Gov. Abbott celebrates Texas' economy expansion growth

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Gov. Abbott celebrates Texas' economy expansion growth AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows "the Texas economy expanded faster than the nation as a whole for the fourth quarter in a row," Gov. Greg Abbott's office announced in a news release Thursday.According to the analysis, the second quarter GDP, which is the value of all goods and services produced in the state, grew at an annual rate of 4.9%. That is "well ahead" of the United States, which grew at 2.1%, the release said.“Opportunity knows no bounds in Texas thanks to the hardworking men and women of this great state,” Abbott said in the release. “Texas’ continuing economic expansion, well ahead of the United States as a whole for the fourth quarter in a row, is further proof that when given the freedom to aspire, businesses invest and people prosper. Together, we continue to build a bigger, bolder Texas of tomorrow.”According to Abbott's office, he also celebrated the state as it was recognized for the Top Business Climate, along with other ...

New Listening House day shelter for homeless officially opens on St. Paul’s East 7th Street

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

New Listening House day shelter for homeless officially opens on St. Paul’s East 7th Street Maurice Coleman watches TV in the main room at Listening House in St. Paul on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.  (John Autey / Pioneer Press)From a new location near downtown St. Paul, the Listening House day shelter intends to serve as a space where people experiencing homelessness can safely eat, congregate, receive counseling and hunt for jobs.“Listening House is and always will be a place for people to visit with no questions asked,” said Molly Jalma, executive director at Listening House, during a tour on Thursday.The Listening House moved from their old temporary location at 296 West Seventh St. in November. The new site is at the former Red’s Savoy Pizza building. The building had been sitting empty after the popular pizza joint’s original owner passed away in 2017.State Sen. Sandy Pappas, who helped secure $3 million of the total $6 million in remodeling funding as chair of the Capital Investment Committee, said the mission is significant.“It’s impo...

Oakdale man receives 4-year prison term for role in downtown St. Paul robbery, fatal shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Oakdale man receives 4-year prison term for role in downtown St. Paul robbery, fatal shooting An Oakdale man has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the robbery and fatal shooting of a St. Paul man near the Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul.Jesse Willis Gleeson was with Keland Makeba Kamese Raino when Raino shot Deondrae R. Atkins about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 13, 2022, according to the criminal complaints. People familiar with Atkins told police he sold fentanyl pills in the area from his parked car, where he also routinely slept.Jesse Willis Gleeson (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Gleeson and Raino were charged with two counts of aiding and abetting murder. In July, prosecutors added an aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery charge against Gleeson, then dropped the murder charges.Gleeson, 33, pleaded guilty to the robbery charge last month and in exchange prosecutors agreed to seek a prison term capped at four years. He was sentenced Wednesday, and received credit for 386 days already served in custody.Raino’s murder...

St. Paul: Iris Logan has until June 6 to regrade her property on Sherburne Avenue

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

St. Paul: Iris Logan has until June 6 to regrade her property on Sherburne Avenue After 30 years of piling rocks and other decorations into creative formations on her front yard and boulevard, Iris Logan has scaled things back, under pressure from City Hall.Logan, who lives on Sherburne Avenue in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood, came afoul this fall of a city inspector from the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections, who had ordered her to clear her boulevard of all structures. Logan appealed the order, drawing interest from a neighborhood organization, the Hamline-Midway Coalition, which rallied to her side.The city legislative hearing officer “kept being concerned about the rocks around the tree, because she talked to some tree specialist,” said Logan on Thursday, who took a phone call from her boulevard. “I said don’t worry about it, I will remove the rocks. That’s what I’m working on now.”Concerned about the potential impact on tree roots, utilities, passing snow plows and street cleaning equipment, a city legi...

Feds want lead out of water pipes within 10 years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Feds want lead out of water pipes within 10 years TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The federal government is implementing a 10-year plan to get the lead out of water lines across the country. NEWS10 spoke with leaders in an area municipality that is already ahead of the game.Neighbors on Excelsior Avenue say the replacement service in their neighborhood went quickly and say they are pleased with the services provided and are happy to be lead free.  And Troy City leaders want you to help them find the lead. The city needs to determine who does and who does not have lead in their water pipes in homes built prior to 1975. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Back in April, NEWS10 told you about the city's new interactive map that would help them find where the lead was and where the lead has not yet been discovered.  “We need to get an inventory of their lines we need to have 100% inventory about a year from now.” Right now, mayor Patrick Madden says that number is just under 50-percent.The city says th...

