Texas Senate passes bill on harsher penalties for tampering with ankle monitors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

Texas Senate passes bill on harsher penalties for tampering with ankle monitors AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Monday, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would make it a crime for a person to knowingly remove or disable and ankle monitor tracking device that they're required to wear as a condition of house arrest, parole or release on bail.According to Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), the bill's author, 76,940 people are currently on parole in Texas, and 4,315 of them have a monitoring device. She said in the last year, 1,127 monitor straps were either cut, or an active warrant remains for a cut strap. Gov. Abbott wants more penalties for ankle monitor violations Currently, it is only a parole violation to tamper with or destroy an ankle monitor. The bill would make it either a third-degree or state-jail felony to do so. A state-jail felony, according to the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA), is one step below a third-degree felony. The charges would also apply if the person used a third-party to tamper with the device. In a robbery spree that ended at The Domain...

'Meaningful' bill protecting patient safety thanks to KXAN investigation, lawmaker says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

'Meaningful' bill protecting patient safety thanks to KXAN investigation, lawmaker says AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A state representative says she filed a "meaningful" patient safety bill in direct response to a series of KXAN investigations into systems that allow problem doctors to keep practicing in Texas. "KXAN uncovered a problem, brought it to my attention," said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch. "We discussed. I met with policy holders. We've come together to form, I think, a piece of legislation that can make a meaningful impact into health safety and patient safety."On a cloudy day at the Texas Capitol, advocates point to Johnson's bill as a bright spot. If passed, House Bill 1998 would require the Texas Medical Board to continually search the National Practitioner Data Bank for up-to-date physician disciplinary and criminal records — ensuring both that they are made public faster and stopping doctors with licenses revoked in other states from practicing in Texas. Read Rep. Johnson's patient safety bill Thirteen months ago, KXAN found nearly 50 doctors with licens...

Off the Beaten Path: Ice Cream Station

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

Off the Beaten Path: Ice Cream Station FEURA BUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Ice Cream Station has been a staple in the community since the 1970s, changing ownership over the years. Jake and Mackenzie Constantine have owned it for two seasons now and say they are excited to usher it into the future. Ice Cream Stations offers soft serve, hard ice cream, Dole Whip, specialty sundaes, and Only 8 Frozen Yogurt, which is a low-sugar option. Each week they offer new weekly flavors, new they share on their Facebook. Off the Beaten Path: The Tailored Tea Jake has memories of visiting the establishment growing up. Now, he dreams of his family growing up in the area and he says "maybe work" at the shop.Looking for something different than your standard ice cream cone? Why not try the "Taco Tuesday" special, which includes a choice of waffle cone taco, soft serve flavor, three toppings, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. Off the Beaten Path: Icy Point Rolling Ice Cream Ice Cream Station is located at 1391 Indian Fields Road in Feura Bus...

Largest Easter egg hunt in New York held in Rotterdam

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

Largest Easter egg hunt in New York held in Rotterdam ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The largest Easter egg hunt in New York will be held at the Via Port Rotterdam Mall on Saturday, April 8. The Easter egg hunt will include over 50,000 eggs, and tickets can be purchased online. It is $10 per person and free for infants two and younger. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Tickets are also available on other dates for various Easter activities and can be purchased using the same link. Other dates and times include the following: Easter festivities in the Capital Region Thursday, March 30: 4-9 p.m.Friday, March 31: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, April 1: 10 AM - 8 p.m.Sunday, April 2: 10 AM - 8 p.m.Wednesday, April 5: 4-8 p.m.Thursday, April 6: 4-8 p.m.Friday, April 7: 4-9 p.m.Saturday, April 8: 10 AM - 8 p.m.

'Concert in the Catskills' features country lineup

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

'Concert in the Catskills' features country lineup CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Concert in the Catskills is set to take place at the historic Catskill Point on June 24 at 7:30 p.m. Country star Michael Ray is headlining the event. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Ray will be joined by Spencer Crandall and Ian Flanigan. Ray is best known for the songs "Think a Little Less" and "Whiskey and Rain." Crandall is best known for the song "My Person." Flanigan is a Saugerties native who appeared on season 19 of "The Voice."Catskill Point is located at 1 Main Street in Catskill. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m. You can buy tickets on the Concert in the Catskills website.

