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North Dakota special session resolves budget mess in three days

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature adjourned Wednesday after rewriting a major budget bill that was voided by the state Supreme Court, resolving a mess that had threatened to stymie government operations.The Legislature completed its special session in three days, less than a month after the surprising ruling that rejected the law as unconstitutional for violating a single subject requirement.Additionally, the Senate rejected an unrelated, expanded income tax cut pressed by Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, who was off his presidential campaign trail during the special session. Burgum called the situation a “missed opportunity” for more tax relief amid recent years’ inflation.Lawmakers drank coffee, munched brownies and mingled in the Senate chamber while waiting for final votes, with wintry weather bearing down on the state. They quickly left the state Capitol after adjourning around noon.Fourteen bills were passed to reconstruct the voide...

Biden condemns retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday spoke out against retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. He also said he was redoubling his commitment to working on a two-state solution to end the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict.Biden said the attacks by “extremist settlers” amounted to “pouring gasoline” on the already burning fires in the Middle East since the Hamas attack.“It has to stop. They have to be held accountable. It has to stop now,” Biden said at the start of a news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was being honored with a state visit to Washington.Settler violence against Palestinians has intensified since the Hamas attack, and Palestinians have been killed by settlers, according to Palestinian authorities. Rights groups say settlers have torched cars and attacked several small Bedouin communities, forcing them to evacuat...

September 2023: Which local restaurants received a perfect health inspection score?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- September brought another round of health inspections, with Austin Public Health (APH) checking conditions at 515 locations.From that batch of inspections, 367 locations (restaurants, grocery stores, school cafeterias, etc.) earned scores above 89—73 of those locations earned perfect scores of 100.For September, five Austin restaurants earned perfect scores:Bird Bird Biscuit, located at 1401 West Koenig LaneChipotle Mexican Grill, located at 1700 West Parmer LaneChipotle Mexican Grill, located at 11301 Lakeline BoulevardSpartan Pizza, located at 1007 East 6th StreetTaco Bell, located at 9504 North Lamar BoulevardThree locations evaluated by APH in Travis County earned perfect scores:Golden Beijing, located at 100 E Parsons Street, ManorMcDonald's, located at 1517 FM 685 Road, PflugervilleNala's, located at 4894 West US-290, Sunset ValleyQ2 Stadium's concessions, operated by hospitality company Levy, received their third inspection this year. The company earned nearl...

Texas House to vote on series of border security, immigration bills

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas House lawmakers are expected to debate late into the night Wednesday as the lower chamber considers a series of hotly contested bills, mostly related to border security.State legislators are in the middle of their third special legislative session, as Gov. Greg Abbott called them back with requests to pass a slew of bills on a variety of topics. One of the bills, House Bill 6, would allocate $1.5 billion toward building more mileage of the border wall. Another piece of legislation, House Bill 4, would make it a Class B misdemeanor for anyone to enter Texas illegally. Lastly, on the border, lawmakers will consider Senate Bill 4, which would increase penalties for human smuggling and crack down on the operation of stash houses. Texas has spent nearly $10 billion on border security efforts during Gov. Greg Abbott’s tenure, as the state moves to repel and detain migrants in tandem with the federal government. CATCH-UP: Texas moves to spend $1.5B on border wall...

BYU bringing charitable tailgate to Austin during UT face off

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In its first season in the Big 12 Conference, Brigham Young University's Cougars are bringing a new kind of tailgating to Longhorns territory.Members of BYU Alumni have organized "Cougs Care" pregame tailgates at away games, coordinating with local nonprofit organizations and community leaders to fundraise and collect food, books, toys and other essential goods. This Saturday, Central Texas BYU alums will gather from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at LBJ High School to host a holiday gift drive in benefit of the Travis County Sheriff's Brown Santa initiative.Debbie Talbot, BYU's Austin alumni chair, told KXAN the university has more than 2,000 alumni living in the Central Texas area, along with 174 Central Texas natives attending BYU. She said the tailgates are a means of breathing life into BYU's motto: "Enter to learn, go forth to serve.""Any time we can be together, we like to try and do something to bless the community and thank them for hosting BYU," Talbot said. "What ...

