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$18 billion deal reached: Texans to get biggest property tax cut in state's history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After months of trying to reach a deal, leaders of the Texas Senate and House announced proposed legislation for property tax relief on Monday. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan released a joint statement detailing the following proposed legislation: Over $12 billion will be spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business properties.Every homeowner who homesteads their home (about 5.7 million homeowners) will get a $100,000 homestead exemption.Non-homesteaded properties, valued at $5 million and under, including residential and commercial properties, will receive a 20% circuit breaker on appraised values as a three-year pilot project.The legislation will also include savings on the franchise tax for small businesses and create newly elected positions on local appraisal boards."Negotiations with the Lieutenant Governor have been extremely productive, and by coming together and finding common ground, the House and Senate a...

Report: Downtown Austin on the precipice of a 'major transformation'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The 600 acres encompassing downtown Austin are not just seeing a post-pandemic new normal. Instead, leaders describe a significant overhaul in the way the space is used, leading to what they call a "major transformation."While the days of large skyscrapers filled with a single major employer are waning, more and more developments are filling with smaller tenants from a diverse variety of industries. "What we're seeing is that merging in downtown after the pandemic, or during this current period, is just the growth and entertainment sector," said Jenell Moffett, chief impact officer of the Downtown Austin Alliance. "Growth in restaurants, growth in pedestrian activity, nights and weekends." After 17 new major buildings were added in 2022, another 22 projects are under construction now, with an additional 34 planned.The growth is happening outside of the office as well. Roughly 3,000 additional hotel rooms are planned in the coming years, as well as 11,200 residential...

Rainfall knocks out Warren County phone lines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - From Sunday night through Monday, it's a rainy start to the week in the Capital Region and North Country. While the worst of the rain is expected to move northeast of Albany across Vermont, little of the region is staying dry. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! To that end, Warren County put out a notice on Monday morning that its phone lines were having issues as rain continues to fall. County spokesman Don Lehman said that storm-related damage has cut off communication to some offices."Callers are not able to reach some county offices, and some county employees can not call out. Warren County staff can be reached via email or cellphone, and the Warren County Administrator’s Office can receive landline calls at 518-761-6539 to get messages where they are needed. Verizon staff are on hand to repair the damage. We thank you for your patience.” Queensbury brings STEM to Hovey Pond Park Warren County...

Inaugural Thirsty Cat Festival set for the Berkshires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

HILLSDALE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The inaugural Thirsty Cat Festival is coming to Catamount Mountain Resort on July 22 and 23. The resort is located on Route 23 on the border of Hillsdale and South Egremont, Massachusetts. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The festival is set for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It features local craft beers, ciders, wines, food, live music, craft vendors, and kids' activities.The chairlift rides, zip tours, and Aerial Adventure Park will also be open. Craft vendors include Rolling Rock Farm, Cats' View Farm, Bakin Bakery, Myztik Treasure, VineGate Lavender Farm, Entwines Stone & Clay, and Pampered Chef. Catskills music festival headlined by Weezer canceled Music lineupJuly 22Rebel Alliance from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Radio Riot from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Rev Tor Band from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.July 23Dave Keller Band from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Professor Louie and the Crowmati...

Jay Pharoah performing at Albany Funny Bone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Comedian and actor Jay Pharoah will be performing at the Albany Funny Bone. The show is scheduled for September 24. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Pharaoh was a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" from 2010 to 2016. He is best known for his spot-on celebrity impressions, including former President Barack Obama, Jay-Z, Denzel Washington, and Stephen A. Smith. You can purchase Jay Pharoah tickets online by visiting the Funny Bone's website. The show is set to begin at 6 p.m.

Glens Falls ranked #1 safest city in U.S.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The city of Glens Falls has been featured for a second year in a row on a prominent list of safest places in the U.S. Once again, Warren County's "Hometown U.S.A." has made it onto Rocket Mortgage's "15 Safest Cities in the U.S." - and for a second time, it sits at #1. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The article assembles a list of 15 cities from around the county, ranked based on several criteria. It takes into account population, violent and property crime rates, as well as median household incomes, and home prices. Taking all of those factors into account, the article puts the North Country city of Glens Falls up on a pedestal."With a thriving art scene and proximity to the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, Glens Falls has something for everyone," says Rocket Mortgage writer Sidney Richardson. "Sporting many reasonably affordable homes, Glens Falls is a perfect destination if you’re looking to...

Northway crash on I-87 in Malta cleared

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to 511 NY, the crash on I-87 Northway southbound around Exit 12; NY 67 in Malta to Exit 11; Round Lake Road in Malta has cleared. New York State Police say the crash involved multiple cars with injuries.Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!At this time, police have not confirmed the extent of the injuries. Stick with NEWS10 as more information regarding the crash becomes available.

Sex offender charged in kidnapping, murder of 10-year-old Illinois girl; police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A 10-year-old Rockford girl was kidnapped and murdered by a registered sex offender on Saturday, according to the Rockford Police Department.Antonio Monroe, 44 of Blue Island, has been charged with First-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, two counts of Kidnapping and one count of Aggravated Battery via Strangulation.Officers were dispatched around 12:07 p.m. after a woman advised that her 6-year-old daughter had come home and told her that a man had taken her 10-year-old sister. Police said that a conversation had taken place before the event.Officers were flagged down around 12:40 p.m. by a man who had reported finding the girl's body outside a house in the 1200 block of 9th Avenue. They began administering CPR when they arrived.Rockford Fire transported the child to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The 6-year-old sister had reportedly been strangled as well, but was able to escape, police said."Having kids being born and raised in Rockford, we...

'It's perfect for a dog run,' Sheepdog time trials held at Illinois Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. (WMBD) -- Sheepherders with the Land of Lincoln Border Collie Association were in Chillicothe Sunday for a three-day border collie timed trials event.Trained sheepdogs and their herders competed at Three Sisters Park in a timed trial to see whose dog can get sheep in their pen the fastest. Dinosaurs come to Northwoods Mall parking lot Club Secretary Katherine Price said Chillicothe park is the most ideal place for time trials."It's perfect for a dog run. We used to have one field over there which was the open field, and we decided our mission was to bring herding to everybody at all ages and enthusiasts and all levels of experience," said Price. The group comes to Three Sisters Park every year for the competition.

Cause of double Illinois drowning may never be known, sheriff says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:31 GMT

ELMWOOD, Ill. (WMBD) -- It might never be known why a boat capsized over the weekend at a private fishing pond, resulting in the death of two Peoria men. Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said the investigation so far has turned up nothing indicating foul play or anything other than a tragic accident. It didn't appear the men were wearing life-jackets, the county's top lawman said. Investigation underway after double drowning in Peoria County Saturday Carter Lee and Michael J. Whitaker, both 67, died in the accident. Lee was found first and pronounced dead at 5 p.m. Saturday. Whitaker was found the following day by members of the Peoria Fire Department's dive team and pronounced dead at 11:12 a.m. SundayThe Peoria County Coroner's office said both men drowned and determined the deaths to be accidental in nature. There were no wounds or injuries on either man, according to the coroner's office. Deputies were called to the lake, located in the 5300 block of North Eden Road, at ab...