Biden allies fight back as Republicans launch impeachment inquiry

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Biden allies fight back as Republicans launch impeachment inquiry WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The White House and Democrats are fighting back as Republicans launch an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced plans to launch the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, sparking a political firestorm in an already bitterly-divided Congress. White House spokesperson Ian Sams said the move was baseless. "They've failed to turn up any evidence of wrongdoing and that's because there is no evidence of wrongdoing," Sams said. For months, House Republicans have been investigating the president's alleged connections to his son Hunter's business dealings.  House Republican aims to defund Trump prosecutions until 2024 election "Joe Biden has lied to the American people about his knowledge and involvement in his family's foreign business dealings and that he has potentially committed multiple impeachment offenses," Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said. But Biden's allies call the inquiry a waste of time and ...

Tech executives urge Congress to regulate AI

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Tech executives urge Congress to regulate AI WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Executives of the some of the biggest tech companies were on Capitol Hill Wednesday with senators to share their insights about artificial intelligence technology.Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates were some of the big names at the meeting, which was closed to the public. In total, about two dozen executives were invited to speak.Musk, CEO of Tesla, likely delivered the most alarming message. He warns the technology may pose a risk to civilization."There is some chance, above zero, that AI will kill us all. I think it's low, but there is some chance,” Musk said.The remarks came after a closed-door meeting with senators Wednesday. Musk was among the tech leaders there urging Congress to act."I think it's clear that there's a strong consensus, overwhelming consensus that there should be some AI regulation, that it would be in the best interest of the people to do so,” Musk said."This is the hardest thing I think we've ever undertaken,” said Senate Majorit...

Hutto family chosen by Extreme Makeover to receive newly-built home, city says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Hutto family chosen by Extreme Makeover to receive newly-built home, city says The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 13, 2023HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) -- A family in Hutto is getting a newly-built home after being chosen by Extreme Makeover Home Edition, the City of Hutto said on social media.Photo of Rev. Fred Warren Jr. at Little Ebenezer Baptist Church (Courtesy: City of Hutto)"Congratulations go to the Warrens! They are the beloved children, widow and mother of the late Rev. Fred Warren Jr," the city said on social media. "Pastor Warren was a beacon of light, love and service in Hutto, and his family is the embodiment of his charitable spirit."City officials said shuttles will run starting at 10 a.m. from Hutto City Hall to the home site for anyone interested in participating in the reveal Saturday.The "Move That Bus!" community filming will start at 2 p.m., according to the city.

Texas drag performance law blocked from taking effect again

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Texas drag performance law blocked from taking effect again Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 13, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — A federal judge has decided to extend a temporary restraining order, blocking a Texas law that would "regulate sexually oriented performances" and that opponents argue could criminalize drag performances. Senate Bill 12 passed in June and would have gone into effect Sept. 1, but a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, or TRO, that prevented it from being enforced. The judge's action came after a hearing in a lawsuit, whose plaintiffs include an Austin-based drag performer and production company. The first restraining order was set to expire 14 days after Aug. 31, but Wednesday's ruling extends it another 14. The judge found "that the grounds for originally granting the TRO continue to exist," namely, that "Based on the evidence and testimony presented at the Hearing, the Court finds there is a substantial likelihood that S.B. 12 as drafted violates the First Amendment...

Big Boi to perform on UT campus ahead of Longhorns game

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Big Boi to perform on UT campus ahead of Longhorns game Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 13, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — Big Boi, the famous Atlanta rapper and one-half of OutKast, will perform this weekend on the University of Texas at Austin campus ahead of the Longhorns' football game against Wyoming.Big Boi's Longhorn City Limits set will start around 5 p.m. Saturday -- about two hours before kickoff -- on the LBJ Lawn. Another primetime start for No. 4 Texas against Baylor in Waco Hosted by UT Athletics, Longhorn City Limits is a free gameday concert held before UT home football games. The concert series started in 2018 as part of UT Athletics' efforts to enhance the gameday atmosphere around Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.Nelly, Third Eye Blind, Pat Green, Charley Crockett and Ghostland Observatory have performed as part of the concert series in previous years.Big Boi performs "ATLiens" at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)...

