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Talks to avoid school bus driver strike in Forest Lake continue Friday; union plans Monday meeting for members

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

School bus drivers in Forest Lake and Forest Lake Area School District officials will meet Friday morning to continue negotiations with the help of a mediator, as the possibility of a strike looms nearer.If an agreement isn’t reached, the district’s 76 school bus drivers and special education bus aides plan to strike on Tuesday.“We have all cleared our calendars for the weekend,” said Amy Perusse, negotiator and business agent for Teamsters Local 320, the union that represents the drivers and aides. “We can stay as late as we need to on Friday and we’re willing to work through the weekend, so we have something to take back to the membership on Monday.”Citing low wages and long work days, the union notified district officials on April 15 that they had filed an intent to strike with the state Bureau of Mediation Services. “The main sticking points continue to be wages, and the ability to recruit and retain drivers,” Perusse said.Union officials have called for a meeting at 4:30 ...

Supreme Court seems to favor woman who got $0 in condo sale

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed likely Wednesday to give a 94-year-old Minneapolis woman another day in court to try to recoup some money after the county kept the entire $40,000 when it sold her condominium over a small unpaid tax bill.The justices seemed in broad agreement with arguments by the lawyer for Geraldine Tyler that Hennepin County, Minnesota, violated the Constitution’s prohibition on the taking of private property without “just compensation.”“At bottom, she’s saying the county took her property and made a profit on her surplus equity. It belongs to her,” Justice Clarence Thomas said.Tyler, who now lives in an apartment building for older people, owed $2,300 in unpaid taxes, plus interest and penalties, when the county took title to the one-bedroom apartment in 2015. The county said she did nothing to hold onto her one-time residence. The apartment sold the next year.Justices Elena Ka...

Columbia County issues overdose spike alert

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In response to several overdoses being reported in the last 24 hours, Columbia County has issued an overdose spike alert. There have been no fatalities reported at this time. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Columbia County Department of Health says the overdoses could be indicative of a contaminated drug supply and is providing the following tips:If you use, use safely and always assume your supply is contaminated.If you or a loved one is in active addiction, take the following precautions:Use safely by using less than usual or seek help for your addictionTest your supply with Fentanyl Test Strips - available by texting TESTSTRIPS to 77948Call the Never Use Alone Hotline at (800) 997-2280 and someone will stay on the phone with you. Have access to Narcan - text NARCANKIT to 21000 to request itLet a friend or loved one know where you are at all timesIn an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. Caller...

Autism Action Day held at State Capitol

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, advocates and other state lawmakers, held the 11th annual Autism Action Day at the State Capitol, marking Autism Acceptance Month. “There’s still some stigma associated with autism and that’s what we’re trying to overcome," Santabarbara said. "We’re trying to make sure we create a more friendly environment, a more welcoming environment.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The lawmaker said he’s working to pass more inclusive legislation that will improve the lives of people who are on the autism spectrum, including opportunities for jobs, expanding options for independent housing, education and making those resources more widely accessible. “We’ve done a lot but there’s much more to do, this is an ongoing process," Santabarbara said. News10 ABC’s Christina Arangio emceed the event, stressing the importance of continued inclusion and expanding opportunities for people wi...

Dri: Sustainably-made umbrellas in the Berkshires

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A Berkshire County-based company makes rain umbrellas from recycled ocean-bound plastic. One hundred and seventy-five trillion pieces of plastic are currently in our oceans. Dri Umbrellas is working with partners to eliminate ocean-bound plastic and reuse it. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The eco-friendly umbrellas launched on Earth Day after three years of hard work. You get in on the ground floor by contributing to their Kickstarter campaign.

Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, oh my! St. Louis ranks 11th in buggiest cities in the U.S.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis has made the list of the buggiest cities in a study conducted by TruGreen. Data was collected from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. The study accounted for bugs: mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. St. Louis ranks in the Top 20 as number 11. Brian Feldman, Senior Director of Technical Operations at TruGreen, said, "This year, we have observed shifts in weather and temperature as they stray from traditional patterns, bringing a number of storms and other inclement weather, with predictions indicating a wet spring season ahead." He also goes on to say that this could potentially mean a buggier spring and summer for us all. Mosquitoes and ticks thrive in warm, damp environments, so pest control is essential. TruGreen ranks the top metropolitan areas most impacted by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Los Angeles, CAHouston, TX Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Atlanta, GA Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, FL Detroit, MI Cleveland-Akron, O...

Disney sues DeSantis, calling park takeover 'retaliation'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the Republican's takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor waged a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after the company opposed a law critics call “Don't Say Gay.”The suit, filed in Tallahassee, was filed minutes after a Disney World oversight board appointed by DeSantis voted to void a deal that placed theme park design and construction decisions in the company's hands. It's the latest conflict in an ongoing feud between DeSantis, a Republican expected to run for president, and Disney, a powerful political player and major tourism driver in Florida. The dispute with Disney has drawn significant criticism from the governor’s White House rivals and business leaders who view it as an extraordinary rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism.The fight began last year after Disney, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom ...

Woman charged in St. Louis County murder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A 26-year-old St. Louis County woman is in custody for a March homicide, near Interstate 70 and North Hanley Road.According to Sgt. Tracy Panus, a police spokeswoman, the shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. at a residence in the 8800 block of Dragonwyck Drive. Police found the victim, identified as Aaron Harris, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 27. Top Story: Mushroom hunter describes discovering body in the woods At some point, detectives with the department's Crimes Against Persons unit claim to have identified Asia Ladd as the shooter and took her into custody. Police did not specify when Ladd was arrested.Panus said Ladd allegedly used cleaning products to clear the crime scene of possible evidence, and removed the weapon.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Ladd with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence. Ladd is being held on a $...

Tips on attracting and feeding hummingbirds in Kansas, Missouri

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With it now spring, multiple types of birds are migrating back to the Midwest for the warmer weather. One of the more popular birds is the hummingbird. Of the 319 species, 15 are found in the United States and only the ruby-throated Hummingbird is common in Kansas and Missouri, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Missouri Department of Conservation. ‘Return of the Jedi’ returning to these Kansas City theaters for one week Ruby-throated hummingbirds are a mere 3 1/2 inches long and weigh only 4.5 grams. They can be seen in Kansas and Missouri from mid-April to October. Plants, especially Missouri native plants, should be an important part of your plan to attract hummingbirds, according to the MDC. Flowers supply hummingbirds with the nutrient-rich nectar that can provide up to 90% of their diet. Ruby-throated hummingbirds especially love red or orange tubular flowers, such as those found on trumpet creeper, native honeysuckles, and red buckeye. Ac...

Cahokia man sentenced on federal weapons charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:46 GMT

BENTON, Ill. - A U.S. District Court judge in Illinois sentenced a Cahokia man to nearly three years in prison on a federal weapons charge.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois said Tyrone James, 47, was arrested in July 2021 during an investigation into a shooting in East St. Louis.James was seen on surveillance video with a handgun. Local authorities ultimately determined James was not involved in the shooting. However, officers were given consent to search a motel room that James had been staying in and located a .22 caliber pistol. During an interview with police, James said he had a prior felony conviction and knew he was not allowed to have a gun.James pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a 33-month sentence, plus three additional years of supervised release.