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Missouri locals sidestep pro-gun lawmakers to put limits on firearms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — After years of failed attempts to convince Missouri's Republican-led Legislature to enact stricter gun laws, St. Louis locals are trying to sidestep lawmakers altogether.A former judge, state lawmaker and criminologist filed initiative petitions on Wednesday that would amend Missouri's Constitution to allow St. Louis and other local governments to adopt their own gun policies.“The use of guns for hunting in rural Missouri is very different than the use of guns in urban areas,” Rick Rosenfeld, a retired University of Missouri—St. Louis criminology professor, said in a statement.The effort comes after Republican lawmakers rebuffed requests this year from St. Louis' mayor and new police chief to make it harder for minors to carry firearms or to allow urban areas to adopt stricter gun policies compared to the rest of the state. ‘Sk8 Liborius’ church skate park burns down In February, the GOP-led House voted down a bipartisan proposal to put limits on whe...

Remains of Korean War solider to be buried in Mount Vernon, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. - The remains of one Korean War solider killed in the line of duty will be buried next month in Mount Vernon. Howard G. Malcolm, an Illinois native, was reported missing in action Dec. 1, 1950, at age 23, after his unit’s withdrawal in North Korea. Military officials layer learned he was a prison of war who died in 1951. ‘Sk8 Liborius’ church skate park burns down Malcolm was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on Oct. 25, 2022. His remains were identified using chest radiograph comparison as well as dental, anthropological and mitochondrial DNA analysis.Malcolm's is recorded on the American Battle Monuments Commission’s Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW ...

Stock market today: Stocks rise and bond yields jump after the latest signs of a resilient economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Most stocks ticked higher on Wall Street Thursday following the latest signs that the U.S. economy remains stronger than feared.The S&P 500 rose 19.58 points, or 0.4%, to 4,396.44 and is on track for its sixth winning week in the last seven. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 269.76, or 0.8%, to 34,122.42, while the Nasdaq composite edged down by 0.42, or less than 0.1%, to 13,591.33.Yields jumped in the bond market after data showed the U.S. economy grew at a 2% annual rate in the first three months of the year, much stronger than the 1.3% rate earlier estimated. Another report said fewer workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than expected, a sign that the job market remains remarkably solid despite much higher interest rates meant to slow the overall economy.“The US economy is currently displaying genuine signs of resilience,” said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “This is leading ...

$10 million, $15 million, $100 million: Judges set sky-high bails in wake of Colorado Supreme Court ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

An Arapahoe County judge set a $100 million cash-only bail for a murder defendant Thursday as judges across the state begin grappling with last week’s Colorado Supreme Court ruling that found defendants charged with first-degree murder are now entitled to bail.Before last week’s ruling, first-degree murder defendants could be held in jail without bail in Colorado because the crime was considered a capital offense. But because the state abolished the death penalty in 2020, the justices ruled that first-degree murder defendants charged since then have a right to bail.First-degree murder is no longer a capital offense, the justices found in the June 20 ruling, and defendants in those murder cases must be given the chance to pay bail and be free while their cases are pending.That’s led judges across metro Denver to issue sky-high bail amounts in the last 10 days. A man accused of killing an Arvada police officer had a $15 million cash-only bail set Thursday. The Aurora...

Los Angeles homelessness up 9% in the county, 10% in the city, count finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

A clearer picture of the status of homelessness in Los Angeles County came into focus Thursday with the release of the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, and after some brief hope offered by last year's results, the downward trend is continuing.The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority revealed "a 9% rise in homelessness on any given night in Los Angeles County to an estimated 75,518 people and a 10% rise in the City of Los Angeles to an estimated 46,260 people.""While this year’s increases are slightly lower than previous year-over-year increases in the homeless count, they continue a steady growth trend of people experiencing homelessness in the annual Point-in-Time Count," the release said. Robert Mason, a 56-year-old homeless man, warms up a piece of doughnut over a bonfire he set to keep himself warm on Skid Row in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)In 2019, the annual report detected double-digit increases in the homeless populations of th...

