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Choice, vouchers, and teacher raises: Education showdown looming in Texas legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- After two weeks of a tumultuous impeachment trial following nearly nine straight months of work for the part-time legislature, Texas lawmakers are preparing to return to the Capitol in October for a special session that will determine whether Gov. Greg Abbott can finally finish his push to send public dollars to private schools.On Tuesday, Gov. Abbott is holding a tele-town hall with Christian faith leaders across the state to announce "School Choice Sunday," an event in support of state-funded education savings accounts and expanded parental rights taking place on Oct. 15. The Governor will discuss "how empowering parents with education freedom is the key to saving the hearts and minds of our children," the Texas Public Policy Foundation said ahead of the event. Rural districts fret as Gov. Abbott rallies supporters for ‘school choice’ at Capitol All year, the Governor has spent considerable time and political capital in support of his "school choice" initiati...

Temperatures remaining above normal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The final days of summer are feeling exactly like the last days of the hot season. Temperatures will run higher than the average both with morning lows as well as afternoon highs. A sunny start to this day found most lows in the upper 60s to low 70s. Camp Mabry's low fell to 72°, three degrees above normal.This afternoon will start sunny but with increasing fair-weather clouds. The pretty picture-perfect day will be accompanied by a south wind that will send daytime maximums scurrying to the middle to upper 90s.Today's normal high is 91°Our computer model is showing some triple-digit highs tomorrow afternoon but, for now, our forecast will keep most of the area peaking in the middle to upper 90s.Today will be the second day of an Air Quality Alert as designated by the Clean Air Force of Central Texas. The combination of the sunshine, the hot air, and the light winds (south 5 to 10 mph) contribute to this Ozone Action Day.Rain will return, briefly, late Friday mornin...

Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of November election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Williamson County Elections Department on Tuesday held a logic and accuracy testing on its machines ahead of the general election coming up in November. The testing started at 10 a.m. and lasted until around noon. Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) The general election will be held Nov. 7, and the last day to register to vote in the election is Oct. 10. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Oct. 27. Williamson County's comprehensive ballot for the election can be viewed online. This will be the first election under the county's new...

Pumpkins patches, corn mazes in the Capital Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Fall is upon us. The season comes along with apple picking, cider donuts and family-fun, including going to the pumpkin patch or corn maze. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Many farms have both pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Here's where and when you can go to pick-your-own pumpkins or explore a corn maze in the Capital Region.Pumpkin patches and corn mazesEllms Family Farm, 448 Charlton Road in Ballston SpaOpen 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on select Wednesday through FridayBellinger's Orchard, 685 Argersinger Road in FultonvilleOpen daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Liberty Ridge Farm, 29 Bevis Road in SchaghticokeThursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Schuyler Farms, 1124 Route 29 in SchuylervilleSeptember hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on SundayOctober hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 1...

Howard Stern says being called 'woke' is a compliment: 'I'm not for stupidity'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

(The HIll) — Howard Stern is embracing being called “woke,” saying he wants “to be awake.” In response to a YouTube personality applying the term to him, the SiriusXM host on Monday told listeners of his eponymous show, “I kind of take that as a compliment, that I'm ‘woke.’” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In this April 14, 2018, file photo, Howard Stern speaks at the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies in Cleveland. (AP/Michael Zorn/Invision)“To me, the opposite of woke is being asleep,” Stern, 69, said. “If woke means I can't get behind [former President Trump], which is what I think it means, or that I support people who want to be transgender, or I'm for the vaccine—dude, call me woke as you f—ing want." High school boys are trending conservative “I'm not for stupidity,” he continued, saying he recently received the latest updated COVID-19 vaccine. “F—in’ science. This f—ing country is so great,” Stern sa...

Billy Dean visiting Glens Falls for Adirondack Balloon Festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Adirondack Balloon Festival is getting geared up to send dozens of shapes and colors up into the skies above the Glens Falls and Queensbury area. On Saturday, guitarist Billy Dean is bringing his music to town to join in the celebration. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Dean is set to play some of his hits at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. The Grammy-nominated guitarist will come to town with classic hits like "If There Hadn't Been You," "Billy the Kid," and "Somewhere in my Broken Heart." A performance by Art-N-Shawna, part of the local band Grit N' Whiskey, joins as the opening act.Dean's accolades include being named ACM's Top New Male Vocalist of 1992. That same year, he was a nominee at the Grammy Awards and the Country Music Awards. Saturday's show will include music and stories from over the years, and close with a question and answer segment. ...

Boil order issued in Grafton, several nearby Illinois towns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

GRAFTON, Ill. - Officials have issued a boil order in Grafton, Illinois, and several nearby towns due to a loss in water pressure. Crews are working to resolve an "important" maintenance procedure in the water distribution system for many in Jersey County. Because of that, Illinois American Water has issued a boil order for customers in the following areas:Grafton, IllinoisGodfrey, IllinoisElsah, IllinoisChatauqua, IllinoisCustomers who get water from the Jersey County Rural Water Company are also asked to follow the boil order. New York company moving headquarters to St. Louis During the boil water order, customers should bring their water to a rolling boil for five minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. However, customers do not need to boil water for bathing or washing. According to Illinois American Water, "anytime water pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch (PSI) in any part of a community’s distribution system, a boil water order must be issued." Offic...

Failed lawsuits could cost Madison County taxpayers $250K in legal fees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Madison County taxpayers might be forced to expend more than a quarter of a million dollars following more than a dozen failed lawsuits filed by only two former county employees.According to a news release from the Madison County State's Attorney's Office, the county's legal fees over litigation brought by former county administrator Doug Hulme and former information technology director Robert Dorman stood at roughly $272,000. “It’s a sadly typical case of frivolous lawsuits driving up costs for taxpayers,” said Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine. “I hope it stops soon, so local taxpayers don’t continue to suffer this waste of resources merely to ward off meritless lawsuits by just two individuals.”After an investigation into acts of malfeasance, Hulme and Dorman were terminated from their county jobs in 2020. Since then, Dorman, Hulme or both are plaintiffs in 18 separate cases in which the defendant isMadison County or a county office. Some cases have i...

Denver has two of the 50 best restaurants in America, according to The New York Times

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

The Denver restaurant accolades just keep piling up. After a thrilling week of Michelin awards, The New York Times just included two Denver restaurants in its 2023 best restaurant list.La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, owned by Jose Avila, and Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, owned by Bo Porytko, were among the “50 places in the United States that we’re most excited about right now,” the newspaper wrote.AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostOwner Jose Avila greets passersby as cook Chuy Garcia mans the meat for tacos al pastor at La Diabla Pozolería y Mezcalería on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)Both restaurants are newcomers to the Times’ third annual list. Although, since chef Avila opened La Diabla in 2021, he’s been no stranger to awards. Bon Appetit named La Diabla Denver’s best new restaurant of 2022, and he was nominated for a James Beard Award the past two years. Most recently, Michelin awarded La Diabla Bib Gourmand recogniti...

L.A. Superior Courthouse in Compton closed amid power outage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:27 GMT

The Los Angeles County Superior courthouse in Compton is closed Tuesday amid a power outage in the building, officials said.“Imperative cases will be transferred and all other matters will be continued,” the court system said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Parties in all cases will be notified of any transfers or continuances.”The courthouse is located at 200 W. Compton Blvd.Officials did not offer any additional information about what time the outage began or what may have caused it.