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Best practices: North Texas tollway's human-centered approach

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.PLANO, Texas (KXAN) — The mood is romantic, lights are dim, soft music plays in the background.A couple dressed up laughs as the waiter drops off their check. It's a first date. "This was great, and you even look like your profile," she says as her date takes out a 25% off coupon clipped from a newspaper. "Is that a coupon?" she asks. "Yeah — well... " he responds shyly."I love ...

Tollway fixes once again face bumpy ride at Texas Capitol

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — As state lawmakers wrap up their work for the 88th regular legislative session, it appears efforts to address drivers' continual complaints about tollway operations in Texas will meet the same fate as previous proposed reforms: not gaining much steam. Texas legislators only have 140 days to wade through thousands of bills filed this year, and the issues that emerged as the main prio...

State's largest refugee resettlement agency lays off 45% of staff, closes offices

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Refugee Services of Texas, the state's largest refugee resettlement agency, announced it is laying off almost half of its staff and closing its offices in Fort Worth and Houston because of a budget shortfall. The agency is asking local Texans for donations as it puts a pause on accepting new refugee arrivals for the next 120 days. It is trying to raise $4 million by June 1. A budgetary shortfall Refugee Services of Texas (RST) helps people who have been granted refugee, or asylee status, resettle into Texas. The agency was busy after the mass evacuations of Afghan refugees from their home and continues to help people from that country. The agency said it has helped resettle 10,594 Afghans since September 2021, the most of any state. The past 18 months the agency has resettled the most refugees it has seen in its 45-year history, helping more than 4,700 people. It far outpaces what the agency was expecting and what it had budgeted for. The agency only expected to set...

Crime ring based in St. Charles targeted small towns

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - News first broke last month about the St. Charles arrest of Romanian jewel thieves, but newly released court documents explain the magnitude of the organized crime operation. The court documents also offered a few surprises involving the group that was hiding in plain sight.It’s hard to believe the ring settled on St. Charles, specifically North 3rd Street, in a short-term rental. The operation is believed to be on such a massive scale that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is involved. Before the bust, police warned people around the country about a group of young Romanians targeting small towns. The men and women range in age from their late 20s to early 30s. One of their reported targets was Miramar Beach, Florida, where they reportedly got away with more than $1 million in jewelry in December 2022. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ meets St. Charles yet again At the end of April, the suspects drove to St. Charles, where they reportedly rented the home on Nort...

Opinion: Colorado rancher is tired of paying a corrupt federal fee for meat-packing lobbyists

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

Does the phrase “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” ring a bell? Many Americans still remember this catchy slogan from a 1993 advertisement. But here’s a lesser-known detail about this campaign: It’s the product of checkoff programs, one of the most corrupt institutions in American agriculture.Until Congress reforms these programs, farmers’ and ranchers’ hard-earned dollars are being used to fund their own demise. The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act is our opportunity for checkoff reform.Once a voluntary fee, today’s checkoff is a mandatory tax that U.S. farmers and ranchers like me pay when we sell certain commodities, including beef. Since the beef checkoff was established in 1985, more than $1 billion in checkoff fees have been collected by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), which manages the government checkoff program.As a rancher paying the beef checkoff since its beginning, I’m angry it continues to be invested against my interests. It’s like being force...

PHOTOS: Road crews clear spring snow from Rocky Mountain National Park’s famed Trail Ridge Road

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

Crews worked to clear snow from Trail Ridge Road on May 10, 2023, in Rocky Mountain National Park.Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved highway in the United States with a top elevation of 12,183 feet. Plow operators can encounter drifts from 18 to 22 feet high.

Complaint alleges Lauren Boebert misused campaign money ahead of 2022 election

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert faces allegations that she misspent campaign funds, this time ahead of the 2022 election.Boebert is accused of exceeding campaign finance limits or improperly reporting nearly $60,000 spent on campaign calls and texts, potentially in support of her own reelection campaign, which she narrowly won against Democratic challenger Adam Frisch.In short, the complaint – filed this month by End Citizens United, a left-leaning political action committee – claims that Boebert either used her own political action committee’s money to benefit her reelection campaign, exceeding federal spending limits more than ten times over, or that she used that money to influence a different campaign and failed to report the spending appropriately.The accusations mark at least the third time Boebert, of Silt, has been accused of misspending campaign funds. First, the congresswoman paid herself more than $22,000 from her campaign account in 2020 for mileage expenses, which means she wo...

Three miles of downtown Denver roads will go car-free on Sunday for ¡Viva! Streets event

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

A new event series kicking off this weekend will close off two major Denver streets to cars and allow locals to traverse the city in a way they likely haven’t ever done before.¡Viva! Streets, as it’s called, hosts its first installment on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., during which time 3.5 miles of Broadway and Welton Street will be open exclusively to bikers, scooters and pedestrians. The event returns on June 4, July 9 and August 6.Organizers at Downtown Denver Partnership said the goal is to bring people together to enjoy a festive atmosphere and to get a little exercise while also increasing foot traffic to businesses along the route. But because Denver still largely maintains a car culture, some business owners worry the event could have the opposite effect.“This may not be an event that brings more people to businesses, that’s the concern right now,” said Luke Johnson, president of the Broadway Merchants Association, which advocates for businesses on its namesake street ...

Colorado’s “reverse auction” for state employee drug plan estimated to save $27.5 million

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

Switching the company that manages Colorado’s state employee drug plan is estimated to save more than $27 million over the next five years, but the manager that holds the current contract is formally protesting.In 2021, the state legislature passed a bill requiring the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration to hold a “reverse auction” for the contract to manage prescription drug coverage for state employees. The Colorado Workers for Innovative and New Solutions state employee union estimated the reverse auction could save $6 million to $10 million per year.The savings will most likely be close to $5.5 million each year for the next five years, which is about an 11% reduction, said Skip Miller, a state employee and president of Colorado WINS. There may be some changes in the cost of specific drugs, but the format of the reverse auction prevented bidders from shifting significant costs to employees, he said.Pharmacy benefit managers decide which drugs wi...

Lakeside Amusement Park Summer Scream returns with a ’90s theme

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:11:46 GMT

Denver Film’s signature fundraiser, Summer Scream, will return to historic Lakeside Amusement Park on Aug. 24 with a ’90s-themed immersive experience, organizers said Thursday.The announcement beats last year’s by nearly two months — a hint of the enthusiasm for this year’s event. Summer Scream takes over Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver’s second-oldest theme park behind Elitch Gardens, and closes it to the public while providing food, alcohol and unlimited rides on classic theme park attractions.Summer Scream opens up Lakeside Amusement Park to unlimited rides — and alcohol sales. (From the Hip Photo)Four-pack tickets for this year’s 21-and-up fundraiser are on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 11, for $225, or $56.25 per person. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later for $75 each. Both are available on denverfilm.org.This year’s ’90s theme will again be immersive, organizers said.“To quote (‘Saved by the Bel...