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Colin Simmons, 5-star edge rusher from Duncanville, commits to Texas Longhorns

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 5-star edge rusher from Duncanville will stay in the Lone Star State next season.Colin Simmons, the No. 1 overall recruit in Texas for the 2024 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, verbally committed to Texas on Thursday, choosing the Longhorns over Louisiana State and Miami.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersSimmons is the No. 8 recruit nationally according to 247Sports. He was instrumental in the Panthers' 28-21 win over Galena Park North Shore in the 2022 Class 6A-Division I state championship game, notching a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss for 20 yards. The performance earned Simmons the defensive MVP honor of the state title game.At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Simmons racked up more than 20 sacks for the Panthers last season and will give the Longhorns yet another elite-level recruit on defense. Longhorns 5th-year linebacker...

Taylor ISD introduces unstacked grade levels on first day of school

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Two Taylor ISD elementary campuses debuted more grade levels than they've had in year's past on the first day of the 2023-2024 school year.Naomi Pasemann Elementary and Main Street Elementary now both have grades 1-5 along with Pre-K and Kindergarten.Main Street Elementary Principal Kerri Pierce said before this year, her campus and Naomi Pasemann Elementary were both intermediate schools that only hosted grades 2-4.Naomi Pasemann Elementary Principal Cynthia Proctor said the campuses opened up to provide more stability for families."It really allows the community, the families to be able to not have to do so many transitions. They're in an elementary for five years, which really helps us build that community and culture here in in Taylor," Proctor said.Both principals said their campuses have undergone changes to accommodate more students.Pierce said Main Street Elementary received new floors and new paint to refresh its halls.Ongoing improvement projects inc...

Twins shut out for second time in three games in another loss to Tigers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

DETROIT — The Twins began their four-game series here with a strong pitching start from Pablo López and a nice offensive showing early, ensuring Game 1 was never in doubt. That marked the Twins’ fifth straight victory, a season-long winning streak.Since then?The Twins have been shut out twice and now are on a three game-losing streak, dropping the remaining games in Detroit. The final loss was a 3-0 defeat in the series finale on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park in a game in which starting Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda was near his best but had no run support to speak of.The Twins starter, who has been sharp since returning from the injured list on June 23, turned in yet another impressive performance. Maeda limited the Tigers to just three hits in his six innings of work, the only blip a Riley Greene solo home run coming with two outs in Maeda’s final inning. For his efforts, Maeda became a tough-luck loser.The Tigers tacked on another pair of runs off reliever Dylan Floro, wh...

New Loons forward Teemu Pukki has had quiet Leagues Cup

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

Minnesota United has reached the Leagues Cup quarterfinals without a goal from its projected top scorer.Teemu Pukki has produced one assist across the four matches and his penetrating runs have created threats and openings for teammates, but the Finnish forward has put only three of 12 shots on target during the new North American tournament. He has been subbed out before MNUFC advanced through two knockout-round, penalty-kick shootouts.Pukki scored once in his opening three MLS matches before the competition began, but as the stakes of the tournament increase, a club’s best players are needed in the biggest moments.With a spot in the semifinals on the line, MNUFC faces Nashville SC at GEODIS Park in a quarterfinal match at 7:30 p.m. Friday.Loons manager Adrian Heath said Pukki would be the “first to admit he probably should be sitting on four or five goals” in all competitions. But Heath has faith those goals will come eventually.“I have zero, and I say zero, worries that Teemu Puk...

