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Ocasio-Cortez calls for Thomas impeachment after report of undisclosed gifts from GOP donor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is calling for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached following a report that he accepted luxurious gifts from a billionaire Republican donor for decades.For years, Thomas took luxury trips and outings on yachts and private jets owned by Dallas businessman Harlan Crow, according to an investigation by ProPublica. Thomas did not disclose the travel, the investigation found. Crow has donated lavishly to Republican candidates.Ocasio-Cortez blasted the alleged actions as an “almost cartoonish” level of corruption.“This is beyond party or partisanship,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. “This degree of corruption is shocking — almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached.”The New York congresswoman also said the report of Thomas’s alleged misconduct reflects negatively on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. “Barring some dramatic change, this is what the Roberts court will be known for: rank corruption, erosion of...

TikTok challenge? 10 Massachusetts kids taken to hospital after student distributes hot gum, official say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

ORANGE, Mass. (WWLP) -- At least 10 kids were taken to the hospital after an incident at a Massachusetts school in which gum containing "pepper" was handed out to students during recess. Police warned of a possible connection to a TikTok challenge.According to Dr. Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski, superintendent of the Orange School District, a Dexter Park school student purchased the gum -- called Trouble Bubble -- online and offered it to several students. It contained products that when ingested, caused digestive issues and burning in the mouth and esophagus. Students who just touched the gum were also reporting skin reactions such as eye irritation."I've been a bus driver for over 20 years and have never seen anything like this," said Kelly Graves, a bus driver for the Orange School District. "More of the bus drivers talking about it because when they pulled up to the school to see all the emergency vehicles, it was quite alarming." Do not feed wild turkey spotted in Ludlow The Oran...

FBI broke into wrong hotel room during training exercise, detained uninvolved guest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

BOSTON (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after federal agents broke into the wrong hotel room during a training exercise Tuesday night.In a statement released Wednesday, the FBI Boston Division explained that agents with the U.S. Department of Defense were conducting a training exercise at a hotel in Boston "to simulate a situation their personnel might encounter in a deployed environment."However, the federal agents went to the wrong hotel room."Based on inaccurate information, they were mistakenly sent to the wrong room and detained an individual, not the intended role player," the statement reads. Woman suspected of poisoning husband with drain cleaner No one was injured, and the Boston Police Department responded to the hotel and confirmed the federal agents were conducting a training exercise."Safety is always a priority of the FBI, and our law enforcement partners," the statement continues. "We take these incidents very seriously."The FBI Boston Division and the U.S. De...

PHOTOS: Viewers share images from storms moving through Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Storms began moving through Central Texas Wednesday evening and are expected to continue through Friday.KXAN viewers shared some of their photos from the weather event, which included hail and flashes of lightning.Lightning strike photo taken in Manor, Texas on Thursday, April 6 at 12:47 a.m. (Credit: Gary Russell)Pea sized hail in BertramPhoto taken in Dale, Texas Wednesday nightHail photo from the Wednesday night storm (Credit: Alexis Moyer)Photo taken over the elementary school in La Grange (Credit: Sharon Novak)Photo of hail form Wednesday night storm in Dale, TexasAs of Thursday, the KXAN First Warning Weather team forecasted most would get between 1″-3″ of rain by the time the systems move through early Saturday, although some spots in our eastern counties could get between 3-5″ rain.Send KXAN your photos through [email protected]

Former AUS executive director had conflict of interest with previous employer, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The former Austin-Bergstrom International Airport executive director acted on a conflict of interest when she approved invoices worth $550,000 from her previous employer while working with the City, an investigative report from the Austin Office of the City Auditor states.Jacqueline Yaft resigned from her role with the airport at the beginning of March 2023.The report states Yaft didn't tell her supervisor about the conflict, violating city code. The report also states she met alone with her former employer at least seven times and sent 13 emails when she was the only airport employee in the original exchange.AUS told KXAN "The Department of Aviation is aware of the audit investigation report" and referred us to the City for comment. KXAN has reached out to the City and will update this story when we receive a response.Yaft worked for a consulting firm that had a contract with the City prior to her employment with the airport, according to the report."As a result, a ...

