Home

Advocates, lawmakers mark 11 years since Sandy Hook shooting

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – It's been more than a decade since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary took the lives of 26 people."The amount of people who have lost a loved one due to gun violence just keeps getting bigger," Sam Schwartz, an advocate whose cousin was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said.Thursday, advocates against gun violence and lawmakers joined together to mark the 11th anniversary coming up next week and recognize the work to prevent gun violence. "You are making a difference. You are making a difference, never doubt it," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-C.T.) said.Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-C.T.) praised the work of these advocates and families."And the cumulative impact of all of that is that the politics have fundamentally changed over the past ten years," Murphy said. This comes a day after the deadly shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rep. Jim Himes (D-C.T.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-C.T.) say last year's Safer Communities Act was...

Doctors demand ceasefire in Gaza

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - A group called Doctors against Genocide joined Democrats demanding a ceasefire on Capitol Hill today.They say nearly 300 doctors have been killed by Israeli air strikes since the war began leaving civilians stuck in the crossfire with nowhere to turn for basic care.On Capitol Hill Thursday, doctors said many with relatives trapped inside Gaza demanded a cease fire."Our families are not just numbers, they are beloved aunts, they are cousins, they are physicians they are pharmacists, and they are children".They say Israel’s bombings have pushed Gaza’s health care system to the brink of collapse.Democratic Congresswomen Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib say Congress and the White House should not turn a blind eye to suffering."Let me be clear these are war crimes," said Bush. Meanwhile Tlaib stressed, "The dehumanization in violence is horrific."Israeli forces insist they are warning civilians of incoming strikes.But the United Nations says there are no safe places lef...

Plan to cap insulin prices gains traction in Senate

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- There's a bipartisan effort in the Senate to cap insulin prices, and lawmakers pushing it believe it's gaining momentum. Georgia native Lacy McGee was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 17. Since then, she's relied on insulin to live. "12ish years with diabetes has been very marked by how difficult and expensive this disease is," McGee said. During times when she's had insurance, she's struggled to afford it. When she hasn't had insurance, she's been forced to scour Facebook pages, meet sellers in parking lots, or rely on friends with leftover insulin from dead relatives. "All I wanted was to manage my diabetes and it felt like no matter what I tried everything was another obstacle to try to get my medication," McGee said. Now McGee says she's on an insurance plan which gives her more reliable access to the drug. But she knows the lack of accessibility still effects millions of others. "It places people with chronic illness i...

DPS trooper, APD officer not indicted in August 2022 shooting

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- In an announcement on Thursday, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said a grand jury did not return an indictment for a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and Austin Police officer for a shooting that happened in August 2022.On Aug. 8, 2022, Brandon Munoz "sustained a gunshot wound," which involved DPS trooper Austin Ostrander and APD officer Michael Bradburn, according to the DA's office.Video footage of the Aug. 8 incident from APD showed where an Ostrander and Bradburn fired gunshots during an attempted carjacking on Cameron Road. APD releases video of carjacking suspect shooting The grand jury concluded its review of the shooting on Tuesday, a news release from the DA's office said.Munoz was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication on Sept. 8. Man sentenced in 2022 aggravated kidnapping “The District Attorney’s office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously,” Garza said in the relea...

Journey, Def Leppard coming to 3 Texas cities in August 2024

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Def Leppard and Journey are making their way to Texas this August as part of The Summer Stadium Tour 2024.While the tour is not stopping in Austin, you'll still have chances to catch the bands in three cities across the state, along with special guest Steve Miller Band:Aug. 12 - Globe Life Field in ArlingtonAug. 14 - Minute Maid Park in HoustonAug. 16 - Alamodome in San AntonioTicket presales for these dates start this month on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m., according to the tour website. Tickets then go on sale to the general public on Dec. 15 at 10 a.m.Concert hopefuls can register for early access to tickets for their preferred tour date online. After registering, they'll receive an exclusive code and link to buy tickets. The tour runs from early July through early September 2024.

