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Attorney General Paxton under investigation for whistleblower settlement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas House lawmakers tasked with investigating legal and ethical violations announced Tuesday they are investigating the Office of the Attorney General.The House General Investigating Committee has been investigating Attorney General Ken Paxton's legal settlement with whistleblowers since March. Early this legislative session, Paxton requested the legislature approve $3.3 million of state money so his office could pay a settlement to employees that were terminated after they raised ethical concerns about Paxton's conduct. Four former top aides sued Paxton for wrongful firing and retaliation after they accused him of using his office to help Nate Paul, an Austin-area real estate developer and Paxton campaign donor.In a public hearing Tuesday afternoon, the committee issued a letter directing the attorney general to preserve all documentation relating to the matter."Please immediately suspend all of your destruction policies for all documents... relating the above ...

The Jayhawks and Bad Bad Hats will provide tunes for revived Grand Old Day

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

Local favorites the Jayhawks and Bad Bad Hats will headline the Grand Stage at the revived Grand Old Day June 4 on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue.Beer garden wristbands are $10 in advance from grandave.com. Youth wristbands are $6 and there’s also a $50 VIP option that includes two drink tickets, a swag bag, access to a premium concert viewing area, free food and other perks.Live music will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grand Stage and five other areas.First formed in 1984, the Jayhawks found a national audience after signing with Rick Rubin’s American Recordings label and releasing “Hollywood Town Hall” in 1992. Critics praised band leaders Gary Louris and Mark Olson for their strong songwriting and rich vocal harmonies. But after 1995’s “Tomorrow the Green Grass,” Olson left the group. Starting with 1997’s “Sound of Lies,” Louris began introducing rock, power pop and other elements to the band’s sound.The trio Bad Bad Hats began making music in 201...

Twins’ injured list bulging at the seams

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

The Twins on Tuesday placed Trevor Larnach on the 10-day injured list after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He joins 10 teammates on the IL, an impressive collection that includes key players such as second baseman Jorge Polanco, right fielder Max Kepler and right-hander Kenta Maeda.Injuries to key contributors derailed last season late, knocking the Twins out of contention in the American League Central over about two weeks in September. Minnesota entered Tuesday night’s game against San Francisco at Target Field 2-5 in their previous seven games.Sick with the flu for several days, Larnach was seen by a doctor on Tuesday.“We’ll see how he is in a few days,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “There was no way he was going to be playing any time in the near future. We need to get him off his feet and let him rest for a couple days.”Matt Wallner was recalled from St. Paul and the outfielder and was available off the bench. Over six big league games in April, Wallner, 25, was hitless in 11...

Festus family encounters black bear in neighborhood

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

FESTUS, Mo - In a Festus, Missouri, neighborhood early Tuesday morning, one family was startled by the sudden appearance and size of a bear.“My wife got me out of bed, and she recorded it,” said Josh Johnson, a Festus resident. “She said, ‘There's a bear out there,’ and I didn't believe her. I came out, and sure enough, a big bear. I took a couple pictures, she took a video, and it went viral pretty quick.”Johnson said he saw the large bear around 6 a.m. Tuesday. The bear was caught going through trash cans off Hillcrest Road near the American Legion. This is the first sighting of a bear in Festus. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House Authorities asked residents to secure trash bins and put their trash cans out the day of, instead of the night before pickup.“If you see it before it sees you, slowly back away, don't turn and run because a lot of time if a bear sees you run, it will prompt them to chase you,” said Chief Doug Wendel for the Festus Po...

Carbondale man steals backhoe for 10-mile drive to Illinois airport to catch flight

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

MARION, Ill. (AP) — A southern Illinois man has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing a backhoe to drive about 10 miles (16 kilometers) to an airport to catch a flight, authorities said.Security camera footage shows a Carbondale man arriving at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois atop a backhoe and leaving it in the airport parking lot Thursday, the Williamson County Sheriffs Office said.Footage captured the man walking across the street from the lot to the airport lobby, carrying a guitar case, the sheriff's office said.The owner of the backhoe arrived at the airport a short time later and identified the equipment as belonging to his company, the sheriff's office said. The owner said the machine, typically used to move large debris, had been parked at a job site.

