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State of Texas: Education Savings Accounts draw support, concern at the Capitol

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - Just four days after the Texas House voted to prohibit state funding for education savings accounts, the House Committee on Public Education considered a bill to establish just that.House Bill 4340, by Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, is the lower chamber's proposal to use state dollars to subsidize educational costs for families looking for alternatives to public education. "The entire discussion around school choice... comes down to perspective in my opinion. Should parents be given options to educate their children?" Frank said to the committee on Tuesday. "When viewed through the eyes of the parent or child, I believe it's hard to come to any other answer than 'yes.'"Frank's bill would establish education savings accounts (ESAs), just like Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton's Senate Bill 8, but with some key differences.HB 4340 would prioritize families who would qualify for the ESAs into four tiers based on income level. The first priority group includes students...

Mike Conley is the calm, collected veteran who’s teaching Timberwolves how to win

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

Mike Conley collected a steal Friday to halt a Thunder transition opportunity, then immediately looked down the court. What he saw was both of Minnesota’s twin towers — Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert — in open floor space.First Conley saw Gobert, and thought better of launching the ball full court to the 7-foot-4 defensive dominator. But then he saw Towns and figured, “Why not?”“When Mike first picked it up and threw it, I was like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ ” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch admitted.But, sure enough, Conley’s pass hit Towns on the money. Towns then turned and put up a perfect lob to Gobert, who flushed the ball down to put Minnesota up 109-80 with eight minutes to go in Friday’s play-in game against Oklahoma City at Target Center — the exclamation mark on Minnesota’s dominant victory.“It was a great play,” Finch said. “Trust Mike.”The head coach always had. Since Minnesota traded ...

LIVE: Tornado warnings in St. Louis City, STL County and many others

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A tornado warning has been issued in parts of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson and Franklin counties through 7 p.m.When a tornado warning is issued, a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar and there is imminent danger to life and property. If you’re in the area of a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately.---ST. LOUIS - Severe weather threats remain, primarily in the form of hail and thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. St. Louis City and St. Louis County could see high winds and hail head its way in the 6 p.m. hour after some threats intensified out west in the 4 p.m. hour. However, a tornado watch has been issued across the St. Louis region through 10 p.m. Saturday. The watch includes most St. Louis metro counties on both sides of the state, according to the National Weather Service.During a tornado watch, atmospheric conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop, but a tornado has not yet been sighted or indicated by weather radar.I...

PHOTOS: Large hail hits west of St. Louis

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

CRAWFORD COUNTY, MO. - Hail slammed some parts of Missouri just west of St. Louis amid severe storms Saturday afternoon. In Crawford and Franklin counties, viewers have informed FOX 2 of hail hitting areas in Bourbon, Leasburg, Villa Ridge and many other communities. Strong instability up in the mid-levels of the atmosphere is making for the potential for very large hail in storms today. Some of this hail may be quite dangerous and destructive. Some hail could fall up to 2.5 inches, tennis ball or baseball sizes.Hail threats, heavy winds and a tornado watch remain in the St. Louis area through Saturday evening. Many modes of severe weather are now heading west towards St. Louis City and County. Check back with FOX 2 for updates.

Saunders: Comparing the Rays and Rockies by the numbers reveals a lot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

In case you missed it, the Tampa Bay Rays opened the season with 13 consecutive wins before they lost, 6-3, to Toronto on Friday night.Tampa Bay’s 13-0 record matched the 1982 Braves and 1987 Brewers, trailing only the 20-0 start by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association.During their remarkable run, the Rays trailed in just six of their first 117 innings. And the Rays are one of just five teams since 1901 to start a season with a home run in at least 13 consecutive games. The others are the 2019 Mariners (20 straight), 2002 Guardians (14), 2017 Tigers (13) and 1954 Chicago Cubs (13).The Rays’ sizzling start is fascinating because, let’s face it, in the have- and have-not world of Major League Baseball they are not considered an elite franchise, at least not in the same way the Yankees, Astros, Dodgers, Red Sox and Mets are. Lots of folks love or revile the Yankees; the Rays are treated more like a curiosity.Never mind that Tampa Bay is at the forefront...

