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School voucher bill tied to ending STAAR test in Texas House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A Texas House committee rewrote a bill that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition. The substitute legislation debated Monday is getting major pushback, including a veto threat from the governor, for significantly limiting who can access what are known as "education savings accounts." Additionally, this committee substitute for Senate Bill 8 would eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test and some other high-stakes testing for Texas students. Rep. Brad Buckley, the Salado Republican who serves as chair of the House public education committee, told a crowded hearing room Monday morning that he sees the proposed testing changes as part of a larger push to improve the accountability system for schools. Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to veto pared-down school choice bill, warns of special sessions "Before I go into the specifics of the substitute, I want you all to know that I do not take this task light...

San Marcos CISD school board considers teacher pay raise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Teachers with San Marcos CISD could be getting more money. On Monday night, the school board is discussing and possibly voting on a pay raise. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin ISD looking to fill over 200 vacancies for 2023-24 year, holding career fair Saturday "Not only a percentage increase, but we're also looking at longevity increases. So the longer you stay in San Marcos, we want to take care of you," SMCISD Chief of Communications Andrew Fernandez said. SMCISD said it's just one of the ways it's trying to recruit and retain teachers as several districts across Central Texas deal with vacancies. Another way the district is addressing openings is through a program with Texas State University. "They come in and take over some of our classrooms, and it gives them a first-year experience while they're still seniors in college," Fernandez said. Fernandez said they've hired a dozen of those "student-teachers" this school year, including Angelina Escalante."I'm g...

Austin hosts disaster simulation to train for future emergencies, pandemics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin joined regional leaders, public health officials and hospital professionals to host a disaster simulation Monday, in an effort to build up emergency responses to pandemics and natural disasters.The simulation follows the COVID-19 pandemic and takeaways government officials and health organizations made regarding emergency responses, according to a release.The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff participated in a disaster simulation May 15, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff participated in a disaster simulation May 15, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff participated in a disaster simulation May 15, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)The City of Austin along with regional leaders, public health officials and hospital staff pa...

Final version of universal paid leave bill caps benefits at 20 weeks, delays implementation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

The final version of legislation creating Minnesota’s new paid family and medical leave program will cap benefits at 20 weeks in a year and delay the start of taxes and benefits six more months.Those were the two biggest compromises made by a joint committee of House and Senate lawmakers that finished rectifying differences in the two versions of the bill this past weekend.The changes are unlikely to ease the concerns of Republicans and businesses leaders who’ve said the new program is unnecessary, costly and will make the state less competitive. Democrats and workers groups have made essentially the opposite argument — that a government-run leave program is needed, affordable and will draw workers to the state.“This is something that Minnesotans want,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, the primary House sponsor of the bill. “We recognize that there are so many benefits that come with access to paid family and medical leave.”Richards...

‘Sick and safe time’ requirement closer to becoming MN law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

A jobs and labor package up for a vote in the Minnesota Senate on Monday would require all employers to provide workers with more than a week of paid sick time each year.Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers say their 274-page jobs and labor package is aimed at protecting worker safety and economic well-being. To that end, their bill creates a sick time mandate and new workplace safety regulations for warehouse and meatpacking workers, as well as a new nursing home work standards board.The “sick and safe time” provision in the bill requires employers to offer 48 hours of paid time each year for illness, medical appointments, child care or seeking help for domestic abuse. Around 900,000 workers in Minnesota do not have any paid time off, and most of them are low-wage, supporters say.“The ability to take care of yourself when you’re sick or to take care of a sick kid or go to the doctor without forgoing a paycheck should be a basic, fundamental expectation,” said Rep. Liz Olso...

