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'It hurts us,' Tension on House floor stalls debate on border bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Tension among Democrats and Republicans in the Texas House reached a boiling point Wednesday evening amid debate over border security legislation. The House took up HB 4, which would create a Class B misdemeanor for anyone to enter Texas illegally. House Democrats filed dozens of amendments to the bill. With 47 amendments filed, Republican House members pushed through a motion to cut off additional amendments to the bill.Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) filed the motion. Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston) voiced his frustration to Harris. Several lawmakers gathered around the two men, as Walle spoke loudly and forcefully."Y'all don't understand the (*expletive*) that y'all do hurts our community. It hurts us personally, bro," Walle said."It hurts, it hurts us to our (*expletive*) core and y'all don't understand that y'all don't live in our (*expletive*) skin."After the tense moments on the floor, the House stood at ease shortly before 7 p.m.Debate on the legislati...

Taylor ISD names the new superintendent finalist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -– The Taylor ISD School Board has named Dr. Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen as the finalist for the new superintendent, the school district announced on social media.Garcia-Edwardsen has served in education for over two decades. She has a doctorate in School Improvement from Texas State University.Her tenure includes her roles as the Chief of Schools at Newbraunfauls ISD, the Deputy Academic Officer at Hays CISD, and a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Del Valle ISD. Taylor ISD President Marco Ortiz said Garcia-Edwardsen is a great fit for the district. “We believe Dr. Garcia-Edwardsen’s strong instructional leadership and high expectations will help every student achieve their unique potential. We are excited for the future of our district and community,” Ortiz said. Garcia-Edwardsen said she looks forward to working with Taylor ISD and the community to improve educational experiences for students. “I am truly thrilled and profoundly thankful for the oppor...

Police investigating two bodies found in Vermont woods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

EDEN, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Vermont State Police are investigating two separate cases of bodies found in the woods. Investigators were at the scene Wednesday in the town of Eden.One body was found Wednesday morning, and the other was found in the afternoon. The two have not been identified. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The discovery comes amid the search for two missing men from western Massachusetts, including one from Pittsfield. Jahim Solomon and Eric White, both 21, went missing while traveling through Vermont.Police said they disappeared under suspicious circumstances."We have some suspects in mind, but again, we also have a lot of persons of interest," VSP Criminal Division Commander Maj. Dan Trudeau said. "It can be hard to define what a person of interest is. You may think it's one thing; I may think it's a different thing. It depends on the type of case, too. But there are people we certainly want to talk to. There's a nu...

Deadly fire at senior apartment complex in Cahokia Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. - The City of Cahokia Heights is working with the Red Cross to house and provide relief to more than 50 displaced residents following a five-alarm fire at a senior apartment complex Wednesday afternoon.According to the Camp Jackson Fire Department, one person died, and five others were injured as a result of the fire.The fire started around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Touchette Elderly Apartments on Bond Avenue. Camp Jackson Fire Chief Chris Davis said more than 40 firefighters from 12 nearby departments responded. First responders were able to rescue more than 50 people from inside the building. Multiple people reported dead, injured in Maine shootings Davis said the five injured residents were treated at the Touchette Regional Hospital, which is right next door to the apartment complex. They're expected to be okay. Davis said the fire happening at a senior apartment building presented its own set of challenges."We had to start plucking people out of their ap...

Metal security plates removed along Railway Exchange Building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS - After our report Tuesday night on metal plates being used to save the beloved former Railway Exchange Building in downtown St. Louis, the metal plates are already gone.It’s not because of vandalism or thievery. FOX 2 learned the City of St. Louis had them removed just one day after having them installed.The metal plates were installed along an entire city block of the former Famous Barr department store to secure the building from persistent looting and vagrancy. Plywood repeatedly screwed into place over the building’s street-level shattered windows.The removal of the metal plates within hours of their installation is yet another step back for the 1.2 million-square-foot architectural gem, which St. Louis just won’t give up on.“We’re seeing a lot of public pressure and a lot of interest in saving the Railway Exchange (building),” Alderwoman Cara Spencer said Tuesday, when the metal plates were installed. “It’s one of our city’s largest buildings and one the most iconic ...

