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An estimated 70,000 childcare centers across the U.S. could shut down due to funding issues

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- Tens of thousands of childcare centers around the country could be forced to shut down in the coming months because the federal funding they rely on is about to run out.Over the past few years, a large part of the childcare sector was sustained by $39 billion in emergency pandemic funding.Without renewed funding, an estimated 70,000 childcare programs could shut down, leaving many American families to face difficult choices."Millions of children will likely lose their childcare slots," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.)."States used this critical funding to reduce cost for families and improve pay for providers," added Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).The consequences would also impact those who can still find and afford childcare by making it more expensive. That's why Democrats are now pushing the Childcare Stabilization Act, which would provide $16 billion a year in funding for childcare for the next five years."This is must-pass funding. We must prevent ou...

City Council tackles migrant housing crisis, budget shortfall

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

CHICAGO — Thursday was a busy day for Chicago's City Council, with movement on one of Mayor Brandon Johnson's biggest promises and more debate on how the city is meeting the needs of asylum seekers. Emotions ran high at the Sept. 14 meeting, as councilmembers greenlighted plans to turn a North Park building into another shelter for asylum seekers. City leaders also voted to utilize $33 million in federal funding to address criticism about the city’s spending. "This body has the fiduciary responsibility to safeguard the taxpayer dollar and use it accordingly and none of us can explain where it is going. None of us know where it will go," said Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward). Mayor Johnson’s migrant ‘tent city’ faces criticism ahead of fall, winter season Johnson said his administration has been transparent and will move forward with strategic plans to create base camps to house people sleeping at police stations and airports. As the city faces a projected $500 million budget shortfa...

Iowa teen found guilty of 2nd-degree murder and manslaughter in deaths of 2 students at school

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has found an Iowa teenager guilty of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of two students that he shot at a Des Moines alternative school earlier this year.Jurors on Thursday found 19-year-old Preston Walls guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr at the Starts Right Here program on Jan. 23. Teen charged in carjacking, beating of 62-year-old man in Chinatown Walls also was found guilty of willful injury causing serious injury for his shooting of Will Keeps, a former Chicago gang member and rapper who started the Des Moines program for at-risk teens.Starts Right Here reopened within several weeks of the shooting and Keeps returned despite lingering injuries.

LIVE: Paxton defense rests its case after calling 4 witnesses

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Defense attorneys representing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton rested their case in the historic impeachment trial Thursday evening, after calling a string of their first witnesses, current employees of the AG's office, who testified they found no wrongdoing in Paxton's actions.Senators, who are acting as jurors, could vote as early as Friday on whether to convict Paxton — which would result in removal from office if he is convicted on at least one of the 16 articles they are considering.Paxton faces 16 articles of impeachment in the Senate that accuse him of abusing his powers as attorney general to help his friend and donor Nate Paul, an Austin real estate investor who faced federal investigation and is central to many of the allegations against Paxton. The suspended attorney general pleaded not guilty to all impeachment articles on day one of the trial and has not been present in the Senate since then.On Thursday, the defense...

Strong storms possible through the evening

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Strong to potentially severe storms will continue to pulse up and down through the evening hours. Damaging hail, strong winds and brief heavy rain causing localized flooding will be possible with any well-developed storms. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS Localized flash flooding and isolated severe storms with damaging winds and large hail the primary concerns.Rounds of storms and downpours appear to return Friday and Saturday, but specific timing on these rounds would be hard to nail down. Additional rainfall amounts will generally range between 1.25"-3", with isolated pockets of more. Although we do not expect widespread flooding issues, nuisance flooding will be possible under any well-developed storm or shower.7 Day Rainfall ForecastAfternoon highs will range between the upper-80s and low 90s each day, largely dependent on when rain moves in and out. Most days will trend at or below seasonal average for this time of year.Forecast high temperatures the next 7 day...

