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Texas child care providers call on lawmakers for more money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, child care providers, parents, and families across the country hosted a Day Without Child Care.More than 700 child care providers across the country closed their doors, many of them right here in Texas.The goal is to raise awareness about wages and the challenges providers and parents face as the cost of living and inflation continues to impact the industry.Providers and families are calling on Texas legislators to invest 1% of the state budget in child care facilities.Dozens of providers and parents held a rally outside the Texas State Capitol on Monday, chanting and sharing stories about the challenges they face."Child care providers like me, everywhere, make poverty wages," said a speaker at Monday's rally.Tim Kaminski is the owner of Gingerbread Kids Academy in Richmond, Texas. He says Emergency Care Funding has helped his industry greatly, but if it goes away, there could be issues."The primary reason we are here (state capitol) today is to get the st...

Texas Stars rolling into Central Division finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — As the Texas Stars continue playing hockey into May, things have gone pretty much as smoothly as possible. The Stars are set to battle the Milwaukee Admirals after sweeping the Rockford IceHogs to start the postseason.The Stars will head into the series against the Admirals having not played since knocking out Rockford on April 30. They hope to have a lot of hockey ahead of them, so are soaking in the time off.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"It's a huge advantage for sure," said Texas Stars forward Scott Reedy. "I think, come this time of the season, everyone is a little bit banged up. To be able to get the extra rest and reset after each series has been really nice."While the Stars are set for another playoff series, their parent club the Dallas Stars is in the second round of the NHL postseason. The third team in the organization, the Idah...

MN Legislature advances $1 billion for affordable housing, including 0.25% metro sales tax

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

The Minnesota Legislature is one Senate vote away from spending $1 billion to address the state’s housing crisis, what supporters say is an historic investment to help residents find affordable homes.With a 70-61 vote the Minnesota House approved a conference committee report Monday that will spend $1 billion of the state’s $17.5 billion budget surplus on affordable housing programs. The legislation includes a 0.25 percent sales tax increase for the seven-county metro to generate about $190 million annually for housing projects.The Senate still needs to sign off. After it does the bill heads to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.Rep. Michael Howard, DFL-Richfield, the main sponsor of the bill, noted that stable housing is an integral part of people’s lives and impacts health, education and work.“All roads truly lead back to home,” Howard said. “This bill truly is historic and will make such a difference.”What’s in the billInitial versions...

Minnesota Senate approves paid family and medical leave plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

By STEVE KARNOWSKI (Associated Press)ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate approved a plan Monday to entitle workers across the state to paid leave when they’re sick or caring for relatives who are ill.While Senate Democrats hold only a one-seat majority, paid family and medical leave has been a priority of the party for several years, and the final 34-33 vote followed party lines. The proposal passed the House last week on a 68-64 vote, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the final version that emerges from a House-Senate conference committee.The legislation would create an insurance-like system to allow workers to collect up to 12 weeks of partial wages when they take medical leave, including for pregnancy, and up to 12 weeks to take care of family members, starting in 2025. Replacement wages would range from 55% to 90%, averaging 66%. The benefits would be funded by a 0.7% payroll tax. Employers could charge half that expense to employees. Companies offering mo...

1 person killed in horrific north St. Louis collision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Several people were injured Monday afternoon following a multi-vehicle crash in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood. The collision happened at Page Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue Monday afternoon. The crash involves a Tesla, a truck, and a sedan. Police at the scene said eight people were in the three vehicles, and six people were taken to the hospital.Police said the driver of the Impala was speeding, left his lane, and hit a truck head on. The driver of the Impala died. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects Officers and EMS workers are working to clear the scene. This is a developing story. More details will be posted here as they come into the FOX 2 Newsroom. Refresh this page for the latest update.