Gophers anticipate ‘noticeable’ maroon-and-gold crowd at North Carolina

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Gophers anticipate ‘noticeable’ maroon-and-gold crowd at North Carolina A fair amount of maroon and gold will contrast with the majority Carolina blue on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.The Gophers have directly sold a little more than 2,000 tickets to fans for their nonconference game against 20th-ranked North Carolina.With other U fans expected to buy tickets through online sellers, Minnesota’s contingent might be somewhere around 4,000 to 5,000 fans, according to an estimate from Mike Wierzbicki, the Gophers’ senior associate athletics director for external affairs.“It should be noticeable; It should be a good group,” Wierzbicki told the Pioneer Press.For the 2021 game against the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder, Colo., the Gophers sold 3,000 tickets to fans, and Wierzbicki pegged the overall total of U fans in Boulder, Colo., at 5,000 to 6,000 fans.As the Gophers dominated the Buffaloes in a 31-0 win, Colorado fans left the Folsom Field early and Gopher fans congregated even more behind the U bench. The announced crowd was for ...

Mitt Romney won’t seek reelection in 2024, marking end to decadeslong political career

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Mitt Romney won’t seek reelection in 2024, marking end to decadeslong political career Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Wednesday that he will not run for reelection, opting to exit the political stage after a two-decade career in public service that included the 2012 Republican GOP nomination for president and a term as Massachusetts governor.The 76-year-old made the announcement in a video statement in which he noted that he would be in his mid-80s at the end of another six-year Senate term and said the country is ready for younger politicians.“Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders,” he said. “They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in.As the GOP’s 2016 nominee for the White House, Romney campaigned across America as a buttoned-up former Massachusetts governor and private equity executive. But with Donald Trump’s populist rise as the party’s dominant figure, Romney’s brand of Republicanism shifted from establishment to outlier. He was the only GOP member of Congress to vote to convict Donald Tr...

Rays tip Twins in ninth on Randy Arozarena home run

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Rays tip Twins in ninth on Randy Arozarena home run Randy Arozarena hit a solo home run off Griffin Jax in the ninth innings as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Twins, 5-4, in front of an announced crowd of 18,342 at Target Field on Wednesday.Matt Wallner and Kyle Farmer hit back-to-back solo home runs for the Twins, and Max Kepler tied the score with a two-run triple in the fifth inning, but Jax ended a streak of four consecutive scoreless innings from Twins relievers with two out in the ninth.Jax had a 2-2 count on Arozarena, after a pair of swings and misses, when a high, inside sweeper got away from him. Arozarena hit the next pitch an estimated 448 into the third deck in left field with two out in the ninth.The Twins, who started the day 7½ games up on second place Cleveland in the American League Central, fell to 1-5 this season against the AL wild card leaders.The Rays hit starter Dallas Keuchel hard, peppering him with six hits and drawing three walks in the right-hander’s four innings. Oslevis Basabe’s fielder’s choice grounder s...

U Albany economist says inflation relief ahead

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

U Albany economist says inflation relief ahead ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A rise in the consumer price index has continued fears of inflation, so what does this mean for the average consumer? The consumer price index measures the costs of goods and services in the country. Since last month, prices rose 0.6 percent that's higher than economists predicted. One expert NEWS 10 spoke with says relief is coming. MORE NEWS from NEWS10What’s causing the consumer price index to rise? The government blames those high gas prices this summer, some of which broke the $4 dollar per gallon mark. Professor Kajal Lahiri at SUNY Albany says though things look rough, we are generally in good shape, thanks to the feds tactics of raising interest rates. “What the federal reserve has been able to do this time is landing at softly . We haven't had the recession” the economics professor told NEWS 10's Zion Decoteau. He says though consumers might hate the higher interest rates, the measures are economically necessary and only temporary.As for what the ave...

Warren County sex offender pleads guilty to child pornography charge

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:49:30 GMT

Warren County sex offender pleads guilty to child pornography charge ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday, a registered sex offender pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. Peter Bratis, 43, of Chestertown, admitted to storing images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a Google Drive account between February 24, 2021, and August 4, 2022. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Bratis was previously convicted of second-degree rape. He faces at least ten years and up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2024. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Joseph Hartunian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.