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Travis County judge orders Attorney General Ken Paxton to testify in whistleblower case

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar) — A Travis County judge has ordered Attorney General Ken Paxton to testify under oath in a three-year-old wrongful termination lawsuit from his former top deputies.Judge Jan Soifer ordered Wednesday that Paxton and three other top aides in the Office of Attorney General must sit in deposition, sworn testimony that Paxton has sought to avoid for years. Soifer ruled from the bench after a two-hour hearing in Austin. Along with Paxton, she is compelling deposition from Brent Webster, the first assistant attorney general; Lesley French Henneke, chief of staff at the agency; and Michelle Smith, Paxton’s longtime political advisor.Bill Helfand — outside counsel hired to represent the state — did not answer reporters' questions after the hearing about if they plan to appeal this order. But Tom Nesbitt, a lawyer for one of the whistleblowers, said he expected the OAG to try and fight Paxton's deposition. "This isn't some earth shattering thing. This is what ha...

Mayo Clinic gives $10M to Rochester Public Schools, averting immediate budget crisis

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Rochester Public Schools received a $10 million donation from Mayo Clinic on Wednesday, erasing the district’s remaining budget cuts and paving the way for it to reverse course on many of the sweeping plans that would have redrawn the face of several of the city’s schools.During a press conference announcing the donation, Mayo Clinic chief communications officer Halena Gazelka referred to the donation as a “bridge” for the district to “achieve greater financial sustainability.”While the donation helps immediate funding issues for the district, RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel said the district will pursue another levy request in 2024 to put the district “on the path to financial stability” for years to come.“If we do not succeed in asking our community to increase their targeted investment in Rochester Public Schools, we will be back here a year from now,” Pekel said. “(The referendum) is indispensable.”Pekel called the donation an “extraordinary gi...

Local broadcasts for Blues, 10 other NHL teams will remain on Bally Sports after agreement

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

The NHL and Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, have reached an agreement that will keep local broadcasts for 11 teams on Bally Sports through the end of this season.The agreement, which was contained in a court filing made Wednesday, is subject to court approval. Diamond Sports has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Southern District of Texas since it filed for protection in March. The company said in a financial filing last year that it had debt of $8.67 billion.While there will be a reduction in rights payments for some teams, the local rights for those 11 franchises will revert back to the NHL at the end of this season. The agreement provides stability for fans, networks and teams after Major League Baseball had to take over the broadcasts of San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks games last season after agreements could not be reached.The NHL teams that are currently on Bally are: Anaheim, Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Fl...

Colorado’s Trump ruling sets off political firestorm, raising legal stakes and putting state at center of debate

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

The Colorado Supreme Court ignited a political firestorm with its ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to hold office again, disqualifying him from appearing on the state’s primary ballot.Just how far those embers reach — and how hot they burn — in coming weeks could shape the country’s political discourse and electoral system.The U.S. Supreme Court will almost certainly weigh in on Tuesday’s ruling, which found Trump committed insurrection with his actions around the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, and is thus barred from office under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. The decision has the Colorado Republican Party threatening to change how it weighs in on the party’s presidential nominee.And the unprecedented ruling — after several other states’ courts have dismissed similar ballot challenges of Trump — was immediately dissected or torn apart by political candidates, Trump supporters and opponents, legal analysts, Colora...

Nikola Jokic has a 30-point game against every NBA team after Nuggets top Raptors 113-104 in Toronto

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

TORONTO — When the Nuggets visited Canada in March, it was the nadir of an eventual championship season.They allowed a season-worst 49 points in the first quarter and never recovered in a fourth consecutive loss, part of a lull late in the regular season that briefly made Denver look like a wobbly No. 1 seed.That meltdown was still on Michael Malone’s mind before tipping off against the Raptors on Wednesday night. But what followed at Scotiabank Center this time was more indicative of what the Nuggets went on to accomplish after that losing streak. Playing championship-caliber team basketball (and allowing only 20 in the first quarter this time), Denver opened a three-game holiday season road trip with a convincing-until-it-wasn’t 113-104 win over the Raptors.A 21-point margin in the third quarter got as close as five with five minutes remaining, but Denver’s three best scorers went on a short surge, scoring from all three levels to reestablish a 12-point lea...

