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Illinois bill would ensure certain community college credits could transfer to high institutions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A bill in the Illinois Capitol would help transfer students get their degrees faster.It would ensure that certain classes taken at community colleges could be transferred to any higher education institution in the state. Some schools currently only count community college coursework as elective credits. Illinois bill would prevent police from searching a car due to marijuana smell Educators believe that this could save people time and money."It builds on an already positive relationship that two-year institutions have with the transfer institutions," said Nancy Sutton, vice president for academic services at Parkland College. "It gives us the opportunity on both sides to focus on those courses that are most beneficial to the students."Lawmakers behind the bill said that the goal is to help students graduate as soon as possible.

Illinois bill would prevent police from searching a car due to marijuana smell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — There is currently a bill going through the Illinois Capitol that would prevent police from searching someone's car based on how it smells.Just smelling marijuana would not be enough probable cause, but that does not mean that officers cannot take the odor into account.An officer would be given enough reason to search the vehicle if they see that the person behind the wheel is intoxicated, or if smoke is coming out of the car. Illinois bill introduced to protect drivers from wrongfully issued automated tickets Supporters of the proposal hope that it will limit searches that officers conduct."It shouldn't be a reason why an officer can take people out of a vehicle and subject them to these very invasive searches with which, unfortunately, too often traffic stops can result in negative interactions," one supporter said.Law enforcement groups are worried about public safety issues that this proposal could create if it passes. It is now the House after passi...

Man accused of intentionally setting Austin synagogue on fire pleads guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 6, 2023.0AUSTIN (KXAN) — The man accused of intentionally starting a fire at an Austin synagogue on Halloween 2021 plead guilty in federal court Thursday afternoon.Franklin Barrett Sechriest was indicted on three counts related to the arson investigation at Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue. He plead guilty to two charges — damage to religious property and arson. Another charge was dismissed.An affidavit reported surveillance cameras filmed Sechriest with a gas can in his hand. Agents also found glass bottles, lighter fluid, a lighter and waterproof matches in his car. The fire was estimated to have caused $25,000 in damage, and congregants had raised at least $500,000 for repairs by late December of 2021.The Department of Justice said Sechriest could face up to 30 years in prison for the damage to religious property charge, 20 years for the arson charge, and a mandatory 10-year sentence to run concurren...

VIDEO: APD searching for suspects in connection with north Austin apartment shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Austin Police said detectives were searching for several suspects after multiple calls reporting shots fired on March 31 at an apartment complex in the 8400 block of Martin Court.APD said the calls came in at approximately 9:52 p.m., and when APD arrived, officers noticed an apartment with several bullet holes.“A family, including small children, was inside the residence during the shooting. No one was injured by the bullets that hit the apartment,” Austin Police said.According to APD, officers obtained video from security cameras, and it showed several men walking in the area — two holding handguns. The full video from APD can be viewed here.“One of the armed men begins yelling. The video shows a second suspect, wearing a light blue shirt and blue jeans, taking out a handgun and shooting several times toward the apartment,” Austin Police said.APD asked for anyone with any information to submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppe...

Gophers football: How will the U’s remade offense look in 2023?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

The Gophers football program is trying to redefine the concept of offensive balance.Instead of the classic metric of weighing the amount of running plays against passing plays, head coach P.J. Fleck and new co-offensive coordinators Matt Simon and Greg Harbaugh are striving for an equilibrium in getting their playmakers the ball.Across Fleck’s tenure, Minnesota has run the ball on at least 60 percent of offensive plays in each of the six seasons, including a high of 70 percent in 2021 and 67 percent last year.A strong ground game will remain the bedrock of Fleck’s style going into 2023, and it had outgoing All-American tailback Mo Ibrahim quipping that “RTB” should stand for “Run The Ball” in addition to the program’s mantra of “Row The Boat.”But Ibrahim’s impending departure to the NFL leaves an unproven stable of running backs, strong-armed quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis taking over full time for veteran Tanner Morgan and what might be the deepest group of pass-catchers since...

