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Minnesota prosecutors drop state sex charges against R&B singer R. Kelly, citing federal convictions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota prosecutors have dropped sex abuse charges against disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly that alleged he invited a 17-year-old girl to his hotel room in 2001 and paid her $200 to dance naked with him.The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said in a statement Tuesday that it believes her and that Kelly would likely be convicted if tried, but prosecuting him on charges that had been dormant since being filed in 2019 wouldn't make a difference now that Kelly's federal convictions could keep him in prison for the rest of his life. Singer R. Kelly moved to North Carolina prison from Chicago “The overwhelming impact of proceeding to trial in this case on the survivor victim, the community, and the Hennepin County legal system would be enormous while a conviction would not add any additional time in prison,” the statement said.The woman Kelly allegedly abused in Minnesota wanted to testify at a trial anyway, her lawyer said.Attorney Gloria Allred issued a state...

Olympic figure skating champion Sarah Hughes files to run for Congress

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

(The Hill) - Sara Hughes, a former Olympic figure skating champion, has filed to run for Congress in her home state of New York. A campaign spokesperson confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday that Hughes plans to run in her Long Island district as a Democrat. “Born and raised on Long Island, Sarah is concerned about where we’re headed, whether it’s rising prices, public safety and gun violence, or threats to women's health," Hughes spokesperson Max Kramer said in statement to The Hill. He also said Hughes plans to put the “pieces into place to make an announcement in the next few weeks.” Hughes, 38, plans to run in New York's fourth district for a seat now held by freshman Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.) D'Esposito flipped the seat to Republicans last year after Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) declined to run for another term.The Cook Political Report lists the district as GOP toss-up. It's one of several GOP-held seats in New York that Democrats will be looking to win back in 2024 as...

Stolen military medals returned but decades-long crime remains unsolved

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Springfield Armory National Historic Site has recovered 24 Marksmanship Medals from the 19th century. The return of the artifacts has done little to explain why they were stolen from a local community college campus decades ago. Credit: U.S. Attorney's OfficeMilan and Freeman Bull, two brothers that worked at the armory for more than 50 years, were awarded medals from marksmanship competitions across the world in the late 1800s. Milan and Freeman were part of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. In 1944, the medals were donated by Freeman's daughter to the Springfield Armory, which is now located on the campus of Springfield Technical Community College.Several decades ago, the medals were unlawfully taken and have been missing ever since. Then in October 2021, a private collector from Tennessee called the Springfield Armory about medals that he had recently acquired. It was discovered that those medals matched the description of the stolen medals. The...

Biden signals willingness to compromise on work requirements

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

President Biden signaled on Wednesday that he would be willing to work with House Republicans on a compromise when it comes to work requirements for government assistance programs but cautioned that he wouldn't support a major overhaul on such mandates. Biden expressed optimism that the U.S. would not default on its debts as he prepared to leave the White House for a trip to Japan, saying he and congressional leaders were working on the contours of a budget deal that would be acceptable to all sides.One of the key sticking points in those talks has been calls from Republicans for tougher work requirements for government assistance programs. But, Biden indicated he would not support a significant change.“I’m not going to accept any work requirements that’s going to impact on the medical health needs of people; I’m not going to accept any work requirements that go much beyond what is already — I voted years ago for the work requirements that exist. But, it’s possible there could be a ...

Dr. Pepper ice cream? Blue Bell teases new flavor, hints at collab with soda company

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

(KXAN) -- What do Texas, noted author John Green and Blue Bell have in common? An affinity for Dr. Pepper, it seems. Blue Bell teased a new flavor in a video posted on Twitter Tuesday, leading to speculation that it has something to do with Dr. Pepper. While the ice cream company didn't overtly say it has anything to do with the soda, the video's caption, which depicted a Dr. Pepper-colored deep red can of soda being poured, did say, "The sound of 23 flavors."Dr. Pepper, John Green's favorite soda company, is a Texas-based company known for having 23 flavors packed into one soda. MORE: Made in Texas: Viewers name the top Texas brands, businesses they love Blue Bell is also a Texas-based company, headquartered in Brenham, which is between Austin and Houston. So, it would make sense for the companies to collaborate, especially considering the love and popularity of ice cream floats. Plus, Whataburger, another Texas company, and Dr. Pepper collaborated earlier this year to release a...

