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Travis County judge: Local preemption 'Death Star' bill is unconstitutional

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A Travis County district judge ruled Wednesday that the so-called "death star" local preemption bill is unconstitutional, just two days before the law is set to take effect. District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled from the bench during Wednesday's lawsuit hearing in favor of the cities suing, which argued state legislators intentionally wrote the law to be vague. Houston brought the lawsuit against the state and El Paso and San Antonio joined the suit as interveners. The City of Austin did not join the lawsuit but voiced support for it. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Republican-backed measure into law in June. The law seeks to ban counties and local municipalities from passing ordinances that are inconsistent with state law in areas like agriculture, business and commerce, labor and insurance.In a statement on social media, House Bill 2127's author — Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock — said Gamble's ruling is "not worth the paper it’s printed on." "The Texas Supreme Cou...

New Texas law increases hospital notice before removing patients from life support

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- At 9 months old, Tinslee Lewis had been on a respirator for much of her life. The Fort Worth toddler was born with Ebstein’s anomaly, a rare and often life-threatening heart condition.Lewis had been at the intensive care unit at Cook Children’s Medical Center since birth when doctors scheduled to remove her from life support in November 2019. It started a public court battle, where her mother fought the hospital to keep her alive. She drew the support of Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and staunch anti-abortion group Texas Right To Life.Her legal fight renewed the push to change legislation over when and how hospitals withdraw life support.In Texas, hospitals can withdraw life support from their patients 10 days after they notify the patient’s family. Under the contentious Texas Advance Directives Act, life support can be removed when the hospital determines current care as “futile.”Starting Friday, House Bill 3162 ...

Austin could mandate AC cooling standards for residential property owners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin City Council could vote Thursday to authorize the beginning of a process to require all residential property owners to offer and maintain air conditioning within residential properties in the city.Council Member Vanessa Fuentes sponsored the resolution that would initiate a code amendment process to Title 25, the city's land development code. Fuentes told KXAN Wednesday the proposed change comes as the city has received hundreds of violation complaints regarding landlords not having tenants' AC units fixed in a timely manner. ERCOT: ‘Tight’ Texas grid conditions expected for Wednesday evening "When you're inside in 90-degree heat, 100-degree heat [within homes], these are dangerous conditions," Fuentes said. "We've got to make sure that folks have safe and healthy housing."Fuentes said the resolution, if approved Thursday, would initiate a stakeholder process and, ultimately, lead to a requirement for cooling standards within all Austin residences. Thos...

High school football: Week 1 predictions, Thursday edition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

A look at some of the East Metro’s best high school football games on Thursday night:East Ridge vs. Park, at TCO Performance Center, 7 p.m.A South Washington County rivalry is reborn, and taking its show to Eagan to play at the Vikings’ practice facility. There is strong optimism about what Park football coach Rick Fryklund and his coaching staff are building in Cottage Grove. In Week 1, though, the Wolfpack must contend with one of the state’s top gunslingers in East Ridge’s Tanner Zolnosky. OUR PICK: East Ridge 31, Park 21Lakeville North at Stillwater, 7 p.m.The bad news for the Ponies is signal caller Max Shikenjanski graduated. The good news, however, is that so many of the pieces around him from last year’s state tournament team are back. Thursday serves as a rematch of a second-round playoff game from last fall, won 42-7 by Stillwater. OUR PICK: Stillwater 24, Lakeville North 17Andover at St. Thomas Academy, 7 p.m.Two teams that easily could have ...

When fans knocked down Ronald Acuña Jr., Twins players felt it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

Twins outfielder Jordan Luplow recalls a game at Progressive Field in which he was approached by a fan in right field.A man had fallen over the wall and, after picking himself off the warning track, started walking toward Luplow.“It was a little scary for a second,” he said.“You know when you see a real drunk guy and he’s just kinda staring through you? Like he’s looking at you but he’s looking through you?” Luplow said. “And he was big, probably like 6-6, 300 pounds. And I’m like, ‘Dude, this guy’s coming right at me.’ ”Fortunately, the fan veered left and off the field, but for a few seconds, Luplow started thinking about how he would defend himself from a man he estimated to be about 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds.He was reminded of the incident after a pair of fans approached Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., apparently looking for selfies with the outfielder, during the Braves’ 14-4 victory at Colorado on Monday.“Unacceptable,” Luplow said.Every once in a while, a fan runs onto ...

