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TEA appoints consultant, former school leader to monitor Austin ISD special ed program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

KXAN (AUSTIN) -- Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath announced on Tuesday the names of the two state-appointed officials who will oversee the Austin Independent School District and its board's actions following an investigation that found the district, since 2020, violated more than 40 special education requirements. After weeks of delaying a vote, Austin ISD trustees voted in September to sign an agreement allowing it to remain in control of its special education operations for now while working to comply with a years-long backlog of evaluations and other state requirements. The decision meant the district waived its ability to appeal or sue if the agency decided to increase the level of state intervention in the future. The district also agreed that the TEA could do just that if, at any point, the district failed to meet a requirement or deadline set by the state. Sherry Marsh, an education consultant, and Lesa Shocklee, a former Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Executiv...

Thousands raised to support Austin Latin band after lake incident

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austinites have helped raise thousands of dollars to support a local Latin music band whose instruments were damaged or sunk during a performance on Lady Bird Lake last week.The Latin Dukes played during the final performance of the Latino Moonlight Serenades, a six-show season hosted on full moon evenings by the Texas Rowing Center.During their performance, the group had several dancers join musicians on the floating barge. As dancers exited the barge, Texas Rowing Center's owner Matt Knifton told KXAN they exited on the same side, and the barge tipped over."It was fairly typical, as far as the number of people on the barge at the time," Knifton told KXAN. "But on the last song, all of the dancers got off the barge on the same side, and that caused the barge to tip over."The Texas Rowing Center created a GoFundMe to support The Latin Dukes. There were amps, instruments, some cell phones and a laptop that were submerged during the incident, Knifton said."I'm working...

Texans to vote on child-care property tax exemption

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texans will soon vote on a proposition that would allow property tax exemptions for operating childcare facilities in the upcoming election.Texas Proposition 2, which stems from S.J.R. 64, establishes a property tax exemption based on the appraised value of a childcare facility. The exemption must be at least 50 percent of the property’s appraised value.Since the pandemic, several federal COVID-19 relief programs were instilled to keep citizens and businesses afloat, such as the child-care industry. Many of those programs have or are set to expire.Cynthia McCollum, the executive director of Open Door Preschools, emphasized that the schools she managed depended "enormously" on the pandemic relief money."The only reason we were able to keep to open was because of the support and the funding that came through the state to us," McCollum said. "But even with all of that, like I said, we had to close a school."Proposition 2 is aimed at giving some relief to childcare fa...

Summit Hill House Tour returns Sunday after a 5-year hiatus

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

The popular Summit Hill House Tour returns — finally — on Sunday.“It’s been a 5-year hiatus,” says Monica Haas, executive director of the Summit Hill Association, the nonprofit that hosts the popular eventIt was 2018 when people last got to tour properties on or near Summit Avenue for the event that is typically held every other year to raise money for the association’s community projects and programs.“We had planned our full tour in 2020, but that was the pandemic, so we ended up canceling,” Haas says. “We tried a virtual tour a year and a half later, but there was not a lot of interest, so we ended up canceling that as well. This year, all the stars aligned to make it happen.”This year, there’s a lot of interest.“Ticket sales are going crazy,” Haas says.It’s not just post-pandemic excitement driving people to purchase the $40 tickets.“There are really great houses on the tour, many that have ...

High school football: Gratefulness, devotion and toughness have St. Agnes undefeated, with more to achieve

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

St. Agnes has established itself as a football powerhouse in recent years.Other than the COVID year — when the Aggies went 5-1 — the St. Paul hasn’t won fewer than seven games in a season since 2018.This year is no exception. Already 5-0 heading into its road game Friday in Austin, Minn., St. Agnes is ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press’ Class 2A state poll.But what’s more impressive this season is the competition against which St. Agnes is compiling its victories. The Aggies have wins over Hill-Murray, a Class 4A school that has beaten defending Class 4A champion Simley this fall, and Class 3A Holy Family, led by coaching savant Dan O’Brien.St. Agnes senior lineman Raphael Uhlenkott runs through a tunnel of his teammates during pregame introductions prior to a game in September 2023. (Courtesy of St. Agnes)“It’s awesome to be going into games where we’re underdogs, and then coming out on top,” senior lineman Cadman Foley said. ““Going into that (Hill-Murray) game, the general cons...

