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Democrats win in several states on abortion rights and other highlights from Tuesday’s elections

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year election and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights and painting his opponent as extremist. A Democrat won an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after campaigning on his pledge to uphold abortion rights. And Democrats won a majority in the Virginia State Senate, blocking Republicans from being able to pass new abortion restrictions. The wins won’t be enough to make them feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election. The off-year elections have major implications for all of those states and provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big names — Joe Biden and Donald Trump — weren’t on the ballot this time. How Americans view them will be a...

Thursday/Friday temp pullback and gusty “NW” winds to follow Wednesday rainy spells; longer range: impressive late season mild spell due next week; daytime 60s forecast at a time of year when 40s are typical

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

FORECAST MAPS FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAYWGN WEATHER HEADLINESARE EL NIÑOS AND LA NIÑAS BEING IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE?As I post this, there's a WELL DEVELOPED EL NINO IN PROGRESS across the equatorial Pacific — a situation predicted to continue through Spring 2024. This may impact the coming winter here in Chicago.El Niños have their largest impact globally on winter season weather. While NO TWO El Niños are exactly alike, there are general trends which have often been observed when El Niños occur. Winters tend to be milder and less snowy in many El Niño years here in the Midwest. We'll see if that actually occurs in the months ahead.Both trends, above normal temps and near to below normal precip, are incorporated in official NWS seasonal temp and precip trend forecast — including the November through January forecast I've included below. Temps during that period are predicted to come in ABOVE NORMAL while precip during the period is forecast to be NEAR TO BELOW NORMAL over a wi...

Raising teacher pay approved by Round Rock ISD voters, KXAN projects

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct when the raise would go into effect. We regret the error.ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Round Rock Independent School District voters approved a proposition in a tax rate election that will effectively grant teachers a pay increase. ELECTION DAY BLOG: Texans vote on 14 state constitutional amendments, local propositions The district called for a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). According to RRISD, this would allow the district to keep more of its funding that it currently sends as “recapture” payments to the state.Back in August, RRISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said the district’s tax rate would decrease slightly.He said the district called for this election to make up for shortcomings from this year’s legislative session that failed to secure raises for Texas teachers. Election Results: November 2023 Teachers and all staff would receive a 3% additional raise. The raise would come on the January paycheck, ...

Austin woman tells her story of recovery in national 'Start with Hope' campaign

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin woman is helping spread her emotional story of hope in a national message about fighting substance abuse disorder and addiction.“We have these incredible stories of Ale, Ariel and Joseph, who share their personal journeys, share their stories and share that with hope recovery is possible,” said Kirsten Seckler with Shatterproof, a national nonprofit helping people recover from addiction.The new campaign is called “Start With Hope” and was created by the Ad Council, the Centers for Disease Control, National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Shatterproof.“It is a campaign that is meant to help adults who may be at risk or struggling with substance use disorder to start to think about the relationship with substances and to start that recovery journey,” said Seckler.In one video, Ariel from Austin begins by saying, “substance use disorder and addiction is so isolating and so as a Black woman in recovery, hope must be loud.”The campaign is available in English a...

Incumbents, a challenger hold early leads in race for Mounds View School Board Tuesday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

Early election results Tuesday night indicated three incumbents and a challenger held leads in the Mounds View School Board race.Eleven candidates are vying for four seats on the school board.With 23 of 27 precincts reporting, incumbents Heidi Danielson, Jim DeMay, and Jonathan Weinhagen each had 16% of the vote. Challenger Alissa Daire Nelson also garnered 16%.Candidate Paul Wikstrom had 8%, Heidi Caccamo had 8%, Art Mills had 7%, Jon VanOeveren garnered 1%, Mark Kelliher had 8%, Rich Priore garnered 1% and Andre Koen had 3%.The results are incomplete and unofficial, and even if results hold, many absentee votes may not be counted until after Election Day.Mounds View’s school board has seven members who are elected every two years to four-year terms.Besides, Danielson, DeMay, and Weinhagen, current members include Diane Glasheen, Yolanda Magee, Shauna Bock, and Sandra Westerman.Westerman did not seek reelection. Her term will expire in January. The others did not face election this...

