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Bipartisan efforts aim to ban stock trading in Congress

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are coming together to try to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. They argue the practice itself creates a conflict of interest.Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri are teaming up to ban stock trading at the highest levels of the federal government."Members of Congress and senior members of the executive branch officials should be serving the American people, not lining their pockets,” said Gillibrand."This is long overdue,” said Hawley.The bill would only allow officials and their family members to own broad-based mutual funds. Hawley said lawmakers and other federal officials have early access to valuable information that might affect stock prices."It may not technically be inside trading legally, but it's still an incredible advantage to get the kind of information and then make millions of dollars on that,” said Hawley.Gillibrand helped pass the 2012 STOCK...

Austin's 18-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the 7th-longest in recorded history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing one of the longest stretches of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means, as of Tuesday, temperatures have reached the century mark for 18 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that ties as the seventh-longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The KXAN First Warning Weather team is currently forecasting at least seven more days at or above 100°, which would extend the streak to 25 days, the second-longest of all time. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade The record streak currently stands at 27 days, set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat.

Paxton lawyers call for more specifics in 'vague, threadbare' impeachment charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Lawyers for suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Senate Court of Impeachment on Tuesday to compel prosecutors to provide more details corroborating their accusations against Paxton. They accuse the House Board of Managers of presenting their case in "vague, threadbare Articles of Impeachment." Team Paxton asks Democrat senators be removed from impeachment jury "The Articles themselves raised more questions than they answered," Paxton's legal counsel wrote. "There are few names, no dates, and none of the details that Texas law requires in a charging instrument."Lawyers explain Paxton needs to know the exact charges against him to properly prepare for trial, and they argue the Articles of Impeachment are too broad to be useful. They requested the court grant a "bill of particulars," a legal move to require the prosecutors to expand upon the specific accusations they will bring into the trial.The 20 Articles of Impeachment approved by the House of...

Texas QB Arch Manning's first NIL deal will benefit charity via trading card auction

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Before he takes an official snap in burnt orange, Texas freshman quarterback Arch Manning will make his mark on the community through his first name, image, likeness (NIL) deal.Manning landed his first NIL deal with the Longhorns with trading card company Panini America, and it's not a typical deal.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersTexas quarterback Arch Manning at practicePanini America will auction off a single autographed card of Manning on its website from July 25-29, and all of the money will go to St. David's Healthcare and the St. David's Foundation.The auction began at 10 a.m. CT, July 25, and as of 3 p.m., the auction had 25 bids with a top bid of $40,000.Arch's grandfather, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, told Arch that he couldn't take any NIL money until he was the starting quarterback. Head coach Steve Sarkisian told that story to an a...

2 involved in Austin fentanyl distribution sentenced to federal prison

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two men from the Austin area were sentenced Monday in federal court in Austin to more than seven years in prison for their involvement in a fentanyl distribution organization, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.Christopher Brock, 25, of Pflugerville, and Marcos Roberto Garcia aka "Alex," 20, of Somerton, Arizona, were arrested with other organization members on Jan. 4, 2022, on charges of distributing fentanyl in the Austin area, according to court documents. According to officials, Garcia was identified as the main source of the supply, purchasing the pills from Mexico and, with the help of co-conspirators, orchestrating their shipment from Arizona to Austin via the U.S. Postal Service. Agents began investigating the organization in March 2021, in response to fentanyl overdoses in and around Austin, the release said. ‘It can and has destroyed families’: Travis County fentanyl deaths more than double between 2021, 2022 On Monday, Brock was s...

3M raises outlook, tops estimates as cost cuts gain traction

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

3M Co.’s profit topped Wall Street estimates in the second quarter, driving a rise in the annual outlook, after sweeping cost cuts fueled better-than-expected earnings and cash flow.Adjusted earnings were $2.17 per share compared to analyst estimates of $1.73 per share. The Maplewood-based company now expects full-year adjusted profit of $8.60 to $9.10, up from $8.50 to $9 previously.Related ArticlesBusiness | 3M’s dark chapter deepens as CEO faces investors “As we execute our strategy, we are positioning 3M for long-term performance, including progressing the planned spin of our Health Care business and addressing a significant portion of PFAS litigation,” Chief Executive Officer Mike Roman said in a statement.Sales declined 2.2% organically, better than the 4.5% drop estimated by analysts. Revenue at 3M’s key Transportation and Electronics division fell 1.3% organically, much less than the 7.6% decline expected by Wall Street.3M is a central defendant in a sprawlin...

Twin Cities braces for heat as Wisconsin cleans up after storm

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

It’ll be hot in the Twin Cities on Wednesday and Thursday.Just how hot?“We could see the hottest days of the year so far — and quite possibly of the year,” says Brent Hewett, a meteorologist of the Twin Cities office of the National Weather ServiceStart drinking water now to prepare for this upcoming stretch, especially if you need to be out in the elements.“It’ll be very uncomfortable to be outside for a long period of time,” Hewett says.Monday’s stormsA quick-moving storm system blew through the Twin Cities on Monday afternoon, especially impacting Rosemount in Dakota County, White Bear Lake in Ramsey County and both the city of Hudson and the village of North Hudson in St. Croix County in Wisconsin.The storm lifted off part of a roof of an apartment building in North Hudson, and its winds also knocked down power lines and brought down trees in the area.“The Red Cross is assisting with five families and that equals nine individ...

Bill would ban cannabis consumption in public places

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- New York is one of 23 states that legalized recreational cannabis use. As the state continues opening dispensaries, Republican lawmakers have proposed a bill to prohibit smoking in public. Some say, the bill doesn’t stand a chance.  "Today's marijuana is not your grandfather's pot," said sponsor of the bill, Senator George Borrello. Right now, smoking pot is allowed anywhere you can smoke tobacco. Borrello's bill would ban the consumption or smoking of cannabis in public places unless a municipality opts in. Contaminated Superfund sites in the Capital Region He said since marijuana has become decriminalized, he’s received countless complaints from constituents about the smell and public intoxication. "So this is about creating essentially an open container law like you have for alcohol only for marijuana and I think it’s desperately needed right now," said Borrello. Last year, the Governor signed a bill to ban smoking cigarettes and marijuana in public par...

New legislation would require more transparency in asylum seeker crisis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---New Legislation is being introduced that would require more transparency when it comes to the asylum seeker crisis. A new bill, if passed, would make a municipality planning to transfer asylum seekers to first consult with the governor and leader of the directly affected local jurisdiction."It seeks to put a process in place that would require a notice, 30 business days, that will require municipalities to share information," explained Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who sponsors the bill.The legislation would also mandate a monthly report from the original municipality that funds or directs the relocation of asylum seekers. That information would include:-The total number of people resettled, transported, or relocated-Their age, sex, county of origin⁃ Educational and occupational resources and other assistance provided to them."I suspect by the end of the day we will have a Senate sponsor, so we will have a sponsor in both houses. I think we will have bipar...

Queensbury SAIL holding annual Unity Day

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:33:32 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This week, a Queensbury/Glens Falls area accessibility center is hosting a unity event to advocate for the empowerment of those with different levels of physical ability, celebrating those who live for themselves despite the odds. The Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center (SAIL) will host its annual Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Unity Day on Wednesday, July 26. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the center will welcome visitors to its home at 71 Glenwood Ave. in Queensbury for an afternoon featuring a lunch, kids' activities, games, and giveaways. The purpose of Unity Day is to highlight the lives of people like those served by SAIL - those who rely on aid to live on their own, in varying ways."ADA/Unity Day is not just a celebration of our collective progress, but a testament to the power of unity, compassion, and understanding," said SAIL Executive Directo...