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Texas businessman at center of AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment pleads not guilty to federal charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas real estate developer at the center of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements to banks that loaned him more than $170 million.Nate Paul waived his scheduled arraignment before a U.S. district judge in Austin, according to court documents posted Friday. Paul figures heavily in 20 articles of impeachment filed against Texas’ top law enforcement officer. Paxton is accused of abusing his power and bribery in order to help Paul, who gave the Republican a $25,000 campaign donation in 2018. There is no reference to Paxton in Paul’s indictment, which accuses the developer of making false statements to multiple banks in 2017 and 2018. But one of the banks later received a subpoena, issued in person, by an attorney Paxton hired as an “outside independent prosecutor” to pursue complaints Paul made after the FBI raided the businessman’s offices.Paxton has denied wrongdoing and his impe...

US sanctions Russian intelligence officers over elections interference

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence officers who supervised two officers who were recently indicted by the Justice Department for their involvement in the Kremlin’s attempts to influence a local election in the United States.Yegor Popov, a Russian intelligence officer, was sanctioned Friday. He served as a primary handler of Alexander Ionov, a Russian operative who was charged by the Justice Department last year with recruiting political groups in the U.S. to advance pro-Russia propaganda, including about the invasion of Ukraine.U.S. authorities say Ionov recruited political groups in Florida, Georgia and California and directed them to spread pro-Russia talking points. Ionov, who operated an entity called the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, paid for group members to attend government-funded conferences in Russia, as well as a protest in the U.S. against social media efforts to suppress online support for the invasion.Popov also ...

‘Titanic’ director James Cameron says search for missing sub became a ‘nightmarish charade’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

“Titanic” director James Cameron says the search operation for a deep-sea tourist sub turned into a “nightmarish charade” that prolonged the agony of the families of the passengers.Cameron told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Friday that he “felt in my bones” that the Titan submersible had been lost soon after he heard it had lost contact with the surface during its descent to the wreckage of the ocean liner at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.#JamesCameron drags officials for not announcing the #OceanGate sub's implosion sooner, and for dangling "false hopes" in front of victims' families. (????: CNN) https://t.co/gt3Y7jg2Yl pic.twitter.com/r5Cc7Y43Fl— TMZ (@TMZ) June 23, 2023He said the focus in the media over the next few days about the submersible having 96 hours of oxygen supply — and that banging noises had been heard — were a “prolonged and nightmarish charade.”“That was just a crue...

Midday Fix: Live music from Milky Chance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

Clemens Rehbein and Phillipp Dausch from Milky Chance joined Patrick Elwood on the WGN Midday News.The German band plays with Young The Giant Friday night at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island.http://www.milkychance.net/Event:The Summer Haze Tour with Milky ChanceJune 23rd - 6:30PMHuntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - 1300 S Linn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605Homehttps://www.pavilionnortherlyisland.com/https://www.ticketsqueeze.com/tickets/5546500/young-the-giant-and-milky-chance-2023-06-23-18-30-00-huntington-bank-pavilion-at-northerly-island

Bulls give an update on Lonzo Ball's knee injury recovery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Once again, an update from the Bulls on their top point guard wasn't as positive as they or fans might have hoped. Yet the news on Lonzo Ball that came out late Thursday night probably wasn't a surprise, either. While noting that the guard has made some progress in his recovery from his latest knee surgery, executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas said that the Bulls are expecting Ball to miss the entire 2023-2024 season.This comes after the point guard missed the second half of the 2021-2022 season and the entire 2022-2023 season after undergoing three surgeries on his left knee. His most recent, a cartilage transplant surgery, took place in March. "He's recovering nicely. I think last month he got off the crutches. He's recovering, doing his rehab, everything is going well," said Karnisovas of Ball. "Going into the offseason, I think our expectation is that he's not coming back next season, and he's going to continue on his recovery."If he comes back, it would be grea...

