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NEA president vows to transform nation's largest union, putting 'social justice' first

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

CHICAGO -- The leader of the nation’s largest labor union, the three million member National Education Association, visited the Chicago area Wednesday.Nearly 450 kindergarten through eighth grade students have gone back to school and teachers are back to work at Pennoyer Elementary School in Norridge.Becky Pringle, the National Education Association (NEA) President, stopped by Pennoyer Elementary School on Wednesday to celebrate the school finally won a funding referendum after six failed tries.Pringle says she’ll take Pennoyer school’s example of persistence back to Washington as she works to shape the nation’s education policy.The NEA is a power player in shaping federal education policy and Pringle sees it as her mission to transform the union into a vehicle for social justice.“When I became NEA president, what I articulated as a strategic vision was, we would reclaim public education as a common good, as the foundation of our democracy, but we couldn’t stop there" Pringle said. ...

MLB pitcher's foot broken after hit by 119.5 mph comebacker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit pitcher Matt Manning's right foot was broken Wednesday night when he was hit by a 119.5 mph comebacker off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton in the Tigers' 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees.The 25-year-old right-hander will miss the rest of the season. He missed 2 1/2 months this year after being hit on the foot by a comebacker off the bat of Toronto's Alejandro Kirk.Stanton's hardest-hit ball this season rebounded off Manning's foot, struck the pitcher on the backside and was gloved by Manning, who threw to first for the final out of the first inning. Manning immediately was attended to by an athletic trainer and manager A.J. Hinch. Former NFL receiver on life support after work accident, sources say Beau Briske started warming up and relieved Manning to start the bottom of the second.Manning was struck by Kirk's 97.3 mph comebacker on April 11 and didn't return to the Tigers until June 27. He is 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 15 starts.In July, Los Angeles Angels outfi...

Former WWE pro wrestling star dies: reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

(WKBN) - A former WWE pro wrestling star has died, according to multiple reports.Adnan bin Abdul Kareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie, who was known as General Adnan and Billy White Wolf in WWE, passed away on Wednesday. He was 84.His former stablemate, WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter, announced the news on X, formerly known as Twitter.WWE confirmed Adnan's death, extending "condolences to Adnan Al-Kaissie's family, friends, and fans."Al-Kaissie debuted in 1959 after an amateur wrestling career in Iraq and attending Oklahoma State University, WWE wrote. Bruce Springsteen postpones September concerts while receiving medical treatment The native of Iraq won the WWE Tag Team titles with Chief Jay Strongbow in 1976. He also competed for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) during his decades-long career.In 1990, Adnan returned to the WWE and aligned himself with Sgt. Slaughter as a pro-Iraqi character "General Adnan." Adnan teamed up with Slaughter...

Some senators concerned about McConnell as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — During his first press conference since freezing in public, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reassured Americans he can still do his job."I'm going to finish my term as leader and I'm gonna finish my Senate term," McConnell said.Doubts circulated after the Republican leader appeared unable to move or speak in both July and August.The Capitol physician gave McConnell the green light to continue working and said he showed no signs of suffering a stroke or seizure."Dr. Monnahan's report addressed what concerns people might have, and some things that happened to me, did happen to me, and really didn't," McConnell said.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he is glad to see his Republican counterpart back in the halls of Congress."He's doing well," Schumer said. "We're working together well and I always wish him the best."But some of McConnell's fellow Republicans, like Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), are ...

ERCOT returning to normal operations, Texans still asked to conserve energy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video explains the different ERCOT alert levels.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' main electric grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas canceled its emergency level alert indicating rolling outages were possible, due to low power reserves.Earlier in the day, ERCOT issued a conservation alert for Texans Wednesday evening due to potential "tight grid conditions," according to a press release. Understanding ERCOT’s emergency alert levels ERCOT has several different Energy Emergency Alert levels, or EEAs. After Normal Grid Conditions, the levels are Conservation Alert level, then EEA 1, 2, and 3.Here’s what the alert levels mean:Conservation Alert: This is a voluntary request to reduce electrical use, ERCOT said. While ERCOT said it is not in emergency operations, it asks the public and “all government agencies to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.”Energy Emergency Level 1: Conservation is considered to be cri...

