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Harmony Public Schools finds success with teacher retention program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Harmony Public Schools announced it received $7.5 million of bonuses from the Texas Education Agency, with a million going to teachers at its Central Texas campuses. The school district said it's helped retain its teachers in the classroom. The Teacher Incentive Allotment was created in June of 2019 after the Texas legislator passed H.B. 3. The money is to reward high-performing teachers to create a pathway to a six-figure salary that will help keep them in the classroom. "I feel like, number one, it lets them know that the work they do in the classroom is seen and recognized and we want to compensate them for staying in a very important role such as teaching," Dr. Amy Chankin, the assistant area superintendent of programs for Central Texas Harmony Public Schools, explained. How much more can teachers make? Dr. Chankin said the school district applied for the TIA program the first year it started. This year $1 million went to 121 designated teachers in the Central ...

Texas contractor using wearable tech to keep employees safe in heat

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One Texas construction company is looking to technology to keep its employees safe during the hottest summer months.Seth Campbell, a safety manager for Rogers O'Brien Construction, said heat is his top safety concern for workers. His job is to make sure everyone goes home safe to their families at the end of every day."Heat is definitely one of our top conversations because it can sneak up on you before you even know it," he said. "And next thing you know you're in the hospital, or worse."Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show there were 42 occupational fatalities from 2011 to 2018 due to "exposure to environmental heat." "Water, rest, shade" is their motto to keep workers safe in the heat, meaning every two hours everyone takes a break, gets water and rests in the shade to cool down body temperatures. They also use freezer pops with electrolytes as a break treat. This summer, amid record-setting heat, the construction company began piloting SafeGuard, a ...

AFD Wildfire Division providing updates on 'wildfire hub' website

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Fire Department's (AFD) Wildfire Division continue to improve and update information related to wildfire via its new simplified "wildfire hub," according to a City of Austin news release.The "wildfire hub" has extensive information on wildfires, as well as a new simplified website address -- ATXWildfireHUB.com. On this website, you can find current wildfire risk for your neighborhood, directions on how to prepare for an evacuation, measures you can take to prevent wildfire spread on your property and more, according to the city.If your neighborhood is called to evacuate, first responders will tell you to move to a Temporary Assembly Point (TAP), the city said. The TAP is large parking lot in a safe area near theneighborhood where, according to the news release, city employees check-in evacuees and provide access to resources. At the TAP, evacuees will get a QR Code that takes them to an Evacuee Check-in Form. According to the city, the form will ask for i...

Family of Albany woman convicted of fraud settle claims

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany woman was sentenced to 16 months in prison last November after she applied for and was awarded 32 government-backed loans meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the COVID pandemic. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), family members of Debra Hackstadt recently agreed to pay the government a total of $305,000, settling claims arising from Pandemic relief loans. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Hackstadt admitted in her plea that between April 30, 2020, and June 11, 2021, she fraudulently obtained $1,615,546 from two pandemic relief loan programs—the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), whose loans are issued by private financial institutions and backed by the federal government, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), which are issued directly by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These loans were granted to Hackstadt herself, some of her family members and friend...

103rd Greater St. Louis Honor Flight headed to Washington, D.C. today

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The 103rd Greater St. Louis Honor Flight has left Lambert St. Louis International Airport Tuesday morning for Washington, D.C.'Gate E8' was crowded a bit before 5:00 a.m., and the veterans and escorts are now aboard the Southwest plane headed to the nation's capitol. A total of 58 veterans are on the Honor Flight. The flight consists of veterans from World War II, the Korean, and Vietnam Wars. There are U.S. Army and U.S. Navy veterans, Air Force, Marine, and Coast Guard personnel on the flight as well. Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase World War II veteran John Lauren, 96, has never participated in an Honor Flight. He spoke about making that special trip. "I think that it shows gratitude for people and their military service and people get to see something that they would not have normally saw," Lauren shared.They'll return to Lambert Airport at 8:00 p.m.

U.S. Senate hearing on book bans taking place today

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing Tuesday on book bans "How censorship limits liberty and literature."Illinois became the first state to stop schools and libraries from banning books. The law signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in June gives the state the power to withhold grant money from a library if it removes books because of "partisan or personal disapproval." The goose bump inducing 9/11 Clydesdale Super Bowl ad, then and now Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Gianniolias, also the state librarian, will testify before Tuesday's congressional hearing in Washington. Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin heads the committee.

Special Missouri House committee to study city's earning tax

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The first public hearing to take an in-depth look at taxation policies for remote workers in Missouri is Tuesday.The special committee was created last month to focus on the impact of the one percent tax on wages earned in the city. The St. Louis earnings tax makes up 36% of the city's general revenue. Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase The public hearings will look at how much revenue non-resident, remote workers contribute to the city and potential alternatives to taxing them.

Washington University no longer prescribing minors puberty blockers/cross-sex hormones

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Washington University physicians will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for gender transition.Patients who are currently receiving this care through the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital will be referred to other providers for these services. The goose bump inducing 9/11 Clydesdale Super Bowl ad, then and now They say Missouri's newly enacted law regarding transgender care creates unsustainable liability for health-care professionals.

$500 donation to Normandy High School music program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Share Soulard organization is donating $500 to the Normandy High School music program.It comes after the school's marching band performed during the kickoff celebration for the Soulard Blues, Brews, and Bites Fest. Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase The organization says the donation is to "promote, preserve, and encourage the music, culture, and heritage of Soulard and greater St. Louis.".

American Water crews responding to water main break in Maplewood

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:25:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Crews are responding to a water main break that has caused some slowdowns early Tuesday morning. Our Nissan Rogue Runner reporter, Nic Lopez, was at the scene, located on South Big Bend Boulevard near Weber Avenue, where the right lane of the area is now closed. The goose bump inducing 9/11 Clydesdale Super Bowl ad, then and now American Water crews are continuing to respond to the water main break. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.