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State of Texas: Compromise at the Capitol sends property tax relief to Texas voters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - After a months-long stalemate that led to two special sessions, Texas lawmakers reached a compromise deal on property tax relief. The legislation passed both the House and Senate Thursday evening with near-unanimous support.It includes a measure to raise the homestead exemption to $100,000, up from the current $40,000 exemption.The plan includes $12 billion to lower school property tax rates, by having the state pay part of what school districts normally collect from homeowners and businesses. The compromise plan would cut franchise taxes for small businesses, and non-homestead properties worth $5 million or less would get a break on appraised values under a three-year pilot program.Texas voters will make the final decision over whether to put the tax relief plan into place. The legislation requires voter approval in a constitutional amendment election to be held in November.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Nexstar he expects the measures will receive strong public appr...

Matt Wallner is back with Twins, but regular playing time might be hard to find

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. — Matt Wallner had to work hard to make it back to the big leagues. Now that he’s back with the Twins, finding opportunities to get on the field might be just as difficult.Wallner, 25, was recalled before Saturday’s 6:40 CDT p.m. first pitch against the A’s at Oakland Coliseum and not in the lineup, which makes sense because he took a 7:45 a.m. flight from the Twin Cities to the Bay Area.That might change on Sunday, a day game after a night game, and a getaway day before the Twins start a four-game series in Seattle on Monday night. As for regular at-bats, it might be tough.The outfielder replaced infielder Jose Miranda, on the 10-day injured list because of an impingement in his right shoulder, on the active roster.Recalling Wallner instead of an infielder, manager Rocco Baldelli said, “Is a unique thing because we have left-handed hitting corner outfielders. But he’s been doing a good job.”In his last four major league games, Wallner hit .636 with a 1.692 OPS...

Gavilan Fire breaks out in Riverside County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

Crews are battling a wildfire in Riverside County on Saturday afternoon.Named the “Gavilan Fire,” the blaze was first reported near Gavilan and Idaleona Roads in Gavilan Hills around 3:28 p.m.The fire has spread to around 30 acres so far and is “burning in heavy fuels,” according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.Fire crews are working to extinguish the blaze and air tankers can be seen dropping flame retardant on the brush-heavy area.The fire appears to be close to a group of homes, although no evacuations or warnings have been announced.It’s unclear what caused the flames to erupt.The GavilanSky5 is overhead. This developing story will be updated.

4-year-old girl dies after choking on food at Costco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

A 4-year-old girl has died after choking on food at a Costco store.The incident happened at a Costco in Kennewick, Washington, on July 9, according to local NBC station KHQ.The girl was believed to be eating a hot dog at the time, the Benton County Coroner told KHQ.As the girl was choking, bystanders in the store attempted to use CPR and an AED to help the girl, officials said.The choking incident was "heavily witnessed," by shoppers and employees, according to reports.Arriving EMS staff reportedly removed some food from the girl’s mouth before transporting her to a local hospital.She later died at the hospital from asphyxia due to choking, KHQ reports.According to officials, no autopsy was conducted on the girl because the choking was witnessed and emergency staff were on the scene.The Costco store was closed early for business that day, but reopened the next day. No further details were released on the case.The Benton County Coroner said the girl was only a few days away from her ...

Pirates pitching prospect Quinn Priester to make major league debut Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitching prospect Quinn Priester is to make his major league debut Monday night for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Saturday that the Pirates plan to call up Priester from Triple-A Indianapolis to face Cleveland. Priester was the Pirates’ first-round pick in the 2019 amateur draft.The 22-year-old right-hander is 7-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 18 starts for Indianapolis this season.“It’s a situation where he’s continuing to get better and deserves to get an opportunity at the major league level,” Shelton said. “We’re going to be excited about that.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Heaney and Semien rebound from recent struggles and help Rangers beat Guardians 2-0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Andrew Heaney rebounded from his worst start of the season, slumping Marcus Semien had his first multihit game in two weeks and the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 Saturday,Heaney (6-6) allowed six hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four. Against Washington last Sunday, the 31-year-old left-hander allowed eight runs, matching a career high. He had been on the paternity list after his wife delivered twin daughters.Grant Anderson relieved with runners at the corners and got Tyler Freeman to ground into a double play. Closer Will Smith got five outs in the seventh and eighth innings, and Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a one-hit ninth in his first save situation since he was acquired from Kansas City on June 30.Cleveland had eight hits and stranded eight. The Guardians had runners in every inning but were shut out for the ninth time this season. Texas has pitched seven shutouts.Semien, who entered in a 3-for-36 slide, singled in th...

