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TEA refreshing 'A-F' accountability rating system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A system meant to raise the bar for how districts measure student readiness is also raising concerns, some districts say.In March, hundreds of school districts across the state sent a letter to the Texas Education Agency asking to delay the 'A-F' Accountability Rating system changes.Austin ISD was one of those districts, they also posted about their concerns on their website."I think the challenge will be for districts and the Texas Education Agency to help explain that this might not be a change in performance, actually students are doing as well as they did, but it is a resetting of the accountability system," said Carolyn Hanschen, executive director of accountability and assessment with AISD.TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the changes to the system will help in a number of ways."As schools are improving, parents need to know then," said Morath. "If they are not and they are regressing then parents need to know that as well." SEARCH: How did your school or dis...

Driussi scores in return, Austin FC hangs on for dear life in 2-1 win over Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a big return for the captain and a frantic final 10 minutes for Austin FC.Sebastian Driussi scored the game-winning goal in his first game in about a month and Brad Stuver stood on his head to save a barrage of Minnesota United shots late to preserve a 2-1 Verde victory Wednesday at Q2 Stadium.Austin FC midfielder Jhojan Valencia, center, heads the ball past Minnesota United midfielder Will Trapp (20) and defender Michael Boxall (15) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Minnesota United midfielder Franco Fragapane, left, works the ball past Austin FC midfielder Sofiane Djeffal (22) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Austin FC defender Nick Lima (24) and Minnesota United midfielder Joseph Rosales compete for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay...

Perspective on investigating suspects linked to multiple murders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Authorities across Texas are looking at their outstanding cold cases to see if there might be a connection to Raul Meza, who a city official called a serial killer this week after police arrested him for murder.Meza, 62, was identified and arrested and charged after confessing to the murder of his roommate Jesse Fraga, 80. in Pflugerville. Meza also implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019, three years after Austin Police said he was released from Travis County Jail. TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza’s criminal history Texas Municipal Police Association Executive Director Kevin Lawrence isn't connected with this case, but he has experience investigating people charged in multiple homicides. "It's actually typically pretty overwhelming," he said. "Multiple crime scenes, multiple sets of witnesses, and you have to coordinate all that. You'll be working a murder case, then all of a sudden you'll start to get info about another incident, anothe...

Twins leave Houston with a series win over defending champs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

HOUSTON — No Byron Buxton. No Carlos Correa. No Royce Lewis. No problem, apparently.The Twins’ starting lineup was without some of its big names on Wednesday — Correa did appear in the game briefly for defense in the ninth inning — but a collection of others stepped in to help lead the Twins to an 8-2 win over the Astros in the series finale at Minute Maid Park.“When you see … the lineup (without) Correa, Buxton, (Christian) Vázquez, Lewis, those big name, it’s like, ‘Okay, we performed like that. We can help the team win,’” infielder Donovan Solano, who drove in four runs on Wednesday, said. ” … We can battle no matter what. We got the talent to compete, and I know when those guys come back, we get even more dangerous.”The Twins (29-27), who lost all six games against the Astros (32-23) last season, sealed the season series against the defending World Series champions, winning a pair of games at home against Houston in April before taking two of three on the...

DNR wants further Boundary Waters protections from mining, but says Legislature must weigh in, too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

State regulators want any potential mining activity to be farther away from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness than currently allowed, but they are leaving more restrictive regulations up to the Minnesota Legislature to decide.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ 74-page decision released Wednesday came two and half years after it agreed to review whether its 1993 rules for nonferrous mining in the same watershed as the BWCAW were adequate.In a news release, the agency said the rules were “largely protective” of the wilderness but could be bolstered to better protect the BWCAW from light and sound pollution.The DNR started a rulemaking process to extend the Minerals Management Area, which bans mining activity that would disturb the surface along the outside edge of the BWCAW. The corridor is wider along the Gunflint Trail, Echo Trail and Fernberg Road. Mining is banned within the BWCAW.The DNR received more than 4,000 public comments on the adequac...

