Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposes carve-out of Arkansas public records law during tax cut session

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposes carve-out of Arkansas public records law during tax cut session LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday proposed shielding a broad range of records about her administration, travel and security from public release as she called for a special legislative session next week focusing on additional tax cuts.The Republican governor proposed the new exemptions to the state’s Freedom of Information Act as the Arkansas State Police is being sued by an attorney and blogger who’s accused the agency of illegally withholding records about Sanders’ travel and security. FOIA experts said the changes would severely weaken the 1967 law — signed by the state’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction — that protects the public’s access to government meetings and records.Sanders, who took office in January, portrayed the changes as a way to modernize the law and make government more efficient. “Arkansas has some of the most transparent FOIA laws in the country, and these reforms will do nothing to...

Police search for child after reported parental abduction

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Police search for child after reported parental abduction ELGIN, Ill. — A search is underway for a toddler as authorities investigate a report of a parental child abduction that happened in Elgin on Friday, police say.According to the Elgin Police Department, officers responded to a report of a parental child abduction in the 1300 block of Amanda Circle just before 2 p.m. Kroger and Albertsons sell hundreds of stores in a bid to clear merger of the 2 largest US groceries Police say Kash Hayes, a boy who is around two years of age, was allegedly abducted by 34-year-old Kenny Hayes.According to police, Kash was last seen with short braided hair, wearing camouflage-style pants and green shoes.Police say Kenny Hayes, who has a heavy build and stands 5 foot 8 inches, was last seen driving a dark grey Infinity sedan with an Illinois license plate, with tag number "EA52844." He was last seen traveling southbound on Naperville Road from Route 20. Taste of Chicago begins, Eli’s Cheesecake returns for 43rd year Elgin Police say the alleged abduc...

Are men still afraid of wearing pink?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Are men still afraid of wearing pink? (NEXSTAR) — Even though many of today's biggest male stars, like Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles, have become fashion icons by embracing feminine or androgynous styles, new data shows many men aren't quite ready for skirts and backless jumpsuits.Moreover, some men are just working up to feeling OK wearing pink. How big will Facebook settlement checks be? Lawyers reveal estimated payment per person That's according to a new survey on masculinity from YouGov, which surveyed 4,095 adult men and women in the United Kingdom. The survey gathered men's levels of comfort engaging with certain behaviors versus that of women — including situations like sharing a bed with a friend of the same gender or receiving flowers as a "thank you" gift.Timothée Chalamet at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 2, 2022 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic)Although it doesn't rank as the top activity men said they'd feel uncomfortable doing, 31% of men said they'd feel unc...

The 39 people the Georgia special grand jury recommended charges against

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

The 39 people the Georgia special grand jury recommended charges against (The Hill) – A Fulton County, Ga., special grand jury recommended charges against 39 people for their involvement in former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia, according to its final report.Only 19 people were ultimately charged last month in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s (D) years-long investigation.Some of the most notable names in the report released Friday who weren’t among those ultimately charged were Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), former Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, both Georgia Republicans, and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. Here’s the fill list of the 39 people the special grand jury recommended charges against: Former President TrumpThis booking photo provided by Fulton County Sheriff's Office, shows former President Donald Trump on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, after he surrendered and was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. ...

No Favre or Rodgers: A rare Bears' match-up vs. Packers the last three decades

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

No Favre or Rodgers: A rare Bears' match-up vs. Packers the last three decades LAKE FOREST, Ill. — If this match-up between the Bears and the Packers seems a little different, you'd be right. That's because it's rare the team hasn't faced their rivals from Green Bay without a quarterback with the last name of Favre or Rodgers over the past three decades. With Aaron Rodgers off to the Jets, Jordan Love takes over and will be under center for the Week 1 contest against the Bears at Soldier Field Sunday at 3:25 p.m. So how rare is it to not have either Rodgers or Favre as the quarterback for the Packers if you're a fan of the Bears? (AP Photo/Fred Jewell)Love's start on Sunday will mark just the second time since the start of the 1992 season that one of those quarterbacks wasn't under center against the Bears. Taking over as the starting signal caller for Green Bay that year, Favre would start two games a year against the Bears through 2007.Against the Bears with the Packers, Favre was 22-10. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)Rodgers would take over in 2008 and he would st...

