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MN GOP lawmakers ask Gov. Walz to stop DHS plans to delete emails after a year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

A group of Republican lawmakers are asking Gov. Tim Walz to intervene with plans the Minnesota Department of Human Services has to begin automatically deleting emails after a year unless workers decide the messages contain official records.“This move will leave citizens, legislators, and auditors with significantly less information about the work of the Department and its interactions with Minnesotans,” Sens. Mark Koran, R- North Branch, Warren Limmer, R- Maple Grove, and Paul Utke, R-Park Rapids, said in a statement.Koran serves as the cochair of the Legislative Audit Commission, an oversight group, Limmer is on the Data Practices Commission, which oversees public records compliance, and Utke is the top Republican on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.“Rather than value transparency and accountability with a robust retention policy that protects personal privacy, the department is taking the cheap and easy way out with risky, automated deletion,”...

Spire, Hiway credit unions plan merger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

Spire Credit Union and Hiway Credit Union announced a planned merger Tuesday that would create a new east-metro-based entity with nearly $4 billion in assets and serving approximately 250,000 members, making it Minnesota’s fourth-largest credit union.In a joint statement, the companies said their respective leadership approved the merger and so has the NCUA, the National Credit Union Administration, a federally backed deposit insurer.The statement notes that the merger must now be approved by Hiway’s 90,000-plus membership via a vote on Sept. 13. The new entity would then adopt a new name and brand. Hiway is based in St. Paul and Spire in Falcon Heights.

High time: St. Paul bar marks marijuana legalization with a party

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

Potshotz, a St. Paul bar with cannabis-infused drinks — or, as the bar calls them, “pottails” — celebrated the official legalization of marijuana in Minnesota on Tuesday.Smoke comes off a joint smoked by Randy Schroeder of Vadnais Heights during a legalization celebration at Potshotz Cannabar & Dispensary in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Pioneer Press)It’s a day those in attendance said they had awaited a long time. They said legalization will mean more freedom and less stress enjoying the effects of what they see as a harmless drug.“It’s about time to be legal … pot never hurt anybody, it’s just something to make you feel good and calm,” said Andrea Stanton, of Hugo.David Tolchiner, the bar owner, echoed that sentiment.“There is something about weed that brings people together,” Tolchiner said. “It just breaks down a lot of barriers.”As of Tuesday, cannabis possession, adult re...

Fireman survived 9/11, hiking Appalachian Trail to raise money for vets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

BENNINGTON, V.T. (NEWS10) — Former volunteer fireman Rob Weisberg who survived the September 11th attacks is hiking the Appalachian Trail to raise money for veterans. Veterans VoicesFrom fireman’s gear to hiking gear, Weisberg is braving the leaps and bounds of the Appalachian Trail to raise money for Paws of War. It's a charity that provides service dogs to veterans who are suffering with PTSD, free of charge. When he’s not sleeping in a hostel, a sleeping bag, a tent, and a gas can stove are make up his "apartment".“My sleeping bag, my gear to keep me warm, my tent, food” he showed us. Rob started the journey in Georgia back in March.  Carrying 43 pounds of gear and averaging 15 miles a day, Weisberg has been hiking ever since. He’s down to his fourth pair of boots.Pair motorcycle from GA to NY to return Purple Heart“When it comes to boots, my plan is about 500 miles per pair of boots”, Weisberg explained. His cause hits close to home. For the last 22 years, Rob too has ...

End of an Era: Cardinals send Jack Flaherty to Baltimore at trade deadline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - After seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and nearly a decade in the organization, pitcher Jack Flaherty is reportedly on the move. The Cardinals have reportedly agreed to a last-minute deadline-day deal that sends the 27-year-old Flaherty to the Baltimore Orioles. The deal came shortly before the 5 p.m. trade deadline.The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and ESPN's Jeff Passan were among the first to report on the deal. FOX 2 is waiting to learn specifics of the return. President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak is expected to speak to media around 5:45 p.m. Flaherty is a pending free agent at the season's end and had been building trade buzz in recent weeks. Brendan Donovan set for season-ending surgery Entering deadline day, Flaherty was seen as perhaps one of the more coveted pitchers after former MVP Justin Verlander in a thin market. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins were reportedly among the teams who had interest, but he ultimately ended up for an up...

