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Death toll from blinding I-55 dust storm crashes rises to 8

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The death toll from numerous crashes on Interstate 55 that occurred amid a blinding dust storm has risen to eight, a coroner said Wednesday.Ruth Rau, 81, of Sorento, who was a passenger in a car that crashed in the May 1 dust storm, died of blunt force injuries Tuesday night at a Springfield hospital, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said.The crashes involved a total of 72 vehicles, with at least 37 people taken to hospitals. Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigns High winds had kicked up dangerous clouds of blinding dust off farm fields, police have said.The crashes closed I-55 in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis. Gov. J.B. Pritzker described the scene as horrific.Winds at the time were gusting between 35 mph (56 kph) and 45 mph (74 kph), the National Weather Service said.

It's spraying season! Efforts to control mosquitoes following recent wet weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - Recent rains and heavy downpours left standing water all over the St. Louis region. And that brings the return of mosquitoes."The warm weather is starting to come around and warm up for springtime," said Ryan Kelley, operations manager for Rottler Pest and Lawn Solutions. "The combination of that and standing water and sunshine that really makes the mosquitoes breed pretty quickly. You'll notice that when you're outside in the evening trying to enjoy your time outside."Kelley is treating a Chesterfield home on a warm Wednesday afternoon, looking for low spots, standing water, and places mosquitoes might hide, like around a clogged gutter or the undersides of a gutter. Goat senior prank ends Missouri athlete's competition "It is known that some things attract mosquitoes more than others, however if mosquitoes are in the area, they're going to find you no matter what," Kelley said. "Male mosquitoes do feed on plant nectar, but they don't bite humans. The females ...

Colorado property tax and TABOR measure hit with immediate legal challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

A conservative group has launched a legal challenge to a ballot measure aimed at blunting the sharpness of looming property tax spikes by increasing the cap on state revenue.Advance Colorado and Englewood City Council member Steven Ward filed the lawsuit Monday in Denver County District Court to challenge the measure. The measure was referred by lawmakers, through SB23-303, in the waning day of the recently concluded legislative session.The measure, in short, would cut $50,000 from the base valuation of a property and shave some of the percentage points used to establish the property taxes owed. To keep local governments from feeling the worst of the lost revenue, as well as set money aside for the state education fund and a rental assistance program, it would raise the cap on how much money the state can keep under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR. It will go before voters this November as Proposition HH.The lawsuit alleges the bill behind the measure violates the stat...

Rapids Notebook: MLS PA releases 2023 Rapids salaries; Colorado looks to get back on track against Atlanta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

On Tuesday, the Major League Soccer Players’ Association released its first round of player salary data and fans got a first look at the Colorado Rapids’ 2023 budget.The salary guide, which released information for every player in MLS, is an annual date many look forward to because it points to how rosters were built. In the case of Colorado, one common theme stood out: Spend wisely on young players.Colorado spent $13,106,961 on its budget, however, after a team official Tuesday clarified caveats* regarding three players, the budget is roughly $11,705,180, which would drop the team’s spending from 20th to 26th across the 29 clubs in MLS.Here are other takeaways from the PA data, which are based on guaranteed compensation, or a player’s base salary, signing and guaranteed bonuses which are annualized over the course of a season.• The Rapids acquired eight new players from the start of the offseason until the primary trade window closed last month. In total, th...

Woman, 55, considered endangered is missing from southern Colorado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

A 55-year-old woman is missing from southern Colorado and authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating her.Please share this alert. Edna Quintana has been missing since May 3 from Saguache County. If you see her, please call 911. pic.twitter.com/cjikh5Plv3— CBI (@CBI_Colorado) May 17, 2023Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Missing Boulder woman found safe in New York Crime and Public Safety | Man is missing for over a month and Denver police ask for public’s help in locating him Crime and Public Safety | CBI issues alert for missing 71-year-old man who was last seen Tuesday Crime and Public Safety | Missing Indigenous Person Alert issued for man last seen in Denver Crime and Public Safety | Fort Collins police looking for man with developmental disabilities who may be in Denver area Edna Quintana was last seen on May 3 in Saguache County, according to a Colorado Burea...

