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Sales tax holiday this weekend for emergency preparation supplies

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- If you need to purchase supplies for emergency preparation, this weekend is a good time to do so. Saturday and Sunday are the 2023 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday, meaning some items will be exempt from taxes. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to give an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 24.The following items are eligible for tax exemption: Less than $3000Portable generators.Less than $300Emergency ladders.Hurricane shutters.Less than $75Axes.Batteries, single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt).Can openers - nonelectric.Carbon monoxide detectors.Coolers and ice chests for food storage – nonelectric.Fire extinguishers.First aid kits.Fuel containers.Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits.Hatchets.Ice products - reusable and artificial.Light sources - p...

Timberwolves ran a lot of pick and rolls in Game 2, and it worked

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

DENVER — Anthony Edwards went off to the tune of 41 points. Rudy Gobert was a legitimate offensive impactor, scoring 19 points on just 11 shot attempts. The Timberwolves shot 51 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range.Minnesota’s Game 2 offense Tuesday was efficient and effective in every respect.“I definitely much preferred the rhythm and the preface of our offense (Wednesday) than I did (in Game 1 on Sunday),” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “So I thought that was a big step forward for us.”And much of that success was rooted in a pick-and-roll offense. It’s the most common NBA concept, but it isn’t something the Wolves have resorted to much during the Finch era. The coach’s rhythm-and-flow offensive philosophy is centered on “randomness” in that you can run pick and rolls, but what occurs on a possession-to-possession basis is determined by the players and what they see unfolding on the floor.But that see...

Tipster told police fatal shooting outside St. Paul Target was retaliation for killing of pregnant woman, murder charge says

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

The fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man outside a St. Paul Target store was retaliation for a homicide of a pregnant woman last month, a tipster told police, according to a murder charge unsealed Thursday.Jadonn Taylor died after the shooting in the parking lot of the Target on Suburban Avenue just south of Interstate 94 on April 6 about 9:50 a.m.Taylor’s fiancée reported he’d “been acting weird since” his friend, Paul Dwayne Harris, was charged with the murder of Gabriella Dehoyos, 21, according to a new criminal complaint.  Harris is accused of shooting into a vehicle that Dehoyos, her boyfriend, another man and Dehoyos’ three young children were in.Dehoyos was in a car with a gang member from YFN, which is affiliated with St. Paul’s East Side. Harris and Taylor were associated with the Looney Land/Time For Money gang, which is connected with St. Paul’s West Side, the complaint said.Taylor was not a suspect in Dehoyos’ killing, thoug...

Ministers discuss impact of Bill C-75 on rural crime

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South News“Rural crime is at a tipping point,” Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis told reporters during a rural media roundtable on April 12.Joined by the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Tyler Shandro, the Ministers spoke to rural reporters about Budget 2023’s impact on safety, policing, and justice in rural communities.Budget 2023 announced $1.2 billion in annual funding to operating expenses for Public Safety and Emergency Services, $709 million for public security in 2023–24, $34 million in 2023–24, $37 million in 2024–25, and $40 million in 2025–26 for correctional services. The budget also includes $15 million in funding over two years to operate the newly created Chief Provincial Firearms Office, and $65 million over three years in funding to help strengthen First Nations policing, a portion of which will support the Blood Tribe Police Service.According to Minister Ellis, “Budget 2023 boosted funding to the Alberta Sher...

County to hold public hearing on advertising bylaw

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsLethbridge County is looking to formalize methods for advertising public notices in Lethbridge County and will be holding a public hearing on May 18 to hear input on the proposed bylaw.Bylaw 23-013 passed first reading during the April 6 regular meeting of Lethbridge County Council. According to the report presented to Council, the proposed bylaw “reflects current practices in County advertising and public notifications.”As per the Municipal Governance Act, a municipality must advertise certain matters in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks or mail notices directly to affected landowners. The MGA stipulates announcements may be advertised via alternative methods including electronically such as websites, emailed notices, social media, apps, notice boards or newsletters. If passed, the bylaw would allow the County to use alternative means to advertise without the requirement to use a newspaper or mailed letter, “as long as the methods used coul...

