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Inside Texas House Republicans' negotiations to send public dollars to private schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Two of the key Republicans leading the negotiations in the House on a plan to subsidize private school education with taxpayer dollars are seeking to create an omnibus bill that also increases funding to public schools, but they said Thursday that isn't probable without the governor's stamp of approval.Lawmakers kicked off the third special session with little progress negotiating on one of Gov. Greg Abbott's keynote priorities that failed during the regular session: passing an education savings account program (ESA). It would allow Texas parents to receive money to use for private school education. It's been a goal for certain conservatives that gained traction after the COVID-19 pandemic, saying voucher-like programs will give parents more options if they are dissatisfied by their public schools. The proposal has been met with fierce criticism from Democrats and public school advocates, who say it diverts dollars that could be spent bolstering Texas schools that...

No. 8 Longhorns want to 'get the taste out of their mouths' of OU loss vs. Houston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Going into Saturday's Big 12 Conference game against Houston, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns are "a little pissed off." As far as head coach Steve Sarkisian is concerned, that's fine by him.It's been almost two weeks since the Longhorns lost their first game of the season, and the sting of it was amplified because it came in the Red River Rivalry against the hated Oklahoma Sooners. Sarkisian said the team is looking forward to getting back on the field after the bye week. Longhorns culture tested after loss to Oklahoma "They want to get back out there and get the taste out of their mouth," he said. "We need to make sure we execute at a high level, but the intent at which we're going about it is the right one."Saturday's game, set for 3 p.m. at TCEDU Stadium on the Houston campus, is sold out and Cougar fans will most certainly be out for blood when the Longhorns arrive. Sarkisian says every week that each team on the schedule is going to give Texas their best shot beca...

Investigators work to determine which identical twin was driving in fatal crash with Amish buggy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

PRESTON, Minn. — Law enforcement is investigating identical 35-year-old twin sisters to determine who was driving an SUV that crashed into an Amish buggy last month in southeastern Minnesota, killing two children and injuring two more.Sarah Beth Petersen, of Spring Valley, was initially identified as the driver, but later law enforcement believed they had cause to think that it could have been her identical twin sister, Samantha Jo Petersen, who was driving.Seven-year-old Wilma Miller and 11-year-old Irma Miller were killed in the crash. Their siblings, 9-year-old Alan Miller and 13-year-old Rose Miller, were injured. The Miller family, from Stewartville, has received an outpouring of community support following the crash, including more than $88,000 raised in an online fundraiser.According to initial reports from the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office, at 8:25 a.m. on Sept. 25, a 2005 Toyota 4Runner driving south on Fillmore County Road 1 came up from behind and struck a southb...

Vikings looking forward to taking center stage on Monday Night Football

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

There’s something about playing under the lights. Maybe it’s the glitz and glam associated with the spectacle. Maybe it’s the nostalgia. Maybe it’s the fact that everybody in the country is watching.Whatever it is, the Vikings are looking forward to taking center stage on Monday Night Football when play host to the San Francisco 49ers. As important as the game is for the Vikings, head coach Kevin O’Connell doesn’t think he’ll need any sort of motivational speech ahead of the primetime game.“It’s Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium,” O’Connell said. “I think we’ll be fine getting revved up for that.”Though the energy is palpable across the NFL on a weekly basis, it does seem to get taken up a notch when the sun goes down.“You feel it more in warmups,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “You feel it more early.”That feeling should give the Vikings a little more juice as they ...

Hudson city administrator to step down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

Aaron Reeves, who has served as city administrator of Hudson, Wis., since September 2019, will be leaving his position next month.Reeves, 49, of Hudson, announced his resignation Oct. 13 in a letter to Mayor Rich O’Connor and the Hudson City Council. His last day will be sometime around Thanksgiving, he said.Aaron Reeves (Courtesy photo)“It has been an honor to work for the city,” Reeves said Thursday. “My proudest accomplishment has been to have done my part in keeping Hudson a safe and beautiful place to visit and live.”Reeves would not disclose his plans after leaving the city, other than to say he plans to “continue in government.”Reeves announced a year ago that he was resigning from the city’s top job, but later changed his mind after receiving “a great amount of support from council and staff that made me think hard about my decision,” he told the Hudson Star-Observer in a story posted on Oct. 4, 2022. “Hudson is an amazing community with top notch staff and a strong council ...

