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The most frequently banned book in prison is about ramen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

(The Hill) – Tens of thousands of books have been banned or restricted in U.S. prisons, according to a new report by PEN America, a free speech organization that has been tracking book bans in the country. On Wednesday, the organization released “Reading Between the Bars: An In-Depth Look at Prison Censorship,” which examines how prisons choose which books to take away from prisoners, with some titles getting thrown into the garbage by staffers. “The extent of prison book banning is alarming and an attack on the written word itself,” said Moira Marquis, senior manager of PEN America’s Freewrite Project and lead author of the report. “Censorship should not be a knee jerk tactic by authorities to address other prison concerns, such as spurious claims that books are a conduit for drugs. Yet we are witnessing vast amounts of time, effort and money expended in order to stop people from reading. This censorship must end.”  The group based its report on freedom of infor...

Las Vegas teens accused in deadly crime spree appear to laugh in courtroom, smile at victim's family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Two Las Vegas teens facing murder charges in connection with the death of a bicyclist appeared in court this week as a judge set their trial date.A grand jury indicted Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, on Tuesday morning. The two are accused of stealing at least three cars, burglarizing a home, hitting another car on the road, and striking two bicyclists in separate incidents during an hours-long crime spree in August. A 72-year-old man survived the first hit-and-run. The other man — retired California police chief Andreas Probst, 64 — did not survive. In court on Tuesday, Ayala and Keys appeared to smile at the widow and daughter of Probst."They started trying to intimidate us, mad-dog us," Taylor Probst, the victim's daughter, said. "These guys, they did not respect the court whatsoever."The teens also appeared to communicate with each other and, at times, cover their faces. Video from inside the courtroom appears to show them laughing at one point. New vi...

Austin ISD places 6 schools in 'secure' due to threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Independent School District said no one was allowed to leave or enter buildings on six area campuses Wednesday morning after the schools were placed on "Secure."The district told KXAN that Austin High School, O. Henry Middle School, Kealing Middle School, Rosedale School, Hill Elementary School and Casis Elementary School went into Secure after receiving emails containing a threat to the schools. Report: Politics drives school district leaders away According to the district, secure means all activities continue inside, but no one may leave or enter school buildings. This means families and visitors will not be permitted to enter or leave the school. The district said secure is "substantively" different than a Lockdown because lockdown implies an active threat inside the building. The district said it immediately contacted Austin ISD police who are investigating. Out of an abundance of caution, the district said it would keep the schools in secure until o...

No one beats the Texas Longhorns, in terms of making money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

AUSTIN (ABJ) -- In the Lone Star State, college football isn't just a sport; it's a way of life. Texas boasts a proud football tradition with universities investing huge sums to build and maintain competitive teams. According to data from the Department of Education, it's evident that the deep pockets of Texas universities play a crucial role in their football programs.These revenue figures are from the 2021-2022 season, the most recent applicable data available from the Education Department. It's important to remember that college sports were in their first seasons in the wake of the pandemic and that these figures are likely diminished due to the limitations of those seasons. Still, the wealthiest programs remain dominant.The data for this story comes from the U.S. Department of Education website, which you can see here.Read the full story online at the Austin Business Journal.

Which roads will be closed for UT game, Austin Film Festival?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This weekend marks a busy one for downtown Austin, with the Austin Film Festival running from Thursday through Nov. 2, the Viva la Vida Fest and Parade on Saturday and the Texas Longhorns facing off Saturday afternoon against Brigham Young University.Here's what you need to know about planned road closures and traffic impacts in downtown Austin this weekend. Check out KXAN's real-time traffic maps throughout the area Austin Film FestivalNow in its 30th year, the Austin Film Festival "furthers the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story," according to AFF's website.The weeklong festival kicks off Thursday and runs through Nov. 2. Throughout that week, Congress Avenue's northbound right lane will be closed from Seventh Street to Eight Street each day from 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.Viva la Vida Festival and ParadeThe Mexic-Arte Museum will commemorate the...