Missouri miracle? Hundreds travel to see nun's exhumed, 'incorrupt' body

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

GOWER, Mo. - Catholic faithfuls are making the pilgrimage to Gower, Missouri, to witness what they describe as a miracle."It's great to be reminded that it can happen in our lifetime," one person said."She's a Saint already. I already have her canonized," another said."We drove in like a 3-hour drive and walked straight into mass," another woman in the group said. Kansas City’s Van Noy mansion hits the market These statements are from just some of the hundreds traveling to the Benedictine monastery in Gower, a small town about an hour north of Kansas City. The focus is a body revealed to have no signs of decay four years after burial. In the words of the sisters, it is "incorrupt." The word incorrupt lends special meaning to Catholics as it signals a possible path to sainthood.The person at the center of the attention is Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who is described as the African American foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles.The sisters told the Cat...

WATCH: Denver Post co-hosts debate for mayoral candidates Kelly Brough, Mike Johnston

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

Every day now, ballots for Denver’s runoff election are filtering into the city Clerk and Recorder’s Office and still the two contenders for the top spot are working to differentiate themselves.Either Kelly Brough or Mike Johnston will be named Denver’s next mayor, taking over for the term-limited Mayor Michael Hancock, who has held the spot for a dozen years. The two candidates are set to square off Tuesday night ahead of the June 6 runoff.In recent weeks both Brough, a former city official and leader of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Johnston, a former state senator and head of Gary Community Ventures, have collected endorsements from former competitors, colleagues and politicos.In the first month of the runoff, Johnston raised more money than Brough. And now Johnston is defending his record against an attack ad bought by an outside spending group backing Brough.Throughout their campaigns both candidates have taken stances on issues like high housing costs, homelessness...

Broncos bringing back versatile offensive lineman Cam Fleming, sources say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

Cam Fleming is returning to the Broncos.The veteran tackle and Denver agreed to a one-year deal, sources told The Post on Tuesday afternoon. It is worth up to $4 million, according to a source with knowledge of the contract.Fleming, 30, has spent each of the past two seasons with the Broncos on separate one-year arrangements and now will make it three years for three different coaches.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Broncos release veteran kicker Brandon McManus Denver Broncos | Broncos Mailbag: Isn’t all of Denver’s spending a waste if they don’t get off to a hot start? Denver Broncos | Weighing the impact for Broncos of NFL’s third QB rule change and Thursday night flex scheduling Denver Broncos | Kiszla vs. Gabriel: What’s the most production Broncos can expect from Javonte Williams in 2023? Denver Broncos | Broncos OTA storylines: Wide receivers, Vance Joseph, front seven d...

Woman trapped down manhole rescued in Orange County

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

A woman who somehow got trapped 12 feet down a manhole was rescued by first responders with the Orange County Fire Authority on Tuesday.  The incident occurred in the 1200 block of North Bush Street in Santa Ana at around 2:21 p.m., officials said.  While firefighters were in the area for a medical aid call involving a different patient, they learned that the woman was trapped in the sewer. Once she was located, first responders requested a technical rescue team, who used a pulley system to get down the utility access hole, assess the woman and pull her out.  Fortunately, the woman was right underneath the manhole where crews gained access to the sewer, Battalion Chief Chad Gremel told KTLA. He added that the woman was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition.  First responder with the Orange County Fire Authority seen going down a manhole for the technical rescue of a woman trapped in the sewer system on May 23, 2023. (KTLA)A female patient seen rece...

Los Angeles City Council approves ‘robot dog’ donation to police

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:16:40 GMT

A four-legged “robot dog” is the newest member of the Los Angeles Police Department after the City Council voted to approve its acquisition on Tuesday.The robot - a quadruped unmanned ground vehicle called “Spot” - is manufactured by Boston Dynamics and is valued at nearly $280,000.Spot was first offered as a gift to the LAPD's Metropolitan Division by the Los Angeles Police Foundation in March. The foundation is a nonprofit group that has "awarded more than $44 million in grants to the LAPD" since 1998, according to its website.LAPD said the robot will be used in a limited number of scenarios including “incidents involving active shooters, assessment of explosives, hostage situations, natural disasters, hazardous materials assessment, barricaded suspects and search and rescue missions.”Spot will not be equipped with any weapons systems, facial recognition software or analysis capabilities, officials said. It will also not be used for routine patrol duties or covert surveillance ope...