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Walz signs agriculture bill that funds rural internet, safety net for farmers on grain sales

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

FINLAYSON, Minn. — Topped by $100 million for rural internet and a safety net for farmers on grain sales, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday signed an agriculture and broadband spending bill into law.“Agriculture is central to our state’s identity, and this bipartisan law will empower Minnesota’s farmers, ranchers, and producers to succeed for years in the future,” Walz said in a signing ceremony at a farm near Finlayson, north of the Twin Cities.“From protecting producers with the state’s first grain indemnity fund to making a $100 million investment in expanding high-speed broadband and supporting Minnesota’s emerging farmers, this budget provides security for our farmers and producers and ensures we can continue growing and innovating in our nation-leading agriculture industry.”The bill includes $10 million to establish the state’s first grain indemnity fund, providing protections for farmers who might be owed money when grain buyers or elevators become financially insolvent.Oth...

Family and medical leave bill wins final approval in Minnesota Legislature

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

Minnesota will soon have a tax-funded, state-administered paid family and medical leave program for workers.The Minnesota Senate on Thursday approved the final version of a bill to create a state program that would offer 12 weeks of family leave and 12 weeks of medical leave with a 20-week annual cap. All businesses would be required to participate or offer equivalent benefits.Low-wage workers often do not have access to the same benefits as higher-paid members of the workforce. Advocates say one-third of Minnesota workers — about 900,000 people — don’t have any paid time off.“This program is built on a foundation that all people are worthy — that all of our life experiences and life trajectories are equally important,” said Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley. Quade spoke on behalf of bill sponsor Sen. Alice Mann, DFL-Edina, who had to vote remotely due to a medical issue.Senators voted 34-33 on party lines to approve the bill, which was a priority this session for Democratic-Fa...

Road rage fight sends 73-year-old man to hospital with life-threatening injuries

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - The Chesterfield Police Department is actively investigating a road rage incident that sent a 73-year-old man to the hospital with "unsurvivable" injuries.A 73-year-old man was involved in an altercation with another man shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Dierberg's Four Seasons parking lot in Chesterfield."I just noticed there were police cars by Dierbergs,” said Mehdi Rouhani. In-N-Out Burger poised for major expansion, including in Missouri Rouhani owns a restaurant in the Four Seasons strip mall near Olive Boulevard and Highway 141. He said he’s never heard of anything happening like Wednesday’s incident in the area before."You usually don’t see any problem at all,” he said.One witness said it was the older man who threw the first punch in the fight.According to Chesterfield police, the man was facing life-threatening injuries when he hit the back of his head and sustained a "significant loss of blood."The other driver is cooperating with the investigation.

Attacks on ATMs on the rise, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis police detectives are investigating a string of attacks on ATMs.The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received a call about a burglary around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at the Lindell Bank in the Hi-Pointe neighborhood. When officers arrived on the scene, they found an ATM destroyed.Police do not believe any cash was taken.It's the latest incident involving an ATM, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) spokesman Sergeant Charles Wall. In-N-Out Burger poised for major expansion, including in Missouri "Recently, we have seen an increase in these types of incidents," Wall said.Investigators said on May 3, a truck dragged an ATM from a building on Gravois near Giles, and the next night, two ATMs were damaged at the Soulard Market. Police confirm thieves managed to get away with money from one of the ATMs that night.Police said earlier this month, they were called to the same bank for someone trying to break into the ATM.If anyone knows anyt...

How to keep moles away from your yard this summer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Don’t think the only pests that you have to worry about during the summer months are insects. Rodents can destroy a yard or even take up residence inside your home if not detected early.Homeowners spend thousands of dollars annually maintaining their lawns, but mammals living underground can quickly trash it. Now is the time you’ll start to notice them.“A lot of moles. It’s breeding season. It starts late December and runs through mid-to-late spring; at that point, you’re seeing a lot of movement,” said Joshua Paske, Paske Pest Control and Wildlife. “So, they stay with mom up to 12 weeks while they nurse, then they scatter.”Paske says you must manage your property year-round.“You’ve got a population density that you want to manage, and they’ll come out of the wood line, they’ll move about your yard,” he said. “They’ll come under the street from your neighbor’s house. So, you’re just passing them back and forth.”When you see what’s known as a mole run, eradicate it before...

