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Concerned state employees say internal errors put thousands at risk of losing Medicaid coverage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Concerned employees at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission say Texans are at risk of losing their health insurance due to understaffing, insufficient technology, and "disheartening and unacceptable" leadership, according to an internal email shared with Nexstar."These issues are escalating rapidly, and the agency is facing significant risks, including the potential termination of Medicaid coverage for countless individuals and the potential loss of billions of dollars in federal funding," the group of anonymous employees told Executive Commissioner Cecile Young in a July 25 email.The concerns stem from changes in Medicaid policies that the employees say have stressed the state system and overburdened their workload.On April 1, the federal government ended its "continuous coverage provision," which prevented states from unenrolling Medicaid recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant Texas needed to review its enrollees — about 6 million people ...

Cruise expands driverless rideshare services in Austin, but not everyone is on board

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Less than a year ago, General Motors' Cruise announced it would bring "robotaxi" technology to Austin in the form of driverless rideshare services. Now, Cruise is expanding its Austin services, moving beyond strictly testing in the Texas capital.A Cruise spokesperson confirmed Monday the company is beginning to on-board residents who joined Cruise's rideshare waitlist. Rides are offered between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Who regulates driverless vehicles in Texas? "Right now we're focused on our downtown Austin service and are slowly expanding that area," a Cruise spokesperson said in an email. "As with everything we do, we start small to ensure safety as we scale."Why are so many autonomous vehicle companies testing in Austin?Cruise isn't the only autonomous vehicle company to set up operations in Austin. Waymo announced in April it would begin testing its fifth-generation driver, called the Jaguar I-Pace, in central and east Austin. Some of those pilot te...

State updates fish consumption guidelines for Mississippi River, Lake Rebecca

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that those 15 years old and younger and those who are or are planning to be pregnant or breastfeeding refrain from eating fish in the Mississippi River from Ford Dam to Hastings Dam and Lake Rebecca.The warning comes with support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.Previous recommendations included avoiding certain fish because of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Current pollutants include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to state officials. The risk is from prolonged exposure.Fishing can still take place in the areas on a catch and release basis. Alternate locations to fish in the Twin Cities according to the DNR include Bald Eagle Lake, Lower St. Croix River, Lake Nokomis, Rogers Lake and White Bear Lake.Minnesota Legislature passed and Gov. Tim Walz signed a ban earlier this year on PFAS for non-essential reasons.Related ArticlesLocal News | ...

Metro Transit’s Gold Line construction causes headaches for businesses. Some wonder if it’s worth it.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

Some business owners on the East Side of St. Paul aren’t convinced that the new Metro Transit Gold Line will be worth its $505 million budget — or the construction impacts they’re enduring now.Metro Transit received $239 million in federal funding, in addition to funding from Ramsey and Washington counties, to create a bus rapid transit line connecting St. Paul and Woodbury. New bus-only lanes will stop at 16 places along a 10-mile stretch of the Interstate 94 corridor. The project is estimated to be completed in 2025.“Investments in bus rapid transit make it so much easier to get around without a car, reducing pollution and opening access to more opportunities,” Nuria Fernandez, administrator of the Federal Transportation Administration, said when she brought the giant novelty check for the federal portion of the project in April.Construction is well under way on the East Side near Hudson Road and Earl Street. So far, some business owners along the future bus route are ...

Here are the basics about newly legal weed in Minnesota

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

Cannabis possession, adult recreational use and cultivation are legal in Minnesota starting Tuesday — Aug. 1 — but residents won’t be able to buy marijuana at dispensaries until early 2025.That’s just one of the complex parts of the new law.Here’s a look at what changes under the new rules and what details still need to be worked out by the state Office of Cannabis Management and local municipalities.How much can I have?Adults 21 and older can possess of up to two ounces in a public place or two pounds in a private residence is legal under the new law. An individual can grow up to eight plants with four of those plants mature and producing flower.Hemp-derived THC products like drinks and gummies have been legal under state law since 2022 and under federal law since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. These products have been subject to a new 10 percent tax since July 1, but topical versions are exempt.Where can I buy it?Dispensaries are not expected to o...

