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Racism Free School Act awaits governor's signature after approval from state lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- State legislators have approved a measure that would require school districts to create a policy on discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or national origin, as well as track incidents of discrimination within their districts.The Racism Free Schools Act, or Senate Bill 90, was approved Thursday by the Illinois General Assembly. The legislation now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature before being enacted into law. Teach plus hoping to pass bill that addresses racism in schools The legislation requires each district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school to create and implement a policy on discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or national origin. The legislation also requires the Illinois State Board of Education to create a data collection system to report on allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against students.“When it comes to racial harassment, words are not eno...

President Biden announces Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as pick for next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - President Joe Biden announced Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. Thursday as his pick to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."General Charles Q Brown Jr., General, welcome," Biden said.President Biden said Brown brings a lot to the table after spending years helping shape U.S. defenses, on the ground and in the skies."More than 3,000 hours of fighting and flying experience, including 130 combat hours. He knows what it means to be in the thick of battle," Biden said.If confirmed, Brown will be the first African American to hold the position since Colin Powell finished his term in 1993."General Brown, you've been an essential leader in making our nation and our force even stronger. You've made history," the President said.Brown's prior experience as an operational leader in the Indo-pacific highlights the Pentagon's focus on deterring a future conflict with China."Our world is at an inflection point, where the decisions we make today are going to determine ...

Texas House committee recommends impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas House committee voted Thursday afternoon to adopt articles of impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton. The five-member panel of the House Committee on General Investigating agreed unanimously to move forward with impeaching Paxton. This decision came one day after the members heard from a team of lawyers who laid out years of misconduct allegations about the three-term Republican official. The investigators began looking into Paxton in March after a proposal to use state funds to pay $3.3 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit filed by four former employees who accused Paxton of wrongdoing. They ultimately said the evidence they collected these past few months would support at least a dozen criminal charges against Paxton, which included abuse of official capacity, official oppression, securities fraud, making false statements and others.This is developing news, so KXAN will update this story with more updates when they become available.

1 person dead after motorcycle crash on north MoPac Expressway, ATCEMS says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead as a result of a motorcycle crash in north Austin Thursday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on Twitter.Shortly before 3:30 p.m., the Austin Police Department on Twitter said officers were at the scene of the crash in the 10400 block of North MoPac Expressway. That's near Capital of Texas Highway. All southbound lanes were shut down due to the crash, police said.According to the Texas Department of Transportation, lanes 1-4 were all blocked, which includes the three main lanes and the shoulder.The crash was confirmed at approximately 2:52 p.m., according to TxDOT.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Warmer, drier weather settles in for several days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Yet another complex of light rain moved through the Hill Country today, producing light rain totals generally under 0.25". Rain has cleared the area, with drier and warmer weather in the forecast for the next several days.Thanks to repeated storms recently, parts of the Hill Country have seen more rain in the last two weeks than they have recorded the entire year up until that point. Parts of Mason County have recorded as much as 11 inches of rain in the last 30 days. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin Very warm, dry weather is in the forecast Saturday then just a slight chance of late-day rain returns on Sunday. Memorial Day brings a 30% chance of scattered late-day showers and thunderstorms. If you see lightning or hear thunder while outdoors, head inside immediately.Holiday weekend forecast INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for climate change until KXAN investigation FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, s...

Former Ravens safety Tony Jefferson returning to Baltimore to become a scout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

Tony Jefferson is retiring from the NFL, but the former Ravens safety isn’t leaving football.The 31-year-old is returning to Baltimore as a scout this summer, the Ravens announced Thursday. He will be joining the team as part of the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship.The fellowship, established by the NFL in 2015 and named after former executives John Wooten and the late Bill Nunn, provides former players interested in a career in professional scouting hands-on experience as full-time members of an NFL scouting staff during a season-long internship.Jefferson has long talked about wanting to be an NFL general manager and will take that next step as one of 21 current or former players participating in the 10th annual Senior Bowl scout school June 4-7 in Mobile, Alabama, according to senior director Jim Nagy.“Scouting is something I really like doing,” Jefferson said on the Ravens’ “Studio 44″ podcast last year. “I see myself scouting even when I&...

Vikings receiver K.J. Osborn playing with a huge chip on his shoulder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

K.J. Osborn has been in the NFL long enough to understand that pretty much everyone is expendable. There’s a reason the average length of an NFL career is about 3 1/2 years. There are only a handful of players on each team who are truly irreplaceable.That’s a reality Osborn had to confront this offseason when the Vikings selected Jordan Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Though general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell have both gone out of their way to say that pick wasn’t an indictment on Osborn, actions speak louder than words when it comes to these types of decisions.That’s why Osborn is playing with such a huge chip on his shoulder this season. It’s not necessarily because the Vikings might have very well drafted his replacement down the road. It’s more so that he wants to prove to himself that he deserves to have staying power at the highest level.“It’s about respect, man,” Osbor...

Arson investigators test out training Thursday with ATF, IAAI

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

SARATOGA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- ATF instructors turning up the heat in Saratoga on Thursday teaching arson investigators from across the state and Canada how to spot the start of an appliance fire. "What something looks like before it’s burned and what it looks like after a fire has affected it is completely different," explains ATF Special Agent and Certified Fire Investigator Mark Meeks.Thursday’s training organized by the International Association of Arson Investigators New York chapter. The group invited the ATF to teach more than 100 participants the ins and outs of a typical appliance like toasters, heaters, and hair dryers by taking them apart then putting each tiny piece back where they found it. "Understanding the electricity and the inner workings of a small appliance, and how failure modes can occur," says IAAI Chapter Vice President Scott Shear.Then it’s time to light them up, testing to see which method sets each household item aflame the fastest. The exercise challenging pa...

St. Louis mayor signs executive order in support of transgender community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed an executive order Thursday in support of transgender residents, outlining several steps the city will take to support the transgender community. Executive Order No. 77 points to actions taken by state lawmakers, such as restricting access to gender-affirming care and setting new rules for sports competitions, as reasons for the mayor’s action. “In St. Louis, everyone deserves to thrive, regardless of their gender identity or expression,” said Jones in a statement. “I’ve heard from trans youth and their families who feel like hateful attacks from Jefferson City Republicans will force them to leave our state. This order sends the message that St. Louis will fight to protect our trans community in the face of bigotry.”   Trending -- Former ‘Basketball Wives’ star from St. Louis admits multiple frauds The mayor's office says the executive order will enact more inclusive practices in four ways to protect transgender...

Coast Guard shares boat safety reminders as yacht remains stuck in Mississippi River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the U.S. Coast Guard has some safety tips and reminders for anyone planning to head out on the water."The river's always changing. There's constant shoaling," said Lt. John Hancock, U.S. Coast Guard.One hidden danger in the Mississippi River – chevrons. Earlier this week, a yacht from Florida struck a chevron south of the McKinley Bridge and began to take on water. Two men were rescued. As of Thursday afternoon, the boat remains lodged on that chevron.Chevrons are U-shaped rock structures that are built parallel to the flow of the river.Memorial Day weekend is a big weekend for boaters, not only on the river but also on the lakes. The Coast Guard said those can be dangerous waters if you're not prepared. Mom: Son with disabilities restrained at school 75 times in four years "Anytime you're transiting the river, the bottom of the river is constantly changing," Lt. Colby LaDuque, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Enforcement Officer, said. "And s...