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Pentagon rushes defenses, advisers to Middle East as Israel’s ground assault in Gaza looms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has sent military advisers, including a Marine Corps general versed in urban warfare, to Israel to aid in its war planning and is speeding multiple sophisticated air defense systems to the Middle East days ahead of an anticipated ground assault into Gaza. One of the officers leading the assistance is Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, who previously helped lead special operations forces against the Islamic State and served in Fallujah, Iraq, during some of the most heated urban combat there, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss Glynn’s role and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Glynn will also be advising on how to mitigate civilian casualties in urban warfare, the official said. Israel is preparing a large-scale ground operation in an environment in which Hamas militants have had years to prepare tunnel networks and set traps throughout northern Gaza’s dense urban blocks. Glynn and the other military officers who are...

North Dakota lawmakers begin special session to fix budget invalidated by Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature began a special session Monday to redo a key budget bill the state Supreme Court voided last month, leaving a giant hole in government operations.Lawmakers quickly began hearings on 14 bills for restoring the provisions of the major budget bill voided by the high court, which invalidated the bill as unconstitutional because it violated a single-subject requirement for bills. The bill has traditionally been used as a catch-all or cleanup bill, passed at the end of the biennial session.Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, who is running for president,urged the Legislature to take up other items using higher-than-forecasted excess state tax revenue. Those include $91 million for expanding a previous income tax cut, $50 million for infrastructure projects and $20 million to expand a tourism attraction grant program the governor said has drawn great interest.Burgum told reporters that his proposals “are just adding appropriat...

Mary Lou Retton is home after stay in ICU, daughter says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Former Olympic gymnast and West Virginia native Mary Lou Retton is back home after a several-week stay in intensive care with a rare form of pneumonia.On Monday, one of her daughters, McKenna Kelley, announced on Instagram that Retton is in "recovery mode."Retton, 55, had been in the ICU at a Texas hospital since early October. Her family said she couldn't breathe on her own when she was initially hospitalized."We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps," Kelley said in the post. Retton has had several ups and downs with her recovery during her stay in the ICU, according to updates from her daughters, but this is the first major change that her family has announced. Baby born at NFL stadium during Sunday’s game A crowdfund to help "America's sweetheart" with her medical bills has raised more than $450,000 as of Oct. 23, with more than 8,000 donors."We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn't scrape...

Witness video shown in first day of APD officer murder case, no opening statements from defense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN News Today’s morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Opening statements wrapped up Monday in the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.Previous coverage of the trial: Opening statements wrap up in murder trial involving APD officerJury selected in APD officer’s murder trialJudge grants mistrial motion in APD officer murder caseOpening statements After Taylor pleaded not guilty, attorneys representing him did not give opening statements. It meant the jury heard largely from prosecutors Monday. Prosecutors used maps, photos and screenshots of body-worn camera footage to walk jurors through the events leading up to Ramos' death in their opening statements. The state is working to...

'Bigger than the bed of a pickup truck': Round Rock ISD school makes enormous mum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Hanging inside a Round Rock Independent School District high school is a 28-foot-long mum, which took the equivalent of nearly two days to finish, the school district said on social media.McNeil High School with Round Rock ISD students made an 'enormous mum' | Courtesy Round Rock ISDMcNeil High School with Round Rock ISD students made an 'enormous mum' | Courtesy Round Rock ISDThe 'enormous mum' took the the Floral Design classes in McNeil High School's Ag program close to 40 hours to finish, the district said.According to RRISD, the top of the mum is bigger than the bed of a pickup truck.Homecoming mums as a Texas customTraditional homecoming mums are made with faux chrysanthemums decorated with glitter, ribbons and trinkets. How did homecoming mums become a Texas custom? While its origins aren’t officially confirmed, many trace the decorative piece back to Missouri, where the wearing of homecoming mums became a tradition in the early 1900s. Those earl...

