Comment on Texas Senate passes tax bill with homestead exemption increase, teacher pay raise

By FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex and purchasing and using illicit drugs all while the Florida Republican was a member of Congress. The 37-page report by the bipartisan panel includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz, now 42, took part in while representing Florida’s western panhandle.

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I am writing because I hope that someone at KLM will help me with a refund for a “flex” flight I purchased this summer. This email comes from a place of desperation, as I’ve had a terrible time trying to contact KLM and getting any information regarding my refund. Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter Last year, I booked three round-trip, “flex” refundable tickets from Washington, D.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JAKE OFFENHARTZ, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that statements coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea.

MIAMI — This certainly has been a unique Miami Heat experience for Josh Christopher. The veteran NBA guard has yet to play a single regular-season game for the Heat, but already has competed for two championships in the team’s colors. Having earned a two-way contract after leading the Heat’s entry to the Las Vegas NBA Summer League championship in July, Christopher found himself chasing a second championship in Heat colors on Sunday night at the G League Showcase in Orlando. Through it all, the former 2021 first-round pick of the Houston Rockets went into the week yet to appear in a game for the Heat, unlike the team’s other two-way players, guard Dru Smith and forward Keshad Johnson. So, instead, Christopher has played as the anchor of the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

By Margarette Burnette, NerdWallet If you kept money in a high-yield savings account this year, congratulations. Thanks to elevated interest rates, you probably enjoyed strong returns on those funds. And if you didn’t, don’t despair: Savings rates should remain solid through at least the beginning of 2025. As we head into the new year, here’s a recap of what happened with savings rates in 2024, what it means for your wallet and how to prepare for whatever changes may occur in 2025. A high-yield savings advantage The Federal Reserve’s federal funds rate remained relatively high this year, though there were some rate decreases in the second half of 2024.

By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The immigration officers sat in their vehicles before dawn near a two-story building. A New York subway line rumbled overhead, then an officer’s voice crackled over the radio. After watching for about two hours, he said, “I think that’s Tango,” using a term for target.