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Texas businessman at center of AG Ken Paxton's impeachment pleads not guilty to federal charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas real estate developer at the center of Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements to banks that loaned him more than $170 million.Nate Paul waived his scheduled arraignment before a U.S. district judge in Austin, according to court documents posted Friday.Paul figures heavily in 20 articles of impeachment filed against Texas' top law enforcement officer. Paxton is accused of abusing his power and bribery in order to help Paul, who gave the Republican a $25,000 campaign donation in 2018.There is no reference to Paxton in Paul’s indictment, which accuses the developer of making false statements to multiple banks in 2017 and 2018. But one of the banks later received a subpoena, issued in person, by an attorney Paxton hired as an “outside independent prosecutor” to pursue complaints Paul made after the FBI raided the businessman's offices.Paxton has denied wrongdoing and his impeachment trial is set...

Texas legislature passes several bills to increase film production in the state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas legislature passed several bills this legislative session to incentivize more film, television and commercial production in the state. During the session, Texas lawmakers introduced a record-breaking 19 bills aimed at incentivizing film production in a variety of ways. Though not all passed, the Texas Motion Picture Alliance – an entity for film, TV, commercial, video game and digital media production industries – said what did make it through was a win for the industry. “We ended up with an amazing historic session,” said Mindy Raymond, communications director for TXMPA. “We are beyond happy with the outcome,” she continued. Perhaps most notably, the legislature approved a $200 million budget for Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program – an entity designed to build the economy through the moving image industry – which is a 400% increase from what it received last session. Raymond said this money, in turn, will pump $1 billion back into the ...

Infowars 'War Room' host Owen Shroyer pleads guilty to entering restricted area during Capitol riot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Infowars host Owen Shroyer, who promoted baseless claims of 2020 election fraud on the far-right internet platform, pleaded guilty on Friday to joining the mob of Donald Trump supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol.Shroyer, who didn’t enter the Capitol but led rioters in chants near the top of the building's steps, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegally entering a restricted area. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year behind bars.U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly scheduled a Sept. 12 sentencing hearing for the 33-year-old Shroyer, who has hosted a daily show called “The War Room With Owen Shroyer” for the website operated by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.Outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Shroyer stood in front of a crowd with a megaphone and yelled that Democrats are “tyrants.”"And so today, on January 6, we declare death to tyranny! Death to tyrants!" he shouted.Near the top of steps on the Capitol’s east side, Shroyer, who’s from A...

3rd teen charged with aiding and abetting murder in North St. Paul shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

A third person has been charged with aiding and abetting murder in the fatal shooting of a man in North St. Paul and his bail was set at $10 million Friday.Octavion Rayshawn Jones, 19, had nine warrants in other cases when he was arrested in the homicide, which is why the Ramsey County attorney’s office requested the high bail amount.Anthony R. Rojas, 24, was found fatally shot in an apartment in the 2100 block of North McKnight Road on Monday night. Responding officers discovered two open and empty gun safes and a 3D printer in the apartment. It appeared Rojas was using the printer to create lower receivers for handguns, according to criminal complaints in the homicide.Octavion Rayshawn Jones (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)A confidential informant told law enforcement that a person with the nickname “23” and “Octavion” “were just supposed to rob the guy of the ghost guns, but 23 shot him instead,” the complaints said. Ghost...

Wild re-sign goaltender Hunter Jones on two-way contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

It’s not exactly the news Wild fans have been waiting for regarding the team’s situation in goal. The organization has not yet come to an agreement with goaltender Filip Gustavsson.On Friday, however, the Wild re-signed goaltender Hunter Jones to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2023-24 season.The deal pays the 22-year-old Jones a total $787,500 for playing in the NHL and $70,000 in the minors. He will likely be either a backup goaltender for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League next season or a starting goaltender for the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL.Originally a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Jones spent most of last season with the Iowa Heartlanders, finishing with an 11-17-9 record, 3.07 goals-against average and .905 save percentage across 38 games.Related ArticlesMinnesota Wild | Wild announce 2023-24 preseason schedule Minnesota Wild | Former Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom named Blue Jackets goaltending coach ...

