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Border security, 'education freedom' top Abbott's special session call; teacher pay absent

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Gov. Greg Abbott released his formal proclamation of a special session on Thursday, directing lawmakers to reconvene on Oct. 9 to consider legislation relating to education savings accounts, border security, and prohibiting private employers from mandating COVID-19 vaccines for employees.'Education Freedom'Topping the list of demands is Gov. Greg Abbott's signature educational priority -- 'education savings accounts,' which would use state money to subsidize tuition for families who want to send their children to private school. The issue has long been a top promise of the governor and Lt. Gov. Patrick, but has failed to gain support in the Texas House."Together, we will chart a brighter future for all Texas children by empowering parents to choose the best education option for their child," Gov. Abbott said.In the regular legislative session, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would give eligible families $8,000 to spend on alternate educational expenses such a...

TEA appoints consultant, school leader to monitor Austin ISD special ed program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

KXAN (AUSTIN) -- Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath announced on Thursday the names of the two state-appointed officials who will oversee the Austin Independent School District and its board's actions following an investigation that found the district, since 2020, violated more than 40 special education requirements. After weeks of delaying a vote, Austin ISD trustees voted in September to sign an agreement allowing it to remain in control of its special education operations for now while working to comply with a years-long backlog of evaluations and other state requirements. The decision meant the district waived its ability to appeal or sue if the agency decided to increase the level of state intervention in the future. The district also agreed that the TEA could do just that if, at any point, the district failed to meet a requirement or deadline set by the state. Sherry Marsh, an education consultant, and Lesa Shocklee, the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Executive Di...

High school sports: MSHSL board approves spring boys volleyball season, new state seeding methods and more

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

Boys volleyball will be played in the spring when it joins the Minnesota high school sports calendar in the 2024-25 school year, the Minnesota State High School League board of directors voted Thursday.That’s the same season during which the club version of the sport was played before it was added as an official MSHSL sport in the spring.Sustainability and growth potential were cited as two of the primary reasons for the decision to put boys volleyball in the spring. The fall season was the other option considered. That’s when the high school girls season is held.The MSHSL board also approved a change to the team state tournament seeding setup. Previously, team sports with eight state tournament teams in a class were seeded No. 1-5, with the other three teams assigned first-round opponents by random draw.That’s still a possibility under the new seeding setup. Each sport can select from one of the three following seeding options:— Teams are seeded No. 1-5, with rand...

F.D. Flam: Don’t worry about global population collapse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

The world’s massive human population is leveling off. Most projections show we’ll hit peak humanity in the 21st century, as people choose to have smaller families and women gain power over their own reproduction. This is great news for the future of our species.And yet alarms are sounding. While environmentalists have long warned of a planet with too many people, now some economists are warning of a future with too few. For example, economist Dean Spears from the University of Texas has written that an “unprecedented decline” in population will lead to a bleak future of slower economic growth and less innovation.But demographers I spoke with say this concern is based more on speculation than science. A dramatic collapse in population is unlikely to happen within the next 100 years barring some new plague or nuclear war or other apocalypse. And if we need more creative minds in the world, we could stop doing such a terrible job of nourishing and educating the ...

Who will start Game 1 of the ALDS? Twins like their pitching options.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

On one side, a future hall of famer. On the other, well, the Twins haven’t yet announced who will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series, but they like their options.The Astros, who earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and have not played since the regular season wrapped up on Sunday, will send Justin Verlander to the mound on Saturday. They also have announced that all-star Framber Valdez will start Game 2.The Twins were planning on starting Joe Ryan on Thursday if the Wild Card Series had gone three games. It didn’t.And now they have an important decision to make.They could go with Ryan, who is plenty rested. They could opt for Bailey Ober, who likely would have been the choice had Ryan pitched on Thursday. Or, it seems less likely, but they could turn to veteran Kenta Maeda, who was on the playoff roster for the Wild Card Series available out of the bullpen but did not pitch.“Hopefully whatever they think is best is what they’re going to roll with,” Ober said. “I...

