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Democrats wage last fight for education, renters as lawmakers are set to approve property tax cuts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- As the Texas Legislature nears the end of a months-long effort to pass a sweeping package of tax cuts, Democrats in the Texas House are waging their last fight to include their own priorities.The property tax package on the table, formed after negotiations between top Republicans like Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, includes four main ways to cut taxes:Reducing school district property tax rates by subsidizing public education with an additional $12 billionRaising the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000Limiting appraisal value increases to 20% per year for non-homesteaded properties under $5 million, as part of a 3-year pilot programExempting businesses with annual revenue of less than $2.47 million from the franchise tax, up from a $1.23 million exemption thresholdThose policies prioritize homeowners and business owners, and most Democrats agree with them. They are still pushing to go further for other groups of Texas taxp...

New York State expected to meet $35 million threshold for FEMA disaster declaration

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---As New York begins to recover from the flash flooding that hit parts of the state hard, more rain is expected."Thursday afternoon through Friday, stay alert to what is happening in your local community. Stay alert to the weather, make sure that you know the conditions outside the home before you go," explained New York State's Department Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner, Jackie Bray.Thursday’s storms are not expected to produce as much rain as earlier this week, However, 2-3 inches of rainfall could impact areas of the state already dealing with flood damage. "I don’t expect catastrophic flooding potential, however because the rivers are already so high, and the ground is already so saturated we can’t rule out potential flash floods," Bray said on Wednesday.Since the storms, the New York State Department of Transportation has been busy reopening roads."We have various impacted areas in our Adirondacks, obviously the most hard hit was in t...

Amsterdam mayor on shots fired during children's movie viewing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Hundreds of people gathered in Veterans Park Wednesday for the annual Movie Night celebration. A children's movie was playing, 'Minions the Rise of Gru'. Things turned scary however after shots rang out.MORE NEWS from NEWS10According to Amsterdam Mayor Michael Cinquanti the situation appears to be an isolated incident and there’s no greater threat to the public.Cinquanti used strong language to condemn whoever was responsible for firing the shots.“Anyone who would bring a firearm to an event where kids gathered with their parents watching a movie and shooting a gun in that event to me is a low life”While he says no one was hurt, the mayor acknowledges Wednesday's incident sparks fears about mass shootings at public events.“Until last night's incident, God forbid, fortunately no one was hurt no one was injured but unfortunately people could have been killed I'm not naïve, but as I said, it's happening all around our country, but it never happened here”Mayo...

100+ teens advocate against menthol in Queensbury

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - In the summer, it's not unusual to find teenagers hanging out at the mall. On Thursday at Aviation Mall, a horde of teenagers were doing just that - but these teens came with a message. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Over 100 young people visited the mall on Thursday as part of the "It's Not Just" program, a youth initiative to bring awareness to not just the risks of teen smoking, but the other substances that can lead young people down a path hazardous to their health. They wore teal shirts, using a color commonly associated with menthol products; they worked on a mural with signatures from supporters; and they spread the word that the organization's name is all about. The message: Menthol is "not just" a flavor."We're here to educate the public on why menthol is bad for you," said Jay Meyyal, of East Greenbush. "More than 54% of smokers who are teens smoke menthol because it's easier to start...

Stop-work order issued at Harbour Point Gardens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Thursday, Troy's Bureau of Code Enforcement issued a stop-work order at the Harbour Point Gardens to prevent window removal at the properties. This development comes one week after inspectors deemed the properties unfit for occupancy. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the Bureau of Code Enforcement, the owner did not secure the required building permit and has not provided the City with a remediation plan. Code Enforcement also issued tickets for defective hand railings, holes or penetrations in exterior walls, and defective exterior stairs, among other things.“This morning marks three weeks since Code Enforcement evacuated families from their homes and in that time, Lexington Properties has made countless misrepresentations to the City, the media, and most disgracefully, the hardworking families who paid them to provide safe and dependable housing,” said Troy Mayor Wm. Patrick Madd...

Discovering Saratoga: 16th Annual Larry Spraragen Race

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Growing up in the Spraragen family, summers were always reserved for the Saratoga Race Course. The summer tradition was started by their father Larry, the leader of Schenectady Hardware and Electric from 1993-2008.Attending Opening Day is a Saratoga tradition that continues long after their beloved father passed away in 2008, carried on by his six kids and 10 grandkids. For sixteen years, they’ve been naming a race on Opening Day after Larry. Schenectady Hardware & Electric marks 100 years in business This year, more than 40 family and friends gathered for the Opening Day tradition. Some family members traveled from as far as Florida and Virginia.“He would love us being here, we all come together because that’s what my father did. He brought us all together,” said Kelly Spraragen Young, Larry's daughter.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg sculpture to unveil in August

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y (WTEN) -- The Capitol building in Albany will be adding a new face to the famous Million Dollar Staircase - a carving of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which will be the first addition since 1898. There are currently 77 people carved into the staircase, and only six of them are women who tend to be placed lower in the stairwell. Supreme Court honors legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg The Office of General Services Commissioner, Jeanette Moy said Justice Ginsburg's portrait has been nearly two years in the making, "What we’re doing here with Justice Ginsburg is we’re putting her you know, nice and high, where the natural light can see her. She’ll be able to see every noisy bit of conversation, and to see what's happening as protests take place, you know that bit of government and sort of engagement with the public so we’re really excited to put her where she is."Justice Ginsburg was born in Brooklyn and attended Harvard Law. She was nominated to the Supreme C...

Fallen tree causes road closure in Watervliet

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Watervliet Police Department has announced an emergency road closure. 8th Avenue between 19th Street and Clinton Street is currently closed due to a fallen tree. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! (Watervliet Police Department)No injuries have been reported, according to police. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes. Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!

Small plane crashes in Osage Beach, Missouri

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The Missouri State Highway Patrol is responding to a plane crash in Osage Beach.According to a release from MSHP Troop F, the Osage Beach Police Department reached out to them to let them know that they had a report of a possible downed aircraft."The aircraft was located in the treeline at the old golf course between Rt KK and US 54," according to the release.According to a Facebook post from MSHP Troop F, the plane had three occupants each with serious injuries.The Osage Beach Police Department reported that this was an ongoing investigation.The MSHP is asking people to avoid the area.OzarksFirst will update this article as more information is released.

Missouri AG sues H&R Block, other tax preparers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:20:30 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is suing three popular tax preparation companies.The lawsuit claims Kansas City-based H&R Block, along with Taxslayer LLC and TaxAct, Inc. illegally shared information belonging to millions of Missouri taxpayers with Meta, Google, and other tech companies.The lawsuit comes a day after a group of congressional Democrats reported the same tax preparation companies sent the tech companies personal information on tens of millions of taxpayers over the past two years. Lawmaker to review law ‘in-depth’ after cars with expired tags towed from driveways The three companies are accused of using specific computer code to send personal, financial, and tax return information to tech companies even after explicitly promising the information wouldn't be shared.This is what the lawsuit claims the tax preparation companies may have shared about you, if you were a customer:names;health savings account contributions;college tuition g...