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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 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...

Trial over several charges begins for Burnet County judge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video in this story displays the top headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023.BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A trial began Wednesday morning for a Texas county judge who was previously indicted in March on felony and misdemeanor charges.Burnet County Judge James Oakley was booked into the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office March 9 and was released, officials confirmed to KXAN. Burnet County judge suspended without pay following indictment He was booked on the following charges:Abuse of Official Capacity-Count 1Abuse of Official Capacity-Count 2Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence W/Intent to ImpairOfficial OppressionAccording an indictment, Oakley faces two abuse of official capacity counts, stemming from his role as a Pedernales Electrical Cooperative board member while also serving as Burnet County judge. The court record claims this is in violation of Texas local government code.Records state, on multiple occasions in 2021, Oakley used a Burnet County vehicle to dr...

Rethink35 filing lawsuit against TxDOT's I-35 downtown expansion plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just over a week after the Texas Department of Transportation released its final environmental impact statement (EIS) on its Interstate 35 expansion plan, grassroots organization Rethink35 announced it will join several other plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the project.The I-35 Capital Express Central project is a $4.5 billion, eight-mile endeavor to expand the interstate from U.S. Highway 290 East down south to State Highway 71 and Ben White Boulevard. Project components include the addition of two managed, non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes for carpooling and mass transit purposes along with the following features:Removal of existing I-35 decksLowering the roadwayEast-west cross-street bridgesPedestrian and bicycle shared-use pathsOn Aug. 21, TxDOT announced it had approved the final version of the EIS, a component required under the National Environmental Policy Act to determine any environmental impacts on the corridor surrounding the project. “The Cen...

Vikings start finalizing practice squad following cutdown day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

Less than 24 hours after finalizing their initial 53-man roster, the Vikings started to fill out their practice squad on Wednesday.The following players have been announced as members of the practice squad: center Alan Ali, cornerback C.J. Coldon Jr., defensive tackle Sheldon Day, receiver Lucky Jackson, receiver Triston Jackson, running back DeWayne McBride, defensive tackle T.J. Smith, receiver Thayer Thomas, edge rusher Luiji Vilain, edge rusher Benton Whitley, cornerback Jaylin Williams and cornerback Joejuan Williams.All of those players were in training camp for the Vikings.The most interesting name on the practice squad is Joejuan Williams, who surprisingly was released on Tuesday despite rotating in with the starters throughout training camp. He signed with the Vikings this offseason after starting his career with the New England Patriots.A couple of other names that stand out are McBride, a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Vilain, a standout pass rusher through...

Twins waste Sonny Gray gem, lose to Guardians in 10 innings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

Cleveland isn’t quite dead yet. Staring down a seven-game deficit to first-place Minnesota in the American League Central race, the Guardians rallied to keep their slim postseason hopes alive.Cleveland leaves Minnesota with a 2-1 series win and a five-game deficit in the Central. The teams play three more games this season, Sept. 4-6 at Progressive Field.Trailing 2-1 in the ninth, the Guardians tied the score on a wild pitch from Twins closer Jhoan Duran, then got a three-run homer from Kole Calhoun in the 10th to beat first-place Minnesota 5-2 in front of an announced crowd of 20,169 at Target Field.It was a wild finish to what had been a pitchers duel between staff aces Sonny Gray and Tanner Bibee.Gray pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and a walk while striking out five, and Jorge Polanco’s two-run double off Bibee gave the Twins a 2-0 lead that held until the eighth, when Gabriel Arias hit a leadoff double off Griffin Jax and scored on Steven Kwan’s single...

The Great Escape getting first new coaster since 2003

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Recently, Six Flags Great Escape announced the retirement of a longtime ride inspired by the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. On Wednesday, it declared the upcoming replacement. Say goodbye to the Alpine Bobsled - and hello to The Bobcat. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Set to start running in 2024, The Bobcat carries a special prestige. The all-new coaster will be the first wooden roller coaster introduced in a New York theme park since 1999, as well as the first new coaster to come to The Great Escape since 2003. It fills the shoes of the Alpine Bobsled, in a move that the park hopes will perfectly complement its surroundings.“We knew we had to find a perfect fit to replace the Alpine Bobsled in the hearts of our guests,” said Park President Rebecca Wood. “This beautiful, all-natural wooden family coaster will deliver a smooth, fast, and heart-pounding experience. It is sure to be an instant classic....

State Troopers arrest Ballston man for arson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

BALLSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State Troopers arrested David A. Fink, 27, of Ballston, for second-degree arson and reckless endangerment in the first degree. The charges stemmed from investigations into an early morning fire at an apartment complex on Dominic Drive. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Law enforcement and fire crews responded to the fire at around 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday. The Ballston Spa Fire Department was able to isolate and extinguish the fire.A joint investigation was launched into the cause of the fire, which was determined to be suspicious. Investigators determined that the fire was intentionally started in Fink's apartment. The fire suppression system and fire alarms in the apartment were also disabled before the fire started. Elderly cancer patient searching for stolen ring Fink was arraigned at the Ballston Town Court and released under the supervision of the Saratoga County Probation Department. Investigations were han...

Moreau man pleads guilty to charges connected to Queensbury shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday, Adrian A. Simental, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The two felony charges stemmed from a shooting in Queensbury on November 27, 2022. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, an aggressive driving encounter resulted in a verbal dispute at the Walmart store on Route 9. Simental then fired a handgun into the torso of the victim. The victim was treated at Glens Falls Hospital and transported to the Albany Medical Center.Sentencing is scheduled for September 14. Simental is expected to receive a sentencing of 12 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision. It is also expected an order of restitution and an order of protection be issued. Simental is currently being held at the Warren County Correctional Facility.

Capitol rioter sentenced to five months in prison for criminal contempt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEWS10) -- A Capital Region man on trial for his alleged role in the January 6 Capitol riot was sentenced to five months in prison after a judge found him in contempt of court. Brandon Fellows is facing two counts of trespassing and was photographed sitting on a police motorcycle and smoking marijuana at a U.S. Senator's desk. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! During the jury trial, the judge addressed Fellows' disregard of the Court's direction and comments he made that implied he was in a kangaroo court. Fellows went on to call say that the Court is "acting as a modern-day Nazi court."If Fellows is convicted of the trespassing charges, the sentence will run separately from the five-month sentence for contempt.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers coming to Heroes Hideout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:04 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's Morphin' Time! On Saturday, two cast members of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers are heading to Heroes Hideout in the Colonie Center. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Walter Jones is known to many longtime fans as Zack Taylor, the "original Black Power Ranger." Jones returned to play the character for the 2023 film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. The film celebrated the franchise's 30th anniversary and was released on Netflix.Catherine Sutherland is best known as the second Pink Power Ranger, replacing Amy Jo Johnson in 1995. Sutherland continued to play the Pink Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo and Power Rangers Turbo. Like Jones, Sutherland also returned to star in the 2023 film. The two actors will be at Heroes Hideout from 1 to 4 p.m. The following are prices for autographs and photo ops:Walter JonesAutograph: $62 ($60 for the autograph and $2 for fees)Photo Op: $62 ($60 for the autograph an...