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Federal lawsuit targets how kids are removed from homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — When child welfare workers and police knocked on Sarah Perkins’ and Joshua Sabey’s front door well past midnight one weekend last summer, the parents were shocked to learn the state of Massachusetts had come to take their two young sons.It’s the kind of harrowing scene that plays out daily across the country as social workers motivated by a desire to protect children run up against confused and concerned parents.What followed was emotional anguish, a bureaucratic battle, vindication for the parents and a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a legal advocacy group. The couple hopes for a favorable ruling that will increase oversight of child removals nationwide.The children were taken in Massachusetts because of a child abuse report stemming from a hospital visit. On July 13, 2022, Perkins whisked their 3-month-old son Cal to an emergency room. He had a 103-degree fever.An X-ray checking for pneumonia found a rib fracture the couple hadn't noticed. After s...

Hot and dry leading up to weekend rain chances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A hot and dry end to May, but the pattern turns for the first weekend of June.High pressure will keep temperatures hot and skies clear for all of Central Texas today and Thursday. Afternoon highs will warm well into the 80s and low 90s with humidity adding a few degrees to the heat index values.Hot, dry and humid on Wednesday BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin Rain chances return this weekend with Sunday and Monday looking to be the best bet for meaningful rain. Some storms may contain heavy rain for those who see them with 0.75" to 1" of rain possible.Potential rain totals between today and early next week INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for climate change until KXAN investigation FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date with the First Warning Weather teamFollow the KXAN First Warning Weather team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.You...

TX Attorney General warns of companies misleading consumers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Attorney General's office warned consumers Tuesday to beware of companies that it said may be appearing as they are government agencies. According to the press release from the AG's office, it has received complaints against Texas UCC Statement Services. The AG's office said that company has recently been mailing consumers a solicitation that asks consumers to pay $90 to obtain a form that they are unlikely to need and is available from the Texas Secretary of State for a much smaller fee.According to the AG's office, "the company’s mailer is designed to mislead Texans to believe that it was sent by a government agency and that the $90 is already due. The solicitation discloses that Texas UCC Statement Services is not a government agency, but that disclosure is not clear and conspicuous and the net impression is misleading."The Attorney General's office said Tuesday it has recently seen several companies using "similar deceptive solicitation tactics." The of...

Volunteers worry for refugee families following RST closure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a matter of weeks, the state's largest refugee resettlement agency, Refugee Services of Texas (RST), went from suspending its operations to fully closing its offices statewide following a budget shortfall. “It is with heavy hearts that we have come to this decision,” said David McKeever, CEO of RST, in a statement released by the agency last week. PREVIOUS: State’s largest refugee resettlement agency lays off 45% of staff, closes offices Now the attention turns to the families that are currently living in Texas who were receiving services from RST, and the families that will be arriving to the state in the future. Volunteers worry that families will be greatly impacted during this transitionary phase. Austin has zero resettlement agencies RST had seven offices around Texas including a location right here in Austin, and the city relied solely on the now-shuttered agency. Russ Apfel, a co-founder of the local non-profit Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees, sai...

Recipe: The scrumptious scent of charred chicken

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

In her book “Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal,” Mary Roach explores how we taste and explains how we can perceive five main flavors, but infinite smells. “Eighty to 90 percent of the sensory experience of eating is olfaction,” she writes.That’s why grilled chicken legs taste especially good in summer, when their smokiness mingles with the fragrance of sunscreen and ocean air, grass and beer. It’s an aroma that takes me back to church picnics and others to block parties, the sort of gatherings where you’re with your community — not necessarily friends or compatriots, or even people you like, but the humans who make life fuller and a little less lonely.That immediately recognizable charred chicken scent transports anyone who smells it to good times — and is worth re-creating. The best way is to start with skin-on pieces, ideally legs or drumsticks. As the chicken heats up, the fat in and under the skin renders, sizzles and releases the meaty haze that pulls at an urgent, prima...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Is It Okay to Go Jogging in a Cemetery?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma is about jogging and cemeteries. Here's the email:Hi Jaime.....Can you discuss this? I am so irritated by the lack of manners these days. Now that the weather is nicer, I see people jogging in a beautiful cemetery across the street from my house. This is a sacred place, the final resting spot for our families and neighbors. It is not a gym; it is not Washington Park! I'm not sure there is anything I can do but I just needed to get this off my chest. I dare people who do this to call you and justify their lack of decency. And don't tell me it's too dangerous to jog on the street. Planet Fitness is $10 a month. Sign up and show some respect! People should never jog in a cemetery. My husband says I'm overreacting, but I don't think so. Please discuss. Thanks. NancyWell, I live next to a cemetery...it's right behind my house. People jog there, they also walk their dogs, and just go for walks. It used to bother me about the dogs, b...

