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Texas Senate passes bill pushing for medical billing transparency 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

This report is an update to KXAN's "Medical Debt Lawsuits" investigation. Our team will continue to follow the bills during Texas' legislative session.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Senate passed medical billing transparency legislation Thursday to require hospitals and other providers to send patients an itemized invoice before attempting to collect money from them.Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, authored the legislation — Senate Bill 490. The bill would require a plain language description of each health care service or supply so patients can better understand charges.  READ: Medical billing transparency legislation pushes forward The full Senate voted unanimously in favor of the legislation.Hughes testified last week at the State Capitol and laid out the bill to members of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. "It's pretty straightforward. Not a radical concept," Hughes testified. What's nextLast session,&nbs...

What you need to pass Texas vehicle safety inspection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With Texas being one of several states nationwide requiring annual vehicle safety inspections, those tests are required for vehicle registrations. Here's a look at all the steps the Texas Department of Public Safety mandates a vehicle needs to pass before owners can renew their registration and legally drive on Texas roadways, by vehicle type.Bus, except for school busesThe following vehicle parts are checked and must pass in order to renew a bus' vehicle registration:HornWindshield wipersMirrorSteering wheelSeat belts (driver only)Brakes system; parking (beginning with 1960 models)TiresWheel assemblyExhaust systemExhaust emission system (beginning with 1968 models)Beam indicator (beginning with 1948 models)Tail lamps (2)Stop lamps (3)License plate lamp (1)Rear red reflectors (2)Turn signal lampsClearance lampsSide marker lampsSide reflectorsHead lamps (2)Motor, serial or vehicle identification numberWindow tintMopedA moped's brake, head lamp, reflector and rear lam...

Hit-and-run driver pleads to lesser charge, avoids prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County court documents showed a man previously charged with an accident involving death related to an August 2021 incident pleaded guilty to a lesser charge April 5 for an accident involving damage to a vehicle.According to records, Moises Martinez was convicted by a court and sentenced to two years of community supervision, more commonly known as probation.Image of Moises Martinez (APD Photo) As a part of the sentence, Martinez must complete 100 hours of community service during the probationary period. Two more stipulations of the sentence included that Martinez must take a driving safety course, and he cannot refuse breath or blood tests when requested by any law enforcement officer. PAST COVERAGE: 19-year-old man arrested in connection to deadly Aug. 19 hit-and-run crash in North Austin Martinez’s charge was related to the fatal hit-and-run crash involving Jenny Gonzales-Zepeda on Aug. 19, 2021.According to past KXAN coverage, Martinez was arrested for f...

Timberwolves’ end-of-season comments suggest team ready to establish stability

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

Tim Connelly did his best Thursday to squash speculation that the Timberwolves’ basketball boss could be a candidate for the same position with the Wizards. Such a move would allow Connelly and his family an opportunity to move back “home” to be near family. It’s also the organization with which Connelly started his career.But Connelly is just entering Year 2 of his Timberwolves’ tenure, and his exit interview comments with the media suggested that’s where his focus lies.“I’m pretty committed to the Minnesota Timberwolves right now. I’m just worried about how we can get out of the first round. It’s been a long, long time since we got out of the first round (2004, to be exact — the only season the franchise ever achieved the feat),” Connelly said. “I think (Timberwolves coach Chris) Finch and I are pretty excited. Meeting with the guys, we’re really excited about kind of the foundation pieces we have here, and just keep building.”...

Student told to eat his own vomit with spoon as staff watched, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (WXIN) — Staffers at an elementary school in Brownsburg, Indiana told a 7-year-old student to eat his own vomit and failed to report the incident, investigators say. Now, they are facing criminal charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office filed criminal charges against five staff members in connection with the incident in which a special education student was mistreated during lunch. Brownsburg Community School Police learned about the incident on April 12, although it occurred during a lunch period in February, according to the investigation.The prosecutor’s office identified the staff members and charges as:Brown Elementary Life Skills teacher Sara Seymour, 27; neglect of a dependent as a Level 6 felony, and failure to report, a Class B misdemeanor.Brown Elementary Life Skills instructional aide Debra Kanipe, 63; neglect of a dependent as a Level 6 felony, and failur...

