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TEA allows for alternative to state intervention for Austin ISD special education department

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Education Agency granted a request from the Austin Independent School District on Wednesday for less severe state intervention in the district’s special education services, according to AISD officials.The TEA announced in March its recommendation for a state-appointed management team to direct the operations of the Austin ISD special education department. The team would be able to make decisions for the district, as it relates to special education.The recommendations came after the TEA released a report finding the district repeatedly missed strict state and federal deadlines on evaluating students suspected of needing special education services.The report found the district had in some cases waited up to nine months to evaluate students.The district appealed TEA’s recommendation in April 2023, requesting instead the state appoint a monitor. A monitor, according to the TEA, would only be able to report activities of the board of trustees or the superintende...

Dry air makes the heat more bearable this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin enjoyed its coolest morning since early June as Wednesday morning low temperatures bottomed out as low as 66° at Austin-Bergstrom and 70° at Camp Mabry. Wednesday morning low temperaturesAs Tropical Storm Idalia impacts the southeastern U.S., northerly flow aloft is keeping Texas' weather quiet through the end of the week and into much of Labor Day weekend.Lower humidity courtesy of north/northeast winds is making the heat more bearable, but temperatures are still expected to peak in the triple-digits each day this week in Austin. Wednesday brought Austin's 68th 100° day of the year -- a tie for the third highest count on record, and a tie with last year's total count.We are tracking a slight chance of sea breeze showers and thunderstorms, mainly east of Austin, returning Labor Day into next week. Most areas currently look to remain dry.See the supermoon!The moon rises on the eastern horizon at 8:06 p.m. Wednesday evening, revealing August's second supermoon ...

APA! receives national grant to assist senior dogs in shelter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Some of Austin Pets Alive!'s oldest furry friends are receiving some extra assistance, after APA! was named a recipient of a grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization. APA! is one of 90 animal welfare organizations selected to receive a grant to assist local older dogs, according to an APA! release Tuesday. The Austin animal welfare nonprofit was one of 370 applicants considered for the funding.The winning groups received $848,000 in grants "to help save or improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities," the release added.The Grey Muzzle Organization has awarded more than $4.6 million in grants to support animal welfare organizations over the past 15 years, per the release. The organization is a national nonprofit centered on enhancing the lives of at-risk senior dogs by offering funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other animal-affiliated nonprofit groups across the country.“This grant will help us give senior d...

Tractor trailer fire closes Thruway at Exit 23

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Police closed the New York State Thruway Wednesday afternoon due to a vehicle fire. A tractor trailer hauling hydrogen caught fire, police said. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The roadway closed shortly before 5 p.m. Northbound lanes reopened around 5:45 p.m. at Exit 23. Southbound lanes remained closed with traffic being diverted at Exit 24.

New York utilizing opioid settlement money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) - New York has distributed nearly 200 million dollars stemming from the national opioid settlement case. NEWS10 speaking with area community-based groups about how and where the funding is being used to help battle the overdose crisis, here at home. Area providers that NEWS10 spoke with say the allotment of funding comes at time a when they need it most. Inter-Agency Overdose Prevention Task Force first meeting Kellie Roe, Executive Director, Second Chance Opportunities explains how she can use the money saying, “It allows us to hire more recovery coaches. Currently we have nine recovery coaches in the building.”Now, they’ll be able to staff four more coaches and provide other things as well, like “transportation, coaches, expanding the program that we currently run,” said Roe. She says in October, they will get a check for nearly half a million dollars. That will double her budget for the next two years.Rudy Fernandez, a recovered addict of nine yea...

