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MN Legislature weighs increases in taxes and fees for transportation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

The Minnesota Legislature plans to cut income and property taxes this year, but the savings they produce will be offset, at least in part, by increases in taxes and fees to fund transportation services.Those increases include a 75-cent fee for packages delivered to your door, a three-quarters of one percent increase in sales taxes in the seven-county metro area to pay for bus and rail transit services, higher charges for drivers licenses and extended license tab fees.House Transportation Committee Chair Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, unveiled his version of the funding bill in a hearing Thursday morning.His bill and a similar measure under consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee would raise more than $1 billion for roads, bridges, buses, trains and related services over the next two years. That’s target that Gov. Tim Walz and leaders of the House and Senate DFL majorities agreed to last week.Hornstein acknowledged that it’s hard for people to understand why state pol...

Gun injuries in US surged during pandemic, CDC study shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

NEW YORK — For every American killed by gunfire, an estimated two or more more survive, often with terrible injuries — a fact that public health experts say is crucial to understanding the full impact of guns on society.A new government study highlights just how violent America’s recent past has been by showing a surge in gunfire injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the number of people fatally shooting each other — and themselves — also increased.The number of people injured by gunfire was nearly 40% higher in 2020 and 2021, compared with 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study published Thursday. In 2022, gun injuries tapered off, but were still 20% higher than before the pandemic.Gun injuries rose similarly for men and women over the past three years, while the largest proportional increase occurred among children younger than 15, a subset that remains a small fraction of the overall problem.Experts say the CDC gun injury study, which uses data...

Video: Fleeing driver strikes Woodbury police officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

A camera mounted on a squad car’s dash captured the scene early Thursday morning: A man fleeing police in a stolen Dodge Ram pickup struck a Woodbury police officer in the parking lot of the Extended Stay America hotel early Thursday morning.The female officer was injured, but did not require hospitalization, said Cmdr. Tom Ehrenberg of the Woodbury Public Safety Department.Officers found the man slumped in the driver’s seat of the 2017 truck, which had been left running, around 1:30 a.m., Ehrenberg said. The man appeared to be impaired by an unknown substance, he said.The man gave a false name to officers and then put the pickup into reverse. The video shows him backing up rapidly and striking the officer, who was standing next to the truck. He then put the truck in drive and accelerated rapidly, striking a squad car and nearly running over the police officer before fleeing the scene.Woodbury police spotted the pickup around 10 a.m. at Interstate 494 and 10th Street in Oakdal...

Big sports weekend means big business in St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Baseball is not the only game in town this weekend. Soccer and football fans will keep Downtown St. Louis busy and raucous all weekend. Businesses say all the sports teams have been great for their bottom lines.Baseball is not the only game in town this weekend. Soccer and football fans will keep Downtown St. Louis busy and raucous all weekend. Businesses say all the sports teams have been great for their bottom lines.Cardinals Opening Day is considered a holiday in St. Louis, with plenty of music, dancing, great food, giveaways, and fans decked out in fancy gear. And that’s all before the first pitch.“I have been coming to baseball games since 1967. It's a tradition for me,” said Carl Payton. “We hope we have a special season. It's always great when we get together in this town.” Trending: What to know for the 2023 St. Louis Cardinals home opener But baseball is not the only thing on the minds of St. Louis sports fans. St. Louisans are hyped about the undefeated seaso...

Sudden retirement: St. Charles County’s top prosecutor leaves after decade of service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – Tim Lohmar has retired; right in the middle of his current term. The top prosecutor in St. Charles County said Thursday would be his last day on the job. The sudden decision came via written statement, in which the county said it would not take questions.Lohmar addressed the fact he’s stepping down in the middle of his elected term by saying the often “grueling” job is taking a toll on his family, and his own health and well-being.Never shy from the camera, Lohmar has had high-profile prosecution successes, including a resolution to the decades-old Angie Housman cold case.He’s also faced controversies, including a 2019 Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation into a harassment complaint from Judge Erin Burlison. Lohmar apologized for his conduct and the case was dropped.Lohmar is currently fighting his driver’s license being suspended by the Missouri Department of Revenue following a June 2022 DUI arrest in the Lake of the Ozarks. He has not been charged...

