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Vermont legalizes online sports betting, joining nearly three dozen other states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law Wednesday legalizing online sports betting in Vermont.Sports betting is legal in nearly three dozen states.“I first proposed Vermont legalize sports betting several years ago and I’m happy the Legislature has come to an agreement, as well,” Scott said in a statement. “We know many Vermonters already participate in the marketplace and bringing it above board provides important resources and consumer protections.”Under the law, the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery will operate sports wagering through contracts with between two and six sports betting operators. Each year the department, in consultation with the Department of Mental Health, will provide a report to the Legislature on the impact of sports betting on problem gambling in Vermont. The operators will also be required annually to provide the state with a responsible gaming plan that includes information about the posting of materials relate...

Sen. Gillibrand introduces bill to protect older Americans in the workplace

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) says she and other lawmakers are taking a stand for older Americans."Far too often, older workers are being denied employment, passed over for promotions, or even fired just because of their age," Gillibrand said.Wednesday, the bi-partisan group introduced a bill to cancel agreements that prevent workers from filing lawsuits for age discrimination."Forced arbitration is secretive, it's unfair and it strips hardworking Americans of their constitutional rights," Gillibrand said."As America ages, this is gonna be a bigger problem," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.Graham said older workers need to be treated fairly."There are many employers out there looking for ways to replace older workers with younger workers simply because it's cheaper," Graham said.Both Democrats and Republicans agree that protecting age discrimination isn't the only way forced arbitration hurts workers."And it turns out the pairing of Graham and Gillibrand...

Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen files motion to eliminate ballistic evidence from trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. — Delphi double murders suspect Richard Allen is now asking a judge to dismiss ballistics evidence in his case.Attorneys representing Allen, who faces two counts of murder in the deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German in February 2017 in Delphi, filed a "motion in limine" Tuesday. Online court records show that the motion is "regarding ballistics."A motion in limine, Latin for a "motion at the start," is a pretrial motion asking that certain evidence be ruled as inadmissible at a trial. The evidence being discussed in Allen's case is ballistics, which regards firearms and projectiles. Judge says Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen can be moved to new facility The actual motion in limine is sealed, so what Allen's attorneys are specifically requesting from the court is unknown. However, some ballistic evidence against Allen has been made public.The Delphi murders case went unsolved for years before Allen’s arrest was announced in late October 2022, more than ...

One inning continues to be a problem for Lance Lynn in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Two years after he was a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award, things have not started out well for one of the White Sox veteran starting pitchers.In fact, it's the start of games that have remained the biggest issue for Lance Lynn, and Tuesday was another example.Facing the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the starter surrendered four runs in the first inning, which ended up being the difference in a 5-1 White Sox defeat. Lynn lasted five innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits as his record fell to 4-7 on the season.More concerning is his ERA, which now sits at 6.75, which is the highest of the White Sox starters by two full runs - and it's his starts to games that have often done him in.In his 14 first innings in the 2023 season, Lynn is sporting at 12.21 ERA, allowing 19 earned runs, 25 hits, and five home runs. It's sabotaged a number of his starts, and while he hasn't been near his best in 2023, his second and third innings have generally been bet...

2023 could see one of June's longest 100° streaks in Austin history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — This year could see one of June's longest triple-digit streaks in Austin history.The First Warning Weather team has currently forecast at least seven consecutive days at or above 100° in Austin.If the forecast verifies, that would rank as at least the 6th-longest streak of triple-digit heat ever recorded in June.The longest 100° streak in June was recorded last year. Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, hit the century mark 12 days in a row, from June 16 through June 27.The historic stretch was almost even longer. Had it not been for a 98° high on the 15th, Austin would have hit 100° for 22 days in a row. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade The longest triple-digit streak of all time was in 2011. Austin hit 100° for 27 days in a row, from July 17 through August 12.

