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Medical billing transparency legislation passed, heads to Gov.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

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. EXPLORE: Medical debt lawsuits State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round, explaining the itemized medical bill legislation on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.(Courtesy: Melva Gomez, Rep. Harris' Chief of Staff)State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round Rock, authored a companion bill in the House. On May 10, she explained to lawmakers on th...

How to stay safe from mosquitoes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Mosquitoes are prevalent in Central Texas year-round. But it seems to be this time of the year where we see more of them. The mosquitoes are not only a nuisance but some of them carry disease. An expert in Entomology, Wizzie Brown, shares some insight.Insuranks came out with a report detailing which states have the most mosquitoes and those who have the least. Louisiana was ranked first as the state with the most mosquitoes.Texas came in fifth for its mosquito population. She feels it's because the state has a lot of habitat where mosquitoes can breed. They can lay their eggs in or close to standing water, particularly in areas prone to flood.Her suggestion to the people who are new to Austin and to Texas, and to those who might need a refresher, is to remember that mosquitoes are active throughout the year. She stresses the need to get rid of standing water everywhere. Things like flowerpots and clogged rain gutters often have standing rain water after it rains.Her...

Defending national champs Texas start season on the road; welcome new teams to Big 12

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With four new teams in the Big 12 Conference next season, the Texas volleyball schedule looks a little different than in years past.Houston, BYU, Central Florida and Cincinnati all join the conference next season, and while Texas will play everyone in the new-look Big 12 at least once next season, they'll tangle with six of the teams back-to-back to create the 18-game slate.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/newslettersThey'll play a 2-match series against Oklahoma (Sept. 22-23), BYU (Sept. 28-29), Kansas (Oct. 5-6), Houston (Oct. 13-14), Baylor (Oct. 26-27) and West Virginia (Nov. 2-3) with single matches against TCU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, UCF and Texas Tech. Game times and broadcast information will be released later, Texas Athletics said.With 14 matches at Gregory Gym, one of the toughest places in the country for opponents to play in, the Longhorns have two lon...

Daniel DePetris: The U.S. war on terror continues. We just don’t talk about it

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

At a time when the Biden administration has its hands full trying to reverse Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and manage a U.S.-China relationship stuck in the doldrums, America’s vast, lethal counterterrorism machine continues to be in high gear.The U.S. intelligence community, in close partnership with America’s special operators, are tracking and hunting down terrorists in several countries — Syria and Somalia, most especially — with such regularity that it barely makes a dent in the news cycle anymore.You can be forgiven for thinking the decades-long war on terrorism was declared officially over the moment the Biden administration withdrew U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021. President Joe Biden seemed to indicate just that a month later when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “I stand here today, for the first time in 20 years, with the United States not at war,” Biden said during his first speech to the w...

St. Paul district plans East African magnet school to compete with charters

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

In fall 2021, St. Paul Public Schools angered nearby families with East African roots by announcing plans to close Highwood Hills Elementary due to low enrollment.Two years later, Highwood Hills remains open, and the school district is preparing to open a new school in Frogtown specifically targeted to immigrants from Somali, Ethiopia and surrounding countries.The new pre-K-5 school, for now called East African Elementary Magnet School, was born out of conversations with people connected to Highwood Hills.“You have listened and have heard the voices of our East African families,” the school’s principal, Abdisalam Adam, told Superintendent Joe Gothard during a news conference Tuesday, promising the school will be “a shining star fostering unity within the diversity of East African heritages.”Superintendent Joe Gothard announces plans to open an East African magnet school in fall 2023 during a news conference May 16, 2023 outside the former Jackson Elementary school in St. Paul. (Josh...

Suspect pleads guilty in multi-state theft operation

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Monday, Pashton Rifiqie, 28, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree. The plea satisfies the indictment, which included three counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, Rifiqie stole over $3,000 worth of property from the Perfume Corner Kiosk and over $6,000 worth of property from the "Banyer by Piercing Pagoda" Kiosk at the Colonie Center Mall in June 2022. Rifiqie was also accused of having over $50,000 worth of stolen property on February 16, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20. Rifiqie will also have to pay full restitution and no-contact orders of protection will be issued on behalf of all victims.

Changes to nurse training requirements signed into law

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--New York State is projected to a face a shortage of almost 40,000 nurses by 2030."Right now to become a nurse in the state of New York, you have to have clinical placement— placement in a hospital setting," explained Governor Kathy Hochul. "That’s great. Sounds good. I’m sure it worked at one point. It can be tough right now for schools to find the ability to place people. A lot of logistics involved and it’s basically less convenient for people. So yes it’s a good way, but it’s not the only way."Another way— signing a law allowing students complete one third of their clinical training through simulation experiences."It allows students to provide healthcare on a simulated patient it offers more opportunities to be in even more intense situations and scenarios that might not even occur in a clinical environment," said Hochul. "Think about that, you have everything thrown at you, you may or may not if you’re dealing with real people. In that sense it’s really an...

Lake George CSD sees three paths for new nickname

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Lake George Central School District is joining in the statewide effort to move on from indigenous mascots and logos in New York schools. Last week, the school Board of Education met to talk about what's next for the former "Warriors." Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "We worked really closely with our Student Advisory Committee in our last meeting," said Lake George High School Principal Fran Cocozza, at the board's meeting on May 9. "We spent the majority of the time talking about what they want for proposed next steps. They felt passionately that this should be a student-forward process - that students should be at the forefront of this - and one of the first things we talked about was getting in front of the students of Lake George."Members of the Student Advisory Committee came before the board to talk about their work. The student group met twice in April, first to talk about Native American...

New Siena poll: Hochul's ratings down

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- A recent Siena poll evaluated how New Yorkers feel about Governor Kathy Hochul, the state budget and the United States Supreme Court. According to that poll, 48% of New Yorkers feel the state is heading in the wrong direction, 42% say we’re on track and 11% have no opinion. And when it comes to the Governor, her favorability ratings are plummeting."Right now, 40% of New Yorkers say they have a favorable view of Kathy Hochul, 45% plurality say they have an unfavorable view," explained Steven Greenberg, pollster with Siena College Research Institute. Greenberg said along with favorability, 50% of New Yorkers think Hochul is doing a good job, but those numbers have gone down in recent polls. "Which has got to be concerning to the Hochul's folks because in a year and a half, in a state where 50 percent of the voters are democrats, never once has Hochul had 50% of voters having a favorable view of her and right now she’s struggling to keep favorable number in the 4...

Football recruiting: 4-star athlete in 2024 class commits to CU Buffs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:25:51 GMT

One of the top football recruits in the country for the 2024 class has committed to Colorado.On Tuesday, Aaron Butler, a four-star athlete from Calabasas (Calif.) High School announced his verbal pledge to the Buffs.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | CU Buffs to open football season on FOX’s Big Noon Saturday College Sports | CU Buffs to open football season on FOX’s Big Noon Saturday College Sports | Chance for fresh start prompted Brendan Gant to leave Florida State for CU Buffs College Sports | Keeler: Ex-CU Buffs coach Mike Sanford on Coach Prime, transfers, recruiting: “Not every single kid on that team was a 1-11 person.” College Sports | Recapping spring transfer additions for CU Buffs football Considered an elite prospect at cornerback and receiver, Butler is likely to play on offense at CU. He is rated as the No. 95 overall prospect in the country for the 2024 class by the 247Spo...