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Texas lawmaker responds to former staffers' allegations, House investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas lawmaker responded Wednesday to claims made in a joint resignation letter submitted by three senior staff members that have now apparently led to an investigation by state leaders. Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, posted a statement on her Facebook page addressing accusations raised in her former staffers' resignation letter, including about her son's mental health and an alleged relationship he had with an intern. One week ago, her chief of staff Kory Haywood, legislative director Catherine "Cat" Mouer and district director Yesenia Wences shared a list of claims in their joint resignation letter that ranged from Jones covering up that aforementioned relationship to her creating a toxic, abusive work environment. One of these staffers shared the letter in question with KXAN. "A week ago today, three members of my staff released a statement making numerous allegations regarding the work environment in my office," Jones said Wednesday. "This letter that was sent ...

Billy’s on Grand allowed to seek liquor license despite pending revocation process

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

Despite facing a possible license revocation related to police calls, the proprietors of Billy’s on Grand will be allowed to move forward with their application to assume the liquor license held by previous management.The St. Paul City Council voted 6-0 to allow the application review process to move forward before the city’s Department of Safety and Inspections, though Wednesday’s vote does not guarantee that the DWD Group will receive or be allowed to keep the requested liquor licenses.“We would do all the review,” said DSI Deputy Director Dan Niziolek, addressing the council. “If there’s an objection, we’d expect there would be a hearing before a legislative hearing officer. And then all of that would be presented to you for your consideration.”The building at 857 Grand Ave. is owned by William Wengler of East Mall Associates, who operated the restaurant for 35 years, but the current licenses were issued around June 2020 to Ra...

Bob Lee, Cash App founder, fatally stabbed in San Francisco

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bob Lee, a technology executive who created Cash App and was currently chief product officer of MobileCoin, was fatally stabbed in downtown San Francisco early Tuesday, according to the cryptocurrency platform and police.The San Francisco Police Department did not disclose details about the circumstances of the attack, but said in a statement that officers responded to a report of a stabbing near the city’s Embarcadero waterfront at 2:35 a.m. Tuesday. They found a 43-year-old man suffering from apparent stab wounds and the victim died at a hospital, the statement said.Police did not identify the victim but MobileCoin confirmed Lee’s death in response to an email from The Associated Press on Wednesday.“Our dear friend and colleague, Bob Lee passed away yesterday at the age of 43, survived by a loving family and collection of close friends and collaborators,” MobileCoin CEO Josh Goldbard said in a statement.Lee was fatally stabbed in ...

Timberwolves have paths to various playoff seeds. Here’s what’s most likely

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

The potential scenarios that could play out over the next four days are abundant, as the Timberwolves could still land at high as No. 5 in the Western Conference playoffs and as low as No. 9. They did secure at least a top-10 finish and, thus, a spot in the play-in tournament Tuesday.Everything else is still very much in the air. Still working in Minnesota’s favor is the abundance of tiebreakers it holds over most teams it neighbors in the standings.The positive possibilities start with Minnesota start with the team going 2-0 over its final two regular-season games. That would guarantee the Timberwolves a top-eight seed, meaning they would only need to win one play-in game rather than two to reach the playoffs.Even with a 2-0 finish, the most likely scenario is that Minnesota would land in the No. 7-8 play-in game. The winner of that game earns the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, earning a likely first-round date with Memphis. The loser would move to the final p...

John Shipley: Twins prospect Louie Varland well clear of his big brother’s shadow

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

Louie Varland was supposed to start the Saints’ home opener on Tuesday, then it was pushed back to Wednesday because of the weather. Then on Wednesday, the weather pushed the opener to Thursday afternoon — and Varland’s next start to Friday.Does that matter for a pitcher?“Yeah, it matters,” Varland said. “I haven’t pitched in eight days.”Translation: “Duh!”Bailey Ober will start Thursday’s twice-postponed opener — weather permitting — for the Saints and Varland will have to wait until Friday to make his first start since a minor-league game late last month in Fort Myers, Fla. It’s not ideal, but Varland, 25, is accustomed to waiting.After pitching in what he called the shadow of his brother, Gus, at North St. Paul High School, Varland followed Gus to Concordia-St. Paul, and it wasn’t his first choice.“I didn’t want to follow up my brother and be overshadowed for another four years, like in high school,” Varland said Wednesday at CHS Field, where the Saints held an afternoon wo...