Missouri Senate gives initial approval to transgender related bans

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

Missouri Senate gives initial approval to transgender related bans ST. LOUIS - Reaction to a plan by Missouri Attorney Andrew Bailey to restrict gender-affirming care is drawing sharp criticisms from advocates for transgender youth. The Missouri Senate gave initial approval for the transgender related bans Tuesday morning.“These kids are fabulous kids, and there is nothing that I would like better than for them to just be themselves,” said Susan Halla, executive director of TransParent, a national organization that provides support for the families of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth. Bailey’s office shared details of his plan on Monday. Planned Parenthood was among the organizations calling Bailey’s claims false and harmful and insisting gender-affirming care is safe, effective, and life-saving. The ACLU of Missouri believes Bailey is outside his authority to implement the restrictions and has called them reckless and dangerous. SENATE RECAP | Members gaveled in yesterday at 4 p.m.After 13 hours of debate/filibuster ...

Daycare re-opens after child left outside for 4 hours

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

Daycare re-opens after child left outside for 4 hours FLORISSANT, Mo. - A daycare facility in St. Louis County just reopened under a probationary license. The Tendercare Learning Center on New Halls Ferry has been closed since December 2021, when Missouri’s Office of Childhood suspended its license for reportedly leaving a toddler outside for nearly four hours.“It should never happen,” said Steve Fleddermann, the facility’s attorney, as he explained what went wrong. “The teacher did a headcount, and that’s not enough, because, as children will do, by the time they actually filed in, the line starts moving the child decides to go back and stay outside.”A 2-year-old child was documented by regulators as being out alone in a fenced-in playground from 10:33 a.m. until 3:23 p.m. on that day in December. It was unseasonably warm, with temperatures reportedly in the low 50s. Top story: Family makes public plea after missing woman’s car found abandoned “Fortunately, there was no injury in this case, but that’s not to say there couldn’t hav...

Missouri House closer to legalizing sports betting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

Missouri House closer to legalizing sports betting JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - With March Madness in full swing, many Missourians are forced to drive across state lines to place a bet on their favorite team, but after the House gave first-round approval to a bill Monday evening, sports wagering is one step closer to becoming legal. During the NFL season, there were roughly 10 million attempts to place a sports bet in Missouri, according to GeoComply. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say that Missouri is playing a losing hand after not legalizing sports betting. The House took the first step Monday towards making it legal to place wagers on college and professional sports teams. "I hear from people every day when I'm out and about why hasn't Missouri done this yet and quite frankly, we're starting to look silly," Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, said. While all of Missouri's neighboring states are betting on their favorite team, Missourians are getting denied and are crossin...

A copyright battle over AI-generated art will begin in Colorado

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

A copyright battle over AI-generated art will begin in Colorado When Jason Allen won the digital-art competition at the Colorado State Fair last year, he sprayed fuel on a debate about the role of artificial intelligence in the art world.Now the Pueblo-based game designer, who created his award-winning piece “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial” using the AI software Midjourney, is exploiting his fame as an AI-art poster child to launch a campaign to legally protect AI works.“The U.S. Copyright Office rejected my copyright registration (for the image), so after some back and forth, I’ve hired a lawyer and am appealing,” said the 39-year-old Allen, who this week is unveiling a coordinated online protest against the ruling. “We’re prepared to go all the way to the Supreme Court.”Allen’s Colorado-based protest is called COVER, or Copyright Obstruction Violates Expressive Rights. He’s filing a Request for Reconsideration with the U.S. Copyright Office in an attempt to establish sole ownership of ...

LAUSD strike begins, closing schools for more than half a million students

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:33:08 GMT

LAUSD strike begins, closing schools for more than half a million students Despite last-minute negotiations that went into the evening Monday, the Los Angeles Unified School District was unable to come to agreement with the union representing thousands of its employees to avert a work stoppage.On Tuesday morning, the LAUSD strike began, shutting down hundreds of schools and creating hardships for hundreds of thousands of parents.Demonstrators could be seen picketing under the rain as early as 5:30 a.m. in Van Nuys, video showed.The strike had been in the works for several weeks, and union reps identified Tuesday as the first day of what is tentatively planned to be a three-day stoppage.The strike includes the support of as many as 60,000 employees of the school district who are members of both the Local 99 of Service Employees International Union and United Teachers Los Angeles.The unions represent both educators and school district employees, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and teaching aids. LAUSD superintendent: Strike talks stall...