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Government shutdown looms as lawmakers look for a solution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Another deadline to avoid a government shutdown is steadily approaching."We're working earnestly on that," House Speaker Mike Johnson said.Johnson said his party is determined to avoid a government shutdown."I believe all Republicans want to get to the same end," Johnson said.GOP lawmakers, like Rep. Don Bacon (R-Ne.) and Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) said they support the speaker's goal."I'd probably do a straight CR [continuing resolution] through to January or late January," Bacon said."We're looking at all the options, but we can't shut down the government and we have to fully fund the military," Kiggans said.But Rep. Pete Aguilar said Republicans are wasting time with bills that cut programs that Americans rely on."These are bad policy bills. We should be talking about that in addition to what the Republican plan is in the next 10 days to fund government," Aguilar said.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the only way forward is for Congress t...

Airbnb 'nightmare': Tenant leaves Los Angeles home after nearly 600 days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

(KTLA) – Elizabeth Hirschhorn, the woman who accused of squatting for well over a year in a Los Angeles guesthouse that she booked on Airbnb, is finally out.Hirschhorn left the guest house last Friday with a police escort after 575 days of rent-free living at the $3.5 million property, according to a court filing from the landlord obtained by People magazine. "It was quite a crazy moment because we were in the house, filming with a news channel," landlord Sascha Jovanovic old NewsNation. "And then these three men started walking [to the guest house], and I had no idea who was walking into it. I approached them, they didn't want to speak to me. ... Then I called the police as a home invasion, three men entering our property."Those three men turned out to be the movers, according to the Los Angeles Times. Airbnb renter stays at Brentwood home for more than a year without paying Jovanovic met Hirschhorn when she rented his guesthouse through Airbnb for six months at $105 pe...

Supreme Court to decide whether accused domestic abusers can have guns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Gun violence prevention advocates rallied in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday as the justices heard a case that has the potential to upend a major gun control policy. The case challenges a federal law that bars people under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns. Among those advocates was Donna Berdych. She was there in memory of her late daughter, who she says was shot and killed by her abuser. "I don't want any family to experience what we have experienced," Berdych said. Tuesday's case revolves around a Texas man convicted of gun charges because of a restraining order issued after he hit and threatened his girlfriend. His lawyer, J. Matthew Right, argues that violates his Second Amendment rights.  Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states "Very consequential actions that go against an individual's fundamental right to keep arms," Right said. This case was sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling las...

Lawsuit alleges 'widespread' abuse at shuttered youth facility operated by man commuted by Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Eight former residents of a youth treatment center that was run by an Arkansas man who former President Donald Trump commuted have filed a lawsuit alleging widespread abuse at the facility.Attorneys for the former residents of the Lord's Ranch said the lawsuit filed Monday is the first of several to be filed against the facility. A man with a gun is arrested in a park near the US Capitol The Lord's Ranch closed in 2016 after owner Ted Suhl was convicted in a federal bribery scheme. Trump commuted his sentence in 2019.The lawsuit claims the unnamed residents were victims of repeated sexual abuse and rape by a counselor. The suit said officials there allowed the abuse to occur.

Man arrested in Sunday crash that killed 1, injured another

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was arrested on a charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, a second-degree felony, in connection with a southeast Travis County crash that killed one and injured another.According to an arrest affidavit, 24-year-old Maximiliano Hernandez Cervantes was arrested Sunday in the death of 39-year-old Nerelda Bueno-Figueroa.Documents said Hernandez’s vehicle caused a crash in the 12900 block of FM 812 by failing to drive in a single lane before driving on the wrong side of the road in a no-passing zone. PAST COVERAGE: 1 dead, child injured following serious collision near COTA, ATCEMS confirms When speaking with law enforcement, Hernandez’s breath had a “strong odor of a metabolized alcoholic beverage,” according to the affidavit.Documents said there were containers of alcohol inside Hernandez’s vehicle as well as empty containers of alcoholic beverages outside of the vehicle that matched the type found inside.“They did not appear to have di...

