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Restrictions to drag performances, story times advance in Texas Senate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers voted along party lines to advance two bills that would enact restrictions to drag-related events and even criminalize performers in the state. Members of the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs agreed Monday to push forward the two proposed drag restrictions — Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 1601 — for debate to the full chamber. Both measures advanced in committee by votes of 6-2. It's unclear when the full Senate will take up both pieces of legislation for discussion. If they ultimately pass there, they would head to the Texas House of Representatives for approval before going to the governor's desk for signature. Texas lawmakers discuss bill that could levy $10K fine for schools, teachers celebrating Pride week SB 12 would levy a penalty of up to $10,000 against any business owner hosting a “sexually oriented performance” with anyone who’s younger than 18 present. A city or county would also not be able to host these kinds of performances on...

Round Rock police searching for suspects in H-E-B parking lot assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock police are looking for several people involved with an assault in an H-E-B parking lot near Interstate 35.The alleged assault happened at 250 University Boulevard around noon on March 12, police said.Video RRPD released shows two women and three men driving through the parking lot in a red Hyundai Sonata. The two women got out of the car and hit an H-E-B employee near one of the entrances to the store, it shows.Then, the video shows the women running back to the car and leaving the area. The driver of the vehicle was described as a Hispanic man with visible tattoos, police said.RRPD said the vehicle was stolen and has since been recovered. It said the car could be connected with other crimes in the Austin area.If you have any information, you should call the Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-253-7867 or send a tip through WilcoCrimeTips.org.

St. Paul woman sentenced for stealing good Samaritan’s SUV after I-94 rollover

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

A St. Paul woman was given three years of probation Monday for stealing a man’s SUV after he stopped to help her on the side of Interstate 94.Sydney Ann McKellepp (Courtesy of the Ramsey County sheriff’s office)Sydney Ann McKellepp, 22, was convicted of simple robbery and motor vehicle theft, two felonies she pleaded guilty to last month in connection with the Jan. 16 incident.A 180-day jail sentence was stayed, pending completion of probation, and a count each of fleeing police in a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.St. Paul police were called to eastbound I-94 at Lexington Parkway about 11:10 p.m. to assist the Minnesota State Patrol with a rollover accident. Officers saw an unidentified man walking up the highway embankment away from the crash scene.Officers then saw another man trying to pull a woman, later identified as McKellepp, out of the driver’s seat of a Nissan Rogue and then being dragged a short distance as the ...

St. Paul mayor, Chamber face off in testimony on sales tax for roads, parks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter was among city and county officials from across the state to testify Tuesday before a state Senate committee weighing at least 19 bills to increase municipal sales taxes. But Carter’s plea to create a new funding source for road repair met strong objection from the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has proposed tripling the city’s local sales tax to 1.5% to raise nearly $1 billion over 20 years, most of it for arterial street reconstruction. This map features 24 road repairs would be one of five major projects the city would use the money to fund. (Courtesy of St. Paul Public Works)The city of St. Paul already imposes a half-cent sales tax to fund its downtown convention center and neighborhood and cultural projects.Carter has proposed tripling the local sales tax to 1.5%, which would be the highest in the state — tying it with Duluth. It would raise nearly $1 billion over 20 years, most of it for arterial s...

PDT Market opens in Saratoga Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- PDT Market, a new specialty marketplace in the former Price Chopper Limited, has officially opened. Chef Adam Foti, the founder and owner of PDT Catering, opened the store on March 27. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "In less than one year, we remodeled a 19,000 sq ft space, procured tens of thousands of products, created over two dozen menus, built a kitchen and a staff of 50+, learned two different POS systems, continued to cater holidays, weddings and events, curated cooking classes, visited with vendors, taste tested, laughed, cried and lost sleep," said PDT Market in a Facebook reel.The gourmet marketplace includes specialty grocery items, a full service bar, gifts, home goods, and a place to hold private events and cooking classes. Foti said guests can also look forward to holiday events, weekend brunch, special pop-ups, and catering, among other unique events. Albany-based shop p...

Montgomery County residents can receive free smoke detectors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

FONDA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Montgomery County is partnering with the American Red Cross to provide free smoke detectors to families across the county. The goal of the "Sound the Alarm" campaign is to provide three functioning smoke detectors to every household in need. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “I’m proud our team has taken steps to integrate this program into our community,” said County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort. “Safety is always a top priority, and this will ensure residents have the necessary tools to detect a home fire in the event of an emergency.”Residents interested in receiving a free smoke detector can contact the Red Cross at preparedness.eny@redcross. Residents can also call (518) 694-5121 to schedule an installation appointment.

Fair Haven structure fire results in two deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

FAIR HAVEN, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Fair Haven police, fire and EMS responded to a structure fire on March 28 round 6 a.m. on Griffith Pond Road. According to officials, the fire resulted in two deaths. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Authorities responded to a report of a structure fire on Griffith Pond Road in Fair Haven where they confirmed a working fire. A search inside the home began when officials learned the home occupants could have been inside. Police report the remains of two people were recovered from the home. The bodies were sent to the medical examiner's officer for autopsies and to confirm identities. Vermont State Police are assisting with the investigation into the cause of the fire.

Police: Queensbury woman arrested for selling drugs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Saturday, Amanda L. Comer, 34, of Queensbury, was arrested and charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Comer was remanded to the Warren County Correctional Facility for lack of $15,000 cash/$30,000 secured bond/$60,000 insured bond. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The arrest was made after the Warren County Sheriff's Office's Narcotics Enforcement Unit conducted a controlled buy operation. During the operation, Comer sold methamphetamine to the police.

Free school meals in One-House budgets, but not Hochul's

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- During the pandemic, federal funding provided students in high poverty schools with free school meals: breakfast and lunch. That funding has since ended, which is why advocates are asking Governor Hochul to include it in the state budget. "Governor Hochul, from one mother to another, let’s do this," said Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas who is sponsoring a bill that would provide all schools with breakfast and lunch at no cost to the student. "726,000 students lost access to free school meals when the federal waiver expired in September," she said. Advocates call on Hochul to fund free school meals Students delivered empty food trays to the Governor’s hall showing support and need for the bill. The organization, Feeding America says one in seven children face hunger here in New York. Student Madison Burton from Union Endicott High School shared her personal story, "Once there was a little girl embarrassed to be in that line, when her friends were alread...

Liz Cheney: 'Need to spend less time banning books,' more time stopping 'horrific gun violence'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:54 GMT

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) urged Republicans to focus on reducing gun violence rather than banning books, in the wake of a school shooting in Nashville, Tenn., that left three children and three staff members dead.“If we really want to keep our children safe, we need to spend less time banning books and more time stopping the horrific gun violence in our schools,” Cheney tweeted on Tuesday.Cheney’s comment came in response to a similar remark made by Jenna Bush Hager, a television host and daughter of former President George W. Bush."I have a friend in Nashville, so I knew of one of the little girls who was 9, who went to school yesterday and who didn't get to come home," Bush Hager told the TODAY show on Tuesday.“We are worried about giving our kids Judy Blume and other books that are important to the history, to the fabric of our country, and we aren’t worried about sending our kids to schools where they’re not safe?” she added. “Like I just don’t understand what ha...