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America’s small towns are disbanding police forces, citing hiring woes. It’s not all bad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

GOODHUE, Minnesota (AP) — As Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith struggled this summer to fill vacancies in his small department, he warned the town’s City Council that unless pay and benefits improved, finding new officers would never happen.When nothing changed, Smith quit. So did his few remaining officers, leading the Minnesota town of 1,300 residents to shutter its police force in late August.America is in the midst of a police officer shortage that many in law enforcement blame on the two-fold morale hit of 2020 — the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of police that boiled over with the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. From Minnesota to Maine, Ohio to Texas, small towns unable to fill jobs are eliminating their police departments and turning over police work to their county sheriff, a neighboring town or state police.The trend isn’t altogether new.At least 521 U.S. towns and cities with populations of 1,000 to 200,000 disbanded policing between 1972 and 201...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps in low 90s with humid conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in the low 90s Tuesday with hot and humid conditions, 20 percent chance of a storm. Winds: S 10-15 G25. High: 92. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight with early morning storm chance. Winds: S 10-15 G25. Low: 73.Wednesday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, humid, rain & storm chance. Winds: SSW 0-15 G25. High: 87.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Great Wall of China section damaged 'beyond repair': report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

(NewsNation) — Two people accused of using an excavator on a section of the Great Wall of China and causing damage "beyond repair" have been arrested, China Daily reported. CNN reported that the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau shared in a social media post that the suspects are a 38-year-old man with the last name Zheng and a 55-year-old woman with the last name Wang.They are accused of using machinery to "widen a gap on a section of the No 32 Great Wall in Youyu county in late August." They have been charged with destroying a cultural relic, China Daily reported. Is China spying on Americans via interactive toys? After they were contracted to do construction near the wall, they allegedly admitted to using the excavator to make it easier to pass through, China Daily reported.The wall was built during China’s imperial Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644)."The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great mil...

COVID-19 raises anxiety at start of new school year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

COVID-19 cases are on the rise and raising anxiety around the possibility that schools could implement mask mandates or close down again. Surges of COVID-19 cases in Texas and Kentucky have caused three school districts to briefly suspend in-person classes.But few schools have taken those steps so far, and superintendents contend that without national guidance it is highly unlikely we’ll see a return of mass closures or mask mandates. In the post-emergency era of COVID-19, schools no longer have the comprehensive surveillance data that was readily available during the pandemic, though some local data remains available to inform their decision-making.And without specific guidance, decisions on COVID mitigation measures are largely up to school district leaders, in cooperation with local health authorities and in consultation with the community.“Superintendents will not make these calls in isolation,”  said George Roberts, a Maryland superintendent. “What they did do du...

Tropical wave has 90% chance of formation, could become a hurricane later this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a disturbance that has a 90% chance of formation and will likely become Tropical Storm Lee.The NHC said showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure are located over the central tropical Atlantic about 900 miles west-southwest of Cape Verde. 2 bitten by shark at same Florida beach, officials say Forecasters believe a tropical depression or tropical storm could form in the next day or so as the system moves toward the west-northwest at 15 to 20 mph.The NHC said the system will likely become Tropical Storm Lee. It could strengthen into a hurricane later this week as it nears the northern Leeward Islands.The NHC is also tracking a strong tropical wave that is forecast to move off the coast of West Africa on Tuesday.Once the wave moves offshore, the NHC said a tropical depression could form over the far eastern tropical Atlantic during the middle to the latter part of the week.The system is ex...

McConnell facing increasing scrutiny as Senate reconvenes after latest freeze-up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is facing a fresh set of questions about his health and ability to lead the GOP conference following his latest public freeze-up — the second incident in just more than a month.While speaking to reporters in Covington, Ky., last week, McConnell, 81, froze and was unresponsive for roughly 30 seconds at the podium, prompting his aides to check if he was OK. McConnell resumed the press gaggle following the episode, but he required help from his aide to hear the questions being asked.McConnell’s team chalked the incident up to feeling “momentarily lightheaded” — similar to their response following the first freeze-up — and the Capitol attending physician cleared the GOP leader to continue his schedule, noting that “occasional lightheadedness” is not unusual following a concussion, which McConnell suffered in March, and when experiencing dehydration.But the episode — and string of recent health-related incidents — is increasing scr...

Ken Paxton impeachment trial set to start in Texas Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The impeachment trial for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton will begin on Tuesday morning at the State Capitol. Proceedings are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. in the Senate chamber. KXAN will stream them in this story when they begin.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will be the presiding officer of the trial, functioning as a judge. Senators will serve as jurors. Proceedings will begin with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas administering oaths to Patrick and others involved in the process.The Texas House adopted 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton. The Senate will consider 16 of those articles in the trial.The first task for the court will be to rule on pretrial motions. Paxton’s attorneys have requested the Senate dismiss all of the articles of impeachment. Patrick can defer a decision on that motion until after evidence is presented, or he can allow senators to vote on whether to dismiss individual articles. A majority of senators, at least 16 members...

Stretch of record heat ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hotter than normal temperatures continue through the week with records likely to be rewritten both day and night in the coming days.High temperatures will return to the low 100s in most areas today - Austin likely to record its 74th day of 100°+ this year. High humidity will bring 'feels like' temps up to 103°-107° later today. Forecast heat index values Tuesday afternoonHigh humidity through midweekMainly to partly sunny skies will stretch areawide with the sea breeze likely to spark a few isolated storms east of I-35. No severe weather nor meaningful rain is expected.A few isolated sea breeze showers possible Tuesday afternoon east of I-35 NEW BLOG: End in sight for consistent 100º days The heat dome is expected to migrate far west of our area next week, potentially opening the door to scattered showers and thunderstorms along with high temperatures below 100°. This could end Austin-Bergstrom's longest-ever streak of consecutive 100° days, currently at 38 days (...

Austin ISD to begin process of 'leveling'; what it means

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Independent School District told parents on Aug. 31 their children might have to change teachers in a couple of week. According to the district note, the annual leveling process moves teachers to help balance class sizes. The district said no one's job is at risk and it estimates fewer than 20 teachers will be reassigned during the process. According to Austin ISD, the process will work this way: Middle and high school students may experience schedule changes as teachers move to where they’re needed.Elementary students may have a new teacher and classmates as classes shift.The district said affected staff will be notified by Sept. 5, parents of affected students by Sept. 8 and the new classes will start on Sept. 11.

Sheriff's office: Officer-involved shooting investigation underway in Buda, I-35 access road shut down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:24 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) – Buda Police shut down northbound traffic Tuesday morning on the access road of Interstate 35 near the McDonalds and Chevron at the Main Street crossing. According to a 6 a.m. social media post, Buda Police said officers were working an investigation and said it was active scene. The Hays County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KXAN there is an investigation into an officer-involved shooting underway. Police asked drivers to use alternate routes and avoid the area if possible.