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With $150M shortfall looming, St. Paul schools and union contract proposals already have huge gap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

St. Paul Public Schools and the union representing its educators are negotiating a new contract as a pending $150 million budget shortfall looms in the upcoming school year.And while negotiations are still in early stages, one thing is certain — there’s already a huge gap between what the school district says it’s willing to spend and what the St. Paul Federation of Educators hopes to get out of the upcoming two-year contract, which will replace the last one that expired in June.Top objectives for the union — which represents around 4,000 teachers, educational assistants and community service professionals — include wage increases, adjustment to insurance, and more funding for student mental health support services.District spokeswoman Erica Wacker said school officials so far have tallied up about $106 million in additional spending in 23 of the 46 proposals put forth by the union during negotiations, and the school district has said it’s only willing to allocate $12.4 ...

Vikings officially list receiver Justin Jefferson as questionable on injury report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

The mystery surrounding star receiver Justin Jefferson will continue for a little bit longer. After being a limited participant in practice, Jefferson is officially being listed as questionable for the Vikings heading into Sunday night’s game against the Broncos in Denver.Though head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Jefferson has started to ramp it up as he recovers from his hamstring injury, it’s notable that he still hasn’t been a full participant in practice. It’s unclear if that would need to happen before the Vikings feel comfortable putting him back on the field.“He had another really good week,” O’Connell said. “We will get together and make sure we’re making the best decision for him when the time time is right, with, as Justin stated, his full input, as well.”Mattison participates in fullAfter clearing concussion protocol on Friday, running back Alexander Mattison was a full participant in practice. He is offic...

Minneapolis man receives 34-year prison sentence for fatal shooting on St. Paul’s West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

A Minneapolis man has been given a 34-year prison sentence for taking part in last year’s fatal shooting of Casanova Carter, who authorities say was playing a video game in front of a window of a West Side St. Paul home when a flurry of bullets fired from outside struck him in the chest, back, face and neck.Kendall Dvontae Pruitt of Minneapolis (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Kendall Dvontae Pruitt, 26, and three other men were charged in Carter’s Feb. 1, 2022, murder. Pruitt, who was on supervised release for a federal conviction at the time of the murder, was sentenced Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder.Carter was a member of the Latin Kings gang, according to police. The criminal complaints say Carter and Pruitt began “beefing” after Carter called him a “snitch” in a social media post. Carter also was being blamed by some for not stopping a murder that occurred in West St. P...

Docs: Accused Clayton killer pointed gun at cops in March, released on bond 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - An 18-year-old accused of murdering a Clayton man was out on bond and violating his GPS ankle monitor at the time shots were fired, according to police.Trenell Johnson, 18, is facing second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges. He'll remain in custody until a bond hearing that's been scheduled for December 1.Missouri court records reveal Johnson took St. Louis County officers on a high-speed pursuit in March before crashing into a Metro bus near Ferguson and St. Charles Rock Road.St. Louis County Police say during a foot pursuit, Johnson pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at detectives. Stolen, found, sold: Auto tow lot auction shock St. Louis County Prosecutors charged Johnson with tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapon, and leaving the scene of an accident.St. Louis County Judge Jeffrey Melder authorized a $30,000 bond, but Johnson only needed to come up with $3,000 to get out and would need t...

Winterfest kicks off Saturday in Downtown St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A holiday season tradition kicks off this weekend in Downtown St. Louis as Winterfest returns to Kiener Plaza. Organizers expect the celebrations will bring tens of thousands to St. Louis over the course of several weeks. Nearly 40,000 people attended Winterfest in 2022, a 40% increase from 2021. Starting this Saturday through New Year's Eve, people can enjoy ice skating, private igloo rentals, s'mores stations and more. “Over the past eight years we’ve seen wedding proposals, first skating experiences, first timers playing hockey, and countless family memories made,” says Ryan McClure with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.  Stolen, found, sold: Auto tow lot auction shock This year’s Winterfest will showcase small businesses like food trucks and vendors. “Not many companies really get to have the great fortune of having a national park in their front yard,” says Katie Fisher with the Bank of America. “We’re very lucky in that regard. It brings us together and connects ...

