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Lawmakers unite over restricting AI legal protections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

WASHINGTON, Mich. (WOOD) — Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are joining forces to try to reign in the potential dangers of artificial intelligence technology.Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said that should start by holding companies legally responsible for real-world harms."This is all about taking power away from the big corporations,” said Hawley.He also said he wants to make sure artificial intelligence companies can be held accountable in court."It's about if someone uses a deep fake of your kid you can go sue him,” explained Hawley.Along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-NY, Hawley is pushing legislation to explicitly deny AI companies the legal protections given to big tech companies such as Google, Twitter, and Meta."You can't take them into court, you can't sue. That is wrong,” said Hawley.At a hearing last month, Illinois Democratic senator Dick Durbin agreed the legal shield, known as Section 230, goes too far."I'm not sure I'm happy with the outcomes as I look a...

Austin Fire: Vehicle flips into ditch on South MoPac, person taken to hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person was taken to the hospital after a vehicle flipped over into a ditch on MoPac Expressway in south Austin Tuesday, the Austin Fire Department said on Twitter.At approximately 2:40 p.m., AFD responded to the vehicle rescue at 4500-4800 MoPac Expressway and said one patient was being extricated. Crews worked the north and southbound lanes, which caused heavy traffic delays, AFD said. Northbound lanes were closed. It was not immediately clear if lanes were open at the time this article was published.The patient was removed and was en route to the hospital via ambulance in stable condition, AFD said.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Lake Travis boat ramp to close due to low water levels; only one to remain open for now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The boat ramp at Mansfield Dam Park will close to the public at the end of the month, meaning only one public boat ramp will be open moving forward.The ramp at Mansfield Dam Park will close on Friday, June 30 due to low water levels on Lake Travis.Boat launching and retrieving will not be allowed after Thursday, according to a release from the Travis County Parks Department. If you already have a boat in the lake and want to pick up passengers at the park, that will still be allowed.The closure means only one public boat ramp will be open on Lake Travis: the Pace Bend Park boat ramp at Tournament Point.As of Tuesday, the water level on Lake Travis is 637.73,' meaning the lake is only 43.7% full. It's the lowest water level since May 2015.According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, the Tournament Point boat ramp can only operate at a minimum lake level of 631'. That means if the lake continues to drop, the last remaining boat ramp may need to be closed too.

4 new arrests made one year after 53 migrants died inside abandoned trailer in San Antonio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN) — Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday afternoon they arrested and charged four more people exactly one year after the deadliest human smuggling incident in the country's history. During a news conference, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said four suspects are now in custody facing federal charges related to the deaths of 53 migrants, including eight children, left in a tractor-trailer near San Antonio last year. He said the arrests happened Monday throughout Texas, adding all four suspects came from Mexico originally. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Toll now at 53 in San Antonio as families wait for answers The suspects are identified as Riley Covarrubias-Ponce, Felipe Orduna-Torres, Luis Alberto Rivera-Leal and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega. They're each facing the same four charges. Those include two counts of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and another two counts for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in seriously bodily injury and ...

LGBTQ+ advocates call for hate crime designation in Cedar Park murder investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) -- Akira Ross was a person who loved video games, dogs, playing pranks on family and friends and cooking up a mean steak on her patio grill, said Chloe Goodman, constituent services manager at Equality Texas.On June 2, Ross was fatally shot at a Cedar Park gas station while pumping gas with her friend and girlfriend."Akira Ross was a real, whole person with a beautiful personality," Goodman said during a Cedar Park City Council meeting June 22.Goodman was joined by several other residents from both Cedar Park and surrounding communities advocating for Ross' murder investigation to be elevated with a hate crime designation. Cedar Park Police continue to investigate the case, which included the arrest of 23-year-old Bradley Stanford, who was charged with first-degree murder. An affidavit obtained by KXAN earlier this month stated Stanford pulled a gun from his waistband, yelled a gay slur and then fired three rounds at Ross following a "verbal exchange" betwee...

