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Senate panel OKs rail-safety bill; railroad vows to help homeowners affected by Ohio derailment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a rail-safety bill introduced after the derailment of a freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, but its fate remains uncertain due to significant Republican opposition.The bill would increase inspections of trains carrying hazardous materials, require the use of technology to detect track defects, and sharply raise penalties on railroad companies for crashes.The Senate Commerce Committee advanced the bill one day after Norfolk Southern renewed a promise to create a fund for residents near the site of the Ohio train wreck to cover any decline in home values since the February derailment.Norfolk Southern Corp. CEO Alan Shaw said in a letter to committee members that the railroad expects to compensate homeowners within about 5 miles (8 kilometers) of the crash if they sell their homes for less than the property was appraised before the derailment. He said the railroad expects to start making payments within a year.On Feb. 3, 38 railcars derailed ...

A skin patch to treat peanut allergies? Study in toddlers shows promise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An experimental skin patch is showing promise to treat toddlers who are highly allergic to peanuts — training their bodies to handle an accidental bite.Peanut allergy is one of the most common and dangerous food allergies. Parents of allergic tots are constantly on guard against exposures that can turn birthday parties and play dates into emergency room visits.There is no cure. The only treatment is for children 4 and older who can consume a special peanut powder to protect against a severe reaction. The patch, named Viaskin, aims to deliver that kind of treatment through the skin instead. In a major test with youngsters ages 1 to 3, it helped those who couldn’t tolerate even a small fraction of a peanut to eventually safely eat a few, researchers reported Wednesday.If additional testing pans out, “this would fill a huge unmet need,” said Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, an allergist at Children’s Hospital Colorado who helped lead the study.About 2% of U.S. children are alle...

Mississippi ex-governor threatens to sue news site over welfare fraud comments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant gave notice Wednesday that he will sue a news organization unless it apologizes for statements he said some of its employees made about him in connection to misspending of welfare money that was intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S.A reporter for the nonprofit online publication, Mississippi Today, won a Pulitzer Prize this week for her coverage of the case.According to Bryant, Mississippi Today CEO Mary Margaret White made a “false and defamatory” statement about him when she spoke at a media conference in February. The letter also said Mississippi Today executive editor Adam Ganucheau and the reporter who won the Pulitzer Prize, Anna Wolfe, falsely claimed in a podcast that Mississippi Today employees “had never stated that former-Governor Bryant had committed a crime.”The state auditor announced in February 2020 that criminal charges were brought against six people, including a former Mississippi Departme...

4 teens charged with murder in slaying of Chicago police officer who was returning home from work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Four teenagers have been charged in the fatal shooting of a Chicago police officer who was slain last weekend as she was heading home from work, authorities said Wednesday.Nineteen-year-olds Joseph Brooks and Trevell Breeland, Jakwon Buchanan, 18, and a 16-year-old boy face charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery in Saturday’s killing of Officer Aréanah Preston, 24.The Chicago Police Department said Preston was fatally shot about 1:40 a.m. Saturday during a robbery spree. All four were also charged with armed robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft and other offenses in connection with incidents that occurred on Friday and Saturday, police said. The four were ordered held without bail Wednesday by Judge David Kelly, who said prosecutors had provided “a mountain of evidence“ that the suspects had “engaged in a very violent crime spree.”After the bond hearing, Preston’s mother, Dionne Mhoon, said she was “heartbroken” and “full of anger, rage, questi...

2nd Michigan school district bans backpacks after loaded gun found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A second Michigan school district is banning backpacks on school premises due to concerns about gun violence, this time because a third-grade student was found with a loaded gun.Grand Rapids Public Schools said in a statement Wednesday that the weapon was discovered this morning at Stocking Elementary School and that it was the fourth time this year that the district has uncovered a student with a handgun — three of them in backpacks.District Superintendent Leadriane Roby said at a news conference Wednesday that the ban was “a drastic step” that was necessary. “We have averted at least two tragedies in the last two weeks. We don’t want to stand before you again,” said Larry Johnson, executive director of public safety and school security. Flint Community Schools banned backpacks beginning May 1, citing a nationwide “increase in threatening behavior and contraband, including weapons, being brought into schools at all levels.”Flint students are allowed to carry b...

