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Black leaders call on UT Austin ahead of Sugar Bowl to stop playing 'Eyes of Texas'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Ahead of the Jan 1. Sugar Bowl, where the Texas Longhorns will face off against the Washington Huskies, some Black leaders have once again called upon the University of Texas to stop playing “The Eyes of Texas,” which they say is racially offensive. The Texas NAACP and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus sent a press advisory Thursday saying, “This song should not be given a national audience.” MORE: Texas NAACP, students file federal civil rights complaint over UT-Austin’s ‘Eyes of Texas’ “On January 1, 2024, much of the nation will be focused on [UT] and the two games that will take place that day. There will be many in attendance from schools and affiliations who are not with the University of Texas, and many persons watching television who will be supporting other college teams,” the press advisory read.“[The University] should not play or utilize this racist song in any way at the game or as part of any official festivities regarding the College Football P...

Fridley woman dies after hit-and-run; she also had been shot, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

An 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead after a hit-and-run report Thursday afternoon in Fridley. Investigators determined that she also had been shot, according to the Anoka County sheriff’s office.A 17-year-old male is in custody in connection with the death.The sheriff’s office gave the following details:Shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday, police and emergency workers were called to the 4500 block of Third Street Northeast in Fridley on reports of a pedestrian who had been injured in a hit-and-run crash.Life-saving measures were performed on Jayden Lee Kline, of Fridley, who was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.“Law enforcement has determined that the victim had suffered a gunshot wound,” the sheriff’s office said.Officials have not stated the cause of the woman’s death and they said no further information would be made available Friday.Later Thursday, a 17-year-old male was taken into custody, although he had not been formally charge...

‘The Color Purple’ review: An exhilarating, larger-than-life journey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

Like its central character, Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple” has had a long journey. Published in 1982, this lyrical story of a poor Black woman’s eventual triumph over an abusive husband and a seemingly uncaring world became a movie directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985, and then a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2005. And here it is, transformed again: a new movie, based on the stage musical but featuring some new songs, directed by filmmaker/musician Blitz Bazawule.Let me just repeat a key word in that previous sentence: This is a capital-M Musical, complete with big songs and enormous dance numbers and larger-than-life emotions — and it’s often irresistibly exhilarating, as the best musicals can be. I haven’t seen the stage version of “The Color Purple,” but I can absolutely imagine what an impact it would have on an audience, how Miss Celie’s journey would sweep you up and carry you to a higher, more joyful place. That’s basically what happen...

Rosemount City Council unanimously approves Meta data center on UMore Park land

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

The Rosemount City Council approved the final site and building plan Thursday night for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to build its $700 million data center.Jimnist LLC, a subsidiary of Meta, received unanimous approval to move forward with its data center at UMore Park, which is expected to bring in 1,000 construction jobs and support at least 50 on-site jobs.The project, previously code named Project Bigfoot, met resistance from residents who expressed concerns about environmental impacts, a lack of transparency and Meta as the end-user of the data center.Councilmember Tami Klimpel said as a resident of the area, she also had concerns, but “every one of those is addressed in the proposal ahead of us today and then some,” she said Thursday.Having done her due diligence, including reaching out to towns like Altoona, Iowa, to learn about how a Meta data center impacted their community, Klimpel said she is proud to support the project.The sale of the 280-acre parcel at UMore Pa...

Tax evasion charges brought against Stillwater masonry business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

Sixteen charges have been filed against a Stillwater masonry business after its owner was accused of tax evasion and failing to pay wages to its employees, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced this week.A complaint was filed against Todd A. Konigson in connection with his operation of Stillwater Masonry Restoration, Inc.Authorities began to investigate Stillwater Masonry after receiving reports that the business was failing to pay wages in a timely manner and failed to “comply with other obligations owed to its employees” and also failed to “fulfill contractual obligations for small businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations in and around the Twin Cities.”During their investigation, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office uncovered six lawsuits against Konigson and Stillwater Masonry alleging that the business had failed to pay workers, subcontractors and vendors. At least three of the lawsuits resulted in a judgment against either Koni...