Is this the best Rudy Gobert has ever played? No, Timberwolves center is just back to his dominant self

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

Most Timberwolves postgame press conferences these days follow a similar tenor for coach Chris Finch as he discusses the team’s latest victory.The team found a way to win. The defense was awesome. The group is maturing with each passing game. Yadda, yadda, yadda.It’s repetitive. Frankly, how could it not be? Trying to analyze more of the same in a unique way after each performance is impossible.For instance, Finch was asked about veteran point guard Mike Conley’s value to the team for probably the hundredth time after the Wolves’ win Wednesday over San Antonio.“There’s no new way to say how important he is,” Finch said.Which is fair. These points can only be delivered in so many various forms. Conley’s game control is invaluable. Anthony Edwards loves the big moment. Rudy Gobert dominates opponents from the interior. These are pillars upon which Minnesota has built its league-leading 16-4 record.But Finch did spice up Wednesday’s presser when discussing Gobert.“This is the bes...

Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks could have lost his right leg if not for emergency surgery

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

Jordan Hicks felt the pain as soon as it happened last month. The Vikings linebacker tackled Saints running back Alvin Kamara early in the Nov. 12 game, absorbing some friendly fire from teammate Cam Bynum in the process.As he limped off the field, Hicks assumed he had simply suffered a bruised shin due to the collision. No big deal. He tested it out on the sideline, and after getting clearance from the training staff, he returned to the game.“I felt like I could  go,” Hicks said. “I still had strength at that point.”It wasn’t until after halftime that Hicks realized something more serious was going on in the lower part of his right leg. He remembers coming back to the bench after a particular drive and not being able to lift his foot. He headed back to the locker room, and instantly the adrenaline faded and the pain skyrocketed.“I ended up in the fetal position,” he said. “It was excruciating.”Unknowingly, Hicks had developed co...

St. Paul: Iris Logan has until June 6 to regrade her front yard along Sherburne Avenue

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

After 30 years of piling rocks and other decorations into creative formations on her front yard and boulevard, Iris Logan has scaled things back, under pressure from City Hall.Logan, who lives on Sherburne Avenue in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood, came afoul this fall of a city inspector from the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections, who had ordered her to clear her boulevard of all structures. Logan appealed the order, drawing interest from a neighborhood organization, the Hamline-Midway Coalition, which rallied to her side.The city legislative hearing officer “kept being concerned about the rocks around the tree, because she talked to some tree specialist,” said Logan on Thursday, who took a phone call from her boulevard. “I said don’t worry about it, I will remove the rocks. That’s what I’m working on now.”Concerned about the potential impact on tree roots, utilities, passing snow plows and street cleaning equipment, a city legi...

Experts say teacher shortage further strained by Saint Rose closure 

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The College of Saint Rose has a renowned education program. The closure has some concerned about the impact it will have on an industry that already faces worker shortages.According to Saint Rose, it awards more degrees and certificates in education than any other college or university in New York state. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Saint Rose graduate, and President of the Schoharie Teachers’ Association, Natalie McKay said the closure’s impacts will be felt during this ongoing teacher shortage.“The New York system has lost a great deal of teachers over the years. We have actually seen a 50 percent decrease in enrollment in teacher programs since the last 15 years,” said McKay.She said projections show the state will need 180,000 teachers in the upcoming years to replace retirees. “You know I think it’s concerning,” said Kristen Wilcox, who is an associate professor in UAlbany’s Department of Education P...

Saratoga hotels selling out fast ahead of Belmont

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:26 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — There may be no room at the inns of Saratoga — not for Christmas — but for June when the Belmont Stakes arrives at the racecourse. If you're looking to stay in the Spa City for Belmont, word to the wise, book now. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! From hotels to motels to The Holiday Inn, rooms are at or near capacity seven months before racehorses hit the race course. Helen Watson, General Manager of the Adelphi Hotel has seen it first hand. "Since the announcement about 24 hours ago, we have seen an influx. We are only 65 rooms now, so we are going to sell out very quickly which is exciting" said Watson. Naturally, increasing demand means supply prices will as well. Julie Tierney, Sales Director at local The Holiday Inn says rates are still pending.“We are kind of formulating a plan kind of seeing what the demand will be and what are market’s selling rate is and will make decisions based on that, and ho...