Tupper Lake woman sentenced for murdering her mother

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

TUPPER LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Tupper Lake woman was sentenced to 19 years in prison for murdering her mother. Alexa Gallagher, 26, accepted a murder plea in March after stabbing her mother, Melissa Guisewhite, 51, in July 2022. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said around 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2022, Gallagher stabbed her mother at a residence on Lakeview Avenue in the Village of Tupper Lake. Once they arrived, police found Guisewhite dead at the scene. In March, Gallagher pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. "No one deserves to die like Melissa Guisehwite died," said District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford. "On behalf of my office, I extend our sincerest condolences to Melissa's husband and family. I want to acknowledge the endless efforts by all who worked on this case, from the very first responders on that tragic day to the investigators who appeared with the family today, and everyone in between. Family ...

Traffic stop leads to drug, gun possession arrest in Clifton Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two people were arrested following a traffic stop in Clifton Park on Monday. Catherine Peacock (36, Corinth) and Romere Anderson (47, New York) both face multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Monday around 8:25 p.m., troopers pulled over a car on I-87 in Clifton Park for a vehicle and traffic law violation. Peacock was identified as the driver, and Anderson as the passenger. Troopers say an investigation uncovered a defaced handgun, controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and a large amount of money in the car. Peacock Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts)Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (two counts)Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSecond-degree criminally using drug paraphernaliaAnderson Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (two counts)Seventh-degree criminal possession of a cont...

Ask Amy: Girlfriend’s behavior stalls a proposal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

Dear Amy: “Cheryl” and I have been together for three years.She recently took a trip to her hometown.While there, she met up with a married friend of hers who has been blatantly inappropriate in the past.While she was gone, I was busy planning a proposal: Ring shopping, venue, photography, the works.I clearly expressed my discomfort with this friendship, but Cheryl went ahead and met with him. (She has other male friends I have absolutely no qualms about.) Her lack of boundaries has been an occasional issue, but this time I feel really hurt.We discussed this with our therapist, who also thought it was NOT OK that she met up with this friend, but Cheryl seems to think there is nothing wrong with it.She said they met in a restaurant and he tried making a pass at her, but nothing happened. During our therapy session, I pleaded that, if she truly didn’t see a reason to block this person, would she at least do it for me?She said she’d blocked him, but it turns out she just “hid” his mess...

Polish president signs 'Tusk Law' on undue Russian influence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

Poland's president said on Monday (29 May) he would sign a bill to allow a panel to investigate whether the opposition Civic Platform (PO) party allowed the country to be unduly influenced by Russia and as a result too dependent on its fuel when it was in power.The liberal PO, in government from 2007 to 2015, rejects the claims and says the law is designed to destroy support for its leader and former prime minister Donald Tusk ahead of an election scheduled for October or November.President Andrzej Duda (pictured) said he would sign the bill because he believed it "should enter into force" but he also said he would ask the Constitutional Tribunal to examine criticism that the legislation is unconstitutional.The bill would set up an investigative commission that could deliver an initial report in September. Opposition figures have nicknamed it Lex Tusk, using the Latin word for law."In a normal democratic country, somebody who is president of that country would never sign such a Stal...