Father killed in Hawaiian Gardens, $30,000 reward offered for information

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

A $30,000 reward is being offered in the search for a gunman who killed a 40-year-old father in Hawaiian Gardens.The victim, Carlos Alvarez-Diaz, was driving with a 14-year-old relative when shots rang out, striking and killing Alvarez-Diaz.His family members are now pleading for answers and justice, hoping the $30,000 reward can help them track down the suspect responsible.On Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at around 1:09 a.m., Alvarez-Diaz was shot while driving northbound on Norwalk Boulevard at 226th Street.Police found Alvarez-Diaz with a fatal gunshot wound in the upper torso. The 14-year-old passenger was also shot but survived.“He leaves behind a wife, two girls, and a baby boy who’s never going to meet his dad,” said Adrian Alvarez, the victim’s brother. “He was loved by everybody.”Carlos Alvarez-Diaz in a photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Detectives haven’t announced whether they’ve retrieved surveillance video from the residential area where Alvarez-Diaz was ...

LAPD volunteer attacked by bees will have to cover own medical expenses, son says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

A Los Angeles Police Department volunteer is on the mend and recovering in the hospital after he was attacked by a swarm of bees in Encino Monday.The volunteer, identified only as Gary, was stung anywhere from 50-100 times as he tried to help with traffic control in a residential neighborhood that was actively being terrorized by a swarm of aggressive bees.Gary is an Air Force veteran who has been an LAPD volunteer for nearly 18 years, according to his son, Daniel. The terrifying attack happened around 5 p.m. on the 17100 block of West Adlon Road. Daniel watched the events unfold on live TV, witnessing his father be swarmed by the bees and ultimately falling to the ground face-first."It was gut-wrenching," Daniel said. "I couldn't even believe it. It looked so painful."He described the feelings of helplessness as he watched his father bleed from the face as he tried to put distance between himself and the swarm."It’s easy to criticize after the fact, but at the time, I'm sure e...

Two Hells Angels guilty of racketeering crimes, including murder and beatdown, third member found not guilty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Two well-known members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club were convicted of racketeering and other federal offenses Wednesday, while a third member has been acquitted of witness intimidation, authorities said.Raymond “Ray Ray” Foakes, the former president of the Hells Angels’ Sonoma chapter, was convicted of a racketeering conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, and witness intimidation, while Christopher “Rain Man” Ranieri was convicted of involvement in a murder conspiracy and racketeering. Brian Burke was found not guilty of intimidating a woman who alleged that Foakes had sexually assaulted her.The convictions mark the next major step in an ongoing prosecution of a dozen members and associations of the Sonoma Hells Angels, and the second trial to result in guilty verdicts. Both Ranieri and Foakes face decades in prison, but a sentencing date has not yet been set, according to court records.Check back for updates 

Federal judge calls out panel over 2011 Thomas concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

By Devan Cole | CNNLeaders of the policy-making body for the federal courts repeatedly failed to inform its full membership of complaints raised by lawmakers and watchdog groups about Justice Clarence Thomas’ pattern of nondisclosure on his financial reports more than 10 years ago, a sitting federal judge testified to a Senate panel on Wednesday.In 2011, the Judicial Conference received a number of complaints from lawmakers and watchdog groups about Thomas after media reports revealed that he failed to disclose income his wife earned between 1998 and 2003 from The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.The complaints asked the conference to refer the matter to the US attorney general to probe whether the justice’s behavior ran afoul of a federal ethics law. Thomas quickly amended his reports when the allegations were brought to his attention, leading the body to conclude that no further action was needed.But US District Judge Mark Wolf, an appointee of President Ronald Reaga...

2 robbed in broad daylight in front of their Oakland home: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:04 GMT

(KRON) -- Two people were robbed Wednesday afternoon in front of their home, the Oakland Police Department said in an email to KRON4. Police said three suspects robbed two victims just before 2 p.m. on the 2600 block of Fruitvale Avenue. The two victims were standing in front of their residence when they were approached by three unknown individuals -- two of whom were armed with firearms. According to OPD, the suspects pointed their guns at the victims and "forcefully" removed the items from them. Neither the suspects nor the victims were identified by OPD. No information was released about what items the suspects stole. The department will continue to investigate the robbery. OPD says anyone with information is asked to contact 510-238-3482.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: ...