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George Santos unveils MINAJ Act to limit vaccine mandates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

(The Hill) - Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) is giving a nod to Nicki Minaj’s famous COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, appearing to name a new bill after the rapper.The “Medical Information Nuanced Accountability Judgement Act,” or MINAJ Act, H.R. 2631, introduced Tuesday by Santos, would prohibit the federal government from imposing “any mandate requiring an individual to receive a vaccine that has not been authorized for marketing for at least ten years unless a public health emergency is declared.”Santos’s office didn’t immediately confirm to ITK that the legislation’s name served as an homage-of-sorts to the “Super Freaky Girl” singer. News of the bill was first reported by Semafor.In 2021, Minaj made headlines and was widely mocked after sharing on social media that her cousin’s account of his friend’s vaccination played a part in her decision not to receive a shot protecting herself against the coronavirus.“My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it...

Middle-income households gained $122,000 in home value after decade of soaring prices, analysis finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

(The Hill) - Home price growth over the past decade drastically increased the wealth of homeowners across all income levels, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).NAR’s report found the value of homes middle-income homeowners purchased rose by more than $122,000 since 2012 — a gain of 68 percent. Low-income and upper-income homeowners accumulated $98,900 and $150,800 in higher home values, respectively.Homeowners who lived in some of the nation’s most expensive metros, like San Jose, Calif., saw the largest gains. In the San Jose metro, low-income owners have accumulated nearly $630,000 in the last decade, and middle-income owners gained $643,000, according to the report. For the report, NAR used the American Community Survey’s Public Microdata Sample to estimate the homeownership rate and the median home value of homes owned across the income spectrum and racial and ethnic groups at the national and metro level. "This analysis show...

'It was moving': Austin-area mom finds worms in 8-month-old baby's formula

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After weeks of feeding her baby boy formula, Jessica Chavez noticed something wasn't right. "I was scooping up some formula and then I noticed something black inside the powder," she said. "So, I got it out, and it was moving. "That's when I noticed it was a worm."Chavez said she bought "Enfamil NueroPro Gentlease Infant formula—Brain Building Nutrition, Clinically Proven to Reduce Fussiness, Gas, Cryng in 24 hours, 35.2 oz, Power Refill Box (Pack 4)," on Amazon on February 25, 2023. Screenshot from Jessica Chavez's Amazon account, showing formula she purchased. When she found the worms, she immediately called Enfamil, and told KXAN her call was escalated and she was offered a refund. 8-month-old Amado Cristobol Mendoza, Jessica Chavez's son. (Photo by: Jessica Chavez).Mead Johnson Nutrition is the maker of Enfamil formulas. In a statement the company said: "At Reckitt/Mead Johnson we take these complaints very seriously. We received the consumer complaint, have been...

In a rare move, Texas lawmakers hear more than a dozen firearm safety bills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — In a rare move, a group of Texas lawmakers are hearing more than a dozen bills related to firearm safety in a committee hearing on Tuesday.More than 100 people signed up to testify during the House Select Committee on Community Safety, including families members of victims from the Uvalde and Santa Fe school shootings.Lawmakers will consider 18 different bills that all pertain to firearm safety and creating certain penalties for misuse of such weapons. Several Uvalde families drove to Austin to testify in favor of House Bill 2744, which was written by their district's legislator, Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville.King's bill would make it a felony for a person to transfer a semi-automatic rifle to someone under the age of 21. ’21 for 21′: Hundreds join Uvalde survivors at Texas Capitol to call for gun safety His bill is one of many that will likely face a steep climb toward passage in the Republican-controlled Legislature. In a February exclusive sit-down intervie...

With tacos and a burger concept, Centro is set to open in Highland Park on April 28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

Popular Minneapolis fast-casual restaurant Centro is opening its first St. Paul location on April 28 in Highland Park, and Everywhen Burger Bar, the restaurant’s smashburger concept, will share the space.Along with Centro’s taco-centric menu and a central bar for margaritas and other cocktails, there’ll also be a pastry case and homemade ice cream sandwiches. The space will be divided by a plant wall and include a sidewalk patio for outdoor seating.Centro’s Northeast Minneapolis location. (Courtesy of Kevin Kramer)Owner Jami Olson — herself a St. Paul resident — runs a growing roster of interconnected restaurant concepts centered around Centro, which currently has locations in Northeast Minneapolis and on Eat Street. Besides Centro and Everywhen, the company also operates Vivir, a market and bakery; Escondido, an agave tasting room; and Hippo Pockets, a new delivery-only brand riffing off Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme.The plan to bring Centro to Highland Park has ...

