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Massive aid package stuck in the U.S. Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - A massive aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan remains stuck in the Senate.  Republicans are vowing to block the package until Democrats include sweeping immigration reforms.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he's moving forward with the presidents' multi-billion dollar request to aid Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan."This is a historic moment, and this cannot be delayed," he said.The president's request also includes money to block the flow of fentanyl at the border.  But Republicans are demanding more sweeping changes to reform who can claim asylum.Senator John Thune (R-SD) said, "We have 10,000 people crossing our border every day, that's a national security crisis.Tuesday Schumer said he'll allow a vote on the Republican's proposal, a vote unlikely to garner the needed support from Democrats."This is a generous offer."Senate Republicans don’t' think so.  They're vowing to block the larger package if their demands are not met.The White...

2023 GOP debate highlights ahead of final primary debate on NewsNation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Republican presidential candidates are gearing up for the fourth and final primary debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with the January 15 caucuses fast-approaching.Former President Donald Trump, the overwhelming front-runner, has yet to take the stage for a GOP primary debate this year.The number of candidates continues to dwindle with even stricter qualifying requirements for the fourth debate.Four candidates will take the stage on Wednesday night, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Former President Donald Trump also qualified but has declined to attend.Here's a look back at some memorable moments from the previous three debates. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate and what to look for Debate 1: Haley questioned Ramaswamy’s stance on foreign policy.During the first Republican primary on August 23 in Milwaukee, Ra...

Denny Laine of The Moody Blues, Wings dies at 79

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

(WJW) — A British rock legend has died following a battle with a lung disease. Denny Laine, who co-founded the Moody Blues with Mike Pinder and later Wings along with Paul and Linda McCartney, died at home listening to his favorite Christmas songs, his wife Elizabeth Hines posted on Facebook Tuesday. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was 79 years old. Terror threat to U.S. at ‘whole other level:’ FBI Director "He and I both believed he would overcome his health setbacks and return to the rehabilitation center and eventually home," Hines said. "Unfortunately, his lung disease, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), is unpredictable and aggressive; each infection weakened and damaged his lungs. He fought everyday. He was so strong and brave, never complained."English rock band the Moody Blues perform live at Holborn Viaduct station in London, UK, 11th November 1964. Singer Denny Laine is in the foreground, with Ray Thomas (left) and Clint Warwick (right) in the background. (Photo b...

Southwest flight returns to air after runway not clear at Austin airport, FAA says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data from a Southwest flight from Nashville to Austin indicates a plane was 600ft off the ground before it returned to the air for several minutes Monday night. A viewer tip said the plane circled in the air to avoid an aircraft already on the runway.The tip sent in through [email protected] said the flight started its descent just after 6pm. It said the pilot of the plane announced "there was a small aircraft on the runway moving too slow so they couldn’t land."FlightAware data from Monday showed Nashville flight SWA2959 starting its landing to AUS at 6:08 p.m., getting down to 600ft before climbing back up to 2,850ft. The plane then returned for a landing at 6:17 p.m.A spokesperson with Southwest said the situation described "sounds like a standard go-around procedure" and that this is something "pilots train for and encounter somewhat regularly."In a statement, the FAA said "an air traffic controller instructed Southwest Airlines Flight 2959 to perform a go-around...

US House passes bill targeting dangerous street drug ‘tranq’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A bipartisan bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), which aims to combat the increasingly prevalent street drug, xylazine, is headed to President Joe Biden’s desk. Xylazine, commonly referred to as “tranq,” is a non-opiate sedative authorized in the U.S. only for veterinary use. The Northeast has seen the worst impact of the drug, but it has been detected in all regions of the U.S., according to reports. MORE: Xylazine, a sometimes deadly animal tranquilizer, detected in Texas supply One study of 10 U.S. cities found that while in 2015, xylazine was detected in only 1% of overdose deaths, in 2020, almost 7% of overdose deaths involved the substance. Further, in Maryland, between 2021 and 2022, researchers detected xylazine in 80% of drug samples that contained opioids, according to the CDC. “Our common sense, bipartisan legislation will help law enforcement better detect a deadly drug that is destroying lives in my...

