader, and even prouder husband and father who is ready to work hard and be a leader for the people of St. Louis.”Missouri state officials, in addition to regional leaders and groups, have offered the following comments after Parson’s appointment of Gore:Tishaura Jones - St. ...

Nuggets vs. Lakers: Three keys to Game 3 victory in Western Conference Finals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:01 GMT

It’s time for the Western Conference Finals to move from the mountains to the beaches.No more altitude excuses for the Lakers after Denver took a 2-0 series lead at Ball Arena this week. Game 3 is in the City of Angels on Saturday (6:30 p.m. MT, ABC). Here are three keys:1. Aaron Gordon needs to see the ball go in: Defensive value aside, Gordon also averaged 16.3 points in the regular season — his best scoring campaign since 2017-18 — and continued a steady contribution of 15.1 points per game on 55.2% shooting in Denver’s first seven playoff games. Now, in the last six, his offense has dipped: 10 ppg on 39.3% shooting, including 16.7% from beyond the arc. Even after the Lakers gave Gordon plenty of space to shoot the 3 in Game 2, he fell to 0 for 5 this series and has gone three consecutive games without making a 3-pointer for just the third time this season. If that trend continues, the Lakers will be able to commit more double teams to Nikola Jokic in the paint ...