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'Monumental change': Texas to overhaul how it pays for foster care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

AUTIN (KXAN) -- For the first time in decades, Texas will overhaul the way it funds foster care. During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers approved the funding necessary to "modernize" the way it pays the families and providers who care for children in the system. According to the Department of Family and Protective Services, the methodology for calculating the cost of care has remained "largely unchanged" over the years, despite advancements in technology, data collection and other changes to the child welfare system.Historically, the state has paid foster families and treatment providers a set daily rate, per child. The amount depended on one of five service “levels” -- from Basic up to Intense Plus. Katie Olse, CEO of the Alliance of Child and Family Services, explained that while the needs of a child can change over time, the necessary dollars to care for them aren't always as flexible, under the current level system. For example, she explained, "a child may really ...

How to maximize your sprinkler system during drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Now that we're out of our wet season, you're probably using your sprinklers more and seeing your water bill rise.As water from Mother Nature becomes harder to come by, sprinklers become more important to keeping your lawn green.Most lawns in Central Texas need between half an inch and a full inch of water each week in the summer. Knowing how much it rained where you live can help you figure out how long you need to run your sprinklers. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL REPORTS Enter, the smarter sprinkler system...Newer sprinkler controllers have sensors that turn off your system if it's rained recently, and modern sprinkler heads also distribute the water more slowly and efficiently.According to Keith Wimbish, from the Irrigation Department at ABC Home & Commercial Services, "If you apply the water at too fast of a rate, then you might just have a lot of that water run off, so low-flow nozzles are going to distribute the water at a lower rate so that the soil can accept...

Air Force celebrates 100 years of air refueling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – People in the Tarrytown neighborhood in west Austin were treated to the rare sight of two jets flying close together earlier this week. It turns out it was part of a nationwide celebration. According to the Department of Defense, the Air Force Air Force marked the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling with flyovers across all 50 states.The Pentagon said the goal was to honor "the aviators who pulled off the seemingly impossible in 1923 and celebrate the promise of current and future airmen."It was on June 27, 1923 that Army Air Service 1st Lts. Virgil Hine and Frank W. Seifert passed gasoline from their aircraft through a gravity hose to another plane flying beneath it piloted by Capt. Lowell H. Smith and 1st Lt. John P. Richter, according to the DOD. The Military Times reported that more 150 aircraft would take part in all 50 states in celebration of the milestone.

5 things to know this Thursday, June 29

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy almost Friday! Per Meteorologist Jill Szwed, smoke from the Canadian Wildfires will return to impact air quality today. However, this round of smoke will not be as thick compared to what we dealt with weeks ago. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! With smoke from the Canadian Wildfires returning to New York, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) provided an update on future air quality for the state. The impending smoke is also hindering Amtrak travel, as the Adirondack line and tracks north of Albany aren't running due to the poor conditions. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. DEC provides update on future air quality in New YorkPoor air quality is on its way back to New York. The unwelcome smoke from the Canadian wildfires is already impacting some regions.2. Amtrak Adirondack line closed north of AlbanyJust when things were l...

Herkimer County man sentenced to 11 years on child pornography charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

ILION, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Ilion man was sentenced to over 11 years (138 months) in prison on Wednesday for distributing and receiving child pornography, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). John Patrick Galusha, 32, previously entered a guilty plea. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the DOJ, as part of his guilty plea, Galusha admitted that in January 2022, he traded child pornography with others over a social media messaging app on his phone, and distributed approximately 35 files in exchange for 163 images and seven videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Galusha will serve a 15-year term of supervised release upon his release, will pay restitution, forfeit the device he used to commit the crimes, and will have to register as a sex offender.

Mugzy's Barkery expands, opens bakery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Since NEWS10 last spoke to the founder of Mugzy's Barkery, business has been growing! In December, Jaime Kelley opened a commercial kitchen and bakery in her East Greenbush home. Off the Beaten Path: Mugzy’s Barkery “The most exciting thing is I can welcome people in, they can bring their dogs in and they can pick their own treats out, so it's just been a game changer!,” said Kelley.Mugzy's Barkery is located at 36 Troy Road in East Greenbush. The store operates on a limited schedule, visit their Facebook for up-to-date hours of operation.

Crews respond to fire at 'Sk8 Liborius' skate park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis City firefighters battle a huge fire overnight at an old north city Catholic Church that was turned into an indoor skate park. The fire was so intense that the embers spread to a building two blocks away.What's left of the old St. Liborius Church is 'Sk8 Liborius,' on the Hogan and North Market streets, until the huge fire gutted the building overnight. Fire crews are still dousing the building with water hours now after the original fire started.Crews got the call around 10:45 p.m. The fire quickly grew into four alarms with many crews responding to the scene. St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson shared that it is a very large building and embers were blowing everywhere. 2nd Missouri man sentenced in death of woman who was caged, dismembered Jenkerson also said in addition to fighting the flames, crews were also dousing nearby buildings including newer homes to make sure the embers did not catch those structures on fire. Jenkerson told FOX 2 that the fire s...

Heat Advisory in effect Thursday and Friday, possible showers by weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

St. Louis weather from Meteorologist Angela Hutti:ST. LOUIS - A Heat Advisory is in effect for Thursday and Friday as temperatures climb to near 100 in Missouri. Heat index values could be 105 to 110. Scattered storms in Illinois will cut down the heat a bit in areas east of St. Louis Clusters of strong to severe storms are expected to ride along the ridge of hot air Thursday. The ridge runners can be notoriously hard to pin down, but they are expected to drop out of Iowa into central and then southern Illinois. Storms may bring damaging winds, hail, and the possibility of tornadoes northeast of St. Louis.  St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here We do this all again on Friday, but where storms hit the heat won’t be as high.  As we head into Saturday, a more widespread chance of showers and storms erodes the big heat. More comfortable Sunday, but with a chance of afternoon storms. 

St. Louis aldermen discussing Proposition S and red tape today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis aldermen tackle a couple of key issues Thursday. A committee will discuss how to spend money from Proposition S. Voters approved the measure last August. It allows the city and schools to borrow $160 million to renovate St. Louis Public Schools without raising taxes. St. Louis man drowns at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park Also Thursday, a special committee will hear ideas on reducing rules for small businesses. The Institute of Justice will explain why they think red tape and regulations hinder small businesses.

Funeral for fallen firefighter Lloyd Ruediger taking place today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:24 GMT

BERGER, Mo. - The funeral for fallen firefighter Lloyd Ruediger takes place Thursday. He died Monday after responding to a house fire the night before. He was 84 years old. 2nd Missouri man sentenced in death of woman who was caged, dismembered He served for 59 years in the New Haven-Berger Fire Department. His funeral is at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Church in Berger.Governor Mike Parson ordered flags at half staff Thursday at fire houses across the state. Backstoppers is now assisting Ruediger's family.