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First yellow-legged hornet nest in US eradicated in Georgia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Agriculture officials have safely removed the first yellow-legged hornet nest found in the U.S.The nest was discovered in the Savannah, Georgia, area, where the first yellow-legged hornet in the country was spotted by a local beekeeper just weeks ago.Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper called the discovery "a huge win" for the state's agriculture industry, as the non-native species is a threat to honey production and native pollinators.courtesy of the Georgia Department of Agriculturecourtesy of the Georgia Department of Agriculturecourtesy of the Georgia Department of Agriculturecourtesy of the Georgia Department of Agriculture"Thanks to our vigilant citizens, partners at UGA Extension, and USDA, we've now eradicated the first, and what we hope will be the last, yellow-legged hornet nest within days of its discovery," Harper stated. "We ask that the public continue to stay vigilant and report any additional suspected sightings of this species to the...

Who qualifies for $0 student loan payments?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — While student loan payments are set to begin soon, some borrowers could find themselves with $0 monthly payments. It’s due to the Biden administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, Plan, which officially launched Tuesday. In a statement, Vice President Kamala Harris said the plan could save the average borrower around $1,000 a year. Tens of millions of borrowers are expected to qualify for SAVE, which is now a main income-driven repayment option for borrowers.  How does the plan work?According to the Education Department, SAVE calculates a monthly payment based on your income and family size. “The SAVE Plan provides the lowest monthly payments of any IDR plan available to nearly all student borrowers,” the department’s Federal Student Aid Office explains. ‘Bed rotting’: Some call it self care, but experts urge caution Monthly payments are so much lower on SAVE than other IDR plans because it increases the income exemption to 225% o...

ERCOT: 'Tight' Texas grid conditions expected for 2nd straight day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For the second straight day, Texas' main electrical grid operator is asking Texans to conserve electricity use. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)'s request for conservation is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with "operating reserves expected to be low [Friday afternoon and evening]."ERCOT is not experiencing emergency conditions at this time, the release said. Understanding ERCOT’s emergency alert levels "Current forecasts are showing a potential to enter emergency operations," the release said.The release said ERCOT expects these grid conditions to continue through the Aug. 26-27 weekend because of the extreme heat.Part of ERCOT's conservation request includes government agencies, including city and county offices. The organization is asking government agencies "to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities."On Thursday, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said they expected "tight conditions" on the grid for the evening hours.In the latest re...

Federal judge to hear 1st challenge to Texas drag performance law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN New Today's top headlines for Aug. 25, 2023.HOUSTON (KXAN) — A federal judge will hold a hearing Monday morning on the first lawsuit aimed at blocking a Texas drag performance law. U.S. District Judge David Hittner will hear arguments starting at 10:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Houston related to a legal challenge against Senate Bill 12, which will take effect next Friday on Sept. 1. The five plaintiffs include the Austin-based drag performer Brigitte Bandit and Extragrams, a local drag performance company. Austin theater part of 2nd lawsuit filed against Texas drag performance law The group suing the interim Texas attorney general and several other officials contends the law is unconstitutional and would harm their ability to make a living. They also argue the way the law is written could open up legal consequences for more than just drag performers. Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 12 on June 18 after lawmakers pushed the legislation ...

Following back-to-back legal action by city council candidate, St. Paul City Council amends sales tax ballot language

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

St. Paul residents will go to the polls on Nov. 7 and vote on a sales tax proposal worded a bit differently than what was previously approved by the city council on July 19.When the St. Paul mayor’s office released proposed ballot language around the proposed hike to the city sales tax, Peter Butler instantly thought something was amiss. The language adopted by the city council last month asks voters if they’re willing to increase the existing sales tax by a single percentage point — a penny on every $1 — to generate nearly $1 billion over 20 years, most of it for the reconstruction of major roads.That part was simple enough to understand. It was the next part that raised Butler’s ire, and sent him scrambling toward legal action: “A vote NO means that the majority of these costs would be funded by other local revenue sources, primarily from increased property taxes.”Butler, a financial services worker, former city finance employee and candid...

