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X, formerly Twitter, to allow paid political advertising again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Presidential candidates now have a new place to try to win over voters: social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. For the first time since 2019 the platform says it will allow paid political advertising.Laura Edelson is an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University who has extensively researched online political communication. She says X's announcement raises important questions."Are they going to do it responsibly or are they just going to try to get as much money as they can?" Edelson said.She says she found issues with the way Twitter handled previous campaign cycles."Twitter was one of the platforms that did the worst, in terms of actually making sure the political advertisers followed the rules," Edelson said. Elon Musk auctioning Twitter signs, memorabilia  Misinformation concerns led Twitter to stop accepting paid political ads in 2019. Now with Elon Musk leading the company, it's reversing course.Dave Karpf, an associate...

Illinois' first music festival permitting cannabis consumption announced

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

MUNDELEIN, Ill. — Organizers have announced Illinois' first concert that permits cannabis consumption - a two-day event in September that merges music and cannabis culture - set to take place in north suburban Mundelein. The inaugural 'Miracle in Mundelein' lineup includes performances by Cypress Hill, Action Bronson, Stephen Marley, and more, Sept. 9-10, across the street at RISE Cannabis Mundelein Recreational Dispensary, located at 1325 Armour Blvd. Illinois’ marijuana tax revenue is the highest in the country, next to California The festival will feature rolling stations and dab bars. Organizers say complimentary grinders, lighters, papers, and rolling trays will be provided. Bongs or glass pieces will not be issued, however. All cannabis must be purchased from an Illinois dispensary and be in the original packaging. The packaging does not have to be sealed, organizers added.Smoking pens are authorized as long as they meet regulations. Read more: Latest Chicago news head...

Witness, detective accounts shared on third day of 6th Street shooting suspect trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's previous coverage of the trial.AUSTIN (KXAN) – The trial of Sixth Street mass shooting suspect De’ondre White continued Thursday in Austin. PREVIOUS: Witness accounts, autopsy results shared at 6th Street shooting suspect trial White, 21, is charged with one count of murder and 14 counts of aggravated assault. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday in court.On June 12, 2021, 25-year-old Douglas Kantor was killed and more than a dozen others were injured in a mass shooting on Sixth Street. White is accused of firing into a crowd after a confrontation with a group of people.APD Detective Called Austin Police Detective Danny Hernandez has been one of the lead detectives in the Sixth Street mass shooting investigation. He said his work on the case started in the early morning of June 12, when he went to the hospital to interview victims injured in the shooting. One man, Douglas John Kantor, 25, died two days after the event from “complications...

Travis County increasing jury pay rate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County announced its jury pay rate would increase, beginning Friday.Compensation will increase from the current $6 to $20 on the first day of jury services, as well as from $40 to $58 "on subsequent days except for the City of Austin jury trials," per a Travis County release. The increase is spurred by the passage of House Bill 3474, a bill sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) that passed back in the spring during the Texas Legislature's 88th regular session.“Travis County officials are thrilled about this increase in jury pay,” Travis County District Clerk Velva L. Price said in the release. “We hope the pay increase will improve participation and racial and socioeconomic diversity of Travis County jury pools. Combined with online registration and free rides on the public transit system, Travis County is working to make jury service easier and limit the impact to personal and work lives of jurors.”Per the release, the Travis County Dist...

Five questions as the Twins head into September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

The final stretch of the season is upon us, and the Twins enter the month of September protecting a five-game lead in the American League Central with 28 games left to play.They have led the division for almost the entire season, and they seem well-positioned to hang on and make the postseason for the first time since 2020, where they would be in position to host a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Target Field in early October.As the calendar flips to September, here are five questions with one month remaining in the season:How will Cleveland’s moves affect the race?The Twins were in a tie for first place in the division as late as Sept. 4 last year. A refresher on how that ended: an incredibly injured Twins team tumbled in September and finished in third place, 14 games back of the Cleveland Guardians.A repeat of that doesn’t seem likely.Though the Twins had an opportunity to put more distance between themselves and the second-place Guardians and did not do so this week, losing tw...

Schenectady hosting annual Community Health Fair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The city of Schenectady announced they will be hosting their annual Community Health Fair. The event is scheduled for September 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The fair will feature family fun activities, raffles, music from a live DJ, and a multitude of local vendors and business. The event will also offer a variety of health and safety showcases, including a children's bicycle helmet giveaway, blood pressure screenings, and flu shots (health insurance card required). The Community Health Fair will be held at Schenectady City Hall, located at 105 Jay Street. The event is free and open to the public.

Convicted felon arrested after narcotics investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office arrested a four-time convicted felon on drug charges. Michael Bonilla, 33, of Troy, was taken into custody after law enforcement conducted a search warrant at a residence on 8th Street. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The search warrant stemmed from a month-long narcotics investigation. Bonilla was found to be in possession of cash, narcotics, scales, and packaging items. Police say Bonilla was on New York State Parole Supervision.Bonilla was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He was arraigned in Troy City Court and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail.

Albany man sentenced for pandemic loan fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 36-year-old Albany man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for pandemic loan fraud. Christopher Mozone was ordered to serve three years of post-release supervision and to pay $43,378.08 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Mozone admitted that he obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the SBA by falsely claiming he owned a business on a loan application. He then spent the proceeds on personal expenses, including a trip to Atlantic City. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case.

Everything happening in Lake George this September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The water will probably still be warm for a while, but summer vacation season is coming to a close. That doesn't mean any shortage of things going on around Lake George, though.The start of September comes with Labor Day weekend, which this year sees the return of a bigger, better Adirondack Independence Music Festival. Further on into the month, jazz, balloons, and even large amounts of garlic come to the lake. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Ongoing eventsOktoberfest begins at The Great EscapeEvery weekend in September and OctoberGerman-inspired cuisine, craft beers and ciders, and festive music and games at Six Flags Great EscapeGreat Escape & Hurricane Harbor, 1172 Route 9, QueensburyDaily admissionLake George Dinner Theater: Marriage is MurderShowings Mondays-Saturdays starting Thursday, Sept. 14Dinner theater following a divorced couple forced to collaborate in HollywoodHoliday Inn Resort Lake Geor...

Man sentenced for making online rape threats against Town and Country woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A man sentenced earlier in the month in federal court for repeatedly cyberstalking, harassing, and threatening to rape multiple women in the area and elsewhere in the country appeared in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Thursday to plead guilty in a separate case.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Robert Merkle, 54, pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment. However, because of prior convictions, the judge increased Merkle's sentence from four to seven years in prison.Merkle admitted to harassing a Town and Country woman while he was on parole for similar crimes with different victims. Police: DWI, hit-and-run suspect caught by his own Tesla cameras In January 2022, the victim told the Town and Country Police Department that Merkle, whom she’d met on a dating site more than seven years earlier, sent a series of suspicious text messages. The messages hinted that he had made a copy of her house key and was planning to break into her home...