Florissant man faces federal indictment for murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Florissant man was indicted Wednesday in federal court in connection with a fatal shooting at a local gas station earlier this year.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Bryant Pirtle, 20, shot and killed Devon Williams on the morning of Jan. 29, 2023, outside the BP gas station in the 1700 block of South Florissant Road. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW According to court documents, Pirtle was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.Prosecutors said Pirtle was one of two people who shot Willia...

Wildfire burning in Elbert County near Simla; evacuations underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

A wildfire is burning in Elbert County near Simla where a red flag warning for fire danger has been posted.Simla Colorado. South of aHwy 24. Wildland fire. 1 structure lost. Multi Mutual Aid requested. Air support ordered.#cofire#cowxRed Flag Warning— Live Events (@coeventslive) March 30, 2023The fire is described as a grass fire, and some residents in the area have been evacuated, said Lt. Karla Schmidt of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. El Paso County is assisting Elbert County with the fire.El Paso County officials were notified of the fire at 3:35 p.m. Thursday and staff was sent to Simla to assist the Elbert Fire Protection District.Live Events reports that the fire is burning south of U.S. 24 and that a structure has been burned.Simla, about 48 miles northeast of Colorado Springs, is under a red flag warning for fire danger, posted by the National Weather Service, until 8 p.m. Thursday. Winds in the area are gusting to 40 mph and relative humidity is in the si...

Rockies closer Daniel Bard placed on IL due to anxiety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

SAN DIEGO — The Colorado Rockies lost closer Daniel Bard before their opening day could even get started.The Rockies have placed their star closer on the 10-day injured list with what he’s calling anxiety due to on- and off-the-field issues.Right-hander Jake Bird was added to the roster in his spot.This story will be updated#Rockies have placed closer Daniel Bard on the 10-day IL with what he is calling anxiety …on and off the field. RHP Jake Bird was added to opening day roster.— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) March 30, 2023

Jail time, $1000 fines floated to address catalytic converter thefts in Los Angeles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

The city of Los Angeles is exploring new penalties for anyone found to be in possession of a catalytic converter that they are unable to provide proof of ownership for.A new city ordinance proposed by L.A. Councilmember John Lee at last week's city council meeting could lead to suspected catalytic converter thieves having to pay fines as much as $1000 and face as much as six months in jail.The new ordinance offers stiffer penalties and a new tool for law enforcement officers looking to combat the dramatic rise in catalytic converter thefts."My office works very closely with law enforcement here in the city of Los Angeles, and they've become increasingly frustrated with the large amount of catalytic converters that have been stolen from vehicles," Lee told KTLA. "This ordinance we introduced is to help our law enforcement officers better address this type of criminal activity that results in a profound financial implication for individuals and families that are affected." Traffic s...

Can anything be done about the hundreds of pursuit-related crashes in L.A. County each year? 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:54 GMT

Have you ever witnessed a police chase before? Odds are, you probably have. The LAPD engages in thousands of police chases per year, each one running the risk of jeopardizing the lives of the public and law enforcement alike. It's a double-edged sword, where officers have to balance the risk of putting themselves or others in harm's way with the reward of apprehending the suspect. According to the California Highway Patrol, in 2020, one out of four police pursuits in Los Angeles County ended in a crash. In 40% of those crashes, at least one person was injured. Most recently, four people, including two innocent bystanders, and a dog were injured in a pursuit-related crash in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night.However, injuries aren’t always the worst that can happen.   NHTSA: Car crashes cost Americans $340B, or $1,035 per person In January, two innocent people were killed in Panorama City after a stolen vehicle crashed into theirs while being chased b...