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These are the best (and worst) US states for broadband access

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

(The Hill) -- After the pandemic knocked millions of Americans back home to continue work and school, the importance of broadband access in the U.S. has come under a microscope.While the transition had sweeping effects on our mental health, the struggle was compounded in states and areas with poor broadband access. Federal and state authorities have directed billions toward closing the broadband divide, but many Americans may still have a long wait for high-speed internet in their homes. Read more from The Hill's special coverage on the future of broadband here. Here are the best and worst states for broadband internet in the U.S.Northeast dominates the best states for broadbandThere are two key considerations for how good the broadband infrastructure is in a state — overall coverage and quality of those connections.A February report from BroadbandNow Research, a research firm that conducts comparisons on internet companies using data from the Federal Communications Commission a...

After School Satan Clubs gain popularity amid legal victories

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

(The Hill) - After School Satan Clubs have been steadily increasing in popularity and are not likely to slow down as their supporters rack up media attention and legal wins fighting for free speech. The clubs, associated with the Satanic Temple and currently only offered in primary schools, began at the beginning of 2020 and quickly gained attention from parents who wanted an alternative to religious clubs, according to June Everett, campaign director of the After School Satan Club.“That's kind of when things started blowing up. And I anticipate that every year moving forward is going to get busier and busier,” Everett told The Hill. Last Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of the Satanic Temple and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sued when a Northampton County school district would not allow the club to meet at on its grounds. “In a victory for free speech and religious freedom, a federal court has ...

Daniel Perry to be sentenced for murder in 2020 shooting at downtown Austin protest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Daniel Perry, who was convicted last month of murdering Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Austin in 2020, is set to be sentenced Tuesday at 9 a.m. Daniel Perry found guilty of murder in protester’s death During Perry's trial, a jury was presented evidence including police body camera footage after the incident, interview footage of Perry in the Austin Police Headquarters interrogation room, 3D renderings of how close Foster was to Perry’s car, 911 calls, cell phone records, witness video, photos and more.Over the span of eight days, the jury heard testimony from nearly 40 witnesses: Protesters, Foster’s fiancé, police officers, and the lead detective who investigated the case.After deliberating for around 15 hours, a group of 12 jurors found Perry guilty of murder on April 8. Perry was found not guilty for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.A day after Perry’s conviction, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for his pardon, saying in a&...

Why are TxTag customers getting pay-by-mail bills?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Almost immediately after buying her car, Bobbie Wilson ordered a TxTag sticker to automatically deduct money from her account when she travels through tolls. She thought it would make her commutes easier and save her money, since those with one pay less than if bills are sent by mail."It arrived in the mail, on time, and I stuck it to my car," she said. "So, so happy that I had one....

'It ain't working.' TxTag auto pay problems leave some drivers with big bills

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Joe Hanson's job repairing and consulting on screen printers takes him all over Texas. “As far north as you can go, as far south as you can go, I have customers, so I do a lot of driving,” he said.With all the time Hanson spends on the road, he usually pays more than $100 a month in tolls. For years, he's relied on a TxTag — the system that touts itself as making it easy to pay...

Man shot and killed, Illinois trooper injured on I-64

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. - A man was shot and killed, and a trooper is recovering from injuries after an early Tuesday morning shootout.This happened around 3:00 a.m. on I-64 eastbound near Mt. Vernon. The shooting happened after the suspect displayed a gun when approached by troopers. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects Shots were exchanged and one of the troopers were hit. He was taken to a nearby hospital. The suspect died in the shooting.The ISP Division of Internal Investigation is handling the case. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

O'Fallon sewer backup costs family nearly $50,000

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - When a family from O'Fallon in St. Charles County returned home to find their entire basement swamped with raw sewage and human waste, it was a nightmare.It was because of a backup in the city’s main sewer, which had apparently become clogged with tree roots and other materials.The struggle for the family is that they can’t get much help. Their house was declared a biohazard. They had to relocate to a hotel for three weeks with two children, one of whom is a four-year-old with special needs. The cleanup cost $10,000, and another $7,000 was needed to replace floors and walls. The cost kept rising.It’s been heartbreaking for Rylee Rooneo and her husband, Jason."Now, the city is telling us that they’re not liable even though they’ve had our lateral scoped, and it’s 100 percent not on us," she said. "They agree with us that there’s nothing that we could have done to prevent this. They’re saying that it’s deemed an act of God because we have to prove that they knew about ...

Growing plants and grass on a slope can be an uphill battle. Here are some ideas for how to do it.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

One of the most challenging landscape issues is what to plant and how to manage gardening on slopes and inclines.From firsthand experience, I can confirm the ups and downs of dealing with plants on a slope. We’ve lived on one for more than 20 years, and it’s working well for us.A short incline is removed, soil leveled on top and replaced with an attractive stone retaining wall. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)When slope plantings are well executed, it’s not only pretty to look at for you and passersby, but it also can be mostly trouble-free, which is the goal.The reality with slopes is that everything goes in one direction — downward, especially soil and water. Wasting water that rolls downhill is not good in any circumstance. And forget trying to mow grass on a steep slope: You might as well install padding and safety netting at the bottom because someone along the way (probably you) will be rolling down to the bottom.If you have several feet in length and a d...

Boston Market ordered to pay $590K to Golden HQ landlord

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

Boston Market has been ordered to pay nearly $600,000 to the landlord at its longtime headquarters in Golden after defaulting on its lease and ignoring a lawsuit.On Thursday, Judge Meegan Miloud in Golden ordered the fast-casual restaurant chain to pay $589,538 in back rent and fees to Tebo Properties in Boulder, which owns the building at 14103 Denver West Parkway that Boston Market has made its headquarters since 1996.Court documents that BusinessDen obtained in January show Boston Market shrank its footprint there from 63,000 to 27,655 square feet in 2019 but still struggled to pay its monthly rent of $58,000 during the pandemic. Tebo allowed it to defer payments until 2021 but the debt only piled higher and Tebo sued Boston Market at the start of 2023 to collect.Boston Market was served the lawsuit Jan. 18 but never responded in court, so Tebo asked Miloud to issue a default judgment against the company. She did so Thursday.In February, Tebo sued Boston Market for a second time,...

5 jazz festivals to hit this summer in Colorado’s high country

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:45:56 GMT

It’s just about time to gas up (or charge your EV) and head to the Colorado mountains for this year’s round of jazz celebrations. It’s exciting to see so many of the festivals that are back in full force this summer, and there’s something to appeal to just about everyone, at altitude.Aspen-SnowmassThe JAS June Experience takes place in venues across Aspen June 22-25. Headliners include New Orleans’ Galactic featuring Anjelika Jelly Joseph; Greyboy Allstars with saxophonist Karl Denson; vocalist Veronica Swift; pianist-singer Eliane Elias; Rebirth Brass Band and more. (It’s a deep list this time around.) Tickets are available for single events up to weekend passes, and can be purchased through jazzaspensnowmass.org.Winter ParkThis is impressive: The Winter Park Jazz Festival celebrates 40 years July 15-16. That’s quite a landmark in any facet of the music business. This year’s lineup includes smooth crowd-pleasers Jeff Lorber, Everett Harp, The Dave Koz Summer Horns with Candy Dulfer...