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Open-government advocates frustrated with MN Department of Human Services’ move to delete emails

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Human Services will delete emails more than a year old starting in August under a new policy unless workers decide the messages contain official government records.The change raises concern among advocates for government transparency and public records who worry it could dramatically limit the public’s understanding of the inner workings of the agency, especially when something goes wrong.It also underscores a growing trend — Minnesota government agencies, both state and local, often don’t treat emails themselves as official records unless workers decide they contain specific types of information.The Minnesota Department of Human Services is one of the state’s largest agencies that serves about 1 million people and has an annual budget of about $10 billion. It also has a history of compliance and oversight troubles.“Lawmakers talk a lot about transparency, but it doesn’t seem to be a priority,” said Don Gemberling, of t...

Prolonged power outages in north county after severe storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

SPANISH LAKE, Mo. - Severe storms ripped through the region on Friday, leading to downed power lines, fallen trees and damaged homes around north St. Louis County.Ameren crews have been busy since the storms, but thousands around Missouri remain without power as of Saturday evening. North county resident Robert Brown Jr. says he's lucky to have a backup generator after the storms, which packed heavy wind, rain and even some hail. Mayor’s driveway: Expired plates and dealer tags "I know it's God's will. I don't have control over it. I thank God for the improvements that I made and that I have the generator because I would have lost a lot of food," said Brown. A few blocks away at the Conoco gas station, owner Hanna Qumseya was without power into Saturday afternoon. Ameren reported more than 15,000 power outages in north county at its peak. "We just went and bought a generator to kind of try and speed things up until the actual power comes back on, but that's no success so far," sa...

Fairview Heights hit hard by storms, cleanup underway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. - The latest round of severe storms brought lightning, heavy rain and damaging winds around the St. Louis region. Some Metro East communities, like Fairview Heights, were hit hard by the storms. Resident Laura Obal tells FOX 2 that strong winds caused a tree to fall on a fence of her home. Messi jerseys not allowed in St. Louis CITY SC supporter section this weekend "The wind, I mean, it just was the fastest I've ever seen," said Obal. "And the trees were just bending over, and then about 8 minutes later, boom. Power went out." Obal and many others spent their Saturday cleaning up around their homes. She is still in shock from Friday's storms. "You could hardly even see it, the rain and the wind all wrapped up together. And then the trees - wow. I've never seen anything like that before, and I've been here a little over 20 years," said Obal. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now...

Sam's Club announces membership deal for teachers and educators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -Sam’s Club has announced a new membership deal for educators before the next school year.The retailer is offering a limited-time membership offer for teachers that gives them 60% off a standard Sam's Club membership. The teacher and educator membership is $20. The teacher membership offer starts Monday, July 17 and runs through Tuesday, Aug. 15. Mayor’s driveway: Expired plates and dealer tags You can redeem the offer online or in-person at Sam's Club stores. Those who qualify for the membership are state-licensed/certified PreK classroom teachers, PreK-12 principals and assistant principals, PreK-12 school employees and college and university professors. You also must be a new member to Sam's Club.The Vice President of of Membership at Sam’s Club, Scott Ludwig, said they hope that this new membership option helps teachers save money while getting their classrooms student ready.“We know that educators continue to dip into their own wallets to pay for classr...

Leah Pruett reflects on her time at Bandimere Speedway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

MORRISON — The mountains forged Leah Pruett into the racer she is today.It’s where she competed as a junior drag racer before winning multiple Top Fuel titles at Mile-High nationals. It’s where she experienced her first wheelie at the halfway point of the track.Whether Pruett was watching other professional racers, picturing herself in a nitro car, or speeding down the track, Bandimere Speedway has played a role in her career. That’s why she takes pride in competing at the final NHRA Mile-High Nationals at this track.“For me, Mile-High at Bandimere Speedway is the most prestigious race,” said Pruett, driver of the Dodge Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster. “It’s the most difficult (race) in the most extreme sport on every level.”A cloud of sadness came over Pruett when she learned that the Bandimere Speedway was closing down. She didn’t want to believe it, and even today, she tries to suppress those emotions.“I feel like there’s going to be a wave (of emotions) as this event c...

