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Dean Richards on the James Beard Awards red carpet

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- WGN's Dean Richards stopped by the 2023 James Beard Awards at the Lyric Opera of Chicago downtown Monday.The James Beard Foundation hosted their 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 5. The James Beard Foundation honored the nation’s top food authors, broadcast producers, hosts, journalists, podcasters, and social media content creators on Saturday, June 3. The full list of winners, which includes Book, Broadcast Media, and Journalism can be found here.The James Beard Foundation also honored the nominees for their Leadership Award on Sunday, June 4.To watch the 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony LIVE, click here.

Can a teacher lose their license for quitting a job?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

DALLAS (NewsNation) — As another school year gradually comes to an end, the nationwide teacher shortage has forced some states to ramp up efforts to find ways to retain teachers for the next school year.More teachers are breaking their contracts and quitting, and officials with state education boards don't want to be left in a bind to hire teachers next school year, so some districts are fining, suspending and revoking teaching certificates of those who quit on what they've said is short notice.In Texas, the number of requests to consider suspending or revoking teaching certificates for job abandonment is the highest the state has seen in the past few years. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Texas State Board for Educator Certification suspended more than 300 teaching certificates statewide for job abandonment. These are the most and least educated states: Census Meanwhile, in Missouri, the number of teachers breaking contracts has increased, and teachers who quit are fac...

City of Austin could reopen downtown Salvation Army homeless shelter

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After the Salvation Army announced it was permanently closing its homeless shelter downtown, which dedicated beds to women and children, the City of Austin is working to lease the space from the nonprofit and make the beds available again. This week, Austin City Council will vote on a one-year agreement with the Salvation Army to lease the space starting July 1. It would cost the city roughly $1.2 million, a large chunk of which will come from the Austin Public Health budget, according to council documents. Another resolution could expand the city's contract with Urban Alchemy, the group that runs the ARCH shelter nearby, to include operating and providing social services at the Salvation Army shelter. PREVIOUS: Salvation Army downtown shelter to close doors The currently empty shelter sits in District 9 near the Austin Police headquarters in Council Member Zohaib Qadri's district. "The city needs more shelter capacity. We have about 4,000-5,000 unhoused folks i...

Travis County Constable urges Gov. Abbott to veto vehicle inspection bill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Travis County Constable Stacy Suits on Monday urged Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a bill that would end the annual vehicle inspection requirement in Texas, citing concerns over road safety and air quality."This is a dangerous bill that does not ensure safety for all Texans," Precinct 3 Constable Suits said in a formal letter to the governor. "Law enforcement needs every available tool to help detect and combat fraudulent activity to ensure the safety of ALL Texans, and a valid motor vehicle safety inspection is one of those tools." Texas passes bill eliminating mandatory vehicle inspections Suits joined other law enforcement officials who testified against the bill during the legislative session. Opponents outnumbered supporters 16 to 5 when House Bill 3297 was up for public testimony in the Texas Senate last month. Travis County Constable's Office Sgt. Joe Escribano joined Suits to testify against it.“The first line of defense for the safety of our fellow Texans is...

FDA to require prescriptions for livestock antibiotics, aiming to stop drug-resistant bacteria

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas farmers and ranchers will soon need to obtain a veterinarian's prescription before treating their livestock with common medications.The Food and Drug Administration's latest rule goes into effect June 11 and aims to stop the spread of antimicrobial resistance between animals and humans. The FDA called that "a serious threat to animal and public health" in a detailed explanation of their guidance for farmers and ranchers.The concern, put simply, is that bacterial resistance to antibiotics could spread from livestock to humans through the meat humans consume."Over the last decade or so, the Food and Drug Administration has really been concerned about the transfer of antibiotic-resistant bacteria out of the food chain and food-producing animals back into the human medical side," Dr. Ron Gill said, a livestock specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. "There's really not any real evidence that that's occurring. But this is just an abundance of c...

