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Homeschoolers 'vigilant' over latest school choice wins in states

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

(The Hill) -- School choice advocates have had a successful year implementing new policies in Republican-led states, but concerns over the changes have come from an unlikely source: homeschoolers.While school choice fans and homeschoolers would seem to be on the same side of the coin — namely, those skeptical of the public school system — the government getting involved in what has been dubbed "education freedom" has sent chills down the spines of some homeschool backers.Homeschoolers worry some of the more popular school choice programs that are getting implemented, such as education savings accounts (ESAs), will become a Trojan horse to the government getting more say in how they educate their children at home. "We've long had a policy position against public funding of private homeschooling for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is that the strength of private homeschooling has been the fact that we have stayed private in very important respects and not been depen...

WATCH LIVE: Paxton's affair, bribery accusations begin second week of impeachment trial

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas' Court of Impeachment reconvened Monday morning for the second week of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton's trial, leading off with key testimony from one of Paxton's top deputies. PREVIOUS: Texas Republicans weigh in on Paxton impeachment after week one of trial Former chief of staff says Paxton's alleged fair hurt office moraleHouse prosecutors' sixth witness, Katherine "Missy" Cary — the former chief of staff in the attorney general's office — was the first to testify at length about Paxton's alleged affair. She shared with the jury how she became aware of the affair and testified that the attorney general first identified the woman, Laura Olson, as his realtor.Paxton's alleged affair is mentioned in one of the articles of impeachment, accusing Paxton of accepting bribes because he “benefited from Nate Paul’s employment of a woman with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair.”Cary said "my heart broke for her," referring to Paxton's wife — sta...

City Council considers expediting expansion at Austin Airport

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is flying forward as one of the fastest-growing airports in America.This July, AUS experienced its busiest month of all time. AUS Data Hub: How many passengers have flown out of AUS so far this year? On Thursday, Austin City Council will consider expediting expansion at the airport.Local leaders will vote on two separate items during the council meeting, which could fast-track the airport’s ability to expand.One item council will discuss would update the master development ordinance at AUS, allowing it to be considered as a single site.Sam Haynes is the communications and marketing manager at the airport.She says this could speed up construction for the new midfield concourse, which will add 10 gates over the next decade.“Allowing the airport to be permitted as a single site, instead of a bunch of different unique individual project sites,” Haynes explained. “We think that will really expedite our work to expand and improv...

Mizna, a St. Paul-based journal, wins $60,000 prize

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

A big honor is announced today for Mizna, a journal published by St. Paul-based Mizna, an organization dedicated to contemporary Arabic film, literature and art. The journal is one of seven print and digital magazines that won the 2023 Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes worth $60,000 over three years.(Courtesy of Mizna)Mizna, a biannual print journal, reflects the literatures of Southwest Asia and North African communities. The Whiting judges wrote: “Mizna is an absolute gem of a journal, tightly edited, gorgeously curated, and visually striking. Care and craft float off its pages of beautifully laid-out poetry and lovingly printed images. Mizna is both a grassroots community organization and an esteemed international artistic platform, furthering important intergenerational dialogue within the Southwest Asian and North American diaspora and showcasing thrilling new literature.”Chosen from more than 70 applicants, Mizna joins a prestigious group of other winning publicatio...

Joe's Tavern in Cohoes set to reopen

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Joe's Tavern, located at 16 Division Street in Cohoes, closed in February 2022. Now, owner Mike Fortin is reopening the restaurant. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Fortin closed Joe's Tavern after 11 years so he could focus on opening Emma Jayne's Restaurant in Halfmoon. He also owns Max410 at the Waters Edge in Glenville, which moved from Van Schaick Island Country Club in Cohoes to the former Waters Edge Lighthouse space.Joe's Tavern will be officially reopening on Wednesday, September 13 at 4 p.m. All proceeds from opening night will be donated to Cohoes Pop Warner. It's cash only for the fundraiser, with dine-in and take-out options. Sam’s Chinese in Burnt Hills closes, Mexican restaurant moving in The Joe's Tavern menu features pizza, salads, sandwiches, torpedos, calzones, wings, and more. You can view the full menu on the Joe's Tavern website.Fortin could not immediately be reached for comment. Joe's Tavern ...

