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Senator proposes plan that lifts nuclear moratorium and requires new oversight rules in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A Republican Illinois senator proposed fresh legislation Tuesday lifting a moratorium on new nuclear reactors and calls for new rules governing them, one of the concerns raised in a gubernatorial veto of a previous version of the legislation.Sen. Sue Rezin, of Morris, won overwhelming legislative support last spring to end the 1987 prohibition on new nuclear operations in favor of small modular reactors. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker sided with environmentalists and, citing concerns about outdated regulations and the long-running problem of waste disposal, vetoed it.Instead of seeking a vote to override the veto during this week's final three days of legislative session for the year, Rezin floated the new plan which would reduce the allowable size of small modular reactors and produce modernized rules to handle them.The reactors are designed not to produce electricity to be widespread across the power grid, but to provide electricity to a...

Gov. Abbott calls fourth special session

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott is calling the fourth special session of the year, which is slated to start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a press release Abbott's office.The fourth special session is set to begin immediately following the conclusion of the third special session on Tuesday, where only two out of the five proposed items were successfully passed in the legislature.The fourth special session agenda items include education and border security, the release said. TxLege data: How long do sessions last and how many bills are typically passed? State Rep. Brad Buckley, the Fort Worth Republican who chairs the powerful Public Education Committee in the House, shared a draft overview of a bill he intends to file in the next special session. He says the bill “has been shaped by extensive discussion between House Members, the Governor’s Office, and key education stakeholders over the past several months.”“In the likely event that Governor Abbott calls us back into se...

Fugitive task force arrests Austin murder suspect from June incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested Monday by the U.S. Marshals in connection with a June homicide investigation in Austin.According to officials, 46-year-old Brandon Demont Miller was charged with murder following a fatal shooting in the 8800 block of Redfield Lane.The Austin Police Department identified Miller as a suspect in the investigation, and a judge later issued an arrest warrant.According to officials, APD requested assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) to find and arrest Miller.Following a four-month fugitive investigation, LSFTF said Miller was found at a residence in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road, surrounded by task force officers and arrested.According to officials, Miller was booked into the Travis County jail following his arrest, and as of Tuesday, remained in the jail.

How defensive coordinator Brian Flores has helped Vikings turn things around

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

Those hot summer days in July and August provided the first sign that things might be different for the Vikings.CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 15: Defensive coordinator Brian Flores of the Minnesota Vikings reacts against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on October 15, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)As the offense walked off the field during training camp at TCO Performance Center, many players shared a similar sentiment regarding the defense.Everybody was glad they didn’t have to go against new defensive coordinator Brian Flores anywhere other than practice.That momentum has carried over into this season as the Vikings have quickly turned it around on defense. They play with an aggressiveness under Flores that was sorely lacking under former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. As a result, the defense has steadily improved, with seemingly a different player rising to the occasion each week.That was on display on ...

St. Paul-based comedians band together to form the St. Paul Comedy All-Stars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

While the Twin Cities is known for a vibrant standup comic scene, Minneapolis tends to get the attention. An evening dubbed the St. Paul Comedy All-Stars hopes to change that.“I was talking to a fellow comic, Jesse the Shrink, and we had an ‘a ha’ moment. Let’s bring all the St. Paul comics together,” said Nate Hood, one of the organizers of the show, which will take place Wednesday night at the Laugh Camp Comedy Club inside Camp Bar in downtown St. Paul.Jesse the Shrink and Hood are hosting the evening, which features Pig’s Eye comics Elise Cole, Jimmie Davis, Maggie Faris, Ali Hormann, Jesse Jacobs, Malory Manderfield, Tiffany Norton and Jeff Pfoser.“St. Paul comics are a little different,” Hood said. “We’re very pro-St. Paul, generally a little older and generally a bit more boring. We want to highlight what St. Paul has to offer and have comics do sets about their town in their town.”To that end, Hood encouraged the performers to go local with their...