NBA playoffs live updates: Warriors head to Sacramento for Game 1

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

To view the live updates on your mobile device click here.GAME ESSENTIALS: Warriors (44-38) at Kings (48-34) at Golden1 Center, at 5:30 p.m. (PT). TV: ABC. Announcers: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Doris Burke (color commentary), Malika Andrews (sideline reporting).ODDS: Kings -1.5. OVER/UNDER: 237.5.SEASON SERIES: Warriors went 3-1 against the Kings in the regular season. ALL-TIME SERIES: Warriors lead 215-193. PLAYOFF HISTORY: None.For the first time since the Kings franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985, the Golden State Warriors and the Kings will face off in an all-Northern California playoff series.The Warriors and Kings will kick off the first round series on Saturday evening up in Sacramento, which has left the region palpably excited. Interestingly, it’s the defending champion Warriors who enter the series as favorites to win, despite Sacramento being the better team in the regular season and the favorite on Saturday.For Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson (an...

Body found underneath highway in San Jose: CHP

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

(KRON) -- A body was found underneath a highway Saturday morning in San Jose, California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed. Authorities found the body at the intersection between I-280 and Highway 87.CHP received a call about the body around 9 a.m.The person died from an overdose, according to CHP. San Jose Police Department officers found the body in a homeless encampment where they were living.No other information was immediately available.This story will be updated.

Cronenworth’s 2 HRs, 6 RBIs lead Padres past Brewers 10-3

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jake Cronenworth had his first career multi-homer game with two two-run shots and drove in a career-high six runs as the San Diego Padres beat the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 10-3 Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak.In a scary moment in the eighth, Brewers reliever Gus Varland was hit on the jaw by a 105.1 mph line drive by Manny Machado and came out of the game. The impact knocked Varland to the ground and he woozily stood up and dropped his glove as two teammates and a trainer rushed to his side. He went down on his knees as he was tended to and then walked off the field with two trainers.Cronenworth, who signed an $80 million, seven-year contract two weeks earlier, hit a tiebreaking shot off the top of the right field wall with two outs in the fifth inning off Freddy Peralta (2-1) and then connected to center field with one out in the seventh off Hoby Milner. He has three homers this year. Cronenworth and Nelson Cruz drew consecutive bases-loaded...

Mbappé sets league goals record for PSG in 3-1 win vs Lens

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi scored a goal each as French league leader Paris Saint-Germain profited from a red card to beat second-place Lens 3-1 and move nine points clear of its rival.It was an extra special goal for Mbappé. Earlier this season he became PSG’s all-time leading scorer when he beat Edinson Cavani’s 200-goal mark. Mbappé’s strike on Saturday against Lens made the 24-year-old France striker the outright all-time top scorer for PSG in the league with 139 goals. Cavani netted 138. Overall, Mbappé now counts 203 for PSG.Marseille can go above Lens with a home win against struggling Troyes on Sunday, with seven games left after this weekend’s round.Lens was in complete control until midfielder Salis Abdul Samed was sent off for a reckless challenge on right back Achraf Hakimi in the 19th minute. Mbappé scored his league-leading 20th goal when he took a pass from midfielder Vitinha and turned quickly before hitting a first-time shot into t...

MATCHDAY: Arsenal under pressure at West Ham; Getafe v Barça

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:16:01 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:ENGLANDArsenal needs to react to another win by Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The leaders visit fellow London club West Ham, a day after City beat Leicester 3-1 to trim the gap to three points. In the day’s other game, Manchester United can move into third place by not losing at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. United, which is again set to be without top scorer Marcus Rashford, is tied for points with third-place Newcastle and three clear of fifth-place Tottenham with two games in hand.SPAINBarcelona visits Getafe aiming to take another step toward its first Spanish league title since 2019. A win would restore Barcelona’s 13-point lead over second-place Real Madrid. Barcelona was held 0-0 by Girona last round. Third-place Atletico Madrid is undefeated in 12 straight rounds and will seek a sixth straight victory when it hosts Almeria. Diego Simeone’s side can still overtake Madrid to finish run...