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Some Texas public schools facing budget concerns without legislative funding increases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

BURNET, Texas (Nexstar) — With a $33 billion dollar budget surplus hanging overhead, the regular legislative session started with promises to increase teacher pay and school funding but ended with none, now leading some public schools with budget concerns as they head into the next school year without an increase to the basic allotment.In a district-wide email sent Tuesday morning to families, Burnet CISD said it is facing a $1.3 million dollar deficit for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. This news was shared in a district-wide letter written by Burnet CISD Superintendent Keith McBurnett. "The Board of Trustees and Administration are working collaboratively to address the budget deficit," he wrote. "Difficult choice[s] are going to have to be made, when they shouldn’t have to be made."McBurnett attributed the budget deficit to what he described as the Legislature's "inaction on school funding" and the expiration of the "formula transition grants." Those grants were part of the 20...

Cooling centers open in Austin: How to find a location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cooling centers opened Tuesday in Austin with heat index values expected to range between 103°-113°, according to a City of Austin alert. First Warning Weather: No immediate end to dangerous heat and humidity A heat advisory was in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Central Texas. Tuesday afternoon highs were expected to be near 100°."Due to extreme heat, all Austin Parks and Library facilities will serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours," the city's alert reads.Service animals will be permitted in the facilities.The addresses and hours for Austin Public Library facilities and Austin Parks are listed online.How to sign up for emergency alertsYou can sign up for emergency alerts at ReadyCentralTexas.org.The City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Travis County Office of Emergency Management partnered for the emergency preparedness app, the city's website states.The Ready Central Texas app provides (according...

Twins plan for spot start in upcoming busy stretch but not yet ready for Kenta Maeda’s return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

With the Twins kicking off a stretch of 16 games in 16 days on Tuesday, the club is looking to call up a pitcher and have him take a turn in the rotation to give their starters an extra day of rest in the coming days.But don’t expect that to be Kenta Maeda.The Twins plan to have the veteran starter make at least one more rehab start — this one scheduled for Friday in Louisville — as he comes back from a triceps strain that landed him on the injured list on April 29. It will be Maeda’s fourth rehab start for the Triple-A Saints.“I feel ready right now,” Maeda said through interpreter Daichi Sekizaki. “That’s up to the team to make that decision.”Maeda threw four scoreless innings in his last start, giving up three hits and striking out five. He threw 60 pitches in that game. The 35-year-old said his velocity is coming back, his command was there and mechanics-wise, he was satisfied with where he is.Still, the Twins want to be cautious with his return.“The goal is to not bring him bac...

Class 4A baseball state quarterfinal: Rosemount 4, Sartell 0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

Rosemount baseball coach Chris Swanson might not know exactly what he’ll get from Jack Thompson when he takes the mound, but he knows he can trust him.If the path might be strewn with difficulty, in the end, it usually leads to victory.“We knew he was going to walk some guys, hit some guys,” Swanson said of Thompson. “But he’s (also) going to try to pitch a guy inside, use all of his pitches and find ways to get guys out.”What do you know, that’s exactly how it played out Tuesday as the top-ranked and top-seeded Irish beat Sartell 4-0 in a Class 4A state tournament quarterfinal game at CHS Field.Rosemount senior Jack Thompson after his complete-game shutout over Sartell in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state baseball tournament on Tuesday at CHS Field. (John Shipley / Pioneer Press)Thompson, a senior headed for Valparaiso, gave up only two hits — a pair of singles to right field — but walked five and hit four batters. Yet the left-hander pitched a complete, seven-inning shutout ...

State boys lacrosse quarterfinal: Prior Lake 10, Mahtomedi 6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

Prior Lake was making its seventh-straight boys lacrosse state tournament appearance, while Mahtomedi was making its first trip since 2019.That might have made the difference in Tuesday’s quarterfinal match in Stillwater as Prior Lake jumped out to a 3-0 advantage, a start that played a large role in the Lakers’ 10-6 victory.“They got a few up on us in the beginning and we just had to battle back. We gave it our all,” Zephyrs senior midfielder Nolan Dimitri said. “We kind of had some pregame jitters. I know everyone was a little nervous. Once we got out there for the first quarter, everyone started to settle in and we started to dial it in, as well.”The early deficit just proved too difficult to overcome. Every time fifth-seeded Mahtomedi (12-5) mounted a charge, the fourth-seeded Lakers (13-4) had an answer.Prior Lake junior attacker Jack Tocko finished with three goals, but it was the Lakers’ defense that took center stage. The Lakers went the first 10 minutes of the final f...

