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Voting deadline nears for local special elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Lidiya Harvey brought her young daughter to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters to cast her ballot in person Tuesday along with hundreds of thousands of San Diegans participating in a handful of special elections throughout the county.“I think local elections are the most important elections because it starts here and it affects our everyday lives,” Harvey said.In District Four, voters will choose between Supervisor Candidates Monica Montgomery Steppe, a Democrat, and current San Diego City Councilmember and Republican Amy Reichert to fill the seat left vacant by Nathan Fletcher. Whoever wins will tip the balance of power – now evenly split. Karyn O’Rear lives in District Four in La Mesa. “I think that it's important to go vote for the people and go for the people who represent your ideas and your values,” O'Rear said. San Diego’s guide to the Nov. 7 special elections Beyond the supervisors’ race, the city of Chula Vista will elect a city attorney, as well as wat...

Motorcyclist killed in I-805 crash prompts lane closures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A 39-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash Monday on Interstate 805 near Sorrento Valley, authorities said. The crash occurred around 8:58 p.m. on Interstate 805 southbound, located south of Interstate 5, Salvador Castro with the California Highway Patrol said in a news release Tuesday.The motorcyclist, of Oceanside, was stopped in traffic lanes on a black Harley Davidson motorcycle when he was struck by a red Honda Crosstour, according to authorities. The crash caused the rider to be thrown from the motorcycle. Another vehicle also hit the victim and left the scene, per CHP. Police investigate shooting outside Home Depot The motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the Honda, an 84-year-old man from San Diego, remained at the location, Castro said.Authorities determined the driver of the Honda was not under the influence.First responders shut down the two right lanes on I-805 southbound for several hours during the investigation.I...

Man charged in shooting over Spanish conquistador statue appeals detention order pending trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A judge’s order to deny bail is being challenged by a New Mexico man charged with attempted murder in the September shooting of a Native American activist during confrontations about canceled plans to reinstall a statue of a Spanish conquistador, according to court documents obtained Tuesday.Attorneys for defendant Ryan David Martinez, 23, are urging the New Mexico Court of Appeals to overturn a court order that keeps him jailed pending trial on charges that also include assault with a deadly weapon and potential sentence enhancements on alleged hate-crime and weapons violations.The man from Sandia Park has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the Sept. 28 shooting at a protest in Española over canceled plans to install a bronze likeness of conquistador Juan de Oñate, who is both revered and reviled for his role in establishing early settlements along the Upper Rio Grande starting in 1598. Chaos erupted at the gathering as a single shot was fired in events reco...

Kentucky man wielding pole charged with interfering with election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

(The Hill) -- A man was arrested at a polling location in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday for allegedly making threatening gestures towards voters, damaging a voting machine and intimidating at least one person from voting, local police said in a statement. Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officials arrested 40-year-old Jacen Cockerell at the Molly Leonard Portland Community Center polling location after responding to a report of a disorderly person at 9:17 a.m. Cockerell was charged with two counts of “menacing,” one count of “tampering, destruction of a voting machine,” and one count of “interfering with election.”  Abortion is on the ballot in Tuesday’s key elections When police arrived at the polling location, they learned Cockerell had allegedly been “wielding a flag attached to a fishing pole” and allegedly making “threatening gestures towards voters.” Police also said Cockerell’s alleged actions prevented at least one person from voting. Cockerell a...

Steve Martin 'so proud' his book was banned by Florida school district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

(The Hill) -- Steve Martin is mocking the banning of one of his books in a Florida county public school system, saying it’ll help boost sales.“So proud to have my book ‘Shopgirl’ banned in Collier County, Florida!” the “Only Murders in the Building” comedian wrote on Instagram on Monday.“Now people who want to read it will have to buy a copy!” added Martin, 78.Martin’s 2000 novella — which was later turned into a movie of the same name — was among more than 300 titles banned in libraries in the Florida county’s public schools, according to a list published this week by PEN America, a free expression organization. Book ban list: These 13 titles are targeted most The move comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed legislation last year requiring school libraries in the Sunshine State to seek community input on the materials they make available to students.Citing a list obtained by the Florida Freedom to Read Project, PEN America said some of the o...

