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Texas Democrats file new property tax relief plan with focus on teachers, renters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- As top Texas Republicans show scant signs of progress towards a deal to lower property taxes, some Democrats in the Texas House are taking the impasse as an opportunity to present their own ideas.State. Rep. John Bryant, D-Dallas, led a small coalition of progressives on Thursday in supporting a new package of property tax relief measures that tops out larger than any other proposal yet.His bill proposes $20.9 billion to provide homestead exemptions of up to $200,000, cash rebates to renters, permanent pay raises to teachers, and some cuts to school district tax rates."Texans pay the fifth highest property taxes in the nation, yet our state is 44th in its support for public education. Neither ranking is acceptable," Bryant said. "We believe a property tax relief plan should simultaneously address both."A recap of the 9:30 a.m. news conference is available in the video player below. Permanent public education funding increaseHouse Bi...

Water tasting or smelling funny? Austin Water says it's working to fix the issue after customer complaints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Austin Water said it was aware some customers were experiencing taste and odor issues but said people should not worry.“Taste and odor issues do not indicate that treated drinking water is unsafe to drink. Austin Water feeds powder-activated carbon to treated water to resolve taste and odor issues. This is separate from the steps we take to disinfect water and we test our water throughout the distribution system multiple times a day, every day to make sure that it’s safe,” Austin Water said.In order to resolve taste and odor issues, Austin Water said it needs to know about them.“We can adjust the feed of powder-activated carbon in response to customer complaints. People should report any taste and odor issues they are having to our 24-hour Emergency Dispatch line (512) 972-1000, Option 1,” Austin Water said.

Mainlanes of I-35 North in Georgetown to close for construction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for July 6, 2023WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Transportation said it would close the northbound Interstate 35 main lanes to set beams on the Williams Drive bridge in Georgetown Thursday night.TxDOT said the closure would begin Thursday at 9 p.m. and last until 5 a.m. Friday.Traffic will be closed to drivers between State Highway 29 and Northwest Boulevard. TxDOT said traffic would be detoured to the frontage road at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes north of Northwest Boulevard.TxDOT said the Williams Drive bridge would also be closed during the beam set.“Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at SH 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the signalized intersection at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive,” TxDOT said.Officials said all la...

UT researchers discover most distant active supermassive black hole

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A supermassive black hole, newly discovered by researchers with the University of Texas, is now the most distant ever discovered. Named CEERS 1019, it was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).The supermassive black hole existed about 570 million years after the big bang. The black hole was one of three identified by the Cosmic Evolution Early Releases Science (CEERS) survey. The research was published in The Astrophysics Journal Letters. The team is led by University of Texas astronomy professor Steven Finkelstein. CEERS uses the JWST ability to capture near-infrared and mid-infrared images to identify celestial objects in the furthest parts of our universe. Infrared light travels further than visible light, allowing it to travel for billions of years. By observing this light, we're able to see what the universe looked like when the light was originally sent. According to experts, using the James Webb Space Telescope is basically like looking back in ti...

Capital District Arts Initiative launching new theatre program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Capital District Arts Initiative has announced they will be launching a new theatre program in the fall. "The Ensemble" will offer a variety of performance classes for ages 12 to 18. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Students will have the opportunity to experience in-depth theatrical training, honing their singing, acting and dancing abilities with veteran arts faculty members. The Ensemble will also teach students important teamwork skills that are vital to any production. Additionally, members of The Ensemble will have access to workshops and masterclasses from professionals working in the musical theatre industry. The program's weekly classes will culminate in several performances, including a cabaret in the winter and a full-scale production in the spring. Where to go see a circus in the Capital Region Students can register for The Ensemble online by visiting CDAI's website.