Two teens arrested at Madison Park in Albany

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two teenagers were taken into custody by police after incidents at Madison Park in the city of Albany. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, police said a 16-year-old approached an officer who was on his bicycle and engaged in an altercation with the officer. The teen was taken into custody by the officer as well as another cop who was at the park. Police said another 16-year-old approached the officers during the arrest and was also taken into custody.The officer on the bike was injured and taken to the hospital. Neither teen was injured and both have been charged.

House passes debt ceiling bill in big win for McCarthy: Five takeaways

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

The House’s passage of a debt limit deal Wednesday night marks the end of a pivotal chapter for the new House GOP majority, putting Congress on a path to avoid a default and securing a huge victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — even as it’s infuriated conservatives in his own conference.The vote followed months of jockeying between McCarthy and President Biden over the appropriateness of negotiating future spending as part of the effort to extend the government’s borrowing authority — a fight McCarthy won handily, by forcing Biden reluctantly to the table.But the final agreement also excluded most of the spending cuts and other favored provisions in the partisan debt ceiling package Republicans passed last month, highlighting the political realities — and potential pitfalls — of shepherding big ideas through a divided Washington.With a final vote of 314-117, the bill overwhelmingly passed, and McCarthy garnered a "yes" vote from about two-thirds of the Republican...

Capital Region provides resources for asylum seekers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y (NEWS10)- Since the first bus arrived over the weekend, many have been wondering what’s next for the dozens of asylum seekers now in the Capital Region.  Now that the asylum seekers are here, officials say they are all ready to be a part of the community. But in order to do that- they need to wait 180 days to complete their asylum paperwork. The New York Immigration Coalition is one of the organizations providing resources to connect each person with English classes, finding a job, and housing. “But again, what I heard from all of them is the willingness to be a part of the community. A lot of them came up to Albany for that reason in particular. Wanting to become something bigger than themselves,” said Angela Castrillo Vilches, manager of Organizing and Strategy for the Capital Region NY Immigration Coalition.  The organization says most already started the application process before arriving in Albany. Immigration attorney at Harris Beach Law F...

Last Missouri Exit mural near Busch Stadium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Something big is on the rise at Missouri’s iconic last stop for drivers headed east through Downtown St. Louis.It’s a roughly 25’ by 100’ mural at the “Last Missouri Exit” from eastbound Interstate 64, the 6th Street exit adjacent to Busch Stadium. “Last Missouri Exit” signage adorns the exit ramp and sticks in the minds of nearly everyone who is at all familiar with downtown.“The last Missouri exit being so familiar, (the mural is) kind of broken into linear segments so that as you pass by, it sort of reveals itself kind of rhythmically,” said artist William Lachance of Webster Groves.“Somebody turns a corner, in this case an exit ramp, and it’s like, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ That alone enlivens people. Whatever mood they were in before: instant change,” said painter Robert Fishbone, who, along with Lachance, makes up the two-member team working on the “Last Exit” mural. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

Bride scrambling after thieves smash post office blue box

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:50 GMT

ST. ANN, Mo. – A bride-to-be isn’t letting anyone rain on her big day, even after thieves stole her wedding invitations from the post office."The wedding is in August. It's last-minute stuff and one of the last things was to send the invitations out," Ashley Boiles said.Boiles said her big day hit a snag after she dropped off wedding invites in the big blue box at the St. Ann Post Office off St. Charles Rock Road."It was like a week later, and they still weren't delivered, even to anyone locally," Boiles said. "The mailboxes had been broken into." Victim in fatal St. Louis Kitchen shooting identified The drop boxes are still taped up and not in use as of Thursday.Boiles said she's out hundreds of dollars."The invitations were about $275 and then I had another insert in there that was another $25, so about $300," she said.Boiles said the break-in happened hours after she dropped everything off. She filed a report online but said the post office is unable to reimburse her for the mo...