Stephen Curry makes hole-in-one, leads star-studded field at American Century celebrity golf tourney

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — Stephen Curry, from way downtown!The Golden State Warriors star Curry made a hole-in-one Saturday at a celebrity golf tournament, draining his tee shot on the 152-yard par-3 seventh hole at Edgewood Tahoe.Fans roared as Curry hit the shot, ripped off his hat, held a finger in the air and sprinted to the hole, smacking the flag like a runner crossing the finish line.“That was my second one ever,” Curry told an NBC/Peacock TV reporter, still panting from his celebration. “I’m locked in right now but to do it on this hole is unbelievable, wow … I’ll be out of breath for the rest of the day, for good reason though.”Curry was leading the field after finishing his second round in the American Century Championship, which is packed with a star-studded field including the NHL’s Joe Pavelski and Alex Killorn, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, former Cowboys QB Tony Romo and former NBA star and sports analyst Charles Barkley.The 54-hole tourn...

Fiscal especial pide a jueza que ignore solicitud de Trump para aplazar juicio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

MIAMI – Jack Smith, el fiscal especial de la causa penal contra el expresidente Donald Trump y su asistente Waltine Nauta por delitos relacionados con el manejo de documentos clasificados, pidió a la jueza encargada del caso en Florida que comience con la selección del jurado el próximo 11 diciembre.Smith solicitó a la jueza Aileen Cannon, de los tribunales federales del distrito sur de Florida, que ignore además la solicitud de la defensa de Trump de que el juicio no se celebre hasta después de las elecciones presidenciales de 2024.En el documento de 11 páginas, Estados Unidos sostiene que “no hay base de hecho o de derecho para proceder de manera tan indeterminada y abierta, y que los demandados no proporcionan ninguna”. Eligen el jurado que evaluará si imputa a Trump por injerencia electoral en 2020 Funcionarios de la Casa Blanca temían que Trump mostrara material clasificado a periodistas El fiscal especial S...

Aurora threatens to cut ties with Denver Police Department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora may soon cut ties with the Denver Police Department. The two agencies have an agreement to help each other during extraordinary circumstances. But now, Aurora claims the deal is unfair. "Colorado Point of View" took a closer look at the issue in this week's episode.The issue is not about day-to-day crime but about those large, few-and-far-between events where one city needs a lot of help from the other — in this case, the 2020 protests. United Airlines agrees to give union pilots big pay raises Denver Police asked Aurora to send officers to help, and now some of them are being sued by protesters. Aurora argues because Denver was in charge, with out-of-town officers following Denver’s commands, Denver should be responsible to defend those officers in court. Unless Denver agrees to that, Aurora has threatened not to send help going forward.What an end to Denver-Aurora police agreement could meanFOX31 legal analyst George Brauchler, who was the district attorne...

Fentanyl overdose deaths rise 16% this year in Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:44 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Fentanyl overdose deaths are on the rise this year.So far in 2023, fentanyl overdose deaths have risen 16% compared to this time last year, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. United Airlines agrees to give union pilots big pay raises The department "is encouraging residents to take precautions regarding substance use as fatal overdoses are increasing in Denver, especially those linked to fentanyl," they said in a news release on Friday.Fentanyl overdose deaths have been on the rise in recent years, both in Colorado and around the country. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows fentanyl overdose deaths more than tripled from 2016-2021 in the U.S.The powerful synthetic opioid is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to DDPHE. Police report they're increasingly finding the drug in powdered form, but it can also come as pills, capsules or rocks.Fentanyl is also incre...