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House Republicans move to kill education savings accounts in school finance bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — As a tense Texas House prepares to debate a massive $36 billion school finance plan on Friday morning, rural House Republicans have filed an amendment to strip the controversial provision that would establish education savings accounts (ESAs).State Rep. John Raney, a College Station Republican and longtime opponent of any school voucher plan, has proposed the amendment to eliminate the entire section of the bill that would establish ESAs. About 15 other Republicans signed onto that amendment, setting it up for success if all Democrats vote for it.Lawmakers expect a relatively short day should that amendment pass. If the House passes a bill without education savings accounts, it would be dead on arrival in the Senate, and Gov. Greg Abbott has said he would veto it. RELATED: School voucher bill to reach Texas House floor Friday for potentially pivotal vote Even before the debate began, House Bill 1 attracted criticism from both the strongest liberals and staunches...

How the Vikings adopted ‘Higher’ by Creed as the anthem of this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

The loud speakers blared once the Saints’ Hail Mary pass attempt fell harmlessly to the turf. The song choice was obvious for anybody who has been paying attention.As the Vikings celebrated their fifth straight win last weekend, defeating New Orleans at home, the power vocals of the rock band Creed echoed throughout U.S. Bank Stadium.The vibes were immaculate with the late 1990’s smash hit “Higher” serving as the soundtrack of the moment. Then the audio strategically cut out with the song approaching its chorus.Naturally, a large portion of the 66,933 fans in attendance took over for lead singer Scott Stapp, shouting every word in unison.Can you take me higher?To a place where blind men seeCan you take me higher?To a place with golden streets“That was awesome,” Vikings center Garrett Bradbury said. “The whole crowd was singing it.”How did this happen? How did a 24-year-old song somehow become synonymous with the Vikings?It started abou...

St. Paul man arrested in October West Side killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

A 20-year-old St. Paul man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting last month on the city’s West Side, police said Friday.The suspect was arrested Thursday and booked into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of murder for the killing of 23-year-old David Lashawn Isaac of St. Paul, police said.A case against the suspect will be referred to the Ramsey County Attorney’s office for charging consideration, police said.A 911 caller just after midnight on Oct. 23 reported “a person down on the ground” behind a residence in the 400 block of South Clinton Avenue, police have said.Officers found Isaac in a driveway/parking lot area behind townhomes. He’d been shot and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene near Cesar Chavez and Robert streets.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man sentenced to federal prison for robbing 3 markets on St. Paul’s University Avenue Crime & Public Safety | Families of 5 men killed in officer-involved shoot...

Timberwolves’ defense is elite, but offense is still a work in progress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was asked to comment on another strong offensive showing Wednesday from Karl-Anthony Towns.The Wolves big man scored 25 points in Wednesday’s 133-115 loss at Phoenix, continuing his offensive resurgence after a sluggish start this season. Finch quickly complimented Towns’ performance before transitioning to a lamentation of Minnesota’s lack of ball movement.Eighteen assists on 42 buckets against the Suns, he noted, wasn’t enough. But while Wednesday’s performance was an extreme to the bad on the lack of creation for others, that is who Minnesota has been this season offensively.Only 58.3 percent of the Wolves’ made shots have been assisted this season, which ranks 23rd in the NBA. They end up in isolation possessions 7.2 percent of the time — the ninth-highest frequency in the NBA, per NBA.com. They scored just 0.84 points per possession out of isolation, which ranks 20th in the NBA.Another issue is the Wolves are ti...

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

Vikings at Broncos (-2½)The Vikings this week brought back former standout linebacker Anthony Barr and added him to the practice squad. If this reunion proves successful, the Vikings no doubt will quickly inquire about the availability of Dalvin Tomlinson, Jared Allen and Alan Page.Pick: Vikings by 7Alan Page is interviewed after he and his wife, Diane Page, show artifacts from their collection at their Minneapolis home on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. They have an extensive collection of African-American artifacts, including many Jim Crow pieces. They are looking for a venue to display the items because they believe the items are matters relevant to current racial happenings in the country. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)Eagles at Chiefs (-2½)Philadelphia’s burly and bearded Jason Kelce was surprisingly named to People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive list for 2023. The Eagles’ center narrowly beat out his brother Travis, Larry the Cable Guy and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad.Pick: Chiefs by 3PHILADE...