Sean Payton preparing for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s attempts to make Broncos “play left-handed”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

For Broncos head coach Sean Payton, it’s no secret that defenses led by New England coach Bill Belichick are good at eliminating an opponent’s best offensive weapon.Payton saw it first hand when he was coaching the New Orleans Saints in 2013. Tight end Jimmy Graham was arguably one of the best pass catchers in the league that year, finishing with 1,215 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. But against New England, Graham was shadowed by former cornerback Aquib Talib and ended up being a non-factor.“This was when Jimmy Graham was really having a breakout-type season and there goes Talib everywhere Jimmy was, jamming him at the line of scrimmage,” Payton said. “We’re at halftime and Jimmy doesn’t have a catch yet, and now you are out of your rhythm.”Graham finished the game without a catch on six targets, as the Saints lost 30-27.“(Belichick is) just really good at taking away some things that you want to do or making you play left-handed, if you will,” Payton said.Sure, the ...

Redwood City car wash burglary suspect found hiding on roof

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

REDWOOD CITY – A 34-year-old Redwood City man was arrested on suspicion of breaking into a car wash in Redwood City on Wednesday after officers found him hiding on the roof of the business, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man stabbed in robbery at Half Moon Bay grocery store Crime and Public Safety | Redwood City police searching for man who carjacked vehicle and set it on fire Crime and Public Safety | East Bay man charged in connection with San Francisco mass shooting Crime and Public Safety | Victim snaps photo of vehicle after San Mateo hit-and-run collision, leading to suspect’s arrest Crime and Public Safety | Man assaults San Mateo County sheriff’s deputy at end of crime spree, authorities say Around 1 a.m., an alarm company reported that a masked suspect was inside the equipment room of the Self Serve Car Wash at 305 Woodside Road, according to the Redwood City P...

Car crashes into Napa ditch, drivers urged to slow down on roads

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

(KRON) -- It has been a wet and rainy start to the week in the Bay Area. Cities in the North Bay, including Santa Rosa and San Rafael, received 3-4 inches of rain in a 72-hour period. PHOTOS: Car crashes into pet hospital, San Mateo police say However, with the rain, officials are urging drivers to slow down on the roads. A car crashed into a ditch on Monticello Road in Napa Wednesday afternoon, CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said.One person was taken to the hospital after a navy blue Mazda crashed into the ditch.(CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit)(CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit)"With the current weather conditions, we urge you to please slow down," CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit wrote on social media.The fire safety agency provided a safety checklist for drivers hitting the road in these wet conditions:Check weather & traffic conditionsIncrease following distanceDrive slowly

No. 3 NC State blows out Old Dominion 87-50 for another 12-0 start

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Madison Hayes scored 17 points to lead six players in double figures and No. 3 North Carolina State ran away from Old Dominion 87-50 on Wednesday night.Aziaha James, from nearby Virginia Beach, added 16 points and Zoe Brooks had 11 assists as the Wolfpack (12-0) capped the fifth unbeaten nonconference schedule in its history and its third 12-0 start in the past 11 seasons under coach Wes Moore.Brenda Fontana led Old Dominion (8-2) with 12 points and Nnenna Orji had 10, but the Lady Monarchs lost their second straight. It was also Old Dominion’s first home loss in nonconference action in 13 games dating to last season.NO. 7 LSU 80, COPPIN STATE 48BALTIMORE (AP) — Angel Reese scored 26 points in a victorious return to her hometown, and LSU beat Coppin State.Reese, who was a high school star in Baltimore at St. Frances Academy, played two seasons at Maryland before transferring to LSU and winning a national title last season. She dominated the early going as the Tig...

Catholic Charities DC volunteers load dinner plates and serve those in need

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:16:56 GMT

Several hundred people, young and old, lined up Wednesday afternoon in a queue that wrapped around the block at 9th and G Streets Northwest. Bundled up against the cold, the patient crowd waited for seats at decorated tables arrayed outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington turned its regular Wednesday hot meal service for the hungry and homeless into an early Christmas dinner, replete with roast turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, collard greens and cornbread.Eager volunteers of the St. Maria’s Meals program made up the plates at a long table of chafing dishes, then served their guests, who were seated at round banquet tables, covered with red tablecloths and topped with a poinsettia plant.“Everyone deserves dignity, everybody matters, everybody counts,” said Jim Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities DC.“We have people that are without their homes that are here, and they come here to get a...