MN Republican legislators call for special session on law that changes school resource officers’ use of force

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

Minnesota Republican legislators called for a special session Wednesday to address concerns about changes to state law on what force school resource officers can use against students.An updated law about corporal punishment says school resource officers, security personnel, or police officers contracted with the district “shall not” put a child in a face-down position or “inflict any form of physical holding that restricts or impairs a pupil’s ability to breathe,” among other provisions.With some law enforcement leaders saying the law has too much ambiguity, Republicans wrote to Gov. Tim Walz that “the real-world impacts of this legislation are undeniable; students attending schools in Moorhead, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Andover, Rockford, Redwood Falls, St. Louis County, and a growing number of other communities have been forced to suspend or cancel SRO agreements,” said the letter signed by House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth and Senate Minority L...

Muralthon artists visiting Shirt Factory food trucks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - On Thursdays, the Glens Falls Shirt Factory hosts food trucks and vendors at its weekly Food Truck Corral events, taking up the lots on three sides of the iconic brick building. This week, visitors can get more than a delicious meal. They can also meet the artists who have been hard at work bringing new life and color to the area around the factory building. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Thursday, Aug. 31, the corral celebrates some of the artists behind Muralthon, a recent public art spree based along Curran Lane. In front of the Shirt Factory's secondary building - home to Rock Hill Bakehouse & Cafe - six artists have worked on murals on metal shipping containers, while a seventh and eighth have painted on the walls of two adjacent buildings. Some of those artists will be at Thursday's corral to talk about their work.From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, artists involved with Muralthon will be recog...

Vineyard and winery opening in Greenfield

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

GREENFIELD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A vineyard and winery in Greenfield is getting ready to officially open. Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery, located at 331 Grange Road, is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials on Friday, September 1 at 11 a.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The vineyard and winery join Fossil Stone Farms, a horse operation that opened in 2014. The farm features wooden stables, boarding, lessons, and nine paddock areas for more than 20 horses. It has six equestrian and hiking trails totaling three miles.Fossil Stone is owned by Mike Spiak and his wife Kelly. In 2014, the business produced its first commercial vintage wine. The winery is in a 720-square-foot barn that sits on the 140-acre farm, which includes seven acres of vineyards and the horse farm that dates back to 1802. What to know for Bennington’s Garlic Town, USA festival The vineyards (photo courtesy: Fossil Stone Vineyard & Winery)Harvest...

Schenectady man found guilty of second-degree murder

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday, Kyle Hutchinson, 23, of Schenectady, was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Hutchinson is one of three individuals charged in connection to the death of Nathaniel Miller in Pittstown on June 9, 2021. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Devin Van Patten has already pleaded guilty and will receive 20 years in prison. Carlo Lewis will be tried at a later date.Hutchinson will be sentenced on September 27. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Missouri AG warns providers to stop gender-affirming care for minors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:48 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's attorney general has a warning for several providers across the state, including Kansas City's Children's Mercy and Planned Parenthood. Senate Bill 49 took effect Monday, banning transgender children and some adults from receiving gender-affirming care. What you need to know about Missouri’s new laws The law blocks access to puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries for those under 18. Additionally, Medicaid will no longer cover gender-affirming treatments for adults, and the state will not provide gender-affirming surgeries to prisoners.On Monday, Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a letter to multiple health care providers saying they must "immediately cease and desist performing gender transition surgeries on minors." Physicians who violate the law face some big risks. Violations could lead to the state revoking licenses, and patients with an illegal procedure could file a lawsuit seeking up to $500,000 in damages.Bailey said h...