Stephens named president & CEO of Urban League Twin Cities

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

Marquita Stephens has been named president and CEO of the Urban League Twin Cities.Stephens, who’s apppointment was effective July 20, is the first woman to lead the 98-year-old organization.Marquita Stephens has been named president & CEO of Urban League Twin Cities, it was announced Aug. 8, 2023. Stephens, whose appointment was effective July 20, 2023, is the first woman to lead the organization in its 98-year history. (Courtesy of Urban League Twin Cities)“I am driven to lead the Urban League Twin Cities toward its goal of building an equitable society,” Stephens said, in a statement. “With a dynamic team and engaged board, together we can deliver on the democratic promises this nation made at its birth, but which for so many go unrealized.”Stephens has spent 20-plus years in public service, focusing on “helping to build strong families and potentialwithin communities, particularly communities of color,” according to a press release from the Urban League.Bef...

Saratoga County Libraries awarded state library construction grants

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State Senator Jim Tedisco announced on Thursday that several Saratoga County libraries were chosen as recipients of state library construction grants. Funded by the New York State Education Department, the grants will be used for renovations and to expand Wi-Fi access. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The breakdown of the grants are:Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library will receive $300,848 to replace the main entrance doors with a revolving door for energy efficiency and patron accessibility.Stillwater Public Library will receive $134,775 for energy-efficient window units, parking lot development, and renovation of the exterior walls.Waterford Public Library will receive $220,025 to replace a slate roof over 125 years old and in disrepair.Southern Adirondack Library System will receive $38,133 for broadband WIFI access improvement in Saratoga, Hamilton, Warren & Washin...

What's flying when at the 50th Adirondack Balloon Festival

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This September, the skies over Glens Falls, Queensbury, and Lake George will be dotted with color for the 50th year running. The Adirondack Balloon Festival is about to turn 50. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The festival returns to the region from Wednesday to Sunday, Sept. 20-24, completely free to all visitors. More than 70 balloons are expected to take to the sky, coming from across the country and even outside the U.S. “The organizing committee has been planning for this event for at least 5 years," said festival President Mark Donahue. "We want to honor our roots but also add new, fresh ideas to the event. Our group of volunteer organizers has been working around the clock to make this happen, as we know how much it means to the community.”The festival uses Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport as its home base, but events also encompass Hiland Park Country Club and Glens Falls' Crandall Park. Vendor...

Runaway parolee apprehended in Glenville

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

GLENVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A runaway parolee has been apprehended after Glenville Police were called for a domestic violence incident on Spring Road in Glenville. Dustin Samuels was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon by DOCCS Office of Special Investigations and parole officers.   Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Authorities say Samuels, who had allegedly been an absconder since July 10, was on parole in connection to a prior domestic violence case. He reportedly fled from a team of parole officers approaching a house in Glenville on a tip that Samuels was there. The investigation remains ongoing.

Police find two women and one man dead in a west St. Louis County home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. -- Police found the bodies of two women and one man in a St. Louis County home this morning. They believe that the man killed the women before turning the gun on himself. Calling out the Court: Missouri family battles jury summons for son who can’t serve Officers were called to the 200 block of Glandore Drive at around 11 a.m. Thursday to check on the man. They found all three victims suffering from gunshot wounds, and they were declared dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation suggests that the deaths are part of a murder-suicide.St. Louis County Police would like anyone with information in this incident to help them with their investigation. Call investigators at 636-529-8210. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.

McTwist taco sales to help St. Louis skate park church rebuild after fire

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:15:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The Sk8 Laborious church-turned-skate park and nonprofit group on the north side of St. Louis burned down in the middle of the night in June."We're pretty sure it was an electrical fire; a lot of the wiring in the building was old," co-owner of Sk8Liborius Bryan Bedwell said. "It started in the building next door to the rectory, and then it just kind of migrated because of how the winds were that night.""Moving forward right now, we're currently in the assessment phase. We have some engineers and some architects that are coming through to take a look at everything and see what we can keep and what we can't keep, but we're not giving up," said Bedwell. "We're going to try to do the best we can. And continue to have the space to be open to the community; try maybe, possibly, to build our skate park."Community support has played a pivotal role in the efforts to rebuild Sk8 Laborious. Among the numerous supporters, Mission Taco, a local restaurant chain, stands out.Jay...