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Commission could recommend lowering fees for midwife licenses in Texas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Those looking for a midwife license in Texas or renewing an existing one in Texas could soon pay less. A recommendation is to reduce the initial license fee from $275 to $195. The renewal fee would also be reduced from $550 to $390, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.The final decision is up to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation. It will consider the lowered fees at its Dec. 1 meeting. If approved, a TDLR spokesperson said the change is expected to take effect Jan. 1, which is before midwives renew their licenses in February 2024.  INVESTIGATION: Shortage of Black midwives causing concern In July 2020, KXAN reported on a shortage of Black midwives as advocacy organizations said more women were moving towards home births during the pandemic.Over the last two years, the number of new licenses issued and renewals decreased, according to a staff report. In fiscal year 2022, there were 43 new licenses issued compared t...

Double digits? Gophers look to end nine-game losing streak to Bret Bielema-coached teams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

Illinois coach Bret Bielema and Gophers coach P.J. Fleck talked about a shared opponent during an offseason event: the Iowa Hawkeyes.Bielema reminded Fleck there is a “strategic way to beat” the Hawkeyes. The Illini did it last year with a 9-6 victory, and the Gophers got over the hump with a 12-10 win on Oct. 21.“It’s really hard to do it,” Fleck recalled Bielema sharing. “You got to be willing to commit to it. As tempting as it is and as frustrating as it it can get, you just have to stick with the plan.”It has proven difficult for the Gophers to beat Bielema anywhere at any time. He has a perfect 9-0 record against Minnesota — 7-0 during his years coaching at Wisconsin (2006-12) and 2-0 with the Illini — going into Saturday’s game at Huntington Bank Stadium.Fleck and Bielema didn’t talk about games against each other.“It’s just awkward,” Fleck said of that topic coming up. “One won; one lost. And usually you are being really complimentary. It’s usually just about other games and ...

Vikings confirm quarterback Kirk Cousins has torn Achilles tendon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

Less than 24 hours after it happened, the Vikings confirmed everybody’s worst fear.Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins underwent an MRI on Monday morning that revealed he has torn his Achilles tendon.That was the assumption after Cousins was carted off the field on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. He suffered the major injury while trying to step up in the pocket with the Vikings well on their way to a 24-10 win over the Green Bay Packers. He hopped off the field without putting any weight on his right foot before eventually making his way to the medical tent.This is devastating news for the Vikings, to say the least, especially considering they had won three games in a row to get themselves back into the NFC North race. Now they are left to pick up the pieces without Cousins at the helm.The details for his upcoming surgery will be determined at some point this week.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Vikings could be turning to rookie quarterback Jaren Hall for fore...

Legal expert breaks down Patino's trial defense

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Following a jury's verdict convicting Nelson Patino of murder, attempted murder and assault, his defense attorneys called out a lack of intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system. In last week's murder trial, attorneys for Patino attempted to argue he was not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect, a type of defense rarely used in trial. “It’s not used very often because the burden is so high and I think that’s part of the problem," Michael McDermott, Patino's attorney, said. "The criminal justice system makes it difficult for people with mental health issues to be treated differently.” Following the verdict, McDermott called out the lack of intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system. Paul DerOhannesian, a local attorney, said psychiatric problems can be a challenge to prove in court.“Whether it’s prior mental health history, records, but also how the individual behaves in the community at the t...

Early voting begins today in New York

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS 10) — Early voting in New York for the November general election is now underway. Voters can head to local polling places until November 5, with the general election happening on Tuesday, November 7. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Early voting hours and dates are the same across counties. Voters will be choosing candidates in local cities and towns. There are about 30 town supervisor races and several city mayoral elections up for grabs.Troy will have a new mayor, with current mayor Patrick Madden not running because of term limits. Other cities include Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Amsterdam. Early voting in New York starts today One election in particular to keep an eye on is the Saratoga Springs mayoral race. City Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino is expected to endorse Republican John Safford on Monday afternoon.Montagnino released a statement claiming his former running mate and...

Man shot while sitting on a St. Louis park bench

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A man sitting on a park bench tells police he was shot while sitting on a park bench. He says that he did not know the suspect.In the early hours of October 30, 2023, at around 4 a.m. a shooting took place in the 5500 block of Dr. Martin Luther King. According to a police report, the 40-year-old man was sitting on a bench near a playground when he suddenly felt pain and fell to the ground. He reported being picked up and left across from a hospital in a wheelchair, with no knowledge of the assailant.The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his right arm and lower back, but he is now in stable condition. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Colorado early in-person voting centers open as mail-in ballot deadline nears

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

Voters who plan to mail their ballots for the Nov. 7 election should do so by the end of the day Monday to ensure their county clerk receives it by Election Day, state elections officials said.Related ArticlesElection | Voters in Denver’s suburbs face full ballots, will replace longtime elected leaders Election | Letters: Proposition HH is a money grab Election | Opinion: Conspiracy theorists still a danger to our elections and election workers Voting centers for those who want to cast their ballot early and in-person will open Tuesday as will some ballot drop boxes, according to a news release from the Colorado Secretary of State’s website.“Voting in Colorado is accessible and easy,” Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in the release. “Voters who received a mail ballot may return it to a voting center or vote in-person.”Voters can find their closest drop box or voting center at GoVoteColorado.gov. Voter...

Ensuring Justice and the Rule of Law in Uzbekistan: In the context of Judicial and Legal Reforms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

In the Republic of Uzbekistan, significant results have been achieved in recent years within the framework of judicial and legal reforms, which have affected all spheres. As indicated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev “over the last years we have accomplished a profound work to establish justice in the judicial system and the activities of law enforcement bodies”. The main purpose of these reforms is to ensure the priority of individual rights, the rule of law in the activities of courts and law enforcement agencies - writes Abdulaziz Rasulev.Judicial and legal reforms in Uzbekistan: achieved resultsImproving the judicial system. In 2017, a radically new body of the judicial community was formed – the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, designed to assist in ensuring compliance with the constitutional principle of the independence of the judiciary in our country. A completely new system of selecting candidates and appointing judges...

Kazakhstan looks for further and faster progress in EU relations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

The foreign ministers of the five Central Asian republics and of the 27 EU member states have held their first-ever joint meeting.They came together in Luxembourg to endorse the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the European Union and Central Asia. It has the potential to be a major milestone in their relations, but the test will be how it is implemented, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Viewed from Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, progress in relations between Central Asia and the EU is welcome but could do with a boost. Looking forward to the Central Asia Investors Forum, to be held in Brussels in January, Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko said it will come only after a year-long EU study, followed by seven months to arrange the event.Of the five Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan has the closest relationship with the EU, through an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The foreign ministers’ gathering was immediately followed by a meeting of the EU-K...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom plows into child while playing basketball in China 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited China last week to strengthen cultural ties between the Golden State and the powerhouse Asian nation, but one of the governor's moves may not make relations that much better. That move was a behind-the-back crossover. While in Beijing over the weekend, the governor took a break from diplomatic activities to let loose on the basketball court with some students, and after spinning the ball on his finger a few times, he began to drive towards the basket. Only, he didn’t get very far. California Gov. Gavin Newsom plowed into a child while on a trip to Beijing, China. (X/@TripInChina)After a spin move around a double team, Newsom pivoted and went for a behind-the-back crossover before temporarily losing the ball (thanks to some good defense from one of the children) and plowing into the other child who was defending him. L.A. Mayor Bass focuses on ‘customer experience of Angelenos’ with new executive directive Had a referee been ...