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What is Rule 26 and could it keep Trump from being speaker of the House?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

(The Hill) — A handful of Republicans have floated the possibility of electing former President Trump as the next House speaker, but that may not be possible under current GOP House conference rules.“Rule 26” started trending on X — the platform previously known as Twitter — shortly after Republicans started talking about backing Trump to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from his leadership position Tuesday afternoon. Many users pointed out that since the former president is under numerous felony indictments, he may not be able to serve in Republican leadership based on this rule. Who is the new speaker of the House? It’s complicated While the House speaker is not required to be a sitting member of Congress, it is still highly unlikely that Trump could garner enough House Republican votes to actually become speaker. Here's what to know about the rule.What is Rule 26?Rule 26 is included in the House Republican Conference Rules of the 1...

Buying vs. renting housing in Austin, which is better? ABoR weighs in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- If you live in or are considering moving to Austin, housing has certainly been on your mind. The key question when it comes to finding a place to live is buying vs. renting: which is better? The Austin Board of Realtors, or ABoR, released a report looking into the topic earlier this year. "Simply put, homeownership has been proven to be the best way to create generational wealth, as home buying is a long-term investment that poses significant benefits over time," ABoR said in a press release. "This was further supported by the 2023 Central Texas Buy vs. Rent Index, which was released earlier this year by the Austin Board of Realtors. The report found when comparing the tradeoff of buying vs. renting, homeownership tends to generate more wealth in contrast to renting and investing, a comparable alternative to homeownership."Kelea Youngblood, ABoR's chief marketing officer, joined KXAN's Jennifer Sanders to further break down the study. You can also view the...

'Big Border Rivalry' pregame shows gets you ready for Texas, Oklahoma

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is the latest episode of KXAN Live: Horns Report.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The pageantry of college football will be on full display at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday for the 119th Red River Rivalry, and KXAN Sports wants to get you ready for it. By the numbers: Stats to know about the Texas Longhorns’ 2023 season The "Big Border Rivalry" pregame show takes you inside the matchup between bitter rivals playing in one of college football's most storied matchups. Unlike a lot of other Big 12 Conference rivalries that will die next season, both schools are moving to the Southeastern Conference and will continue to play this game that means everything to the fan bases, players and programs.You can watch the full special Wednesday at 9 p.m. on KXAN. Check back in this story for a replay of the special.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/newslettersKXAN Sports Director R...

After McCarthy, Texas Speaker Phelan to face challenge for gavel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is expected to weather a challenge to his post when lawmakers return for the third special session on Monday, in an intraparty GOP feud fueled by the same kind of animus that cost former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy his position on Tuesday.Phelan was elected for a second term as speaker on an overwhelming and bipartisan 145-3 vote in January. Since then, his relationship with some of the most hardline members of the Republican Party has withered. His GOP opponents cite the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton and his cooperation with Democrats as reasons to seek new leadership."He has been an absolute disgrace as speaker," Chairman of the Texas Republican Party Matt Rinaldi told Nexstar. "If this were a more dignified system like the English Parliament, Dade Phelan would have resigned the day after Ken Paxton was acquitted. Unfortunately, we don't have that. So we're going to have to remove him, and they should."Rinaldi ...

St. Paul City Council Member Nelsie Yang, 28, faces challenger Gary Unger, 82, in Nov. 7 election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Nelsie Yang was elected to the St. Paul City Council in 2019, winning a six-way race with nearly 60% of the vote. Yang, a former union steward with the progressive action group TakeAction Minnesota, became the first Hmong woman and, at 24, the youngest member ever elected to the council. She’s also been one of the most vocally intent on moving the council, which is officially non-partisan, to the left of its Democratic-Farmer-Labor majority.Yang, who is running for re-election to the Ward 6 seat representing ethnically diverse corners of the city’s East Side, faces a single challenger in the Nov. 7 election. Gary Unger, 82, a lifelong East Sider, master gardener and former 3M employee, has presented himself as the more moderate choice and a longtime participant in municipal government, including an organizing role with the now-defunct Ramsey County Fair.Undated courtesy photo, circa September 2023, of Gary Unger, candidate for St. Paul City Council, Ward 6, in the Novemb...

