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‘Death of democracy?’ Bill to make achieving major party status criticized

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

Legislation to increase the percentage of the statewide vote needed to be considered a major political party got a sharp rebuke from Minnesota’s former Independence Party Gov. Jesse Ventura on Tuesday.The actor and wrestler who was elected Minnesota governor in 1998 said a proposed bill to increase the threshold to 10 percent of the statewide vote to be considered a major political party would result in nothing less than the “death of democracy” in the state. Currently, at least one of a party’s statewide candidates must get 5 percent of the vote to be considered a major party.“I’m here today because this is very disturbing. I’m here in total opposition to this,” Venture told the Senate Elections Committee, noting that had the rules been in place when he ran for governor he wouldn’t have won. “The people of Minnesota won’t be able to shock the world again.”Ventura added that he wasn’t surprised the Democra...

Dakota County OKs Eagan affordable housing project for seniors, veterans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

An affordable housing project in Eagan that caters to seniors and veterans was approved to receive up to $9 million in American Rescue Plan funds Tuesday by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners.The 24-unit housing project, called Nicols Pointe, will be built near the Twin Cities Premium Outlets, said Tony Schertler, executive director for the Dakota County Community Development Agency, to offer residents a nearby workplace.The housing project’s units will be income-qualified and available to individuals 55 and older with a preference for veterans, said Schertler.The units will be open to households that earn no more than 60 percent of the Area Median Income, which currently would set the limit at $49,320. Rent is also regulated for the units so no renter will have to pay more than 30 percent of their income, Schertler said.Nicols Pointe will span over an acre and offer only single bedroom units, Schertler said. Rent prices in the apartment building, which will be owned and opera...

Gov. Hochul discusses NY's storm response with NEWS10

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke with NEWS10 ABC about how the state was handling the response to the nor'easter affecting much of the state. She spoke to NEWS10's Trishna Begam and John Gray about some of the biggest challenges the state was facing, concerns for potential flooding as temperatures rise later in the week, and her message to New Yorkers who are fighting the urge to head outside. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Heavy, wet snow began steadily falling in the Capital Region around midnight Tuesday. Winter Storm Warnings will remain in effect through Wednesday morning.The nor'easter brought snow fall throughout the day Tuesday with some spots seeing more than an inch per hour. Many communities in the Capital Region experienced power outages and are expected to receive more than 12" of snow. For the latest forecast updates, follow the NEWS10 radar and also stay up to date on any Closing...

Gardner yet to file response to AG lawsuit trying to oust her

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

ST. LOUIS – March 14 is the deadline for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner to respond to the Missouri Attorney General’s lawsuit trying to oust her from office.As of late Tuesday afternoon, the one document Gardner filed thus far just names who she wants as her lawyer. She’s hiring Harvard Law Professor Ronald Sullivan as her attorney.Sullivan once worked on her prosecution team when she prosecuted former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens.Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum, who worked on the Greitens defense team, called Sullivan a good lawyer. Top story: Deadline for Kim Gardner to respond to ousting effort today Sullivan has worked with some high-profile clients in the past. He worked for Harvey Weinstein in his sex assault cases. He left that legal team before Weinstein was convicted.He also represented former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, who was acquitted in a double murder case.Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has made numerous allegations against Gard...

Standoff near Highway 61 in Ste. Genevieve County is over, sheriff says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

STE. GENEVIEVE COUNTY, Mo. - A standoff at a mobile home park near Highway 61 in Ste. Genevieve County has ended, law enforcement tells FOX 2 News.Law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions were called to the mobile home park, located near Highways 61 and OO, around 2 p.m. for a reported hostage situation. A spokesperson for the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Office said the ordeal ended just after 6 p.m.The scene is located approximately one mile south of the Ste. Genevieve-Jefferson county line.This is a breaking news story. FOX 2 will have more information as it becomes available.

SAFE-T Act saga nears end: Illinois Supreme Court hears final arguments

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) - The legal battle over the SAFE-T Act is reaching its final chapters. The Illinois Supreme Court officially took the case under advisement Tuesday morning after hearing oral arguments from both sides. A group of state's attorneys are suing the state over the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act. The law was signed by the governor in 2021, and it was supposed to eliminate cash bail on January 1, 2023. FACT CHECK: What does the SAFE-T Act really do? The state's attorneys allege the only way the state can go about eliminating cash bail is through a constitutional amendment, since Article 9 of the 1970 Illinois Constitution states that "All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties." "The simple way for the legislature to accomplish all of these reforms. Take the question, put it on a ballot, propose it to the people let them vote on it," Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe said in the courtroom.The Attorney General's office argues it's wrong ...

Missouri man arrested in KC with 2,300 fentanyl pills now charged

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Missouri man arrested in Kansas City carrying 2,300 fentanyl pills faces drug charges.A grand jury indicted 42-year-old Walter Antwine Moore, of Columbia, Missouri, with charges of drug possession with the intent to distribute, gun possession, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.According to an affidavit, officers contacted Moore when he arrived at a Kansas City train station Feb. 10, 2023. MoDOT asks for volunteers to pick up trash The document shows Moore became confrontational with a police detective and tried to run away. Other officers helped the detective detain Moore.The officers found the 2,300 fentanyl pills on the floor close to where Moore was questioned, according to the affidavit.Court documents show Moore was also detained in St. Joseph on Jan. 7, 2023.The affidavit shows police responded to a convenience store after Moore allegedly tried to sell drugs and stole...

Broncos giving two-year deal to RB Samaje Perine, a veteran third-down back with playoff experience

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

Day 2 of the NFL’s negotiating period didn’t bring any further blockbusters for the Broncos, but it did deliver some backfield help.Denver on Tuesday agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Cincinnati running back Samaje Perine, a league source confirmed to The Post, adding a veteran back to the stable of players general manager George Paton and company have added in the first two days of de-facto free agency.The league year doesn’t begin officially until 2 p.m. Wednesday, but when it does the Broncos now have six new players expected to sign contracts – Perine, offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers, tight end Chris Manhertz, quarterback Jarrett Stidham and defensive lineman Zach Allen – in addition to agreeing to a three-year deal with returning linebacker Alex Singleton.Perine checks another box Denver figured to try to fill via free agency considering running back Javonte Williams is attempting to return from a serious knee injury sustained Week 4 against Las ...

Grand Junction man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of children

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

A Grand Junction man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, with a life term of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of children.Benjamin David Harbin, 33, exploited children in the production of child pornography, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado.Harbin used “Instagram accounts to communicate with minor females online, several of whom were between seven and nine years of age,” according to the release, and persuaded children to send him sexually explicit images of themselves.He was sentenced Monday, after a plea agreement, by U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello for enticing minors to engage in the production of child pornography. The FBI investigated the case.“The sexual exploitation of children is a despicable crime that causes immense harm to the victims and their families,” U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan said in the release. “We will not tolerate the predatory behavior of those who...

Biden visits Monterey Park, issues order to strengthen gun background checks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:04:18 GMT

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aiming at increasing background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring U.S. law enforcement agencies get more out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer. The Democratic president was to address his latest efforts to curb gun violence in a speech in this suburban Los Angeles community, where a gunman stormed a dance hall and shot 20 people, killing 11, following a Lunar New Year celebration in January. He was also meeting with families of victims and with first responders from that day. Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a vocal gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been emboldened by the midterm electiions when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive losses, and he's expected to continue to a...