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Matthew McConaughey, Glen Powell, others call on lawmakers to make Texas more film friendly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a video posted to Austin native and actor Glen Powell's Instagram Tuesday, several Texas-based actors called on lawmakers to pass legislation that would make the state more film-friendly. The caption on Powell's video reads, "I’m a proud Texan and even more proud of Texas artists. My pals and I are here to tell you why film is good For Texas. And the rest of the world, I guess…but mostly Texas."Actors Powell, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Owen Wilson, and Billy Bob Thornton appear in the video to promote Texas legislation aimed at incentivizing and improving the film industry in the state. PREVIOUS STORY: Can Texas become a top ‘film-friendly’ state? The actors talk about positive aspects of filmmaking in Texas, like how "Texas looks good on the big screen," as Wilson put it. They also pointed out that the film industry brings money and jobs into the state. The actors also say that funding for filmmaking in Texas has decreased over the ye...

Texas Legislature passes bill to make kratom safer for consumers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas legislature passed a bill to regulate the sale of kratom in the state with the goal of protecting consumers from unsafe products.Kratom products are derived from the leaves of a tropical tree grown in the South Pacific. It has two psychoactive alkaloids – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine. To feel the effects, the leaves are chewed; dried and smoked; or powdered and put into capsules to be taken orally – how it is commonly sold in Texas.Kratom has been used in Southeast Asia for hundreds to thousands of years. It is used to combat fatigue, in cultural ceremonies and to treat medical conditions, such as opioid use disorder. Before now, kratom products in Texas were largely unregulated, meaning manufacturers could put dangerous additives in products or enhance compounds to unsafe levels with little consequence, said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association.With the passage of the Texas Kratom Consumer Health and S...

Medical billing transparency legislation passed, heads to governor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

This report is an update to KXAN’s “Medical Debt Lawsuits” investigation. Our team will continue to follow the bills during Texas’ legislative session.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Legislation that will increase medical billing transparency – by requiring hospitals to provide an itemized receipt to patients before sending their bill to collections – achieved final passage by the Senate on Tuesday.The Senate’s approval of SB 490 by Sen. Bryan Hughes, (R-Mineola), caps the measure’s passage through both chambers. The bill now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.Hughes’ legislation was amended to trim the types of health care providers that would have to send an itemized invoice. In its final form, the bill applies to health care facilities and hospitals but does not apply to doctors or federally qualified health centers. Hughes said federally qualified health centers already have regulations that make billing information more readily accessible. He described the legislation as a "great bill...

Gov. Tim Walz signs bipartisan legislation to fund replacement of lead service lines on residential properties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

Across Minnesota, thousands of underground service lines that snake from home basement water meters to water mains in the center of the street are made of lead, a common but unwelcome contaminant when it comes to drinking water.The lines sit within both the public right-of-way and private residential property, and replacing them can cost property owners $10,000 or more, a sum many households would be hard-pressed to come up with on their own. On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz signed bipartisan legislation that would help cities across the state not only map the locations of their lead service lines, but rip them out and replace them, at no cost to homeowners.The $240 million initiative received the unanimous backing of House lawmakers and near-unanimous support in the state Senate. The next steps will be up to municipalities to apply to the Minnesota Department of Health for grants, complete their maps and then coordinate directly with homeowners, who would have to voluntarily grant permiss...

Judge orders Bloomington company to pay $487M penalty in Medicare scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

A Bloomington company has been ordered to pay more than $487 million in a civil penalty for paying kickbacks to eye surgeons to use its products in the form of luxury vacations on private jets to exclusive events.U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, of St. Paul, entered a judgment against Precision Lens and its owner, Paul Ehlen, last week after a federal civil jury found the company guilty in February. The company paid kickbacks to ophthalmic surgeons to use its products in cataract surgeries reimbursed by Medicare.The civil jury found nearly 65,000 false claims had been made with more than $43 million in damages to Medicare.The jury found the company had flown doctors to high-end skiing, fishing, golfing, hunting, sporting and entertainment vacations, often at exclusive destinations and frequently by private jet. The vacations included trips to see Broadway musicals in New York City, the College Football National Championship Game in Miami and the Masters golf tournament in A...

