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DeSantis signs bill allowing new roads to be built with mining waste linked to cancer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

(The Hill) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill on Thursday that will allow new roads in the state to be built with "radioactive" mining waste that has been linked to cancer.HB 1191 adds phosphogypsum to a list of “recyclable materials” that can be used for the construction of roads. The list also includes ground rubber from car tires, ash residue from coal combustion byproducts, recycled mixed-plastic, glass and construction steel.Phosphogypsum, a waste product from manufacturing fertilizer, emits radon — a radioactive gas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The material also contains radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium and radium.Radon is second to smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer. The gas has been linked to 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year in the U.S, according to the EPA. The agency previously confirmed to CBS News that the mining waste — leftover material from phosphate rock — is potentially cancer-causing. The material ...

How the city is quickly able to reopen splash pads following an issue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Liz Carpenter splash pad reopened Thursday morning after the City of Austin shut it down due to an electrical issue and a pipe leak. The city said the heat could also impact operations.Paul Slutes, the Aquatic Program Manager with the city, said he believed the heat could cause a lot of the pump motors to overheat.“We see this in splash pads that have enclosed pump rooms they are more susceptible to heat,” Slutes said.The Austin Parks and Recreation Department said it has fans to cool off the equipment.Slutes said shutdowns were normal because several splash pads have automated timers, so they might stop operating for a few minutes.For one nanny, a splash pad closure led her to something new.“Our actual first experience here was because there was another splash pad closed and this was the closest one,” Rebecca Ritchie, a local nanny, said.Austin Parks and Rec said its proactive approach was helping with repair work, which included ordering parts early. Prior to t...

Teachers to get extra pay in Senate property tax plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Senate on Wednesday approved a $3.2 billion supplemental pay package for teachers as part of a constitutional amendment proposal they hope to send to the voters this November.The plan would provide a $2,000 check for full-time classroom teachers in districts with more than 20,000 students and a $6,000 check for teachers in districts with fewer than 20,000 students.The plan came as a last-minute amendment to the Senate's $18 billion property tax relief plan."We need to do something that takes care of homeowners, takes care of teachers, and gets us out of the Capitol so that people can have some certainty as they go into the fall," said State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, who proposed the amendment. "The governor is playing politics with people's pocketbooks. Texans all over the state are in pain, and they have trouble paying the bills and trouble making ends meet.""320K Texas teachers will get a 2-for-1 with the $100k homestead exemption and supp...

Supreme Court rules for designer who doesn’t want to make wedding websites for gay couples

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

By JESSICA GRESKO (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled on Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. One of the court’s liberal justices wrote in a dissent that the decision’s effect is to “mark gays and lesbians for second-class status” and that it opens the door to other discrimination.The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.Smith’s opponents warned that a win for her would allow a range of businesses to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants. But Smith and her supporters had said that a ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musi...

Troy's Winter Street Bridge to close for resurfacing work

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Starting Monday, July 10, Troy's Winter Street Bridge will close for resurfacing work, along with minor curb and sidewalk work. Traffic on Pawling Avenue will be detoured to Main Avenue (Rte. 66) to West Sand Lake Road (Rte. 150), to Whiteview Road (Rte. 136), and onto Winter Street Extension. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Traffic on Winter Street Extension will be detoured to Whiteview Road (Rte. 136), to West Sand Lake Road (Rte. 150), to Main Avenue (Rte. 66) to continue onto Pawling Avenue. "Maintaining our roadways is maintaining essential emergency and economic infrastructure, and improves the quality of life experienced by community members of all abilities," said Troy Mayor Wm. Patrick Madden. "As always, my thanks go to the workers of our Department of Public Works, who put themselves in harm's way and make themselves available to respond to emergencies at all hours to ensure our...

Some state beaches going without lifeguards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - If you're going for a swim at a state beach around New York's Capital Region or North Country, there may soon not be a lifeguard onsite. It depends on where you go, though. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This week, the Department of Environmental Conservation announced that swimming would become unsupervised at DEC-managed beaches around the state. The change affects swimming spots around the Adirondack Park, as well as the Catskill Forest Preserve.“Swimming, fishing, and boating are among the many activities that bring more than a million campers and day-users back to our facilities year after year," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "To continue to offer a quality recreational experience, DEC is transitioning our campground beaches in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve to unsupervised swimming areas to allow the public to continue enjoying this part of the camping experience and we...

Town of Ballston opening its first dog park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

BURNT HILLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Town of Ballston is getting its first dog park. The dog park will be located in Jenkins Park in Burnt Hills. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to Town Supervisor Eric Connolly, residents in the Jenkins Park District will have no fee to use the park, while residents in Ballston will be $25 and non-Ballston residents will be $50. All dogs over four months are required to have a town license per New York State law."We are working on a Town webpage that will eventually go live with all the use requirements," said Connolly. "Town Councilman Rob Fendrick and our Parks Committee Chairwoman Sally Draina deserve all the credit for helping to make this new park offering a reality." The Coat Room opens in downtown Saratoga Springs The dog park is set to open on Monday, July 10. Jenkins Park is located at 30 Jenkins Road in Burnt Hills.

Severe storms expected near St. Louis Friday and Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A heat advisory for today continues as temps jump well into the 90s north of I-70 and low 100s south of I-70. Heat index will hit 105+.Storms will start to develop north of St. Louis by mid-afternoon, with scattered storms dropping southeast across the region this afternoon and into this evening. Some storms may produce damaging winds of 60-70 mph. Many spots will miss the storms, but where they hit, they will pack a punch. There is a level two out of five risk for much of the area today into this evening. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Storms will continue in spots tonight, but severe weather concerns will ease overnight. Believe it or not, heavy rain may become a concern in areas that see repeated storms.Saturday will be hot and humid again, but with somewhat greater coverage of afternoon storms. The risk Saturday will increase to a three out of five, with damaging winds of 60-80 mph, hail and isolated tornadoes possible. The greatest risk will ...

Missouri officials take credit for overturned student loan forgiveness plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The U.S. Supreme Court overturned President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan Friday to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of Americans. Two Missouri officials, both Republicans, are taking credit for the latest developments. Former Attorney General turned U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt and current Attorney General Andrew Bailey say Missouri's action was pivotal to killing the plan. Schmitt served as Attorney General through early-January 2023, challenging Biden's student loan plan with a lawsuit months before he was elected as a U.S. senator. Schmitt claims he was the first in the country to file a lawsuit on the matter. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway "When I was Missouri’s Attorney General, I filed this critical lawsuit," said Schmitt in a statement to FOX 2. "I’m pleased to see the Supreme Court side with the plaintiff states and strike down Biden’s student loan debt bailout." Last year, a fede...

Spring Creek and 3 other fires grow, continue to burn across western Colorado Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:33:27 GMT

Hot, dry and windy conditions fanned the flames of the four fires burning across western Colorado on Friday morning.Spring Creek FireThe Spring Creek fire, located just south of Parachute, continued to burn overnight, officials said. Mapping of the fire Thursday showed it is burning on a nearly 3,000-acre area.Fire officials plan to hold a community meeting 6 p.m. Friday evening in Parachute to provide information and updates.Coalmine Fire Firefighters in southwestern Colorado Thursday faced the Coalmine fire in Archuleta County. The fire erupted Wednesday and spread quickly, reaching 190 acres by the end of the day.As of Thursday evening, the fire had burned across 267 acres, according to the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office.While aircraft continue to drop water and fire retardant, ground crews are working with county equipment on the fire line to solidify the fire’s perimeter and prevent further spreading, officials said.Chris Mountain Fire The Chris Mountain fire, lo...