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Gov. Abbott says 'agreement' reached with House leaders on school choice plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday he reached an "agreement" with Texas House leaders that could advance his stalled school choice plan, as time runs short to approve it before the third special legislative session ends in exactly one week. Abbott said he would now include additional public school funding as well as teacher pay raises in the special session agenda after working with House Speaker Dade Phelan. He said their deal would also raise the proposed amount of money that families could receive through an education savings account program he'd like to establish in state. He said participating students could receive approximately $10,400 per year, which is higher than the numbers previously proposed by both the House and Senate. Time running short to approve Texas school voucher plan Abbott issued the below statement on his decision to expand the session: “Working with Speaker Phelan and his House leadership team, the Speaker and I reached an agreement on sc...

Report: Vikings trading for quarterback Josh Dobbs in move with Cardinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

After canvassing the market over the past 48 hours, the Vikings are trading for journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs in a move with the Arizona Cardinals.NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport broke the news on Tuesday afternoon with a couple of hours before the trade deadline.This move was necessary after franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field while leading the Vikings to a win over the Green Bay Packers.It’s still unclear if Dobbs would be able to start this week for the Vikings. The other option would be rookie quarterback Jaren Hall.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Dane Mizutani: If this is the end, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins deserved better Minnesota Vikings | Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to miss the rest of season with torn Achilles tendon Minnesota Vikings | Vikings could be turning to rookie quarterback Jaren Hall for foreseeable future Minnesota Vikings...

Longtime Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer stepping away from booth, into special assistant role

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

For four decades, Dick Bremer’s distinctive voice has been the soundtrack of Twins games, bringing generations of baseball fans in Minnesota closer to their favorite team. It was a dream job for Bremer, a lifelong baseball fan born in St. Paul and raised in small-town Minnesota.Bremer’s illustrious run as the Twins’ television play-by-play announcer has come to an end after 40 seasons, the team announced Tuesday, with the 67-year-old shifting to a special assistant role within the front office that will have him representing the team at community and fan events.“A final left-hand toast to Twins fans everywhere,” Bremer wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, accompanied by a picture of him holding out a beer while in a fishing boat on the water. “Thanks for an incredible 40-year run! It was MY pleasure.”Bremer, who was raised in Dumont, Minn., began calling Twins games in 1983, holding that job for three seasons. After one year away, he returned as the Twins’ play-by-play announc...

Jace Frederick: Why Timberwolves often flip the switch from good to bad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch noted numerous times last season that his team’s margin for error was not large. And that has proving to be the case again early this season.The margin between Minnesota looking like a championship-caliber team — as it did in the first half of Monday’s loss to Atlanta — and it looking like a total train wreck — as it did in the second half — is razor thin.It doesn’t feel like that should be the case for a team as talented as the Timberwolves. Last year they were without Karl-Anthony Towns for much of the season; now, he’s healthy. Rudy Gobert is healthy. Anthony Edwards is healthy. Jaden McDaniels was back from his calf injury on Monday, and played relatively well. Mike Conley was an all-star just two years ago.On paper, there is too much talent to fail. And that’s the way it looks intermittently on the court  in various games, as it did in the second half of Saturday’s home win over Miami, and for the first 24 minut...

Where to smash (and compost) pumpkins in the Capital Region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Once Halloween is over, you may be wondering what to do with your old jack-o-lanterns. Rather than throw them in the garbage, some places around the Capital Region host events where you can compost your old pumpkins and gourds while having fun doing it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Pumpkin Smashes allow for people to bash their pumpkins as a send-off to the compost pile. Here's where and when you can find these events around the Capital Region.Clifton ParkClifton Park is hosting four different pumpkin smashing events at four different times. The events are:November 4: Bowman Orchards in Rexford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.November 5: Amity Reformed Church in Rexford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.November 5: St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.November 11: Bowman Orchards in Rexford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trick-or-treating hours for Halloween in the Capital Region BethlehemBethlehem is ho...

Schenectady man gets 10 years for cocaine conspiracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to traffic 15 kilograms of cocaine in March and April 2021. Jeffrey Civitello Sr., 52, was convicted alongside his son Jeffrey Civitello Jr., and Richard Sinde of Fore Lee, New Jersey, in April. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), as part of the conspiracy, Christopher Kelly of Brooklyn delivered 3 kilograms of cocaine to Civitello Sr. in Schenectady on March 29, and Kelly and Sinde an additional 3 kilograms to Civitello Sr. on March 31. Also on March 31, the Civitellos ordered more cocaine and suggested that Kelly use a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee owned by Civitello Jr., which contained, in its trunk, a sophisticated, hidden compartment, also known as a “trap.”Unknown to the conspirators, the DEA placed a court-authorized tracker on the Jeep several months prior, as part of an investigation into...

New EPA coordinator to tackle Cahokia Heights flooding and sewage woes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. - The EPA has appointed a coordinator to help the Cahokia Heights community combat flooding, sewage, and drinking water concerns. Beth Murphy, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has been named the inaugural coordinator of this effort. Prosecutors wonder about other victims after deathbed scam According to the EPA, Cahokia Heights residents have cited nearly 100 documented instances of sewage coming out of government-owned pipes and into their homes since 2019. Many around the community are struggling to find money for necessary repairs. Murphy, as a coordinator, will focus on ensuring that funds are quickly and responsibly disbursed to the community, in addition to federal, state and local funding efforts. “For decades, residents of Cahokia Heights have suffered from repeated instances of stormwater and sewage flooding with no solution in sight," said Illinois U.S. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-13th District). “I’m so pleased t...

CITYPARK to host free watch party for CITY-Sporting road playoff game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - CITYPARK will host a free watch party this Sunday for soccer fans to watch the second match in a best-of-three series between St. Louis CITY SC and Sporting Kansas City. It's a similar concept to when Busch Stadium and the Enterprise Center hosted watch parties during the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup run a few years back. Sit back and relax, enjoy some food and beverages, and keep a close eye on the game. Fans can claim up to four free admission tickets for the watch party via SeatGeek.com. Doors will open at 3 p.m. Sunday, while kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prosecutors wonder about other victims after deathbed scam The watch party will offer alcoholic beverage specials for anyone of legal age, DJ entertainment leading up to the game, concessions for purchase and an "All for CITY" rally towel. For more information on the watch party, click here. St. Louis dropped the first matchup in the best-of-three series, 4-1, to...

Scooter rider dead after being hit twice by cars in East Hollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding a driver who struck and killed a scooter rider in East Hollywood early Sunday morning.A man riding a Lime scooter across Western Avenue north of Sierra Vista Avenue was hit a few minutes before 2:30 a.m., police said in a news release.The man, who was struck by what police described as a black sedan, was ejected from the scooter and came to rest in the roadway, where he was hit again by a silver Lexus.The Lexus driver stayed at the scene and called authorities, who took the man to a local hospital, where he later died.The black sedan, which fled north on Western Avenue, is believed to be a Mitsubishi Eclipse convertible made between 2001 and 2005.Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact detectives at 213-473-0234. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-2...

Car plows through front of Starbucks in Calabasas 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:57 GMT

Drowsy coffee drinkers at a Starbucks in Calabasas were surely woken up when an SUV careened through the store’s front entrance. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lost Hills Station responded to the Starbucks located in the Calabasas Commons around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning and found the SUV – a black BMW X5 – with its front end smashed through the store window. A black BMW SUV careened into the Starbucks at the Calabasas Commons on Oct. 31, 2023. (LASD)No one was injured in the collision, LASD said on X, formerly Twitter.  What led up to the crash remains under investigation.