Scattered rain and cooler weather next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following a stretch of record heat that lasts through the coming weekend, we are finally tracking promising signs of wetter, cooler weather next week.Record heat next four daysRecord high temperatures are in the forecast Thursday through Sunday in the Austin area, potentially reaching as high as 107° on Friday. This would be a tie for Austin's second-hottest temperature ever observed in September.Hottest September temperatures on record in AustinWetter, milder weather next weekAt last, we are tracking consistent signs of wetter, cooler weather next week. A shift in the heat dome, an early-season cool front and a little moisture from a Pacific hurricane will help bring up rain chances Tuesday through Thursday next week.This could be the most beneficial, widespread rain event in at least three months with 1-2 inches of rain expected in many areas. Stay with us as we monitor new forecast data over the next several days.Clouds, scattered rain and northerly winds behind ...

Hamline-Midway Library again cleared for demolition after St. Paul approves environmental review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

When the city of St. Paul planned a complete demolition and rebuild of the Hamline-Midway Library at 1558 W. Minnehaha Ave., a coalition of neighborhood residents and historic preservationists objected. They successfully petitioned for the library, built in 1930, to be added to the National Register of Historic Places, and asked the state to require an environmental review of the project known as an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, or EAW.The city was designated the responsible government unit to conduct the EAW review of its own plans, from stormwater and zoning to historic resources in and around the site. Perhaps predictably, the city has found that a more intense level of scrutiny known as an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is not necessary. That eliminates a major hurdle in front of both demolition and construction of a long-planned, $8 million new library in the months ahead.Undated courtesy image, circa October 2022, of a proposed design for the Riverview Library. ...

Western Minnesota sheriff cited for failure to yield in squad car, causing May collision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

A misdemeanor failure-to-yield charge has been filed against Swift County Sheriff John Holtz in a crash in western Minnesota that injured him and two others in May.Holtz, 54, of Appleton, was in a squad vehicle when the crash occurred east of Appleton.Court records show a single charge of failure to yield to a yield sign. The citation was filed Aug. 31 in Swift County District Court.No court date was listed in the case as of Tuesday afternoon. The charge says only that an appearance is required by Sept. 30.A letter from Holtz filed Tuesday asks that it be accepted as his plea of not guilty. It also states that he requests the arraignment be waived, that he waives the time requirements and he asks that a pretrial hearing be set.Holtz did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday from the West Central Tribune.According to an initial crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol, Holtz was driving a Swift County squad car northbound on 200th Avenue Southwest while a Subaru Impreza wa...

Arrest warrant out for man accused of videotaping women

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Saratoga Springs police said there is an arrest warrant out for Charles Ross. He is accused of videotaping women in the city while they were out for a run.About a week ago, a woman told NEWS10 that more than 20 years ago when she ran track at Saratoga High School, she was recorded without her consent. That video appeared on an Instagram account that was posted in May before it was taken down. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Police said the warrant for Ross is for a misdemeanor charge. "Our investigation is still ongoing. Our investigators are working diligently on bringing the matter to a successful close," Saratoga Springs Lt. Angela McGovern said. "So we do encourage people to continue to be aware of their surroundings when they're out in public. And if anything feels uncomfortable or frightening, they can always call us."Police also said they are allowing Ross to turn himself in.

Heroes Hideout closing shop in Colonie Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:47 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- After four years in the Colonie Center Mall, a toy store is permanently closing its doors. Heroes Hideout was located next to Macy's in the mall. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The news of the closure comes less than a week after the store held a meet and greet for two former "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" stars, Catherine Sutherland and Walter Emanuel Jones.The store will close on Oct. 8 and then open a store at Crossgates Mall in November. During this time, the store will still be available online.