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Lawmakers drop eminent domain, try new approach to save Texas state park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawmakers are changing their approach in an effort to save a Texas state park from permanent closure and development into a multi-million dollar private community.Fairfield Lake State Park, about 70 miles east of Waco, was closed to the public at the end of February, after almost 50 years in operation. It has since temporarily reopened but is slated for permanent closure later this summer. ‘Not constitutional’: How negotiations for the state to buy the park broke down The land is not owned by the state, but is instead leased from Vistra Energy, which formerly operated a power plant near the park. Vistra is in contract to sell the land to Todd Interests, a Dallas-based developer, which plans to turn the site into an exclusive gated community with multi-million dollar homes and a private golf course.State Rep. Angelia Orr, whose district includes the park, filed legislation last month to prevent that from happening. House Bill 2332 would grant the state power to acqu...

The top barbecue joint in Texas is in Austin, according to Yelp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Make no bones about it: Barbecue is one of America’s favorite cuisines.Barbecue, however, is also the subject of some of the most heated debates among foodies. What qualifies as “barbecue” in one region of the country might not pass in another, seeing as some folks might prefer baby-back ribs over St. Louis-style, or the flavors of mesquite over hickory. And don’t even get started on the sauces.The best barbecue, therefore, is truly in the taste buds of the beholder.With that in mind, it’s perhaps easier to set aside any preconceived notions and enjoy some regional styles of barbecue — even if it’s not exactly one's preferred style. To help determine where some of the most finger-lickin’ examples can be found, the analysts at Yelp have compiled a list of the platform’s top-rated barbecue joints in every state, based on the recommendations from its user community. It should be noted, though, that Yelp’s findings are also based on the “total volume” of reviews for each bar...

St. Kate’s provost named president of Illinois private college

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

St. Catherine University’s second-in-command is leaving at the end of the school year to become a college president in Illinois.Anita Thomas, 55, will be the first woman and first person of color to lead North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, which has around 3,000 students and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.Anita Thomas (Courtesy of North Central College)Thomas, who grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent many years in the Chicago area, is a clinical psychologist who was founding dean of the applied behavioral science college at the University of Indianapolis before she came to St. Paul in 2019.As executive vice president and provost, she created and implemented the first academic master plan at St. Kate’s.In her introductory speech at North Central on Tuesday, Thomas said she’s taking the job at a time of societal “chaos,” citing the coronavirus pandemic, racial and civil unrest, economic insecurity and climate change. She said she’s excited to hel...

Stillwater seeking input on school facility plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

Stillwater Area Public School District officials are planning a series of community meetings starting next week to gather input on how to best add capacity at the elementary and middle school levels and address issues in buildings that are more than 100 years old.The district is seeking ideas on how to best meet the needs of students and address continued student population growth in the communities serving Lake Elmo Elementary, Andersen Elementary in Bayport, Oak-Land Middle School in Lake Elmo and Afton-Lakeland Elementary in Lakeland. The two oldest schools in the district are Andersen Elementary, which was built in 1919, and Lake Elmo Elementary, which was built in 1920; district officials are looking at possibly building new elementary schools in Bayport/Baytown Township and Lake Elmo.“We want to really be able to clearly enunciate the why – why are we looking at doing this,” Superintendent Mike Funk said at a recent board meeting. “People need to understand if there’s go...

NYS Budget could include streaming service tax

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---If you subscribe to digital streaming services, there is a chance you could be spending more on them in the future."I casually call it the Netflix tax for a lack of a better term. That’s one of many steaming services just like Hulu. There’s many others," said Assemblyman John McDonald.The New York State Assembly is proposing a 4% state tax and a 4% local sales tax on digital streaming products. This money would go towards transit systems across the state."I know when this was proposed, it wasn’t really my cup of tea, on the other hand, I do believe you need to have a statement of values. Do I want more resources for upstate transit, absolutely," said McDonald.The Assembly isn’t the only body of the legislature proposing an added tax on something a lot of people use. In the Senate, a surcharge on ride sharing services has been proposed. In New York City, the money would go to the MTA. Outside of the city, it would go towards non-MTA transit funding."They are t...

'Resilient AF' coming to Glens Falls this May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A new show at Charles R. Wood Theater is taking the stage for mental health awareness. A production of "Resilient AF: Rising to the Occasion" comes to the theater this May for National Mental Health Awareness Month. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Resilient AF," written, directed and performed by solo artist Kamakshi Hart, includes insight on how to face up to and handle generational trauma, and turn collective pain on community and family levels into compassion for a better future. The show uses tragedy and comedy alike to tell an intimate story about trauma.The show comes to Glens Falls as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. Hart's work was invited to the community by the Warren Washington Association for Mental Health, a Hudson Falls-based nonprofit serving those living with mental illness in the region."No longer is mental health a scary word. It is a prominent part of life. Mental healt...

Schenectady official arrested on drug charge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady official has been arrested. According to the Schenectady Police Department, Floyd Slater, 52, of Schenectady was arrested on Thursday around noon. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Slater is the City of Schenectady’s Director of Solid Waste. Police said he has been charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. He has also been charged with official misconduct, which is a misdemeanor.The circumstances surrounding the arrest have not yet been released. Stick with NEWS10 for updates.

Habitat for Humanity goes solar in Glens Falls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Last year, city resident Aubrey Constantineau and her two teenage children were given an immeasurable gift. Her family became the residents of 5 Hovey St. - one of three plots on the short stub road to become the site of a Habitat for Humanity home. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Wednesday, a crew came to the home where Constantineau has lived for a year, and equipped it with another gift - one that gives back. Buffalo-based solar energy company Solar Liberty equipped the house's roof with a full solar panel array. For Constantineau's growing family, it comes just in time."This will help save money," she said. "We have a little 7-month-old here now, and it's just going to really help with costs."Solar Liberty estimates that the panels could save the family as much as $500 per year. With two teenagers and a new baby at home, it's a huge help to the family. At the same time, when the solar pan...

Republicans propose Raise the Age reform

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Public safety still on the minds of many New Yorkers with decisions still to be made about bail reform as we approach the budget deadline. But there is another public safety law some say has been overlooked: Raise the Age which some lawmakers say needs to change. Raise the Age took effect in 2018 and changed the age a child can be prosecuted as an adult from 16 to 18-years old in criminal cases. Republican lawmakers want to change the law for those who commit violent felonies.  Hochul backs bail reform changes in budget Sponsor of the bill Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said his conference is not against public safety reform, "What we don’t like is the way Bail Reform and Raise The Age were passed. They were rammed through the legislature in the budget, with no input from DAs, no input from law enforcement and frankly, I don’t even know if they had input from public defenders." According to the states flowchart, when a 16 or 17-year old commits a viol...

St. Louis man sentenced five years in crash that killed teenage girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:22 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man was sentenced to five years in prison over a crash that led to the death of a teenage girl in 2018. Kenderick Moore, 29, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, vehicle tampering and leaving the scene of a crash in a collision on Sept. 20, 2018. One passenger, 15-year-old Devonna Riggins, died in the crash. Trending: Major St. Louis hotel sits empty for nearly a decade Investigators say Riggins was a passenger in a vehicle that collided with the car Moore drove around 3:30 a.m. near West Florissant and Thrush avenues. Riggins died from her injuries the next day. Moore crashed a stolen car and drove away from the scene after the collision. He reached a plea deal Thursday that led to a five-year prison sentence. Moore will get credit for three years of jail time he has already served, according to the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri's Office.