Country star Kenny Chesney books return trip to U.S. Bank Stadium in May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

Country star Kenny Chesney will play his seventh Twin Cities stadium show May 4 when he headlines U.S. Bank Stadium for the third time.As is typically the case for the 55-year-old Tennessee native, he’s bringing along some high profile opening acts in 2023 CMA song of the year and new artist nominee Megan Moroney, “When The Sun Goes Down” duet partner Uncle Kracker and Zac Brown Band, who previously warmed the stage for Chesney at Target Field in 2013.Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 17 through Axs. Neither the promoter nor the venue announced ticket prices.Chesney is one of country music’s biggest touring acts. In the ’00s, only the Dave Matthews Band sold more tickets than Chesney, who has played St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center eight times. He landed his first major hit with 1995’s “Fall in Love” and has remained a constant presence on country radio in the decades that followed. His recent hits include “Tip of My Tongue,” “Here and Now,” “Happy Does” and “Knowing You.” Chesn...

National Signing Day: 2023 East Metro fall signees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

The following East Metro high school student-athletes are signing national letters of intent this week — Wednesday was the first day of the early-signing period — to compete on scholarship at the collegiate level next year:BaseballMax Arlich, East Ridge, Texas A&MJosh Berreth, Farmington, SW Minnesota StateBrayden Bezanson, Hudson, Maryville StateLandon Boisen, Rosemount, Upper IowaEthan Bombardier, Farmington, Upper IowaAlex Boston, Stillwater, Minnesota DuluthHunter Carlson, Hudson, Wichita StateNicholas Discher, Burnsville, Iowa CentralJD Dobis, St. Thomas Academy, MinnesotaCyrus Elrod, Farmington, SW Minnesota StateTyler Guerin, Mounds View, IowaCullen Huppert, Prescott, SW Minnesota StatePJ Jones, Cretin-Derham Hall, MarylandDalton Kesti, Farmington, Northern StateOwen Maslowski, Stillwater, Wisconsin-ParksideLucas McNeillis, Woodbury, St. ThomasChase McQuade, River Falls, Concordia-St. PaulAlex Mezzetti, East Ridge, Illinois-ChicagoCayden Mueller, River Falls, Winona State...

Body found in grassy area of north St. Louis County, death deemed suspicious

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Authorities are investigating a "suspicious death" Tuesday afternoon in north St. Louis County, just a few miles north of Interstate 270. St. Louis County officers responded to the situation just after 2 p.m. in the 12000 block of Columbia Bottom Road. Police found a man's body in a grassy area near the road. Incriminating comment helps solve 1993 cold case Arnold, Missouri murder Investigators have not yet identified the victim by name or age, and it's unclear what might have led up to his death."At this time, there is no obvious cause of death," said the St. Louis County Police Department in a news release. Police have also not disclosed any potential suspect information. Detectives worked to collect evidence and cleared the scene after several hours. They found the victim in a grassy area. Detectives also surveyed a patch of land that appeared to be burned, but it's unknown if that's linked to the investigation. Close Thanks for ...

DWI charges likely after driver hits three MoDOT workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A driver hit three MoDOT contract workers in a Ferguson construction zone late Monday night, sending them to the hospital. DWI charges are likely against the driver. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, a driver in a white Ford Focus hit the MoDOT contract workers around 10:30 p.m. Monday near New Halls Ferry Road and I-270.Officials say the accused driver, a 33-year-old man, initially ran away, but he was caught a short time later by St. Louis County police. Incriminating comment helps solve 1993 cold case Arnold, Missouri murder The three MoDOT contractors work for Pace Construction. They were laying asphalt in a closed section of Northbound New Halls Ferry Road.  An ambulance took all three workers to the hospital. The workers are 22, 35 and 38 years old. Some are in serious condition and require surgery. “First and foremost, our focus is on our employees and their families right now," said Joseph Reichmuth, Pace Safety Dir...

Pipe bombs lead Hannibal man to several years behind bars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Hannibal man will spend several years behind bars after making a series of illegal pipe bombs. Joshua Eugene Rickey, 34, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in federal prison. He admitted to detonating two pipe bombs last year. According to his plea agreement, Rickey admitted making a series of pipe bombs out of sparklers and plastic or metal pipes between July 4 and Aug. 13 last year. Investigators say Rickey detonated one in a burned-out house across from his own home in late July 2022 and once lit one at his grandmother’s house, damaging a fence. Incriminating comment helps solve 1993 cold case Arnold, Missouri murder The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says pipe bombs and other “improvised explosive devices constructed from various objects are prohibited and extremely dangerous.”“This case illustrates ATF’s commitment in preventing attacks instead of responding to their aftermath,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen for ...