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ESAs inch forward: Texas lawmakers hold marathon hearing on future of education

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A special committee of House lawmakers on Thursday is considering a massive educational package that would establish an education savings accounts program while improving public school funding.The hearing shows the first signs of progress for education savings accounts in the House across four special legislative sessions. Gov. Greg Abbott this week called lawmakers back into a rare fourth special session after the House failed to pass his plan for "school choice." His plan would use state money to subsidize private education expenses for K-12 students.The House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment invited six separate panels to testify, each representing various experts and advocates from public schools, charter schools, and ESA advocates. As of noon, the hearing was still on the first panel. Public testimony will begin after all six expert panels have concluded, setting up lawmakers for a very long day that could last until midnight.Democr...

Cruise issues voluntary software recall following October crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly two weeks after Cruise announced it was pausing all its driverless vehicle operations, the company announced Wednesday it was voluntarily issuing a recall for a portion of its autonomous vehicle software.Officials wrote that the recall followed "a new analysis of our AV's post-collision response on October 2." That refers to an Oct. 2 crash where a pedestrian was hit by a driver in San Francisco and thrown into the path of a Cruise car nearby, according to reporting from The Verge. ICYMI: Cruise to pause all driverless operations as a way to ‘rebuild public trust’ The Cruise vehicle attempted to pull to the side of the road despite the fact its collision detection system was supposed to alert the car to remain stationary instead. As a result, the vehicle dragged the pedestrian approximately 20 feet and seriously injured them."The recall addresses circumstances in which the Cruise collision detection subsystem may cause the Cruise AV to attempt to pull over ...

Man sentenced to life in prison following plea to 2019 capital murder charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was sentenced to life in prison Nov. 2 on a capital murder charge in connection with a 2019 shooting in Hays County. PAST COVERAGE: Two men arrested in connection to June 5 San Marcos murder According to court documents, 30-year-old Lapear O’Neal Willrich pleaded guilty to the charge for the death of 23-year-old Demarcus Trey Allen on June 5, 2019.In April 2022, another man was convicted and sentenced in connection with Allen’s death. PAST COVERAGE: Dog leads bystander to San Marcos apartment where man found shot and killed On June 5, 2019, officials responded to an apartment complex in the 300 block of Telluride Street in San Marcos for reports of a home invasion. At the complex, law enforcement found Allen with gunshot wounds. He died at the scene, according to officials.

Gophers football vs. Purdue: Keys to game, how to watch and who has edge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

MINNESOTA at PURDUEWhen: 2:30 p.m. SaturdayWhere: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.TV: NBCRadio: KFAN, 100.3 FMWeather: 50 degrees, sunny, 5 mph east windBetting spread: Purdue, -1Records: Minnesota (5-4, 3-3) coughed up a 26-21 lead in final minute to lose 27-26 to Illinois on Saturday. Purdue (2-7, 1-5) has lost four straight since a 44-19 win over Illinois in late September. Gophers can reach bowl eligibility with one more win; Boilermakers can’t go bowling this postseason.History: The Gophers had won four straight against Purdue before the 20-10 home loss last October. P.J Fleck has never faced new Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters, but Walters’ defenses at Illinois had success against Minnesota in 2021 and 2022.Key matchup: Gophers offensive tackles vs. Purdue defensive ends. Nic Scourton and Kydran Jenkins share the Big Ten lead with seven sacks apiece, while Aireontae Ersery and Quinn Carroll have had up and down pass-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus.Who has th...

The high cost of Ottawa’s proposed electricity regulations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

Neighbours and friends, Canada stands at a crossroads. The federal government’s proposed electricity regulations, if left unchanged, will profoundly impact families and businesses across the nation. As a province that has always been at the forefront of energy innovation and responsible development, Alberta’s government is deeply concerned about the direction Ottawa is taking.The evidence is clear: Ottawa’s proposed regulations will make electricity more unreliable and unaffordable in our province. But this isn’t just an Alberta issue; it’s a Canadian one. From our province to Atlantic Canada, the repercussions will be negatively felt by every citizen.In Alberta and in Cardston-Siksika, citizens will face increased power bills, a potential exodus of investment from our province, and a jeopardized electrical grid. The threat of blackouts and brownouts during the harshest moments of winter is very real.I find it alarming that while we are in the middle of a public consultation period,...