Authorities chase stolen van driver from L.A. to San Diego County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

A stolen vehicle suspect led authorities on a chase from Los Angeles to San Diego County before being taken into custody Thursday, officials said. The pursuit apparently began in the Los Angeles Police Department's jurisdiction, but by 9:40 a.m., the driver was speeding on the southbound 405 Freeway in Costa Mesa, aerial video from Sky5 showed. The van, which belongs to Fit For Life 1 in South Gate, was stolen from a repair shop in Los Angeles, the business told KTLA.The driver was soon in Irvine and continued speeding through the 5 Freeway with several California Highway Patrol units in tow. By 9:55 a.m., the driver was in the Mission Viejo area, but Sky5 lost signal in San Juan Capistrano, where the pursuit left KTLA's coverage area. The chase ended about a half-hour later in Carlsbad, according to the CHP. The unidentified driver exited the 5 Freeway at Cannon Road and eventually stopped at College Boulevard and Faraday Avenue. He was taken into custody without any further incid...

Travis Scott may face criminal charges in Astroworld crowd crush: Report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

Rapper Travis Scott may possibly face criminal charges for the deadly crowd crush at his Astroworld festival in November 2021.The incident killed 10 people and left thousands injured. Scott and several others are involved in the criminal probe of the tragedy, which went to a grand jury in Houston, according to Reuters. Houston mourns, investigates deaths at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Scott's lawyer Kent Schaffer told the outlet he expected the decision would be coming down on Thursday. “Nothing Travis did or failed to do fits within the Texas criminal code,” Schaffer said to the publication. It's unclear how long the grand jury had been meeting and what exactly the charges will be. On Nov. 5, 2021, a fatal crowd crush took place at the festival founded by Scott, who is from Houston. The crush was caused by the crowd pushing towards the stage once Scott's performance started. As the crowd pressed forward, it caused a crush near the stage as the event was over capacity. This occurred...

Brian Rose, Douglas Shippy Dead in Fiery Crash near Pebble Creek Parkway [Goodyear, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

Fiery Three-Vehicle Collision near Indian School Road Left 2 Dead and 3 InjuredGOODYEAR, AZ (June 1, 2023) – Sunday evening, Brian Rose and Douglas Shippy were killed in a fiery three-vehicle collision.The incident happened on May 28th, near the intersection of Pebble Creek Parkway and Indian School Road.According to reports, the collision involved three vehicles. As a result of the collision, one of the vehicles became engulfed in flames.Emergency crews arrived to the site of the collision shortly afterward. There, they pronounced 43-year-old Brian Rose and 58-year-old Douglas Shippy dead at the scene.Furthermore, three other people were injured in the collision but their conditions are not currently knownFollowing the crash, officials identified the driver of the third vehicle as Andrew Lugo. Police arrested Lugo on charges of manslaughter, endangerment, aggravated DUI with a passenger under 15, extreme DUI, and exhibition of speed. Officials booked him into Maricopa County ...

Dances With Films is Underway, and More Than Ever, it has Something to Say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

The Summer Film festival known as Dances With Films is once again underway showcasing unique independent cinema with something to say about society. Now in its 26th year, the fest features narrative, documentary, TV, midnight movies and kids films from around the world. Cultural relevance and diversity are big themes this year with an added focus on gender and racial issues. Hoping to showcase new talent and cinematic underdogs, DWF has long had a  “no stars” policy, but they’ve relaxed this in recent years due to the relationships they’ve built and the array of talent that has sought to be a part of it as it’s grown.Despite the writers’ strike and uncertainty in other parts of industry, festivals like DWF solider on, putting the spotlight on the side projects of up and comers working in entertainment and unknowns hoping to break in. As DWF continues today thru this weekend, here’s our picks for standouts on the schedule:Thursday, June 29:Christopher Beatty’s horror-tinged psy...

Deputy acquitted of failing to act during Florida school shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:14 GMT

By Terry Spencer | Associated PressFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida sheriff’s deputy was acquitted Thursday of felony child neglect and other charges for failing to act during the 2018 Parkland school massacre, concluding the first trial in U.S. history of a law enforcement officer for conduct during an on-campus shooting.Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson wept as the verdicts were read. The jury had deliberated for 19 hours over four days.After court adjourned, Peterson, his family and friends rushed into a group hug as they whooped, hollered and cried. One of his supporters chased after lead prosecutor Chris Killoran and said something. Killoran turned and snapped at him, “Way to be a good winner” and slapped him on the shoulder. Members of the prosecution team then nudged Killoran out of the courtroom.The campus deputy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Peterson had been charged with failing to confront shooter Nikolas Cruz during his six-minute a...