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TCEQ moves forward in approval process for east Austin rock-crushing plant, despite pushback

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— A state agency is moving forward in the approval process for a rock-crushing plant, despite pushback from neighbors who feel it's way too close to homes.Neighbors are worried about air quality. Some who have lived in the area for generations, said they've been dealing with dusty air for years, just from temporary plants.The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates permits for the plants."Sometimes, depending on the wind, it can be so thick, you can barely see through it," David Sides, a neighbor said.Christopher Lupone fears the prolonged exposure to dust could really make people sick."It's a big health risk," Lupone said.Sides and Lupone live on opposite sides of where the plant would go—less than a mile or so away from the site.Both are worried what will happen now that a company has applied for a permit to have a permanent rock-crushing plant."There are 250 homes within a mile less than a mile of this," Lupone said. "It's ridiculous to think that they wo...

Texas House passes sweeping school safety legislation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Eleven months after the Robb Elementary mass shooting, The Texas House of Representatives on Monday initially passed broad, bipartisan legislation intending to make schools safer.House Bill 3 dedicates new funding for districts to improve physical barriers and security technology, requires every district to place an armed guard on every campus, and gives the state more oversight responsibility for safety protocol compliance. It passed the lower chamber 122-19. It now awaits a third and final vote in the House before heading to the Senate.Lubbock Republican Dustin Burrows shepherded the bill through with El Paso Democrat Joe Moody after the two led the House investigation of the Robb Elementary mass shooting."The state of Texas must make fundamental changes the way we protect our school communities," Burrows told members on the House floor Monday afternoon. "It is clear that we must not only beef up on campus security staffing, but also establish statewide standar...

MN House set to OK legal cannabis; Senate voting Friday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

Members of the Minnesota House on Monday night were poised to vote on a bill to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults.Legalization has passed in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor-controlled House before, but there’s a key difference this year: DFL lawmakers took control last November of the Senate, where a vote is now also scheduled for Friday.When Republicans controlled the Senate last year, pot bills didn’t get committee hearings. Now that’s no longer an obstacle, and DFL Gov. Tim Walz said he supports legalization and would sign a bill into law.“I do expect this is the year we get the job done,” said bill sponsor Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids.Stephenson and other legalization advocates say pot prohibition has done more harm than good. They hope the more than 300-page bill will help the state right past wrongs — including drug law enforcement’s disproportionate effects on ethnic minorities.What’s in the bill?The bill slated for a Monday vote in the Hou...

Repairs underway on bridge dripping sticky substance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

WEST COXSACKIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Repairs are underway on a rail bridge in West Coxsackie that's been dripping a messy substance on passing cars. Drivers told NEWS10 they have been unable to get the substance off their vehicles. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The mayor of Coxsackie said the bridge, which goes over Mansion Street, has been an issue his entire time in office, spanning almost 15 years. CSX Railroad company operates the bridge. They said the substance is made of mud that's seeped into the bridge.Repairs began on Monday and will continue on Tuesday. Mansion Street will be down to one lane from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. while repair work continues.

Whitehall proposes repurposing swimming pool after 2020 flooding

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

WHITEHALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Officials in Whitehall are planning to repurpose the swimming pool at the junior-senior high school. The pool suffered significant flood damage during a several storm in August 2020. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The board of education voted unanimously to repurpose the space for special education and social and emotional services. Officials said it would allow the school to serve more students and staff. They also said a new pool would not be eligible for state funding but repurposing the space is. The storm caused extensive damage throughout the village, including at the high school.“We had approximately eight to 10 inches of standing water touching all sides of our high school building. There was no location within my entire high school facility that was not flooded,” Superintendent Patrick Dee told NEWS10 at the time.The decision to repurpose the pool came during the board's regular meeting...

Program helps connect local students to healthcare jobs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ellis Medicine launched a new partnership with local schools to help address ongoing worker shortages in healthcare. Ellis Promise helps connect students attending SUNY Schenectady and Schenectady High School with jobs within the hospital. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Recruiters and coaches will help guide students and other community members through the job search process with the goal of keeping them in the local area. "But what this does in the long-term, it gives opportunities for people to have good jobs, good careers in healthcare, and really give back to this community," Ellis Medicine Pres. and CEO Paul Milton said.Hospital leaders also hope the program will improve the diversity of its workforce.

Albany restaurant celebrates anniversary after pandemic struggles

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local restaurant that offers something for everyone celebrated its official opening on Monday. El Rey Mexitalia serves both Mexican and Italian food. It's been open for about two years but held off on a ribbon cutting due to the pandemic.The owners have had to overcome changing pandemic restrictions and staff shortages. They've worked 60 to 80 hours a week themselves to keep the restaurant going. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "It's been tough. Also, not being with family sometimes because you want to spend time with your kids, your wife, but it's hard not being there the entire time. But that has been one of our most struggles," Jesus Vazquez Lopez said.The restaurant is now fully staffed. It's located on Lodge Street in the city of Albany.

Driver crashes into local monument company, toppling over gravestones

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The owner of Tom Murray Monument Company says he got a call from his security company Sunday at 7:50 p.m. for a break-in.When he got to the scene, he was surprised by the sight of the toppled gravestones, weighing 400 pounds, thrown off their granite bases.“Found out a car ran into here and the police were here, and the tow truck tried to pull the car out,” said Rich, the owner of Tom Murray Monument Company. “They finally got it out before 9 p.m., and that's the damage she done.”Rich said St. Louis police took the female driver of the vehicle into custody. Gardner won’t be held in contempt, judge rules “I plan on having this just boarded up for now, and then we're going to see about rebuilding this to make sure it's secure because we're not going anywhere,” Rich said. “This company has been here since 1945. There was five of them on this West Florissant, and this is the only one that is still left.”No customer’s granite headstones were damaged in the crash in the 5000...

Clarksville prepared to take action for moderate flooding

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. – Mississippi River levels are causing major flooding in parts of Iowa and, as that water travels downstream, we will see some impacts in our region. The city of Clarksville, Missouri, is constructing a flood wall, but it won’t be finished for another two years.For the city of Clarksville, scenes from four years ago are a reminder of how impactful spring flooding can be.That’s why city leaders are paying close attention to the river forecast and have specific levels in mind when taking future action. The Mississippi River flood stage at Clarksville is approximately 25 feet.“When we see 31, we know that we’re going to have water. Water on the streets, front street, downtown. If that is happening, then we’ve got to be defending,” Clarksville Mayor Jo Anne Smiley said. Gardner won’t be held in contempt, judge rules The high river levels coming down the Mississippi River will cause some low-end moderate flooding to our north later this week. Mayor Smiley is ready to g...

Families affected by distracted drivers ask Missouri lawmakers to ban texting while driving

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:20:56 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri is one of only two states that does not have a law against texting while driving for those 21 and older.Back in 2013, lawmakers passed legislation banning texting for drivers under 21, but for anyone older, there's nothing on the books. Families who have lost loved ones are pleading for the General Assembly to make a change to prevent more tragedies from happening."That moment has forever changed our lives due to a distracted driver who was 19 years old and wasn't paying attention to what was going on in the roadway," Sarah Douglas from St. Charles County said Monday.AAA Missouri joined with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and victim advocates on Monday for AAA's Distracted Driving Awareness Day.During the event, MSHP said last year, there were 16,000 distracted driving crashes in the state and nearly 15% of those were directly related to drivers on their cell phones. MoDOT's Deputy Director and chief engin...