Voters in South Washington County approve bond referendums and tech levy; elect Dols, Patnaik and Clarke to board

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

What a difference a year makes.Last year, voters in the South Washington County School District decisively rejected a historic $462 million bond request by a nearly two-to-one ratio.On Tuesday, voters in the district approved a $200 million, two-question bond referendum to fund improvements at the schools and approved a request to revoke the district’s current $2.8 million technology levy and replace it with a $5 million one.“We know this was a big ask for voters in hard economic times,” said Superintendent Julie Nielsen. “We are extremely grateful for our community’s support to address safety, security, growth and technology projects in our schools.”In a tight race for school board, incumbents Melinda Dols and Simi Patnaik and newcomer Ryan Clarke prevailed. Dols and Patnaik each received 16 percent of the vote; Clarke got 14 percent.The first question, which passed by a 57 percent margin, asked voters to support a $160 million bond referendum for safety and security enhancements, ...

St. Anthony-New Brighton school voters approve levy referendums

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

Two levy referendums before voters in the St. Anthony-New Brighton school district passed by solid margins Tuesday.The first referendum, approved by roughly 66 percent of voters, proposed to increase the the operating levy of the district by $890 per student. Beginning in 2025, this levy would generate $1.7 million in funding every year for 10 years. According to the district, this funding would be used to “recruit and retain staff and support high levels of academic achievement for our students.”The other referendum, which had a roughly 71 percent yes vote, sought to continue an existing levy passed in 2014. The capital projects levy funds classroom supplies and resources for teachers and students, including books and computers. According to the 2023 referendum website, this levy would not impose a further tax burden, but is simply renewing the levy already approved in 2014.The levy is expected to lead to a property tax increase of $36 per month for average St. Anthony ...

Incumbent Roseville school board members hold leads late Tuesday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

Three incumbent Roseville school board members held leads against four challengers late Tuesday night.With 14 of 19 precincts reporting, Rose Wan-Mui Chu had 27% of the vote, Todd Anderson had 26% and Mike Boguszewski had 26%. A total of seven candidates ran for three seats.Challengers Karl Crump had 8%, Alan Holasek had 8%, Vaughn Klingenberg garnered 1% and Adam Maier had 4% as of Tuesday night.Results are incomplete and unofficial, and many absentee votes may not be counted until after Election Day.If they hold onto their leads, the three incumbents will return to their positions on the six-member board of Roseville Area Public Schools. Terms officially begin in January.Holasek and Crump said they were concerned about levels of academic achievement in Roseville schools. In a candidate questionnaire with the Pioneer Press, incumbent Chu said one of her priorities if reelected is “being fiscally responsible to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that school funding is adeq...

Dakota County education levy referendums: Several pass, two rejected

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

Many Dakota County voters were asked to consider giving more money to public schools at the polls on Tuesday.Here’s a look at what voters were asked, what passed and how homeowners will be affected.FarmingtonFarmington Area Public Schools asked voters to consider revoking the district’s existing operating levy of $677 per student and replace it with a new one following a budget reduction for the 2023-24 school year and a projected deficit of $3.5 million for the 2024-25 school year.The referendum failed Tuesday with nearly 53% of voters against the new operating levy. The district requested $1,239.92 per student for taxes payable in 2024, which would have provided $9 million annually for the first three years, and then an additional $562.95 per student for taxes payable in 2027, which would have provided an additional $4 million annually for the remaining seven years of the new levy, according to the district.HastingsHastings Public Schools asked voters to consider a 10-year capital...

Stillwater Area Public School District voters approve referendum; elect Lauer to school board

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:04 GMT

New elementary schools will be built in Bayport and Lake Elmo and a host of safety and security improvements will be made at other schools in the Stillwater Area School District following passage of Tuesday’s bond referendum.Voters approved the $175 million bond referendum by a 57-43% margin. The money will be used to fund construction projects to address growth in the southern and central parts of the district and the addition of safety and security improvements at all district schools, including a secured front entrance addition and remodel at Stillwater Area High School in Oak Park Heights.Chris Lauer (Courtesy of the candidate)Voters in the district also elected Chris Lauer to the school board.Passage of the bond means the district can add capacity in the communities served by Andersen Elementary in Bayport and Lake Elmo Elementary, the two oldest schools in the district, and construct additional classroom space and a new gymnasium at Oak-Land Middle School in Lake Elmo.About 1,...