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Youngkin scores some legislative wins as he eyes White House

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who quickly shot from political newcomer to potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, kicked off his state’s legislative session in January by telling lawmakers that he wanted “to get more done and to get it done faster.”As the dust settles on his second session working with Virginia’s politically divided General Assembly, the former private equity executive has earned a series of wins, including measures taking a tougher stance against China, that his allies say could help him in a possible White House race.But many of his legislative priorities, such as a push for more tax cuts, are tied up in budget negotiations. Others, including proposals to restrict abortion access or tighten penalties for criminals, were stymied by Democrats controlling the state Senate.Youngkin is among the Republican governors eyeing the White House who have hoped to gain political momentum after presiding over productive legislative sessions ...

2 19-year-olds, teen, shot in shootings on West Side

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

CHICAGO — Two 19-year-olds and a teen were injured in shootings that took place on the city's West Side Saturday. According to police, a 19-year-old man was standing outside near the 4900 block of West Van Buren Street when an offender fired shots at him. He suffered gunshot wound to the left ankle and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where he is listed in good condition.Police reported that a 17-year-old boy was shot in the wrist in the city's South Lawndale neighborhood near the 2800 block of South Pulaski Road Saturday evening. Police say the boy heard a loud noise and felt pain. He was transported to Mount Sinai with a gunshot wound to the wrist. He is listed in good condition as well. Off-duty cop found dead in North Side home, ID’d Police responded to a report of a 19-year-old shot in the city's West lawn neighborhood Saturday evening. Police found the man near the 6000 block of South Pulaski Road with a gunshot wound to the foot. Police say he was unable to provide ...

PHOTOS: Celebrities visit Austin for festival

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — South by Southwest is off to an exciting start. The big event brings together the worlds of tech, politics, fashion, music, comedy and film, to name a few. It's always guaranteed to bring big names. Artists making an appearance to promote their work or give their insight include Nick Jonas, Ali Wong, Kerry Washington, PinkPantheress and much more.Here’s a round-up of stars spotted in the capital city during SXSW 2023!Robert Downey Jr. takes part in the Featured Session: Online Crime: An American Crisis at the Austin Convention Center during the South by Southwest Film and Interactive Festivals on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)Regé-Jean Page at the 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas. (KXAN/Ricky Garcia) AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Sara Bareilles celebrates new Audible Original Series “Breakthrough” at the Audible Sound Studio at SXSW on March 10, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Boczar...

Families behind Texas missing persons law push for more police participation

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

Investigative Summary: A KXAN investigation in February found Texas police might not always be complying in reporting missing persons cases to a national, public database. Additional data obtained found discrepancies in reporting since the law took effect. Now the lawmaker behind the legislation is reviewing the effectiveness as families who pushed for it try to raise awareness. READ: Texas passed missing persons reporting law, but does it work? EXPLORE: KXAN's complete missing persons coverage LISTEN: 'My Dad didn't die in vain' ul.kxan_summary_bullets li { list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; } John Joseph Almendarez from Houston went missing in 2002. (Courtesy Alice Almendarez) AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the almost two years since "John and Joseph's Law" has been in effect, Alice Almendarez has heard more pleas for help from families with missing loved ones. John Joseph Almendarez from Houston went missing in 2002. (Courtesy A...

Mild today followed by a cooldown

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Most afternoon temperatures Saturday soared to the upper 80s to low 90s. Camp Mabry's high of 90° yesterday came within two degrees of the record.A cold front is moving south this morning leaving a north wind. This afternoon's highs will be much lower than Saturday's. Today's normal high is 72°The day will be partly cloudy with north winds 10 to 15 mph and gusty. Clouds will increase overnight leading to a mostly cloudy sky Monday morning. Most lows will be in the middle/upper 40s to around 50°.Tomorrow and Tuesday will be cooler. Monday's highs will generally average the middle 60s. Most highs Tuesday will only make the upper 50s to low 60s.There will be a low chance for rain Tuesday from a weak disturbance moving across the state. Any rain measured will generally only be a few hundredths of an inch. NEW BLOG: La Niña has ended — Here’s what’s next and when El Niño could beg Wednesday will be dry and seasonably mild with temperatures rebounding to the low 70s. Cl...

New podcast explores missing in Texas solution: 'My dad didn't die in vain'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Families of a Texas missing persons law’s namesake react to the discovery that police might not have complied with potentially thousands of cases.Listen to the podcast episode here

5 Texas law enforcement agencies explain missing persons reporting gap

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — New data on missing persons in Texas reveals some discrepancies in what law enforcement agencies and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, are reporting.A law that went into effect in September 2021 requires police across the state to enter missing persons cases into the system within 60 days of someone filing an official missing persons report. READ THE INVESTIGATION: Families behind Texas missing persons law push for more police participation In roughly the year after the law went into effect, NamUs data obtained by KXAN investigators shows 450 Texas cases were entered by professional users, which include police. By comparison, data obtained from the Department of Public Safety shows Texas police have received 6,466 missing persons cases that weren't cleared within 60 days in that same time frame.KXAN investigators reached out to the agencies with the most cases in the DPS data beyond the 60-day time frame and asked for a...

Readers and writers: A ‘trans-glam-punk-rock love story’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

Two novels about women and babies and a memoir by a cisgender woman about her love for her trans spouse offer rich reading this week.“Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story”: by Lynette Reini-Grandell, foreword by Venus de Mars (Minnesota Historical Society Press, $29.95)The person I married, who I am still married to and remain very much in love with, is now legally named Venus de Mars, and she uses she and her pronouns. But to get to that point was a journey of decades. At the time we didn’t know where it would lead — we had no real role models and made it up as we went. —  From “Wild Things”How would you feel if the man you married, the love of your life, came out as transgender?That’s the involving story Lynette Reini-Grandell tells in “Wild Things,” one of LambdaLiterary’s most anticipated books of the season, and it couldn’t be more timely, with increasing threats to the LGBTQ community in parts of...

If a Rockies springs training trip is in your future, here’s how to enjoy Scottsdale

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

“Take me out to the ballgame,” so the classic singalong goes. But throughout March, the ballgame — if you’re a Colorado fan, that is — calls for a trip to Scottsdale, where the Rockies’ spring training camp takes place.Even for the most casual Rockies fan (you don’t bleed a jewel-tone purple; maybe a shade of lavender, though?), spring training provides a nice excuse to slip away to the Sonoran Desert and root for the home team in a smaller stadium, snag some autographs, snack on a bacon-wrapped Sonoran Dog and enjoy pool time back at your hotel. Sunny and in the mid-70s, Scottsdale in March provides a nice preview of summer while snow remains in the forecast back home.Scottsdale’s 40 plus galleries showcase more than 1,000 artists all in a two-block area of downtown. Provided by the Scottsdale Gallery AssociationSpring training 2023 runs through March 28 with the Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks sharing a home field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. (See the full sch...

Colorado advocates seek more funding for birth control, family planning in wake of Roe v. Wade reversal

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:37:49 GMT

The ongoing pandemic and the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year have increased demands on Colorado’s family planning clinics, prompting some advocates to call for more state funding — but it’s not clear if the legislature will respond.Hunter Nelson, a policy analyst at the Colorado Children’s Campaign, said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson — which found the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion — has increased pressure on family planning clinics.Colorado’s family planning program doesn’t pay for abortions, but some clinics like Planned Parenthood offer both abortions and state-funded services like birth control prescriptions and testing for sexually transmitted infections.Planned Parenthood reported a 95% increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions after some states outlawed the procedure following the Dobbs decision, leaving fewer appointments available for other services.“Wait lis...