911 lines out of service in Hays County Thursday afternoon

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Hays County Sheriff's Office said phone lines are out of service Thursday afternoon.A notification sent to the community in Hays County said 911 lines for Hays County are currently out of service. Power outages affecting PfISD schools; Copperfield students to be picked up early or moved to Delco Some severe storms are moving through Central Texas Thursday afternoon.To reach HCSO, you can call (512) 393-7896.Some school campuses in the Pflugerville Independent School District were also affected by ongoing power outages caused by storms in the area overnight and early Thursday morning.

Magnitude 4.0 earthquake reported in South Texas

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

FALLS CITY, Texas (KXAN) -- A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit South Texas Thursday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey.USGS reported the earthquake was northeast of Falls City, which is southeast of San Antonio. MAP: What’s the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Texas? According to USGS, this is the fourth earthquake registered in the U.S. over the past day.Earthquakes in TexasUSGS data shows more than 2,800 earthquakes have been reported in the Lone Star State since 1900. Magnitude 5.3 earthquake not the only one reported in West Texas The vast majority of those are small quakes, but around 60 have been magnitude 4 or greater. Five earthquakes have been greater than magnitude 5.Texas' strongest earthquake in history struck around 5:40 a.m. on Aug. 16, 1931. The magnitude 5.8 earthquake was centered about 7.5 miles southwest of Valentine, a small community in Presidio County, between El Paso and Big Bend.

Massive alligator charges at Texas Girl Scout troop during swim

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

HOUSTON, Texas (WFLA) — An alligator in Texas gave a Girl Scout troop a weekend they won't forget after it began to charge at them during a swim at a state park.According to KPRC, a group of 11-year-olds were on an overnight camping trip at Huntsville State Park to explore and earn badges.Shortly after the troop got into the water, panic and chaos ensued as the alligator, estimated to be about 12 to 14 feet long, swam toward the children. Shouting and screaming could be heard on video that captured the incident."I was thinking, 'This is the day I die,'" Ava Miller told the news station. "It was moving, like, faster than us or about the same."David Siljeg, who shot the video, told Storyful that he thought the gator would leave once it saw people swimming and splashing, but that was not the case."The alligator switched to attack mode and was aiming quickly toward the little kids,” he said.Troop leader Nichole Gleen quickly helped some of them to safety. "There was no doubt in my mind ...

Vikings get major boost with left tackle Christian Darrisaw active against Eagles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw played 58 of 64 snaps in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He played through the pain despite suffering an ankle injury, and while head coach Kevin O’Connell praised Darrisaw for his toughness postgame, he seemed to know the thing was going to swell up in the week that followed.“I’m sure he’ll be sore,” O’Connell said at the time. “He’ll be fighting like crazy to make it.”In the end, Darrisaw won the fight, playing for the Vikings in Thursday’s primetime game against the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn’t a guarantee that Darrisaw was going to be ready given the a short turnaround between games. He was a limited participant in practice this week.The fact that Darrisaw was available was a major boost for the Vikings after that had to sit center Garrett Bradbury with a back injury. The starting offensive line for the Vikings featured Darrisaw at left tackle, Ezra Cle...

Funerals set for Oakdale woman and Woodbury man killed in northern Minnesota crash

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:46:16 GMT

Madison “Madi” Warren loved going to the movies, hanging out with her grandparents and traveling.Friends and colleagues described the Oakdale woman, who was killed in last weekend’s single-car crash in St. Louis County, as a “radiant, joyful, empathetic, stone-cold weirdo, which fit her perfectly,” according to her obituary.Joseph “Joey” Trowbridge, the Woodbury man killed in the Saturday crash, was always “full of life and lived every minute to the fullest,” according to his obituary. “He was known for his huge smile, quick wit, and the largest heart anyone could have. He loved hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and jeeping.”Warren and Trowbridge, both 23, graduated from Mahtomedi High School in 2018. The two were passengers in a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by another Mahtomedi High School Class of 2018 graduate, Darren A. Tenney, 23, of New Richmond, Wis. The crash occurred around 2:45 a.m. Saturday on a curve on Highway 8 in Floodwood, Minn., about...