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MN could see gas tax increase, 75-cent delivery fee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

With just a few days left of the 2023 Legislative session, Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers are considering raising Minnesota’s gasoline tax and creating a new fee on deliveries to help fund transportation.Many of the bills forming the upcoming state budget have passed or have been signed into law, but House and Senate lawmakers continue to negotiate on the transportation bill. As they try to find sources of ongoing revenue for transportation, the delivery and gas taxes have emerged as potential new moneymakers for the state.A proposed new gas tax would tie the state per-gallon tax on gasoline to the rate of inflation, raising it beyond the current charge of 28.5 cents a gallon in the future. The proposal has not been finalized and exact figures are not yet available.Road maintenanceAsked about the tax at a Thursday Capitol news conference, Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic emphasized the proposal’s role in paying for infrastructure upkeep.“First of all, I would call it a road m...

Saratoga Springs fire chief charged with misconduct, suspended without pay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Saratoga Springs fire chief has been charged with misconduct and suspended without pay, according to the city's public safety commissioner. Fire Chief Joseph Dolan was placed on paid administrative leave in January. The union representing the city's firefighters called for his removal in April. They alleged some of Dolan's actions put firefighters and the community at risk. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The union cited an agreement to supply emergency services to the town of Greenfield. The union also said he chose to operate a fire truck without meeting minimum staffing recommendations.Assistant Chief Aaron Dyer has been serving as interim chief, and the president of the union has said he supports him.

New top prosecutor leaves high-powered law firm for public service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Missouri Governor Mike Parson says he chose quality over politics in his pick for St. Louis Circuit Attorney.“Our focus was solely in figuring out who in their heart holds what is best for the city," he said.The governor and his pick, Gabe Gore, emphasized collaboration as the key.“Working together, I am confident that we can build a prosecutor’s office here that is one of the highest performing in the country," Gore said.Gore is a former federal prosecutor and is currently a partner at the law firm Dowd Bennet. He worked and raised his family in the city.“The same level of public safety that we enjoy, raising our family here, is what we seek for all St. Louisans," Gore said. Road rage fight sends 73-year-old man to hospital with life-threatening injuries “The step he took today, to leave a high-powered partnership at a law firm to come help the city that he loves, speaks volumes for his character," said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.Chief Robert Tracy of the St. Loui...

Vista Ridge’s Brandon Hills breaks state record in long jump after coming back from gunshot wound, last year’s bitter defeat: “I’m blessed to be here in this moment.”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

LAKEWOOD — With a scar on his chest and the feeling he had nothing to lose, Brandon Hills zoomed down the runway at Jeffco Stadium toward history.The Vista Ridge senior broke the state record in the long jump with a mark of 24 feet, 8 inches on Friday afternoon. It marked Hills’ full-circle journey to re-staking his claim as Colorado’s top long jumper after coming back from a gunshot wound to his chest and then getting upset in the event’s finals a year ago.Brandon Hills of Vista Ridge high school jumps up in celebration after a winning 24-foot, 8-inch leap in the Class 5A boys long jump during the second day of the 2023 CHSAA state track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium on Friday May 19, 2023. Hills set the Colo. Prep and State Meet record with the jump. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)“This is what I’ve worked for,” Hills said of the state record. “I knew I was capable of this but I never put the pen to paper. I would...

Valor Christian’s Dane Eike, Pomona’s Emma Stutzman claim first place in Class 5A 3,200-meter races

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

LAKEWOOD— Dane Eike needed a minute. The Valor Christian junior had fallen onto the wet grass in the center of the track at Jeffco Stadium, breathing heavily with his head aching and legs trembling.Eike had just used all the energy in his body to win the Class 5A boys 3,200-meter run at the CHSAA state track and field meet here Friday morning. After falling short of the title last year, Eike won with a time of 9 minutes 13.27 seconds, just enough to beat out Mountain Vista’s Benjamin Anderson (9:13. 48) and Tyler Downs (9:14.34), who finished second and third respectively.“I’ve been waiting for (this) win for so long,” Eike said. “When I dropped to the ground, I (said) ‘Thank God.’”Eike had to persevere through unpleasant conditions to claim gold. As rain trickled down he had to battle puddles of water scattered across the track. Earlier in the race, water splashed in Eike’s face after ninth-place finisher Christian Groendyk ran past him. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is craz...