MN Attorney General sues St. Paul’s largest downtown property owner for worker overtime pay

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against Madison Equities, downtown St. Paul’s largest property owner, alleging that the company deprived security officers of mandatory overtime wages by having them punch in and out of separate subsidiary companies associated with its buildings.The 31-page lawsuit, filed Monday in Ramsey County District Court, also maintains that the property management company retaliated against one of six workers who raised whistleblower concerns about the practice.The attorney general office’s efforts to obtain payroll data and other documentation were stymied by rounds of legal objections from Madison Equities, which rose to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The state’s highest court sided with the attorney general’s office in December 2021, sending the case back to the district court for supplemental data requests.“We initially announced an investigation in the fall of 2019. Instead of complying with the civi...

Air quality alert extended into Tuesday for Twin Cities, other areas of the state

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended an air quality alert through 6 p.m. Tuesday for the Twin Cities as well as other areas of the state.The air quality index was orange — indicating that air may be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” including those with asthma, heart disease or diabetes. Additionally, those who work or exercise outdoors or keep windows open should be cautious along with children and older adults. An orange index also means that the sky may look hazy and there may be a smell of smoke.The alert is in response to smoke particles coming from wildfires in Quebec, Canada, on Friday and Saturday. The wind is moving from the east because of a high pressure area over Lake Superior moving air through Michigan and Wisconsin into Minnesota.Smoke particules can irritate the body when they enter the lungs and can cause inflammation. Those with preexisting conditions may notice short term issues including asthma symptoms, shortness of breath and coughing. For o...

Health reminder after illnesses: If you’re feeling sick, don’t go swimming

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

Dozens of people who swam in Schulze Lake in Dakota County have become ill with a suspected norovirus infection, health officials said Monday.The Minnesota Department of Health has received more than 60 reports of people ill after swimming at Schulze Lake at Lebanon Hills Regional Park over the past three days, according to Trisha Robinson, waterborne disease supervisor at the department. Health officials are still figuring out exactly what pathogen caused the illness, “but the symptoms and incubation period are consistent with norovirus infection.”“These types of germs can spread quickly and widely if people who are or have recently been ill swim in the same water with others,” Robinson said. “It’s critical that people stay out of any water until at least 72 hours after symptoms go away so we can stop the spread of the virus.”She explained that “very small amounts of virus can be left on people’s bottoms, who then go in the water, and people nearby can ingest the ...

Troy PD searching for vulnerable adult

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Troy Police Department is searching for a developmentally disabled adult, who may be in need of medical attention. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Michael Hart, 55, was last seen around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 3 on Marvin Avenue in the city of Troy. He was last seen wearing a green work t-shirt, black work boots, a black baseball hat, a gray hand brace, a blue and orange bookbag, and a wallet with a chain. He is described as 5'9" tall, 220 lbs., with gray hair and blue eyes. He also has a tattoo of a wolf on his arm.Anyone who sees him is asked to call either 911 or Troy police at (518) 270-4411. 

Bus driver shortages continue to affect schools, one system takes new approach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:52 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. - From Wentzville to St. Louis, schools are facing a stressful number of bus driver vacancies. In the Wentzville School District Transportation Department, a new approach is helping to fill some of those vacancies.When you think about driving a 40-foot piece of equipment with nearly 80 passenger seats, it can be stressful. Kim Boix and her team at the Wentzville School District Transportation Department say it can be intimidating.“It takes a special kind of person to drive a bus," Boix said.Now director of the department, Boix started out as a bus driver. With a passion for students' safety, it's why several on her team have stepped up to the job.“It’s a big responsibility, but the kids are wonderful," said Jeff Rascher, a long-time bus driver.More recently, he started training others. Free Trip Tuesday heads to Giant City State Park with Shawnee Forest Country! “When we don’t have enough bus drivers to go around, me and Randy will go on routes," Rascher said.Due t...