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What’s in MN’s $72B budget and what else lawmakers approved

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

One thing is clear: Minnesota never has had a state budget like this before.Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members approved a historic, nearly $72 billion spending plan for the coming two years by tapping a $17.5 billion budget surplus and raising billions more in tax revenues. DFLers say the 38 percent increase in spending over current levels is part of their progressive vision for Minnesota’s future.Most of the new spending is ongoing, and the state will have to hire new workers to implement some of it. Lower- and middle-income residents will see $1.1 billion in tax rebates and about $1.4 billion in expanded tax credits.“We’re leaving no one behind,” Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday as he signed what House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, called “the best budget in 50 years.”It took a “team effort” to hold the party’s one-seat advantage in the Senate and approve what Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, ...

Fundraiser being held for 6-year-old boy battling cancer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Riverview Orchards is hosting a family fun day fundraiser event for Ezekiel "Ezzy" McLean, a local 6 year old boy who is battling stage 4 kidney cancer. The event is scheduled for June 3. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The fundraiser will directly support Ezzy and his family as he undergoes aggressive medical treatment for his illness, which has spread to his lungs. The day will feature food and beverages, hayrides, a bouncy house, scavenger hunts, raffles, an ice cream eating contest, live music and more. The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free and open to the public. Riverview Orchards is located at 660 Riverview Road, Rexford, NY. CREATE celebrates 40th annual Youth Arts Exhibit Ezzy, who has a love for dinosaurs, soccer, swimming, dancing, Super Mario, Black Panther, and Spiderman, is known to be as happy as he is brave. To help contribute to Ezzy and his family, plea...

Pride to let flags fly at Glens Falls City Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A pride festival is coming to downtown Glens Falls in June, hosted by a recently-renamed LGBTQ+ organization serving the surrounding community. Lower Adirondack Pride will host its Glens Falls Pride Festival at City Park, from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The free event kicks off with a pride march around the block surrounding City Park. A drag show will feature performers Lady Adjacent, Ms. Kitten Kaboodle, Tianna Romano, Lynn Guinie, Merina LePearl, Xavier Chaos, and Anita Bump, starting at 1:15 p.m. Black Walnut Books will lead a community storytime at 2:30 p.m.“We are delighted to be bringing the festival downtown this year,” said Lower Adirondack Pride President Cam Cardinale. “It’s empowering to LGBTQIA+ individuals to occupy public space we are so often excluded from. Visibility is crucial to fighting shame and social stigma in the face of threats and ...

One tank of gas: All you need from St. Louis to these 10 vacation spots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS - If you're looking to hit the roads for Memorial Day weekend or plan a wallet-friendly roadtrip over the summer, there are quite a few intriguing destinations just a short drive away from St. Louis. Last year, FOX 2 compiled a list of ten places that St. Louis-area travelers could visit and return from comfortably on just one tank of gas, largely inspired by historic gas prices. This year, gas prices are a bit steadier and pandemic restrictions have largely been eased. $400,000 in watches stolen in St. Louis jewelry heist Because of that, FOX 2 wanted to create a similar, but slightly different list for those looking to travel. Where can make it from St. Louis on one tank of gas alone? Turns out, lots of places, some even outside of Missouri and Illinois. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day excursion or just one spontaneous day of travel, there are several spots worth considering. Depending on your car and the route for transportation, experts at Axlewise.com say a ...

Here are the safest—and most deadly—days for drunk-driving fatalities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

Drunk driving remains a significant problem throughout the country. But certain days are more dangerous on the roads than others. MoneyGeek analyzed historical data from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to forecast 2023's most dangerous days, weeks and holidays for driving under the influence (DUI) in the United States.KEY FINDINGS:MoneyGeek forecasts 13,490 DUI fatalities in 2023.The historical trend of DUI fatalities that drives the forecast has increased dramatically. 2021's DUI fatalities are 23% higher than 2016's DUI fatalities and are at levels not seen since 2003.Summer will account for 28% of drunk driving-related fatalities, making it the deadliest season.Independence Day week is forecasted to be the most deadly in 2023, with 311 expected fatalities.On New Year's Day, drunk driving-related deaths spike 117% above the baseline average, making it the most dangerous holiday of the year for drunk driving.60% o...

