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Gov. Abbott signs border security bills into law at wall construction site

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott visited the Rio Grande Valley Monday, where he signed several border security bills passed during the third and fourth special legislative sessions.Earlier this month the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 3, a measure that will send $1.5 billion toward further construction of a border wall along the 1,200 mile Texas-Mexico border. In November, state lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 4, which makes it a state crime to enter Texas illegally, giving state and local law enforcement the ability to arrest those who cross between ports of entry. SB 4 will also allow Texas police to effectively deport those who cross illegally, through an order obtained by a state judge. Currently, that is a power solely reserved for federal authorities.Abbott added his signature to both SB 3 and SB 4 into law, as he previously indicated on social media, calling it “historic progress for border security.”Supporters of the bills say they are necessary step...

Airbnb using AI to crack down on NYE house parties in Austin

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Airbnb is poised to use new artificial intelligence-powered technology in Austin this holiday season to crack down on rowdy house parties.Airbnb officials said in a release Monday the rental company plans to put restrictions on certain bookings during the New Year's holiday "to reduce the risk of unauthorized and disruptive parties." Last year, some of the company's anti-party measures on New Year's Eve resulted in thousands of people blocked globally from booking entire home listings on the platform, the release added.Those blockings included more than 63,000 people in the United States, roughly 5,600 people in Texas and 600 guests in Austin, the release added.The AI technology being deployed will block certain one-to-three-night full home bookings "identified as potentially higher-risk for a party incident, the release added." Those guests making local reservations will be required to acknowledge they understand Airbnb's party ban policy and that they risk suspensi...

Golf: Frankie Capan III finishes 64th at PGA Tour Q-School, will return to Korn Ferry Tour

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

A year after a magical PGA Tour Q-School run elevated Frankie Capan III from no status to a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour, the North Oaks native finished in a tie for 64th in the final stage of the Q-School for 2024 after a 1-over round of 71 on Monday at Dye’s Valley Course in Florida to finish 2-over for the week.The top five golfers earned PGA Tour cards. Those went to Harrison Endycott — the Q-School champion at 15-under par — Trace Crowe, Blaine Hale Jr., Raul Pereda and Hayden Springer. Pereda and Springer nabbed the final two cards with 8-under par finishes.Capan entered the week in a bit of an all-or-nothing position. His strong rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour secured himself a spot back on the primary PGA Tour feeder tour in 2024, at minimum. So anything outside of a top-five finish this week was largely moot.The 2024 Korn Ferry Tour schedule opens in mid-January, with consecutive events played in the Bahamas.Wayzata grad Van Holmgren finished the week at 3-over pa...

Dane Mizutani: We don’t need to fire Kevin O’Connell every time the Vikings lose

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

There’s a world in which the Vikings lose every game the rest of the season. They will likely be underdogs both times they play the Detroit Lions, including at home on Christmas Eve, and the matchup with the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve feels like nothing more than a coin flip.That doesn’t mean every result should be a case study on whether somebody deserves to lose his job.The following needs to be said because a large portion of the fan base has forgotten: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is darn good at what he does.He proved that last season by leading the Vikings to a 13-4 record in the name of situational mastery. He proved that this season by keeping the Vikings competitive through a tumultuous stretch that included losing franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, then being forced to pick up the pieces with a combination of three quarterbacks — veteran Nick Mullens, rookie Jaren Hall and journeyman Josh Dobbs.The fact that the Vikings still have a ...

Burt Riskedahl: A plea before dying — on behalf of those who might need it

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

On Sept. 22, 2023, my father, Burt Riskedahl of Oakdale, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and learned that he would likely live only a few more months.Throughout his lengthy career as a social worker, lawyer and trial court judge, my father had always been focused on the impact of laws on children and vulnerable family members, and cases involving protection of individual rights. In 1987, as a judge in Bismarck, N.D., he adjudicated a case that significantly shaped his views on the right of individuals to die with dignity on their own terms.A woman in her early 60s had suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital. Despite efforts by emergency personnel, she suffered substantial oxygen deprivation and received a diagnosis of “persistent vegetative state.” Without her family’s knowledge or consent, the hospital staff inserted a feeding tube in preparation for sending her to a nursing home. When it became obvious that there was no hope for recovery, the family decided to ha...