Trudeau blinks, suspends carbon tax on home heating in Atlantic Canada

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just gave Western Canada another punch in the face.The good news is that Trudeau is suspending his carbon tax on home heating fuel.The bad news is the exemption is for just one kind of home heating fuel.Guess which kind?Furnace oil, the kind of heating fuel found almost exclusively in the homes of Atlantic Canada, where Trudeau’s Liberal government holds a lot of seats.Trudeau is suspending his federal carbon tax on furnace oil until just after the next election, expected in two years.The federal carbon tax currently costs 12 cents extra per cubic metre of natural gas, 10 cents extra per litre of propane and 17 cents extra per litre of furnace oil.The average household in Atlantic Canada uses about 1,600 litres of furnace oil per year. That means the carbon tax would cost about $272 extra for winter heat.That winter warmth will now get a reprieve from Trudeau’s carbon tax. However, the tax will still apply to propane and natural gas that many families i...

Water and wastewater needs to be studied for Highway 3 agri-food corridor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

By Trevor BuschTaber [email protected] east of Lethbridge along the Highway 3 agri-food processing corridor in southern Alberta will be studying future water and wastewater needs as processors eye the region for development on the heels of an irrigation expansion announcement for Chin Reservoir.Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter says Coaldale has applied to quarterback a regional potable water study.“Coaldale was willing to apply for an ACP grant (Alberta Community Partnership). And it’s up to $200,000, to get to study the water needs of this area. So I appreciate them doing that. You can only apply once per year. And so they were willing to give up their slot to be able to get that done.”The application has received a letter of support from Premier Danielle Smith, that was signed by four other MLAs, including Hunter, Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf, Cardston-Siksika MLA Joseph Schow and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright. No matching contributions are requi...

Proposed provincial tax legislation changes include amendments to Tourism Levy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Province has announced proposed changes to Alberta’s tax laws.The Tax Statutes Amendment Act, also known as Bill 4, proposes changes which would “help formalize a key part of Alberta’s commitment to affordability, provide clarity around the collection and remittance of Alberta’s tourism levy, and update several technical and administrative aspects of Alberta’s tax system,” according to a recent Province-issued media bulletin.If passed Bill 4, the Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2023, will update the Fuel Tax Act, Tourism Levy Act, Alberta Corporate Tax Act, and the Alberta Personal income Tax Act.Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance said the amendments are required at this stage to keep the Alberta’s tax legislation current, and are, “essential to maintaining Alberta’s low-tax environment and minimizing red tape. The proposed amendments would help to create further consistency and clarity in Alberta’s tax system, which cont...

Lethbridge County farm family honoured by Dhillon School of Business

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe University of Lethbridge’s (ULeth) Dhillon School of Business recently honoured the Perry family and the Perry Family Farm at the business school’s annual Business Scholarship Dinner.The dinner recognizes members of the southern Alberta community for their exceptional achievements, and honours members who have shown strong leadership and commitment to their communities.This year, the event honoured Gerry and Birthe Perry and their children Harold, Chris, and Karen, and their families.In addition to recognizing the Perry family and the Perry Family farm for their continued contributions to agriculture, the event also established a scholarship for business students in the recipient’s honour.With nearly 115 years of farming under their belts, the Perry family’s fourth-generation farming operation in Chin supplies potatoes to some of Canada’s most recognizable consumer brands including McCain Foods, Frito-Lay, and Bonduelle.The oft-cliche phrase, of h...

Three subdivisions approved by County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:50:22 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsNewly approved Lethbridge County subdivisions include two located in Monarch.During their regular Nov. 2 meeting, Lethbridge County council reviewed three subdivision applications.The first one, Subdivision Application #2023-0-117 – Penner/Groeneweg – Lots 4-13, Block 6, Plan 138A within SW1/4 7-10-23-W4M, concerned lands in the Hamlet of Monarch on the undeveloped E. Plaza Street between Empress Ave and Victoria Ave.“This is a lot realignment application,” said Hilary Janzen, supervisor of planning and development for the county. “They are looking to readjust the property line so it suits how the properties are currently being utilized.”The properties are owned within the same family, and they wish to have the boundary between the properties realigned and relocated 25 feet to the north along the solid wood fence. Municipal servicing and access to the properties will not be affected by the realignment.The second application, Subdivision Applica...