SEE IT: Martha Stewart makes history as oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

Peter Sblendorio | New York Daily NewsMartha Stewart is making history as a cover model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.The TV personality, 81, is one of four stars to grace one of the 2023 covers of the annual edition, along with actress Megan Fox, pop singer Kim Petras and model Brooks Nader.Stewart is the oldest person to cover the Swimsuit Issue. Maye Musk, who is now 75, set the previous mark last year.“To be on the cover at my age was a challenge, and I think I met the challenge,” Stewart said Monday on NBC’s “Today” show.“For me, it is a testament to good living. I think that all of us should think about good living, successful living, and not about aging. The whole aging thing is so boring.”Martha Stewart is continuing to make her mark — this time on the cover of the 2023 SI Swimsuit issue!https://t.co/WqY9v7EwQR— Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) May 15, 2023The Jersey City-born Stewart says modeling helped put her through college. Sports Illu...

Drag queen Lady Bunny’s new one-woman show is definitely not for kids

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

Veteran drag queen Lady Bunny is well aware of the growing anti-trans and anti-drag sentiment in some right-wing circles and she agrees with one aspect of it.“I think sometimes the drag queens and promoters need to be much clearer about what is going on on their stage,” the performer born Jon Ingle said during a phone interview from her Manhattan home. “I like dirty material, but I don’t want to spring it on kids.“I’m no groomer. Look at my wigs, I can’t groom myself,” Bunny said with a laugh.Bunny will bring her one-woman show to Minneapolis’ Brave New Workshop for two performances Thursday, and lest anyone not realize what they’re getting into, the evening is dubbed “The Greatest Ho on Earth.” (It’s only open to those 18 and over, and a note on the ticketing page adds: “This show is highly obscene and offensive, so leave the kids with grandma!)”Once named “the oldest living drag queen” by RuPaul, Lady Bunny is probably the second-most famous dra...

Jefferson County man sentenced to life in prison for murdering ex-girlfriend in Conifer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

A Jefferson County judge on Monday sentenced a 60-year-old man to life in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Conifer last year.A jury on Friday found Wayne Richard Lotz guilty of first-degree murder after deliberation following a five-day trial, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office stated in a news release Monday.On Feb. 15, 2022, authorities found Michele Scott, 55, dead in a ravine in the Conifer area. Neighbors had called the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office with concerns that they hadn’t seen her in a few days.Deputies found smeared blood on a truck parked in her driveway, in the garage and in the home, according to the release.Authorities, before locating her body, found Lotz driving her car. He told police that Scott was on vacation and that he had permission to use her vehicle and credit card while he cared for her animals, prosecutors said.Deputies eventually found a rug and moving blanket in the area of Pleasant Park and South Ridges r...

Bear population surge leading to more human encounters in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

It has been 100 years since the California grizzly bear, the symbol that adorns the state flag, was hunted to extinction in the Golden State. Today, you will only find them in zoos and animal sanctuaries.However, where one bear species has disappeared, another has surged in population in recent decades.In the early 1980s, the number of wild black bears, the smallest of North America’s three bear species, was estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000 in California. Today, that number has grown to somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Despite their variance in color -some are cinnamon or light brown- and wide range in sizes and weight, they are all considered black bears. It is also the only kind of bear you will find in the wild in California.A bear in Monrovia walks near a KTLA 5 News van on Feb. 21, 2020. (Credit: KTLA)Most of the state’s black bears are found in the northern portion of California in what biologists refer to as the ...

Overnight closures planned to repair 5 Freeway damaged by mudslide near Castaic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:17 GMT

Caltrans will begin closing the southbound side of the 5 Freeway near Castaic for overnight repairs beginning Monday night.The roadway was damaged in late March during a series of heavy storms, in which the hillside gave way leading to several lanes having to be closed. The freeway has been reduced to two lanes ever since the mudslide.Beginning at 10 p.m. Monday, Caltrans will close the entire southbound side of the freeway overnight for emergency repairs. The repairs are expected to take place each night through Thursday and again on Saturday, although Caltrans hopes to have some lanes reopened overnight before the weekend.During the week, construction will stop and the road will reopen to traffic each morning at 5 a.m. On Saturday, the road will close at midnight and remain closed until 8 a.m. Sunday.A detour will be in place utilizing Highway 138 and Highway 14.A map provided by Caltrans shows the overnight detour that will be in place beginning May 15, 2023 for emergency repairs...