Food Truck Festival returning to East Greenbush

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The second annual Food Truck Festival is returning to East Greenbush on June 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The festival takes places at the First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush at 1 Gilligan Road. The event features live music, face painting, corn hole and kids' activities. The East Greenbush Police and Fire Department will also be in attendance.FoodLivin' the Dream Food CartNick's LighthouseHeisenburger Food TruckIce Cream StationMichele's Lemonade and Fried Dough New HGTV show set in the Hudson Valley The event will go on rain or shine. Attendees can bring a chair to watch the local musicians perform.

31st Annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Fishing Derby fundraiser returns to Pittsfield

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The 31st Annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby will be held at the Frank Controy Pavillion at Onota Lake on June 3. No fishing license is required as the derby will be held during Massachusetts' free fishing weekend. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The derby is open to the public and runs from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. The annual fundraiser raises money for the Jimmy Fund - Dana Farber Cancer Institute for Children. All proceeds will be donated in memory of Harry A. Bateman, a former member of Central Berkshire Bowman & I.U.E. Local 255 who was well known throughout Berkshire County and who became a victim of cancer in 1992.The fee to enter is $10 for adults and $5 for children 14 years and younger. All participants will receive a wristband during registration. All children will receive a free gift, and a child 5-14 years old will get a chance to take home a mountain bike. Pit...

Hazy skies from Canadian wildfire smoke making Missouri sunsets pop

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

Western wildfire smoke in the MidwestST. LOUIS -- Beautiful spring weather is on tap the next two days, with one major exception. A thick plume of high-altitude smoke has arrived over the Midwest. It originates from wildfires in western Canada. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here North American wildfire smoke from satellite The hazy skies will make for some very colorful sunrises and sunsets the next few days. It's high enough that it should not have any sensible impact on us at the surface other than to perhaps knock off a couple of degrees from our afternoon high temperatures. The smoke is clearly visible from the morning satellite images. Goat senior prank ends Missouri athlete's competition The smoke was carried south to the Bi-State region on upper level winds. The smoke is high in the atmosphere, so this should not impact those with breathing conditions.

Cardinals promote Liberatore, shifting to six-man starting rotation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals will promote young pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore for his first big-league start of the season Wednesday, moving to a six-man starting rotation during a busy stretch of action. Liberatore will start Wednesday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. The former first-round pick has impressed with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, compiling a 4-1 record and a 3.13 ERA over eight starts this season. RELATED - Tatum & Tkachuk: Once STL kids in the same gym class, now onto conference finals Nearly one-quarter through the 2023 season, the timing of Liberatore's promotion is intriguing. The starting pitching staff, missing Adam Wainwright for the first month of the season, has struggled to find consistency early and go deep into games, only tossing nine quality starts. Liberatore, meanwhile, tossed at least five innings in each of his Memphis starts, holding opponents to two runs or fewer five times through April. Given that, and a pitchi...

Vandalism knocks out Charter Spectrum in southern Jefferson County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:06 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. - Vandalism is being blamed for a temporary loss of service for Charter Spectrum customers in southern Jefferson County.According to Kim Haas, senior direction of regional communications at Charter, the incident happened around 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Charter filed a police report with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Internet, television, and phone service was out for customers as technical crews worked throughout the night to repair the damaged fiber optic cables.A fiber optic cable may contain hundreds of strands. When a cable is cut, each strand must be spliced back together before services can be restored. If a line is cut in several spots, that requires additional splicing and is even more time-consuming.The cables were repair and service restored by late Wednesday morning.The type of vandalism was not disclosed.