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How do other states do education savings accounts?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Throughout the intractable impasse over Gov. Greg Abbott's priority education savings accounts, lawmakers on each side of the contentious issue have pointed to other states' models, finding both cautionary tales and lessons to emulate.ESAs around the nation:All highlighted states have implemented voucher-like programs. Red states are led by Republican governors.Of the 20 states that have established programs similar to Texas' pending legislation, eight offer nearly "universal" school choice programs. Fifteen are led by Republican governors. The issue has become a rallying point for conservatives and a coveted résumé point for top Republican officials.Nearly all of these states' programs started small, often reserved for low income households and children with special needs. Tennessee, for example, is operating a pilot program that offers subsidies to students in just three counties. Gov. Bill Lee is expected to announce a plan to expand that statewide on Tuesday,...

Wild players sad about Dean Evason, excited about John Hynes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

The Wild have had a couple of wake-up calls this season, first after losing four of five in late October, then after taking a three-game skid into Minnesota’s NHL Global Series trip to Sweden.Each time, the Wild responded — first with their only two-game win streak of the season, then with a pair of hard-fought overtime losses in Stockholm. But, obviously, neither of those stuck.On Monday, Wild players got their biggest bracer when head coach Dean Evason was fired 19 games into the season after a 4-1 loss in Detroit extended Minnesota’s losing streak to seven games.“It’s not fair, but at the same time, it’s a wake-up call,” said Marcus Foligno, “and we’ve had enough of these this year to understand what’s needed and we need to get out of it. It’s playing simple. It’s on us.”Wild players were stuck in an odd limbo Tuesday after their morning skate, feeling guilty that their rough start to the season cost Evason his job yet excited for what might be triggered under new head coach John...

Dane Mizutani: If the Vikings bench Josh Dobbs, it should be Jaren Hall under center

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

It feels like the Vikings could have a new starting quarterback when they return to Minnesota after their bye week.Asked about a potential change after the Vikings embarrassed themselves on Monday Night Football with a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, head coach Kevin O’Connell declined to commit to journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs moving forward. He instead mentioned both veteran quarterback Nick Mullens and rookie quarterback Jaren Hall as options while leaving the door wide open for speculation.“We’re going to take a look and really evaluate,” O’Connell said. “We are trying to go out and win every football game we play.”That’s nearly impossible to do when the man under center is turning the ball over at an alarming rate. As fun as the past month has been with Dobbs leading the charge, he has eight turnovers in four games, and that can’t be overstated given the circumstances. Frankly, it’s reason enough for the Vikings t...

Stillwater Twinkle Party and tree lighting set for Saturday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

A 48-foot white spruce tree arrived in downtown Stillwater’s Chestnut Street Plaza on Tuesday morning — just in time for the city’s annual Hometown for the Holidays’ Twinkle Party and tree lighting.The tree was donated by Jeff and Missy Hause, of Somerset, Wis. This is the 10th year that the Hauses have found a large tree growing in the St. Croix River Valley, purchased it and organized its transport to downtown Stillwater.Jeff and Missy Hause pose in front of the 48-foot spruce tree they arranged for Stillwater’s annual Hometown for the Holidays’ Twinkle Party. (Courtesy of Jeff Hause)“Nobody was doing it, and we decided to take it on, and we’ve just really enjoyed doing it,” Jeff Hause said. “We thought it would be a fun thing to do for the community.”Linda Besk Turrentine, the mother of Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski, actually made the initial request, Hause said. “She said, ‘You’re the only one I know crazy enough to take something like this on,’” he said. “It’s pretty fun...

Pioneer Bank donates $20K on Giving Tuesday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Giving Tuesday is a day when people give to a charity of their choice ahead of the holidays. The Associated Press projects more people are likely to donate this year compared to last. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! One local bank participated in giving. Pioneer Bank made four $5,000 donations to community non-profits. The bank is also collecting winter hats and gloves for kids in need.Donations can be made at any Pioneer Bank branch.