Illinois earns credit rating upgrade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

CHICAGO (WMBD) -- Illinois saw its ninth credit rating upgrade in just over two years on Tuesday.According to an Illinois news release, Illinois' rating for general obligation bonds was upgraded by Fitch Ratings. Illinois has currently reached an "A" rating with all rating agencies."We are continuing to right the past fiscal wrongs in our state with disciplined fiscal leadership, and credit rating agencies and businesses alike are taking notice of Illinois' remarkable progress," Gov. JB Pritzker said. "Another credit rating upgrade means millions saved for Illinois taxpayers in interest—money back in the pockets of our state where it can better serve our residents." Illinois Credit rating up for 7th time in 2 years The ratings measure the credit quality of state bonds, and having a higher bond rating can mean that states can borrow money at a lower interest rate, which can save taxpayers millions of dollars.According to the Fitch Ratings report on the upgrade, the state'...

Historic hangar at former air base in California goes up in flames 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

(KTLA) -- A hangar at a historic air base in Orange County, California, went up in flames early Tuesday morning. According to the Orange County Fire Authority, the fire broke out around 1 a.m. at the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin. The north hangar, also known as Hangar 1, was completely engulfed in flames when crews first arrived. Firefighters immediately went into defensive mode to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures, and crews were seen battling the blaze from the ground and by air.As of 8:30 a.m., the fire had consumed about half of the iconic wood hangar. It is expected to burn for several days before finally going out, officials said.“There’s literally nothing we can do about it at this point,” Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy said. “We can’t get close enough to that building without concern for it collapsing on our firefighters.”The hangar at the historic Marine Corps Air Station Tustin burning on Nov. 7, 2023. (KTLA)A hi...

Arkansas rapper arrested for threatening lyrics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — An Arkansas man was arrested after allegedly putting threatening lyrics in his music, which he claims is part of a rap persona.Reese Alexander Sullivan, 20, of Bentonville, was arrested on Nov. 2 for first-degree terroristic threatening. A probable cause affidavit says that on Aug. 21, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip from an anonymous person who claimed Sullivan was making concerning statements, including bomb threats and referring to acts of violence. The affidavit says that the lyrics of Sullivan's music contained numerous threats of violence across multiple uploads. The threats included statements about school shootings, bombing public events and shooting children.Nine videos were analyzed as part of the investigation. "Each of the video's audio was in the form of rap music. Statements and threats within the videos included racial statements about specific groups of people and killing them, bombing churches associated wit...

St. Paul’s Como Zoo welcomes latest baby giraffe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

A baby giraffe was born Monday evening at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul.A 7-year-old Como giraffe named Zinnia gave birth to the calf at 8:09 p.m., and the new arrival was already on its feet and standing next to mom by 8:50 p.m., according to a Tuesday news release.The zoo’s staff was still allowing Zinnia to bond with the calf — her third — on Tuesday afternoon and had not yet determined its sex, height or weight.The zoo expects the baby giraffe, which has not yet been named, to make its public debut in the next few weeks.Its birth was the result of a recommendation made by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, whose Species Survival Plan is designed to “maximize genetic diversity, with the goal of ensuring the long-term survival of the AZA population and the health of individual animals,” Como said.The calf’s birth comes eight months after Como’s oldest giraffe, 23-year-old Daisy, was euthanized by zoo staffers as a re...

St. Paul man sentenced for drive-by shootings, including one that grazed school staffer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:15 GMT

A 19-year-old St. Paul man has been given concurrent prison sentences for his role in four shootings in the city this year, including one in which he fired a bullet that grazed a Washington Technology Magnet School staff member’s ear.Eh Doh Soe admitted to firing three shots outside the school after a fight broke out between Karen students and Black students Jan. 20, according to Ramsey County District Court documents.Eh Doh Soe (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)In September, Soe agreed to plead guilty to drive-by shooting in that case and aiding and abetting shootings on Jan. 28, Feb. 8 and Feb. 12. The plea petition called for four concurrent sentences, and Judge Joy Bartscher handed them down Friday.Soe’s longest sentence — seven years and three months — is for the Feb. 12 drive-by shooting, which critically injured a boy on the North End.Last month, prosecutors filed charges against two 17-year-olds in connection with the other shootings.Soe...