Outrage after missing Missouri dog shot by police, placed in ditch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

DEXTER, Mo. - Parker, an elderly dog from Dexter, Missouri, ran away from home during the thunderstorms Saturday night. A family who wanted to return him to his owner found him. Within hours, the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office officers picked up Parker, drove him out to Otter Slough Park, shot him, and left him in a ditch."We don’t have any way of taking care of a dog,“ an officer told the dog's owner, Bryan Pennington.The family who found Parker posted a photo of Parker; this is the photo right before the deputy picked him up.Pennington posted a video of the interaction on his Facebook page, calling out the Sheriff's department for finding and shooting his dog. He wrote, "Parker showed no aggression towards him or anyone during this. I saved Parker from being shot nine years ago in Doniphan, Missouri, because the guy couldn't afford to feed him."Pennington continued, portraying Parker not just as a pet but as a friend. He praised Parker's skill in catching more mice and moles tha...

Alton man sentenced to 135 years for triple shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - An Alton, Illinois, man was sentenced Wednesday to 135 years in state prison for shooting three people, including a woman who nearly lost her leg as a result.Steven Foster, 37, was found guilty in March of three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm.The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2021, in the 700 block of Oakwood Estates in Alton.Investigators determined the shooting was the result of a dispute between one of the victims and the shooter, later identified as Foster. The person had made fun of the condition of a car belonging to Foster’s friend. St. Charles County Executive says residents taking unfair advantage of flood buyout program Foster left the residence after the argument but returned with a gun a short time later and opened fire into a crowd of more than 20 people, police and prosecutors said.The three victims were rushed to a St...

Déjà vu! Tommy Edman sparks back-to-back walk-off wins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - In a season largely filled with frustration and disappointment, the St. Louis Cardinals only needed 24 hours to come up with two of their most thrilling wins this season. And both ended in very similar fashion. Tommy Edman delivered walk-off hits in back-to-back games, a Tuesday evening showdown and a Wednesday matinée, to help the Cardinals steal a series victory over the San Diego Padres. On Tuesday, the Cardinals forced extra innings, and Edman delivered a walkoff bloop to left-center for a 6-5 win. On Wednesday, the Cardinals trailed in the ninth inning, and Edman slugged a two-out, two-run home run to cap a 5-4 victory. Five missed opportunities in Adam Wainwright’s pursuit for 200 wins "Crazy," said Edman after his second walk-off hit via Bally Sports Midwest. "A lot more fun when you win. Stayed in the fight for both games and fortunately came out on top in both." Both of his walk-off hits came against All-Star relief pitcher and former division foe Josh Hader....

Manager of local McDonald’s receives global recognition award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Allissa Tankins had no idea she would be the recipient of the Ray Kroc Award.The award is given to managers who are top performers all around the world and to managers who lead their team to outstanding business performance and reinforce McDonald's purpose to feed and foster communities."Speechless. Because I wasn't expecting it. And I just saw this award being given to someone on Instagram, and I was reading about it. I'm like, ‘Oh, I want to win that.’ And here I am, winning it," Tankins said.She's worked at the Normandy McDonald's for 18 years. She started as a crew member when she was 17 and worked her way up.The Ray Kroc Award is presented to the top 1% of managers worldwide. Tankins is one of 394 recipients around the world. St. Charles County Executive says residents taking unfair advantage of flood buyout program Local McDonald's franchise owner James Williams said what makes Tankins stand out is the way she treats her staff and customers."She's a mentor and a ...

Suspect attacked elderly man before fatally stabbing 2nd victim in Whittier area, sheriff says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:42 GMT

A man is being sought for allegedly violently attacking an elderly man in Whittier before going into another nearby home and fatally stabbing another elderly victim and stealing his car, officials said Wednesday. The first elderly man was found stabbed to death in a home in the 15300 block of Goodhue Street in South Whittier around 3 p.m. Tuesday. An investigation revealed the man had been killed about 24 hours earlier and the suspect drove off in his 2021 Silver RAV 4, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. The vehicle was eventually found abandoned in Chino the next morning. Images released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department show a man sought in connection with an assault on an elderly man and a fatal stabbing in the Whittier area on Aug. 28, 2023. Investigators learned that the same man entered a home in Whittier just two blocks away from the fatal scene minutes before the homicide and violently assaulted another elderly man, Luna said. In that incident,...