La Barbecue restaurant owner dies at 51

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 14, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- LeAnn Mueller, the owner of la Barbecue in east Austin, died Wednesday at 51 years old, according to a press release.Mueller, a successful chef and photographer, opened la Barbecue with her wife and co-owner Ali Clem in 2012. The popular Central Texas barbecue spot started in a south Austin food trailer park before moving to a brick-and-mortar location in east Austin, per the release.Mueller died Wednesday morning surrounded by her closest friends and family, the release said. Her family's connection with barbecue inspired her own path. Her grandfather started Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor. The restaurant was taken over by her father, Bobby Mueller, who won a James Beard Award in 2006.Her family's barbecue legacy "deeply inspired" and fueled "her desire to open her own award-winning restaurant," the release stated.Mueller grew up in Central Texas. Before creating la Barbecue, s...

Austin airport advisory group recommends enhanced bus, mass transit to AUS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin's Airport Advisory Commission passed a recommendation Wednesday that encouraged enhanced public transit access to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).Earlier this month, the City of Austin, CapMetro and Austin Transit Partnership formally adopted a Phase 1 light rail service route for Project Connect, the city's mass transit program in the works. It’s official: Austin adopts Phase 1 of Project Connect light rail plan Under that design, the guaranteed route would run from 38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane. While the promised route doesn't go directly to AUS, the now-approved recommendation does prioritize extending it from Yellow Jacket Lane to the airport, should there be sufficient funding available.Austin city and transit leaders approved the 38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane route option as the first phase of light rail services to be built under Project Connect. (Courtesy: Austin Transit Partner...

What to know about medications and summer heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Summer heat is here and impacts our health in obvious ways, such as heat-related illness and sunburns, but it can also impact our medications. Serra Holthaus, a University of Texas at Austin student pharmacist intern on rotation at the Peoples Pharmacy, said people should always check with their pharmacist about the potential side effects of their medication. "Anything with benzoyl peroxide or some retinols," Holthaus said. "I'd stay away from those if you're going to be outside a lot during the summer, and use something else for now." FORECAST: Hottest temperatures still to come These medications are often used to treat acne. During the summer heat, they can cause excessive drying and make the skin more sensitive to the sun.According to Texas A&M's Vital Record, some medications lose effectiveness when subjected to extreme heat. Some medications affected this way include inhalers, antibiotics and nitroglycerin.She also strongly urges people to not keep medicat...

APD's Mounted Patrol unit trains for managing big crowds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) --- On Wednesday, dozens of police officers from across the state were in San Marcos training with their horses. During the annual Mounted Patrol Training, officers ran through drills and formations in an effort to help them better prepare for managing large crowds. APD said it currently has 14 police officers, two supervisors and 16 horses in its Mounted Patrol Unit. (Photo: KXAN) "Some of the formations that you saw were column formations, line formations and wedge formations. They're formations that are very effective in crowd management," APD Mounted Patrol Unit Sergeant Al Garibay said. Garibay said this helps them break up crowds on Sixth Street during the weekend or if there are protests. "Basically [it] allows us to safely move the pedestrians that are on the street, and encourage them to move to the sidewalks," Garibay said. "In cases of like a riot or protest, we can effectively move them without people getting hurt."APD Corporal James Pittman said...

How Mexico's agriculture burn affects Austin local weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The haze happens every spring and it can make you feel bad.The sky loses that beautiful azure, blue hue. Though its occurrence doesn't originate in the Austin area, if the wind is blowing just right, Central Texas and a good deal of the state will still see the haze's effects. Why is the sky so hazy in Austin? The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality attributes this recent haze to "a good amount of atmospheric moisture" helping to partially contribute to the hazy sky. The other factor that led to the haze partnering with the clouds is smoke that wafted into our sky from the agriculture burning ongoing in northern Mexico. These fires occur in the northern part of the country as well as the Yucatan. A south-to-southeast wind flow will cause the smoke from the Yucatan to travel across the western Gulf to our coastline and further into the coastal plain on the Interstate 35 corridor.South and southeast winds bring in agriculture burning smoke from MexicoThe south...