Retirement questions growing concern for Albertans

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

The National Association of Federal Retirees is calling on the province’s next government to act now to ensure secure, healthy and dignified retirements for Albertans.This is more important now than ever before. Albertans over age 65 are the fastest-growing population segment in the province. Over 15 per cent, or more than 725,000 Albertans, are already over age 65. By 2040, that number is expected to be over 1.1 million. By the mid-2040s, one in five Albertans will be over age 65.Alberta needs a plan for its health-care system, including urgent investment and restructuring so that health care and social services are accessible, equitable and high quality. These investments must be prioritized, along with good decisions made in Albertans’ best interests regarding public safety and the long-term retirement security of Albertans.Alberta needs a plan for a better way forward.Alberta’s next government must commit to…Bringing back an effective, independent seniors advocate and developing...

Amendment for Birds of Prey shelter

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsA recent approval means some development on the Coaldale Birds of Prey lands can go forward this spring.During their regular April 11 meeting, Coaldale town council discussed the location of a new picnic shelter at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Facility.A late addition to the agenda, the item concerned an amendment to a development permit.Cameron Mills, director of growth and investment for the Town, said that last year council had approved the rezoning of the BOP land to Direct Control (DC), and approved a development permit for the education centre there. Part of that included an accessory building, or a picnic shelter. Mills said they did not have any drawings of the picnic shelter at that time.“Long story short, the Birds of Prey would like to move that picnic shelter somewhat from what it was originally proposed,” said Mills, adding that because the land is zoned DC, and the new location of the shelter crosses a property line of the lands that make...

R.I. Baker Middle School makes education into a school-wide competition

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsR.I. Baker Middle School is “gamifying” education.The learning game, titled Rising Sun, Bending Reed is an eight week project which incorporates curriculum content from social studies and language arts in a game format.Then a scaled up game-board is situated in the main foyer of the middle school. Teachers Michael Willems and Jeff Smith are taking on the project for a second year.This year, students will study elements of historical Japan and will earn points based on their completion of assignments with the goal of “winning” the game. Using their knowledge of Japanese history, student’s main objective is to establish a plan, complete tasks, gather resources, and build an “army” in order to withstand the various challenges and conditions throughout Japan’s history.After a wildly successful pilot, staff applauded the project, and organizing teachers Willems and Smith for the overall positive impact on student engagement. A statement from Palliser Schoo...

UCP ministers discuss plans to boost economy during media roundtable

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

By Samantha JohnsonSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterA rural media roundtable took place earlier this month with Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, and Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development.The population of Alberta has doubled in the last few decades and is now 4.6 million. The third quarter of 2022 saw a net migration into Alberta from other countries and provinces. The government says it is keen to attract global investment and to do so must ensure the infrastructure is in place, thus, budget 2023 has a $700 million increase to the transportation budget. A large portion of this increase will go to maintenance on the 64,000 km of Alberta roads, many that have deteriorated over the past 15 years.Jean suggested Dow Chemical could be bringing an $11-million private investment to Alberta, speculating it could create 8,000 jobs over a five-year period. Additionally, he says, other companies such as Ex...

Lethbridge County passes first reading of bylaw to amend Chinook Industrial ASP

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsInterim Director of Community Services at Lethbridge County, Hilary Janzen presented on Bylaw 23-008, which includes amendments to the existing Chinook Industrial Area Structure Plan (ASP) and rezoning of a portion of land located within it from Lethbridge Urban Fringe to Rural General Industrial and Business Light Industrial.County council previously approved the Chinook Industrial Park ASP in November 2018.“This plan (did) encompass a fairly large area of 200 acres located directly to the east of the city of Lethbridge,” explained Janzen at council’s April 6 meeting, noting the east side of the park is flanked by a St. Mary irrigation canal, marking it as an “ideal area for future industrial development.”In the past year, the land has been sold and the new landowner of the northernmost part has submitted  significant revisions to the ASP. Janzen said the new landowners, “have a particular vision for their property and how they want to see it develop...