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LIVE: Gov. Abbott calls special session to address property taxes, border security; more sessions coming

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers were adjourned for almost three hours before Gov. Greg Abbott called them back to the Capitol on Monday.Abbott called for a special session to begin at 9 p.m. Monday following the end of the 88th Texas Legislature's regular session at around 6:15 p.m. He said property taxes and border security are on the agenda for what he called "Special Session No. 1." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas lawmakers adjourn without passing property tax legislation "Special Session No. 1 will focus only on cutting property taxes and cracking down on illegal human smuggling," he said in a release. "We must cut property taxes. During the regular session, we added $17.6 billion to cut property taxes. However, the legislature could not agree on how to allocate funds to accomplish this goal."In his release, he said legislation needs to be passed that lowers property taxes by "reducing the school district maximum compressed tax rate in order to provide lasting property tax relief for...

Fort Edward man accused of multiple sex crimes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 69-year-old Fort Edward man is accused of multiple sex crimes, one including attempted sexual contact with a child under 13. Robert Keech faces multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Keech attempted to have sexual contact with a child under 13 and restrained the child in the course of conduct. In a separate incident, he is accused of forcing himself onto a victim he invited into his apartment. Charges:First-degree criminal sex actForcible touchingFirst-degree attempted sex abuse (two counts)Unlawful imprisonmentEndangering the welfare of a childUnlawfully dealing with a child Police investigating fatal jet ski crash on Hudson River Keech was arraigned at the Centralized Arraignment and was held pending arraignment in Washington County Court due to previous convictions.

Police investigating fatal jet ski crash on Hudson River

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State police are currently investigating a fatal crash on the Hudson River involving two jet skis. Charles Sanchez, 48, of Belleville, New Jersey, was pronounced dead at the hospital following the crash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say a preliminary investigation shows Sanchez was a passenger on a jet ski when it collided with another on the Hudson River. Both were traveling north. Sanchez and the person driving the jet ski were thrown into the water.Local boaters at the marina immediately offered aid and helped everyone involved get out of the water. The driver of the jet ski was listed in critical condition, as Sanchez was later pronounced deceased at St. Luke's Hospital. Police investigating fatal motorcycle crash in Hoosick Falls Police say it was confirmed neither operator nor their passengers had consumed alcohol. The investigation is ongoing.

Ex-Blues Pietrangelo, Barbashev go for second Stanley Cup title

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

LAS VEGAS - Two former St. Louis Blues instrumental in the 2019 Stanley Cup title will have a chance to win their second championship in five years. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and forward Ivan Barbashev are Stanley Cup Final-bound again as the Vegas Golden Knights secured the Western Conference spot. Vegas defeated the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference in six games, closing the series with a 6-0 win on Monday. Woman ‘saving up’ as Ferguson PD cracks down on expired tags If the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup Final, Pietrangelo will have won two with two different franchises, and more notably, be a part of the first Stanley Cup-winning team of both St. Louis and Vegas. Over the last six or so weeks, both have played to their strengths in ways that also helped spark the Blues to their only Stanley Cup title in 2019. Pietrangelo, now 33 years old, has provided reliable defense that helped him captain the Blues in a demanding 2019 schedule and the experience seems to be payi...

Colorado teen flouts school policy, wears Mexican and U.S. flag sash to graduation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

Naomi Peña Villasano. (Photo courtesy of Naomi Peña Villasano)PARACHUTE — A Colorado student barred from wearing a sash representing the flags of Mexico and the United States to her high school graduation did so anyway, partially covering it with another sash representing her participation in a service organization.“Always stand up for what you believe in,” Grand Valley High School graduate Naomi Peña Villasano told the Post Independent of Glenwood Springs after receiving her diploma on Saturday in the west-central Colorado town of Parachute.Peña Villasano’s case is the latest dispute in the U.S. about what kind of cultural graduation attire is allowed at commencement ceremonies.Peña Villasano challenged school officials in court after they said she would be banned from graduation ceremonies if she wore the sash that has stars and stripes on one side and a cactus, eagle and a serpent to represent the Mexican flag on the other side.A federal judge had ruled Friday that the scho...

