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New bills take aim at Texas program blocking driver license renewals over unpaid traffic tickets

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas program that allows judges to block driver license renewals over unpaid traffic tickets will face possible changes, and even repeal, this legislative session.It comes after a KXAN investigation revealed more than 980,000 current court orders to block drivers from getting their license renewed, as of October 2022. Those were sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety vendor OmniBase.Already, more than 445,000 Texans can’t get their license renewed or replaced if they are flagged under the state’s Failure to Appear and Pay program, according to DPS data. The system, critics say, leaves some of the state’s poorest drivers in debt, without a license for years, and at risk for more charges — and even jail time — if they get on the road. Nearly 1M drivers at risk of losing licenses. Are you one of them? “I think a cynical person can say this just looks like a way for them to make money,” Bernal said. “This is not a street crime. [These are] traffic tickets. ...

Push to protect retail workers against shoplifters

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Experts say more than $13 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers every year and only one in 48 shoplifters are caught. Our Capitol Correspondent, Amal Tlaige spoke with experts about proposed legislation to strengthen anti-theft laws and protect retail workers here in New York.  Albany Police warn of spike in car thefts citywide "Because we just feel like we have been abandoned. Cops cannot do anything to arrest these people then… what else can we do?" asked Zori Estevez, a head cashier at City Fresh in Brooklyn. She said as much as she enjoys working with her colleagues, her job has put her in some scary scenarios. "People go in to steal, but they’re willing to do whatever they need to do in order to leave with the merchandise, so sometimes we get shoved, we’ve had instances where knives are pulled out, we’ve even had people with guns… so it’s just like, we’re just trying to make a living," said Estevez. Which is why Senator Jessica Scarcella-Span...

Man rents Times Square billboard for $150 to propose to girlfriend

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — A Connecticut man wanted an extra special way to propose to his girlfriend of six years. Jose Negron, of Waterbury, chose to pop the question to his girlfriend, Alicia, in Times Square— beneath a giant billboard reading, "Will You Marry Me?" over a picture the couple and their son. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! People all around stopped and applauded as they realized what was happening with Negron on one knee under the billboard. And Alicia said "yes!""I'm shocked! Very surprised. I looked up and I saw the 'Will you marry me?'" Alicia saidNegron booked his photo on the billboard through Timessquarebillboard.com for $150. Jaime Suarez, owner of the billboard, said he came up with the idea during COVID. Police looking for mother of newborn boy abandoned outside Massachusetts home For individuals like Negron, the image appeared for 15 seconds once per hour for 24 hours. Local businesses can advertise on ...

Healthcare workers rally at the NYS Capitol

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Albany saw one of the largest rallies since the pandemic. Thousands of healthcare workers from the 1199SEIU Union gathered in Albany on Tuesday. The group marched around the New York State Capitol Building to draw attention to the struggles the health care system is facing since the pandemic."I worked on the COVID floor for almost two years," said Lorraine Thomas. "It’s getting better now since the pandemic is over, but it’s very bad because of short of staff and funding."The healthcare workers called for $2.5 billion dollars to be included in the final state budget."How many people would continue to work 15 years without having a wage increase? But that’s exactly what the hospitals are doing in terms of Medicaid payments," said Kenneth Raske, President of the Greater New York Hospital Association.The union would like to see an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10% for hospitals and 20% for nursing homes. It would like to keep an increase in wages f...

Colorado man in hot tub attacked by mountain lion

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KXRM) — A mountain lion attacked a Colorado man as he relaxed in a hot tub over the weekend, according to wildlife officials. The man said he was sitting with his wife in the in-ground hot tub at a rental property in Nathrop, roughly 100 miles west of Colorado Springs, Saturday night when the mountain lion attacked. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! While speaking with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife's (CPW) Southeast Region, the man explained he and his wife were sitting in the hot tub "when he felt something grab his head." The couple screamed and splashed water at the animal, which they were able to identify as a mountain lion when the victim's wife shined a flashlight on it.The mountain lion backed up about 20 feet from the couple, and as they continued to scream at the animal, it moved up to the top of a hill where it crouched down and watched them. When the couple got inside the rental home, they ...

Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Exactly one week after she was last seen alive, a missing St. Charles woman has been found dead, police confirmed Tuesday. One person has been taken into custody and is expected to be charged in her death.Chief Bill Carson, Maryland Heights Police Department, said the body of Jacquelyn "Jacque" Elizabeth Mitchell was found inside an apartment in the 2200 block of Palestra Drive. She was 39.Authorities from St. Charles and Maryland Heights made the discovery Monday evening. Carson said Mitchell had been dead for approximately six days.A cause of death was not announced. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW The suspect, a 49-year-old man, lives at the apartment on Palestra. He was arrested Monday evening. Carson said the...

Missouri AG files amended petition in effort to oust Kim Gardner

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General has amended his petition in a quo warranto case against St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, the latest effort to remove her from office.Bailey originally filed a writ of quo warranto against Kim Gardner on Feb. 23, accusing her of neglecting her duties as circuit attorney. A judge granted Bailey more time to amend his quo warranto last week, and he met Tuesday's deadline for filing it. The new filing comes after Gardner barely met a deadline to file her response to Bailey’s original motion to have her removed as circuit attorney. Gardner called the Missouri Attorney General’s ongoing effort to oust her from office a “gross power grab” in legal filings and has maintained her office, despite political pushback to resign. Trending: After two escapes, bear from Saint Louis Zoo moving to Texas Bailey says his office, over the past three weeks, has interviewed multiple witnesses, reviewed court files, and analyzed more than 30,000 docu...

At Georgetown’s gym, first-place Nuggets set goal: Get back to “championship habits”

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The late John R. Thompson would’ve been proud.Inside Georgetown’s gleaming athletic facility, the Nuggets spent part of their Tuesday polishing their recent blemishes and refining an outfit that, despite a recent cold stretch, has designs on hoisting a championship trophy.Nikola Jokic, clad in sweatpants and a workout shirt, honed his interior game on one hoop, while forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon buried dozens of 3-pointers on another. Some of the team’s veterans who’ve fallen out of the rotation stayed sharp playing a full-court game against team staffers on yet another court.Jeff Green, who starred at Georgetown, said he had nothing to do with facilitating the logistics of Tuesday’s practice, even if the college gym was fit for an NBA team.Coach Michael Malone observed as his team, at 48-24 and still with a 3 ½ game lead over No. 2 Memphis, worked. What began as an ignominious road trip has the potential to end on the upswing. If the Nuggets...

Taco Bell and Yeastie Boys collaborate on new breakfast menu; customers can get free food

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

Taco Bell is teaming up with the Yeastie Boys food trucks for a special menu that will be available at various Los Angeles locations beginning on Friday.The breakfast menu will include six items that combine Taco Bell’s unique flavors with Yeastie Boys’ famous spreads and freshly made bagels. The menu will consist of the following:Game Over Breakfast Crunch wrap: Scrambled eggs, bacon, crispy hash brown, Yeastie Boys’ signature cheddar-jalapeño cream cheese and melted cheddarCheddy Melt Breakfast Burrito: Scrambled eggs, double-smoked bacon, melty cheese and crispy hash brown served with a side of breakfast salsa.Everything Breakfast Quesadilla: Scrambled eggs, double-smoked bacon, scallion cream cheese, melty three-cheese blend, Taco Bell x Yeastie Boys Everything Seasoning and toasted cheddar on the outside.Cinnamon Twist Bagel Sando: Toasted bagel with Mexican-spiced cream cheese and Cinnamon TwistsGrilled Cheese Bagel Sando (available in Classic or Fire)Classic: Choice of bagel,...

CalFresh pandemic benefits ending, food banks bracing for ‘hunger cliff’ 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:20 GMT

CalFresh, California’s version of the federal food stamps program, is ending the emergency allotments and additional benefits being offered to recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic on March 26, and local food banks are scrambling to gather more supplies in anticipation of a massive rise in hunger. CalFresh serves over 1.5 million people in Los Angeles County and over 665,000 people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Now, with the benefits ending on Sunday, the average CalFresh recipient is set to lose around $82 per month, and families using CalFresh services may lose up to $200 per month. Local area food banks are now preparing for what they have coined as a “hunger cliff” as rising costs for groceries, housing and utilities amidst a volatile economy are putting more of a strain on the millions of Southern Californians that rely on CalFresh. Related: Extra SNAP benefits set to expire for millions nationwide The ending of benefits has facilities like Westside F...