Game times announced for Twins’ ALDS games; Twins to open Target Field for watch parties

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

As a byproduct of sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series, the Twins had an extra day off to prepare for the Houston Astros, conducting a workout at Target Field on Thursday afternoon before heading down to Texas.Game times for the American League Division Series were announced on Thursday and now the Twins know when they’ll next hit the field in game action: Saturday at 3:45 p.m.The second game of the series, also at Minute Maid Park, will begin at 7:03 p.m., and will be the first scheduled night game for the Twins this postseason. Both games will be televised on FS1. The third game, which will be played at Target Field, is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. and will be aired on FOX.The league has not announced game times for potential Games 4 or 5, the first of which would be held at Target Field and the latter of which would take place back in Houston if necessary.Single-game tickets for ALDS Game 3 and 4 at Target Field will go on sale on Friday at 12 p.m. CT.Additionally, w...

New Mexican restaurant, bar and market opens in Apple Valley

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

Apple Valley has a new Mexican restaurant and market.Homshuk Mexican Kitchen and Bar and Bodega 42 Fresh Market opened recently at the corner of Galaxie Avenue and West 152nd Street.The Bar at Homshuk in Apple Valley. (Megan Stezka via Spothopper)The restaurant promises scratch-made Mexican cuisine using fresh ingredients sourced from the next-door market. Both are partially owned by Fernando Mellado-Barboza of Andale Taqueria y Mercado in Richfield.Homshuk’s menu features everything from grilled octopus (pulpo a la parilla) to wood-fired chicken, tacos, burritos and more. There is a full bar with more than 70 tequilas and 15 mezcals.The deli case at Bodega 42 in Apple Valley. (Megan Stezka via Spothopper)The bodega is making its own tortillas in addition to baked goods and hot deli items. Fresh produce and Mexican grocery offerings are also available, and there is an in-house butcher.“At Homshuk, we believe that every dish tells a story, and every flavor carries the essence o...

Selkirk woman arrested for possessing illegal firearms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

SELKIRK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Selkirk woman was arrested on gun charges following an investigation into a Child Protective Services report. Ramona L. Orr, 42, was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, four counts of criminal possession of a firearm, and endangering the welfare of a child. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the Bethlehem Police Department, Child Protective Services were notified that there were numerous firearms in a residence. Police assisted with the investigation and located several unregistered and illegal firearms within the residence. Officers seized two non-compliant/unregistered AR-15 rifles, four unregistered handguns, and non-compliant large-capacity AR-15 magazines. Orr was arraigned in the Town of Bethlehem Court. She was released on a $5,000 bail bond with a return date scheduled for November 8.

Highland man convicted of rape and criminal sexual act

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A four-day jury trial has ended with the conviction of Charles Burgher, 32, of Highland. Burgher was convicted of five counts of rape in the second degree and three counts of criminal sexual act in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Burgher was accused of sexually assaulting a child between August and November 2022. Burgher and the victim's family were neighbors in Highland. On November 7, the mother of the victim filed a missing person's report when her child did not return home from school.Investigations resulted in law enforcement responding to the 9W Motel in Lake Katrine. Burgher was taken into custody following a five-and-a-half-hour standoff. The child was recovered safely and brought to a hospital where a sexual assault nurse examiner collected forensic evidence.Burgher has been remanded without bail pending sentencing on December 8. He faces significant time in state prison. ...

Ballston Spa man charged with attempting to meet child for sex

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:30 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Ballston Spa man has been arrested following a sex crime investigation, according to State Police. Thomas Belisario, 40, is facing several charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The police investigation determined that Belisario allegedly made arrangements and traveled to an agreed upon location in Halfmoon to meet with what he believed to be a 12-year-old child, with the intention of sexual exploitation. The investigation was conducted by the Troop G Computer Crimes Unit, Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Belisario was arrested and processed at SP Clifton Park. He was charged with first-degree attempted criminal sex act and attempted use of a child in a sexual performance. 18-year-old charged with Albany stabbing Belisario was arraigned at the Halfmoon Town Court, where he was released on his own recognizance to be supervised by the Sar...