UT engineering students aid in Project Connect light rail design near Lady Bird Lake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Engineering students at The University of Texas at Austin will have a tangible impact on the city's Project Connect program, participating in a semester-like project that assisted in design and engineering work related to the upcoming light rail system.For more than 10 years, UT's civil engineering program has offered a class that recruits projects from different clients like Project Connect and the City of Austin, said Robert Ramon, co-instructor at UT. PROJECT CONNECT NEWS: How specialty glasses are helping design Austin’s light rail system This semester's project centered on regrading part of the site where the light rail trains will travel from Trinity Street down to the other side of Lady Bird Lake, UT civil engineering student Thais Lobo-Emond told KXAN."We had to regrade the site for walking and bicycle trails to make sure that we can get good grades to meet the existing trail," she said.Alvin Livingstone, senior vice president of engineering at Austin Trans...

Austin leaders pitch 'HOME' initiative 2 days before city council vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City of Austin leaders answered questions about the HOME initiative Tuesday, two days before Austin City Council is expected to vote on phase one of that initiative. Speakers included Council Member Leslie Pool, who brought the proposal forward, alongside several local groups including the EMS Association, Habitat for Humanity and AARP Texas. "Austin has changed and now the single family neighborhoods aren't accessible for the middle class anymore, we can't deny this fact and I won't look away from it," Pool said. Meanwhile, protesters standing outside of the news conference asked for the upcoming vote on the HOME initiative to be postponed until more community engagement could be done. "We are not against just having more housing and more density, we want that, we need that for our communities, but it needs to be done in a way that won't displace folks," one protester said.Those against HOME have said they worry affordable single family homes could be demolished to...

Woman who threw puppy during Ramsey County pursuit given probation, banned from owning animals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

A Minneapolis woman who admitted to throwing a puppy from a stolen pickup truck during a pursuit with Ramsey County deputies has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered not to own animals.Raylean Chastity Gurneau, 27, was a passenger in the truck when she threw the pitbull puppy into the path of a pursuing squad car in Arden Hills on Jan. 30. The puppy survived, but had a broken leg and several cuts. Despite surgery and behavioral rehabilitation, the dog was euthanized in April.Gurneau pleaded guilty in August to animal cruelty and making a false 911 call, and on Monday Ramsey County District Judge Adam Yang gave her a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines.Yang stayed a two-year prison sentence and ordered Gurneau, who had spent 171 days in custody after her arrest, to complete 50 hours of community service and “not to own or have custody over any pet or animal” during probation.In March, Gurneau was also sentenced to three years of probation after plead...

Ongoing push to address healthcare worker shortage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

 ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Ahead of the new legislative session, lawmakers and healthcare providers are calling for an increase in Medicaid rates and money to invest in healthcare vocational programs."As you know last year, there was a request from the hospitals statewide, for a 20% increase in Medicaid rates," said Assemblyman John McDonald. "The legislature made a historic move and was able to work with the governor to achieve a 7.5% increase which is a step in the right direction."However, McDonald said the 7.5% increase is not enough. Hospitals, especially those Upstate, are burdened with high staffing costs and a shortage of nurses. Iroquois Healthcare Alliance, which represents over 50 hospitals in New York State, recently conducted a survey."64, almost 65% of hospitals have negative margins in our region," explained Gary Fitzgerald, president and CEO of Iroquois Healthcare Association. "The vacancy rates for RNs are still 20%. That is unacceptable."On top of there already being...

Pennsylvania man arrested on felony drug charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:27 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 35-year-old from Scranton, Pennsylvania, is facing felony drug charges following a traffic stop on I-90 on Saturday. State Police charged Shane R. Wolf with criminal possession of cannabis in the first and second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police conducted a traffic stop after observing a Vehicle and Traffic Law violation. Police located over ten pounds of cannabis and more than two pounds of concentrated cannabis in the vehicle.The drugs reportedly belonged to Wolf, who was a passenger in the vehicle. Police seized the drugs and released the driver. Wolf was arraigned at the Mohawk Town Court and released on his own recognizance.