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They envision the world’s tallest flagpole in this Maine town. Instead of uniting, it is dividing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine (AP) — Lobster boat engines rumble to life, lumberjacks trudge into the woods and farmers tend wild blueberries just like they have for generations here at the nation’s northeastern tip, where the vast wilderness and ocean meet in one of the last places on the East Coast unspoiled by development.It’s a striking backdrop to a family’s bold vision for the region: a flagpole jutting upward from the woodlands toward spacious skies — reaching higher than the Empire State Building and topped with an American flag bigger than a football field.To promoters, the $1 billion project would unite people of all political stripes in an era of national polarization. “We want to bring Americans together, remind them of the centuries of sacrifice made to protect our freedom, and unite a divided America,” said Morrill Worcester, whose family is behind the proposal.So far, the proposed Flagpole of Freedom Park has done precisely the opposite. In Columbia Falls, p...

Jersey Shore towns say state’s marijuana law handcuffs police and emboldens rowdy teens

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

OCEAN CITY, N.J. (AP) — It’s summer on the Jersey Shore. For many young people, that means one thing: Party time! But officials and residents of several beachside towns say New Jersey’s criminal justice reforms in recent years — such as decriminalizing marijuana use — are having an unintended effect, emboldening large groups of teenagers to run amok on beaches and boardwalks, knowing there’s little chance they’ll get in trouble for it.Now, some lawmakers are trying to walk back parts of those laws, which also involve alcohol use and possession. The laws were designed to keep more juveniles out of the court system, and imposed a number of restrictions on police officers’ interactions with them.“You don’t want to see a kid with a record that will last the rest of his life, but you can’t let them believe they can do anything they want,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz of Seaside Heights. “That’s unacceptable.”During Memorial Day weekend, police and media outlets reported...

Lynx’s Napheesa Collier plays Storm-stopper for second time this week

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Reserves for the WNBA All-Star Game are to be announced Saturday.Napheesa Collier is all but assured of playing July 15 with the league’s best players.Collier scored on a fadeaway jumper with 1.8 seconds left in overtime and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Storm 99-97 late Thursday in Seattle.Collier took the inbounds pass from Kayla McBride, drove to the right wing, spun back and sank the game-winner.Playing every second of the game, Collier finished with 31 points, eight rebounds, a career-high six blocks and five assists for Minnesota. She scored 33 with 10 rebounds in the Lynx’s 104-93 win over the Storm on Tuesday at Target Center.Minnesota (6-9), which snapped an eight-game losing streak in Seattle, has won three of four and five of seven.Down by two, Diamond Miller scored on a drive with 11.2 seconds remaining in the extra session to pull the Lynx even. Miller finished with a career-high 19 points and four rebounds.Watched tightly by McBride, Jewell Loyd, who scored a caree...

Boundary Waters wildfire declared 100% controlled; visitor restrictions lifted

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Superior National Forest officials say the Spice Lake wildfire is 100% controlled, allowing them to reopen all areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that had been closed due to the fire.All of the entry points and all of the lakes and portages will open at 12:01 a.m. Friday for campers to use as their permits allow.While the fire is no longer a threat to spread, officials urged people to keep out of the burned area — about 10 miles west of the upper end of the Gunflint Trail — due to the fact that still-standing trees may fall at any time.Several days of rain and cooler temperatures have all but snuffed the danger of more wildfires in the region, at least for the short term, but a campfire ban remains in effect for the entire BWCAW.Across all of St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties, campfires are allowed only in developed areas with fire rings.Forest officials note that fireworks are illegal in the national forest. They are also illegal in state parks, and the state has im...

Oakdale: Anonymous tip leads to arrest, charges against alleged sex trafficker

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

A St. Paul man has been charged with multiple felonies after an anonymous tip alerted police to a woman being sexually trafficked in Oakdale, Washington County officials said Thursday.Ray Jay Dean Thompson, 45, has been charged with promoting prostitution and receiving profits from prostitution.Thompson was arrested early Monday morning while providing transportation to women who later admitted to engaging in commercial sex activities with a man at a house in the 400 block of Hickory Lane North, officials said.An anonymous tipster sent an Oakdale police officer a text message expressing concern about a woman who was possibly being sexually trafficked, according to the criminal complaint filed in Washington County District Court. The tipster provided the location of the woman, what time she would be there, and that the sex buyer was going to pay $300 for services.Officers with the Oakdale Police Department alerted a detective embedded with the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force ...