State Patrol: Gustavus hockey player ‘failed to stop’ at intersection, causing crash that killed teammate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

The two-vehicle crash that killed a 19-year-old Gustavus Adolphus hockey player from Little Canada on Sunday was caused when her teammate failed to obey a stop sign, the State Patrol says in a search warrant affidavit.Jori Lynn Jones was killed and three of her college teammates were injured in the crash, which happened about 12:40 p.m. at an intersection in Grace Township, about 25 miles west of Willmar in west-central Minnesota.From left: Jori Jones, Kayla Bluhn, Gianna Gasparini and Lily Mortenson from the women’s hockey roster at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. Jones, 19, of Little Canada was killed and her teammates were injured in a two-vehicle crash west of Willmar, Minn., on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.(Courtesy of Gustavus Adolphus College)Jones, who was a passenger, died at Montevideo Hospital, where her teammates Kayla Marie Bluhm, 20, of Chisago City, Gianna Kate Gasparini, 19, of Lakeville and Lily Kay Mortenson, 19, of Champlin were taken with injuries no...

How the XFL kept hope alive for a few Vikings trying to make it in the NFL

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

Mention the song “Humble And Kind” to quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, running back Abram Smith and receiver Lucky Jackson and they’ll all smile.The country music ballad by singer/songwriter Tim McGraw served as the soundtrack of the spring for the trio as they continued to chase their dream of playing professional football.After they had been passed over by the NFL, Ta’amu, Smith and Jackson joined forces with the DC Defenders of the XFL. That provided them a platform to prove themselves, and that’s exactly what they did, leading the league’s most prolific offense.All the while Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow consistently started team meetings with the song “Humble And Kind” as a way to make sure his players never got too far ahead of themselves even when they started to have some success.“It’s human nature for guys to start feeling themselves,” Barlow said. “Let’s calm ourselves down by listening to s...

Expect more road work on Queensbury's Quaker Road

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Road work continues along Quaker Road in Queensbury, as the town works to rehabilitate various parts of a nearly four-mile stretch of road. The latest development: Construction and lane closures to come between the road's intersections with Dix Avenue and Route 9. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Starting Sunday, Aug. 27, motorists and other travelers should expect road work between 8 p.m. and 6 p.m. along the stretch of Quaker Road between the two arteries into Glens Falls. Work to come includes milling and resurfacing, as contractors get the road ready for re-paving to come. The work is expected to last through the night of Thursday, Aug. 31.As work continues, drivers should expect detours to be established. Those familiar with local roads are encouraged to seek out alternate routes whenever possible, and also to slow down or move over when needed to make room for roadside vehicles. The work on Quak...

Illinois man claims to sell 'horny goat weed' - but it's just a Viagra-like drug

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- A Glen Carbon man who owned and operated an online apothecary-type store has admitted that his 'all-natural' horny goat weed is actually just imported male enhancement.   William Goldsmith, 48, pleaded guilty on August 24th to mislabeling drugs for resale. He would purchase illegal sildenafil citrate, commonly known as Viagra, from China and India. He would then take the drug, place it into pill capsules, and label this new concoction as 'Ma’Kava,' 'Ma’Kava Private Stock,' and 'Night Cap X.'  The ingredient list for the new drug would include 'natural' herbs such as horny goat weed, black maca, kavalactone, tongkat ali, panax ginseng, ginkgo biloba, and sea cucumber extract. Deliberately, he would omit the fact that it was, in reality, a Viagra-like drug.  His business, known as Malosi Herbs, operated out of his home in Glen Carbon from 2016 to 2019, during which time he carried out this scam. The business is estimated to have ge...

St. Peters to get $42M affordable apartment development

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:38 GMT

ST. PETERS, Mo. — Together We Grow is a national real estate development company that focuses on building commercial, market-rate, affordable, and senior housing. They will be creating more housing at Reserve at Spencer, a $42.9 million affordable multifamily community in St. Peters, Missouri.The Reserve at Spencer will comprise units designated for families with incomes that are less than 60% of the area's median income. The four-story building will have 192 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. The location is 4000 Ryleigh Reserve Lane, formerly known as 4975 Veterans Memorial Parkway in St. Peters, situated right next to the Napleton car dealership and just south of I-70. Deputy shot in Lincoln County; suspect found dead This is the third low-income housing tax credit project that TWG has worked on in the state of Missouri. The Reserve at Spencer neighborhood is currently under construction, and it should be complete by the end of 2024.