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State of Texas: Special Session 4 brings progress, division on Abbott's priorities

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas lawmakers started their fourth special session Tuesday and made quick progress on some of Governor Greg Abbott's top priorities.House lawmakers held a marathon hearing Thursday on a bill to put billions into public schools, while also establishing Abbott's priority of education savings accounts. The proposal calls for education savings accounts (ESA) of $10,500 to go toward private school for some families.The House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment invited six separate panels to testify, each representing various experts and advocates from public schools, charter schools and ESA advocates. Supporters of the legislation made the case that the ESA plan will help more Texas students succeed."They deserve more opportunities to have a high quality education," Denisha Allen said outside the hearing room. She founded Black Minds Matter, a group that works toward developing school options for Black students."That's not to say that public sc...

Conley’s Corner: Timberwolves’ Mike Conley is the one of the last of a dying breed — the true floor general

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

Rudy Gobert grabbed a rebound off a Kristaps Porzingis miss early in the third quarter Monday against Boston, and immediately gave the ball to Mike Conley.Wise choice.Porzingis went to the floor on his shot attempt, meaning Minnesota had a 5 on 4 going the other way. Rather than rush the play, Conley essentially skipped his way down the floor, giving Boston’s transition alignment a chance to take shape so he could read what was in front of him.Jrue Holiday stepped up to stop Conley just past mid-court. Al Horford sat in between Gobert, who was diving to the rim, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who slowed up near the 3-point line.Conley had an option to try to thread a lob over Horford to Gobert for a likely assist. But he opted instead to swing it to Towns, which forced Horford to come out to guard the 3-point shooting big man. That left Gobert all alone on his rim run. Towns then tossed it up to Gobert for the flush.Two points for Gobert, assist to Towns, and no box-score credit to Conley....

State volleyball roundup: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton wins first state title

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

CLASS AThis week marked Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s first trip to the state volleyball tournament. Its souvenir will be a state championship trophy.The top-seeded Knights downed Mayer Lutheran in four sets, 25-13, 32-30, 17-25, 25-22 in the Class A final Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.Abigail Carr led the way with 21 kills.The title was largely won in the second set, which the Knights trailed 23-18, but rallied to win seven of the next 9 points to knot the set at 25-25. Things went back and forth from there, until Dylan Werkman delivered the winning kill to put the Knights (30-6) up two sets to zero.Mayer Lutheran finished the year 28-7.New Life Academy beat Mabel-Canton in five sets to claim third place. Makenna Lilly paced the Eagles with 22 kills in that match.CLASS 2APequot Lakes swept Rush City in convincing fashion, winning its first state title via a 25-18, 25-22, 25-22 final. The Patriots state title comes one year after it dropped the state final to Cannon Falls last fall...

Bowled over: Gophers blown out 49-30 by Purdue

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — What a difference a fortnight can make.Coming off a rivalry game victory over Iowa, the Gophers had beat Michigan State on Oct. 28 and went into Halloween parties feeling good, sitting in first place in the Big Ten West Division.Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield, right, makes a catch for a touchdown as he’s hit by Minnesota defensive back Darius Green (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)Two weeks later, Minnesota has lost two straight and will struggle to reach bowl eligibility, needing a a sixth win through Thanksgiving weekend.The Gophers got blown out 49-30 by Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday — an almost never-ending series of defensive calamities and capitulations.Minnesota (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) plays at No. 1 Ohio State next week and will host rival Wisconsin on Nov. 25.Snapping a four-game losing streak, Purdue (3-7, 2-5) put up season highs for to...

Cody Schrader sparks No. 16 Mizzou to 36-7 victory over No. 14 Tennessee

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Cody Schrader put together one of the most impressive performances in Missouri history Saturday night, running for 205 yards and a touchdown, catching five passes for 116 yards, and leading the No. 16 Tigers to a 36-7 rout of No. 14 Tennessee.Schrader's 321 yards from scrimmage were just 12 shy of the school record set by Devin West in 1998.Brady Cook threw for 275 yards and accounted for two TDs, Luther Burden III had a touchdown catch and Daylan Carnell added a 38-yard pick-6 late in the game, helping the Tigers (8-2, 4-2 SEC, No. 14 CFP) finally beat one of their biggest nemeses.The Volunteers (7-3, 3-3, No. 13) had won the last four in the series, and in the two since Josh Heupel took over in Knoxville, they had blasted the Tigers and coach Eli Drinkwitz by a combined 128-48.The Vols' Joe Milton III threw for 267 yards with a touchdown and an interception Saturday night. But he got little help from one of the nation's best running attacks, which finished wit...