Pimento Jamaican Kitchen to open new downtown St. Paul location this spring — with a rooftop patio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

A bit of Jamaica is coming to Wabasha Street this spring, with an outdoor rooftop lounge just in time for patio season.Pimento Jamaican Kitchen plans to open their newest location in downtown St. Paul at the address formerly home to Taco Libre and American Burger Bar. It’ll be Pimento’s third spot, joining their flagship on Eat Street in Minneapolis and an outpost at Keg and Case Market in St. Paul. Pimento was also chosen as a new tenant for this summer’s remodeled Bde Maka Ska concessions pavilion in Minneapolis, too.Assuming all goes well, founder Tomme Beevas said, we can expect Pimento to open downtown within the next month or two.The food menu will be similar to Pimento’s other locations, though as part of the Bde Maka Ska expansion, Beevas plans to add fried chicken and fish dishes across several locations. But the St. Paul location will also feature a 32-tap beer wall, which will include the classic Jamaican beer Red Stripe and a few tropical cocktails like rum punch and mai...

Meet the East Metro’s 2023 Athena Award winners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

The 28th annual St. Paul-Area Athena Awards luncheon will be held Wednesday at the St. Paul RiverCentre.Ashley Ellis-Milan will serve as the event’s keynote speaker, while KARE 11-TV’s Randy Shaver will emcee.The awards are presented to senior, female student-athletes who display excellence in athletics and academics.Here are the award-winners from East Metro high schools:MARIE MORANSchool: Apple ValleyAthletics: Hockey: all-conference. Lacrosse: honorable mention all-conferenceAcademics/other: Student council, youth hockey mentor, food shelf volunteerCollege choice: St. Cloud StateLAUREN O’HARASchool: CentennialAthletics: Hockey: all-state, Ms. Hockey finalist. Lacrosse: honorable mention all-conferenceAcademics/other: National Honor Society, peer leader, youth hockey student coachCollege choice: MinnesotaMAEVE LINDSAYSchool: CentralAthletics: Cross Country: all-conference. Nordic Skiing: all-conference honorable mention. Track and Field. Biathlon: National Guard ...

Twin Cities chef Sean Sherman named one of the world’s most influential people by Time Magazine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

Twin Cities chef and Indigenous foods advocate Sean Sherman has been named to Time Magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.Sherman runs the acclaimed Minneapolis restaurant Owamni, which focuses on Native foodways and won a national James Beard award for best new restaurant in 2022. The chef, a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, is also the author of several cookbooks including “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen.”“I am thrilled to accept this honor on behalf of my ancestors, who lived in balance with the natural world,” Sherman said in a news release. “The foodways that sustained our Indigenous ancestors have the potential to rebalance and heal our bodies, weave connections within our communities, and bring harmony to our relationship with the planet.”Sherman’s nonprofit North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems, or NATIFS, also operates the Indigenous Food Lab, a training kitchen at Midtown Global M...

The big hit from Matt Dumba in Game 1 that changed Wild-Stars playoff series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

DALLAS — Wild star Matt Dumba has always had a penchant for delivering big hits. To his credit, regardless of the situation, Dumba has almost always been able to do it within the parameters of the rulebook.In the final month of the regular season, for example, Dumba twice lived on the edge during separate games with big hits on Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov and Pittsburgh Penguins winger Drew O’Connor. Both left the opposing player face down on the ice. Neither elicited a trip to the penalty box.Which set the stage for Dumba’s big hit in Game 1 against the Dallas Stars on Monday night at American Airlines Center. With the action funneling beneath the goal line, Dumba lined up Stars winger Joe Pavelski, then finished his check at full speed, which resulted in a shoulder-to-shoulder collision.The immediate aftermath was sobering as Pavelski’s head slammed into the ice in the process of him falling. He stayed face down for a few seconds before struggling...

MN Senate passes bill aimed at training refinery workers following St. Paul Park asphalt spill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

The Minnesota Senate passed a bill on Monday requiring the use of skilled contractors at refineries.Authored by Minnesota Sen. Judy Seeberger, the bill requires at least 30 percent of refinery workers to be trained through an apprenticeship program.“Refineries are inherently dangerous facilities with high stakes if something goes wrong, and we’ve seen all too clearly the risks from accidents that have occurred in recent weeks,” said Seeberger, a Democrat who represents District 41, in a news release.A Marathon Petroleum refinery in St. Paul Park spilled around 20,000 gallons of hot liquid asphalt at the end of March when contractors were performing routine maintenance.Two contractors were taken to the hospital with asphalt burns and released later the same day, according to a statement from Marathon.“While we cannot guarantee the prevention of accidents, we can ensure that we are doing everything we can to make sure the workers at these facilities have the best training available to...