Things to do in the Capital Region this weekend: July 7-9

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The weekend is almost here! From concerts to cornhole to Immortal Championship Wrestling, there are quite a few things happening on July 7, July 8, and July 9. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Here are some of the events going on around the Capital Region this weekend.Friday, July 7An Evening with Goose, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. You can still buy tickets on the Live Nation website.Cage Wars 59, Rivers Casino in Schenectady, 7 p.m. You can still buy tickets on the Cage Wars website.Opera Saratoga Presents: Don Pasquale, Universal Preservation Hall, 7:30 p.m. You can buy tickets on the UPH website.Hannibal Buress, Albany Funny Bone, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. You can get tickets on the Albany Funny Bone website."The X-Files" Fan Fest, The X-Files Preservation Collection in Witon, starts at noon. You can buy tickets on the X-Files Preservation Collection website.“Corn! The Musical...

The most brutal losses for the 2023 St. Louis Cardinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Blowout defeats. One-run games. Ninth-inning heartbreakers. These are among the many ways the St. Louis Cardinals have lost ballgames in a season where they've largely stumbled around last place. The St. Louis Cardinals will carry a losing record into the All-Star break, currently last place in the NL Central at 35-51. Heading into Thursday, the Redbirds are in jeopardy of being swept in a four-game series for the first time this season. RELATED - Adam Wainwright lands on IL, vows setback is ‘not the end’ “We keep showing up and expecting it to be different, and it keeps not being different," said Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright via The Athletic last month. "The only common denominator we have is that we find ways to lose. We lose in different ways every game.”Cruel fate hit the Cardinals in all three of their previous losses to the Miami Marlins. In the series opener, Miles Mikolas hit a wall late in what was shaping to be a quality start turned to a Marlins comeba...

Rapper Nelly sells part of music catalog for $50M

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Rapper Nelly will be receiving a large payout soon. According to Variety, the rapper is selling a portion of his musical catalog to investment firm, HarbourView Equity Partners for $50 million.The St. Louis native is widely-recognized for songs like 'Air Force Ones,' Country Grammar,' and 'Hot In Herre.' He was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003 for the 'Best Male Rap Solo Performance' and 'Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.' When Missouri drivers can expect construction on I-70 to start Nelly shared, "As artists, we put our heart and soul into each track and there comes a time when you consider preservation of that artistry. My music is my legacy which I want to last beyond me, continuing to make my existing fans happy while reaching new generations and new audiences. I am excited to partner with HarbourView to create opportunities for discovery of my music decades from now."St. Louis native a music producer, Metro Boomin, also just recently sold his catalog for clos...

What is causing the mysterious St. Louis County hum?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- "The Hum" is a worldwide phenomenon that has many people searching for answers. The BBC reported on it in 2009, saying that the elusive low buzz has been blamed on everything from power lines, gas pipes, to "sinister forces." Although, some of the reasons people hear the hum may come from inside their own heads.People in the St. Louis area have reported the issue to FOX 2 for years. We've received phone calls and emails from concerned citizens that say they hear a strange low-repeating noise. The low rumble sounds like a generator running in the distance.The mapA website run by former University of British Columbia lecturer Dr. Glen MacPherson is dedicated to mapping the hum and sharing reports from people around the world. He first noticed the sound in 2012 and wanted a place to research the sound. People report the location, timing, and nature of the noise. They also share information about themselves such as age, medications they take, if they suffer from hearing los...

Denver not moving forward with $40 million contract for security firm to run migrant shelters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:58:48 GMT

Denver is not moving forward with plans to hire a private security company to take over the city’s migrant sheltering efforts, Mayor Michael Hancock’s office announced Thursday, less than two weeks after backlash began over the proposed $40 million contract.The Denver City Council was scheduled to vote on the contract with GardaWorld Federal Services on Monday. However, after nonprofit leaders met with city staff and company representatives Wednesday, they said their concerns only grew about the international company’s history of alleged abuses and mistreatment, as well as its lack of experience in sheltering migrants.In a written statement, the outgoing mayor’s office stated that it had hoped to finish negotiations, community engagement and get council approval prior to the new administration taking over, but there’s more work to be done.“With more than 500 Central and South American refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants still in our care, we con...