Missouri Botanical Garden's Garden Glow returns with twinkling lights and snowy delights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Another favorite holiday tradition is back, and this time with snow. Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden returns this Saturday. The walk through the garden is an immersive experience with more than two million lights. “Our first year in 2013, we had just 500,000 lights, which is still a lot of lights, but we have really grown. We've added new installations and many lights over the many years,” said Catherine Martin, a spokesperson for the Missouri Botanical Garden.  Stolen, found, sold: Auto tow lot auction shock The new feature this year is a snow machine to add to the wintry ambiance.“Every night you’ll exit Garden Glow through these red doors here, and we guarantee snow every night, Martin said. “It does add that touch of holiday magic to the experience.”Over the last decade, the glow has become an event families don’t want to miss.“It’s really neat that we have families that come back every year. And they’ve been coming since our first glow 11 years ago. A...

How local weather apps connect you with a real meteorologist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- It seems like everyone is trying to drop an app on us, from the grocery store to the department store to the gas station. Most are very helpful, but a weather app can help you plan for the unexpected when you’re not around a TV, and it could save your life."I mainly use it when I’m on the road. I travel to nine counties. Everywhere from Quincy to Jacksonville over to Hillsboro down to Greenville to Madison County. I like to keep an eye on the weather," said Michael Douglas, Illinois fire prevention inspector. "When severe weather happens and your signal drops, cable goes out, dish goes out, you have your cell phone 99% people do, you can count on the app running."Another great use of the app is at sporting events. Douglas says that he uses it to see when weather is coming and when to get kids off the field. Arrest made in deadly Clayton shooting “Our app connects to our local weather computers, and our meteorologists have a role in making the forecast that goes to our...

New dataset helps discern climate changes from local weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A first-of-its kind dataset is now available to the earth system science community. CONUS 404 is a high-resolution weather simulation that spans more than four decades over the continental United States.Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research partnered with the US Geological Survey to develop this new resource, allowing researchers to look at weather on local scales but over a climate timescale.The simulation took an entire year on a supercomputer. A scientist on the project, Andreas Prein, says there are hundreds of applications for this data. He’s personally interested in how extremes are changing over time."I looked at extreme rainfall and how it’s changing. I looked at the extreme winds and how they were changing. How does snowpack in the western US change over time?" said Prein.The 40-year dataset allows scientists to discern changes in climate versus daily weather. This makes it easier to understand how these changes could impact a region. The e...

Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy, LG Ben Powers cleared to play Sunday night vs. Vikings; S P.J. Locke out with ankle injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

P.J. Locke is set to miss Denver’s game Sunday night against Minnesota, but the Broncos otherwise will have everybody available.Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (hip) and left guard Ben Powers (foot) are among those who did not have a game designation Friday on the team’s final injury report, meaning they’re cleared to play against the Vikings.Jeudy ran routes during the open portion of Friday’s practice and was a full participant, while Powers was limited but jumped right back into offensive line repetitions next to starting center Lloyd Cushenberry.Locke did not practice for a second day in a row. He was relegated to working out on the side field. Kareem Jackson returns from suspension and will start next to Justin Simmons in the Broncos’ secondary and Delarrin Turner-Yell is likely to be the third option.Denver added left tackle Garett Bolles (ankle) and running back Samaje Perine (ankle) to the injury report as limited participants, but both are set to pla...

Convicted rapist to be released decades early from 170-year sentence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:38 GMT

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office is raising the alarm after the California Board of Parole Hearings agreed to release a convicted rapist after serving 29 years of his 170-year sentence.Cody Woodsen Klemp, 67, was convicted in 1994 of 40 felonies involving the repeated rape of his 14-year-old niece, who was placed in his care despite previous rape convictions, the D.A.'s Office says.The child eventually escaped Klemp's home in Moreno Valley and informed her therapist of her abuse, which led to a criminal investigation. Klemp, who was in custody on domestic violence charges at the time, was then charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 170 years in prison, but is eligible for parole due to his age and time served as part of the Elderly Parole Program.The program allows special consideration be given to an inmate's age, time served or diminished physical condition when determining if they are likely to commit additional violent crimes in the futu...