Denver weather: Severe thunderstorm watch warns of hail, wind, lightning across Front Range

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

1:46 p.m.: The National Weather Service is warning of possible half-inch hail and 30 mph wind in Evergreen, Kittredge and Aspen Park.A special weather statement has been issued for Evergreen CO, Kittredge CO and Aspen Park CO until 2:30 PM MDT #COwx pic.twitter.com/m5XKNVqXwG— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) May 26, 20231:33 p.m.: Large swaths of Colorado are under a severe thunderstorm watch as storms move across Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. Be prepared for potential hail up to two inches in size, scattered wind gusts up to 65 mph and frequent lightning, according to the National Weather Service.A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming until 9 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/Wuj4fEpaPB— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) May 26, 2023This story will be updated throughout the afternoon.Related ArticlesWeather | Severe weather moving east, Fort Morgan and Brush hit by storms Weather | Lightning strikes Wheat Ridge home,...

See the moments after a passenger opened a plane door during flight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

By HYUNG-JIN KIM (Associated Press)SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A passenger opened an emergency exit door during a plane flight in South Korea on Friday, causing air to blast inside the cabin and slightly injure 12 people, officials said. The plane landed safely.Some people aboard the Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft tried to stop the person, who was able to partially open the door, the Transport Ministry said.The person was detained by airport police on suspicion of violating the aviation security law, a ministry statement said. The person’s identity and motive weren’t immediately released.The law bars passengers from handling exit doors and other equipment on board and provides for penalties of up to 10 years in prison, the ministry said.The plane with 194 people aboard was heading to the southeastern city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju. The flight is normally about an hour, and the incident occurred when the plane was reaching the Daegu airport at an...

In 911 call, Lauren Boebert’s son accuses father of “throwing” him around the house

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

One of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s sons called 911, asking for help because his father was “throwing” him around the house, the latest in a number of the family’s run-ins with local police.One of Lauren and Jayson Boebert’s sons – the couple has four – called 911 the evening of Dec. 11 to report that his father had become angry with him and the argument turned physical, according to audio recordings obtained by The Denver Post. The son was sobbing and struggling to catch his breath during the call while he said that Jayson Boebert was “throwing me around.”“I don’t know why he got mad, he just started yelling at me and he started throwing me,” the son said on the 911 call.“He does this to me so much,” he later added.The Denver Post is not naming the son because he is a minor.The dispatcher sent a sheriff’s deputy to the home and asked whether there were any weapons in the home.“I mean, there are weapons in the house, yeah, but I don’t think he’d use them on me,” the son said.Minutes l...

Casa Bonita reveals its new menu and offers a sneak peak inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

Like many people, Dana Rodriguez stayed away from the Tex-Mex platters when she used to go to Casa Bonita, filling up on margaritas and sopapillas instead.“The food was really secondary,” she said about her visits to the famed Lakewood restaurant and entertainment venue. “We either ate before or after.”But after new owners and “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker hired Rodriguez, a four-time James Beard-nominated Denver chef, to revamp the menu and run the kitchen, she is ready to change Casa Bonita’s notorious reputation for inedible cuisine. To do that, she jettisoned the inventory of canned food, deep-cleaned and overhauled the kitchen, and designed dishes that are actually worth the price of admission. “The Health Department loves us now,” she said.Casa Bonita’s Matt Stone, executive chef Dana Rodriguez and Trey Parker (Photo by Paul H. Trantow for Casa Bonita)Ahead of Casa Bonita’s highly anticipated reopening — there is still no official date despite th...

Baby boom at Planckendael

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:46 GMT

Spring has sprung and so few have the new arrivals at Planckendael ZOO, on the outskirts of Brussels.In fact, there has been something of a baby boom at the animal park in recent weeks with the arrival of lots of “little ones”.The park, for example, just welcomed an anteater, the first baby anteater born there in the history of Planckendael ZOO.A golden-headed lion tamarin was also recently born, also very special for the park because Planckendael ZOO has coordinated the breeding programme of golden-headed lion tamarins for over 30 years.Golden-headed lion tamarins are severely endangered so every new-born golden-headed lion tamarin is a very good news for survival of the species.Yet more recent births include a baby black lemur, again an endangered species which live only on the island of Madagascar, along with two Asian lion cubs.They are staying with their mum until they are big enough to meet their father and brother Yari and Wishu. The cubs are expected to venture outside for t...