Appellate court reverses conviction in 2018 death of local state trooper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Aaron Munise, 37, of Johnstown. He was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for fatally rear-ending off-duty State Trooper Jeremy VanNostrand in November 2018. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The court ruled that prosecutors failed to prove that 37-year-old Aaron Munise had committed criminally negligent homicide. Prosecution and defense agreed that the crash was VanNostrand's fault--although he hit the brakes and slowed from 60 to 45 miles per hour, he couldn't prevent the crash. The decision hinged on the severity of the crime."A failure to brake, without more, does not constitute criminal negligence," the decision reads. "Defendant's unexplained failure to perceive the victim's vehicle, careless as it may have been and tragic as its results were, is insufficient to establish the necessary blameworthy conduct for defend...

24 adoptions finalized in Edwardsville just days before Christmas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - We all know there's no place like home for the holidays. With that sentiment in mind, Friday was a very special day for 24 children in foster care. Many children joined their forever families on Friday after their adoptions were finalized at the Madison County Courthouse. This was the sixth annual adoption day celebration in Madison County. City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source For many families, with adoptions finalized just three days before Christmas, it proved to be an emotional day. "It's a long time coming," said Jason Price. "These girls cam into our home as strangers, and they're staying as family. To me, family is what you make of it. It's not necessarily blood; it's love, and you make your family. We've been gracious with two wonderful girls who are super smart and talented. This completes what we wanted." Finalizations were followed by a celebration that included a balloon arch, balloon animals, a magician an...

Smooth start as Lambert Airport prepares for holiday rush

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, but things are running pretty smoothly at Lambert International Airport. For holiday travelers coming to and from St. Louis, it's quite a different experience compared to last year. From late December last year to early January, Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights and left more than 2 million fliers stranded. The airline also scrambled to address luggage issues at Lambert and other airports nationwide. City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source Officials expect more than 17,000 flyers to travel out of St. Louis' Southwest terminal on Friday. So far, things are moving along, and many tell FOX 2 it's been a good experience. "No trouble at all," said Matt Tovle, picking up his son and daughter. "Smooth sailing. They had a little bit of a delay in Jacksonville, but they made up time in the end.""It was great," said Nick Henderson, traveling home to St. Louis from Chicago....

Broncos coach Sean Payton on being in the playoff hunt: “It’s addictive”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

The stakes are high for the Broncos in their matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday, but head coach Sean Payton enjoys it. In fact, he craves these pressured situations.“It’s addictive,” he said. “As great as it feels when you win and all the things that go into it, it’s like the opposite when you don’t. It’s like misery — you can’t wait for the next weekend.”If the Broncos want to have any shot at the postseason, they have to win the final three games, starting with their home matchup on Christmas Eve. At 7-7, Denver has a 22% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times postseason simulator.With a win over the struggling Patriots, the Broncos’ odds increase to 35% but a loss drops their chances to 3% — meaning their season is basically over.Payton said each hour has mattered since the Broncos have been in the playoff hunt. He added it’s much different compared to when a team is not competing for the postseason.“When you a...

Broncos defense confident it can get back to dictating play after bad night vs. Lions: “We have to in order to win these next three games”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:21 GMT

Vance Joseph’s defense powered the Broncos’ surge back into contention.The offense and special teams had its moments with timely touchdown drives or field-tilting returns, but wins followed once Denver’s defense transformed from one of the NFL’s worst groups into one of its best.That run, of course, came to a screeching halt Saturday night in Detroit when the Lions ripped the Broncos for 42 points, 448 yards and 29 first downs.Joseph’s group won’t see another offense with that kind of firepower over its final three weeks. But it also knows another dud will likely end the Broncos’ playoff hopes, especially considering its backed by an offense that’s been league average.“This time of the year, we know we have to win so you just throw it away, move on and play the way we know we can play,” inside linebacker Alex Singleton told The Denver Post. “We have to in order to win these next three games.”Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph coaches on the sideline during the first h...