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Faster rail service between Chicago and St. Louis begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Train travel in and out of Chicago is speeding up. Governor JB Pritzker was at Union Station on Monday to announce the start of a new high-speed rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. Trains on the Lincoln Service Route will now travel up to 110 miles an hour — 20 miles an hour faster than before. It's expected to shave 15 minutes off the travel time, making the commute less than five hours between the two cities.  Illinois’ cocktails to-go law extended 5 more years “Illinois is the only state where all seven of the nation’s largest railroads operate. That’s a unique economic advantage recognized by employers across the globe, helping our state attract and maintain quality jobs,” Pritzker said. “By upgrading to higher-speed service on Illinois’ largest passenger rail line, we are solidifying our status as the transportation hub of North America. Investments like these do more than just connect cities – they allow our residents to access opportunities ...

Supreme Court lets lawsuit over team doctor's sexual abuse proceed against Ohio State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a decision that allows more than 230 men to sue Ohio State University over decades-old sexual abuse by a university doctor, the late Richard Strauss.Two cases involving the abuse were on a list of many cases the court said it would not hear. And, as is typical, the court did not comment in saying it would not hear the cases.Ohio State University had urged the court to review a ruling by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that revived lawsuits that had been dismissed. The men who sued are among hundreds of former student-athletes and other alumni who say they were abused by Strauss, who worked at the school from 1978 to 1998.They say university officials failed to stop him despite complaints raised as early as the late 1970s. Many of them allege Strauss abused them during required physicals and other medical exams at campus athletic facilities, a student health center, his home and an off-campus clin...

DeSantis vows to end birthright citizenship as part of immigration plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

(The Hill) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a leading Republican presidential candidate, vowed to end birthright citizenship as a part of his immigration released on Monday. “We will take action to end the idea that the children of illegal aliens are entitled to birthright citizenship if they are born in the United States,” the plan, which is titled “No Excuses,” reads.  “Dangling the prize of citizenship to the future offspring of illegal immigrants is a major driver of illegal migration. It is also inconsistent with the original understanding of 14th Amendment, and we will force the courts and Congress to finally address this failed policy.” Like DeSantis, former President Trump vowed last month to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who entered the country illegally.  The former president also pledged to end the practice with an executive order during his administration in 2018. However, most immigration expe...

Pflugerville ISD police officer arrested after 'inappropriate interactions' with students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 26, 2023PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — A Pflugerville ISD police officer was arrested after what the district called "inappropriate interactions with students."A spokesperson for PfISD told KXAN the district was informed of the incident and immediately placed the officer on leave.The district partnered with law enforcement to conduct an investigation, and the officer was fired during the course of that investigation, the spokesperson said.PfISD said it was later notified that the former officer had been arrested."The alleged behavior is not condoned by Pflugerville ISD," the district spokesperson told KXAN in a statement. "PfISD remains committed to maintaining a safe learning environment for its students and staff and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement to achieve this objective."KXAN has followed up with the district to confirm the officer's name, as well as when he was placed on leave an...

Father, 3-year-old daughter on ATV killed in hit-and-run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 3-year-old girl and her father were killed in a hit-and-run accident on Friday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.Officials said the incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. in the 5500 block of Delta Post Drive. That's in Hornsby Bend, near SH 45 and FM 969.Austin-Travis County EMS responded, but DPS is now the investigating agency."Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling south on Delta Post Drive when it failed to give one half of the roadway and struck a Kawasaki Brute Force 300 Utility ATV head on," DPS said. "The driver of the Chevrolet left the scene of the crash."The driver is not in custody, according to DPS. KXAN is waiting to hear whether the driver is facing any criminal charges. This story will be updated by reporter Jala Washington.

