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Blaine Luetkemeyer, longtime Missouri Republican congressman, won’t seek reelection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

Missouri Republican U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer will not seek reelection, though his departure in what is considered a safe Republican district is unlikely to impact the balance of power after the 2024 election.Luetkemeyer, 71, announced his decision Thursday. He joins a growing list of House members who plan to retire or seek other office.“It has been an honor to serve the great people of the Third Congressional District and state of Missouri for these past several years,” Luetkemeyer said in a statement. “However, after a lot of thoughtful discussion with my family, I have decided to not file for re-election and retire at the end of my term in December.”Luetkemeyer, who was first elected in 2008, represents a large geographic area that stretches from the western suburbs of St. Louis to Jefferson City and Columbia in central Missouri. Luetkemeyer narrowly defeated Democrat Judy Baker in 2008, but in every subsequent election has won the general election by more than 30 percentage ...

Man charged after Dunkin' employee, 90-year-old robbed in Arlington Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — A man is facing charges after allegedly robbing a Dunkin' employee and a 90-year-old customer inside an Arlington Heights store.Officers responded to the store, located in the 2100 block of South Arlington Heights Road, just after 5:05 p.m. Tuesday.Antwoin Mason, 18, is facing multiple counts of aggravated robbery and one count of identify theft, according to police.Mason walked into the store and implied he had a firearm, police said. He was not able to take cash from the store and robbed a 90-year-old customer and an employee each of personal property, detectives allege.Mason was arrested just after 7:05 p.m. at Suburban Studios Motel, where he had a registered room, police said. ‘Stop coming here’: Suburban man pleads guilty after killing wife considering court order One of the pieces of property was a stolen credit card later recovered. No one was injured.Mason was not held following a detention hearing. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 26.

David Soul, the actor who portrayed the blond half of TV's 'Starsky and Hutch,' dies at 80

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Actor-singer David Soul, a 1970s heartthrob who co-starred as the blond half of the crime-fighting duo “Starsky & Hutch” and topped the music charts with the ballad “Don't Give Up on Us," has died at the age of 80.His wife, Helen Snell, said Friday that “David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family."“He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend," Snell said in a statement. “His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”Born David Solberg, Soul was a Chicago native whose acting career dated back to the 1960s, when he joined the avant-garde Firehouse Theater in Minnesota. He continued to appear on stage and screen well into the 20th century, but he was best known for his work in the 1970s. Soul portrayed detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson alongside dark-h...

Man, 53, found dead in street in Austin: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 53-year-old man was found dead in the street in Austin Friday morning, police said.According to police, the man was found unresponsive in the street near the 4900 block of West Van Buren Street between 6:20 a.m. to 6:40 a.m. 4 women injured after Jeep rollover crash in Little Italy Police said the man had sustained head trauma and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The situation is under investigation and there is no additional information provided.

Teacher shot by her 6-year-old student reflects 1 year later

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) -- "A lot has changed." It's been a year since the classroom shooting in which a 6-year-old shot his teacher, Abby Zwerner, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia. The incident that occurred on Jan. 6, 2023, shook the whole community. A 6-year-old boy, using his mother's handgun, pulled the gun out while inside his first-grade classroom and fired one shot at Zwerner, his teacher. The bullet went through her hand and into her chest. Zwerner said not only does she have physical scars from that day, but also emotional scars that will never go away. The mother of the child and owner of the firearm, Deja Taylor, was sentenced back in November in connection with the incident. Zwerner is now suing the school for not taking action that could've prevented the shooting. The former first-grade teacher said that since that day, it has felt as though her life has been put on hold. "I was moving forward in my career and looking forward to continuing my ...

Florida gets first-ever FDA approval to import drugs from Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Florida’s plan to import certain prescription drugs directly from Canada, the first time a state has ever been allowed to do so.The approval marks a major shift in U.S. drug policy, and comes despite fierce opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, which is likely to sue. The FDA has also raised safety concerns about importing drugs from outside the U.S. because it can’t guarantee their safety.Individuals are allowed to buy from Canadian pharmacies, but states have long sought to purchase cheaper drugs directly from Canadian wholesalers.Prescription drugs are cheaper in Canada, as in most other countries, because the government can directly negotiate the price with drug companies. The approval marks a political victory for both President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate. Both Biden and DeSantis have been prioritizing lowering drug ...

