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Texas House moves to expand Medicaid coverage to new moms for a year after childbirth

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas House advanced a bill Thursday that would allow low-income moms to stay on Medicaid for a full year after childbirth. The bill was preliminarily approved with bipartisan support in a 125-11 vote. All of the votes against the bill were from Republicans. It is expected to pass the House in a final vote on Friday.Currently, postpartum Medicaid expires after two months in Texas. The House passed a similar measure last session, but the Senate reduced it to six months of coverage. That proposal is stuck in bureaucratic limbo after the federal government said it is “unapprovable” in its current form.But in the two years since the Legislature last met, the landscape around this issue has changed dramatically. Most states adopted the 12-month policy, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade engendered more support for new moms.The Republican Party of Texas, as well as Gov. Greg Abbott and more than 170 Texas groups from across the political spec...

Memo: More to come on Rainey Street safety improvements

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said its taken even more steps toward making the Rainey Street area safer after a push this year for safety changes by friends and loved ones of people who died in or near Lady Bird Lake. In a memo, the city said since March 7, the Parks and Recreation Department had installed temporary solar lighting, a temporary fence barrier, a gate at top of steps to lake access, installed signage, increased park ranger patrols and conducted multiple site visits to monitor light reliability.The city said a consultant group was also hired to draft recommendations for permanent infrastructure safety improvements and hosted a nighttime consultant group trail walk with Austin Police Department representatives April 17.According to the city, Human Resources approved a request for payment of overtime hours for Park Rangers to assist in providing more frequent patrols in the area.Placing EMS personnel at the Rainey Street Trailhead is also being explored, and a staff ...

Bongi Hlongwane brings youthful joy and more goals to Loons this season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

Veterans Michael Boxall and Robin Lod have racked up more than 100 appearances apiece for Minnesota United in all competitions since 2017. They have been there, done that.Both Loons regulars remarked in preseason how Bongi Hlongwane has infused the team with his youthful exuberance, everyday smile and positive outlook.“I think it’s who I am,” Hlongwane told the Pioneer Press this week. “I’m happy to be with the guys. When I see them, I’m always happy and always laugh.”The 22-year-old South African’s goals have helped buoy the team’s spirits as well. Hlongwane is in a three-way tie for most goals (two) as MNUFC (3-2-2, 11 points) will play Seattle Sounders (5-2-1, 16 points) at 9:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Lumen Field.Hlongwane also has brought joy with his goal celebrations.The day before he scored in the 2-1 loss to Orlando City last weekend, Hlongwane was chatting with fullback D.J. Taylor about a dance he used to do with Thabiso Kutumela when they played together for Martizburg Unite...

6 arrested in Albany animal cruelty investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department has arrested six people in connection with an animal cruelty investigation. All are accused of neglecting adult dogs and puppies at a Morris Street home. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On March 31, police responded to the home after receiving a complaint about dogs being in poor living conditions. During the investigation, investigators allegedly found one adult mixed breed dog and one mixed breed puppy inside a room with urine, feces and uncapped syringes.Police then arrested the resident, Jonathan Willis, 30, of Albany, and charged him with two counts of animal cruelty and one count of failing to license his dog. He was arraigned on April 7 in Albany City Criminal Court. Read the latest on the fatal shooting of Kaylin Gillis Following up on the investigation, police executed a search warrant at the same address on April 20. Once inside, they allegedly found 15 dogs,...

Clark Art Institute awarded $75k COVID recovery grant

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (NEWS10) — The Clark Art Institute recently received a Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) grant as part of its Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Organizations program. The Clark was awarded $75,000 to help maintain programs and operations. It comes as part of the $8.7 billion provided to the Commonwealth by the American Rescue Plan Act. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “The Clark is fortunate to have received one of these grants, which will help to support our ongoing efforts to rebuild our visitation to pre-pandemic levels and, at the same time, to attract and engage new audiences,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark. “Unrestricted funds such as these are particularly important here in the Berkshires, where cultural tourism is such an important part of our economy. We are very grateful to MCC.”“This is the largest grant announcement the Massachusetts Cultural Council has ever made,”...

Disc golf courses around the Capital Region

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Disc golf has been growing in popularity over the past several years. Scored the same as regular golf, players throw a disc into a basket or target. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! If you're thinking about trying disc golf or looking for new courses near you, here's where you can find disc golf courses around the Capital Region.Central Park in Schenectady, 18 hole course.Blatnick Park in Niskayuna, 18 hole course.Union College in Schenectady, 9 hole course.Prospect Park in Troy, 18 hole course.Colonial Acres Park in Glenmont, 9 hole course.Stephen P. Wallace Park in Voorheesville, 18 hole course.Thacher State Park in Voorheesville, 18 hole course.Shafer Park in Delanson, 9 hole course.Burbine Forest in Esperance, 19 hole course.Joralemon Park in Coeymans, 38 hole course.Stonykill Disc Golf Course in Chatham, 20 hole course.Mine Kill State Park in North Blenheim, 18 hole course.Shenantaha Creek in Ma...

The Illinois Caverns are now open for visitors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

MONROE COUNTY, Ill.—The Illinois Caverns are open again for the season. The cavern season is from Sunday, April 23 to the end of October. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cave is located in Monroe County. It is home to cave animals and is free to enter.Visitors must sign a permit and bring gear, including a helmet, three battery-powered light sources per person, and closed-toe shoes. For more information about the caves, check out the information page.

O'Fallon firefighters rescue ducklings from a sewer

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Firefighters got a call from a concerned citizen Thursday about a duck hanging out by a sewer gate. They found baby ducks in the sewer.The first responders were able to save the ducklings. Pictures of the family reunion and rescue were posted to the O'Fallon Fire Protection District's Facebook page Friday.

Evan Rodrigues’ highlight hit showed Avalanche can swing back at Kraken: “We can make it a real tough series on them.”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

Evan Rodrigues is flying around the ice and sending opponents flying.The Avalanche winger is known more for his elusive puck play than packing a punch, but he brought a showmanship to Game 2 of the playoffs that Ball Arena desperately needed.“Everything ramps up a little bit in the playoffs,” said Rodrigues, who had postseason experience with Pittsburgh but has never made it past the first round. “You try to do whatever you can to get the team going. And I tried my best to just get the crowd into it a little bit, too.”Rodrigues thought the Avs were gripping their sticks too tight in a dreadful first period of Game 2 against the Seattle Kraken. By the halfway point of the second period, they finally had the crowd in the palm of their sweaty hands. Goals 48 seconds apart were to thank, but Rodrigues did his part in a 3-2 series-knotting win by supplying the highlight of the first-round series so far.And the moment this became a legit playoff series.“I think we ...

Change to Colorado bill capping cost of EpiPens would let drugmakers offer alternative to state program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:44:52 GMT

A bill capping the out-of-pocket cost of EpiPens in Colorado could allow drugmakers to substitute their own programs under certain circumstances, a move some advocates say could reduce access to the life-saving medication.House Bill 23-1002 would create a program allowing residents to access epinephrine for no more than $60 for a pack of two auto-injectors, starting in January. It would operate similarly to the state’s $50 cap on the out-of-pocket cost of insulin, with drugmakers directed to reimburse pharmacies for the difference between the capped amount and the cost of replacing the product.An amendment added in the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee would allow manufacturers to instead offer their own affordability program, provided it limited out-of-pocket costs to $60 and was available to anyone who isn’t covered by a government insurance program.A two-pack of EpiPens costs $650 to $700 if you’re paying cash, according to Drugs.com. A generic ...