Schenectady PD exploring citizens’ police academy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Schenectady Police Department is exploring the potential for a civilian police academy. Plans are in the very early stages of development, a decision to move forward has not yet been made but the department hopes it could start as early as this fall. Schenectady police want to gauge the public’s interest in attending a civilian police academy, so they’re asking people to respond to an online survey to determine the potential structure of the program.The survey includes questions like, how interested people are in attending a civilian police academy? How many hours per session would they be willing to attend? And asks what 5 topics people are most interested in.Schenectady Police Department Sergeant Peter Montalto said it’s about building rapport with the community.“We are hoping just to build more relationships with the community and really help develop an understanding of our procedures on the things that we do,” said SmithThey’re seeking as ma...

Adirondack Line can’t turn around north of Saratoga Springs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) - As we continue our coverage of the limping Adirondack Line, it remains a question of why the train does not continue service north to the remaining New York stops. NEWS10 has the answers to why the train just can’t go any further. Adirondack Line woes continue Wildfires and heat restrictions in Canada coupled with staffing regulations in the United States has hampered Amtrak’s ability to open the Adirondack Line to Montreal. But many New York law makers now wonder why the train cannot continue service to the other eight stops past the Spa City.A confidential source close to the situation tells me the reason is simply a logistical problem with turning the train around.I boarded the train in Schenectady to take the ride to Saratoga and check out the final stop.Bruce Becker, Vice President of Empire State Passengers Association explains why this stretch cannot facilitate a turnaround for the Adirondack. Adirondack Line confusion lingers as stops are ...

Pete Buttigieg to visit Metro East, announce major funding for MetroLink

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Tens of millions in funding to improve infrastructure is headed to the St. Louis area's MetroLink system. The Federal Transit Administration announced plans Monday to award nearly $28 million to Bi-State Development, which operates the MetroLink. The money is meant to help St. Louis recover from major flood damage to its MetroLink services last year. Overnight carjacking attempt in St. Louis foiled by disconnected battery The award is part of nearly $102 million in funding from President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law.  U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be in the Metro East to announce the award Monday evening. He will join U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski at a MetroLink management facility in East St. Louis. Buttigieg and Illinois state officials will also take a tour of the MetroLink light rail management facility.

Ameren Missouri crews continue around-the-clock power restoration efforts after weekend storms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

WOODSON TERRACE, Mo. – Yet another round of strong storms swept through the region this weekend, which has meant more around-the-clock activity for Ameren Missouri as they continue to restore power across the metro area.“July this year has been very significant for us. It’s been kind of record-breaking,” Jason Woodard, director of the Gateway Division at Ameren Missouri, said. “We haven’t had outages like this, and I haven’t seen outages like this, in quite some time. Maybe like 10 years.”A week of dangerous heat led up to Saturday’s strong storms but thankfully temperatures are now more tolerable to the hard-working crews.“Our crews, you know, last week was extremely hot with the temperatures we had and with the heat index. This week moving into it, it’s cooler, which is a relief for our guys,” Woodard said. “They’re not quite as fatigued and able to not be as hot throughout the day, and have to take as many breaks.” Overnight carjacking attempt in St. Louis foiled by disconnecte...

Broncos in familiar spot at wide receiver after Tim Patrick goes down, K.J. Hamler waived

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:45:45 GMT

Sean Payton may be doing business as the Broncos head coach in a much different way than Nathaniel Hackett did a year ago, but Monday delivered a dark bout of deja vu.Payton heads into the meat of the second week of training camp with an identical question to one Hackett faced almost exactly a year ago.What is Denver going to do at wide receiver without Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler?For a second straight summer, the Broncos have questions at wide receiver due to a run of injuries — and, in this case, also an illness with Hamler.For a second straight summer, Patrick’s season could over before it began. He suffered an apparent left Achilles injury during a 7-on-7 drill Monday. If Patrick’s Monday medical imaging confirms a tear as as the Broncos fear, he will miss the entire 2023 season.On Wednesday, Patrick hits the one-year anniversary of tearing his right ACL in Denver’s fifth training camp practice. Instead of clearing hurdles and marching back toward helping Denver on the...