Trees planted in new places across Glens Falls

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - New things are putting down roots in Glens Falls this week. A contractor with the city is planting trees around the community this week - some replacing old growth, and others bringing leaves and shade to parts of the city that haven't had them before. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Contractor Grasshopper Gardens is in the process of planting 60 trees along neighborhood roads throughout the city. The Glens Falls Department of Public Works maintains a list of locations where residents have requested new trees planted along the street. A special commission has used that list to chart a map of what spots in the city need some more green."We have so many things that go against city trees - pollution, being planted in the wrong space," said Glens Falls Tree Commissioner Angeline St. Andrews. "We want to plant so that 30, 50, 100 years later, trees don't have to be moved because they're on sewer lines or...

Hunter admits to shooting deer before purchasing a license

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

WRIGHT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A hunter was ticketed for hunting without a license and illegally taking a seven-point buck. Environmental Conservation Officer Bohling investigated the case. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to ECO Bohling, the suspect posted a video of a bloody arrow on October 6. He did not purchase a license until October 7. He reportedly waited until he acquired the license to post a picture on social media of the deer. ECO Bohling interviewed the hunter, who admitted to shooting the deer on October 6. She seized the antlers and venison as evidence. The tickets are returnable to the Town of Wright Court.

Trump called to witness stand in New York fraud trial, fined $10K for violating gag order

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

NEW YORK — Former President Trump has been fined $10,000 for violating a gag order that prevented him from speaking about those overseeing his civil fraud trial in New York.In an unexpected twist, Trump was sworn in as a witness to respond to allegations he violated the gag order against him in his fraud case by commenting about a court secretary.Trump slowly ascended the stand, straightening his blue jacket when sitting down. He took an oath to tell the truth and turned his attention toward the judge.Judge Arthur Engoron asked whether Trump made the reported comment that he is a “very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside him, perhaps even more partisan than he is.” Trump nodded, responding “yes.”“To whom were you referring?” Engoron asked.“You and Cohen,” Trump replied.“Are you sure that you didn’t mean the person on the other side, my principal law clerk?” Engoron asked.“Yes, I’m sure,” Trump said.The former president, when prompted, additionally com...

Former AT&T tower up for auction, starting at $2.5M

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - One of the most familiar buildings in downtown St. Louis has sat vacant for several years, but it seems change is on the horizon as it heads to the auction block.The 44-story building at 909 Chestnut Street, formerly known as One Bell Center or the AT&T Tower, is up for auction from Dec. 11-13, according to online marketplace Loopnet. Bids for the property will start at $2.5 million. Local cops unmask international suspects’ clever crime tricks The former AT&T tower is considered one of the largest office buildings not only in the St. Louis region, but all of Missouri. It covers more than 1.4 million square feet. In the present day, the building is owned by New York-based developer SomeraRoad, Inc. The building has been vacant since fall 2017, when nearly 2,000 employees were relocated to other downtown offices. The U.S. Bank National Association Trustee immediately foreclosed the building after the departures. Close Thanks for signing u...

Suspect in Chicago slaying arrested in Springfield after trooper shot in the leg, State Police say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:06:24 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A man wanted in connection with a slaying in Chicago has been arrested following the shooting of an Illinois state trooper in Springfield.The trooper was shot in the leg about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday following an “interaction” with the 37-year-old Chicago man, state police said.The man ran from the shooting scene but was captured about 2 a.m. Wednesday during a search by officers from multiple law enforcement agencies. The trooper was taken to a hospital, and his condition was not released.State police and Chicago police did not provide details of the Chicago slaying, but relatives of Adrianna Lopez told WLS-TV and the Chicago Sun-Times that the suspect in the woman's fatal shooting Sunday night had been arrested.Lopez, 37, was shot outside her home in Chicago's Garfield Ridge neighborhood. Chicago police had said she was shot at least 10 times after being approached by a man she knew who was in a dark-colored SUV.Lopez taught special education at an elementary s...