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Texas House passes Senate bill banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in public universities

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Saturday, the Texas House voted to pass Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), which would prevent public colleges and universities in Texas from having diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices or policies. Previous: Dozens of activists head to the capitol to protest ‘anti-DEI’ legislation The bill also prohibits hiring or employment practices that take into account race, sex, color or ethnicity, other than through the use of color-blind and sex-neutral hiring processes, in accordance with any applicable state and federal antidiscrimination laws.Representatives attempted 23 amendments on Saturday, but the House only successfully adopted one from Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin. That amendment tasks the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct an annual study for the legislature on the impact of SB 17, as well as provide recommendations. The study would look at the grade point averages, and rates of recruitment, acceptance, matriculation, retention and graduation ...

Trail Conservancy showcases plan for art along the hike-and-bike trail

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin’s Trail Conservancy held an event Saturday at the old Seaholm Intake Facility, kicking off the Arts and Culture Plan that is being implemented along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. In 2014, a controversial proposed public art installation prompted the Austin City Council at the time to impose a temporary ban on commissioned and donated public art to the Hike-and-Bike Trail, according to the Trail Conservancy. The entity said the moratorium was lifted, but that it has been informally followed ever since. MORE: After 10-year hiatus, art will start to appear along hike and bike trail, Council votes In April, however, the city council approved a plan to integrate art and culture into the area again.“We've got a three-year plan,” said Charlotte Tonsor, Events Projects Director for the Trail Conservancy. “And we kind of have all these different art typologies. So you're going to see temporary art-enhanced programming, the beginning of some artists, res...

State of Texas: Unfinished work one year after Uvalde

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - Wednesday marks one year since the deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. The anniversary is bringing attention to efforts to respond to the tragedy and the work to move forward.In Austin, lawmakers have taken up measures aimed to improve school safety and address mental health care. But legislation aiming to tighten restrictions on guns has failed to advance, despite pleas and protests from families of children killed in Uvalde.Many of those concerns have been carried at the State Capitol by State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D - San Antonio), whose district includes Uvalde. He has been the loudest voice in the legislature for gun safety reform legislation, including a measure to raise the age to buy AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. Families of Uvalde shooting victims have advocated for the legislation. The gunman in the shooting at Robb Elementary School bought two AR-15-style rifles just days after his 18th birthday. On Thursday, Gutierr...

Bob Baffert’s National Treasure wins Preakness, hours after another of his horses was euthanized

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

By STEPHEN WHYNO (AP Sports Writer)BALTIMORE (AP) — Bob Baffert choked back tears and his voice cracked while trying to juggle the feelings of one of his horses winning the Preakness Stakes and another being euthanized on the same track.“This business is twists and turns, the ups and downs,” he said. “To win this — losing that horse today really hurt. … It’s been a very emotional day.”National Treasure won the Preakness on Saturday in Baffert’s return to the Triple Crown trail following a suspension, but it came hours after another 3-year-old colt, Havnameltdown, was put down because of a left leg injury in an undercard race. The victory ended Mage’s bid for the Triple Crown in a conflicting scene similar to that of two weeks earlier when he won the Kentucky Derby in the aftermath of seven horses dying in 10 days at Churchill Downs. National Treasure, the 5-2 second choice, held off hard-charging Blazing Sevens down the str...

Last-minute deal at the MN Legislature: $2.6 billion infrastructure package, more money for nursing homes

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

Minnesota lawmakers announced Saturday morning that they have a $2.6 billion bipartisan deal on infrastructure projects that also includes sending $300 million to struggling nursing homes.Infrastructure is the one area at the Legislature where bipartisan compromise is essential because super-majorities are needed in both chambers to borrow money to pay for projects.Until Saturday, Democrats in narrow control of both the House and Senate were unable to agree to a deal with Republicans and appeared determined to pass a cash-only infrastructure bill.The dealIn recent days, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members faced mounting criticism from Republicans that their more than $71 billion two-year budget didn’t do enough for nursing homes, which continue to struggle after the pandemic. Under the deal, nursing homes will get $75 million annually in additional aid over the next four years.DFLers also were knocked for cutting most projects in Republican districts out of their cash-only i...

