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Expelled Tennessee lawmakers win back state House seats

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

(The Hill) – The two Tennessee House members expelled in April over a gun control protest have won back their seats.Reps. Justin Jones (D) and Justin Pearson (D) defeated their special election rivals on Thursday and will fully rejoin the state legislature.Jones defeated Laura Nelson (R) in the House District 52 race, encompassing much of eastern Nashville. Jones had received about 80% of the vote as of 9 p.m. Thursday, according to the Associated Press.Pearson defeated Jeff Johnston (Indep.) in House District 86 in Memphis, winning about 93% of the vote. UFO-curious lawmakers brace for a fight over government secrets Jones and Pearson were two of three House lawmakers who interrupted proceedings for a gun control protest following a mass shooting at a Nashville elementary school in April. The pair, both of whom are Black, were expelled from the legislature while Rep. Gloria Johnson (D), who is white, was not.The protest gained national attention after Jones and Pearson were expel...

3 things to do immediately if you win the $1.25 billion Mega Millions jackpot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – So you’ve beaten the infinitesimal Mega Millions odds and are now staring down a life-changing influx of cash – but what you do next with that jackpot money will decide how rich you ultimately remain. While many fantasize about spending the cash, the actual winners may be overwhelmed with a different feeling – anxiety.“The biggest fear that pretty much all sudden wealth recipients have, and especially lottery winners, is that they’re going to screw it up,” Robert Pagliarini, author of “The Sudden Wealth Solution,” told Nexstar.Pagliarini has been advising clients, including lottery winners, for over 20 years on how to handle large influxes of money. He says that the goal is always to turn that lump sum into lasting wealth, but added that for lottery winners, there are some must-dos. Not sure how to play Mega Millions? Here’s what you need to know Protect the ticketHolding a winning ticket and knowing that a single slip of paper could easily be lost or stolen can be a t...

Wastewater data shows increase in COVID, Austin Public Health says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With an uptick of COVID-19 cases in the Austin area, Austin Public Health said it is making moves to keep children safe during the back-to-school season.APH said it is giving vaccines to children who might need them, as well as helping to support mobile clinic operations in the area.Data from Travis County wastewater indicated the presence of the virus and shows it has increased over the past six weeks, according to a release from APH. CDC predicts late summer COVID wave. What are levels like in Austin? "We are seeing SARS-CoV-2 present in the wastewater stream,” said Janet Pichette, the chief epidemiologist at Austin Public Health. “As I mentioned, it’s being collected in two of our regional wastewater treatment plants. Those plants represent 95% of the wastewater that comes in for 95% of the Austin population.”While the COVID-19 national public health emergency has ended, cases continue to persist in Travis County; however, hospitalizations remain low, which exp...

2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival reviews

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

Fringe review: “A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism” is a must-see

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

Must seeWith their middle-school friendships fraying, the spirited girls of Troop 172 summon the actual spirit of a militant early-20th-century conservationist (the real-life Rosalie Barrow Edge) who possesses one of their own to demand environmental justice from the living. Set during (and with plenty of reverence for) 2008, this well-paced, smartly-written horror comedy offers some meditations on overzealous friendships and overzealous adherents to social movements, but it mostly just delivers the laughs. This is the fifth consecutive Fringe production from co-writers Rachel Ropella (who also directed) and Timothy Kelly, who launched Melancholics Anonymous in 2019 at St. Olaf College.Presented by Melancholics Anonymous at Rarig Center Arena; 2:30 p.m. Aug 6, 7 p.m. Aug 9, 5:30 p.m. Aug 10, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 13Still unsure of what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews here.The Minnesota Fringe Festival turns 30 this year, presenting 101 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 3-13 at theater...

Jamelle Bouie: The arrogance of Samuel Alito

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

In theory, there is no branch in the American constitutional system that exists above or beyond the reach of the others.“The great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others,” James Madison observed in Federalist No. 51.Last month, Justice Samuel Alito gave a slightly different account of the relationship between the “departments” of government, at least as it relates to the relative power of the Supreme Court.“Congress did not create the Supreme Court,” Alito said in an interview with writers from The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page. “I know this is a controversial view, but I’m willing to say it,” Alito continued. “No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court — period.”Alito was responding to a question about the prospect of ethics rules for...

Fringe review: ‘Reception’ is even better if you know ‘Star Wars’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

Worth consideringCome for the “Star Wars” references and leave with a deeper understanding of family dynamics. This 10-person comedy dives into the complexity of a “Star Wars”-themed family wedding where misunderstandings could probably be solved by dropping the verbal saber play and eating dinner. Creator Dennis Johnston plays the groom’s absent biological father (sound familiar?) whose presence and non-presence both pose complications for the newly married couple. Also at the table are a workaholic dad and his incompetent intern Stanley, three generations of women on the bride’s side and an unusual girlfriend — staples at every wedding. Dysfunctional families are universal, but this fast-paced comedy works even better with ample exposure to the “Star Wars” mythos and lexicon.Presented by Downtown Productions at Augsburg Studio; 1 p.m. Aug. 5, 5:30 p.m. Aug 7, 7 p.m. Aug 11, 8:30 p.m. Aug 13Still unsure of what to see? Check out all our Fri...

An inside look at the Capital Region's first cat cafe

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Pretty Paw Lounge, located at 370 Mariaville Road in Rotterdam, is set to open on Friday, August 4. The ribbon cutting is set for 1 p.m. and the cat cafe will open to the public at 2 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Rotterdam native Rachel Anne has been volunteering with local cat rescues for over 10 years. She then decided to open The Pretty Paw Lounge, which features adoptable cats from Kitten Angels, a non-profit organization dedicated to recusing cats.The building is split into two sections: the cafe area and the cat playroom. This means that the cats will not be roaming around the cafe, but visitors can grab a drink and a snack and then see the cats in the playroom, said Anne. Dutchess County SPCA looking for home for its longest stay cat The cafe features baked goods, which are made off-premises and delivered to the lounge twice a week, said Anne. She's starting with only cold drinks ...

Teens safely rescued from bluff in St. Charles County

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

ST. CHARLES -- Four teenagers were rescued overnight after they got stuck on a bluff in St. Charles County. The rescue happened along the Lewis Trail between the Busch Trail and the Katy Trail. The location is off Highway 94, south of Francis Howell High School, toward the Missouri River. It took about four hours to rescue them. Rescuers had to rappel about 80 feet to reach the teens. It's unknown how the teens got stuck on the bluff. No one was injured.

Developer proposes adding gas station near high school; residents upset

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:32:20 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - A re-zoning proposal on 11 acres of land in O'Fallon, Missouri, is getting a lot of attention from neighbors.“My biggest issue as a parent, as a high school teacher, the fact that they want to put a Circle K literally at the corner of Knaust and Mexico," said Amy Schwendemann. "It’s a super busy intersection as it is."Schwendemann lives behind the 11-acre plot of land. She said neighbors have many concerns about the change, including how it will impact the already busy intersection.“Anybody that has been around high schoolers at arrival time and dismissal time, it’s already a crazy intersection," she said. "There’s multiple accidents there already. Adding a gas station is going to possibly add to that as well." Prosecutor dropping child abuse charge despite daycare video Other neighbors agree that their main concern is the proximity to the high school.“We don’t think there should be a convenience store that close to the high school," said Paul Witwer. "There is alr...