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Minnesota Legislature to return with much done, much to do

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Legislature will return from its Easter-Passover break on Tuesday with a remarkably high number of bills already signed into law, but with plenty of work ahead to complete a balanced two-year budget in the six weeks before the mandatory adjournment on May 22.Democrats seized the moment when lawmakers convened in January, using their new control of both chambers and the governor’s office to rush through a slew of priorities that they couldn’t pass when Republicans controlled the Senate. Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed: “The era of gridlock is over.” But the speed has frustrated Republicans, who feel steamrollered and accuse Democrats of going on a spending spree and increasing the size of government instead of providing permanent tax relief.An updated forecast in February put Minnesota’s budget surplus at an enormous $17.5 billion. Walz and Democratic leaders agreed last month on broad budget targets that add up to nearly $17.9 billion in new...

‘Hanging in’: David Suzuki shares insights as he retires from ‘The Nature of Things’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

After 44 years as the face of Canada’s premier science TV show, you might expect David Suzuki to feel a little sadness and a little nostalgia as he steps down as host of “The Nature of Things.” Not so.“Happy as hell,” he laughs over Zoom from his Vancouver office.“I’m an old guy. It’s the next stage of my life. What the hell — it’s reality.”Friday night marks Suzuki’s last appearance as the host of the show he founded and turned into a byword for science outreach. Over nearly four and a half decades, he’s led Canadians on a journey through topics as outré as bug sex and animal music, and as serious as the Underground Railroad and the fight to preserve old-growth forests. But Suzuki, 87, says the most important thing he’s learned over the years has nothing to do with the subjects of his show’s hundreds of episodes. “Hanging in is the most important thing,” he says.“Television is a me...

Low-cost Temu goes head-to-head with Amazon after advertising blitz

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

It started with a video of a postal worker sorting a mountain of orange packages from Temu.Rachael D’Amore hadn’t heard of the online shopping site, but after watching the video she found good reviews, affordable products and free shipping on most orders — what she called “a unicorn in Canada these days.”“I had to double check the URL to make sure that I wasn’t on the U.S. site,” she said.Temu also offered a $5 credit if an order took longer than 12 days to arrive — a quasi-insurance policy that gave D’Amore the confidence to place a $30 order for seven items, including an 89-cent necklace, earrings for $1.78 and hair clips for $3.59. The package from the retail marketplace arrived 10 days later and “pretty much met my expectations,” said D’Amore, a Toronto-based business director with a communications agency. “They may not be forever pieces, but the quality was fine.”Temu launched in Canada in early Febru...

Legendary cinematographer and WGN-TV pioneer Bill Butler dies at 101

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Legendary cinematographer Bill Butler, who was once part of WGN-TV’s first two decades, has died.  Butler began his career helping to literally build WBKB-TV and then WGN-TV from scratch over 75 years ago and getting them on the air. The television pioneer remained with WGN primarily as a cameraman through the 1960s before transitioning to filmmaking, shooting iconic movies such as “Jaws,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Grease,” three of Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” movies, and many others.  WGN celebrates 75 years with special report Butler worked on numerous television projects, scoring two Emmy Awards and also a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers. He died on Wednesday, which was WGN-TV’s 75th anniversary, and two days shy of his 102nd birthday.

WATCH LIVE | Gov. Pritzker announces 2023 tourism grants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is set to announce a new round of grants designed to enhance tourism across the state.While details will be released alongside the Friday announcement, historically the state's Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DECO) has awarded tens-of-millions of dollars in tourism grants in recent years. ‘Stunning’: James Webb telescope provides new view of Uranus Pritzker plans to reveal this newest round of recipients from the Chicago Cultural Center at 10 a.m.WGN plans to livestream the event in its entirety within this story beginning at approximately 10 a.m.

New study says climate change is juicing homers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

Climate change is making major league sluggers into even hotter hitters, sending an extra 50 or so home runs a year over the fences, a new study found.Hotter, thinner air that allows balls to fly farther contributed a tiny bit to a surge in home runs since 2010, according to a statistical analysis by Dartmouth College scientists published in Friday’s Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. They analyzed 100,000 major league games and more than 200,000 balls put into play in the last few years along with weather conditions, stadiums and other factors.“Global warming is juicing home runs in Major League Baseball,” said study co-author Justin Mankin, a Dartmouth climate scientist.It’s basic physics.When air heats up, molecules move faster and away from each other, making the air less dense. Baseballs launched off a bat go farther through thinner air because there’s less resistance to slow the ball. Just a little bit farther can mean the difference between a homer and a flyout,...

Albany man sentenced to 25 years in sword attack case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The man who allegedly attacked Jon Romano at the Capital Connections Drop-In Center in Albany has been sentenced. According to the Albany County District Attorney's Office, Randell Mason, 42, of Albany, was sentenced to 25 years in prison with five years probation after he is released. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On August 29, 2022, police responded to the 300 block of Sheridan Avenue for a sword attack. When officers arrived, they found 34-year-old Romano with severe wounds to his limbs. Mason was arrested shortly after.Romano was the gunman in the 2004 Columbia High School shooting and served 15 years in prison for it. Due to the sword attack, he said all four of his extremities had to be partially amputated. Local sword attack survivor on recovery and redemption In February, Mason pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder in connection with the attack. He was also issued a no-contact...

How and why to get bearproofed this spring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Bears are in business around parts of New York, with black bears native to parts of the Adirondack Park and Catskill mountains. On Friday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) put out new guidance for anyone living or staying in a bear-adjacent region - making bears easier to bear. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! New York residents and visitors in areas with bear populations are asked to pay attention to their bird feeders this spring, as bears emerge from hibernation. When they resume activity, their fat reserves depleted, they'll be hungry. The DEC says bear populations should be expected to get any manmade food resources they can get their paws on.Split seeds should be cleaned up from around feeders, and bird populations should be allowed to forage for themselves, through the warmer months and into the fall, to avoid attracting unwanted bears. The DEC also advises care...

Car hits MoDOT work truck along highway in Wentzville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. - An investigation is underway after a car hit a MoDOT work truck Friday morning along a highway in Wentzville. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says no one was hurt in this collision. The driver of the car was sent to a hospital as a precaution. Trending: Cardinals selling $9 tickets in one-day flash sale Friday The crash happened on U.S. Route 61 near the Pitman Avenue exit. Traffic is backed up in both directions as crews work to clear the scene of the crash. MoDOT confirms that the work truck was in the area working on some bridge deck repairs before it was struck. Additional details are limited at this time. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

St. Louis Family Dollar window smashed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police are on the scene of a possible smash-and-grab burglary in south St. Louis. Officers arrived to the Family Dollar in the 5000 block of Virginia Avenue around 5:30 a.m. Friday. Police responded to a report of a "window smashing" at the location. Top Story: Fenton clerk recounts terrifying gunpoint robbery and assault It is not clear if there was anything taken after the window was smashed. Police say this incident is still under investigation.