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Texas DPS given $3.3 million grant to help reduce rape-kit backlog

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 12, 2023WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety was awarded a grant of over $3 million to help reduce a backlog of untested DNA and rape kits in the state.The funding, which is a total of $3,378,789, comes through the Department of Justice as part of the Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program. The funding was authorized by the Debbie Smith Act, which helps provide funding to eligible governmental bodies to address the backlog of DNA evidence.This is an issue Texas has been dealing with for years. The Texas Forensic Science Commission worked in 2016 to streamline rape kits. In 2019, legislation to tackle a backlog of untested rape kits was introduced.Sen. John Cornyn has also fought to mitigate the process. He helped author three different laws in 2018 and 2019. Cornyn announced the grant on Tuesday.“As long as rape kits sit untested, authorities a...

WATCH LIVE: Paxton communicated with lawyer via encrypted messages, witness says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas’ Court of Impeachment reconvened Tuesday morning for the second week of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s trial, leading off with testimony from Brandon Cammack — the outside counsel Paxton hired to help investigate campaign donor Nate Paul’s claims that are central to the articles of impeachment. Affair and bribery: Witness testimony from day 5 of Paxton's trial Cammack, a Houston attorney, had about five years of experience when he was hired to investigate Paul's claims — which top deputies in Paxton's office had previously looked into and said testified that found to have no merits. Cammack testified Tuesday that he was excited to work for the attoney general's office and after meeting with Paul and his attorney, Michael Wynn, he thought Paul's claims were "serious, if true."Cammack told the jury that he was hired directly by Paxton who told him he would need "some guts to work on a case like this." He testified that the attorney general...

Longtime friend gets 40 years for killing and dismembering St. Paul man

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — Ricky Balsimo Jr. and Jacob Colt Johnson were longtime friends.The two attended school together and Johnson was “treated like family” by the Balsimos, staying over at their house and being someone Ricky’s parents could call on when they were worried about their son.Jacob Colt Johnson (Courtesy of the Cook County sheriff’s office)In fact, Rick Balsimo Sr. said, the two men were mere blocks from the family home in St. Paul when Johnson fired at least four shots that killed his friend in a moving car on Father’s Day 2021 — indicating he ignored more-sensible options to resolve an antagonistic situation.“Ricky had big love for Jake,” the father said in the Cook County courtroom. “Jake was one of the last people in the world I thought would do this to my son, or could do this.”The Superior man, who subsequently drove Balsimo’s body several hours north to the Twin Ports and elicited the help of others to dismember and dispose of the remains in Lake ...

DEC to host free fishing clinic in Greene County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

HUNTER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Department of Environmental Conservation is hosting a free fishing clinic at the North-South Lake Campground in Haines Falls on Saturday, September 16. Fishing licenses are not required, but all other statewide and special regulations remain in effect. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! During the clinic, participants will learn about fish identification, fishing techniques, and how to handle equipment. Participants will then get a chance to cast their fishing lines.Fishing rods, bait, and tackle will be supplied. The DEC encourages experienced anglers to bring their own gear. Children under 16 must be supervised. While the clinic is free, visitors have to pay applicable day-use service charges to enter the facility.The clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about free fishing clinics in New York, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27123.html.

Schenectady County to host free paint recycling event

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schenectady County and GreenSheen Paint are hosting a free paint recycling event for residents on September 23 at the SUNY Schenectady West Parking lot. GreenSheen will recycle the paint at their facility in the Rotterdam Industrial Park. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! “Schenectady County has sponsored multiple events this year to make it easier for residents torecycle paint, common household chemicals, and electronics waste, which can have a big impact on our community,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “Thispaint recycling event is one more way we can work together with our residents to divert waste from landfills and help keep our environment cleaner and greener for future generations.”Accepted Materials (only in 5-gallon containers or smaller)Not Accepted Interior and exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured c...

Harlem Globetrotters return to St. Louis in January

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The Harlem Globetrotters will return to the Enterprise Center next year. They bring their signature style to once again take on the Washington Generals on January 6, 2024. There are shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.Tickets go on sale starting September 25 at HarlemGlobeTrotters.com.

Missouri AG launches investigation into Liberty Safe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has launched an investigation into a heavy-duty gun safe manufacturer known as Liberty Safe. Bailey's office is looking to investigate the release of customer safe codes to third parties. According to a report last week from the New York Times, Liberty Safe acknowledged that it voluntarily gave the FBI an access code to a safe "in response to a search warrant for a property." Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase Though Liberty Safe followed a request from the FBI, Bailey contends the FBI did not have a court order ordering Liberty Safe to provide the safe’s combination. He wants the investigation to determine whether Liberty Safe fully discloses to its customers the terms under which it will allow third parties - like law enforcement agencies - to access a customer's safe. “In an era where the federal government weaponizes our national security apparatus against political opponents, the l...

New study finds best value colleges in Missouri for 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- SmartAsset has recently released its annual Best Value College study for 2023.This is Smart Asset's ninth year putting together this analysis. The list is based on scholarships, starting salary, tuition, living costs and retention rate to determine the "Best Value Colleges" in Missouri. Evergy rate hike could cost KC-area schools millions of dollars According to educationdata.org, Missouri ranks no. 29 out of all states for the most affordable colleges.Here are the top 10 Missouri colleges where students will get the most bang for their buck: 1. Missouri University of Science and Technology:Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla has a tuition of $11,139 with the average scholarships and grants of $10,668. Students who graduate from Missouri S&T earn a median starting salary of $72,600.2. Washington University:It costs $63,000 to attend Washington University in St. Louis. The average amount of aid given to students is $47,000. Graduates' medi...

Jewish Family Service of Colorado acquires Altius Farms to help feed people in need

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

DENVER — Jewish Family Service of Colorado (JFS) recently announced it acquired Altius Farms, an urban agricultural enterprise located in the Five Points/Curtis Park neighborhood in Denver.Now known as JFS Altius Farms, the agricultural enterprise uses hydroponic systems and vertical techniques to produce between 600 and 750 pounds of fresh vegetables and herbs at their downtown Denver farm.“Altius Farms was founded in 2015. It took us a while to get this site in downtown Denver on a rooftop built. We launched in 2018. So for the last five years, we’ve been growing leafy greens and herbs for restaurants for grocery stores and some direct to consumer,” Sally Herbert, Founder of Altius Farms said. “We use non-GMO seeds. We have about 40 customers in the Denver area.”Linda Foster, President and CEO of JFS said the partnership will allow JFS and Altius Farms to serve more people. JFS is a 150-year-old nonprofit human service agency with more than 30 plus programs and services from...

Big brown trout are declining in one of Colorado’s iconic reservoirs. New fishing rules may be coming.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:08 GMT

For decades, Dillon Reservoir has been a place where anglers could hook the fish of a lifetime — a 10-pound, 30-inch wild brown trout.But the brown trout population in one of Colorado’s most visible and accessible mountain reservoirs has declined in recent years, prompting state wildlife officials to consider stricter fishing regulations on the reservoir and seasonal closures on nearby waters.It’s unclear exactly what is causing the decline, said Jon Ewert, an aquatic biologist at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. But increased fishing during the pandemic, and after, may be a factor.“We don’t know for certain whether harvest or fishing pressure is playing a large role, but we know the angling traffic has increased in the last few years since COVID,” Ewert said. “We want to rule out things that could be limiting the production of large brown trout, and harvest could be one of those things.”Other potential causes include a change in water qua...