All eyes on education in crucial day at Texas legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- In a split-screen legislative affair expected to last late into Thursday night, Texas lawmakers are set to vote on a pair of proposals that may spell out the future of Gov. Greg Abbott's ambitious plans for education.In the Senate, Abbott's "Parental Bill of Rights" is set to pass. That's what top Republicans are dubbing Senate Bill 8, a novel bill for Texas' public education system that would create "education savings accounts" (ESAs).Through those accounts, the state would spend half a billion dollars over the next two years to subsidize some families' educational costs. Parents who wish to transfer their children from public school to private school would be eligible to receive $8,000 from the state to do so.Abbott has traveled around the state advocating for the "school choice" initiative, expending significant personal capital and betting the session on the issue.That bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a partisan 10-2 vote. It will pass on ...

APD: 'Unprovoked attack' from unknown suspect left man with skull fracture

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police Department officers are searching for a suspect who they say attacked a man unprovoked and caused him to suffer serious head injuries. It happened Tuesday, March 28 between 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in the 6800 block of Airport Boulevard, which is in the Highland neighborhood area. According to APD, the department received an emergency call about a man bleeding from his head, and the caller told operators he found the victim while riding along a bike path in the area. Officers and Austin-Travis County EMS medics responded and took the victim to a hospital. APD's investigation showed the suspect attacked the victim with an object while he was sleeping on a mat next to Airport Boulevard. Police did not say what the object was. The victim suffered a fractured skull and other injuries to his head in the "violent and unprovoked attack," according to APD. Anyone with any information should submit their tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers ...

It's National Burrito Day! Companies now offering special deals to celebrate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — April 6 is National Burrito Day. Here are some deals to look out for.Freebirds World Burrito said it was bringing back its Texas Smoked Brisket for a limited time.“On National Burrito Day on Thursday, April 6 fans can order a Freebirds-sized burrito with Brisket, online, through the official Freebirds app, or in-store for just $6,” Freebirds said.Another deal to look for is from Chipotle Mexican Grill.Chipotle said it began Wednesday, and the company gave away 20,000 burritos through Grubhub. The promotion of a free burrito is expected to last through April 8.On Thursday, Chipotle began giving out codes through its Twitter page for National Burrito Day.Taco Bell also joined in on the celebration by offering a free Grilled Cheese burrito with a $20 minimum order through the app from now until April 9.

Person shot outside St. Paul Target made it to nearby fire station but didn’t survive, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

A St. Paul gunshot victim went to a nearby fire station for help Thursday morning but didn’t survive, police said.People who called 911 shortly before 10 a.m. reported the shooting happened in the parking lot of the Target on Suburban Avenue off Interstate 94, according to emergency radio transmissions reviewed by the Pioneer Press.A Target spokesman, Joe Unger, confirmed the shooting happened in the lot of their East St. Paul store.“(W)e can confirm that all other guests and team members are safe,” Unger said in a statement. “Our team immediately called 911 and secured the store. The St. Paul Police Department is on-site, and the store will be closed for the remainder of the day as they investigate. Target will provide law enforcement with any information needed, and we will refer additional questions to them at this time.”Fire station No. 24, where the victim arrived and received EMS care, is at the corner of Suburban and White Bear avenues.The police...

What to expect at the Twins’ home opener on Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:02:53 GMT

Sunny skies and temperatures in the low 50s are on tap for Friday when the Twins, one day delayed, open their home schedule at Target Field. Coming off a 4-2 road trip to start the season, the Twins will play host to the 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros with game time set for 3:10 p.m.“The home opener’s always a great day,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We’ve all been watching the weather, but moving it back to Friday, moving the game back to Friday, I think, is going to be a real good thing for everybody involved and I think it’s going to be a pretty nice day out there.”Here’s what to expect on Friday:New at the parkWhen Twins fans return to the ballpark on Friday, they’ll see a new version of Target Field.This offseason, the ballpark underwent extensive changes, as the Twins refreshed the stadium to reflect their new branding and increased the size of video boards around the stadium.Scoreboard 2.0 was a $29.5 million project jointly funded by the Twins and the...