Author: i2wtc

House Speaker Melissa Hortman said I overstated it a few weeks ago when I criticized the Legislature for failing to pass a bond bill this spring. A state needs a three-fifths vote to borrow money, but Democrats don’t have large majorities in the state legislature. “It’s very unusual to have such a large majority, right? So it’s the minority that decides whether the bill becomes law or not,” Hortman said last week. One of her Republican colleagues, Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, again placed the blame on Democrats. “We’ve been exploring mechanisms to do this, but the Democrats’ own actions…

You’ve already tried florals, neon colors, and gone back to the classic French manicure. Summer has barely begun, but you’re already in need of a new type of manicure to channel the season’s playful and breezy vibe. Well, we’ve found it. Fruit nails aren’t exactly a new aesthetic. Stars like Gigi Hadid and SZA have been sporting different versions since 2019, but fruit nails are back and juicier than ever. When you think of fruit nails, you might think of bright, bold designs, but they’re actually more versatile than you’d think. Nail artists have come up with a whole host…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 20 to 40 percent of global crop production is lost each year due to plant pests and microbial pathogen infections.According to the paper, the scientists found the first clues in tomatoes, which contain a class of proteins that work differently from those found in the immune systems of other plants.Most plants have two lines of immune defense, one on the cell’s surface and one inside the cell, and disease-fighting proteins called NLRs dominate these.These proteins, encoded by disease resistance genes, recognise specific invading pathogens and stimulate the immune system,…

In recent years, Italian soccer has found fertile soil across the Atlantic and AC Milan has been at the forefront of that progress. The club is not only winning on the field, but also in the hearts of Americans, having increased its fan base in the United States by 50% in the last season alone.This phenomenon is no coincidence. Under the strategic leadership of figures like Stefano Pioli and Paulo Fonseca, Milan has thrived not only in terms of sporting performance but also in terms of commercial visibility. The arrival of star players like Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah has…

highlight Pokémon’s 10th generation could benefit from revisiting the traditional evolution method to give players an easier experience. In recent generations, unusual evolution requirements have made evolution tedious for some players, leading to a desire for a return to simplicity. While unique evolution methods are creative, including too many evolution methods in Pokémon Gen 10 could diminish the enjoyment and accessibility for players. There is one trend that has been increasing recently. Pokemon A game that may need to take a break in the next generation. Pokemon Gen 10 is definitely a milestone for the series, so Nintendo will likely…

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. CNN  —  With Democrats divided over the Israel-Hamas war, uninspired by their presidential nominee in Joe Biden and planning a convention in Chicago, there have been multiple comparisons to 1968, when Democrat Hubert Humphrey lost the White House to Republican Richard Nixon. The Vietnam War divided Democrats that year. Humphrey was uninspiring to younger voters opposed to the war. There was violence outside their convention in Chicago. Democrats today should hope that a better comparison is to 1948, when…

Pakistan considers measures to protect Chinese workers as visiting official expresses concerns ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday held a meeting to review security measures for foreigners in Pakistan, especially Chinese labourers who have been the target of several militant attacks in recent times. The March 26 suicide bomb attack on a Chinese convoy in northwestern Pakistan, killing five Chinese nationals, has drawn attention to the safety of Chinese workers, many of whom are employed on road, infrastructure and development projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. China’s top cabinet minister,…

The McAllen housing market presents a mixed picture for potential buyers and sellers in 2024. Home prices continue to rise steadily, but the market is transitioning from a sellers’ frenzy to a more balanced state. Let’s take a closer look at the major trends that will shape the McAllen real estate market this year. McAllen, Texas Housing Market Trends 2024 Price Trend: Slow Increase According to data from a variety of sources, including Zillow and Redfin, McAllen home prices are growing slowly in 2024. Zillow reports that the average home price is $225,857, indicating a 5.9% increase over the previous…

Sabalenka (left) and Jabeur are among the favorites to win the women’s singles title at Wimbledon. [Getty Images]Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur have become the latest Wimbledon favourites to withdraw early from matches ahead of a Grand Slam tournament.Sabalenka, ranked third in the world, appeared to be suffering from a shoulder injury and withdrew from the Berlin Open quarterfinals during a 5-1 loss to Anna Kalinskaya.Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist, decided not to continue due to illness after losing the first set 7-6 (11-9) to Coco Gauff.Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 champion Elena Rybakina also withdrew from matches…

Last week, hundreds of people lined up around the block at East Side bar Whisler’s to try the cheapest drink currently available in Austin: a 75-cent martini. Every Friday this summer from 4 to 7 p.m., the craft cocktail bar is serving up straight, dirty, espresso, and cosmo martinis at prices you’d never get without making a deal with the devil. But Whistler says it was kindness, not the devil, that drove the deal. “This is an act of love,” says William Schweigert, the bar’s creative beverage director, “We’re extending a hand of reconciliation so that people who are still…