L.A. County teen girl missing for weeks as search continues

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Authorities are continuing to search for a teenager who disappeared in Lynwood in early June.The missing girl, Maria Fernanda Deniz, 17, was last seen on June 8 on the 12200 block of Long Beach Boulevard around 7 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Deniz is described as a Hispanic female standing 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds with brown eyes, long black hair, and a pierced nose. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie, gray pants, and black and red Nike shoes.Authorities believe she may be headed to the Cypress Park area of Northeast L.A. The girl’s family has not heard from her since and is concerned for her well-being. They're hoping the public may have information that could lead to her discovery.Maria Fernanda Deniz, 17, in an undated photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.No further details were released surrounding her disappearance.Anyone who may have seen Deniz or knows of her whereabouts is asked to call the LASD’...

3 suspects arrested after shooting outside tattoo shop in Yucaipa

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

Three people have been arrested in connection to a shooting outside a tattoo shop in Yucaipa earlier this month, authorities announced Thursday.  The incident unfolded on June 14 at around 11:35 p.m. near the intersection of Yucaipa Boulevard and 5th Street, according to a news release from the San Bernardino Sherrif’s Department. Deputies responded to the scene on reports of people arguing and gunshots heard.  An investigation revealed that an argument had started inside Artistic Element Tattoo shop and escalated into a physical altercation. That’s when authorities say one of suspects shot a female victim before fleeing the scene.  The unidentified female victim sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her head.  Later, investigators were able to identify 40-year-old Redlands resident Othon Hernandez, 42-year-old Beaumont resident Roman Abrego and 34-year-old Kaitlin Abrego, also from Beaumont, as suspects in the shooting.   Brazen, broad daylight bur...

Winn shines in first career start, but SF Giants silenced in second straight loss to Blue Jays

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

TORONTO — It was just over a year ago, last June 23, that Keaton Winn made his final start at Single-A San Jose, returning from a two-year absence caused by a pandemic and major elbow surgery. When the Giants won their last World Series, Winn was merely a teenager in Ollie, Iowa: population 200.On Thursday, the Giants reached the midpoint of their season, and Winn made his first major-league start in front of 27,761 fans, in North America’s most diverse metropolis.Despite a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, dropping their first series since the second weekend of June, the Giants (45-36) completed their first 81 games in better position than they were last season, when they sputtered into the halfway point at 41-41 with their eighth loss in nine games (and only worse to come). And with six strong innings of work from Winn, they may have found a starter who can help their prospects the rest of the way.“He was lights out,” said manager Gabe Kapler, who was forced to watch th...

Redwood City man arrested for forcible rape of a minor, police believe there may be more victims

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

(KRON) -- A Redwood City man was arrested on Thursday after he was accused of forcibly raping a minor, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The alleged rape happened on March 16. The victim was known by the male suspect, police said.Esquivel was arrested in San Bruno on a $100,000 warrant. He has since posted bail and is no longer in custody. Police believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to call SMCSO's Detective Pitts at (650) 363-4060.

Human remains found in Solano County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:56:00 GMT

(KRON) -- Human remains were found in unincorporated Suisun City on Wednesday, the Solano County Sheriff's Office said. Authorities are still attempting to find the identity of the victim. Employees of the California Waterfowl Association were evaluating vegetation in the area of Grizzly Island Road and Van Sickle Road when they found a bone inside of a jacket sleeve underneath some vegetation. A primary investigation found fully decomposed human remains below the surface. Pittsburg store clerk arrested for allegedly selling drugs out of store The Chico State Human Identification Lab began a forensic evaluation on Thursday. A "partial skeletal upper" was uncovered. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The public is asked to avoid the area where the remains were found as excavation continues. The location is north of Grizzly Bay and south of Fairfield. The age, race and gender of the subject are unknown. Anyone with information is asked to call (70...