From bathroom bills to trans health care, how Texas lawmakers shifted LGBTQ+ focus since 2015

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

From bathroom bills to trans health care, how Texas lawmakers shifted LGBTQ+ focus since 2015 AUSTIN (KXAN) — "There was this escalation in 2021 that we had never seen," Ricardo Martinez said. "But I don't think any of us could have predicted that we would be ending (the 2023 legislative) regular session with 140 bills."Martinez is CEO of Equality Texas, a non-profit that describes itself as Texas' "largest nonpartisan statewide political advocacy organization working for the elimination of discrimination targeting the LGBTQ+ community." New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Here’s the student impact He's talking about the number of bills Texas lawmakers filed that would implement bans or restrictions related to the LGBTQ+ community, from drag performances to transgender health care. Equality Texas CEO Ricardo Martinez and other LGBTQ+ advocates rally near the Texas State Capitol against legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community. (Courtesy: Equality Texas) The number of bills has surged over the past several legislative sessions, according to data that Equ...

New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Here's the student impact

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Here's the student impact AUSTIN (KXAN) — After Chloe Wilkinson came out four years ago, she left college to focus on her gender transition. Now, she recently enrolled at Austin Community College, or ACC, to continue her education. From bathroom bills to trans health care, how Texas lawmakers shifted LGBTQ+ focus since 2015 "I needed that time when I initially came out to get the experience and understand what I wanted out of life," Wilkinson said. "The college I went to originally, it didn't have an LGBT or Pride Center exclusively. The Women's Center did a lot of that stuff, since (a LGBTQ+ center) was not there in any capacity."While ACC does not have a LGBTQ+ center, Wilkinson's plan is to earn her associate's degree there before enrolling at the University of Texas in Austin. Sen. Brandon Creighton (Courtesy Texas Senate) "A lot of the resources (at UT Austin) are probably even more extensive than here at ACC. What I'm worried about is that a lot of those resources won't ...

APD locates missing juvenile

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

APD locates missing juvenile AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police located a missing juvenile believed to have been taken by their grandmother, the department said. APD said the juvenile was located as of Sunday morning. Anyone with information was asked to call 9-1-1 or the APD Missing Person Unit at 512-974-5250.

Weaving creativity at the 45th Annual Hudson-Mohawk Weavers Guild Show and Sale

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

Weaving creativity at the 45th Annual Hudson-Mohawk Weavers Guild Show and Sale TROY N.Y. (NEWS10) - What started as a hobby has now become a passion for members of the Hudson-Mohawk Weavers Guild. Sunday was the last day for the 45th annual show and sale, which featured two full floors of hand-woven items from 30 local designers. Megan MacBride, Spokesperson for the guild, said the guild is always organizing opportunities for people to learn more about weaving.“The Hudson-Mohawk Weavers Guild is a very active,” MacBride said. “This is one of the largest Show and Sales of hand-weaving in the Northeast.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Connie Laporta, chair of Show and Sale, started weaving during the pandemic and quickly became addicted to the artisanship. This is her first year with the guild, and she was shocked to see so many people line up to shop on the first day.“We get a whole bunch of people that come the first day that want to get their favorite towel or scarf. Or they have a particular weavers th...

Colonie Police investigating fatal pedestrian crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

Colonie Police investigating fatal pedestrian crash COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Colonie Police Department announced they are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred late in the evening on November 11. The incident took place in the area of Central Avenue and Fuller Road. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to police, on Saturday at 11:55 p.m., a Ford F-150 traveling westbound on Central Avenue struck a pedestrian in the intersection with Fuller Road. The pedestrian was tended to by emergency medical personnel, but ultimately succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Neither speed nor impairment are believed to be factors in the crash. Police stated that the pedestrian was in the vehicle lane, not the crosswalk, when the crash occurred. Albany Police investigating Judson Street homicide The pedestrian has not yet been identified as they had no form of identification on them at the time of accident. Anyone who witnessed or has video footage of the crash is a...