The current heat wave peaks in the next two days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Heat Advisory (orange) continues for all of Central Texas today, with some areas getting bumped up to an Excessive Heat Warning (pink) for "feels-like" temperatures up to 115+º during the afternoon. Both are in effect until 8 p.m. At noon, the heat index reached 108° at both Flatonia and La Grange. BLOG: June likely to end as top 5 warmest in Austin Heat alerts in effect for every county on MondayThe center of the upper-level ridge is northeast of El Paso this afternoon heading towards Central Texas. Forecasters predict this high to be to the northeast of Austin by 6 p.m. Tuesday. For now, it looks like tomorrow and Wednesday afternoons will be the hottest days with a forecast of 105° each afternoon.Hottest days will be tomorrow and WednesdayThe high, by Friday, will be over Louisiana as it continues to weaken. Upper-level moisture will increase just a bit from the Gulf so that by the weekend we can expect to see scattered clouds both afternoons. Some numeri...

Austin Community College names 3 finalists for chancellor job

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Community College District named three finalists in the search for its next chancellor. They include two Texas college presidents and one out-of-state candidate.The new chancellor will replace Richard Rhodes, who announced his retirement in January after 12 years on the job. He plans to retire Aug. 31. These are the three finalists:Dr. Joyce Ester, the president of Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MinnesotaDr. Robert Garza, the president of Alamo Colleges District-Palo Alto College in San Antonio, TexasDr. Russell Lowery-Hart, the president of Amarillo College in Amarillo, TexasThe college is holding sessions this week for community members to meet each candidate at the Round Rock, Highland and South Austin campuses. Dates, times and locations are listed online. Next steps in the chancellor search are internal and external community forums and ACC Board of Trustees' visits to each finalist's campus, according to ACC. Then, the board will appoin...

Colin Jost of 'SNL' to perform in Rutland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

RUTLAND, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Writer, actor, and comedian Colin Jost is set to perform in Rutland. Jost is coming to the Paramount Theatre on July 28. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Jost is a head writer for "Saturday Night Live." He also stars in the "Weekend Update" segment alongside Michael Che. Jost has won five Writers Guild Awards and two Peabody Awards. He's been nominated for 12 Emmy Awards for his writing on "SNL."In addition to writing, Jost is an actor who has starred in films such as “How to Be Single,” “Coming 2 America,” and “Tom and Jerry.” He is also married to actress Scarlett Johansen. 2023 Capital Region fair season schedule Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 28 at 10 a.m., with a member pre-sale starting on June 27. You can buy tickets on the Paramount Theatre website.

St. Louis Blues to play preseason game in Kansas City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – For the third straight year, the St. Louis Blues will play a preseason game in the Kansas City area.The Blues will take on the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. The 5,800-seat arena is home to the ECHL's Kansas City Mavericks.“We could not be more excited to have the St. Louis Blues return to Cable Dahmer Arena this fall for the third year in a row,” Lamar Hunt Jr., the Mavericks owner, said. “We are always eager to continue to showcase the great hockey fan base that exists in Kansas City.”The Blues' previous preseason trips resulted in sellouts.Tickets go on sale to the public on July 18 at noon. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Cable Dahmer Arena box office, or by calling the Mavericks ticket office at 816-252-7825, or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Denver Public Schools appeals judge’s order requiring district to release recording of board’s closed-door meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:37 GMT

Denver Public Schools on Monday appealed a judge’s order requiring the district to publicly release a recording of the Board of Education’s five-hour, closed-door meeting the day after the March shooting inside East High School. DPS argued in its notice of appeal that the contents of the meeting “should not be made public because doing so would do substantial injury to the public interest.”Last week, Denver District Court Judge Andrew Luxen ordered Colorado’s largest school district to release the recording to a coalition of media organizations — including The Denver Post — by noon Monday after finding that DPS violated state law when the board met in an executive session on March 23. The media organizations had sued the district, seeking the release of the recording, alleging the school board violated Colorado law by making policy decisions behind closed doors and not properly declaring an executive session before doing so.After reviewing the recording himse...