Pilot charged with trying to crash plane appears to have ties to University of North Dakota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

GRAND FORKS — An off-duty pilot from California who allegedly tried to crash a plane with 80 passengers on board appears to have ties to University of North Dakota (UND), a university that in recent years has recognized the importance of mental health care for pilots.Joseph David Emerson, 44, appears to be a UND alumnus, according to Grand Forks Herald graduation and dean’s list archives, as well as David Dodds, UND communications director.Dodds confirmed that a Joseph David Emerson attended UND from 1997 to 2001, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration in aviation management, but he said “any connection by this individual to the incident … would have to be confirmed by proper authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration.”Herald archives show Joseph Emerson on the dean’s list in a report published in March 2000, as well as the graduation of Joseph Emerson, of Cheney, Washington, in a list published on July 1, 2001.On Sunday, Oct. 22, Horizon Air Flight 2...

Free burger giveaway in Guilderland on Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Herbie's Burgers is celebrating one year at its Guilderland location by giving away free burgers. The eatery's inaugural Free Burger Day is set for Thursday, October 26 from 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The store will be closed for regular business between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and no other items will be available. Only regular double burgers will be offered for Free Burger Day.To get your free burger, you must follow Herbie's Burgers on social media and make a post tagging the account. Only one burger per customer. The Guilderland store is located at 1827 Western Avenue. Tipsy Taco Cantina opens in Latham Herbie's Burgers has opened five locations in the Capital Region in two years. Herbie’s other locations in the Capital Region include:196 Lark Street in Albany175 Jay Street in Schenectady1214 Troy Schenectady Road in Latham415 Fulton Street in TroyThe Herbie’s menu features di...

Dutchess County farm awarded 40K to train queer, BIPOC farmers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

MILLERTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Rock Steady Farm in Millerton has been awarded $40,000 by Capital Impact Partners and National Cooperative Bank for its ninth annual Co-op Innovation Awards. The awards aim to increase cooperative development in low-income communities and/or communities of color.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Rock Steady Farm is a queer- and trans-owned vegetable farm rooted in social justice, food access, and farmer training. The $40,000 will be used to create a paid apprenticeship program for queer and trans farmers, and farmers of color."This award will help Rock Steady Farm create the conditions for queer, trans, and BIPOC farmers to thrive, despite the structural barriers that exist for queer and trans farmers of color in the food and farm industry,” said Rock Steady Farm co-owners D. Rooney, Maggie Cheney, Kyle Ellis, and Rica Bryan. Rensselaer County’s Soul Fire Farm wins prestigious award The program, na...

'Scare-Nectady' haunted patrol hitting the streets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- "Scare-nectady" will be hitting the streets of Schenectady Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The Halloween theme parade will include Schenectady Police Department cars and fire department trucks, who will be making seven stops throughout. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! At each stop, candy, bags printed with safety tips that can be used for trick-or-treating, and Halloween-themed coloring books will be given out with the first stop being at the City’s Bellevue neighborhood. The full schedule for the parade is as follows:Fairview Park, Bellevue (Fairview Avenue side)- 5:00-5:15 p.m.Hamilton School, Mont Pleasant, (7th Ave and Webster St.)- 5:30-5:45 p.m.Jerry Burrell Park, Hamilton Hill (Schenectady Street pavilion)- 6:00-6:15 p.m.Steinmetz Homes, (Corner of Henry St. and Emmons St.)- 6:30-6:45 p..mWoodlawn Elementary School (Wells Avenue side)- 7:00-7:15 p.m.Howe Elementary School (1065 Bake...

Build-A-Bear celebrates 25 years with 'Unstuffed' documentary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A company based out of St. Louis, Build-A-Bear, is celebrating its anniversary by releasing a documentary called “Unstuffed,” which debuted this October. The documentary explains the company's start, its development into a chain store, and the nation's fascination with creating their own bears.On that October Sunday in 1997, when Maxine Clark opened the first Build-A-Bear Workshop at the St. Louis Galleria Mall, guests lined up outside the door. Bear by bear, store by store, market by market, and country by country, Build-A-Bear Workshop has expanded to locations worldwide. Their toys made appearances on Oprah, South Park, and were part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, becoming a cherished family tradition. Local cops unmask international suspects’ clever crime tricks Originally, the business catered to children, offering them the chance to create their own special teddy bear through a step-by-step process, including the heart ceremony where customers could kiss the...