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MN Veterans Affairs commissioner Herke to retire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

Larry Herke, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, is retiring due to an ALS diagnosis.Larry Herke, Department of Veterans AffairsHerke, who was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz in January of 2019, had previously served for more than 30 years as a member of the U.S. Army and Minnesota National Guard. He also served as state director of the Office of Enterprise Sustainability, helping agencies to develop sustainability planning.His last day as commissioner will be Sept. 22. Deputy Commissioner Brad Lindsay will work as a temporary commissioner until a permanent successor is appointed.Herke, who is from Mankato, said in a statement Tuesday he was saddened to leave the post.“I am saddened to announce my retirement from my position as Commissioner for Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs due to my ALS diagnosis,” he said. “It was an honor to serve veterans and their family members in my role as commissioner and I am grateful to Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor...

Extradition process underway for Niskayuna man 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A Niskayuna man was arraigned on Tuesday facing extradition to Virginia for a murder case that dates back to 1994. Virginia’s Fairfax County Police Department was advised that Stephan Smerk waived his right to an extradition hearing.The 30 year old cold case arrest was described as “justice finally being served” by Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis on Monday at a press conference. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! “Doggedness is a powerful trait our cold case detectives have that trait in spades. I thank them for their diligence and it’s because of their diligence, it’s because of their doggedness, that we are here today making this important announcement,” said Davis.Smerk is being held without bail while the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office awaits the arrival of his handlers from Virginia.  Investigator John Madden, with the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, says he’s been in commu...

DeWitt: Missouri teams 'all on the same page' in new sports betting push

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A coalition of Missouri’s six professional sports teams has backed a new effort to legalize sports betting in the Show Me State. The coalition filed four ballot initiative petitions that address "sports wagering" to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office late last week. The coalition consists of the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, CITY SC and three Kansas City teams. The petitions call for changes within the Missouri State Constitution to legalize sports betting by Dec. 31, 2025. The coalition wants a plan that would allow sports betting at sites run through their sports teams and Missouri's casinos. Report: Ladue students died in crash following aborted police chase Through an initiative petition, sports betting could potentially end up on Missouri ballots by November 2024. For that to happen, Ashcroft's office must approve an initiative summary, then supporters would need to gather roughly 180,000 signatures by next May to qualify for the ballot deadline.Bil...

Missouri governor appoints appeals court judge to the state Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

Kelly C. Broniec, chief judge of the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis, was named Tuesday to the Missouri Supreme Court.Republican Gov. Mike Parson announced the choice during a news conference in Jefferson City. Broniec will replace the retiring George W. Draper III, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2011. Parson appointed Broniec to the state appeals court in 2020.“Her experience and perspective ensures that she will be a balanced and fair judge,” Parson said. “And we are confident that her appointment will help reshape and strengthen the Missouri Supreme Court and our judicial system as a whole.”Broniec pledged that she "will not be attempting to make laws. I will interpret them and apply them to the facts in each case in determining if there were prejudicial legal errors made in the cases that come before us." Challengers seek rewrite of Missouri abortion-rights ballot measures, calling them misleading Parson will have another oppor...

Crews battle raging structure fire in downtown L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

Firefighters in downtown Los Angeles are battling a massive fire at a three-story commercial building.Crews responded to the 300 block of East 4th Street just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon for a "heavy fire involving dense storage" on the third floor of a 5,000-square-foot building," LAFD said.A fire burns in a multi-story building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (KTLA)Over 100 firefighters were on the scene of -what is now dubbed- the "4th Street Fire."The three-story commercial building is comprised of masonry construction, LAFD said. The first floor is commercial space and the second and third floors were originally offices.No injuries had been reported as of 2:20 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation. This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.

These are the 'happiest' states nationwide: Here is where California ranks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

California ranked in the top 10 “happiest” states in the U.S., according to a new report from WalletHub.The personal finance website compared the 50 states across 30 factors used to evaluate one’s happiness, which incuded, depression rate, the share of adults feeling productive, income growth and unemployment rate. This is how much money you need to be ‘happy’ in California, study says The 30 metrics were compiled into three different categories, which included:Emotional and Physical Well-beingWork EnvironmentCommunity and EnvironmentThe metrics were graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the “happiest” state in the country.The Golden State ranked 7th on the list and had an overall score of 60.53.These are the top ten “happiest” states in the U.S.UtahHawaiiMarylandMinnesotaNew JerseyConnecticutCaliforniaFloridaIdahoNebraskaThe full study can be viewed here. Researchers found that the least “happiest” state nationwide was West Virginia, which was at the bottom of the li...

Man Killed, Driver Arrested after DUI Crash on Interstate 805 [San Ysidro, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

Two-Vehicle Crash in San Ysidro Kills 58-Year-Old Tijuana ManSAN YSIDRO, CA (September 12, 2023) – Early Sunday morning, police arrested a 21-year-old Escondido man following a fatal DUI crash on Interstate 805.According to California Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 5:30 a.m. along I-805 northbound at SR-905.Police said the driver of a northbound Volkswagen coupe rear-ended a Honda SUV traveling in the same direction.Tragically, the first responders declared the Honda driver dead at the scene. The deceased victim was only identified as a 58-year-old man from Tijuana.At the same time, paramedics rushed the Escondido man driving to Volkswagen to a hospital for unspecified injuries. Upon release, police arrested the man for driving under the influence of alcohol.Currently, the identities of the people involved in the incident remain undisclosed to the public. Additionally, both directions of the roadway were temporarily shut down to allow for cleanup and preliminary...

CDC recommends updated Covid-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

(CNN) — Everyone ages 6 months and older should get an updated Covid-19 vaccine, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday, to help lower the risk of severe illness, hospitalization or death from the coronavirus.Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the agency, signed off on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP, a panel of experts that advises the CDC on its vaccine recommendations.The CDC said in a news release that the shots from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna will be available this week.“Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death,” the agency said. “Vaccination also reduces your chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and last for an extended duration. If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself this fall and win...

Sale closed in Danville: $1.7 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

130 Zephyr Place – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 100 block of Zephyr Place in Danville has new owners. The 2,387-square-foot property, built in 1973, was sold on Aug. 18, 2023, for $1,700,000, or $712 per square foot. This two-story home boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and three baths. The home’s exterior showcases roofing materials crafted from wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the house is equipped with an attached two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently.Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include:In April 2023, a 1,675-square-foot home on Daylight Place in Danville sold for $1,612,500, a price per square foot of $963. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 1,651-square-foot home on the 500 block of Navajo Place in Danville sold in August 2023, for $1,670,000, a price per square foot of $1,012. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Lehigh Valley C...

San Jose approves $3.3 million settlement for George Floyd protest injuries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:59 GMT

San Jose will pay more than $3 million to a group of people who sued the city and police department over injuries they suffered during the infamous 2020 George Floyd demonstrations downtown, with the bulk of the funds going to a man who lost an eye when police fired a projectile at him while trying to disperse a crowd.Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the payout after reviewing two settlement agreements that first surfaced in federal court records and city records at the end of last month. A few weeks earlier, a federal judge ruled that five of the eleven original plaintiffs could take their injury claims to trial, which led to a deal being reached.Under the terms of the agreements, the city admits no fault, and lead plaintiff Michael Acosta, who lost his left eye, will receive $2.9 million, while four other claimants will share $450,000.“I’m glad the lawsuit has been resolved, but no amount of money could ever return to me what has been taken,” Acosta...