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Alpha Phi Alpha moves 2025 convention out of Florida over 'racist' policies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

The Black men’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has announced it will move its 2025 general convention from Orlando in light of “racist” policies. The fraternity announced the news Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing “Governor DeSantis’ harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black Community,” as the reason behind the decision.  Willis L. Lonzer III, the fraternity’s general president, told The Hill that last week’s controversy surrounding new education standards in the state became the tipping point in the fraternity’s decision.“Governor DeSantis has continuously advocated for laws and policies that negatively impact Black people and other marginalized communities,” Lonzer said.“We start first with the laws rejecting the teaching race and the cultural diversity of our nation. We can even talk about the bill that he supported, banning [diversity, equity and inclusion] initiatives in colleges and universities. But the fina...

'The walk home never feels safe': UT students talk West Campus safety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students from The University of Texas will come back to campus for the fall semester in the next few weeks, but it comes as students are raising concerns about safety in West Campus."On campus specifically I have never run into any issues," said UT student, Paulina Pearson. "But definitely in West Campus is where I see people yelling at me."Pearson says she has had a few run-ins in West Campus that have left her concerned."Some guy followed my roommate into our apartment the other day and he was screaming at her and followed her in," said Pearson.People using drugs and begging for money on the Drag is a common sight for students.KXAN viewers have also reached out about a homeless encampment near the University of Texas CO-OP. Drug paraphernalia and human feces were spotted by KXAN crews when we stopped by.KXAN reached out to the City to see if anything is being done to help people experiencing homelessness in West Campus. ‘There are used needles, used condoms’: Wes...

ATCEMS: Two people found unresponsive in east Austin park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officials responded to a park in east Austin Wednesday for reports of two people that were unresponsive.Austin-Travis County EMS said a call came in at 4:25 p.m. to Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach off Robert T. Martinez.ATCEMS said medics attempted to resuscitate one person but they were unsuccessful. That person was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 p.m.The second person was taken to the hospital in serious, potentially life-threatening condition.

Kinne trying to 'take back Texas' in 1st year as Texas State Bobcats head football coach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a dazzling display of offense last season in the FCS ranks, GJ Kinne is taking his high-octane brand of football to San Marcos in an attempt to bring some life to the Texas State Bobcats.Kinne led Incarnate Word to a 12-2 record, the FCS semifinals and the Cardinals piled up 51.5 points per game to lead all FCS programs in 2022. Kinne was a finalist for the FCS Coach of the Year award and the Cards barely missed playing for the FCS national title. Now, he's taking over an FBS program that hasn't won four or more games in eight consecutive seasons and was picked to finish fifth out of seven teams in the Sun Belt Conference West Division.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersKinne was hired in December 2022 after TXST parted ways with Jake Spavital, and this is just his second year as a head coach at any level. What makes Kinne think he can give the Bobca...

Saints storm past Mud Hens 9-7 on Kyle Garlick’s grand slam for mom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

When St. Paul Saints outfielder/first baseman Kyle Garlick stepped to the plate in the seventh inning of a 5-5 game on Wednesday at CHS Field, he did not allow himself to think about adding to the parade of grand slams the Saints have hit this season.But in what has become the norm, he did think about his mom, Cary, who died of cancer on February 18 at the age of 61.“I swing Old Hickory bats,” Garlick said. “Every breath I take before I get into the (batter’s) box, I look at the ‘c,’ and I think of my mom. So yeah, she’s been with me.”Garlick delivered in the clutch, connecting on a grand slam as the Saints beat the Toledo Mud Hens, 9-7, and the emotions were evident afterward as he continues to deal with her loss.Cary Garlick battled cancer for nine years.“She beat it twice and it came back a third time,” Garlick said.His mother’s death weighed heavily on Garlick through the first three months of the season, and it contributed to his slow start, both with the Saints and the T...

Alex McKinney tapped to be new Washington County parks director

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

Ask Alex McKinney, Washington County’s new parks director, to rank the county’s parks against one another – and he’ll politely decline the request.“I can’t pick a favorite,” said McKinney, who was named to the position in June after serving as interim parks director since March. “But I can give a shout out to a few of them.”Alex McKinney cross-country skiing in Lake Elmo Park Reserve. (Courtesy of Washington County Public Works)Somewhere near the top of the list would be Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, a 515-acre space that features hills and heavily wooded ravines with occasional clearings of old field and prairie. “You’re in Cottage Grove, and you turn in the park, and you go down this steep ravine, and there’s this beautiful lake at the bottom,” he said. “You’re surrounded by these oak/maple forests and, in the fall, it’s absolutely beautiful.”The 2,165-acre Lake Elmo Park Reserve is “one of the gemstones” of the county parks system, according to McKinney. “It’s mostly ...

Storms brought damage but needed rain. Thursday will bring dangerous heat in the Twin Cities.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

Severe storms overnight produced winds in excess of 70 mph across a swath of western and central Minnesota, downing trees and power lines.Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power and other Minnesota utilities reported more than 15,000 homes and businesses were without power across the state as of 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.The National Weather Service received reports of large trees and power poles snapped in New London as a line of storms — a “bow echo” on radar — passed through about 11 p.m. Tuesday. There also were reports of pontoon boats flipped over.In an update posted midmorning Wednesday, fire officials in New London urged people to conserve water due to ongoing power outages in the community.Wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph were reported near Belgrade around 11 p.m. Tuesday.The Belgrade/Brooten Police Department reported that public works and fire crews were out clearing storm debris from streets in those communities Wednesday morning. The department reported damage to power poles and lines in the...

Lawmakers fight over solutions to post-pandemic learning loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — As students grapple with the long-lasting impacts of pandemic school shutdowns, lawmakers are looking to help kids get back on track. They held a hearing on Wednesday focused on COVID learning loss. Almost immediately the division between parties was clear. While Democrats argue the school shutdowns were a necessity, Republicans disagree. They say classrooms were forced to stay closed for far too long.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "If we would have kept schools open more, people would have died due to COVID," Congressman Jamaal Bowman said. "We must demand accountability for those responsible. We must decentralize the decision-making power for education in this country and above all that means school choice," Congressman Aaron Bean said. Bean says the pandemic demonstrated the need to give parents more of a say. He believes the federal government should focus their i...

UFO whistleblower makes explosive claims, but wary of divulging details

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

WASHINGTON -- Former intelligence official David Grusch made far-reaching claims about possible U.S. government cover-ups of contact with UFOs and non-human pilots in a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on Wednesday.But Grusch could not offer any hard evidence to substantiate his claims — largely due to his fears of prosecution for sharing classified data in a public setting, he told Congress.“As a former intelligence officer, I go to jail for revealing classified information,” he told the members. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Lawmakers on the national security subcommittee noted that evasion is not the same thing as Grusch admitting he doesn’t have proof. “We should remind viewers and witnesses — and I think is really important — that we also cannot share classified information in public settings,” Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) said.Members repeatedly complained that they had been denied access to a secure...

Scary moment for McConnell raises questions for GOP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is helped by Senators and staff after McConnell unexpectedly pauses while speaking to reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Greg Nash)Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze in front of television cameras for about 20 seconds Wednesday as he battled a bout of lightheadedness that forced him to walk away briefly from a press conference.The scary moment, which prompted members of his leadership team to suggest that he take a rest, raises new questions about the 81-year-old Republican leader’s future.  “Are you good, Mitch?” asked Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Joni Ernst (Iowa), putting her hand on the back of his arm.  Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (Wyo.), who is a doctor, ushered McConnell away from the podium after the leader was unable to get more than a couple of sentences into his opening statement.  “Let’s go back to y...