Life-saving Naloxone now available over the counter

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Life-saving Naloxone now available over the counter WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- This week the opioid reversal medication Naloxone became available over the counter nationwide. Federal health officials hope that will make a big difference when it comes to saving lives."One of the things that I've heard was 'let that junkie die. Let that crackhead die,'" says Rosalind Picardo, founder of Operation Save Our City, who claims she has reversed more than 2,000 opioid overdoses with Naloxone, a nasal spray."The number one cause of death for people 18 to 49 is drug overdoses," states Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of National Drug Policy. Dr. Gupta has also observed that people harbor stigmas about both the use of drugs and the use of overdose reversal medications, because they think it won't impact them.But Gupta emphasizes, "People from all communities, all socio-economic status, demographic and geographic status are being affected."Officials want Naloxone to be widely and easily accessible. For that reason they say they've stocked the Health and Hu...

APD arrests man in connection with Wells Fargo Bank robberies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

APD arrests man in connection with Wells Fargo Bank robberies AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested Wednesday in connection with Wells Fargo Bank robberies, according to the Austin Police Department.APD said 35-year-old Brian Galarza was charged with three counts of Robbery by Threat.Galarza was arrested by APD’s Violent Crimes Task Force. PAST COVERAGE: Austin Police searching for suspect involved in 2 bank robberies Anyone with information regarding the robberies was asked to contact APD's Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

Travis Co. Grand Jury clears APD officer in Sept. 2021 use of force case

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Travis Co. Grand Jury clears APD officer in Sept. 2021 use of force case TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Friday, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza announced a Travis County Grand Jury concluded its review of a September 2021 use of force incident involving an Austin Police officer. The grand jury did not return an indictment for the officer, according to a news release from the DA's office.The review stemmed from an incident on Sept. 18, 2021, where former APD officer Edward Jaramillo was involved, the release said.“The District Attorney’s office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously,” Garza said in the news release. “In this case, an independent group of members of the Travis County community heard the evidence and law and decided that Officer Jaramillo’s conduct was not unlawful.”Since January 2021, 85 number of cases against police officers have been presented to the grandy jury, including this case, according to the DA's office. A grand jury returned a true bill "49 number of times," the release...

Austin City Council taking action on loophole allowing windowless apartment bedrooms

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Austin City Council taking action on loophole allowing windowless apartment bedrooms AUSTIN (KXAN) – Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri is bringing a resolution to the Sept. 14 council meeting to start looking for ways to close a “loophole” that allows developers to build apartment buildings without windows in the bedrooms. Developers can do this across the city, but the issue is more prevalent in some student housing highrises in West Campus near the University of Texas at Austin. “There's currently a loophole in our building code that allows developments across Austin to be built that don’t have windows,” Qadri said. “Our hope with this resolution is that we can kick off the process to close this loophole,” he continued. Austin architect and UT Austin professor Juan Miró has advocated for changing the building code as it relates to windows for years. He said he learned about the windowless bedroom issue when he asked his students to draw pictures of their windows at home for an assignment.  “I started to have students say, ‘I don't have a wi...

Westlake to honor huge senior class before district opener vs. Akins on Friday

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:45:22 GMT

Westlake to honor huge senior class before district opener vs. Akins on Friday AUSTIN (KXAN) — Instead of honoring seniors at the end of the season, the Westlake Chaparrals will do it Friday before the 6A-District 26 opener against Akins at Chaparral Stadium.Westlake has 61 seniors on this year's team that has started the year 2-0, and the Chaps are fresh off a 47-0 systematic dismantling of Converse Judson last week. Akins, meanwhile, is in the midst of a 17-game losing streak dating back to 2021 and the Eagles have yet to score in two games this year. The last time Akins won was Sept. 30, 2021, when they topped Austin High 20-18.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteThe game will be streamed in the video player above and also on KXAN.com/Westlake for those in the KXAN viewing area free of charge. For those outside the viewing area, you'll have to watch the game through our official streaming partner NFHS Network. The...