Artists, community helped Third Degree Glass Factory bounce back from flash flood

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The Third Degree Glass Factory is known for its beautiful creations and as a popular even space. But in July 2022 a surge of water changed everything in a matter of minutes.“It was a little before three o’clock, and it was raining pretty good, but not too bad,” said Doug Auer, co-founder of Third Degree Glass Factory. “And within about 20 minutes, where I’m standing right now was under two and half feet of water.”On July 28, 2022, heavy rainfall and flash flooding slammed the region for the second time in three days.“Out in the middle of Delmar, we didn’t measure it, but I would guess it was at least three feet deep, maybe more,” Auer said.Auer could only watch as the water broke through the windows and poured into his glass art studio.“Just like a tidal wave. Knocked over all these pedestals and the glass came crashing down,” he said. “Unfortunately, I saw that firsthand. It was a really sad moment.”In the true nature of flash flooding, the crew had to be helped out of ...

Contact 2 gets answers and action for north St. Louis County residents fearful of water shut off

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

BEL-RIDGE, Mo. - The water was working at Tiffany Shaw’s Bel-Ridge home when FOX 2 visited Thursday morning. After receiving a notice of non-payment warning from Missouri American Water, she’s not sure how much longer that’ll be the case.“The water company comes yesterday and told us that our water is due to get disconnected because there’s a past due bill," Shaw said. "There’s no account at this address.”She and her neighbor, Ivie, said they’ve repeatedly reached out to the property management company, Purpose Residential.“They keep forwarding our calls. They won’t answer our calls. They won’t return any calls," Shaw said.They said Purpose Residential began managing the property after it was sold earlier this year. Under the previous owners, they said they didn’t pay the water bill, and if that’s changed under the new owner, they haven’t been told. Whitestone and Co., a real estate investment firm, now owns the duplex. In-N-Out Burger poised for major expansion, including in Miss...

State Track Day 1 Highlights: Heritage Christian’s Jack Nauman, a CU commit, wins 2A 3,200-meter run with crunch-time kick; Kelleghan becomes three-time state champion

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

LAKEWOOD — Jack Nauman knew his school moving up one classification would prove to be just the push he needed.At Jeffco Stadium on Thursday night, the CU commit and Heritage Christian star was pressed hard by the field but ultimately pulled away with two laps to go in the Class 2A boys 3,200-meter race with a winning time of 9 minutes, 45.21 seconds.“This group of guys is so talented and I knew that if I left it too long, I’d have to out-kick some of these guys and I don’t have the wheels for that,” Nauman said. “I figured it’d be smart to try and take it when everybody’s legs were starting to fade.”Nauman won his third state title and first in 2A after winning the previous two in 1A. He was familiar with the field as he also won the 2A cross country title in the fall. He’ll have an opportunity to win the 800- and 1,600-meter races left, however, the 3,200 was his bread-and-butter.“It’s been so awesome for our t...

Alleged armed and dangerous motorcyclist taken into custody after pursuit in L.A. County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were in pursuit of a motorcyclist who was allegedly armed and dangerous and may have also been wanted for assault with a deadly weapon. The chase, which began near the West Hills area, transitioned onto Mullholland Drive where the suspect was clocked traveling at speeds of near 70 miles per hour on the windy roadway. While the suspect was seen stopping at some stoplights, he also blew threw stop signs while transitioning onto surface streets. The suspect stopped at another stoplight with police directly behind him, but then sped away yet again. As ground units kept a safe distance from the suspect at times, LAPD is also tracking the pursuit from the air. The suspect wound his way back to a home where he may have reportedly been barricaded before the pursuit. When he pulled into the driveway of the residence, he was quickly surrounded by police and taken into custody. Sky5 is overhead.

Felon allegedly kidnapped, tortured women in Moreno Valley home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:39 GMT

A terrifying ordeal has a Moreno Valley neighborhood on edge after two women escaped from allegedly being held hostage and tortured by a convicted felon.The incident took place inside 53-year-old Gilberto Puga’s home, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.Arrest documents showed Puga called authorities on May 14 to report two women who were burglarizing his home.Moments later, dispatch received another call from two women at his home screaming for help.When deputies arrived, the two women were seen walking away from Puga’s residence. Investigators discovered the women had been locked inside Puga’s home against their will and tortured, according to arrest documents.They had not burglarized Puga’s home as he initially claimed, authorities said. Puga left his home but was arrested the next day in Hemet.Gilberto Puga in a photo from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.“It didn’t really surprise me because allegedly this guy has a lot of other priors,” said neighbo...