Gov. Abbott projects confidence ESAs will pass this session

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Gov. Abbott projects confidence ESAs will pass this session AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Gov. Abbott said Wednesday he expects the House will pass legislation this session to establish education savings accounts, increase public school funding, and give teachers a bonus, signaling confidence that the ten-month impasse over his top priority will end by next week."We are on track to ensure there will not be another special session. There is enough time to get everything done that we want to get done, that needs to get done to avoid a special session," Gov. Abbott told reporters Wednesday morning. "I think that we are on a timetable where we should be able to conclude everything that needs to be achieved this special session."Gov. Abbott said he expects the House will unveil a new bill to address those educational priorities on Wednesday, which he thinks "will be embraced.""So many legislators have so many wins in the bill that will be coming out today," he said.On Tuesday, House Public Education Chairman Brad Buckley said he intends to file a substitut...

Williamson County election worker hospitalized after alleged 'confrontation' with poll watcher

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Williamson County election worker hospitalized after alleged 'confrontation' with poll watcher LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County said a poll worker has been hospitalized after a medical emergency inside a polling place. Remarks during this week's Commissioner's Court meeting implied the episode was possibly linked to a confrontation with a poll watcher.In a statement, Williamson County said the medical emergency happened around 5:45 p.m. at the Leander Public Library. Poll workers intervened quickly and began life-saving measures, which first responders continued once on the scene."The poll worker was saved by their efforts as well as by the efforts of first responders. The individual is in the hospital receiving medical care, and no further information will be released out of respect for privacy," the county said.A video posted to social media of Tuesday's Commissioner's Court meeting shared Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell's remarks on this matter."Based upon the reports that I received as County Judge, this was precipitated because of a potential confrontation ...

Prosecutors rest case in APD officer's murder trial, defense takes over

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Prosecutors rest case in APD officer's murder trial, defense takes over Editor's note: The above video is KXAN's coverage of day 7 of this trial from Tuesday, October 31, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Wednesday, state prosecutors rested their case against Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who is on trial for murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor's attorneys have now taken over. The defense reserved its opening statement at the start of the trial and instead gave them Wednesday afternoon before calling its first witness. Prosecutors expect to wrap mid-week in APD officer’s murder trial Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Wednesday providing live updates on social media platform X:Day 8: Back in court this morning for the trial of APD Officer Christopher Taylor, charged with murder in the 2020 death of Michael Ramos. It's likely state prosecutors will rest their case to...

Which roads are closed for the UT football game, Run for the Water race?

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Which roads are closed for the UT football game, Run for the Water race? AUSTIN (KXAN) — November is starting out strong for area events, with residents welcomed to enjoy the annual Austin Food & Wine Festival, catch the Texas Longhorns face off against Kansas State and partake in the Run for the Water race. With each of those events come some road closures in and around the downtown area.Here's a look at some of the closures planned this weekend.Austin Food & Wine FestivalThe Austin Food & Wine Festival will be held at Auditorium Shores on Saturday and Sunday, featuring sips and bites from restaurants and chefs here in Austin as well as those nationally renowned.While there aren't specific road closures related to the festival, Auditorium Shores will be closed for public access and the parking lot at the park will temporarily be closed for event load in and load out.UT vs. Kansas State football gameAs the Longhorns take on Kansas State, several roads will be closed at different points of the day. Here's a breakdown of some game-specific clos...

Recipes: Quick fall pastas for easy weeknight dinner

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Recipes: Quick fall pastas for easy weeknight dinner Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote about how pasta was all I wanted for dinner. Maybe it’s the season — a little chill in the air, a lot of too much going on — that calls for tender noodles.Also, it’s only Tuesday, but are you tired? I am, and pasta is the easiest one-dish dinner for anyone feeling weary. If you start boiling a pot of water right after you walk in the door, you can eat in half an hour or less. Work vegetables and proteins into the dish, and you really don’t need anything else to complete the meal, whether it’s cheesy macaroni or soupy soba.But the real beauty of pasta is that it tastes so special, especially when it’s swirled with fall produce. There’s a real restaurant feel to that kind of dish, but it comes at a fraction of the cost when made at home. And the very thrill of that is enough to give me a soft second wind to pull noodles out of the pantry and start cooking.1. Pasta With Butternut Squash, Kale and Brown ButterPasta with Butternut Squash, Kale and Brown...