Albany PD seeking termination of officers accused of double dipping

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Albany PD seeking termination of officers accused of double dipping ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department is recommending three officers be fired for an alleged double dipping scheme. The officers are accused of clocking in at the Albany Housing Authority while working as on-duty police officers. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! They were suspended without pay in October. Police Chief Eric Hawkins said the recommendation to fire them was made after the department finished its own investigation.The officers are expected to challenge their termination if it's finalized. An outside agency is also looking into whether criminal charges should be filed.

Student-run bank teaching students financial literacy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Student-run bank teaching students financial literacy SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Mohonasen High School got a special addition on Thursday. First New York Federal Credit Union opened a new branch inside the Mohonasen Center for Advanced Technology building.The bank will be student-run and allows high schoolers to volunteer to be tellers and take part in transactions. Students said they are excited to have a safe environment to learn more about saving money and financial literacy. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! "I think it will be good for the younger students who maybe haven't opened a bank account or had any financial literacy skills, but I think it would be good to deposit money -- maybe save for college, maybe a new PlayStation," senior Riley Schoonmaker said.This is the third high school branch that First New York Federal Credit Union has opened in the region. Two others are located in Schenectady High School and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School.

New York Democrats pick former Rep. Tom Suozzi to run for George Santos's seat

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

New York Democrats pick former Rep. Tom Suozzi to run for George Santos's seat New York Democrats on Thursday picked former Rep. Tom Suozzi (N.Y.) as their party’s nominee for the special election to replace Republican ex-Rep. George Santos (N.Y.), who was expelled from the House last week.“I will work day and night with both parties to deliver for the people, to make living here more affordable, safer and better. I delivered for this district before, and I will do it again by putting you ahead of partisanship. Let’s reject the nonsense and get back to work,” Suozzi said in a statement shared to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, shortly after news broke of his nomination.Suozzi previously served in the New York’s 3rd District before leaving to launch a gubernatorial bid and had been widely expected to challenge the embattled Santos to regain his House seat. Santos was ousted from the House after a brief tenure plagued with scandals. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced earlier this week that the special election to fill his vacancy will be held Fe...

Missouri's top educator warns of 'domino effect' with four-day school weeks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Missouri's top educator warns of 'domino effect' with four-day school weeks JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Around 30 percent of Missouri's school districts are only in session for four days a week this year. Missouri's top educator says this recent trend is part of a domino effect.A law to allow four-day school weeks in Missouri was approved more than a decade ago to help schools save money after the recession, but the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says it's now being used as a perk to retain teachers. "We have to be very, very sure and certain that this is the right choice for our state if we're going to continue down that path," said Missouri DESE Commissioner Margie Vandeven. "I've been very vocal about concerns that I have when a school district elects to just shut a school door and shut things done on that fifth day." Alderman proposes open-carry trigger law in St. Louis As the state suffers from a large shortage of educators, some schools are pivoting to four-day weeks. This year, nearly 170 Missouri public school districts have i...

Boulder County bighorn sheep was single, ready to mingle… and stuck on a roof

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

Boulder County bighorn sheep was single, ready to mingle… and stuck on a roof A bighorn sheep became stuck on the roof and deck of a Boulder County Home for more than 24 hours on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. The ram eventually left after Colorado Parks and Wildlife cut a space in a deck railing. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife)A bighorn sheep became stuck on the roof and deck of a Boulder County home for more than 24 hours this week, likely while he was looking for a mate, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.Related ArticlesColorado News | The wolves are coming to Colorado, and the state has stockpiled explosives and deterrents. How are ranchers preparing? Colorado News | Opinion: Out-of-state hunters aren’t the problem. Here’s how to sustain and improve hunting in the West. Colorado News | Missing Bernese mountain dog found by hikers in Colorado mountains after nearly two months Colorado News | Opinion: The elephants at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo deserve more than an acre Colorado News | ...