St. Louis CITY SC set to face Sporting KC in first playoff round

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A budding rivalry takes on a bigger stage. St. Louis CITY SC will face Sporting Kansas City in their first-ever playoff series. Sporting KC who entered the MLS playoff picture as the Western Conference's eight-seed, won its Wild Card match Wednesday against the San Jose Earthquakes. Scoreless through regulation, Sporting KC outscored San Jose, 4-2, in a penalty-kick tiebreaker to advance to play St. Louis. Breaking down this year’s MLS playoffs format: What does it mean for St. Louis CITY SC? CITY SC holds the top seed in the Western Conference after a 17-5-12 record (56 points).In three head-to-head matches this season between St. Louis and Kansas City, the home team won each match. CITY SC rattled off four goals in victories from May 20 and Sept. 30. Sporting KC edged St. Louis, 2-1, during the other match on Sept. 2. As for playoffs, St. Louis and Kansas City will compete in a best-of-three series. The winner will advance to the Western Conference semifinals. Cl...

IRS urges Social Security protection after Brittish Cierrah Williams case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

ST LOUIS – With the sentencing of ex-reality star Brittish Cierrah Williams for financial fraud, the IRS is urging the public to safeguard their Social Security."The radar should be up if someone is saying, ‘Hey, I need your Social Security number,’" Special Agent Tom Murdock said.Murdock described Williams as an “opportunistic fraudster,” who went from appearances on the show “Basketball Wives” and hosting a local radio show to being sentenced to four years in federal prison."People take advantage of programs that are made to help other people,” Murdock said. Multiple people reported dead, injured in Maine shootings Williams pleaded guilty to 15 felonies, which included misusing Social Security numbers, tax fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, wire fraud, a pandemic-related scam, and making false statements to the IRS.But it wasn’t just the vulnerable she targeted. She also used her family members by identifying as her niece and nephew on tax returns that were falsely prepared by ...

Boys and Girls Club name 2024 Youth of the Year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis announced the nonprofit's Youth of the Year. Three judges narrowed the candidates down to four finalists before picking Ismail Botchway as the winner of the 2024 Youth of the Year.Botchway said the Boys and Girls Club changed his life.“To me, it means that I'll be able to advocate for other youth in my community and be able to compete at a higher level,” he said. “To just be able to share my story and make a broader impact on my community.” Multiple people reported dead, injured in Maine shootings The young man has big plans for his future and hopes to be a role model for the next generation in the Boys and Girls Club."I just hope to inspire youth; that they can do what I did. They can advocate for others. They can make a difference in their community," Botchway said.“If there is someone who is close to their age and who has achieved wonderful things and speak their language, I think that goes a long way to help us achieve o...

CU Buffs football notes: Trevor Woods finding new home at linebacker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

From the time he got to Colorado as a true freshman in 2021, Trevor Woods has proven to be a playmaker on defense.At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Woods is a prototypical safety and he hits like one.With CU (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) struggling to find consistency in the middle of its defense, however, the coaches have found a new role for Woods.A junior from Katy, Texas, Woods made his first career start at inside linebacker in the Buffs’ 46-43 double overtime loss to Stanford on Oct. 13 and it appears he’ll remain at linebacker for the foreseeable future. CU visits No. 23 UCLA (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).“Trevor is a player, man,” head coach Deion Sanders said. “You’ve got to find a way to utilize him the best of his ability, his strengths and keep him at the place where he could be a force. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s physical. He’s an asset, so we’ve got to find a way to keep him on the field and (moving to linebacker) was one of the ways we found to keep him on the field.”Despit...

City of Fontana to crack down on unlicensed street vendors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:52:34 GMT

Tensions are on the rise after the City of Fontana adopted an ordinance to crackdown on unlicensed street vendors and some critics of the new law claim that it targets the Latino community.  Supporters of the ordinance say that many local businesses are hurting because they can’t compete street vendor prices, though at Tuesday’s city council meeting, not everyone agreed.  “I’ve been here 30-plus years and how dare you put an ordinance on street vendors,” one man said at the Tuesday meeting. “They are not criminals.  Fontana residents, as well as activists for the vendors, continued to speak out against the ordinance. Many even addressed Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren directly, even showing up to her home, after the city unanimously voted to approve the ordinance.  The new law allocates some $600,000 toward contracting a company called Four Leaf to assist the city’s code enforcement.  “A lot of that technical assistance could’ve been done with that $600,000 ...