Raising teacher pay on the ballot for Round Rock ISD voters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Round Rock ISD voters will consider a tax rate election this Election Day that would effectively grant teachers a pay increase.The district called for a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). According to RRISD, this would allow the district to keep more of its funding that it currently sends as “recapture” payments to the state.Back in August, RRISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said the district’s tax rate would decrease slightly.He said the district called for this election to make up for shortcomings from this year’s legislative session that failed to secure raises for Texas teachers.If approved by voters, teachers and staff would received a 3-6% salary raise as soon as their first paycheck after the election. Azaiez said they would also be paid retroactively for time worked before November.“We would make sure that is retroactive to the first day of their contract for the year, so that would be retroactive to July,” Azaiez said.

$825 million in road improvements on the ballot in Williamson County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - One of the state’s fastest growing counties has asked voters to consider $825 million in road improvements.There are 38 road projects listed in the county’s bond program related to this election. Some projects of note were the widening of Ronald Regan Boulevard from RM 3405 to Sun City Boulevard. Another big project includes improvements at FM 1431 and Highway 183.As reported by KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes in October, Williamson County voters historically have passed similar measures. Voters approved bonds in 2000, 2006, 2013 and 2019 elections.According to an interview in October, Williamson County Communications Director Connie Odom said much of these projects are to help the county accommodate the rapidly-growing number of drivers on its roads.“In certain cases, then they can bypass downtown areas where maybe moms and kids and dads are all going to school and to work. And so that bigger traffic can find other ways to go without impacting pe...

Manor voters consider $166.8 million bond package

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Manor voters will decide this election day on a three-part bond package coming in for a total of $166.8 million.The first proposal, Proposition A, costs $15 million. If passed, the City of Manor would use those funds to build infrastructure for the growing city, such as water and sewer lines. This, in part, to attract potential businesses to Manor.In an October interview, the economic development director for the City of Manor, Scott Jones, said multiple companies have approached the city about planting roots, many of them supporting industries to major tech companies in the area.Prop B comes in at $61,695,000. The project, if passed, would allow the city to build a recreation center and upgrade existing parks.Prop C is the largest part of the bond package at $90,105,000. This project, if passed by voters, would allow Manor to consolidate multiple departments scattered throughout the city into a new city hall building. The project would also pay for the constru...

Georgetown voters to decide on $130 million bond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Georgetown voters are going to the polls Tuesday to decide on a $130 million bond package that would expand multiple city facilities.There are four propositions in this bond package. Prop A costs $56 million and would allow the City of Georgetown to build an 80,000-square-foot customer service center.In an October interview, City Manager David Morgan said the facility would streamline several city service departments that are spread out among different buildings.He said the building would also create a more convenient way for residents to pay utility bills and other services.Prop B costs $49 million and would expand the city’s existing recreation center. The measure, if approved, would add 30,000 square feet to the facility, add a third gymnasium, and renovate the center’s parking lot and indoor pool.Proposition C, at $15 million, would give Georgetown the option of expanding its existing animal shelter or all it to enter a partnership with the Williamson ...

East Metro volleyball player of the year: Nova Classical Academy’s Ava Ball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:00 GMT

Ava Ball has long been a talented player posting gaudy numbers for a strong program. But her junior year of volleyball at Nova Classical Academy marked significant growth for the outside hitter.Because she was asked to do it all, all the time.Graduating six seniors — including two all-state players and a libero who Knights coach Tom Dobbs believed also could have earned that distinction — from a year ago, much of the onus for this year’s squad fell on Ball’s shoulders.“She’s the hub of the wheel. Everything revolves around her,” Dobbs said. “I think everyone knows that.”Which can be a major burden for a player. But Ball answered the call every time. The end result was a wildly successful season by team and individual standards. Despite the massive roster turnover, Nova Classical Academy returned to the Class 2A, Section 4 final.As for Ball? The South Dakota commit finished this season with a jaw-dropping and state-best 633 kills. That is why she is the 2023 East Metro volleyball pla...