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Senators hail Health Dept. recommendation to ease restrictions on marijuana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has delivered a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration on marijuana policy, and Senate leaders hailed it Wednesday as a first step toward easing federal restrictions on the drug.HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden’s request “to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.”“We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously,” he added.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that HHS had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.“HHS has done the right thing,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “DEA should now follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws.”Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalt...

Traveling to Florida? What to know after Hurricane Idalia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

(WFLA) – Hurricane Idalia tore across Florida Wednesday as a dangerous Category 3 storm, destroying homes, flooding neighborhoods and snapping trees before moving into Georgia as a still-powerful storm.Along with its path of physical destruction, Idalia also upended travel plans for those hoping to visit Florida or nearby states in the Southeast. For those people whose itineraries are now anything but certain, here is what we know so far.Flights and airportsAirports in Florida are planning to reopen as Hurricane Idalia, now a tropical storm, moves across Georgia and South Carolina Wednesday night.The Federal Aviation Administration cautioned on social media Wednesday that the storm is causing flight cancellations and that severe weather can affect flights beyond the immediate area. Hurricane Idalia causes 100-year-old oak tree to split, fall on Gov. DeSantis’ mansion Flight tracking service Flight Aware registered more than 1,000 canceled U.S. flights Wednesday, hundreds with dest...

Nebraska volleyball stadium event sets women's world attendance record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska laid claim to the world record for the largest attendance at a women's sporting event with 92,003 filling Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night for the Cornhuskers' volleyball match against Omaha.The university took aim at the record last spring when it announced it would hold a daylong celebration of a sport that enjoys immense popularity in this state of fewer than 2 million.The event began with an exhibition between in-state Division II powers Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State and was followed by the Huskers' regular-season match. Country artist Scotty McCreery was to perform afterward.The previous attendance record was 91,648, set during a Champions League soccer match when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-2 at the Camp Nou Stadium in 2022. Monster Jam trucks damaged in California highway fire Memorial Stadium's official capacity is just over 85,000 for football, but that number was higher for this event because there were...

Former Disney star says Texas arrest was 'a misunderstanding': report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

ROCKWALL, Texas (KXAN) — Former Disney actor Mitchel Musso, who was arrested over the weekend in Texas, has denied the allegations against him in a new interview. Musso, known for his role as Oliver in “Hannah Montana,” was arrested by Rockwall police Saturday and charged with public intoxication and theft, in addition to other charges listed in jail records online. KXAS-TV in Dallas reported the Rockwall Police Department responded to a disturbance at a hotel around 7:15 p.m. Saturday and were told that an individual — identified later as Musso — who “appeared drunk” had entered the hotel, got a bag of chips and started eating them.When he was asked to pay for the chips, the man became “verbally abusive” and left without paying, the news outlet reported. Musso’s total bail for the public intoxication and theft charges was $1,000, and the bail for his other charges was about $1,080, records showed.Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Musso called the situation "a misunderstandin...

Some AISD campuses recipients of 'Inspire the Future' grant program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Teachers in Austin ISD were surprised by Austin Ed Fund visiting school campuses on Wednesday to present checks to the 2023 Inspire the Future grant program recipients. With some 70 projects, around $400,000 was donated to the educators and student groups from Austin Ed Fund, a local nonprofit organization. Austin Ed Fund leaders said the fund passed $2.1 million in grant funding awarded out in less than a decade. The majority of projects this year went to elementary school programs, and to student well being. Congressman Lloyd Doggett joined in the effort at Crockett Early College High School, where educators Tashala Thompkins, Odera Anyasinti and Cristina Coro received grants. Thompkins and Anyasinti are grant recipients of more than $9,000 for the Black Student Alliance that was started this past year. “It's about amplifying our students' voices, giving them a place to connect, have shared experiences, given them the opportunity to go out ...

Third child shot in Minnesota this month after loaded gun found in home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

For the third time this month, a Minnesota child has found a loaded gun inside a home and discharged the weapon.On Monday night, a 7-year-old boy found a handgun inside a home in the 7800 block of Fremont Avenue North in Brooklyn Park. The boy pointed the gun at his 9-year-old brother and fired, injuring him in the face. Police say the victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Two other recent shootings ended in tragedy.On Aug. 5, Markee Jones, 12, was visiting his grandmother’s house in St. Paul for a birthday party. A 14-year-old found a gun inside the house, then shot and killed Jones.Three days later, a 3-year-old boy in Hinckley found a 9mm handgun, pulled the trigger and killed himself. The Hinckley boy’s father, Roy Dean Pauza-Moore, was charged with three felonies: two counts of second-degree manslaughter and child endangerment by firearm.The spate of recent shootings prompted this warning from Elliot Faust, inspector and public information officer ...

Roseville police seeking man who groped females at retail locations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

The Roseville Police Department is looking for a man suspected of groping juvenile and adult females at two separate retail locations on Aug. 20.The suspect, who was wearing a blue balaclava-style face mask and a black New York Yankees hat, was described as a heavy-set Black man and seen entering a white Toyota sedan with no license plates. The location of the assaults and the number of victims wasn’t disclosed.Police released a brief YouTube video of the suspect Wednesday.He’s believed to be linked to additional crimes throughout the metro area, according to Roseville police, who didn’t provide further details.Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brady Martin at 651-792-7268 or [email protected] tips can be submitted to CityofRoseville.com/3194/Crime-Tips. Tipsters may remain anonymous.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | State Patrol: Gustavus hockey player ‘failed to stop’ at intersection, caus...

Developer buys downtown St. Paul’s Landmark Towers, first step toward residential conversion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

In downtown St. Paul, Sherman Associates has acquired the 26-story Landmark Towers office building overlooking Rice Park, the first step toward a complete office-to-residential conversion that will create 187 new units of market-rate housing.The Minneapolis-based developer, which has become a ubiquitous presence in St. Paul, plans to fill office and commercial space with residential luxury rentals, in step with a national trend of converting vacant office space into residential housing.Sale of the 200,000-square-foot office building at 345 St. Peter St. was brokered by Transwestern Real Estate Services and its Capital Markets and Assets team, who announced the closing Wednesday. Sherman Associates is completing similar projects in the metro area, and acting as lead residential developer at the Heights, the former Hillcrest Golf Course on St. Paul’s East Side.The city of St. Paul recently created a $21 million tax-increment financing district, with the goal of directing some $9...

Saratoga Springs clerk's office closed due to illnesses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Saratoga Springs City Clerk's Office within the Accounts Department is closed for the rest of the week due to illnesses in the department. Officials said the office has been closed since Monday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Copies of vital records, issuance of dog licenses and handicap parking permits will not be available until next week. Marriage licenses can be applied for and issued from the Town of Wilton. Officials said the closure will be ongoing for the rest of the week in an effort to keep employees and members of the public safe and healthy.

Thruway reopens after tractor trailer fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Thruway reopened after a tractor trailer caught fire on Wednesday afternoon between Exits 23 and 24. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The closure took place shortly before 5 p.m. Traffic was diverted in both directions.Police said the tractor trailer was hauling hydrogen. No word on the driver's condition.