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'There was no bias' Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick defends Senate acquittal of Ken Paxton in one-on-one interview

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The presider of the impeachment trial against Attorney General Ken Paxton is speaking out freely now that the gag order is over, defending the Texas Senate's process as "unbiased" while slamming the House's initial decision to impeach in late May.In a one-on-one interview with Nexstar, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick responded to claims that Republican senators' decision to acquit their former colleague are "totally untrue and ludicrous." Senators voted to find Paxton not guilty on every charge, mostly on a 14-16 vote."Anyone that criticizes that process, well, that's on them because we did it right," Patrick told Nexstar in a one-on-one interview. "I didn't think they would convict on many charges, but I thought maybe one or two possibly so I had to be prepared for that."Only two Republicans — North Texas’ Kelly Hancock and Jacksonville’s Robert Nichols — voted to convict Paxton on any of the charges. All other Republicans voted to find Paxton not guilty on every charge and...

Cardboard company WestRock to close Fridley plant, layoff 70 employees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

Packaging manufacturer WestRock will close its Fridley plant in coming months, laying off roughly 70 employees at that location, according to Minnesota officials.The company, which laid off 130 employees at its St. Paul facility about a year ago, notified the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development last month that it planned to begin layoffs in Fridley on Nov. 13.Some employees at the Fridley plant are members of Local 970 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.WestRock’s letter to DEED officials did not give a reason for the closure of the facility, which produces corrugated containers, according to the company’s website.The Atlanta-based firm continues to operate a coated recycled board facility in St. Paul, as well as corrugated container plants in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, and a recycling plant in Maple Grove, its website says.Related ArticlesBusiness | 9 Minnesota schools win prestigious National Blue Ribbon status Bus...

DOC acknowledges discolored water at Stillwater prison, though no health risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Corrections is acknowledging the existence of discolored water in Stillwater prison taps, one of the issues that families of inmates described after a Sept. 3 protest and lockdown.In a news release Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Health said that its tests “did not find indications of a health risk from the drinking water” but discoloration was confirmed, primarily at hot water taps used by inmates for showering.“We did note some instances of discolored water, build-up of minerals from water on fixtures and iron staining on some sinks,” MDH Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff said. “We’re recommending a series of actions for DOC that should help address these issues.”These actions include developing a water management plan, cleaning fixtures and aerators, conducting a facility-wide flushing and having a licensed plumber conduct an inspection.In a separate press release, the Office of the Ombuds for Corrections said their office “never recei...

Judge rules in favor of Clifton Park firefighters tax exemption dispute

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A judge ruled in favor of some Clifton Park volunteer firefighters who are seeking property tax exemptions. A group of firefighters sued the town assessor in July and claimed he unfairly blocked them from receiving tax exemptions. The assessor said he made the decision based on state law, which states firefighters must live and work in the community to qualify. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The firefighters pointed to town code, which said volunteers only need to serve the town to be eligible."There's really no bad blood," former Clifton Park fire chief Art Hunsinger said. "He was wrong. He didn't want to correct it, so we had to take action. We didn't want to take action, but we had to take action."A state law that took effect at the end of 2022 allows local communities to offer tax exemptions to volunteer firefighters and first responders as a way of addressing staff shortages.

Building demolished after Tivoli Street fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Crews demolished a building on Tivoli Street in Albany on Wednesday after it was damaged significantly in a fire on Tuesday night. Officials said the structure could not be salvaged, and the entire building needed to be taken down. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The two-alarm fire broke out just before 7:30 p.m. No one was injured. Firefighters were on scene for about 90 minutes. Investigators are still looking into a cause for the fire.The water department said some sediment got into the water mains because of the fire. Those living in the Warehouse District should run their faucets for about five minutes to remove it.

Beech-Nut hosts seventh annual Gives Back food drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Local families in need picked up food during Wednesday's Beech-Nut Gives Back food drive. This was the seventh year the food drive has taken place at the location in Amsterdam.Volunteers gave out fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms as well as traditional food drive items. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "So this is our seventh year, and every year, we see the need continue to grow, especially locally here in Amsterdam," Helping Hands co-lead Brittany Duncan said. "Wo we try to do it every year and give back as much as we can."In past years, volunteers have distributed food to more than 1,000 families.

St. Louis County police respond to shooting in Affton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

AFFTON, Mo. - St. Louis County police are investigating a reported shooting Wednesday evening in Affton.The shooting took place in the 9100 block of Rambler Drive, near the intersection of MacKenzie and Gravois roads.This is a developing news story. FOX 2 will have more information as it becomes available.

Avalanche teammates welcome Valeri Nichushkin back “with open arms”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

Valeri Nichushkin’s absence from the final five games of last season became a dominant storyline as the Avalanche’s title defense fizzled with a first-round loss to the Seattle Kraken.There are other key players who won’t be on the ice Thursday when Colorado officially opens training camp to start the 2023-24 season, but Nichushkin is expected to participate. His coach and teammates expressed support at Wednesday’s media day for a player who had been a key component of the club’s Stanley Cup run two years prior.“(We welcomed him back) with open arms,” Avs center Nathan MacKinnon said. “We love Val. I think we just know he’s going to be here for us. He’s such an amazing player. He’s a good person at the end of the day and a great guy. We all love him.”Nichushkin left Avs the day of Game 3 during their opening-round series with the Seattle Kraken, for what the team termed “personal reasons.” An intoxicated woman was fou...

Moreno Valley school district superintendent fired

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

The Moreno Valley Unified School District Board of Education voted to fire its superintendent on Tuesday.The board voted 3-2 to remove Dr. Martinrex Kedziora after a three-hour meeting behind closed doors. The firing comes after the district agreed to pay a $27 million settlement on Sept. 13 to the family of Diego Stolz, a 13-year-old boy who died after he was assaulted by classmates in 2019.Kedziora had served as the superintendent of the district since 2017. Officials did not confirm whether the settlement prompted his firing.Stolz was an eighth-grader at Landmark Middle School when he died.A graphic video of the attack showed the moment two teenage boys attacked Stolz on school grounds. The Moreno Valley Unified School District superintendent Martinrex Kedziora. (Moreno Valley Unified School District)Diego Stolz, is seen in a photo tweeted out by a family member, after his death in 2019. The Moreno Valley Unified School District agreed to pay the largest bullying settlement ...

Hospital in San Bernardino seeks help identifying patient

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

Hospital officials in San Bernardino are asking for the public’s help to identify a male patient who has been hospitalized since July.  The unidentified male arrived at Dignity Health on July 2 at around 5 a.m. after he was reportedly found near 24514 E. Little 3rd Street in San Bernardino, officials said in a news release. When he was admitted to the hospital, he had no identification or any other evidence of his identity with him.  An unidentified male patient who has been hospitalized since July 2, 2023. (Dignity Health)He is described as a white male believed to be in his late 60s, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds with sandy blonde hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with any information about the patient is urged to call Dignity Health at 909-833-8711, extension 23420.