Lincoln-Lynch sentencing leads to calls for change

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Lincoln-Lynch sentencing leads to calls for change BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Family members of Paul Trombley and the Saratoga County District Attorney's Office are calling for changes that would increase penalties for fatal hit-and-runs. This comes after John Lincoln-Lynch was sentenced to one to three years in prison, yesterday, for hitting and killing Trombley with his car, and fleeing the scene, in 2022. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Following the sentencing, Trombley's family breathed a sigh of relief, but also expressed disappointment. “There’s a lot of pressure and weight off my shoulders," Lucinda Trombley, Paul Trombley's wife, said. "I also have a little bit of disappointment with the sentencing but fully understand and respect that’s what the judge could do.”  Judge James Murphy joined the sentiment during sentencing, as members of Trombley's family spoke out against the limitations on sentencing. “That is a sentence that makes no one happy," Murphy said. "Nev...

Swim programs at Schenectady schools making big waves

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Swim programs at Schenectady schools making big waves SCHENCTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local school district is making waves with its emphasis on teaching students a life skill, both during the school day and after the last bell rings. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! When the Schenectady City School District first announced it would be hosting a free learn-to-swim program, the turnout was overwhelming. Hundreds of families signed up their kids.“The demand was high, but we were able to fit everybody in," said Aquatics Director Brian Melanson, "we are still getting people trickling in, which is great."Toward the end of September, Melanson was trying to figure out how he’d meet the massive demand for swim lessons: More than 400 sign-ups for a program that was originally supposed to accommodate about 50 students at a time. Schenectady schools offering safe swimming curriculum The program, now in its fifth week, is about to welcome a new set of swimmers for a second session. Melanson’...

Tickets on sale for Lake George winter attractions

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Tickets on sale for Lake George winter attractions LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This winter, it's no ice castle rising over the frigid waters of Lake George. Instead, new ways to enjoy the winter will set up shop at Charles R. Wood Park and Fort William Henry - and tickets to check them out are up for grabs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Tickets went on sale on Wednesday, Nov. 1, for Winter Realms and Lake George Winter's Dream, a pair of new winter wonderlands recently unveiled to bring winter fun to the village. Both will kick off no matter the temperature, or the snowfall.“In about one month, Lake George will become the home of some of the most imaginative and memorable family fun experiences in the Northeast,” said Warren County Winter Coalition President Vincent Crocitto II. “We look forward to bringing people together throughout the holiday season and into the new year.”Winter Realms will be set at Charles R. Wood Park, which will be populated by ice skating, sculptures...

Argyle boil water order and school closure following water main work

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Argyle boil water order and school closure following water main work ARGYLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Crews in Argyle tried to make sure the water main break only affected an isolated area, rather than having to shut down water to the entire town. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Water stopped flowing to this Washington County town over the past few days as crews were installing the six new valves. The goal is isolating water main breaks to avoid widespread disruptions like closing down schools.Even so, the valve replacement forced schools to close and go virtual, but Argyle School District Superintendent James Bennefield said the work is necessary. “This has been an ongoing issue—the village of Argyle not having valves in the system," he said. "They should reduce having to close schools down in the entire village, should there be any water issues in the future."Bennefield added that his schools were well prepared for the closure. “We prepared our st...

Ken Buck won’t seek reelection to Congress, cites “self-serving lies” by fellow Republicans

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:44:00 GMT

Ken Buck won’t seek reelection to Congress, cites “self-serving lies” by fellow Republicans U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, a Windsor Republican who has served in Congress for nearly a decade, will not seek reelection in 2024, he announced Wednesday.The five-term congressman cited “self-serving lies” from within his party as a factor in his decision to step down at the end of his current term. Buck, a former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, has recently fought with members of the state party over claims about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.“Too many Republican leaders are lying to America, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, describing Jan. 6 as an unguided tour of the Capitol and asserting the ensuing prosecutions were the weaponization of our justice system,” Buck said in a video statement released late Wednesday morning. “These insidious narratives breed widespread cynicism and erode Americans’ confidence in the rule of law.”Buck also announced his decision during an interview on MSNBC around the same time.In...