Sand Lake traffic stop nets arrest in multiple thefts

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

SAND LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A traffic stop ended in the arrest of a Castleton on Hudson man on Monday, August 21 in Sand Lake. Anthony Witbeck, 43, faces multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! On August 21, around 11 a.m., troopers stopped a car on State Route 43 in Sand Lake for a vehicle and traffic law violation. Police identified the driver as Witbeck, who was found to have an active warrant for his arrest by the Rensselaer City Court.Police say when Witbeck was taken into custody, he had on him brass knuckles, multiple credit cards not in his name, gift cards, jewelry, and a wallet that wasn't his. Further investigation found Witbeck stole these items from several parked cars in Schodack earlier that morning, according to New York State Police. Police also say Witbeck used one of the stolen credit cards earlier that day in Sand Lake. New Siena poll shows attitudes towards migrants Charges:Fourth-degree criminal possession o...

Official 314 Day 2024 design contest, winner selected in October

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - We are just over six months away from one of the fastest-growing celebrations in St. Louis, 314 Day.Now the 314 Day Foundation and STLMADE movement are calling all artists. They need your help with the 314 Day 2024 design contest. Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase FOX 2's Ty Hawkins spoke with the 314 Day Foundation's Jami Dolby about how to apply. To enter the design contest, check artist eligibility, and submit a portfolio, click here.

Denver weather: Warmer, dry day ahead

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

After a cool and wet day to start the work week, Denver will have a warmer, dry day Tuesday.The high Tuesday is 78 degrees, and it is expected to be sunny throughout the day.There is no threat of burn area flash flooding today. Increasing moisture will lead to better coverage of storms and stronger storms Wednesday and Thursday. Therefore, there is a limited threat of burn area flash flooding each of those days. #COwx pic.twitter.com/HU60kBZuEn— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) September 12, 2023Travelers outside of the metro area should stay aware of weather conditions elsewhere, as other parts of the state won’t have the quiet day Denver is expected to have.Some fog will be possible north of the metro, and most of southeast Colorado is in a fog advisory, but gusty winds in Denver will keep most of the fog away here.Some scattered thunderstorms will be possible in the mountains, mostly in Park and Summit counties.After Tuesday, rain chances return to Denver, and temperatures a...

10,000 people are missing and thousands are feared dead as eastern Libya is devastated by floods

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)CAIRO (AP) — Emergency workers uncovered hundreds of bodies as they dug through the wreckage of Libya’s eastern city of Derna on Tuesday, and 10,000 people were reported still missing after floodwaters broke through dams and smashed through the city, washing away entire neighborhoods.At least 700 recovered bodies have been buried so far, the health minister for eastern Libya said. Derna’s ambulance authority put the current death toll at 2,300. But the toll is likely to be far higher, in the thousands, said Tamer Ramadan, Libya envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. He told a U.N. briefing in Geneva via videoconference from Tunisia that at least 10,000 people were still missing.The situation in Libya was “as devastating as the situation in Morocco,” Ramadan said, referring to the deadly earthquake that hit near the city of Marrakesh on Friday night.The destruction came to Derna and...

Could EU institutional bias sabotage efforts to stop cigarette smoking?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:59:52 GMT

Consultations with pre-determined outcomes are invariably a terrible idea. They are used to provide justification for actions that authorities have already decided to take. It should be obvious that when the European Commission consults stakeholders and the wider public there should be no hint of bias in favour of only wanting to hear the ‘correct’ view. Yet the Commission’s recent consultation on tobacco control suggests that it thinks it already knows the ‘right’ answer to a crucial question, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.The European Commission’s three-month consultation on the evaluation of the legislative framework on tobacco control closed in May and its outcome is awaited. What has become the key issue in discouraging the smoking of cigarettes is the role of alternative tobacco products in getting smokers to give up cigarettes. But it’s hard not to fear that a supposedly in-depth consultation will deliver a superficial answer that conflates smoking with the consumption ...