Adam Minter: America First is making U.S. farmers fall behind

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

It’s a familiar story: a once-dominant U.S. industry is challenged by low-cost competitors overseas and gradually loses market share. This time, however, the pressured industry isn’t a manufacturer. It’s the American farm.Recent trade data and a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveal that U.S. leadership in exports of key agricultural products is eroding. The competition comes from Brazil and other low-cost countries that benefit from a range of government supports, including free-trade agreements to which the U.S. isn’t a partner. Over time, the impacts could be significant: Agriculture accounted for nearly 9% of all U.S. export value in 2022. By contrast, cars accounted for 3%.Fortunately, there’s a solution. In recent weeks, coalitions of U.S. agriculture groups have demanded the Biden administration begin work on new free-trade agreements to support farm exports. It won’t be easy to overcome bipartisan hostility to free trad...

Push to drop charges after officer-involved shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Advocates are renewing their calls for the Albany County District Attorney to drop charges against a man who was injured in an officer-involved shooting in Albany in January 2022.Jordan Young has undergone 23 surgeries and spent months in the hospital after he was shot on New Scotland Avenue. He was charged with Menacing a Police Officer. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Advocates said he suffers from multiple mental health challenges and still has some major medical procedures ahead of him. His supporters argue a prison sentence would be a death sentence."It's very hard to say how much care he would need in the future, but suffice it to say, we're, again, over a year out, it's been over a year since this happened, and he's still undergoing major surgeries to try to correct the damage that was caused by those two bullets," Young's attorney Rebekah Sokol said.Police said Young was holding a knife to a...

Troy: gas leak causes road closures and evacuations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

TROY. N.Y.(NEWS10) - On the corner of Hutton Street and 15th Street, National Grid crews remaining on scene to finish repairing a gas break from Wednesday morning which had area neighbors displaced and several businesses shut down for hours. 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Career Fair happening Thursday Earlier, folks out walking their best friends while they waited out the gas that was flooding their homes and neighborhood.“He’s relatively content but I couldn’t get out with the leash and his harness so we're just kind of playing like he’s my baby today and just got him in my arms,” said resident Luke Bell.Robert Lewis who works at WIZKID COMPUTERS tells me he was just getting to work when he was told to leave.“As soon as he opened the door, I could smell the gas. So, I’m like okay, alright. So, I just need to get back in here, grab my dog. You know to make sure the dog was okay. I know that businesses are impacted. WIZKIDS COMPUTERS along with the Barber shop and the cor...

Proposed bill would install automatic crosswalk signals in Albany

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- City leaders in Albany are considering additional steps to improve pedestrian safety. Councilmember Gabriella Romero introduced a bill that would require the city to install crosswalk signals that automatically go off. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Supporters said it would improve safety for people with disabilities and others who struggle to use the buttons at crosswalks. The city has also looked into installing speed bumps and lowering the speed limit.

St. Louis County high school students walk out of class to show support against gun violence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:24 GMT

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - Despite a colder and damper day, students made their way outdoors to the Maplewood Richmond Heights High School and the middle school athletic field. At noon on Wednesday, a group gathered and took part in a nationwide coordinated show of solidarity.“Gun violence is really important to me that we are aware of this violence, and we do something to change it,” said Odessa Javier, a student organizer. “I reached out to my administrators, and we had a meeting, and gave me their full support, and here we are.”From Wentzville to Washington, D.C., students are taking part in a national walkout against gun violence. After the recent school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, student leaders approached the principal about their desire to do something and participate. Top Story: Predawn Missouri tornado kills at least 5, sows destruction “I was glad,” said Dr. Kevin Grawer, principal of Maplewood Richmond Heights High School. “That’s what we pride ourselves here, student's vo...