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DeSantis floats building prison on land next to Disney World

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

(The Hill) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Monday that the state might consider building a prison or potentially another amusement park next to land owned by Disney amid his administration's ongoing feud with the entertainment giant.The governor’s clash with Disney started when the company came out against his education plan that limits the instruction of gender identity and sexuality in public schools. In response, DeSantis signed a bill that dissolved the private government that oversaw Walt Disney World in the state.But outgoing Disney-friendly members of the board that oversees the district approved an agreement with the company that gave it developmental authority over its theme park. New board members handpicked by DeSantis said the agreement stripped them of their ability to oversee the park’s development.Now DeSantis, who is weighing a 2024 presidential campaign, is publicly floating how to respond.“If you look at this whole special district, Walt Disney Corporation obv...

Austin ISD to appeal state intervention of its special education department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Independent School District leaders began the process of appealing the state appointment of a conservator management team to oversee its special education operations on Monday. “We understand the severity of this problem and take full ownership in addressing it,”said Superintendent Matias Segura. ‘We want to ensure the best possible alignmentbetween our efforts as a district and the efforts of the state for the ultimate benefit of ourstudents.”The Austin school district has been under investigation by the Texas Education Agency since 2021 for repeatedly missing state and federal deadlines to evaluate students suspected of needing special education services.The agency heightened its intervention on March 31 – announcing its plan to add a state-appointed management team to oversee the district special education operations.The district has since held multiple meetings with parents and stakeholders explaining the impact of a more severe intervention from the state...

205 people killed in work zones in Texas last year, only one was a construction worker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than 200 people died in Texas last year in construction zones. That's actually a 16% decrease, but still far too many. The Texas Department of Transportation is hoping you will "Be Safe and Drive Smart to help End The Streak" of deadly crashes on roads in Texas."I'm one of thousands of road workers in Texas working hard to build and maintain our roadways," said Bo Wilson, who was speaking alongside representatives from TxDOT, Austin Police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Austin-Travis County EMS for National Work Zone Awareness Week. Wilson has been with TxDOT for more than 20 years and had a dangerous close call last year. His crew had just taken a break for lunch, when a distracted driver crashed full speed into the construction zone he was working on Highway 71 in Bastrop County."Once DPS got there, he told them that he had just finished the phone conversation said his phone on his console, and it slid down into the floorboard and he reached over ...

Country star Keith Urban set to return to Minnesota State Fair Grandstand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

Country star Keith Urban will return to the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on Aug. 26.Tickets are priced from $87 to $52 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through Etix or by calling 800-514-3849.Urban, 55, has been a consistent presence on the country charts since his first hit, 1999’s “It’s a Love Thing.” He has landed at No. 1 with more than 20 singles, including “Somebody Like You,” “Days Go By,” “Better Life,” “You Look Good in My Shirt,” “Without You,” “Long Hot Summer” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”In 2020, Urban released his 11th album and seventh chart-topper, “The Speed of Now Part 1.” It spun off the singles “We Were,” “God Whispered Your Name” and the Pink duet “One Too Many,” which also landed on the charts in Canada, Australia, England and the Netherlands. In the time since, he has issued a series of one-off singles, including the hits “Wild Hearts” and “Brown Eyes Baby.”Urban is a familiar face to local concertgoers, and has played Target Center, Winstock County Music Fe...

Charles Barkley also thinks the Timberwolves’ late playoff start times are absurd

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

“Inside the NBA” host Ernie Johnson was running through TNT’s tripleheader schedule Sunday when he hit the Timberwolves-Nuggets start time and paused to ask Charles Barkley why the NBA hall of famer had a “befuddled” look on his face.“I have a problem with that game starting at 10:30 (Eastern time) in Denver,” Barkley said. “I have a problem with that.”Four games each were played on Saturday and Sunday to kick off the NBA playoff schedule. On Saturday, the first game tipped off at noon, with the nightcap taking place at 7:30 p.m. Central. Barkley felt a similar schedule should have been followed on Sunday. But instead, the early window was left open. The action started with a 2 p.m. Central game between Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers.Charles Barkley is not a fan of the 8:30 PM local start time for T'Wolves-Nuggets."We got to have some respect for the fans at some point. It ain't fair for the people in Denver to b...

Former Gophers star Brock Faber makes playoff debut for Wild a week after turning pro

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

DALLAS — In some ways, Brock Faber is still very much living the college life, even after signing a professional contract with the Wild last week.He still lives with his roommates in their Dinkytown apartment near the University of Minnesota campus. He still doesn’t have a car so he has to bum rides from teammate Matt Boldy. He still thinks about how the Gophers men’s hockey team came within a few minutes of winning an NCAA championship a week ago.The heartbreaking end to his collegiate career paved the way for the start of his professional career.“It’s hard not to think about,” Faber said. “This is obviously a pretty great distraction being able to play for the Wild.”He immediately reconsidered his use of the word “distraction” because of how it might come across. Truthfully, for Faber, it’s much more than that as he embarks on what he hopes is a long playoff run with the Wild.“I’m bought in,” he said. &#...

Village of Catskill issues boil water order

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Village of Catskill has issued a boil water order for Allen Street, North Allen Street, and 9W up to the Central Hudson. The boil water order is for drinking and cooking water. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the Water and Sewer Department, there was a water main break on Allen Street. The order is in full effect until further notice.

Lawn care 101: Spring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Spring has sprung and that means yard work season is upon us. The warmer temperatures last week have put the growing season in overdrive. If you want that lush green lawn, here are a few things you can do to help. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! What you might not know is that grass is building its root system long before it turns from brown to green. According to the Cornell Cooperative Extention (CCE), roots can start growing in February in New York.Know your grass:The first thing you should do is identify your grass strains to better attend to your lawn's needs. The most common grasses in New York are Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryegrass and Fescue. Many times lawn seed mixes will contain these varieties.Kentucky Bluegrass is common for its thick spread and color. Its rootstocks are creeping meaning it makes for a dense lawn. The tips are boat-shaped. This species can take a little longer to germinate com...

Red Cross and Business for Good to launch Blood Mobiles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On April 19, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for a new Red Cross Blood Mobile assigned to the Capital Region. The Blood Mobile was made available with the generosity and support of Business for Good. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! BFG co-Founder Ed Mitzen and Regional CEO Kevin Coffey of the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region will be the first to donate blood on the vehicle. The Red Cross anticipates that each vehicle will collect 3,000 units of blood annually.

'The Phantom of the Opera' closes on Broadway after 35 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The final curtain came down Sunday on New York's production of “The Phantom of the Opera.” Thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts, and gold and silver confetti bursting from the famous chandelier ended Broadway’s longest-running show. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The official Twitter account of the London production of "Phantom" tweeted video from the final curtain call. It was show No. 13,981 at the Majestic Theatre and it ended with a reprise of “The Music of the Night” performed by the current cast, previous actors in the show—including original star Sarah Brightman—and crew members in street clothes.Andrew Lloyd Webber took to the stage last in a black suit and black tie, dedicating the final show to his son, Nick, who died last month after a protracted battle with gastric cancer and pneumonia. He was 43. “When he was a little boy, he heard some of this music,” Lloyd Webber said. Line-up rev...