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Proposed working group would probe issues at Hastings veterans home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs funding bill expected to debated in the Senate Thursday includes money for a new working group to probe the quality of care at state veterans homes where workers have complained of a ‘toxic culture.’The Senate wants to spend $190,000 to study how veterans living in two domiciliaries in Hastings and Minneapolis are cared for and whether changes are needed. The domiciliaries are not nursing homes, but care homes that are often a last resort for veterans struggling with medical problems and substance abuse.In March, more than a dozen workers at the Hastings home spoke publicly about a long-standing culture of bullying and retaliation of caregivers. They said medical decisions about care for residents were often overruled by those without medical training.Lynn Wachtler, a certified nurse practitioner and former primary care provider at the Hastings veterans home, testifies Tuesday, March 21, 2023 to the Senate veterans committee a...

Debt ceiling showdown continues as Republicans offer up new budget proposal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Republicans are laying out their demands in the high stakes debt ceiling fight. For the first time, Republican leaders have offered a specific budget proposal. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unveiled the plan on Wednesday afternoon. "To limit government spending, save taxpayers money, and grow the economy," McCarthy said.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The proposal would cut spending back to 2022 levels and claw back money from COVID funds, new climate change programs, and the IRS expansion. If that happens, Republicans would agree to raise the debt limit by enough to cover the country's debts into next year. Senator Rick Scott says that's an important tradeoff. "We need to live within our means, we need to get people back to work. The things they're talking about are very logical things," Scott said.  Lawmakers left frustrated by briefing on classified documents leak Democrats a...

Funeral held for longtime NYSP investigator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A funeral took place on Thursday to honor the life of Patrick Hogan, a longtime investigator with the New York State Police. He died after a long battle with an illness stemming from his response to the terror attacks on September 11, 2001.He was 61 years old. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! A long line of law enforcement officers gathered outside Sacred Heart Church in Troy waiting to pay their respects. Hogan, who is from Wynantskill, served in the state police for more than 20 years. Officers said he was a role model for others."The man that Patrick was at home, or for the Marines, or on patrol, was the same man in the community. He was a compassionate, loving, faithful man, and he loved his community, and he loved serving it. And that will be his legacy."Hogan spent 22 years with the state police, retiring in 2018. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Grassroots party aims to bring change to Moreau

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (NEWS10) - On a Thursday afternoon, John Donohue embarked from his Cedar Lane home to knock on the doors of his neighbors. Clipboard in hand, he asked fellow residents for their signatures, to give him and others a chance at starting a new chapter for Moreau. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Donohue, a member of the Moreau Town Board himself, is one of the founding members of the Moreau United party, which aims to challenge controversial issues in the town, including the planned construction of the Saratoga Biochar plant at the local industrial park. Donohue's two main fellows on the party line are Jessie Fish and Pat Killian, who share the viewpoint that things in Moreau need to change."Pat and Jessie both said to me, 'We're Republicans,' and I said, 'I'm a Democrat - but we're not politicians,'" said Donohue. "We came together and decided we should run as our own, independent party - and the response has been...

Watervliet granted nearly $5M for water infrastructure projects

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Plans to improve water quality in one local community can move forward now that they have officially received state funding. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation presented Watervliet officials with a $4.98 million check on Thursday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The funding will be used for three clean water projects, including sewer system repairs. They're also building a new storm water drainage system so sewage is kept out of the Hudson River.The city is also buying 58 acres of land next to the city's reservoir to prevent development and protect the city's drinking water from pollution.

National Grid volunteers clean up Schenectady's Central Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ahead of Earth Day, volunteers with National Grid took part in a few local beautification projects. More than 100 volunteers were in Schenectady's Central Park on Thursday cleaning up litter, prepping the ground for the children's learning garden, repairing compost bins, and landscaping the area.Those with National Grid said they hope their work inspires others to help the environment. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "This stuff is contagious. They see people doing some good stuff so they want to get involved and do something similar, so we hope that's what today's actions will do in the community," Dir. of Customer and Community at National Grid Brian Sano said. "This is a massive property in Schenectady -- it's a jewel in Schenectady -- and we are just happy National Grid could be apart of cleaning it up on Earth Day."Earth Day is this Saturday, April 22.

Push for improved cell service after Kaylin Gillis shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

WASHINGTON COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- There’s a push to enhance cell phone service in the community of Hebron and surrounding areas, which have spotty or no coverage. That's after law enforcement in Washington County say friends of Kaylin Gillis, who was fatally shot by an accused homeowner, had to drive several miles from the mistaken address to call for help.It’s unclear if those minutes could have saved Kaylin's life, but cellphone service is a major safety concern in that rural corner of Washington County. Read the latest on the fatal shooting of Kaylin Gillis “An innocent life was taken -- a beautiful person -- and you've got to drive five miles,” said Salem resident Mike Miller. Miller can see the nearest cell tower from his home. But he says a few years ago, after repairs to the tower, he and his neighbors lost their local Verizon cell phone coverage. “It’s an AT&T tower now,” said Miller. Many communities, rural and urban, struggle with the same issue. "You know, we hav...

East St. Louis residents claim voter fraud in April general election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - The East St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners met Thursday to ratify the results of the April 4, 2023, consolidated election.However, before the meeting, a group of citizens spoke out, alleging voter fraud.“I ran a clean campaign and a hard-working campaign, and we were disappointed," said Marie Franklin, a former East St. Louis mayoral candidate. "Everybody who was with us was disappointed. We were like, these numbers just aren't adding up. That's because this election and others in the past have been decided on the basis of those mail-in ballots. The process we're dealing with those is skewed. The process is off. We need to have a better process."Franklin said she and others witnessed mail-in ballots being thrown out for signatures that did not match. Top Story: Severe storms possible Thursday afternoon and evening Additionally, a group of voters claimed that they saw people using other people's names to cast ballots and receive payment to vote. They ...

Fire destroys part of Jamestown Mall in north St. Louis County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The aftermath of the fire at the old Jamestown Mall left part of it in ruins on Thursday.The former mall received significant damage after a large blaze broke out around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday. When fire crews responded to the fire, thick black smoke could be seen for miles.Part of the roof was missing when FOX 2's Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX flew over the abandoned mall. Top Story: Severe storms possible Thursday afternoon and evening Fighting the three-alarm fire was difficult for firefighters, said Interim Chief Roger Ellison for the Black Jack Fire Protection District.“It was tough in the aspect of gaining access, you know," Ellison said. "Because it's an abandoned mall, there's already hazards you know with the walls and roofs you know that aren't stable inside."Two firefighters were injured and taken to a nearby hospital. They were later released.Community leaders said $12 million in COVID relief funds is being used to demolish the old mall, which ...

Missouri Senate approves to limit foreign ownership of farmland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:43 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers want to limit how much agriculture land is foreign owned, and the legislation approved this week would pump the breaks entirely on any foreign entity acquiring more farmland. About .3% of the state's farmland is currently foreign owned, but a bill moving forward in Jefferson City would not only reduce the amount of agriculture land that can be owned by a foreign entity, but it would prohibit any future sale, which some say is unfair to landowners. "We're going to as a state, decide what private businesses can be sold to what entity," Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said. "That's how I see this."Months after a Chinese spy balloon traversed Missouri, lawmakers want to put an end to selling off farmland to those overseas. "Yes, this is a property rights issue because we are protecting Missouri's property, we're protecting this nation's property," Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, said.  Top Story: Severe storms possib...