Safe containing $30K in cash stolen from Pasadena business, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

A Pasadena business is reeling after a safe containing tens of thousands of dollars was stolen late Saturday night.The break-in in the 900 block of North Orange Grove Boulevard was discovered and reported to police Sunday morning, according to a report in the Pasadena Star-News.According to the Pasadena Police Department, it was actually a neighboring business that was broken into. The thieves then created a hole "into the wall leading to an adjacent business, where the stolen safe was located," Lt. Tim Bundy told the Star-News.The three suspects made off with $30,000 cash from the safe, authorities said.

Santa Clara County reports 1% dip in homeless population, 37% spike in unhoused families identified

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

Despite moving thousands of homeless people into permanent homes last year, Santa Clara County saw its unhoused population remain virtually unchanged, even as the number of homeless families spiked, according to preliminary results from its latest “point-in-time” count.The count, taken on a single night in January, identified 9,903 people living outdoors, in vehicles or in homeless shelters across the county. That was a 1% dip from the more than 10,000 homeless people counted at the start of last year.While the county housed around 3,600 homeless people over the course of 2022, officials said it wasn’t enough to overcome rising economic inequality and a severe shortage of affordable housing at the root of homelessness in the Bay Area.“People are still falling into homelessness faster than we can house in any given year,” said KJ Kaminski, deputy director of the county’s Office of Supportive Housing.At first glance, the most alarming figure in the ...

Musical has Saratogans ‘Singing in the Rain’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

South Bay Musical Theatre is celebrating the return of water falling from the sky with the musical “Singing in the Rain.” The story is based on the 1952 hit movie during the transition from the silent screen to the talkies. If it doesn’t get your toes tapping, it still oughta make you feel good. It’s running at the Saratoga Civic Theater through June 3. https://southbaymt.com/shows/ticket-sales/singin-in-the-rainHats off to the Saratoga Foothill Club for continuing to host the city’s annual Memorial Day Observance. This is a meaningful annual event, honoring all those who have served our country. It is a community bonding experience to gather at Blaney Plaza, then walk together up Oak St. to Madronia Cemetery for the observance.Another very special day for 300 kids with cancer was made possible by many Saratogans who stepped up. “Courageous Kids Day” offered kids in treatment from all over California a chance to have a day away from cancer at Great America. The kids enjoyed all the ...

Saratoga Winery plants milkweed for Monarch restoration

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

The 10 acres of vines at House Family Vineyards, located in the Saratoga hillside, has an intricate ecosystem.The cover crops improve soil health, owls and birds of prey keep the rodent population at bay, and the grapes grown there are turned into House’s wine. But the vineyard manager is adding a new population to the mix: milkweed.The floral plant is used to restore Monarch butterfly habitats across the globe. The species is in danger of extinction from threats to its habitat and food source, and Monarchs lay their eggs solely on milkweed.Vineyard manager Jonathan Goodling sourced 96 milkweed plants from Monarch Watch, a nonprofit education, conservation and research organization based at the University of Kansas.The nonprofit partners with businesses to plant milkweed restoration plants for free. Goodling said they had to wait a year for the organization to have the native milkweed species for the region.While the butterflies will be helping to pollinate plants at the vineyard, G...

How California’s overtime law threatens use of grazing goats to prevent wildfires

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:38 GMT

By TERRY CHEA | Associated PressWEST SACRAMENTO  — Hundreds of goats munch on long blades of yellow grass on a hillside next to a sprawling townhouse complex. They were hired to clear vegetation that could fuel wildfires as temperatures rise this summer.These voracious herbivores are in high demand to devour weeds and shrubs that have proliferated across California after a drought-busting winter of heavy rain and snow.“It’s a huge fuel source. If it was left untamed, it can grow very high. And then when the summer dries everything out, it’s perfect fuel for a fire,” said Jason Poupolo, parks superintendent for the city of West Sacramento, where goats grazed on a recent afternoon.Targeted grazing is part of California’s strategy to reduce wildfire risk because goats can eat a wide variety of vegetation and graze in steep, rocky terrain that’s hard to access. Backers say they’re an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides or weed-whacking machines that are make noise and pollut...