San Marcos returning to Stage 2 drought restrictions Jan. 7

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- The City of San Marcos will go back down to Stage 2 drought restrictions this weekend after an increase in water levels at nearby sources. The city went up to Stage 3 restrictions in July due to dropping aquifer levels. The change back to Stage 2 is in response to rising water source levels at the Edwards Aquifer and Canyon Lake, as well as increased water flows in the Comal and San Marcos rivers, according to the city. "We have received needed rain and improvement in the drought, which enables us to announce the move to Stage 2 drought restrictions,” says Director of SMTX Utilities Tyler J. Hjorth. “We still encourage our water customers to conserve where possible so that we can make the best use of our water resources.” RELATED | San Marcos to enter Stage 3 drought restrictions on July 2 as aquifer levels drop The city's Stage 2 drought restrictions are detailed below:Stage 2 drought rules limit the use of sprinklers to one day per week on the designa...

Cirque Italia performing at Barton Creek Square until Jan. 15

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cirque Italia has made its way to Austin, with shows scheduled now until Jan. 15 at Barton Creek Square, located at 2901 South Capital of Texas Highway.Organizers said Cirque Italia is a water circus, and this year’s performance follows Ringmaster “Clown Rafinha” on an epic pirate adventure to discover a buried treasure.At Cirque Italia, organizers said the audience would be taken on a journey through storms on the high seas, dreams of angelic aerialists, pirate fights and more.“You will see swashbucklers balancing upside down on a rum barrel, juggling knives, and even one having a run-in with a mermaid. Your jaws will be dropped, and you will be hanging on the edge of your seats with our suspenseful Crossbow act and our dangerous Wheel of Death performances,” organizers said.The circus said it continued to contribute to the modernization of the performing arts and the circus industry by abiding by a strict animal-free policy.Tickets for the show can be purchased onl...

Schmitt Music closes Woodbury, Apple Valley stores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

Schmitt Music in Woodbury permanently closed its doors on Wednesday.“We thank you for many wonderful years, and hope you will continue to visit our other Twin Cities locations,” company officials wrote in a post on the store’s Facebook page announcing the closure.The store, based in Woodbury Village, sold woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments and accessories.The company’s Apple Valley store also has closed.Repairs to instruments are being made at Schmitt Music’s Bloomington location, according to the post.Customers who have been taking private lessons will be contacted by a staff member or a lesson teacher, the post states. Anyone not contacted by Monday is asked to reach out to the Bloomington store.Schmitt Music also has locations in Anoka, Duluth, Rochester, Virginia, Eau Claire, Sioux Falls, Fargo, Omaha and Denver.According to the company’s website, Schmitt Music was founded by Paul Schmitt in 1896 in Minneapolis as a print music retail comp...

Loons pursuing Costa Rican central midfielder Alejandro Bran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:48 GMT

A flurry of big MLS transfer news has come in this week, with Minnesota United conspicuously absent from comings and goings.While it’s not a blockbuster, the Loons are silent no more.MNUFC has made an offer to bring in Costa Rican central midfielder Alejandro Bran, a source told the Pioneer Press on Friday.The Loons’ proposal is a loan with an option to buy the rights to Bran, a 22-year-old currently with Herediano in Costa Rica’s Primera Division.Bran has played 1,072 minutes for Herediano in league play in 2023-24, according to wyscout. He has also played for Costa Rica’s national teams, including for the senior side in the Concacaf Nations League.The Loons re-signed defensive midfielder Wil Trapp this offseason and bring back Hassani Dotson and Kervin Arriaga in central midfield. Coming off a knee injury, Robin Lod might return to that role as well.BrieflyMNUFC said Friday its away match against Charlotte FC has been moved from April 20 to April 21. It will now be nationall...