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Skywatch: May Stargazing … It’s Intermission Time

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

Evening stargazing has lost its chill, but to be honest, it’s also lost some of its thrills. Many bright winter constellations are already below the horizon at nightfall, not to be seen again in the evening until next autumn. From May until about mid-June, the evening sky is in a bit of an intermission between the bright stars and constellations of winter and the great star patterns of summer. Don’t get me wrong, though. There are still many magnificent jewels in the May night sky, although they’re a little more subtle. You need to visually dig a little harder for some of them.If you enjoy warm, moonlit evenings, you’ll love May. The month opens with a waxing gibbous moon that blossoms into a full moon on the 5th. The May full moon is probably best known as the Flower Moon. As lovely as full moons are, they whitewash the sky, making it tough to see dimmer stars and celestial treasures.One of the victims of the extra moonlight this month is the annual Eta Aqua...

After six decades of arts education, founder of St. Paul-based ArtStart to retire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

Carol Sirrine remembers your name.Sirrine, the longtime K-12 fine-arts coordinator for Hopkins Public Schools, founded the St. Paul-based arts education organization ArtStart in 1988. Now, after an arts education career that stretches back to the 1960s, she plans to retire when ArtStart’s board names a new executive director.As she reflected on decades of helping young people learn to think creatively, her stories had a certain specificity, particularly regarding the names of people she’s encountered and learned from. During an hour-long conversation, she referenced more than two dozen — but they’re not name-drops; Sirrine is honoring a lifetime of being inspired by big ideas, by creativity.And it starts with her parents, Mayme and Orton Sirrine. Both were school teachers with a knack for last-minute road trips from their home in Billings, Mont., to nearby mountains and rivers and geological sites. They’d encourage their young daughter to express herself through music and art and to...

Why hemp farmers have concerns about Minnesota legalizing cannabis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

Minnesota is on the verge of legalizing adult-use cannabis, sparking a lucrative new recreational marketplace, but supporters are cautioning lawmakers not to inadvertently snuff out a widely popular hemp industry.Legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis and regulate its cultivation, processing and sale narrowly cleared the Minnesota House and Senate this week. But there are differences between the two bills as well as other revisions supporters hope to see addressed in a joint committee of lawmakers before the legislation is sent to Gov. Tim Walz, who is expected to sign it.“It’s been a long process, and I’m excited that we have taken this critical step,” said Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, after the bill cleared the House Tuesday. “We are going to get this done this year. We are right at the doorstep.”Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, said cannabis prohibition has failed and harmed too many lives with a disproportionate impact on peopl...

Cloudy and windy Sunday, unseasonably cool Monday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - We will see some sunshine early Sunday, but clouds will increase by late morning into the afternoon. It will be quite windy Sunday and much cooler than Saturday, with temperature highs around or just shy of 60 degrees. A few spot showers are possible east of the river. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Clouds gradually decrease overnight and winds ease a bit, but still breezy. Temps lows are expected to be in the lower half of the 40s. Monday will still be windy and unseasonably cool, but with more sunshine. Temps should be a few degrees higher than Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday get better as the day are set for sunshine, and the temps in mid 60s Tuesday and around 70 on Wednesday. Rain chances increase Thursday and Friday.

National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day today

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - If you're interested in a new family pet, Sunday is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. According to the ASPCA, more than 6 million animals enter shelters in the U.S. every year.Hundreds of animals in and around St Louis are in need of a home. There are lots of shelters across the bi-state including: the Humane Society of Missouri, Five Acres Animal Shelter in St. Charles, and the metro East Humane Society in Illinois. Trending -- Missouri morgue now a paranormal Airbnb destination All those shelters and many others are open Sunday. There are factors to consider while adopting a pet. Are you financially ready for this responsibility, and who will care for it? Studies show there are lots of benefits of taking in a dog or cat.

Teen suspect arrested after fatal Kiener Plaza shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Police arrest a 17-year-old suspect after a deadly shooting last week at Kiener Plaza.30-year-old Darrius Mullins was shot and killed Thursday afternoon. Family and friends told FOX 2 that he was a joyful person who had a passion for skateboarding and singing. Top story: Family of skateboarder shot execution-style pleads for gunman to come forward Police said the shooter approached Mullins, who was sitting on a bench. The two started arguing, and that's when the suspect shot him.According to investigators, the victim ran south through the plaza before collapsing on the sidewalk at the 7th and Market Streets. The suspect then fired several more shots at the victim before leaving the scene.

St. Louis City police officers recovering from Friday afternoon shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The three St. Louis City police officers injured during a mental health crisis call are home Sunday morning recovering.The shooting happened on Friday at an apartment in the Skinker-Debaliviere neighborhood. That's just north of Forest Park. Top story: Family of skateboarder shot execution-style pleads for gunman to come forward Police said the 71-year-old suspect had a gun in his pocket. One of the officers was shot in the shoulder. Two other officers were hurt trying to restrain the suspect.Investigators are recommending a psychiatric evaluation for the 71-year-old.

Marvin Mims Jr. gives Broncos big-play threat at wide receiver: “It doesn’t look like he is trying hard”

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

If you ask Lone Star High School football coach Jeff Rayburn, he would tell you wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. was destined for greatness.Rayburn noticed Mims’ potential when he was only a sophomore at the Frisco, Texas, school. Mims had blazing speed, attacked the football in the air, and was able to contort his body to make contested catches—traits that are uncoachable. Or, as Rayburn puts it, “a God-given ability.”That’s why Rayburn wasn’t surprised when he watched Mims star at Oklahoma — then get drafted by the Broncos in the second round on Friday night.“It’s rewarding to see (him) achieve his dreams,” Rayburn said. “He’s going to do big things.”Mims’ physical traits are the same ones that convinced Broncos head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton to trade for the No. 63 overall pick to acquire him.“I don’t want to say we felt the strength of the draft was in the second round,” Payton said. “We felt the strength of the receiver position — there was a group o...

DU’s Bill Tierney set to retire as sport’s most decorated coach, lacrosse icon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

As Bill Tierney heads into his final postseason as the University of Denver boss, he long ago cemented himself as the most accomplished college lacrosse coach of all time.But it’s the other labels that resonate the most amid Tierney’s impending retirement. He’s not just the owner of a record seven national titles, and the first and only coach to win crowns at two programs. “Coach T” is also an icon in the sport.Former University of Denver lacrosse player and super fan, Kyle Cascioli shows his support for legendary head coach Bill Tierney during a game against Villanova at the Peter Barton Stadium on coach Bill Tierney Day April 08, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)“There’s a sign at our games that says ‘Coach T For President’ and honestly, he should run for President,” said Matt Brown, DU’s associate head coach and Tierney’s successor. “This guy is the complete Commander-in-Chief. The way he pull...

Walters: Lawmakers eye changing rules governing ballot measures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

When Major League Baseball opened its 2023 season this month, players and managers had to contend with a raft of new rules, including time limits on pitchers and batters and limits on bunching infielders on one side of the diamond.Whether the new rules speed up the games, as intended, is still uncertain, but it is certain that they will affect outcomes to some unknown extent. Changing the rules of any game changes outcomes, and what’s true in sports is also true of politics.The most obvious example of how changing rules affects outcomes is redistricting – the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts after each decennial census. Republicans hold a majority in Congress largely because GOP-controlled state legislatures redrew congressional districts to give the party more opportunities to win seats. For decades, Democrats have done the same thing when they had the chance.This year’s session of the California Legislature includes three major efforts to change rules governing...