Loons star Emanuel Reynoso in line for first start of 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

Real Salt Lake’s best player is in top form, while Minnesota United’s elite playmaker is still working his way up to full fitness.RSL midfielder Damir Kreilach was named MLS Player of the Matchday after scoring two goals in a 3-1 victory over Austin FC on Wednesday.MNUFC midfielder Emanuel Reynoso appears in line for his first start of the 2023 season, although Loons manager Adrian Heath said Friday the altitude in Utah for Saturday’s match might mean Reynoso comes off the bench for a third consecutive game.Reynoso, who was a holdout in Argentina for the opening 40 percent of the season, has come off the bench for 26 minutes against Toronto and then 45 minutes against Montreal in early-June matches.“How long is he going to last?” Heath said of Reynoso’s fitness levels. “Or do we go, ‘Well, let’s keep it tight for the first half and then get him on there when the game opens up.’ … We haven’t decided that yet.”MNUFC (5-7-5 , 20 points) is below the MLS Cup Playoff line at ...

Bail set at $1M as Derrick Thompson makes first court appearance in crash that killed 5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

Derrick John Thompson, charged with criminal vehicular homicide in a crash that killed five young women, made his first court appearance Friday and bail was set at $1 million.Thompson, the son of former Minnesota Rep. John Thompson representing St. Paul’s East Side, didn’t address the court during his brief time in the courtroom. It appeared that neither family members of Derrick Thompson nor the victims were present.Thompson, who broke his hip in the Minneapolis crash last Friday, was in a wheelchair when he was brought from the Hennepin County jail to the courtroom.Derrick John Thompson (Courtesy of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)Judge Carolina Lamas said Thompson qualified for a public defender.With defense attorney Marecca Vertin reserving bail argument, Lamas set Thompson’s bail at the $1 million requested by the prosecution.The jail is also holding Thompson because he was on parole from a California conviction and he’ll likely have a federal...

Advocate would like to see "Moral" leadership from Capitol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – This week on Empire State Weekly, lawmakers at the capitol have completed their brief session that started on June 20. The Assembly passed several initiatives and gavelled out to mark the end of the legislative session. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Several passed items include the Clean Slate Act, which allows certain criminal records to be sealed, and the Wrongful Convictions Act, which simplifies the process for convicts to challenge their cases."What really we'd like to see is more moral leadership from the governor and certainly also from the mayor of New York to be clear that folks are welcome here, and they should be welcome here as a moral matter but as a legal matter our state constitution says we're gonna meet the needs of these folks and make sure they have the networks and the resources they need." Said Rowland.Lee Rowland, the policy director for New York Civil Liberties Union, ex...

Gary McCarthy talks campaign with News10

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Primary elections for many municipal offices are happening on June 27. One of the races is for the city of Schenectady. Democrat mayor Gary McCarthy is trying to win a fourth term and he's facing a challenge from city councilmember Marion Porterfield.McCarthy has overseen the revitalization of downtown Schenectady as well as development around Rivers Casino. While he celebrates those accomplishment, he admits the city does have levels of inequity and issues with poverty that leaders have to deal with.One of those issues is housing. The mayor says Schenectady has increased home ownership the last few years but absent landlords continue to plague the city. "We are systematically going after those', said McCarthy. He adds, "We've worked with the land bank, with other levels of government to knock down the worst of the worst properties and hopefully create and environment where we're seeing private investment where people are buying these homes, fixing them ...

Doctors can now legally prescribe abortion pill to out of state patients

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- It's been almost one year since the Dobbs decision - giving states the ability to choose their own abortion laws. Since then, the state allocated $35 million for abortion providers and on Friday, the Governor signed a new piece of legislation to expanding abortion access. "Our own providers, our own New York providers are threatened by other states, governors, law-enforcement officials, this is New York, we don’t respond well to threats," said Hochul at a press event on Friday. Rally held in Albany in support of Roe v. Wade The Governor signed a bill that will provide legal protections for doctors prescribing the abortion pill to out of state patients via telehealth. "Because right now, more than half of the abortions are done with medication, less trauma, less stress, no travel, leaving your kids," said Hochul. But Joni Lupis, Pastor and President of March for Life New York takes issue with the legislation. "How do you give an abortion pill in the mai...