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Tax talks begin for second summer with billions potentially needed elsewhere

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

It’s fair to wonder how far state politicians will get toward cutting taxes this year, considering how last year’s efforts turned out.House and Senate lawmakers will meet in joint conference committee beginning this week, with the goal of ironing out the differences between their respective tax cut proposals and hoping, one imagines, that this year’s efforts aren’t as wasted as the last.Last June talks fell apart after negotiators learned a rarely invoked law from 1986 would require the state to send nearly $3 billion back to taxpayers. This summer tax talks come just as the Commonwealth grapples with a potential multi-billion-dollar budget hole stemming from the Baker Administration’s apparent misuse of COVID-era funds for unemployment benefits.Despite that, Doug Howgate, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, told the Herald Sunday that there is room for lawmakers to make tax cuts work.“I think it will happen,” Howgate said, before explaining that the news the Common...

Orioles reset: What’s it like to be baseball’s No. 1 prospect? Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson share their experience.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

Before the Orioles drafted him in 2019′s second round, Gunnar Henderson was committed to play baseball at Auburn. But in detailing how he’s handled the pressures and attention that have come with his status as baseball’s top prospect, he evokes Alabama football coach Nick Saban.“Growing up,” Henderson said, “my parents always instilled, ‘Don’t let things get to your head, no matter if it’s good or bad. Just always keep your head down and just humbly work and don’t let all the ‘rat poison’ that people have go to your head.’”The Sabanism, in which rodent killer is used to describe outside noise, doesn’t fully summarize how Henderson and teammate Adley Rutschman viewed their respective terms as the sport’s No. 1 overall prospect. Both players viewed that status with pride but said the most important response was not to let it go to their heads.“It’s a really cool honor, just beca...

Indiana tornado kills one as severe weather causes damage and power outages across multiple states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

SHOALS, Ind. (AP) — A tornado struck a home, killing one occupant and injuring another as severe weather hit parts of Indiana, Tennessee and other states, an official said.The tornado that struck the home Sunday evening was part of a storm system that pushed through Martin County, Indiana, WXIN-TV reported.Martin County Emergency Management Agency Director Cameron Wolf confirmed the death and injury, according to WXIN, which reported that the home was in a rural area where multiple trees were brought down by high winds.Martin County emergency management officials did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking additional information about the casualties and the extent of storm damage.The town of Shoals, the Martin County seat, is about 85 miles (137 kilometers) southwest of Indianapolis and 80 miles (128 kilometers) northwest of Louisville, Kentucky.A tornado also touched down Sunday afternoon in Johnson County, south of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Star ...

Suspected militants from Somalia kill 5 people in Kenya border village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Five people have been killed in a Kenyan border village, fueling concerns that such attacks are increasing after a decline. The weekend attack raises the death toll over the last month to more than 30 people — including soldiers, police reservists and civilians.In Saturday’s attack in the coastal Lamu county, four of the victims had their throats slit and one was shot at close range, according to local police.The officials said about 30 attackers also torched houses in the village and stole food.The village borders Witu Forest, where al-Shabab militants have created hideouts and held abductees.Lamu County has been attacked two other times in the last two weeks, with both incidents targeting Kenya Defense Forces running a security operation in the area and leaving four of them dead.In Kenya’s north, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties have seen several attacks this month in which more than 10 people – including soldiers, police reservists and c...

Major NASCAR street closures begin in downtown Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A host of major street closures have begun in downtown Chicago for the NASCAR races in early July. Crews are preparing the 2.2-mile course around Grant Park ready for the Chicago Street Races on July 1 and 2. Construction is well underway as crews are putting up suites, grandstands, along with barriers and fencing around the circuit. A guide to the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race Here are the closures that are ahead this week, starting on Jackson Drive on Sunday just after Midnight. Sunday, June 25 – Beginning at 9 p.m. Temporary overnight closure of westbound Roosevelt Rd between DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Columbus Dr.  Sunday, June 25 – Beginning at 1 a.m. - Closure of Jackson Dr. between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Dr. and closure of Columbus Dr. between Jackson Dr. and Roosevelt Rd. Monday, June 26 – Beginning at 6 a.m. Closure of Congress Plaza Dr. and lane closures on eastbound Roosevelt Road between Columbus Dr. and DuSable Lake Shore Dr. ...