North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III enters Korn Ferry Tour championship with a shot at earning PGA Tour card

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

The first season of Frankie Capan III’s professional golf career concludes this week at Victoria National Golf Club in Indiana, the site of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.It’s still in the realm of possibilities that, by week’s end, the North Oaks native could be the proud owner of a PGA Tour card.Such a turn of events would make Capan the only Minnesota native on the PGA Tour, though it’s a long shot heading into the final week of the feeder tour’s season.Capan currently sits at No. 50 in the season-long Korn Ferry points standings. The top 30 by the end of the weekend will earn PGA Tour cards. Jumping 20 spots may seem impossible, but Capan has a clear avenue to do it.The PGA Tour website noted Capan needs at least a three-way tie for third in this week’s 73-man field to move into the top 30, but that’s dependent on the results of others. What’s more likely is he needs a top-two finish. A victory would unequivocally cement Capan’s spot on the world’s top tour.That’s a lot of pre...

Allina moves 10-bed children’s mental health unit from St. Paul’s United Hospital to Minneapolis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

At United Hospital in St. Paul, a 10-bed children’s and adolescent mental health unit has been closed and will reopen as an adult inpatient unit after construction.The 10 youth in-patient beds will be transferred to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, which maintains an established inpatient mental health program for adults and adolescents. The overall number of beds for youth will stay the same and be consolidated on one campus, according to a hospital spokesperson.That’s not to say mental health treatment for minors is over at United. The downtown St. Paul hospital will continue to offer an adolescent partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program that uses a combination of care settings, largely allowing children under treatment to remain at home with their families.“We are continually assessing how to best meet the needs of the patients we serve,” said a spokesperson, in a written statement. “As a result, we have made the ...

Albany man arrested, charged with weapon possession

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department arrested a 40-year-old following a search warrant on Dana Avenue on Tuesday evening. Tahreem Jeanotte was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police say they received a report of a person with a weapon in the area of Dana Avenue and Robin Street. Detectives recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from the residence. Jeanotte was arraigned in the Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.

Could the Cardinals have signed Max Scherzer? Revisiting comments and missed opportunities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer is undoubtedly one of the most decorated MLB pitchers ever to hail from the St. Louis region. A World Series title, two no-hitters, three Cy Young awards and eight All-Star nods are among his accomplishments. At 39 years old, the Chesterfield native is currently with the Texas Rangers and amping up his recovery from injury in hopes to pitch in the postseason and earn a second World Series title. Scherzer has one year remaining on his current contract, and his future beyond that is a bit uncertain, but his career in-large has proved astounding. Some baseball enthusiasts even recognize Scherzer among the Top 100 baseball players of all-time. What if Max Scherzer could have played for his hometown St. Louis Cardinals? It hasn't happened over his 16-year career, and the Cardinals have twice passed on Scherzer in free agency, 2014 and 2021. ‘We need some fixing’ : Cardinals reflect on losing season, turn page to 2024 New comments offer renewed perspective into...

Ex-Missouri prison guard sentenced for inmate assault, child pornography

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A former Missouri prison guard will spend several years behind bars after an inmate assault and a child pornography bust. A federal judge has sentenced Carl Hart, 37, of Farmington, to seven years in prison in connection with both crimes. According to a federal indictment, the investigation began after an inmate assault on Oct. 28, 2021 in Bonne Terre. It happened after a verbal disagreement about a poster that was damaged during a search of the inmate's cell. Alderwoman grabs mic after questions about her absence from meetings Investigators say Hart ordered the inmate out of his office and he did not immediately return to his cell during a lockdown. Two other corrections officers reportedly pepper-sprayed the victim. Then, the victim went to the shower to wash off the spray. The indictment alleges that Hart followed the victim into the shower, struck him there and ordered him to the ground after he left the shower, handcuffed and compliant.The victim reportedly suffe...