Could Florida curb parades with drag performers? Here’s what a new bill proposes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

Lisa J. Huriash | (TNS) South Florida Sun-SentinelA bill under consideration in Florida’s Legislature could curb gay pride parades in public places statewide if such events were deemed to be “lewd” and children were watching, say gay advocates who worry about the proposal’s chilling effect.But state Sen. Clay Yarborough, a Republican from Jacksonville, says the proposal is about protecting children from watching performances only meant for adults. “When we see things, we cannot unsee them,” he said.Yarborough submitted an amendment this week to a bill, titled “Protection of Children,” that calls for prohibiting admitting children to an adult live performance. The amendment proposes that a governmental entity, which includes a city, may not issue a permit for such a show that wouldn’t comply with new restrictions. “We are failing as lawmakers … if I am not putting something like this forward,” he said in a recorded interview released Wednesday. “It’s not an attack on a particul...

NYSP: Contractor collected over $35K through scams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Thursday, New York State Police arrested James R. Larkin, 57, of Wolcott, Connecticut. Larkin, the owner of BluView Windows of Albany, was accused of scamming multiple customers. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Investigations determined that between October 2021 and July 2022, Larkin allegedly collected over $35,000 in deposits and/or payments from multiple residents for agreed-upon contracted work. Larkin never conducted any of the contracted work or returned the money to the victims.Police charged Larkin with the following:Five counts of Grand Larceny in the Third DegreeFive counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth DegreeNine counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First DegreeFour counts of Petit LarcenyLarkin surrendered himself to SP Clifton Park. After processing, he was arraigned at the Clifton Park Town Court and released on his own recognizance.

Six Flags Great Escape posts opening date

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Summer fun is on the way again at Six Flags Great Escape. The Lake George area park has posted Saturday, May 20 as its opening day. The Hurricane Harbor water park is set to open the following Saturday, May 27. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Thursday, park staff said that the hiring process is underway for the summer season. The park hires a large number of area student workers every summer, as well as over 100 international students working in Lake George through the J-1 visa program. In recent weeks, The Great Escape was one of over 30 employers to table at job fairs at Lake George, Queensbury and Glens Falls school districts to garner interest in getting another summer season rolling.Opening season is on the way for Six Flags parks around the U.S. Six Flags New England is set to open for the season this Friday, April 6.

Percy Jackson musical coming to Cohoes Music Hall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Playhouse Stage Company is presenting the hit musical The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. The musical is based on the first book, The Lightning Thief, of the popular 5 book series written by Rick Riordan. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The stage company explains the musical features a rock score with music and lyrics by Rob Rikicki, and a book by Joe Tracz. The Lightning Thief follows Percy Jackson, a troubled young man struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, who finds himself expelled from five schools in as many years. Percy comes to learn he is the half-blood son of a Greek God and finds himself at “Camp Half-Blood,” where he and his friends are sent on a quest by the Oracle of Delphi to uncover the truth behind the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt.The show assembles the teen students of the playhouse stage academy training program. The Lightning Thief plays from April 13 through 23 at ...

Glens Falls releases parking survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:55:57 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The city of Glens Falls is continuing an investigation into the quality of its parking options, eyeing growing traffic for events like Adirondack Thunder hockey games and Glens Falls Wing Fest. This week, the city is looking for community input on where it's easy to leave your car, and where it isn't an option. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! A survey released this week asks city residents to answer questions about their relationship to the city's parking situation. The survey includes questions on whether residents and visitors feel that parking is an active problem, as well as whether the current 2-hour limit on downtown streetside parking spots is acceptable. The survey also asks about residents' willingness to purchase a permit for overnight parking.Lastly, the survey asks residents to identify what topic is most important to them in regard to parking. Choices include downtown categories lik...