Uber passenger shot and killed in University Village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

CHICAGO — A rideshare passenger died after he was shot while inside an Uber Sunday night, police said.According to police, the 19-year-old was in the car in the 1300 block of West Taylor Street around 9 p.m. Sunday in the city’s University Village neighborhood.Police said the man was approached by an armed man who fired shots then fled.Police said the driver took the victim to Rush Hospital where he was pronounced dead.No one is in custody.Police are investigating.

Why your flood risk could be a lot worse than you think

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

(The Hill) - The federal government is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on a generation of new roads, bridges and sewers — which could be overwhelmed by floodwaters the moment they are installed.That's because federal estimates about flood risk haven't kept up with climate change, according to a study published on Monday in the Journal of Hydrology.First Street Foundation was auditing the gold standard of government rainfall calculations: the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Atlas 14 model. These projections of future risks of catastrophic downpours are a current key determining factor in the engineering standards by which $1.3 trillion in new infrastructure — paid for by a bipartisan 2021 legislative package — will be built.But according to First Street's report on Monday, even the best government estimates are "fundamentally flawed." That means the very infrastructure intended to bolster American cities against a changing climate may...

Trump takes aim at EV industry during speech to Michigan Republicans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

(The Hill) - Former President Trump railed against the electric vehicle industry during a speech to Michigan Republicans on Sunday, warning them that the state's auto industry is at risk under President Biden."Biden is a catastrophe for Michigan and his environmental extremism is heartless and disloyal and horrible for the American worker and you're starting to see it," Trump said in a keynote address to Oakland County Republicans in Michigan on Sunday."Driven by his ridiculous regulations, electric cars will kill more than half of U.S. auto jobs and decimate the suppliers that they decimated already — decimate the suppliers and it's going to decimate your jobs and it's going to decimate more than anybody else, the state of Michigan," he added. "It's is going to be decimation it's going to be at a level that that people can't even imagine.""The state of Michigan is going to be decimation," he added. "It's going to be at a level that that people can't even imagine."Michigan is home t...

Workers to spray for mosquitoes in Jarrell neighborhood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

The video in this story is from May 25, 2023JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) — Workers will be spraying for mosquitoes in the Sonterra Community in Jarrell Monday evening, according to the Williamson County Cities Health District.The district said while the mosquito control product poses no significant health risk, people and pets may want to stay indoors during spraying, if possible.The WCCHD said on June 23 a trap location in Sonterra tested positive for West Nile virus. This is the second time that trap location tested positive for West Nile virus in the past 10 days, according to the district. It is also the third reported West Nile virus positive trap of the 2023 season in Williamson County. Sample test positive for West Nile in Williamson County WCCHD said the Sonterra Municipal Utility District coordinated truck-mounted spraying considering the upcoming July 4th holiday and increased outdoor activities, "especially at dusk when the Culex mosquito is most active."The spray o...

Excessive heat through the end of June

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This week starts where last week left off -- HOT. BLOG: June likely to end as top 5 warmest in Austin A Heat Advisory (orange) continues for all of Central Texas today, with some areas getting bumped up to an Excessive Heat Warning (pink) for "feels-like" temperatures up to 115º during the afternoon and early evening.Heat alerts in effect for every county on MondayBy the end of the week, as high pressure moves east, our temperatures will slowly come down closer to 101º as we head through next weekend.As the high moves away, we'll open the door for some showers and storms as early as next Sunday. Early indications would suggest that July 3rd and 4th (both days a holiday for many people) will also include at least low rain chances. Stay with the First Warning Weather Team as we continue to narrow down the specifics for the upcoming holiday weekend.Potential pattern change could bring rain chances back to Central Texas SUN/MON Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by clim...