LIVE: Gavilan Fire breaks out in Riverside County, evacuations ordered

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

Crews are battling a large wildfire that erupted in Riverside County on Saturday afternoon, prompting evacuations.Named the “Gavilan Fire,” the blaze was first reported near Gavilan and Idaleona Roads in Gavilan Hills around 3:28 p.m.The fire has spread from 30 acres to 150 acres so far and is “burning in heavy fuels,” according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. The flames are continuing to grow with zero percent containment.Fire crews are working to extinguish the blaze near Lake Mathews and air tankers can be seen dropping flame retardant on the brush-heavy area.At around 5 p.m., an evacuation warning was issued for all areas south of Country Pine, east of Gold Valley and north of Ida Leona.At around 5:20 p.m., an evacuation order was issued for the following areas:-East of Gavilan Road-North of Santa Rosa Mine Road-West of Crescent Canyon Drive / Homestead Road-South of Gustin RoadThe fire appears to be burning close to a group of homes, although no injuries have been...

Phillies’ Harper ends career-high homerless drought at 166 plate appearances

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper ended the longest homerless streak of his major league career at 166 plate appearances when he hit a solo drive for the Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of a doubleheader against the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.Harper connected on a curveball from left-hander Ryan Weathers, tying the score 1-1 in the fourth inning. The ball was caught barehanded in the Philadelphia bullpen in center field by closer Craig Kimbrel. It was the fourth homer of the season for Harper, who made his season debut May 2 after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The home run was Harper’s first since May 25 at Atlanta against Dylan Dodd.Harper has been limited to batting this season. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said before Friday’s game that Harper could be back in the field for the first time since April 2022, playing first base instead of his customary outfield position, but then said afterward that Harper would not play first against San Diego.Harper, 30...

Former Prince George’s Co. correctional officer pleads guilty in drug-smuggling case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

A former correctional officer in Prince George’s County, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to charges related to smuggling and distributing drugs to a prisoner she was in a relationship with.Danielle Dominique Smith, 34, of Waldorf, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance in court on Friday. Smith was employed at the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections for 13 years, according to a news release from the Maryland Department of Justice.Smith developed a romantic and sexual relationship with an inmate at PGDOC beginning in June 2021, the release said. In exchange for money from inmates’ relatives and friends on the outside, Smith conspired with her inmate boyfriend to distribute Suboxone, one of the main medications used to treat opioid addiction, and the synthetic cannabinoid K2.Officials said Smith and the inmate discussed the distribution of the drugs on recorded calls, referring to the controlled sub...

Lin Grant shoots 62 in Dana Open, missing chance to become second LPGA Tour player to break 60

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) — Linn Grant missed a chance to become the second LPGA Tour player to break 60. Putting herself in position for a breakthrough victory in the Dana Open was a big consolation on a long, rainy Saturday at Highland Meadows.Nine under on her first 13 holes, Grant played the final five in even par for a 9-under 62. Fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam is the lone LPGA Tour player to shoot 59, accomplishing the feat in the 2001 Standard Register Ping at par-72 Moon Valley in Phoenix.Two strokes back entering the round, Grant had an 18-under 195 total to take a six-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz (68), Stephanie Kyriacou (65), Maria Fassi (67), Matilda Castren (67) and Emily Pedersen (67).Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, the 24-year-old Grant won the Jabra Ladies Open in May in France for her fifth Ladies European Tour title in two seasons.Grant opened with a par Saturday and birdied the next four. After a rain delay of 3 hours, 48 minutes,...

Detrás del asombroso éxito de MrBeast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:14 GMT

(CNN) — En el otoño de 2016, Jimmy Donaldson no parecía una futura celebridad multimillonaria.El tímido joven de 18 años había publicado videos en YouTube durante cinco años desde la casa de su madre en Carolina del Norte sin mucha atención.Su madre lo instó a ir a la universidad, pero abandonó la Universidad de Carolina del Este después de dos semanas. En lugar de ir a clase, pasaba la mayor parte de su tiempo en el campus editando videos en su auto.“Eso es todo de lo que hablé en la escuela. Pensé que era un fenómeno de la naturaleza”, dijo a los creadores de contenido y podcasters Colin y Samir en septiembre. “La gente me decía: ‘Todo lo que haces es hablar sobre videos de YouTube. Estás demasiado obsesionado con YouTube. Consigue una vida'”.Después de que dejó la escuela, su madre estaba tan decepcionada que lo echó de la casa, comentó.Pero su decisión valió la pena.Siete años después, Donaldson, más conocido en Internet como MrBeast, tiene 167 millones de suscriptor...