6 injured after train strikes semi in Cass County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

BELTON, Mo. - Six people have injuries after a train crashed into a semi truck Tuesday afternoon in Cass County, Missouri. Cass County deputies arrived at the scene just before 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of E. 187th Street and Holmes Road, southwest of Belton Missouri. A crash involving a semi truck and a train that left six people injured is under investigation in Cass County, Missouri. (Photo: Cass County, Missouri Sheriff's Office)A crash involving a semi truck and a train that left six people injured is under investigation in Cass County, Missouri. (Photo: Cass County, Missouri Sheriff's Office)Maj. Kevin Tieman with the sheriff’s office tells FOX4 six people were injured in the crash with two people taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Tieman said the train remained on the tracks following the crash. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is taking over the investigation. FOX4 has a crew at the scene and will continue to keep you updated as more details become available. Th...

Locals chance their luck at Mega Millions as Krispy Kreme gives away free donuts to those who lose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Everyone has fantasized about what it would be like to win the lottery, especially now that the Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed a billion dollars.“Aw man, if I won a billion, I’m a lotto stud,” said Jamehl Wilson, a lottery player. “I’m going to take my family, and all of you will need to document the whole process. You’ve got to document everything. We're going to Cabo.”Winning can undoubtedly change your life.“My name is John Falcon, and I won the lottery,” said John Falcon, a lottery winner.Falcon once won the lottery for $45 million. What's his secret?“I have no magic powers other than a big flash of incredible luck,” he said. Johnny Johnson execution taking place tonight While fantasizing is enjoyable, most of us are unlikely to be so fortunate.Krispy Kreme is offering a free original glazed donut to help satisfy your cravings and fill any voids in your day. Their Mega Glaze Days promotion includes a glazed donut and a lottery ticket from Tuesday's Mega Millio...

Back-to-school tax-free shopping starts this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's time for the annual tax-free, back-to-school weekend shopping event.School supplies will be exempt from sales taxes starting Friday through Sunday.“The shoes and the backpacks and the clothing items – things that everyone is going to need,” Sean Phillips, senior marketing director for the West County Center, said.The tax-free holiday kicks off for the back-to-school shopping season, giving customers a chance to shop all the deals and save.“This is a great opportunity for everyone to save money because as you know, when you make purchases here at the mall, the tax is around 10%,” Phillips said. “So if you are buying a computer that’s $2,000, you’ll save that $200 in tax.”West County, Mid Rivers, and South County malls are taking part. Johnny Johnson execution taking place tonight Here’s what qualifies:Clothes that have a taxable value of $100 or less.School supplies - not exceeding $50 per purchase.Computer software with a taxable value of $350 or less.Personal com...

Gaylord Rockies pays $87M in taxes that it had disputed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

A defeat at the Colorado Supreme Court last month has forced the Gaylord Rockies Resort to pay years-old tax bills totaling $87 million that it had been disputing since opening.The massive hotel near Denver International Airport is the largest taxpayer in Adams County. It opened in 2018 and was sent a property tax bill of $25.3 million the next year.The hotel’s owner, Nashville-based Ryman Hospitality Properties, took issue with that. It claimed that the county had wrongly valued it at $676 million rather than $270 million due to a flawed methodology that includes income from restaurants and shops in a hotel’s value.The Gaylord appealed its 2019 tax bill to the county’s board of equalization, the Colorado Board of Assessment Appeals and the Colorado Court of Appeals. It lost every time.Then, in October, it asked the Colorado Supreme Court to take up its case.“The Gaylord is not one ball of undifferentiated wax,” it wrote. “It is a complex property containing mixed assets which gener...

Steve Konowalchuk returns to Avalanche organization as Eagles associate head coach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:48 GMT

A familiar face is returning to the Avalanche organization.Related ArticlesColorado Avalanche | Avalanche Journal: Are middle-six centers Ryan Johansen, Ross Colton an upgrade from JT Compher, Alex Newhook? Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche re-signs forward Ben Meyers to 1-year contract Colorado Avalanche | Avs Mailbag: Will Avalanche name new captain while Gabriel Landeskog misses another season? Colorado Avalanche | Nikolai Kovalenko signs entry-level contract with Avalanche but will remain in KHL for 2023-24 season Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche 2023 offseason: Which lingering free agents can Avs afford with remaining salary cap space? Steve Konowalchuk — who played for two seasons in Colorado — was announced Tuesday as the associate head coach of the Colorado Eagles, the team’s AHL affiliate. He joins head coach Aaron Schneekloth and assistant Tim Branham on the Eagles bench.“We’re excited to have...