Jack Hanna no longer remembers most family members as Alzheimer's progresses, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2019, no longer remembers most of his own family, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch. Hanna was the former director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, but he was well known for his appearances on David Letterman and his own nationally syndicated TV show.The Hanna family welcomed the Columbus Dispatch into their home "for a real-world look into living with Alzheimer's disease," the family tweeted. "While Dad/Jack is still mobile, his mind fails him, the light in his eyes has dimmed, and we miss who he was each & every moment of the day." Wildlife advocate Jack Hanna poses for a portrait with a serval cub in New York on Oct. 12, 2015. (Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP, file)Hanna now only remembers his wife, Suzi, their dog and his oldest daughter, who travels from England to care for him, according to the Dispatch."My husband is still in there somewhere," Suzi told the Dispatch...

Austin man among 4 victims killed after Matador tornado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 23, 2023MATADOR, Texas -- The Texas Department of Public Safety on Friday released the identities of the four people killed after a tornado hit Matador Wednesday evening.The victims were identified as Jo Etta Bumgardner, 85, of Matador, Randell (Randy) Rolin, 59, of Purcell, Oklahoma, Victor Valenzuela Jr., 43, of Austin, Troy Hernandez, 23, San Angelo.Authorities said nine people were injured. Multiple agencies rushed to help with rescue efforts, including Lubbock Fire Rescue and University Medical Center EMS. Abbott issues disaster declaration after Matador tornado Tornado damage in Matador (Drone photo: Pedro Figuero) Tornado damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff)Tornado damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff)Tornado damage in Matador (Drone photo: Pedro Figuero) Tornado damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff)Tornado damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff)Tornado damage in Matador (Nexstar/Staff)DPS said 29 structures were ...

 U.S. Senate passes bill targeting dangerous street drug ‘tranq’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) –  The U.S. Senate passed Thursday a bill that aims to increase the understanding of a dangerous and increasingly prevalent street drug, xylazine.Xylazine, commonly referred to as tranq, is a non-opiate sedative authorized in the U.S. only for veterinary use. It has had the most severe impact in the Northeast but has been detected in 48 states including Texas. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reported that in 2022, nearly a quarter of all the fentanyl powder seized had been tainted with xylazine. Sen. Ted Cruz introduces U.S. ‘tranq’ bill, sits down for a Q&A with KXAN Little medical research has been conducted on the effects of xylazine on the human body, but anecdotal reports describe it producing opioid-like highs. People who inject xylazine are at risk of developing severe, necrotic skin alterations that can result in amputations, per the FDA.U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Testing, Rapid An...

One last day of 90s ahead of a new round of triple digits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Despite a bit of "relief" yesterday afternoon (high of 94°), our temperatures begin to climb today... and they won't stop rising in the days to come.A few isolated storms developing well to our west could hold together long enough to clip parts of our area late today and Saturday, but the big story continues to be the heat. Afternoon highs will return to the upper 90s today before reaching and exceeding 100° this weekend and all next week.Forecast heat index values Friday afternoonHeat and humidity are still prompting a Heat Advisory in effect until 9 p.m. Friday for dangerous heat indices.Heat Advisory in effect until 9 p.m. FridayThe ridge of high pressure that's been bringing abnormally hot temperatures for most of Texas and northern Mexico will begin to drift north this weekend. As it does, even hotter temperatures will follow. This slight nudge in pattern will send temperatures to near-records, both in the afternoon and overnight, for most of next week.Ridge of...

New South St. Paul library to be named ‘Kaposia Library’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:07 GMT

A new South St. Paul library will be named Kaposia Library, Dakota County announced Thursday.Kaposia refers to the seasonal village of the Mdewakanton Dakota, located along the Mississippi River in St. Paul and South St. Paul.Dakota County worked with stakeholders and tribal historic preservation officers from Indigenous communities to choose a name that would highlight local history.Kaposia will be the 10th location in the Dakota County Library system. It will replace the current City of South St. Paul Library at Seventh and Marie Avenues.The library is expected to open in early 2024.For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us.Related ArticlesLocal News | Bloomington to Burnsville I-35W closure postponed Local News | Southbound I-35W closure this weekend from Bloomington to Burnsville Local News | Body found in Afton State Park believed to be missing Inver Grove Heights man Local News | 40 years later, Burnsville-based ...