As I-70 project begins, laborers concerned about shortage of trade workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The labor industry says there aren't enough trade workers to go around, and this concern comes as the large Interstate 70 project gets underway.From construction, to electricians, auto mechanics, and heavy machine operators, industry experts said there's a labor shortage. Lawmakers from across the state took a field trip to a trade center Thursday to find out what the workforce needs are following historic infrastructure investments."One of the things that both sides agree on is that we have some real concerns about where the future of our workforce is going to come from," recruitment and outreach specialist for the Missouri Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) Mike Howard said. "The other key thing I tell young people all the time is none of us are getting any younger. We have an aging workforce."You don't have to be a Republican or Democrat to know there's a trade worker shortage. Close Thanks for signing up! Wa...

Broncos CB Ja’Quan McMillian becoming more comfortable as nickel cornerback

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian made his presence felt in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs last week. He broke up Patrick Mahomes’ pass attempt to wide receiver Kadarius Toney. And later, he stopped Toney for a three-yard loss.This season, McMillian is in uncharted waters. He has never played the nickel position but after Essang Bassey was waived earlier this month, while K’Waun Williams remains on the injured reserve, McMillian has been forced to fill a void in the secondary. So far, he is making progress each week.“He’s someone that has good instincts,” head coach Sean Payton said. “He has a feel for what we’re doing and knows what to do, so therefore, you see him play fast. That experience I think helps him. He has very good feet. He’s quick. I think in the tighter quarters he excels because he does have such short area quickness.”Through five games, Denver’s second-year cornerback has played 121 snaps at nickel and only five on the outside, according to Pro ...

Both directions of I-25 near Pueblo reopen after deadly train derailment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

Both directions of I-25 north of Pueblo have reopened after being shut down since Sunday due to a train derailment and bridge collapse that killed one person.UPDATE: BNSF says it inspected track the same day as deadly train derailment near Pueblo“The northbound lanes of traffic from Hwy 50 to MM108 were opened this afternoon after work crews completed cleanup and repairs to the road from Sunday’s train derailment near MM107,” the Pueblo County Sheriff said in a tweet.Southbound lanes of the highway reopened Wednesday.UPDATE: 10/19; 4:15 PMBoth directions of Interstate 25 north of Pueblo are now open. The northbound lanes of traffic from Hwy 50 to MM108 were opened this afternoon after work crews completed cleanup and repairs to the road from Sunday’s train derailment near MM107. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/56nJOfdrfj— PuebloCounty Sheriff (@PuebloCountySO) October 19, 2023“There are reduced speeds in both directions in the area of MM107,” the Pueblo County Sher...

CU Buffs’ Frida Formann, Maddie Nolan forming solid duo in preseason

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

BOULDER,CO SEPTEMBER 29:Frida Formann, left, and Maddie Nolan, during CU Boulder Women’s basketball practice on September 29, 2023.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)Colorado women’s basketball fans already know how dangerous Frida Formann can be from beyond the 3-point arc.Now the Buffaloes have a second veteran sharpshooter in Maddie Nolan, a transfer from Michigan.With the season opener around the corner – the No. 20-ranked Buffs will face No. 1 LSU in Las Vegas on Nov. 6 – that duo appears to be building a good bond, too.“It’s been really fun,” Formann said of having Nolan on the team. “I haven’t really had another shooter like me. Me and Maddie also think very alike. We understand the game in the same way, so it’s been fun to just talk about what to do on the court and how to position ourselves and it’s fun that I don’t always have to be the one who’s pulling the defense away in the corner. I can do some of the other stuff, too, which I think is good for me and my game.”...

Two-time gold medalist, CU Buffs legend Burdie Haldorson passes away

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:00 GMT

Colorado men’s basketball legend Burdette “Burdie” Haldorson starred for the Buffaloes in the 1950s and won two Olympic gold medals. (Photo courtesy of University of Colorado Athletics)The Colorado athletic department is mourning the loss of one of its all-time greats, as CU announced the recent passing of men’s basketball legend Burdette “Burdie” Haldorson.Haldorson, 89, passed away Oct. 13 in Colorado Springs.A two-time Olympic gold medal winner, Haldorson was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 and CU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 as part of the organization’s second induction class. He was the first CU basketball player inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.Haldorson averaged 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his first season with the Buffaloes in 1952-53. His senior season in 1954-55 was one for the ages, leading the Buffs to the Big Seven championship while averaging 21.0 points and 13.8 rebounds, which remains the top mark in program history....