Man shot, killed in Downtown St. Louis near Kiener Plaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An investigation is underway after a man was fatally shot in Downtown St. Louis near Kiener Plaza. The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of Market Street. It is believed the victim was shot at this location. ‘Rudderless ship of chaos,’ judge says after Gardner’s court absence Police have not disclosed the age or identity of the victim. No suspect information is available at this time either. SKYFox, powered by Bommarito Automotive Group, flew over the scene and spotted a large police presence with a perimeter set up around one area of Kiener Plaza Park. Homicide detectives with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are handling the investigation. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

East St. Louis man sentenced in drug trafficking ring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A federal judge has sentenced an East St. Louis man who served as a local leader in a national drug ring. Jeffrey Taylor, 40, was sentenced to 16.5 years in prison Thursday. The Drug Enforcement Administration says Taylor was the leader of a drug trafficking ring from February 2017 to August 2018 in Madison and St. Clair counties, primarily operating in East St. Louis. ‘Rudderless ship of chaos,’ judge says after Gardner’s court absence According to court documents, Taylor ran operations in the drug organization, recruited members for illegal activities and provided direction. In the Metro East, the conspiracy involved at least 240 pounds of ice methamphetamine and 48 kilograms of cocaine.“The defendant was responsible for bringing significant quantities of illicit, destructive narcoticsacross state lines and into southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Thissentence demonstrates the severity of drug trafficking, and I applaud DEA’s effort...

Two Missouri crayfish listed as 'threatened' under the endangered species act

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS, Mo.— Two species of Missouri crayfish are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that the Big Creek and St. Francis River crayfish are suffering steep population declines because of competition with other species and pollution from former lead mines in the area.The Big Creek crayfish - Image from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceThe Big Creek Crayfish is olive and the St. Francis River crayfish is dark brown. They can only be found in southeast Missouri, in the Upper St. Francis River watershed. The woodland crayfish has displaced the native species along much of the Big Creek and St. Francis River. The streams may be taken over by invasive species if nothing is done over the next 50 years. ‘Rudderless ship of chaos,’ judge says after Gardner’s court absence The runoff from the old lead mines is also a contributing factor to the native species decline. The pollution can affect their metabolism, and respiration.The ...

Ravens have 5-year agreement with QB Lamar Jackson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

By NOAH TRISTER (AP Sports Writer)The Baltimore Ravens agreed in principle with Lamar Jackson on a five-year deal Thursday, securing their star quarterback for the foreseeable future and ending a contract negotiation saga that was dominating the team’s offseason.The Ravens announced the deal hours before the first round of the NFL draft, and it’s fair to say that in Baltimore at least, this news will overshadow whoever the team might take in the first round. Jackson was the NFL’s MVP in 2019, but after playing out his rookie contract, his future was in doubt. Baltimore put the franchise tag on Jackson last month, but the Ravens kept expressing confidence that they could reach a long-term agreement with him — even after Jackson made a trade request public.The Ravens did not disclose contract terms, but their tweet announcing the deal did include a video of Jackson talking.“For the last few months, there’s been a lot of he said, she said, a lot of n...

Bellflower mural could be taken down over municipal code violation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:25 GMT

A Bellflower mural depicting Los Angeles greats like Vin Scully, Danny Trejo and Oscar De La Hoya could be taken down because it violates the city’s municipal code.The owners of Speedy Auto Tint, located at 17149 Woodruff Ave., hired an artist to paint the mural, which took a month to complete. But now that it’s done, they might be forced to remove it.And while the owners have received positive feedback, it might not be enough to save it.“It’s the best thing to happen to Bellflower,” Steve Smith, who lives in the city, said. “We don’t want to take it down, they put so much work into it.”Artist Louie “Sloe” Palsino said L.A. natives will understand the unity the mural brings to the community.A mural on the side of a Bellflower business seen on April 27, 2023, could be taken down because it violates a municipal code. (KTLA)Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is featured in the Bellflower mural. April 27, 2023. (KTLA) Rapper Tupac and actor Danny Trejo are featured in the Bellflower mural. April 27...