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School may have violated students' rights with book removals: Education Department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

(The Hill) - The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on Friday announced that a Georgia school district may have violated students’ civil rights by removing books that contained characters who were people of color or LGBTQ. The office said it concluded its investigation into Forsyth County School District after the school put restrictions on more than a dozen books in 2022 due to parents’ complaints. The department reviewed documents between the district and parents and meetings regarding the book removals, and it interviewed staff from the school.  The OCR said the issue started at the beginning of last year after a parent group alleged sexually explicit books were on the library shelves and offered solutions such as removing books, shelving LGBTQ books in a separate part of the school library or making students have signed permission slips before checking out certain books in the library. Forsyth County Schools rejected all those proposals, say...

'Dead-suspect loophole' bill passes Texas Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A bill that would eliminate a disputed loophole police use to block the release of records in cases where a suspect is killed made it another step closer to becoming law Monday when the Senate passed an amended version in a third and final reading.House Bill 30, by state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, would end the so-called dead-suspect loophole, which law enforcement departments can use to block records in cases that haven’t gone through the court process, such as when a suspect is killed during an arrest. The exemption rose to prominence – again – last year when Uvalde officials used it to block the release of records and video that would have shed light on law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde elementary school mass murder. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: As Uvalde anniversary nears, ‘dead suspect loophole’ closer to an end Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, sponsored the bill in the senate and carried the committee substitute.“Part of the reason we are doing this is for transp...

Former Longhorns football player Jaden Hullaby has died

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Texas Longhorns football player Jaden Hullaby has died, his family announced Monday.Hullaby played two seasons for the Longhorns after signing in 2020 and then transferred to New Mexico. Family members said the last time they heard from him was May 18, and on Monday, his brother Landon posted on Twitter that he had died over the weekend. Landon Hullaby is a defensive back at Texas Tech.Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian released a statement saying the news was, "devastating and tragic.""He was a great person and someone we always enjoyed being around, coaching and spending time with," Sarkisian said. "All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates, and we want to send our deepest condolences to them in such a difficult time."The New Mexico football program released a statement saying, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jaden's family and all who knew him."Hullaby was recruited by the Longhorns out of Mansfield Timberview High School where he...

Jury dismissed after error in trial for Austin police officer accused of murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial of an Austin police officer accused of murder in a 2020 deadly shooting started Monday with jury selection. But an error led to the dismissal of the jury. Christopher Taylor, 31, is accused of shooting and killing Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. APD officer heads to murder trial in Michael Ramos shooting Ken Ervin, one of Taylor's attorneys, told KXAN the doors to the courtroom were locked while the state was conducting jury selection Monday morning, which is not allowed.Ervin said if the error was discovered after the fact, any trial decisions—including conviction—would be reversed. He said there was no point in not dismissing the jury Monday. Testimony is expected to begin Wednesday in the trial. In July 2020, officers responded to South Pleasant Valley Road after a 911 call reported someone dealing drugs in a car. The caller also said a man had a gun, according to previous APD repo...

About 98% of Texas counties have a mental health professional shortage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Almost every county in Texas has a problem with mental health care staffing, state data shows. A Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard says 248 of 254 entire counties have mental health professional shortages, plus three more counties (Lubbock, Dallas and Nueces) have partial designations. That's 97.6% of entire Texas counties with shortages.Texas Health Professional Shortage Area dashboard. Full interactive map online. (Screenshot Texas Health and Human Services) RELATED: Texas ranks as worst state for mental healthcare in new study In Central Texas, all counties except Williamson County currently have a shortage designation. The state's behavioral health worker shortage is expected to grow, according to a 2022 strategic plan from Texas' Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. T...

Dripping Springs ISD school board to vote on increasing school resource officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) - More school resource officers could be coming to Dripping Springs ISD campuses. Monday night, the school board is deciding on whether it will nearly double the district's number of SROs. Dripping Springs ISD $223M bond focuses on district growth According to the agenda item, DSISD currently has four SRO positions. The school board will consider adding three more. Dripping Springs ISD portable classrooms costing $1.5M for upcoming school year The district said elementary campuses and the middle school share an SRO. If approved, this would provide more law enforcement coverage across the district.Sarah Al-Shaikh will have more on this story on KXAN News at 9 and 10.

Austin police warn of increase in 'Kia Challenge' auto thefts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police shared a warning Monday afternoon for people who drive either Kia or Hyundai vehicles. Detectives said they're investigating a growing number of thefts targeting those cars throughout the community. Two officers from the Austin Police Department's auto theft interdiction team said this is likely part of the "Kia Challenge" making the rounds on social media. They described this scheme as thieves exploiting a "design vulnerability" in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, which makes it easier for them to steal. Police said thieves are ripping apart the steering column, exposing the wiring and then somehow using a USB to eventually start the vehicles and drive away. Officers shared the following ways for people to better protect their property: Buy a locking bar and place it on your steering wheel. Conceal a tracking device in the vehicle, like an Apple AirTag. Install working alarm system. KXAN's Nabil Remadna is following this story, so tune in later this evening for more...

Lynx rookie Diamond Miller is eager to learn from any early struggles, which is what the team loves about her

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

Statistically, Diamond Miller’s WNBA regular-season debut Friday in Minnesota’s loss to Chicago wasn’t immaculate. The rookie wing finished with nine points on 3-for-9 shooting and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.Minnesota was outscored by 10 points with the No. 2 overall pick in this spring’s draft on the floor.“It wasn’t what I wanted, obviously,” Miller told reporters Monday.But that’s simply the story the raw numbers tell. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve views things through a different scope. And she recounted the number of things Miller did do successfully in her professional debut. Reeve said Miller played with pace, played hard and made some heady decisions in transition.“I probably didn’t play her enough, to be honest with you,” Reeve told reporters. “But I thought her debut was a good one.”In fact, Reeve said that unless something like foul trouble prevents her from doing so, she will play Miller more in the Lynx’s second game of the season, which comes Tuesday against Atlanta at Tar...

Hochul calls to speed up work authorization for migrants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Governor Kathy Hochul is continuing her calls for the federal government to speed up the process for asylum seekers to work legally here in the United States. Republicans however have some concerns. "We need all levels of government to respond to this. We truly, truly do," said Governor Hochul. She has once again called on the federal government to send more money, open shelter locations on federal property, and to speed up the work authorization process for asylum seekers here in New York State"There are over 5,000 farm jobs. 5,000 farm jobs as we speak. The cows don’t wait to be milked, the plants don’t wait to be maintained and harvested in a few months— the crops. We have more than 5,000 food service jobs right now."She said in addition, there are 4,000 openings for janitors, cleaners, and housekeepers. Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt is apprehensive."I’m concerned that by speeding up that work authorization, you can’t tell me that we are not losing somet...

CREATE celebrates 40th annual Youth Arts Exhibit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:59 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- CREATE Council on the Arts has announced they will be hosting their 40th annual youth exhibition. This year's presentation "Outside The Lines" will feature artwork by pre-K through grade 12 students from public and homeschools throughout Greene, Columbia and Schoharie County. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This collection will showcase a year of study by the area youth, who learned and developed life skills including problem solving, concentration, understanding and working with different materials, aesthetic appreciation, and translating ideas into art. The annual exhibit is made possible by the participation of numerous teachers, administrators, students and their families.CREATE will celebrate the occasion with a special preview of the show on June 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at CREATE Gallery, located at 398 Main Street in Catskill, coinciding with Catskill’s First Fridays. An opening reception...