Guns got all of the attention, but there’s more in the $880M public safety bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

New gun-control measures have gotten most of the attention, but there’s a lot more to the public safety bill Minnesota Democrats passed through the Legislature this session without any Republican votes.Public safety was a top issue for both parties during the 2022 campaign with gun violence, rising crime and brazen carjackings on many voters’ minds. The bill that emerged to address those concerns has a mix of tougher laws and progressive programs to address root causes of crime.After passing the Senate last Friday and the House Monday, the bill is headed to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.“This bill provides public safety to every Minnesotan in every corner of our state. This is a transformational and historic bill,” said Rep. Kelly Moller, DFL-Shoreview, chair of the public safety committee and main sponsor of the House bill.Moller added that the committee took input from “stakeholders and criminal justice partners to ensure our final bill includes the...

Faith leaders react to sudden resignation of Kim Gardner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS – After years of scrutiny while in office, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner had made the decision to resign, effective June 1. But that all changed Tuesday, when she announced, two weeks ahead of schedule, that she was leaving office.A statement from the circuit attorney’s office said, “Ms. Gardner has been committed to serving the people of the City of St. Louis and has done all she can to ensure a smooth transition.”Community leaders are reacting to Gardner’s announcement to step down sooner than expected.Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who will appoint Gardner's replacement, met with local faith leaders at the Wainwright State Office Building in downtown St. Louis. He then visited City Hall and met with Mayor Tishaura Jones to get her input about the search for a new circuit attorney.Parson’s meeting with the clergy lasted about two hours. Clergy members said the governor told them there are some really good candidates, and he's impressed with some of those who hav...

Missouri teacher who used racial slur resigns; student who taped him suspended

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

A Missouri high school teacher who was videotaped repeatedly using a racial slur in class has resigned from the district, while the student who took the video finishes serving a school suspension.Mary Walton, a 15-year-old sophomore at Glendale High School in Springfield, will be allowed to return to school Wednesday after a three-day suspension for what the school district said was improper use of an electronic device.Walton's suspension caused controversy, with supporters including the Radio Television Digital News Association saying she was exercising her free speech rights and documenting a disturbing incident that might have otherwise been ignored.Kate Wellborn, Walton's mother, said in an interview Tuesday that she was “genuinely shocked” her daughter received the harshest possible punishment for recording the teacher during class last week. She said her daughter's video clearly showed the situation and context for what happened."To punish someone in this situation who does th...

Man accused of setting ex-girlfriend's St. Louis Co. home on fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A man appeared in federal court Tuesday after being accused of setting his ex-girlfriend's home on fire last month in St. Louis County. Christopher Willis, 39, pleaded not guilty to one felony charge in the case. Investigators say the fire happened at a rental home on April 29 in unincorporated St. Louis County. Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigning immediatly An indictment alleges that Willis entered his ex-girlfriend's home with a key nearly six days after they broke up. He is accused of stealing her cell phone, picking up a pile of clothes and setting the clothes on fire as he got away. His girlfriend and aunt were sleeping at the time, according to the indictment. No one was hurt from the fire and everyone inside was able to escape because of a fire alarm. If convicted, Willis could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison or face around $250,000 in fines. He was charged with one count of maliciously damaging or destroying by means of fire.

Denver school board to vote on new contract for Superintendent Alex Marrero

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:12 GMT

Denver’s school board is negotiating a new contract with Superintendent Alex Marrero and is expected to vote on it this week, even as two years remain on his current deal with the district. The negotiations come as Marrero has been in the spotlight in recent months, notably with the school board rejecting his initial plan to close schools because of low enrollment in November and Denver Public Schools’ response to two shootings this spring at East High School. The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on whether to approve the superintendent’s contract during a meeting Thursday, according to the agenda. It’s unclear what changes will be made to Marrero’s existing contract. District officials said they couldn’t release the new document Tuesday because it’s still being negotiated.When asked whether the superintendent — who currently makes $260,000 a year — will receive a pay raise, board spokesman Bill Good said DPS couldn’t yet comment on t...