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Who's funding Austin police oversight measures? Most money coming from outside of Texas

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin voters will have the option to vote "yes" or "no" on two separate propositions this Election Day. Both will impact police oversight.KXAN has extensively covered the groups behind these competing propositions -- one a political action committee focused on public safety and the other backed by the Austin Police Association -- but who's funding those groups? Let's get into it. Prop A: Equity ActionThe group behind Prop A, Equity Action, wants the Office of Police Oversight to have more access to police files, among other changes. You can read more about each proposition here. Of the more than $790,000 Equity Action has raised since April 1, 2022, more than $770,000 of it is coming from outside of Austin, City of Austin campaign finance data shows. The majority of that money comes from only two groups, the Heising-Simons Foundation ($450,000) and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies ($325,000). The Heising-Simons Foundation lists its address as Los ...

Caucus held at Texas Capitol for historically black colleges, universities

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the first time Thursday morning, there was a caucus at the Texas Capitol for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).The caucus was announced by State Rep. Ron Reynolds and HBCU students.Reynolds said it would support all HBCUs in Texas, as well as affiliated programs such as fraternities and alumni networks."We need to make sure as a state that we're adequately funding our HBCUs, and we haven't done so,” Reynolds said. “We've been fighting—I know that our caucus has been fighting to make sure that Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University, two of our state HBCUs, receive adequate funding, and they have not.”There are nine HBCUs in the state.

Proud Boys’ Tarrio, 3 others guilty of Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, LINDSAY WHITEHURST and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and three other members of the far-right extremist group were convicted Thursday of a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol in a desperate bid to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election.A jury in Washington, D.C., found Tarrio and three lieutenants guilty of seditious conspiracy after hearing from dozens of witnesses over more than three months in one of the most serious cases brought in the stunning attack that unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021, as the world watched on live TV.Jurors cleared a fifth defendant — Dominic Pezzola — of the sedition charge, though he was convicted of other serious felonies. The judge excused the jury without delivering a verdict on some counts — including another conspiracy charge for Pezzola — after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision.It’s a significant milestone for the Justi...

Wisconsin man kidnapped, beat, raped Lake Elmo woman in her home, charges say

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

A western Wisconsin man is accused of beating and raping a Lake Elmo woman this week while holding her against her will in her home for more than 24 hours.David Powers, 35, of New Auburn, Wis., was charged Wednesday with one count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and domestic assault, according to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County District Court.Powers, who is also known as David Robekevich, made his first appearance in court on Thursday. He remained in custody with bail set at $500,000.“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and horrific,” Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson said in a news release. “Our office is dedicated to taking all domestic violence cases seriously and holding those accused of these crimes accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”No attorney for Powers was listed in court documents.Washington County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched about 9 a.m. Tuesday to conduct a welfare check at a house on...

15 local community projects selected for potential federal funding

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Several community projects in the Capital Region could soon be receiving federal funding as part of the federal Community Project Fund. Fifteen projects were selected between Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties.Congressman Paul Tonko said the funding all depends on when lawmakers can pass the federal budget. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Of course, we need a budget to be done -- completed. In the last two years, we have been very robust in that effort to get it done so that the capital fund project moneys could be released, so we are in the midst of that process," Tonko said. "We are going to work very hard in a bipartisan, bicameral way to get the budget done."The selected projects are as follows:Albany CountyCapital District LATINOS -- Community Center Facility Capital Improvement Project in AlbanySouth End Economic Development Center ExpansionTown of Coeymans Sewer Sys...

San Bernardino schoolteacher shot, killed; 2 people arrested

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with a road-rage incident that led to the fatal shooting of a 54-year-old schoolteacher in San Bernardino County, authorities announced Thursday. The incident occurred on Feb. 28 near the intersection of 5th Street and Tippecanoe Avenue in Highland. Officers with the Highland Police Department responded to the scene on reports of assault with a deadly and found the victim, Andrew Sanchez, in his vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies immediately began life-saving measures. The 54-year-old was taken to the hospital by fire department personnel where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to a news release from the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.  It was later learned that the victim, a special education teacher from San Bernardino, had recently left work when the shooting occurred.   Koreatown attempted bank robbery suspect identified, taken into federal custody Homicide investigator...

Rare spring snowstorm blankets Southern California mountains

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

A spring storm brought tons of snowfall to Southern California mountains for a rare taste of wintertime in May.Heavy overnight storms created wet, slushy road conditions for residents, catching many off guard. Running Springs received around three inches of snow, while some areas of Mt. Baldy saw up to eight inches of snow.Don Marquez, who was visiting Runnings Springs from Los Angeles, was completely unprepared for the winter weather.“This isn’t the easiest thing to do,” said Marquez while chaining up his tires in the wet weather.Marquez was in Runnings Springs and decided to head back down the mountain on Wednesday. Little did he know, the area would be completely covered with snow.With the spring season in full bloom, experts say the overnight storm activity is actually quite rare to experience in May.“It’s rare. We don’t see another storm like this on the horizon,” said Alex Tardy with the National Weather Service. “This probably was an anomaly, kind of a one-and-done storm.”An ...

Sale closed in San Ramon: $1.7 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

114 Pebble Place – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 100 block of Pebble Place in San Ramon has new owners. The 2,280-square-foot property, built in 1980, was sold on April 17, 2023. The $1,700,000 purchase price works out to $746 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an attached garage, and three parking spaces. The unit sits on a 7,200-square-foot lot.Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include:A 1,988-square-foot home on the 100 block of Pebble Place in San Ramon sold in November 2022, for $1,515,000, a price per square foot of $762. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Thunderbird Drive, San Ramon, in September 2022, a 2,112-square-foot home was sold for $1,600,000, a price per square foot of $758. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In March 2023, a 1,288-square-foot home on Casper Place in San Ramon sold for $1,331,000, a price per square foot of $1,033. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms...

$50K reward offered for SF mail thief

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The United States Police Inspection Service is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of someone accused of robbing a USPS letter carrier and stealing U.S. mail. The USPIS reported four mail thefts in San Francisco, allegedly all committed by the same suspect:March 11 at 6:25 p.m. at 3972 Folsom StreetMarch 24 at 9:59 a.m. at 2445 Mariposa StreetApril 11 at 4:11 a.m. at 3256 21st StreetApril 12 at 3:01 a.m. at 3256 21st StreetThe suspect was seen driving a silver/gray Mercedes Benz, which you can see below. The hefty reward is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call (877) 876-2455.

New statewide hotline launched for reporting hate acts

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:33:52 GMT

SACRAMENTO (KRON) -- In response to a rise in hate crimes Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of CA vs Hate.CA vs Hate is a new multilingual statewide hotline and website that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. CA vs Hate is in direct response to the rise in reported hate crimes in California, which in recent years, reached their highest levels since 2001 – jumping almost 33% from 2020 to 2021, according to the Governor's Office. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) started the conversation to create a state hotline to report hate crimes in 2021. CA vs Hate was launched at the start of Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May. Newsom said, "Here in California, we are sending an unequivocal message that hate will not be tolerated. We stand firm for a 'California for All,' and it is important that we hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and provide resources for those individuals victimized by hate cri...