the State Department will provide Congress annually wit

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astrodome, an iconic stadium thats fallen into disrepair since it was shuttered four years ago, could see new life as a giant convention centre and exhibition space under a plan recommended by a county board on Wednesday. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. opted to go with its own plan for the worlds first domed, air-conditioned stadium instead of one of 19 private-sector plans submitted for its reuse. The board said the groups promoting the private plans didnt meet the projects criteria by a deadline earlier this month. Among the private plans was one that would have turned the Astrodome into a tourist area with retail and restaurant space and another that would have stripped the structure to its steel frame and turned the area into a park. "We have a chance to honour the domes legacy and do it in a functional manner that continues to preserve the memories and history of the building while inspiring the future," said Kevin Hoffman, the sports corporations deputy executive director. The project, dubbed "The New Dome Experience," would cost an estimated $194 million and take about 2 1/2 years to complete. The plan now goes to Harris County commissioners, who will discuss it at a June 25 meeting. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called the proposal the "perfect solution" for dealing with the Astrodome. "This really isnt about saving a historic building. This is about properly using a county asset. We have an asset that is unique in the world. It would be a shame not to then use that asset ...," Emmett said. Officials say tax breaks and other incentives might lower the projects cost, but that it will likely require voters to approve public funding for it. The proposal calls for creating 350,000 square feet of exhibition space by removing all the interior seats and raising the floor to street level. Other changes include creating 400,000 square feet of plaza and green space on the outside of the structure. Mark Miller, general manager of Reliant Park, the overall area that includes the dome and the Houston Texans football stadium next door, said the changes are designed to make the Astrodome "the front door" for major events at the park, which also hosts Houstons annual Livestock Show and Rodeo. The proposal envisions events associated with the rodeo or the Super Bowl in 2017 at Reliant Stadium being held inside the renovated Astrodome. "The dome becomes your gathering place. It creates a great event space," he said. The countys commissioners have been considering the fate of the Astrodome since it was deemed unfit for occupancy and closed for good in 2009. Last year, a consulting firm recommended a $270 million plan to turn it into a multipurpose facility. The building, one of Houstons signature structures, costs taxpayers about $3 million per year for basic maintenance. Officials say there is still consistent support to preserve the building for sentimental and historical reasons. Earlier Wednesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the Astrodome on its 2013 list of Americas 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Discussion of the Astrodomes future has also included talk of tearing it down and building a parking lot that would be used by the Texans and the rodeo. "It is a major piece of history. It is a major legacy. It defined us as a can do city, a city of yes," Houston developer Arpad Lamell told the county board, asking it to not recommend its demolition. Willie Loston, the sports corporations executive director, said the group did not consider tearing down the Astrodome, adding the 2,500 parking spaces demolition of the structure would create are not needed. Opened in 1965, the Astrodome was dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World." It was spacious enough to fit an 18-story building under its 208-foot high roof. The 400,000-square foot dome was once home to MLBs Houston Astros and the NFLs Houston Oilers and also hosted Muhammad Ali boxing matches and the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King in 1973. It also hosted the citys rodeo until 2003. Its most prominent use in recent years was as a shelter for Louisiana residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. David Robertson Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. 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Dellin Betances Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. WASHINGTON -- Olympic athletes who bring home the gold, silver and bronze for Team USA will no longer pay a victory tax for their achievement under a bill President Barack Obama signed into law Friday.The IRS will now be prohibited from taxing most medals or other prizes awarded to U.S. Olympians.The bill was among more than a dozen pieces of legislation signed by Obama, including measures to help sexual assault victims and parents with babies in need of a diaper change. Another new law targets the growing worldwide problem of illegal wildlife poaching and trafficking.The U.S. Olympic Committee awards cash prizes to medalists, ranging from $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. The cash prize comes on top of the value of the medals themselves: $600 for gold and $300 for silver; bronze medals arent worth much.The money had been considered earned income, making it subject to tax. Lawmakers who objected to the tax passed legislation to eliminate it, citing the levy as an unfair burden on U.S. athletes who spend years sacrificing and training in their sport, often at great financial expense.But not all Team USA medalists will be exempt. The tax will still apply to high-profile athletes who earn at least $1 million a year, like swimmer Michael Phelps.Other measures signed into law Friday will:-Establish a federal bill of rights for sexual assault survivors to ensure that plaintiffs in federal criminal cases have the right to a sexual assault evidence collection kit, to be told of the results and to be notified in writing before the kit is destroyed. The law was spurred by the case of Amanda Nguyen, a former Harvard University student who was sexually assaulted in Massachusetts. Nguyen said she was repeatedly required to return to Massachusetts to prevent her rape kit from being destroyed and also had a hard time keeping up with developments in the legal case.-Make federal buildings more family friendly by requiring that baby-changing stations be installed, wiithin two years, in restrooms in federal buildings that are open to the public.dddddddddddd That would include courthouses, post offices, Social Security offices and some government-run museums like the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Archives.-Boost efforts to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking by supporting the work of a presidential task force. The law also directs U.S. agencies to work with countries affected by wildlife crime, such as Zimbabwe, where the 2015 killing of Cecil the lion by an American during an illegal hunt sparked a worldwide outcry. Prosecutors will get more tools to go after individuals involved in trophy hunting and other crimes while the State Department will provide Congress annually with a list of countries considered major sources, transit points or consumers of wildlife trafficking.For Phelps, the tax bill for the five gold and one silver he won in Rio could cost him as much as $55,000. Gymnast Simone Biles faces a possible $43,000 tax bill for landing four golds and a bronze.Most of these athletes will never sign an endorsement deal or a professional contract, which is why its so important that these athletes will no longer be forced to pay a big tax bill when they achieve their Olympic dreams representing the United States, said Rep. Robert Dold, R-Ill., sponsor of the bill, which cleared the House by a vote of 415-1.Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., cast the lone vote against what he called bad policy.The law applies retroactively to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. It will not affect taxes on an athletes endorsement or sponsorship income.Team USA brought home 121 medals from Rio Games, including 46 gold medals.---Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report.---The bill is H.R. 5946.---Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap ' ' '