Top five Denver/Boulder home sales in October all top $5M

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

Top five Denver/Boulder home sales in October all top $5M After being on the market for over three years, a former ski area turned luxury ranch in unincorporated Jefferson County sold last month for $14.7 million.The property on the 1300 block of South Grapevine Road in Golden, also known as Bear Mountain Ranch, was established by John and Debi Medved in the 1990s as a place to raise their large family.The focal point of the ranch is a grand 17,000-square-foot mansion modeled after an English estate.Initially listed for $37 million by LIV Sotheby’s International Realty in 2020, it was later relisted in 2021 by Hall and Hall for $25.8 million with additional acreage.In January 2022, agents from Hall and Hall, Compass-Denver and Re/Max listed the property for the same price but divided it into six parcels.One parcel, which consists of 10 acres and a 2,500-square-foot ranch home, sold for $2.5 million in May 2022.After removing the remaining parcels in March, The Northrop Group with Compass-Denver and Re/Max Leaders listed them again in May. ...

Abatement company beginning remediation process at historic Tustin hangar 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

Abatement company beginning remediation process at historic Tustin hangar  The City of Tustin has announced that an abatement company is starting the process of collecting potentially contaminated materials from the site of the historic Tustin hangar fire. According to Tustin city officials, they were given the go-ahead by the South Coast AQMD to allow a certified abatement company to secure contaminated materials. The remediation process began at approximately 8 a.m. on Sunday, city officials said. State of emergency declared after fire shuts down 10 Freeway The professionals will be wearing white suits and respirators and will be working in the area north of the hangar. Temporary road closures are likely. “Please refrain from interacting with the workers while they are operating in the area,” Tustin city officials said. An active flare-up of a fire seen on the doors of a historic airbase hangar in Tustin on Nov. 11 has prompted concerns from residents. (OC Hawk)An active flare-up of a fire seen on the doors of a historic airbase hangar in Tustin on Nov...

Fueling with Electricity Presents Intractable Equity Challenges

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

Fueling with Electricity Presents Intractable Equity Challenges The urgent global effort to defeat climate change cannot succeed without practical alternatives to gasoline, but today’s electric vehicles have rigid charging limitations that make it challenging to distribute electric fuel in an equitable way. Level 2 home chargers provide the most convenient, least expensive way to charge an EV, but many motorists have living situations that preclude regular access to a home charger. If they were to purchase an EV, they would be forced to rely on public chargers for all of their electric fuel. Inequitable access to home charging is a fundamental barrier to universal EV adoption that cannot be fully remedied by increasing the availability of public chargers.If you have no way to reap the benefits of a home charger, fueling an EV imposes significant burdens that homeowners are able to avoid. Roughly 80% of EV charging is currently carried out at home. A standard240-volt, Level 2 home charger delivers fuel to the EV at a slow, steady pace while the E...

2024 Chevy Silverado steady as it goes (off-road)

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

2024 Chevy Silverado steady as it goes (off-road) Unveiled in 1998 as a 1999 model, the Chevrolet Silverado has reached its mid-20s in fine standing as among the country’s top-selling vehicles. For 2024, the versatile pickup truck continues its fourth generation. Several changes throughout the lineup keep the competition keen among top-selling Ford, sales runner-up Chevy and the current third-place Ram.Technology is now consistent across all Silverado trim levels. The entry-level base Work Truck gets OnStar and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as does the reviewed top-line High Country.Lakeshore Blue and Slate Gray, both metallic, are new exterior color options. The Midnight Edition is now also available in the High Country trim. It’s nearly an all-black option, interior to wheels to chrome accents in the grille and grille bar.Negotiating off-road terrain, hauling cargo and towing trailers, boats and recreational vehicles is what pickup trucks do best. The Chevy Silverado HD High Country features a 6.6-liter V8 t...

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SEL AWD SUV

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:01:08 GMT

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SEL AWD SUV What is an Atlas? The Atlas is a midsize 3 row crossover SUV built in the Chattanooga, Tennessee assembly plant and is sold in North America by Volkswagen. The new 2024 Volkswagen Atlas pricing starts at $37,725. The SE edition with the Technology trim is $41,665, the new Atlas Peak edition begins at $46,555, the Atlas SEL edition is $48,445 and the top trim Atlas SEL Premium R-Line model begins at $52,455.The Atlas lineup is priced right in the middle of the pack of the entire 3 row SUV’s for sale in the midsize SUV class; priced from $38,000 to $52,000 and everything in between. With 5 different models to choose from, there is a VW Atlas priced right in your budget.For the 2024 models, Volkswagen is giving the Atlas yet another refresh. It already had one for 2021 and now this latest update is clearly focused on upping the Atlas’s interior, with an improved power train, while adding in more standard features and usable space.This week Volkswagen sent me a 2024 Atlas SE...