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Dept. of Education looks into legacy admissions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Legacy admissions, in which universities give students related to alumni preference, could be on the chopping block after the U.S. Department of Education agreed to investigate the practice at Harvard University.The Lawyers for Civil Rights advocacy group filed the complaint that prompted the investigation."It's harmful to applicants of color," Michael Kippins of the organization said of legacy admissions. "Donor and legacy preference overwhelmingly favor white applicants and many of them are not as qualified as applicants of color."Lawyers for Civil Rights' complaint alleges applicants related to wealthy Harvard donors are seven times more likely to be admitted."This complaint targets Harvard specifically; however, the Department of Education has very broad power to ensure … programs and organizations that receive federal funding not discriminate," Kippins said.Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said the practice is among many being examined to ensure equa...

The APD/DPS partnership is over, but is it?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 28, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said it still communicates with the Texas Department of Public Safety, "but whatever strategy [DPS] deploys is going to be up to them," APD Assistant Chief Jeff Greenwalt said. Earlier this month, Interim City Manager Jesus Garza suspended the City's partnership with DPS with the approval of Mayor Kirk Watson. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the added DPS staff members to continue their operations in Austin. He also directed an additional 30 troopers to patrol the streets. Mixed reactions as City of Austin suspends partnership with DPS Prior to the partnership, DPS was already in Austin, working highway patrol, special criminal operations and Capitol safety. When the partnership began, 80 additional troopers and 20 additional Criminal Investigations Division (CID) agents were deployed in Austin. "It was disappointing," Greenwalt said of the announcement to e...

Austin's 21-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the 2nd-longest in recorded history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing one of the longest stretches of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means, as of Friday, temperatures have reached the century mark for 21 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that ties as the second-longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The KXAN First Warning Weather team is currently forecasting at least seven more days at or above 100°, which would extend the streak to 28 days. That would surpass 2011 as the longest of all time. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade The record streak currently stands at 27 days, set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat.Meanwhile, Austin-Bergstrom International Airpor...

Record-long heatwave shows no signs of abating

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Friday was Austin's 21st-consecutive day with high temperatures reaching or exceeding 100°, and it is likely we will break the all-time record streak set in 2011.The longest-ever stretch of consecutive 100° days at Camp Mabry was 27 days in a row during our hottest summer on record in 2011. This is a number we will surpass next Friday as our streak reaches 28 consecutive days. Hazy skies brought on by a cloud of African dust will keep Austin's air quality in the moderate category for the next several days.We will likely wrap July, 2023 as Austin's hottest on record, meaning we will have had two consecutive hottest Julys in Austin out of 125 years of record. Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) Long-range computer models show little signs of a pattern change, barring a surprise tropical storm from the Gulf of Mexico, which are hard to detect more than a week in the future. Barring rain from the tropics, it is not out of the question that Austin could have 40-50 ...

Austin Energy works to expand discount program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Energy (AE) said it was working to expand its discount program, according to a memo sent to the Austin City Council and Mayor Kirk Watson.In the memo, AE provided an update on the completed and ongoing actions it was doing to support the expansion of bill discounts provided through its Customer Assistance Program (CAP).AE said CAP provided bill discounts on city utility services, weatherization, emergency financial assistance and arrearage management programs for income-qualified and medically vulnerable customers.“It is estimated that as many as 93,000 customers in the Austin area could be eligible for the program,” the utility said.The memo said June enrollments for the program reached more than 53,100 accounts, which surpassed its goal of 42,780 households.“Upcoming goals anticipate 72% of the eligible population being enrolled in the Discount program by June 2024 and 90% by June 2025,” AE said.According to the memo, the utility said it would continue to wo...

