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Man pleads guilty to stealing 'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers from Minnesota museum in 2005

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man charged with the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty Friday, pulling back the curtain on a whodunit mystery dating back 18 years. Terry Jon Martin, 76, was indicted in May on one count of theft of a major artwork. The shoes from the film were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered in 2018 by the FBI. No one was arrested until Martin, who lives near Grand Rapids, was charged this year. Martin’s attorney, Dane DeKrey, said before the change-of-plea hearing in federal court in Duluth that his client, who is in poor health, has been cooperative with him, if not with authorities.“I think Terry is facing his own mortality, and I think when people are reaching that point in their life, they cut through the pleasantries and talk turkey,” DeKrey said in an interview.The one-page indictment gave no details of the path that led i...

Illinois to pay residents $54K a year for tech job training

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinoisians pursuing a career in computer technology can now get training and a job, through the state.It is part of the Department of Innovation and Information Technology's Trainee Program, which launched Thursday.City Colleges of Chicago and Lincon Land Community College in Springfield will host the training sites.Students can earn $54,000 a year to get training in cybersecurity, networking, coding and database management, end-user computing, and enterprise infrastructure.Once the training is complete, graduates will be steered toward jobs in state agencies and offices."As Governor, I'm determined to make sure every Illinoisan can access good jobs — the kind that pays the bills and also supports the dreams of their families," said Gov. JB Pritzker. "We are launching an IT trainee program to build a pipeline of tech talent to meet the growing demand for skilled tech professionals and diversify our state's tech workforce. From creation to consu...

Catalytic converter theft drops dramatically after new Hawaii law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) -- Catalytic converter theft has gone down dramatically in Hawaii, state officials say, after a law took effect this year that makes it harder to sell the precious metals the car parts contain.The owner of Yama's Auto Care is seeing what everybody in his line of work has also noticed: They're not getting a lot of customers in need of a new catalytic converter."I did maybe a couple this year. Before, I would do at least two or three a month," said Mark Yamauchi, owner of Yama's Auto Care. Focus on selling catalytic converters reduces theft Statistics from the Honolulu Police Department are eye-opening. As of 2023, there have been 119 reports of the theft. At this time the year before, there were 1,602. And 2,008 were reported in 2021. Experts point out thieves can steal your catalytic converter in just a few minutes, but the damage to your car could cost thousands of dollars.The crime was rampant not just in Hawaii, but all over the country. An estimated 153,000 cat...

DePaul women's basketball prepares historic outdoor game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

CHICAGO — It's a chance to be a part of women's college basketball history along with helping out a worthy charity. This is all thanks to DePaul women's basketball heading to the great outdoors on Sunday afternoon in Iowa City. Doug Bruno's Blue Demons will be facing national runner-up Iowa at Kinnick Stadium at 2 p.m. that day in the latest college basketball scrimmage that's going to be staged to benefit charity. The schools will take to the outdoor floor in front of an expected crowd of 50,000 people at the Hawkeyes' football stadium. This would set the NCAA record for the most fans to watch a women's basketball game, besting the attendance for the UConn-Oklahoma 2002 national title game in San Antonio's Alamodome.Funds from the contest will go to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which is located directly across from Kinnick Stadium. It's become a tradition for fans to wave to the patients during football games at the end of the first quarter. More on De...

Tesla’s share of US EV market has shrunk despite price cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

(Green Car Reports) -- Amid a growing U.S. EV market, both the average price of a Tesla and the automaker’s market share decreased substantially in the third quarter of 2023, new data from Kelley Blue Book shows.EV transaction prices were down overall in Q3. In September, the average price paid for an EV was $50,683, down from $52,212 in August and down from more than $65,000 one year ago.However, Tesla prices declined at a much steeper rate than other brands. In an effort to boost sales, Tesla cut prices to the point where they are now down 25% year over year. And it just announced more price cuts for the Model 3 and Model Y earlier this month.EV price change percentage by automaker for Q3 2023 (via Kelley Blue Book)The price cuts did seem to help, as Tesla’s Q3 sales increased 19.5% year over year, beating the industry average of 16.3% year over year growth. However, Tesla’s share of the EV market shrank to 50% in Q3, down from 62% in Q1 and the lowest ever recorded.Tesl...

