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Commission vote on DPS in Austin won't stand after violation of Texas Open Meetings Act

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An item voted on during last month's Austin Human Rights Commission meeting won't stand, according to the city, after the commission failed to follow proper Texas Open Meetings Act requirements. According to a tweet from Kolby Duhon, which appears to have been deleted Friday, the item would have called on the city council to "hold a vote on the future of the joint policing agreement" with the Texas Department of Public Safety to "do what they know in their hearts is right for the citizens of Austin." Duhon brought the item forward. In the resolution, Duhon pointed to the disproportionate number of Black and Latino Austinites arrested during the first month of DPS' partnership with Austin police. KXAN has previously reported that 65% of people DPS arrested for misdemeanors during that time were Latino and 23% were Black. City Council has since directed the police department and DPS to shift their strategy. But the item suggesting council nix the partnership doesn't a...

Sunset Valley Police: Bank juggings becoming more common

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Law enforcement officials are reminding people how to avoid becoming the next victim of jugging, a crime that is happening more often, according to the Sunset Valley police chief. Jugging is defined by Austin police as a form of theft that includes robbery. A person will stake out a bank parking lot and wait for people to come out with money. They will then follow that person to their next location and take the money from them or their car. What is ‘jugging’? Austin police see uptick in cases Juan Cabrera, a south Austin man, is one of the most recent victims of jugging. "Even when you feel you are in a safe neighborhood, it can still be dangerous," Cabrera said about the incident. He had gone to a Chase bank in south Austin and withdrew an envelope of cash. He placed that cash in his glove box and drove to a nearby Best Buy to run a quick errand. Cabrera was in the store for less than five minutes, and when he returned to his car, he found his window smashed and...

Lawmakers hear from public on property tax relief

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A special committee of Texas House lawmakers on Friday heard public testimony regarding a slate of new legislation aimed at cutting property taxes.The House Select Study Committee on Sustainable Property Tax Relief convened at the Capitol to hear testimony "only on methods to reduce the tax burden of appraisal increases on all real property."Speaker Dade Phelan created that committee amid a months-long standoff on a deal to lower property taxes. He was a primary supporter of legislation to cap the amount that a property's appraisal value can increase each year, but that idea fell flat in the Texas Senate.The two chambers are now at odds over the strategies the state should employ to lower property taxes, primarily whether the raise the homestead exemption to $100,000. That is the Texas Senate's top priority, but Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas House have supported legislation without it.The House select committee consists of eight Republicans and five Democrats, a...

San Marcos man sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to 9 sexual assault related charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A man who was accused in 2019 of sexually assaulting three woman in San Marcos was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to nine charges relating to sexual assault. Tyshane Thomas, 24, pled guilty to the following charges in May: Aggravated sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultBurglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony or sexual assaultBurglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony or sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultBurglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony or sexual assaultThomas was sentenced to life in prison.

Obituary: Longtime director of Listening House believed in offering ‘radical hospitality’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Rosemarie Reger-Rumsey believed in offering those in need an extravagant welcome.Reger-Rumsey served as the executive director of Listening House of St. Paul, a drop-in center for the unhoused, for 20 years. The nonprofit organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.“She just had uncompromising compassion for the people she served,” said former St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman. “The whole concept of Listening House – to just be present to people who are unheard and unseen – was the most amazing thing when I first got to know about it, and Rosemarie was the perfect person to lead it.”Reger-Rumsey died Monday surrounded by family members at her house in St. Paul’s Crocus Hill neighborhood of complications related to lung cancer. She was 72.Listening House is a community center where unhoused and disadvantaged adults can spend time during the day and evening, take a nap, read a book, do laundry, watch a movie, play cards, pick up mail, get a snack and find fellowship. Staff a...

Crossgates Mall shooter sentenced to prison

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady teenager was sentenced to prison for an April 2022 shooting at Crossgates Mall. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Devon Beckles, 17, was sentenced to 3.5 years in state prison to be followed by 2.5 years of post-release supervision. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree.On April 10, 2022, a 17-year-old girl was shot in the mall parking lot. She sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Second retail dispensary opens in Capital Region

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The second adult-use retail cannabis dispensary opened its doors in the Capital Region on Friday. A ribbon cutting was held for Stage One Dispensary in Rensselaer. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Located at 810 Broadway Unit C, they've been selling products for the past month through a delivery service. The first dispensary licenses in the state have gone to those who were negatively affected by the previous ban on marijuana. The first dispensary in the Capital Region was Upstate Canna Co., and it opened in Schenectady in April.

Harbour Point still unfit for occupancy after inspection

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- City leaders in Troy said tenants still cannot return to the Harbour Point Gardens apartment complex after an independent engineering firm completed inspections on Thursday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Crews are still removing loose bricks and damaged electric service boxes. Inspectors also said there were unsecured windows. Tenants cannot return home until all the issues are resolved and another inspection is complete. The city council voted Thursday night to subpoena the property managers who previously said they have made close to $2 million in repairs since taking over in 2022 and are working to improve conditions.

Arapahoe County Sheriff obtains arrest warrant for father suspected of kidnapping his 4 children

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained an arrest warrant Friday for the man suspected of kidnapping four children last week.Howard Myles, the 47-year-old noncustodial father of the four siblings, had a court-ordered weekend visit, according to a Friday news release from the sheriff’s office.Myles picked up the children at 3:45 p.m. on June 30 and was supposed to return them on July 2, but never showed up, the release stated.On July 2, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Child Alert for the four children.***MISSING AND ENDANGERED CHILDREN***PLEASE SHARE! Arapahoe sheriff deputies are searching for four siblings between the ages of 4 to 9. They are believed to be with a man named Howard Myles who has ties to Louisiana and Texas. He may be headed out of state. The children are… pic.twitter.com/ks4vFZqIPG— Arapahoe Sheriff (@ArapahoeSO) July 3, 2023Clarissa Gardette, the children’s mother, is believed to be with Myles as wel...

Nuggets summer league observations: Peyton Watson produces, Collin Gillespie scuffles and Hunter Tyson flexes in loss to Milwaukee

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:39 GMT

Initial thoughts from the Denver Nuggets’ 92-85 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their NBA Summer League opener in Las Vegas on Friday.Positive signs from Watson: All Summer League stardom should be accompanied by one well-established caveat: Playing well in Las Vegas does not guarantee NBA success. Not playing competently, however, can be the kiss of death — especially for second-year pros like Peyton Watson. In that sense, the UCLA product’s performance against Milwaukee was reassuring. Not just because Watson was productive (23 points, five rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists) but because he looked distinctly comfortable doing it.The defense is a given with the long-armed, 6-foot-7 wing. It’s on the other end where Watson needs to show his growth. And there were positive signs Friday as he was aggressive attacking the paint (10 of 13 free throws), shooting from 3 (1 of 3) and setting up teammates.One sequence early in the third quarter encap...