Police presence increases in St. Louis following violent weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's been a weekend of lawlessness in St. Louis, with roughly 15 shootings and no arrests. Five people have died, and 18 people were injured.Major Ryan Cousins said the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will increase its police presence."We have to create a large presence, and hopefully that will deter people from coming downtown or anywhere else in the city," he said.On Friday, at the Exotic Bar on Cherokee Street, police said two people were shot multiple times and died in the hospital from their injuries. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects The next day, two people were shot and injured on Cherokee Street during the weekend Cinco de Mayo celebrations.Police said they are asking the public to help them find the two suspects they believe are responsible for the Saturday evening shooting on Cherokee Street. A 25-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were shot in their legs.Later on Saturday night, two people were shot on Destrehan Street; ...

'It's just always happening' - Business owner reacts to weekend shooting that killed 2 teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Two 18-year-olds lost their lives early Sunday morning in a quadruple shooting in north St. Louis City."It's awful," Janet Sanders, owner of Perpetua Iron, said.Aaliyah Gillon and Asia Baker were killed in the shooting that happened in the 2100 block of Branch Street, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Gillom is from Castle Point and Baker is from Spanish lake. Two other teenagers are said to be in critical condition. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects "I've seen a bunch of shootings," Sanders said. "It's just always happening."Sanders has run a business in the neighborhood for 13 years and has lived there nearly 25 years.Sanders has called 911 several times and even watched a man die in front of her from another shooting, but said she loves her neighborhood and that there's no other place like Hyde Park.Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the police department’s Homicide Division at 314-444-5371. Tipsters who wish t...

Florissant bank manager sentenced for defrauding elderly customers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A former Commerce Bank manager from Florissant, Missouri, was sentenced to federal prison Monday for stealing more than $175,000 from elderly customers.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri said Andrea Hopkins, 29, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud in January.According to court documents, between Feb. 20, 2020, and May 25, 2021, Hopkins would divert money from customer accounts by transferring funds into cashier’s checks or prepaid cards in other people’s names. In order to conceal her crimes, Hopkins would change the addresses on some account statements, forge signatures, and transfer money between customers. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects Hopkins targeted older customers because she knew they had a diminished mental capacity and did not fully understand their finances.Prosecutors said Hopkins diverted $328,273 from customer accounts, but transferred $152,431 among customer accounts to co...

Rockies’ Bud Black remembers Vida Blue with a New York Post headline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

PITTSBURGH — Bud Black’s eyes lit up and a huge smile broke out when he was asked about the late, great Vida Blue.Then Black started telling stories, including one about a memorable New York Post headline. More on that in a moment.“Vida Blue was a great teammate and a great guy,” the Rockies manager said Monday before his team played the Pirates. “He was wonderful to me. We were both left-handed pitchers and he was a sounding board for me.”Black was a 25-year-old rookie with Kansas City when Oakland traded Blue, 32, to the Royals in 1982. The two were teammates for two seasons.On Aug. 16 that year, Blue pitched the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium and Black pitched the second. The Yankees won the first game, 2-0, on Lee Mazzilli’s two-run home run.Related ArticlesColorado Rockies | Brenton Doyle flashes power, speed as Rockies bludgeon Mets for sixth win in last seven games Colorado Rockies | Inside t...

Big rig driver in 'grave' condition following crash near Sunland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:00 GMT

The driver of a big rig was found unresponsive and in grave condition following a crash on the 210 Freeway near Sunland Monday afternoon.The crash happened around 2:40 p.m. on the eastbound side of the freeway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. According to the California Highway Patrol log, the truck was traveling on the left side of the roadway when it abruptly swerved right, cutting across all lanes of traffic, before crashing into the hill on the side of the roadway.A caller also reported that the truck may have caught fire at some point.Video from Sky5 showed the truck, possibly a trash hauler, on the side of the road wedged between the hillside and several trees and bushes.Traffic was backed up for several miles and the California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert to close several lanes of the roadway. By 3:30 p.m., all lanes were reopened, CHP said. The cause of the crash is under investigation and the condition of the driver is unclear at this time.