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US Capitol Christmas tree arrives on the Hill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Capitol Hill. The 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrived in Washington, D.C. Friday morning.The 63-foot Norway spruce comes from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Officials from the National Forest and the Capitol hosted a special ceremony to mark the occasion in front of the west lawn of the Capitol.“Lighting the Capitol Christmas tree has been a holiday tradition since 1964 and it’s the one that we are proud to be part of,” said Jim Kaufman, Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum.It took about two hours for a team to move the 38-year-old tree from a tractor-trailer onto the Capitol grounds.Over the next few days, the tree will be decorated with thousands of ornaments handcrafted by West Virginians and the Shawnee Tribe.The Shawnee Tribe named this year’s tree “wa’feem’tekwi,” which means “bright tree” in the Shawnee language.A tree lighting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The t...

LIVE: Crowds, law enforcement honor fallen Austin Police Officer Jorge Pastore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police Officer Jorge “George” Pastore, who died in the line of duty Nov. 11, was honored in Austin Friday morning.Law enforcement began setting up for the funeral procession at 7 a.m., and all vehicles equipped with emergency lights and sirens were invited to join. The procession for Pastore’s final patrol began at 8 a.m. MAP: Funeral procession route for fallen Austin Police officer People were encouraged to line the route of the procession to show support.The Austin Police Department said public visitation would be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the funeral service was from 11 a.m. to noon at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, located at 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard.Austin Police officer salutes as Officer Jorge Pastore’s procession moves past Interstate 35 and St. Johns (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)Procession carries fallen APD Officer Jorge Pastore along his final patrol through Austin (KXAN photo)Crowds gather to show support during Office...

House Republicans move to kill education savings accounts in school finance bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — As a tense Texas House prepares to debate a massive $36 billion school finance plan on Friday morning, rural House Republicans have filed an amendment to strip the controversial provision that would establish education savings accounts (ESAs).State Rep. John Raney, a College Station Republican and longtime opponent of any school voucher plan, has proposed the amendment to eliminate the entire section of the bill that would establish ESAs. About 15 other Republicans signed onto that amendment, setting it up for success if all Democrats vote for it.Lawmakers expect a relatively short day should that amendment pass. If the House passes a bill without education savings accounts, it would be dead on arrival in the Senate, and Gov. Greg Abbott has said he would veto it. RELATED: School voucher bill to reach Texas House floor Friday for potentially pivotal vote Even before the debate began, House Bill 1 attracted criticism from both the strongest liberals and staunches...

How the Vikings adopted ‘Higher’ by Creed as the anthem of this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

The loud speakers blared once the Saints’ Hail Mary pass attempt fell harmlessly to the turf. The song choice was obvious for anybody who has been paying attention.As the Vikings celebrated their fifth straight win last weekend, defeating New Orleans at home, the power vocals of the rock band Creed echoed throughout U.S. Bank Stadium.The vibes were immaculate with the late 1990’s smash hit “Higher” serving as the soundtrack of the moment. Then the audio strategically cut out with the song approaching its chorus.Naturally, a large portion of the 66,933 fans in attendance took over for lead singer Scott Stapp, shouting every word in unison.Can you take me higher?To a place where blind men seeCan you take me higher?To a place with golden streets“That was awesome,” Vikings center Garrett Bradbury said. “The whole crowd was singing it.”How did this happen? How did a 24-year-old song somehow become synonymous with the Vikings?It started abou...

St. Paul man arrested in October West Side killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

A 20-year-old St. Paul man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting last month on the city’s West Side, police said Friday.The suspect was arrested Thursday and booked into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of murder for the killing of 23-year-old David Lashawn Isaac of St. Paul, police said.A case against the suspect will be referred to the Ramsey County Attorney’s office for charging consideration, police said.A 911 caller just after midnight on Oct. 23 reported “a person down on the ground” behind a residence in the 400 block of South Clinton Avenue, police have said.Officers found Isaac in a driveway/parking lot area behind townhomes. He’d been shot and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene near Cesar Chavez and Robert streets.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man sentenced to federal prison for robbing 3 markets on St. Paul’s University Avenue Crime & Public Safety | Families of 5 men killed in officer-involved shoot...