Another new international route coming to Austin in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Air Canada is launching a new international route from Austin beginning in May 2024.Nonstop flights to Montreal will begin May 3. Flights will leave Austin at 11:30 a.m. and arrive in Montreal at 4:28 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.Returning flights leave Montreal at 6:15 p.m. and arrive at AUS at 9:32 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, according to the Air Canada website. Tickets are already on sale.KXAN has asked Air Canada if the new route will operate seasonally or year-round but has not yet heard back. Montreal has never been served direct from AUS before. AUS on pace for another record-breaking year. Here's a look at the passenger totals Air Canada previously launched nonstop service to Vancouver in June 2022. Since then, the airline regularly sees more than 10,000 passengers during the summer months and closer to 4,000 during the winter, when flights to Toronto still operate.Montreal is the second new international rout...

Arch Manning trading card leads to $100K donation for Ronald McDonald House Charities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The sale of a trading card featuring a sought-after University of Texas quarterback will benefit children and families in Central Texas hospitals, according to St. David’s HealthCare and St. David’s Foundation. They said Tuesday Arch Manning donated the money made from the sale of his first 1-of-1 Prizm Black autographed Panini America trading card to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas.According to the announcement, the proceeds totaled $102,500 for Manning's first donation of his college football career. As KXAN reported in July, the card auction for charity is part of Manning’s first NIL agreement while playing for Texas. He signed a multi-year deal with Panini America that include exclusive trading card rights and other marketing appearances and activations, but as far as receiving any of the money, he’s got to see time on the field first. Arch Manning's first trading card makes more than $100K for charity In the offseason, Texas Longhorns head coa...

$800 million Williamson County road bond on November ballot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- In November, Williamson County voters will decide if more than $800 million dollars of road improvements will get funding.There are 38 road projects on the bond program that will be on the ballot, adding up to $825 million in road improvements. Georgetown, Leander are the fastest-growing cities in the nation "There are projects across the county. And so they're in all four precincts. They are projects that will benefit residents all across the county. And there are projects that that the cities have partnered with us in many cases," Williamson County Communications Director Connie Odom said. Some stand-out locations include widening Ronald Regan Boulevard from RM 3405 to Sun City Boulevard. Another big project includes intersection improvements at FM 1431 and Highway 183."Some of them are smaller, like in Granger, we're going to be improving (FM) 971 if this passes, right in front of the high school," Odom said. KXAN: Your Local Election HQ His...

The magnetism of Justin Jefferson and how the Vikings move forward without him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

Justin Jefferson can’t remember the first time he faced triple coverage. It has become more prevalent in his football life over the past couple of seasons as he has established himself as the NFL’s best receiver. It’s almost as if the league as a whole simultaneously came to the same realization that double coverage isn’t enough.There was a perfect example of that earlier this season in a primetime game against the Philadelphia Eagles.On that particular play in the red zone, Jefferson lined up at the top of the formation, with fellow receiver K.J. Osborn on the opposite side of the field. As soon as Kirk Cousins took the snap, Jefferson attracted the attention of every single player in the secondary while running a crossing route, which left Osborn wide open in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.“There’s no more that I can do,” Jefferson said with a laugh a few weeks ago. “Just create the attention and draw everybody toward me.&#...

Topgolf eyeing Woodbury for second Twin Cities location, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:12 GMT

Another Topgolf may be coming to Minnesota soon.A source tells Axios, the digital news site, that the popular driving range and entertainment venue has its sights set on Woodbury. Topgolf opened its Brooklyn Center location in September 2018.Axios reported Friday morning that developer Ned Abdul plans to develop a nearly 14-acre parcel at the southeast corner of the Interstate 94 and Interstate 494 interchange. A development map identifies part of the land project as “golf entertainment” with a proposed use of “outdoor golf driving range.” A source told Axios that Topgolf will be the user.Topgolf officials on Friday morning declined to comment.Topgolf just opened its 81st U.S. location in Rhode Island; it has 10 locations in other countries.TopGolf in Brooklyn Center, which features golfing bays stacked three levels deep, has been wildly successful since it opened. From more than 100 climate-controlled tee-off rooms, golfers hit balls across a 215-yard driving range. Microchips in t...