Arrest made after Central Avenue stabbing in Albany

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A man has been arrested and another is in the hospital after a stabbing in Albany Tuesday morning. The incident happened around 9:45 a.m. in the area of Central Avenue and Robin Street.Police said a 33-year-old man suffered stab wounds to his back and torso. He was taken to Albany Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! John Oliver, 49, was taken into custody in connection to the stabbing in the area of First Street and Quail Street after a short foot chase. He was charged with assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.Oliver was arraigned and sent to the Albany County Jail.

How time-of-use pricing plan is impacting electric bills

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Depending on where you live in the state, changes are coming to your electric bill.The Missouri Public Service Commission said it's an issue of supply and demand, requiring Ameren St. Louis and Evergy in Kansas City to adjust the cost of electricity to match the time period it's being used. The more demand there is, the higher the cost. On Tuesday, representatives from Evergy reported on the program's initial results."We are almost entirely adopted now, meaning transitioned to time-of-use rates," Chuck Caisley, Evergy's chief customer officer, said. "I think over the next week to 10 days we should conclude all the transitioning to time of use rates."For the past two months, Evergy has been implementing time-of-use electric rates for all customers on the western side of the state."It is enabled by digital meters versus analog meters," Caisley said. "It is enabled by automation that is digitally created through apps, Wi-Fi, and cellular signals in the home. It is...

Yuma woman missing since October found dead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

A 25-year-old Yuma woman who was reported missing on Oct. 25 has been found dead.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Dog stayed by missing hiker’s body in Colorado national forest for months Crime and Public Safety | Homicide victim ID’d in 1987 Colorado cold case Crime and Public Safety | El Paso County teen missing since October Crime and Public Safety | Missing Falcon teen found safe Britani Meek was reported missing after she told her family she was traveling to Denver to meet someone and wasn’t heard from again.Meek’s car was found on Nov. 16 in rural Yuma County, according to the Yuma Police Department. A body was located on Wednesday, and it was identified as Meek in an autopsy on Monday.The investigation is ongoing, according to Yuma police.This is a developing story. Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.

Palmer Ridge QB Derek Hester evolved from super soph to sensational senior

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

FORT COLLINS — Derek Hester was a super sophomore: 2,345 yards passing with a 67.1 completion percentage and 25 touchdowns.But to hear the Palmer Ridge quarterback tell it, he was lost.“I didn’t know blocking schemes and I didn’t know coverages my sophomore year,” Hester said Tuesday. “I was just out there. I was a robot, pretty much. I just did what I was told. I mean, I didn’t have the freedom to make play calls or change things at the line. Even if I knew the play was going to get blown up — with a guy blitzing or whatever — I didn’t know how to change it.“And my arm strength wasn’t there and I couldn’t throw nearly as far. I’ve grown a lot as a quarterback and a person since then. It’s night and day.”Saturday, the senior has one final chance to illustrate how much he’s grown when the undefeated and top-ranked Bears (13-0) take on No. 2 Erie (12-1) in the Class 4A state championship game at ...

Woman accused of drowning her nonverbal wheelchair-bound daughter in bathtub

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:11:53 GMT

A woman from Fountain Valley has been charged with murder in the death of her 9-year-old daughter who was nonverbal and confined to a wheelchair, drowning her in a bathtub and leaving her body to decompose for several days, officials said.Khadiyjah Aliyyah Pendergraph, 32, was arrested last Friday at a grocery store in Aliso Viejo, the same day the girl's body was discovered.The girl's father, who is divorced from Pendergraph, called police earlier that day to request a welfare check on the girl after receiving "concerning messages" from her mother. When he attempted to pick the girl up for Thanksgiving, the apartment where his ex-wife lived was locked and no one responded to answer the door.On Tuesday, the Orange County District Attorney's Office released horrifying details about the girl's death, alleging that she was drowned in her own bathtub and then left there for days while her body decomposed.In a press release issued Tuesday, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer des...