Ring in the holidays at Stuyvesant Plaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ready to usher in the holidays? Stuyvesant Plaza is hosting a tree-lighting ceremony outside of Jean Paul Spa & Salongs on Saturday, November 18. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The tree lighting ceremony kicks off with a welcome address by Stuyvesant Plaza General Manager Rachel Ferluge and a check presentation to the Guilderland YMCA. There will be live performances by acapella groups Lost in Sound from Siena College, and Girls Next Door from Saint Rose. Stores and restaurants will be open during and after the ceremony.Beginning on Sunday, the annual Holiday Strolls will return from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides by Bowman Carriages, activities with Santa, and more! For those with learning differences, there will be sensory-friendly interactions during select Holiday Strolls. These sessions include time with Santa, dimmed lighting, little to no music, no flashing toys or...

Holiday tree lightings around the Capital Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- As the holiday season gets underway, many cities, towns and villages are preparing to light their holiday trees. Here’s where and when you can find different tree lighting ceremonies around the Capital Region. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! AlbanyThe two holiday trees at the Empire State Plaza and East Capitol Park will be lit during the New York State Tree Lighting and Fireworks celebration on Sunday, December 3 from noon to 8 p.m. The free event will feature live music, food trucks, ice-skating performances, and a visit from Santa. The tree lighting and fireworks will begin at 5:15 p.m.The City of Albany will also have its tree lighting in Academy Park on Friday, December 1 at 5p.m. The lighting includes live music, holiday crafts and free refreshments.AltamontIndian Ladder Farms is hosting its annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Friday, December 1 at 6 p.m. in the Biergarten. The tree will be lit as the...

Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Vikings and predictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

Minnesota Vikings (6-4) at Broncos (4-5)When: 6:20 p.m. MT, SundayWhere: Empower Field at Mile HighRadio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/NBCBroncos-Vikings series: Denver is 7-8 in 15 regular-season games dating back to 1972; the Broncos lost 27-23 in the last meeting, on Nov. 17, 2019, in Minnesota, but have won three of the last four matchups.In the spotlightThe Broncos have won three straight. Denver’s rushing attack has been effective, the defense has been solid and Russell Wilson has been one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league.Still, head coach Sean Payton doesn’t believe the team has found its sweet spot on offense.“There are so many things we have to clean up and get better at,” Payton said. “We coach it. It’s the details. There’s so much that goes into it. It starts with building it around what you have and who we have.”For Payton, discovering a sweet spot is like finding Shangri-La, meaning it doesn’t exist. Football is an imperfect game since there’s al...

Suspect did not intend to kill pro-Israel demonstrator Paul Kessler, DA says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

The man charged in the death of pro-Israel demonstrator Paul Kessler did not intend to kill him, authorities in Ventura County explained on Friday. Kessler, 69, who is Jewish, died after suffering a head injury at dueling Israel-Hamas war demonstrations in Thousand Oaks on Nov. 5. Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, a professor at Moorpark College, was arrested Thursday and was charged with involuntary manslaughter and battery causing serious bodily injury.“We took this case seriously and we investigated and charged it thoroughly," said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.

Survey shows Newsom's weaknesses on key issues, strength vs. Trump in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:26 GMT

In a hypothetical matchup between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former President Donald Trump, Newsom would carry the Golden State by a slightly wider margin than President Joe Biden, according to a new "Inside California Politics" poll conducted by Emerson College Polling.The poll, which consisted of 1,000 registered voters, was conducted Nov. 11-14 and has a 3% margin of error.It shows Biden with 50% support in California while 37% support Trump. However, when Newsom replaces Biden as the hypothetical Democratic nominee in a head-to-head matchup, Newsom leads Trump 53% to 35% - still within the margin of error.Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll showing Gov. Newsom would beat former President Trump in California in 2024 in a hypothetical matchup. Nov. 17, 2023. Vice President Kamala Harris would also defeat Trump in California in a hypothetical race, 47% to 38%, the survey found. 47% of those surveyed were registered Democrats, 24% Republicans, and 29% were Independent/...