Report: Feral hogs still a problem in dozens of Missouri counties

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

MISSOURI - Conservation officials have been working to remove feral hogs from Missouri for several years, but their presence remains an issue for dozens of counties. A new report from Missourinet.com states that feral hogs remain a concern for at least 38 counties, particularly for those south of Interstate 44. Feral hogs are an invasive species that pose several concerns due to their destructive nature. Officials say they're capable of killing smaller native animals, damaging landscapes, contaminating water, and spreading diseases. Man killed in south St. Louis County road-rage shooting According to the Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership, the state removed roughly 10,000 feral hogs in 2021 and another 6,300 last year. Officials say more than 50,000 have been removed from the state since 2016. It's hard to estimate how many feral hogs are roaming around Missouri, but there are likely at least tens of thousands. A new report from Captain Experiences ranks Missouri as the 1...

2 teens arrested for alleged armed robbery, pursuit in Orange County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

Two teenagers were arrested after an alleged robbery and high-speed pursuit in Garden Grove on Friday night.The suspects were identified as Martin Eusebio and Vivian Martinez, both 18 years old, according to the Garden Grove Police Department.Officers received calls of an armed robbery near the area of Brookhurst Street and Westminster Avenue around 6:40 p.m.The victim told police she was sitting in a parking lot and eating with a friend when the suspects approached them with a handgun.They allegedly threatened to shoot the victim before escaping with around $200 in cash, police said. They fled the area in a vehicle which was later spotted by officers.Authorities attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the teens refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit. During the chase, the suspects drove at high speeds and eventually lost control near Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue, crashing into a flower shop at the corner. New details released on missing Tarzana family, woman’s ...

Chuck E. Cheese is getting rid of its animatronic bands, except here

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

Chuck E. Cheese has announced that it will be removing its iconic animatronic bands from all locations, except for one in Los Angeles.That one restaurant -- located in Northridge -- is where Munch's Make Believe Band will be taking up a "permanent residency," according to an official Chuck E. Cheese release.  Classes on celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rick Ross are engaging a new generation of law students A re-opening party was held at the Northridge Chuck E. Cheese on Friday evening, where participants were able to win exclusive prizes and enjoy a special appearance by Atari, Inc. and Chuck E. Cheese founder Nolan Bushnell. While they charmed and entertained kids for decades, the animatronics have apparently run their course as the “Pizza Time Theatre” will give way to new, high-tech features at restaurants across the nation.“New enhancements include a new state-of-the-art dance floor, a giant video wall and screens, the most popular kid-focused arcade games and new ...

Warriors debut “City Edition” jersey and court honoring iconic San Francisco symbol

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors will debut their “City Edition” jerseys and home hardwood court designed to honor San Francisco’s iconic cable car on its 150th anniversary. The black and gold patterns will be debuted for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.The uniform’s design is inspired by the classic cable car features. That includes “San Francisco” written in wavy typeface to replicate the ribboned street labels on the front of the trolleys. It also has a patch inspired by the cable car silhouette with two cable cars on the side of the shorts.The special hardwood is lined black and gold with gold cable cars on opposite wings.“It gives a real San Francisco vibe with the tracks,” Moses Moody said. “I really like it.”Jonathan Kuminga grew an appreciation for the design when he watched the Warriors’ video explaining the cable car’s history in San Francisco.“It shows a lot about the cit...

Cal football: How the Bears (barely) kept their bowl hopes alive

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:58 GMT

BERKELEY — Cal tried to make this look easy, but couldn’t do it.The Bears, desperate to snap a four-game losing streak, had three leads of 14 points against Washington State in the first half and seemed in control of things after building a 42-24 advantage with 9:26 left.But the Cougars scored twice in a span of 2 minutes and 10 seconds, pulling within 42-39 when Cameron Ward threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Djouvensky Schenbacker with 7:33 to play.The Bears escaped with the three-point victory only after Dean Janikowski missed wide left on a 48-yard field goal try with 50 seconds left.WSU got the ball once more, at its own 30-yard line with 22 seconds left and no timeouts. The Cougars got as far as the 47 before Ward’s pass bounced off the hands of Kyle Williams at the 2-yard line and was secured by Cal linebacker Cade Uluave as time expired.Cal (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) earned its first win since Sept. 30 and kept alive its hopes of playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2019. Th...