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Slotkin’s Senate run may complicate Dems bid to retake House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — When U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin announced plans to run for a critical Senate seat in Michigan, many Democrats were pleased.The three-term Lansing-area congresswoman was among the stars of last year’s midterm election, handily winning one of the nation’s most expensive contests. Her victory has largely dissuaded other prominent Democrats from challenging her for the Senate nomination and so far, no high-profile Republican has stepped forward. It’s reassured Democrats that in a year when they are defending twice as many seats as Republicans are, their standing in Michigan may be safe. While that may be good news for the effort to protect Democrats’ fragile Senate majority, it’s complicating the party’s bid to retake the House in 2024. Democrats need to gain just five seats to return to power, but it’s not clear whether anyone else can repeat Slotkin’s success in one of the most competitive districts in the United Stat...

More rain today through Thursday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Showers and thunderstorms moved over most of our southern viewing area prior to sunrise. Only a few lightning strikes noted.More severe weather was noted from San Saba County southward into Gillespie County late Saturday afternoon and night. Downpours occurred in these two counties with Doss (Gillespie Co.) measuring 2.13" for the highest 24-hour rain total.There was a funnel cloud reported at 10:09 p.m. Saturday two miles west of Fredericksburg. There were two reports of hail two inches in diameter, one 5 miles south of Loyal Valley in Mason County and one 8 miles west-southwest of Crabapple in Gillespie County. In all there were 12 report of hail 1.00 to 2.00 inches in diameter. There is a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms today. Storms should remain below severe limits. It will be chilly today thanks to the cold front that moved south last night. It has left a northeast wind that will gust to between 20 and 30 mph.A chilly day on this SundayLower rain chanc...

Medical billing transparency legislation pushes forward

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

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Biden approves disaster declaration for 2023 winter storm in 13 Texas counties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — President Joe Biden has issued a disaster declaration for 13 Texas counties impacted in the winter storm that iced parts of Texas earlier this year.On Friday, Biden approved a major disaster declaration for 13 Texas counties impacted by the late January and early February winter storm. The declaration included Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. PREVIOUS: Gov. Greg Abbott issues ice storm disaster declaration for some Texas counties The ice storm brought some of the worst icing to Central Texas in more than 15 years and left thousands without power for days.In February, Gov. Greg Abbott asked Biden for a presidential disaster declaration for 23 counties that were impacted by the Jan. 30-Feb. 2 winter weather. "This partial approval of my Major Disaster Declaration request submitted to the President in February is a critical first step to helping Texans recover from this severe weather event," Abbott said. "Texas will continue to work with...

Colorado immigrants allege cruel treatment in ICE enforcement tactics and detention, call for changes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

Years after Hilda’s husband was deported, the ramifications seem only to intensify.Their daughter is terrified of police officers. Their son began wetting the bed and hasn’t stopped. She disconnected all of her electronics because she worried she was being watched constantly. Her mother died.Now, the 32-year-old Denver woman doesn’t have stable housing after losing her mobile home.“Really, I have very little hope,” said Hilda, who spoke on the condition her last name be withheld because she’s in the country without legal authorization and fears for her family’s safety in Mexico. She added: “I’m suffering from depression.”The Denver Post spoke to Hilda and five other Coloradans left struggling after U.S. Immigration and Enforcement officers detained them or their loved ones, in order to get a sense of how their lives are being affected by federal immigration enforcement in this state.Their experiences corroborated findings from a report published last we...

California snowpack data debunked: 2023 was no record year. And neither was 1952

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

It was the snowpack reading that spawned a hundred headlines. “California ties 1952 record for all-time Sierra snowpack,” proclaimed KTVU. “California’s snowpack soars to record high after 17 atmospheric rivers,” trumpeted the Washington Post.State officials largely seemed to agree. “As of right now, it’s looking like this year’s statewide snowpack will probably, most likely, be either the first — or second — biggest snowpack on record dating back to 1950,” Sean de Guzman, manager of the California Department of Water Resources monthly snow survey, declared the day of the official April reading earlier this month.But this year wasn’t a record at all. It only appeared that way in large part because of the state’s shifting definition of a “normal” snowpack, which critics say obscures the true impact of climate change.And, in a closer look at the state’s seven decades of snowpack data, 1952 ...

49ers draft preview: Calm early rounds before another All-Pro storm?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers will be on the sidelines for the first two rounds of this week’s NFL Draft. And then … here comes their next wave of All-Pros.The next George Kittle (2017 fifth-rounder). The next Fred Warner (2018 third-rounder). The next Talanoa Hufanga (2021 fifth-rounder). The next Brock Purdy, who didn’t make All-Pro but somehow morphed from last draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant” to an NFL Rookie of the Year finalist.Too optimistic to expect more magic? Welcome to the ultimate week of fantasy football, where every player is a future star and every team basks in the Lombardi Trophy’s glow.“You’re talking about guys that are incredibly football-smart, and they’re incredibly passionate,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said of the 49ers’ recent draft finds. “They were leaders at the places that they played. … They’ve figured out the makeup part of this whole thing. They have fou...

Opinion: I felt disgust, guilt and shame over Israel’s actions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

With tears streaming down my cheeks and unable to catch my breath, I was watching a stunning sunset over the turquoise Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv. Just 90 minutes earlier, and 60 miles away, I had been in the south Hebron hills of the West Bank.David Matz is a clinical psychologist practicing in Lafayette. I have been visiting family in Israel since I was a little boy in 1969. This was the first time I witnessed the Israeli occupation of Palestinians. The tears streaming down my cheeks were tears of disgust, guilt and shame about the crimes that are being perpetrated against other human beings in my name, In the name of Jews. In the Jewish state of Israel.As the child of a Holocaust survivor, I was taught in the words of Hillel “that which is hateful to you do not do to your neighbors” and Martin Luther King Jr.  that “no one is free until we are all free.” How could this dehumanization be happening in front of my eyes?I was participating earlier this year with 10 others fro...

Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies out with thigh injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich may have to do without Canadian defender Alphonso Davies for the rest of the season.The Bavarian powerhouse said Sunday that the 22-year-old Davies “sustained a muscle bundle injury” in the back of his left thigh during the 3-1 loss at Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Davies had to come off early in the game.Bayern did not say how much time Davies will miss. There are just five rounds remaining in the Bundesliga. Bayern has already been knocked out of the Champions League and German Cup and it lost the Bundesliga lead to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Kiptum wins London Marathon in 2nd fastest time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:30 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Kelvin Kiptum collapsed to the ground after winning the London Marathon on Sunday and recording the second fastest time in history over the distance.The 23-year-old Kenyan runner broke the course record with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute, 25 seconds and just missed out on Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by 16 seconds.“I am so happy with the result,” said Kiptum. “I don’t know what to say right now, I am just grateful. The course felt good, there was a bit of rain around halfway but it was OK.“I enjoy doing the marathons, it is good preparation for me. I loved it, I am very happy.”In the women’s race, Sifan Hassan completed a stunning comeback to win on her marathon debut after appearing to be injured part way through. In what was long distance great Mo Farah’s final marathon, defending champion Amos Kipruto and world champion Tamirat Tola were also among the elite men’s field that Kiptum left behind. Farah, 40, finished ninth with a time of 2:10:28.Hassan...