Arwady on COVID public health emergency ending: 'It doesn't mean it's gone'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

The COVID-19 public health emergency ends on Thursday. What does that mean for people battling the virus and staying healthy? Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady joined WGN Evening News to discuss the emergency's ends. Biden signs bill ending national COVID-19 emergency "I am the happiest person out there that COVID doesn't need to be the top of mind at this point," Arwady said. "It doesn't mean it's gone, it doesn't mean the health department is not continuing to work on monitoring and responding if necessary. But it does mean we are at a different point. We have vaccines and treatments that can really help keep people out of the hospital and keep people from dying."Arwady encouraged continued testing for COVID with the allergy season in full swing. "COVID is still more dangerous than a regular cold, especially if there are people who are older with underlying conditions. If you got a positive test, you should be staying home for those five days a...

Rep. Santos faces money laundering, fraud charges after turning himself in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- New York Congressman George Santos is facing federal charges, including money laundering and fraud, after turning himself in and entering a not guilty plea in court.Santos is charged with theft of public funds for collecting pandemic unemployment insurance even though authorities say he had a job.“This is about innocent until proven guilty,” Santos said.Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy says he won't immediately ask for Santos' resignation unless he's convicted.“If a person is indicted, they're not on committees, they have the right to vote, but they have to go to trial,” McCarthy said.Democrats say Santos should step down.“Hopefully he shows some humility, some dignity,” Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) said.Additionally, Republican Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalez wants the House to vote to expel Santos.However, Santos said he will not resign and plans to run for re-election.The U.S. House makes its own rules for how the chamber operates and there are no set rule...

Austin residents revolt against planned speed bumps, say could do more harm than good

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 10, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Residents in a northwest Austin neighborhood are banding together to stop the Austin Transportation Department from putting in several speedbumps on a busy street. The neighborhood is in a part of Austin that is at an elevated risk for wildfires, and Greystone Drive, where ATD plans to add the bumps, would be used as an evacuation route for some during a natural disaster event, neighbors told KXAN. To stop the project, nearly 650 neighbors from around 550 separate homes signed a petition. “What are you trying to do here? You know, if the goal is to reduce accidents, you can do that with neighborhood awareness,” Michelle Estrada, a resident in the neighborhood, said. “For the highest [fire] risk portion of the neighborhood, you would have to go through five speed bumps,” she continued. Where ATD was originally planning to place the 15 speed bumps on Greystone Drive (KX...

EMS plans pilot staging program near Rainey Street

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) plans to begin a pilot program this summer that will place medics in charge of the Rainey Street Historic District.This is in response to, in part, certain concerns about deaths in Lady Bird Lake. "Considerations for the pilot include staffing during peak periods of pedestrian traffic and using Special Response Units (SRUs) to facilitate access to patients," the memo reads. MAP: Tracking deaths near Lady Bird Lake in Austin During the course of the pilot period, EMS will collect data and determine the best response for a long term plan in the area.KXAN will update this after speaking further with ATCEMS about what this pilot program will look like. Prior Rainey Street safety measuresThe City of Austin upped safety measures on the Rainey Street Trailhead and Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail last month, following calls for improvement by family members of people who died or were injured in the area. According to city official...

Texas House passes bill that would require DFPS to give luggage to foster children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to maintain a supply of transportation bags, like duffle bags and suitcases, for children in foster care. House Rep. John Bucy III (D-Austin) filed the bill – called Bags of Love – to ensure children being removed from their homes have something to transport items. The bill text states that the luggage becomes the child’s property once it is given to them and cannot be taken back from the department or a foster guardian. MORE: New senior leadership announced for Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services "Texas foster kids deserve dignity and respect," Bucy said. "The least we can do is ensure that they have a bag to call their own. This bill helps prevent additional stress, trauma and stigma for already-vulnerable kids. I'm grateful to my colleagues for their support.”“Too many of Texas' foster kids are too often only given a ...