Asylees arrested in Colonie

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Police in Colonie are investigating multiple violent crimes involving asylum seekers who were transported from New York City to local hotels. In the first months after the asylum seekers arrived in the Capital Region many local leaders said police calls to the hotels where they were staying had gone down. Some asylum seekers can now start to apply for work Within the past week Colonie police have arrested four migrants. The charges stem from separate incidents including a domestic assault where a woman was slashed, a knife fight that sent one person to the hospital, and an assault and burglary at the Cricket Wireless store on Central Avenue.  All the asylees were staying at the SureStay Plus Hotel in Colonie.Police don’t believe this is a trend, but it does raise some concerns, "Any spike in crime like this that occurs at one location or involving people from the same location it should be a concern to anybody. So, it doesn't have to do with that it's at t...

Dateline NBC episode 'The Note' explores disappearance of Megan Nichols

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

FAIRFIELD, Ill. -- A man has been sentenced to 50-years in prison for the murder of Megan Nichols. Brodey Murbarger was convicted in 2023. An episode titled “The Note” will air on Dateline NBC on October 15, 2023, about this case.Nichols disappeared in 2014 at the age of 15. Her remains were discovered in rural Wayne County in 2018.Murbarger was arrested in October 2020 outside his workplace in Evansville, Indiana. Investigators also searched his home after the arrest, according to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.But who was Megan Nichols?Nichols was a cheerleader at Fairfield High School and an athlete who vanished on July 3, 2014, less than two weeks before her 16th birthday. She left a note for her mother, stating she would “never be happy at home.” The note was allegedly written by Nichols, and she left her cell phone at home, which was later found wiped clean.Nichols lived with her mother and stepfather in Fairfield, Illinois. Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, Nichols' mother, d...

Mallory Thomas: From rattlesnake roundups to breaking news

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Mallory Thomas, is a reporter who likes the ever-changing nature of her job. From presidential visits to Sweetwater rattlesnake roundups, this Texan-born journalist brings her witty charm and dedication to every story she tackles. She delves into deep cases one day and covers breaking news the next; you never know what she'll be up to.What motivates you?Thomas draws her motivation from the strong sense of community she feels in each place she lives. She joins Fox 2 from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she spent five years as a reporter covering a wide range of stories, including presidential visits, historic flooding, and several tornadoes.Prior to Tulsa, she spent a year and a half working in Texas politics. She began her new career in Abilene, Texas, where holding a rattlesnake is a rite of passage for reporters covering the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup. From her time in politics and various news markets, her commitment to her role as a journalist remains unwavering.“I ...

Juvenile arrested after stabbing at Marie L. Greenwood school in Denver

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

Police are investigating a stabbing at Marie L. Greenwood Early-8 that injured one student, according to the Denver Police Department.A student was transported to the hospital in stable condition and another student is in custody following the stabbing, Denver police spokesperson Doug Schepman said.ALERT: #DPD is investigating a stabbing at the Marie L Greenwood Academy school. A juvenile suspect is in custody and a juvenile victim was transported to the hospital in stable condition. DPD is working with DPS on this ongoing investigation. #Denver pic.twitter.com/V89H7vKtem— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 5, 2023Officers responded to the school located at 5130 Durham Court at 1:53 to a report of a stabbing, Schepman said.The student suspect was in custody by 1:58 p.m., and it appears the stabbing involved a knife. Both students were juveniles.Preliminary information shows the incident only involved the two students and that no other students were threatened, Schepma...

Officials investigate suspicious package at Santa Ana federal building

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:50:49 GMT

An investigation is underway at the federal building in Santa Ana after a suspicious package was reported inside.It is unclear at what time the incident was first reported, but the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Authority were called to the scene at 700 W. Santa Ana Boulevard.A bomb squad was also in route to assist in the investigation.There have been no reports of injuries or exposures, sheriff’s officials said.Check back for updates on this developing story.