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Leaders: Speeding up work permits can fix labor shortage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — As U.S. businesses struggle to fill job vacancies, leaders across the country are calling on the White House to step in."We need the national government to stand up," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.Democrats and Republicans say the federal government must cut red tape to allow more immigrants into the workforce."We have the jobs. We have the people. We just need authorization from Washington," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.Rebecca Shi, founding executive director of the American Business Immigration Coalition, represents 1,400 employers nationwide."We're at a crisis," she said.According to Shi, speeding up the work permit process is the answer to the nation's labor shortage."We're hearing that the application for asylum and work permits are taking up to a year to four years," Shi said.Right now, there aren't enough working Americans to fill all of the available jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports there are nearly 10 million job openings but only...

White House defends Maui wildfire response, announces $95M for recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The burned-out streets of Lahaina are the latest battleground for Democrats and Republicans, as some members of the GOP accuse the Biden administration of not responding to the emergency adequately.The White House is on the defense, saying the Biden administration responded immediately and appropriately -- and will keep helping Hawaii long term.Republicans are scrutinizing the president's recent responses to natural disasters.“If he responds to it like he did in Hawaii, we might be in trouble. But let's hope he doesn't,” Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said.Republicans claim the Biden administration's response to Maui’s deadly wildfires was too slow and House Oversight Chairman James Comer says his committee will investigate the government's decisions.However, Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-HI) says the issue shouldn't be politicized.“We need to focus all this concern that we have across the aisle from both Democrats and Republicans and focus it on helping the r...

First Proud Boy sentenced to 17 years in prison after seditious conspiracy conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

Proud Boy Joe Biggs on Thursday was sentenced to 17 years in prison, the second-highest sentence handed down to anyone convicted in connection with the Capitol attack. Biggs was convicted of sedition and other serious felonies earlier this year after being accused of leading members of the right-wing extremist group to the Capitol and talking with the first rioter to breach police barricades just minutes before he acted. The Florida Army veteran appeared in court Thursday wearing an orange prison-issued jumpsuit with a white undershirt and black thick-frame glasses, his white hair styled into a mohawk and beard outgrown. Addressing the court, Biggs said he is “sick and tired of left versus right,” and that the only group he wants to be a part of in the future is his daughter’s parent-teacher association.“I know I messed up that day, but I’m not a terrorist,” he said through tears. Top Stories from The HillUkraine breaks through major Russian defense lines as counterof...

Bastrop H-E-B adding nearly 18K square feet in multi-million-dollar expansion project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A multi-million-dollar expansion project is coming to H-E-B’s Bastrop store, according to the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation.BastropEDC said Phase 1, which included a parking lot addition, was already underway. The next step would impact the interior of the building.The building is set to undergo a large renovation and expansion, which is estimated to begin July 1, 2024, and include nearly 18,000 square feet of added space, according to BastropEDC.The expansion would add nearly triple the capacity of the curbside carryout portion of the property, and a True Texas BBQ restaurant is also going to be placed inside the building.BastropEDC said the store's pharmacy would be reconfigured to provide greater efficiency, more backstage processing square footage would be added to improve production capacity for foods that are made and packaged in-store, and all customer-facing refrigeration cases would be replaced.According to BastropEDC, additional administrative of...

Austin records hottest summer on record, and driest in 113 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For years, hot summers in Central Texas have been judged by comparison to 2011, Austin's hottest summer on record. But as meteorological summer ends at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 31, it turns out this summer was even hotter in some parts of town.Austin records hottest summer on recordWe averaged the hourly temperatures from Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather recording site, every hour since Jun. 1 when meteorological summer began. This summer was a tie for Austin's hottest summer on record.2023 ties as Austin's hottest summer on recordAt the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in southeastern Travis County, the period of record is shorter. But 2023 was by far the airport's hottest meteorological summer on record.2023 was Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport's hottest summer on record by farClimate change is heating up Austin summersAll of Austin's 10-hottest years on record have come since 1998, even though temperature records extend back to 1897. As the climate warms, Austin'...

As Austin's homeless strategy officer resigns, some asking for deeper look at city spending

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly is asking the City of Austin to do a full audit of its homelessness response, according to a memo. The request comes one day after the announcement that Austin's homeless strategy officer is resigning. “We have received Council Member Kelly’s memorandum and are looking into the recommendations outlined in the letter," a City of Austin spokesperson said. The council member is asking the city to provide "a detailed breakdown of the funds allocated for homeless services, including sources of funding (local, state federal) and how these funds are being distributed." It also asks the city to look at how well it's coordinating between departments and other stakeholders while asking for community input on improvements that could be made. "Unfortunately, sometimes the city doesn't do a great job of educating the public on the successes they've had, or the failures," Kelly said. "And so I think it's really important to look for an opportun...

Texas A&M Forest Service rolling out prescribed burn grants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) -- The Texas A&M Forest Service will be offering grants to aid Texas landowners looking to offset any costs related to prescribed fires, per a Thursday release.More than $500,000 in grant funds are available for eligible landowners "conducting prescribed burns on their property by certified and insured prescribed burn managers," the release said. The grant program offered up more than $362,000 last year to help lead prescribed fire treatments on nearly 13,000 acres of privately owned land statewide.The last day to apply for the grant funds is Sept. 30. Those interested can check to see their eligibility and find an application online.“Prescribed burning can play a crucial role for landowners in reducing wildfire danger, improving wildlife habitats and fostering a healthier forest ecosystem,” said Weldon Dent, fuels specialist with the Texas A&M Forest Service, in the release. Prescribed fires are used to help remove brush, weeds, dried vegetatio...

John Shipley: Twins didn’t put Guardians away, they encouraged them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

So, the Twins didn’t exactly put the fear of God into the Cleveland Guardians this week.Given the opportunity to mortally wound Cleveland’s chances of winning the American League Central with a sweep, the Twins instead encouraged their closest division to keep fighting.Do something more than keep fighting, in fact.On Thursday, the last day major league teams could add players and make them eligible for postseason play, the Guardians claimed, and were awarded, three pitchers who could start making a difference immediately — right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, and relievers Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore.All three were recently released by the Los Angeles Angels, who, suddenly without both their star players, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, are shedding payroll and roster spots with a zeal that should alarm Major League Baseball’s front office. They are completely focused on payroll tax and compensatory draft picks.By claiming those arms, the Guardians proved they are focused on the last...

Man credits Albany facility in his addiction recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Project Safe Point in Albany provides treatment for anyone whether or not they desire to stop using. It’s also a safe injection site. These protocols may sound controversial but for one man it was a lifesaver. A class to save lives: Free overdose prevention training in the Capital Region“Once you go through addiction and you get to your rock bottom, the only place left to go is up” says Albany County native Kevin. We spoke to Kevin on International Overdose Awareness Day. As of this article, he's eight months clean. The man in recovery says family issues and hanging out with the wrong crowd led him down the rough and tumble road of addiction. An internal war he’s been battling since the tender age of 10. Eventually Kevin had enough.“I got to the point though in my own self where I didn't want to drink honestly. I didn't like the way it made me feel. I didn't like how I acted around people. I didn't like how people acted around me" the Safe Point patient said....

Discovering Saratoga: Beloved 90-year-old Track Greeter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:35 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - For 17 years, a beloved employee at the track has been helping answer questions when racing fans walk through the gates at the Saratoga Race Course. NEWS10’s Cassie Hudson introduces us to Ruth Mattiello.