Timberwolves’ defense is elite, but offense is still a work in progress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was asked to comment on another strong offensive showing Wednesday from Karl-Anthony Towns.The Wolves big man scored 25 points in Wednesday’s 133-115 loss at Phoenix, continuing his offensive resurgence after a sluggish start this season. Finch quickly complimented Towns’ performance before transitioning to a lamentation of Minnesota’s lack of ball movement.Eighteen assists on 42 buckets against the Suns, he noted, wasn’t enough. But while Wednesday’s performance was an extreme to the bad on the lack of creation for others, that is who Minnesota has been this season offensively.Only 58.3 percent of the Wolves’ made shots have been assisted this season, which ranks 23rd in the NBA. They end up in isolation possessions 7.2 percent of the time — the ninth-highest frequency in the NBA, per NBA.com. They scored just 0.84 points per possession out of isolation, which ranks 20th in the NBA.Another issue is the Wolves are ti...

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

Vikings at Broncos (-2½)The Vikings this week brought back former standout linebacker Anthony Barr and added him to the practice squad. If this reunion proves successful, the Vikings no doubt will quickly inquire about the availability of Dalvin Tomlinson, Jared Allen and Alan Page.Pick: Vikings by 7Alan Page is interviewed after he and his wife, Diane Page, show artifacts from their collection at their Minneapolis home on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. They have an extensive collection of African-American artifacts, including many Jim Crow pieces. They are looking for a venue to display the items because they believe the items are matters relevant to current racial happenings in the country. (Jean Pieri / Pioneer Press)Eagles at Chiefs (-2½)Philadelphia’s burly and bearded Jason Kelce was surprisingly named to People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive list for 2023. The Eagles’ center narrowly beat out his brother Travis, Larry the Cable Guy and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad.Pick: Chiefs by 3PHILADE...

Ring in the holidays at Stuyvesant Plaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ready to usher in the holidays? Stuyvesant Plaza is hosting a tree-lighting ceremony outside of Jean Paul Spa & Salongs on Saturday, November 18. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The tree lighting ceremony kicks off with a welcome address by Stuyvesant Plaza General Manager Rachel Ferluge and a check presentation to the Guilderland YMCA. There will be live performances by acapella groups Lost in Sound from Siena College, and Girls Next Door from Saint Rose. Stores and restaurants will be open during and after the ceremony.Beginning on Sunday, the annual Holiday Strolls will return from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides by Bowman Carriages, activities with Santa, and more! For those with learning differences, there will be sensory-friendly interactions during select Holiday Strolls. These sessions include time with Santa, dimmed lighting, little to no music, no flashing toys or...

Holiday tree lightings around the Capital Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- As the holiday season gets underway, many cities, towns and villages are preparing to light their holiday trees. Here’s where and when you can find different tree lighting ceremonies around the Capital Region. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! AlbanyThe two holiday trees at the Empire State Plaza and East Capitol Park will be lit during the New York State Tree Lighting and Fireworks celebration on Sunday, December 3 from noon to 8 p.m. The free event will feature live music, food trucks, ice-skating performances, and a visit from Santa. The tree lighting and fireworks will begin at 5:15 p.m.The City of Albany will also have its tree lighting in Academy Park on Friday, December 1 at 5p.m. The lighting includes live music, holiday crafts and free refreshments.AltamontIndian Ladder Farms is hosting its annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Friday, December 1 at 6 p.m. in the Biergarten. The tree will be lit as the...

Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Vikings and predictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:12 GMT

Minnesota Vikings (6-4) at Broncos (4-5)When: 6:20 p.m. MT, SundayWhere: Empower Field at Mile HighRadio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/NBCBroncos-Vikings series: Denver is 7-8 in 15 regular-season games dating back to 1972; the Broncos lost 27-23 in the last meeting, on Nov. 17, 2019, in Minnesota, but have won three of the last four matchups.In the spotlightThe Broncos have won three straight. Denver’s rushing attack has been effective, the defense has been solid and Russell Wilson has been one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league.Still, head coach Sean Payton doesn’t believe the team has found its sweet spot on offense.“There are so many things we have to clean up and get better at,” Payton said. “We coach it. It’s the details. There’s so much that goes into it. It starts with building it around what you have and who we have.”For Payton, discovering a sweet spot is like finding Shangri-La, meaning it doesn’t exist. Football is an imperfect game since there’s al...