One Baffert horse euthanized on track on undercard before another Baffert entry wins Preakness

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

By STEPHEN WHYNO (AP Sports Writer)BALTIMORE (AP) — A horse trained by Bob Baffert was euthanized on the track because of a leg injury during the undercard at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, several hours before another one of the Hall of Famer’s 3-year-old colts, National Treasure, won the Preakness Stakes.On the same dirt course that staged the second leg of the Triple Crown, favorite Havnameltdown buckled forward and threw jockey Luis Saez off his back during the day’s sixth race, then continued running around the final turn in some distress.Havnameltdown was looked at by chief veterinary officer Dr. Dionne Benson and others, who determined the injury to his left front leg was inoperable so the horse should be put down, according to a statement from 1/ST Racing, which owns and operates the track.Saez was conscious and taken to Sinai Hospital for evaluation, complaining of leg pain, track officials announced. He was attended to by medical personnel on the track ...

Rangers’ Jon Gray beats Rockies with strong start vs. former team

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

The Gray Wolf had a howling good time deep in the heart of Texas. Kyle Freeland, not so much. And so the anticipated matchup between the former Rockies teammates was a flop.Rangers right-hander Jon Gray, known as the “Gray Wolf” during his time with Colorado from 2015-21, dominated the Rockies for five innings Saturday afternoon at Globe Life Field in the Rangers’ 11-5 win.Freeland departed after just two innings, having given up eight runs (five earned) on nine hits. The lefty’s line resembled his other poor performance this season against the Pirates on April 17 at Coors Field when he was battered for nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings.Gray, who signed a four-year, $56 million free-agent contract prior to the 2022 season, is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career. Over this last three starts, he’s 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA. Gray blanked the Rockies for the first 3 1/3 innings, extending his scoreless streak to 17 1/3 ...

Ventura County man convicted in double murder of two women

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

An Ojai man was convicted Friday in the stabbing deaths of two women.A jury convicted Shawn Michael Shirck, 29, of two counts of involuntary manslaughter in a 2019 double killing.The victims, were Phyllis Porter, 82, from Georgia and her daughter, Margaret Dahl, 59, from Oak View, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.Porter was visiting her daughter at a home on the 100 block of Valley Ridge Drive in an unincorporated area between Ojai and Oak View.Dahl was in a long-term relationship with the homeowner and cared for the home when he was away.The homeowner had four sons, one of whom was Shirck. Although Shirck had previously lived in the home with Dahl, he had moved out weeks earlier before her stay, officials said. Video shows man brutally beaten by a mob of bicyclists in downtown Los Angeles On Aug. 24, 2019, around midnight, Shirck “violently attacked and killed the two victims with a knife,” according to arrest documents.The victims were discovered the ne...

Oakland: Two men shot at East Oakland birthday party

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

OAKLAND — Two men were shot Saturday morning at an East Oakland birthday party, authorities said.Both men were in stable condition.The shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. Saturday in the 1400 block of 54th Avenue.Initial reports, according to police, were that numerous people were attending a birthday party when an argument erupted between some of the attendees.The shooting happened outside with at least one person firing multiple gunshots, according to the initial reports.A 20-year-old Oakland man was wounded at least twice and a 19-year-old Oakland man was wounded once. Both men got their own transportation to a hospital.The shooter fled before police got to the scene.Police are trying to determine if the men shot were intended targets or if they were hit by random bullets.Neither a detailed description of the shooter nor an associated vehicle were released.Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward  money for information leading to the arrest of...

Sonoma County Sheriff's wife arrested on DUI suspicion after Tesla crashes into Santa Rosa home: authorities

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:24:49 GMT

(KRON) -- A woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI Saturday overnight after crashing into a home, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced. A gray Tesla drove into a residence on the 5200 block of Beaumont Way around 12:51 a.m. The suspect was identified as Sonoma County Sheriff Eddie Engram's wife Natasha Whittinghill, a 47-year-old Santa Rosa resident. Engram released a statement on his Facebook page addressing his wife's arrest, saying he is "greatly concerned." Here’s what Sonoma Hells Angels did to a member who had an affair with the president’s wife As Sheriff, I always aim to be open and honest with the community I proudly serve. And that’s what leads me to share with you this message, as personal and as painful as it is for our family.I wanted you to hear it from me first.Last night my wife was involved in a DUI crash. Her car hit a house, causing damage, and the one person inside the home was injured. As was appropriate, she was arrested and is facing DUI-related charg...