Lawsuit filed against Dan Patrick, Texas Senate over Paxton impeachment proceedings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A recent lawsuit filed in Travis County district court alleged improper handlings during the impeachment proceedings against suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The lawsuit was filed against the Texas State Senate, Texas Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Austin Osborn and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Gag order placed on Paxton impeachment participants The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Steven Hotze, a Republican activist, Allesan Paige Streeter, a Collin County resident in State Sen. Angela Paxton's district, and Molly White, a former Texas House of Representatives member.KXAN has reached out to the defendants in the lawsuit. This story will be updated when we receive a response.The lawsuit alleged the Senate rules created for the impeachment were done in secret."The process has been anything but transparent and has excluded Texans from participating and having their voices heard in a proceeding that could result in almost 30 million Texans being disenfranchised f...

Kowalski’s employees in Eagan, west metro avert three-day strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

Kowalski’s employees have reached a tentative agreement and called off a threatened three-day strike.Announced Friday, more than 600 employees across six different Kowalski’s stores reached a tentative agreement for a two-year contract that provides raises for part-time and full-time employees and secures worker-driven health care, according to a news release from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663.The strike that was planned for Aug. 4, 5 and 6 across Eagan, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Minneapolis Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis Lyndale Avenue and Minneapolis Chicago Avenue (Parkview) Kowalski’s stores has been called off.“We secured our Union Healthcare, won historic wage increases, pay equity and secured our retirement,” said Jacob Stromquist, produce manager at the Minneapolis Lyndale store, in the release. “I’m proud to be a UFCW Local 663 member and Kowalski’s employee.”According to the union, Kowalski’s employees have been working without a collective bargaining agreement...

People finding ways to keep cool in Capital Region 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – As temperatures crept up throughout the day, people found different ways to stay cool. Medical professionals say staying hydrated before, during and after outdoor activities is crucial. Those who have no choice but to be outside say they keep from overheating by drinking plenty of water.Construction workers say dri-fit clothing is better than cotton and some even swear long-sleeves keep them cooler, while also protecting their skin from too much sun exposure.People who can escape the heat but choose to be outside say they make sure to bring the essentials“Keeping a towel I got a towel in my bag, keeping a couple of bottles of water with you. Making sure you’re hydrated before you come,” said basketball player Darius Hines.Some say it’s their love for what they do that fuels them, despite the soaring heat.“Just the motivation of it that’s why everyone else is out here,” said scooter rider Jovan Jackson. “Sometimes it’s just so fun you don’t even care how ...

Mother stabs her three children in Pompey and then kills herself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

UPDATE 7-28-23 at 4:15 p.m. -- Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick confirms to NewsChannel 9 that the suspect is the mother of the three children, who died from a self-inflicted wound. Correction (July 28, 1:11 p.m.): This article previously stated three sisters were stabbed. There were actually two sisters and a brother stabbed according to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office.POMPEY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) -- Two teen sisters and a brother were taken to the hospital via ambulance after being stabbed by their mother this morning in the Town of Pompey.The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office said that after stabbing her three children, the mother shot and killed herself.The call went out for the stabbing at Oran Delphi Road, between Number 2 Road and Hill Street, in Pompey.Onondaga County Sheriff, Toby Shelley says that at least one of the teens went to the neighbors asking for help around 9:15 a.m., and the neighbor called 911.Once the Sheriff's Office arrived, Deputies along wi...

Lyme community concerned as solar farm fire continues to burn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:00 GMT

LYME, N.Y. (WWTI) -- Don't go outside. These were the order given to people in the town of Lyme in Jefferson County, New York on Thursday, July 27. A solar farm on County Route 179 caught on fire, which stemmed from one of the solar batteries.This concerned officials of potentially toxic fumes. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Management issued a shelter-in-place order for those who live within a one-mile radius of the farm. Route 179 was also closed to traffic.Emergency response agencies from across the region rushed to the scene. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul also deployed the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control.After four hours of battling the fire, the county's shelter-in-place order was lifted. But as of the morning hours on Friday, July 28, the fire continued the burn.Flames and billows of smoke could be seen from the reopened Ro...