Study: Outlooks brightened but savings elusive during St. Paul’s guaranteed income project

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

In 2020, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter used federal, state and philanthropic dollars to launch one of the nation’s first municipal guaranteed income projects — $500 per month for 150 low-income families with newborn children.The funds, issued across 18 months on a pre-paid debit card, carried no spending restrictions, and results were tracked by academic researchers through voluntary, compensated surveys and interviews.The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research has completed a 59-page report on its findings, coming to the conclusion that St. Paul’s “People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot” worked “protectively,” offering some financial breathing room during the worst of the pandemic, though that soon disappeared after the cash ended.One of the most elusive goals for participating families? Building up cash savings.18-month pilot studyIndividual financial situations improved during the 18-month pilot study but t...

Blind man in Troy says he's been targeted by porch pirate

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS 10) — This time of year, package thefts are always a concern, something Troy police are well aware of. A man in Troy dealing with disabilities says he's been the victim of this issue. Alan Hansen has been blind for the last three years following a diabetes-related stroke. He gets his insulin among other needs via mail. Over the last three weeks, however, his packages have been disappearing. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Hansen says he's requested that deliveries be brought to this back porch so that his packages are less visible. The problem however persists, so with the help of a family member, he devised a plan to catch the alleged thief.“I took one of my packages that came before that, and we put a fire stick in it with an AirTag hidden in the box, and within two hours it was gone. It was up on 5th Street" said Hansen. Hansen says he told police about the 5th Street property where the Air Tag tag signal is pinging...

Kiwanis Duck Race returns to Glens Falls

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation will be presenting their annual Kiwanis Duck Race. The event is scheduled for January 26 at 7 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The race will be held in the Cool Insuring Area during the Adirondack Thunder game. Cash prizes of $1,500, $300 and $224 ($2,024 total) will be awarded to first, second and third place respectively, while one lucky ticket holder will be selected raffle-style for the $1 million grand prize. The event will benefit multiple non-profits in the area, including WAIT House, Greater Glens Falls Senior Citizens Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, BSA Troop & Cub Scout Pack 6016 Queensbury and the Glens Falls Kiwanis Foundation. Money raised directly by Kiwanis goes toward scholarships for local school Key Clubs. Rainfall causes washouts, road closures in Warren County Cool Insuring Arena is located at 1 Civic Center Pla...

Albany teen sentenced for convenience store murder

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An 18-year-old was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of Naheim Burbridge on July 22. Aalias Gilbert pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on October 12. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The shooting happened at 58 Morton Avenue in Albany. According to the Albany County District Attorney’s Office, Gilbert has a criminal history and had previously been arrested for robbery and assault charges. Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis, the Chief of the Homicide and Violent CrimesUnit handled the prosecution of this case.

Conflicting stories after police cruiser crashes into St. Louis bar

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:58:32 GMT

ST. LOUIS - FOX 2 has asked the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for additional clarification after hearing differing accounts about the cause of an overnight crash involving a police vehicle.The crash happened just before 12:30 a.m. Monday at Bar: PM along the 7100 block of South Broadway, in the Carondelet neighborhood.Two St. Louis police probation officers, each with less than one year of experience, were driving northbound on Broadway in a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe. The driver lost control of the police vehicle, overcorrected, and crashed into the front facade of the bar.Neither officer was injured in the crash.Two bar workers, including one of the co-owners, were closing up for the evening at the time of the crash. They were also unharmed.The owners live above the bar. James Pence, the other owner, was in the residence when he heard the crash and came downstairs to see what had happened.Police claim that the driver of the Tahoe "believed he was traveling too close to a park...