New York State updates guidance to support transgender students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The New York State Department of Education updated its guidance meant to help schools support transgender and gender expansive students. The guidance was last issued eight years ago.The new update offers tools to help school staff prevent bullying, make the school environment more inclusive, and appropriately respond when a student comes out during school. It includes sections on laws protecting students, understanding gender identity, names and pronouns, restrooms, updating student records, and more. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the new guidance, teachers and school staff do not need a student's parents' permission to address that student according to their stated gender identity."School personnel’s acceptance of a student’s asserted gender identity should require no more than a statement from the student expressing their preference," the document reads. "Schools do not need to requ...

Nuggets Podcast: Nikola Jokic’s rise, Bruce Brown’s future and the afterglow of Denver’s first NBA title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports editor Matt Schubert to discuss the first ever championship in Denver Nuggets history after a gritty 94-89 win over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Among the topics covered:Nikola Jokic. No jokes here. What is left to say about the 41st overall draft pick after one of the most dominant postseason runs in NBA history? Has he crept into the discussion as one of the league’s top 20 players of all time? Just how long can he lead the Nuggets to title contention?Schubert and Singer discuss the team’s future, including that of key role player Bruce Brown. Will Brown stick around for a shot at another title? Or will he chase the big contract that would inevitably come his way in free agency?What did an emotional Jamal Murray have to say in the wake of a career-altering postseason run? Did Michael Porter Jr. prove something with his gutty Game 5 performance?Should the Denve...

Josh Kroenke reflects on Nuggets, Avalanche championship similarities: “Uncanny”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

What ordinary fans considered alarming, Josh Kroenke recognized as the opposite.The reward for patience was a cloud of cigar smoke fogging Kroenke’s view across the Nuggets locker room just enough to make the scene in front of him feel like a hazy dream.“Look at them,” the former college hooper beamed, pointing to the epicenter of champagne spray Monday night after the Nuggets won their first NBA championship. “They’re all unique characters.”Kroenke’s pride derives from a template of patience — one that applies to both of his recent local champions. When the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets were losing in the second round of their respective playoffs in recent years, the president and governor of both teams felt encouraged.“A couple years ago, probably 2017, 2018, ’19, I started to see flashes,” Kroenke told The Post. “Because not only were both teams making the playoffs; they were making the second round. And th...

L.A. City Councilman Curren Price facing corruption charges, steps down from leadership role

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price has stepped down from leadership roles after the L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that he has been charged with embezzlement and perjury. Price faces five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury, and two counts of conflict of interest, the D.A.'s Office said. "Today's charges against Councilman Curren Price are the result of a thorough investigation into allegations of public corruption. This alleged conduct undermines the integrity of our government and erodes the public's trust in our elected officials," D.A. George Gascón said in a news release. According to the district attorney's office, Price's wife received payments of more than $150,000 from developers between 2019 and 2021 before the councilman voted to approve their projects. Prosecutors then allege that Price failed to list the money his wife received on government disclosure forms. "Price is prohibited from having a financial inter...

Violent hit-and-run crash leaves father hospitalized in South Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:50 GMT

A hit-and-run driver remains at large after violently striking a man and leaving him in critical condition in South Los Angeles.Loved ones are devastated as the beloved husband and father continues fighting for his life in the ICU.A reward of $25,000 is being offered by the Los Angeles Police Department for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.On June 10 around 6 a.m., Silvino Gomez was out enjoying a walk, something loved ones say he did every day.Gomez was crossing at the intersection of Central and Vernon Avenues when suddenly, a speeding vehicle ran through a red light before slamming into Gomez.Gomez had a “walk signal” and the right of way at the time, police said.Security video released by LAPD showed the impact was so strong, it catapulted and flipped Gomez into the air before he landed on his head.The hit-and-driver sped away from the scene. Gomez was transported to the hospital with severe injuries. He had emergency surgery before being admitted to the ICU wh...