Austin FC defender Jon Gallagher named to MLS All-Star Team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Jon Gallagher's terrific season for Austin FC got even better Tuesday.The defender with a knack for scoring goals this season was named to the Major League Soccer All-Star Team, becoming the second Austin FC player to earn the honor. Sebastian Driussi was named the franchise's first all-star last season.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/newslettersGallagher leads the team in goal contributions with eight and he's tied for the team lead with five goals. He's tied for the MLS lead among defenders in goal contributions. He's one of 26 MLS players who will take on English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal FC on July 19 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., in the MLS All-Star Game."I’m honored and excited to have been voted to the MLS All-Star roster," Gallagher said. "I’d like to thank my family, teammates, and coaches for their support in helping me achieve what has long...

Texas lawmakers wrap first special session with no bills to governor's desk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — With the strike of a gavel, the Texas Senate adjourned Tuesday to mark the end of the first special legislative session — marked by Republican in-fighting over property tax relief and not a single bill off to the governor's desk for a signature.A handful of senators met briefly Tuesday to offically gavel out on the last day of this first special session, with the underlying expectation of soon returning to the Capitol once Gov. Greg Abbott calls lawmakers back for round two in hopes of striking a deal between the two chambers. Who will win from proposed Texas property tax relief plans? Earlier Tuesday, Speaker of the House Dade Phelan sent out a memo to members telling members to plan to convene Wednesday at 11 a.m. in anticipation of being called back immediately. Memo from the Office of the Speaker telling them to plan on coming back to the Texas Capitol by Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.Abbott has yet to make an official proclamation calling on lawmakers to return f...

Two election laws bills await Hochul's signature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- As local elections are underway we take a look at some election bills recently passed in the legislature. One bill would change standards for public financing of election campaigns and the other would change state and local elections to even numbered years. Both bills still await the Governor’s final stamp of approval.Experts say moving state and local elections to even numbered years will improve voter turnout. If signed by the Governor, this bill would not impact New York City. Similar legislation has passed in California, Nevada and Arizona. "The law goes into effect January 2025, but elected officials in office in January 2025 will not be impacted," said Ben Weinberg, Director of Public Policy at Citizens Union. He explained that elections after 2026 will be shortened by one or two years depending on the position, in order be moved to even numbered years. This includes county executives, county legislators, different town offices but it would not impact DA...

4th of July celebrations in the North Country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Tuesday, July 4, is a big day. Independence Day brings with it several days of fireworks, live music, and other festivities, and the North Country is no different. Find out how to celebrate the Fourth over two weekends, in the village of Lake George and up into the Adirondack Park. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! BoltonBolton Independence Day celebrationMusic and entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4Rogers Park, Rogers Memorial Park Road, BoltonChesterFireworks9 p.m. fireworks show on Saturday, July 8Chester Town Hall, 6307 Route 9, ChestertownGlens FallsSummer Pops ConcertIndependence Day-themed concert starting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 3, including fireworks at duskCrandall Park, Glen Street, Glens Falls Where to see live music in Lake George in 2023 HagueMusic in the ParkFood trucks open at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 3, with The Barkeater Band playing at 6:30 p.m. and firewo...

Push for NYS emergency contract transparency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:02 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---A bill that passed the legislature would amend the state’s finance law to require more transparency when it comes to emergency state contracts. There are certain situations where state contracts don’t go to the State Comtproller’s Office for approval."The first is when there is an emergency situation," explained Terri Crowley, Executive Deputy Comptroller. "Probably the best one and best known is COVID—-when the governor instituted an executive order, and in that executive order, basically put in language that would no longer allow or require those contracts to come to us because it’s an emergency."She said the second situation is when the legislature takes action to bypass the state comptroller’s authority. A recently passed bill, however, would allow for more transparency."It would say that any contract that should have come to us but didn’t, would have to be posted on the agency who did the procurement on their website and it would require basic elements t...