Where does Austin rank among the best cities for renters?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Forbes Advisor released Oct. 16 its list of the most optimal cities for renters — and Austin ranks within the Top 10."Rent-burdened" tenants are defined as those who pay more than 30% of their income on rent, per federal government standards. Forbes Advisor analyzed 96 of the United States' most populated cities, using 23 different metrics to weigh out the most ideal renting communities.Considerations included average rental prices and unit sizes for one and two-bedroom rentals, year-over-year percent changes in average rent costs alongside the percentage of rent-burdened rents, crime rates and key amenities.Through Forbes Advisor's findings, warmer climate cities were more prevalent among its rankings. The report also determined that while some cities might have lower rent prices than those ranked high on the list, higher crime rates or lower median household incomes affiliated with these cheaper rent communities docked their overall ranking. TRENDING NOW: Burnet ...

Deadline for submitting Minnesota state flag, seal proposals is approaching

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

The deadline for submitting design proposal for the new Minneosta flag and seal the deadline is approaching.Proposals must be submitted to the State Emblems Redesign Commission by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30. The mailing address as well as additional information can be found at mnhs.org/serc.Those participating must be 18 years of age or older or have their proposals entered by a parent or legal guardian. Up to three designs each for the flag and seal can be submitted per eligible participantThe State Emblems Redesign Commission was established during the 2023 Legislature to bring forth a new design for the Minnesota state flag and state seal no later than Jan. 1, 2024.Previous submissions for state emblems initiatives should be entere through the official website. A total of five submissions each for the flag and seal will be chosen by the comission. The commission will then select one design (or modified version) to be used as a basis for each.The Minnesota Historical Society is...

Time to trick-or-treat at the Aviation Mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Terror at Target? Skeletons at Spencers? Halloween is on its way to the Aviation Mall. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Mall-O-Ween gives kids a chance to trick-or-treat across mall stores. On Halloween, Oct. 31, participating stores will welcome costumed kids with candy in hand from 5 to 7 p.m. Stores taking part across the mall will have signs in their windows, declaring "We Have Candy." Any kid on Halloween knows to wear a costume, but if any need an extra incentive, the mall has one. JCPenney will be hosting a costume contest for different age groups, with prizes in each category. Age groups include:5:30 p.m.: Ages 0-46 p.m.: Ages 5-86:30 p.m.: Ages 9-12 Scares and treats coming to Glens Falls City Park at Boo2You In addition to stores in the mall, nonprofit groups will be set up at tables with their own offerings. Groups giving out goodies include Southern Adirondack Independent Living, Kiwanis...

DEC encourages New Yorkers to help protect bats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- To protect bats, the Department of Environmental Conservation is asking outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months. The DEC states that human visitations can be harmful as disturbances during their hibernation cause them to raise their body temperatures, thus depleting crucial fat reserves. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Individuals are asked to follow all posted notices restricting access to caves and mines. If you stumble across hibernating bats, the DEC says to leave quickly and quietly to minimize disturbance.There are two species currently protected under federal and state endangered species law. The Indiana bat is sparsely distributed across the state, and the northern long-eared bat is approximately one percent of its previous population. Both have been impacted by a fungus known as the white-nose syndrome, which has killed more than 90 percent...

Fire displaces Schenectady apt. bldg. tenants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:50 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A fire has displaced dozens of residents at an apartment complex in Schenectady. An electric scooter containing a lithium ion battery was found inside the apartment where the fire started. MORE NEWS from NEWS 10The heat from flames sent residents of 736 Albany Street into the chill of the Schenectady streets Monday morning. Lori T. described the initial moments after the ignition. “You instantly hear the alarms go off in the building, and it's not an alarm that you can sleep through. About 8 o'clock this morning. I’m on the Albany Street side of the building, and I don't see any fire trucks out there. Then the fire trucks came, and they had crowbars in their hands, so this gotta be serious. Somethings going on" the tenant said. The Hillside Crossings Apartment resident says she even saw someone taking drastic measures to escape the fire.“There was a guy over top of me, that had an electrical scooter" said Lori. "And he was about to jump out of ...