California has some of the most expensive pizza in the nation, study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

Whether it’s a freshly baked pie, a slice, frozen or French bread, there is no denying the popularity of pizza in the United States.Americans consume about three billion pizzas each year – which works out to around nine pies per person.Aside from being versatile and delicious, one of the most appealing things about pizza is the price. You can typically feed a family of four with a 14-inch pie for under 20 bucks. That is, unless you live in California.Shocker, right?Betting.com looked at pizza prices across the nation and ranked seven California cities among the top 10 for the most-expensive pizza. California-based In-N-Out Burger poised for major expansion The website pulled data from GrubHub to find the average cost of a regular 14-inch cheese pizza with no toppings in 50 of the largest U.S. cities.It found Portland, Oregon, has the most expensive pizza at $21.67, before taxes (and again, with no toppings).San Jose, California was second at $21.59. San Francisco, Fresno, Los Ange...

New Report: 77% Decline in Youth Incarceration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

The Sentencing Project’s latest report found a 77% decrease in youth held in juvenile justice facilities around the United States. The report numbers are based on one-day counts of how many youths are in the facilities. At the turn of the century, the number climbed as high as almost 109,000. Over the past two decades, it has declined to just over 25,000 in a one-day count taken in late October 2020. The number includes those awaiting their court date in detention facilities, youth prisons, residential treatment centers, group homes, or other placement facilities as a court-ordered consequence. “The sharp declines in youth arrests and incarceration demonstrate the possibilities for similar success for the adult population, as well. However, the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the youth justice system highlight the need to address the sources of those disparities wherever they emerge,” The Sentencing Project noted when announcing the new report. One of the big takeaways w...

Sick New World: Vegas Embraces Innagural Alternative and Nu-Metal Festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

Photo by Devon RaleighLas Vegas witnessed a storm of music and energy as the inaugural alternative and nu-metal festival, Sick New World, took over the city this past weekend. With an impressive lineup featuring iconic bands like System of a Down, KoRn, Deftones, Turnstile, and Incubus, the festival delivered an unforgettable experience to fans who braved scorching temperatures that reached triple digits. The Las Vegas Fairgrounds became a haven for music enthusiasts from all corners of the globe, making Sick New World an event to remember.A Day Filled with Intense Performances:In the blistering desert heat, fans flocked to the fairgrounds and filled every available space. By 3 PM, as Chevelle took the stage, tens of thousands of fans had already arrived, eager to immerse themselves in the festival’s atmosphere. The fairgrounds remained packed throughout the entire 12-hour event, with bands delivering electrifying performances one after another.Legends of the Genre Lead the Wa...

Driver Killed in 3-Vehicle Collision on Mowry Avenue [Fremont, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

One Pronounced Dead after Three-Vehicle Accident near Paseo Padre ParkwayFREMONT, CA (May 19, 2023) – Early Monday afternoon, one driver was killed in a 3-vehicle collision on Mowry Avenue.Authorities responded to the scene around 1:16 p.m., near Paseo Padre Parkway on May 1st.At this time, the events leading up to the collision remain unclear. However, reports indicate that first responders transported one driver to a nearby hospital where they later succumbed to their injuries.Meanwhile, two other drivers involved in the crash stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Officers have not yet released the identities of those involved.An active investigation to determine further information is still currently underway. Once available, more details will be provided.Deepest condolences and sympathies are with the family and friends of the deceased victim. May you find comfort and strength during this difficult time.Losing a loved one in a car accident can have dev...

Italy floods just the latest all-or-nothing weather example

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:02 GMT

By Paolo Santalucia, Seth Borenstein and Nicole Winfield | Associated PressROME — The floods that sent rivers of mud tearing through towns in Italy’s northeast are another drenching dose of climate change’s all-or-nothing weather extremes, something that has been happening around the globe, scientists say.The coastal region of Emilia-Romagna was struck twice, first by heavy rain two weeks ago on drought-parched ground that could not absorb it, causing rivers to overflow overnight, followed by this week’s deluge that killed 14 and caused damages estimated in the billions of euros.In a changing climate, more rain is coming, but it’s falling on fewer days in less useful and more dangerous downpours.The hard-hit Emilia-Romagna region was particularly vulnerable. Its location between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea trapped the weather system this week that dumped half the average annual amount of rain in 36 hours.“These are events that developed ...