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Cleanup begins after fiery Minnesota ethanol derailment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

Crews have started removing contaminated soil and damaged railcars left behind by Thursday’s fiery derailment in southwest Minnesota.Authorities said Friday afternoon the ethanol fire that burned for hours had been extinguished and that local firefighters were allowed to leave after remaining on site overnight. But large water tanks and railroad firefighting equipment remained at the site to handle any flare-ups as damaged tank cars are removed.The entire town of Raymond, which is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Minneapolis, had to be evacuated after 22 cars, including 10 carrying ethanol, left the tracks. Four of the tank cars ruptured and caught fire. But the several hundred residents were allowed to return home by midday Thursday, and no injuries were reported.This latest derailment only adds to concerns nationally about railroad safety. Lawmakers and regulators want freight railroads to make changes after last month’s derailment near East Palestine, Ohio, th...

GOP donor convicted in Minnesota sex trafficking trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A formerly well-connected GOP donor was convicted Friday of enticing teenage girls with gifts, cash and money in exchange for sex.A federal jury found Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, 32, guilty of seven counts involving “commercial sex acts” with five girls ages 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old. The charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years with a maximum of life in prison.The jury will return to court Monday to determine what property the government can seize based on each conviction, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Lazzaro, who has said the charges against him were politically motivated, plans to appeal, his attorney said. His indictment led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota.His co-defendant, 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina, who formerly led the College Republicans chapter at the University of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty to two counts last year. She testified against Lazzaro. Prosecutors argued...

All female officials in women’s Final Four for 1st time ever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — The NCAA has an entirely female crew working the national semifinals and championship game at the women’s Final Four this weekend.It’s the first time that’s ever happened, according to the organization. The NCAA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX this year, which makes it fitting that there’s all-female crews.“We celebrate this accomplishment with all of those who paved a way and broken barriers as we play our role in growing this great game,” NCAA coordinator of officials Penny Davis said.Dee Kantner will be officiating her 26th Final Four while Lisa Jones will be doing her 11th. It’s the first Final Four for Katie Lukanich and Tiara Cruse.The officiating crew has a combined 293 seasons of Division I experience that includes 48 Final Four and national championship assignments. Nine of the 11 women have played college basketball, including seven former Division I players.“I hope that the student-athletes and fans see these women as ...

Wind gusts reach 90 mph near Denver: See list of Friday's top speeds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- On a day when the Denver metro area and southeast Colorado were under a red flag warning for fire danger, wind gusts topped 80 mph along the Front Range.Parts of Jefferson, Boulder and Larimer counties saw the highest wind gusts Friday. The Rocky Flats area recorded a 90 mph gust just after 3 p.m., the highest recorded in the National Weather Service's local storm reports in Colorado.Wildfires were burning Friday afternoon in Jefferson County, as well as in Aurora. The high winds tossed semitrucks off of highways, shutting down some roads. Why is Colorado so windy in the spring? The hurricane-force wind gusts were most frequent in the late morning and early afternoon Friday. A Category 1 hurricane has sustained winds of at least 74 mph.Friday's top wind gusts in ColoradoThis list includes top wind gusts as of 5:15 p.m. at locations in local storm reports through the National Weather Service.Wind GustLocation (miles)CountyTime90 mph3 SW Rocky FlatsJefferson County3...

Red Rocks concert postponed because of wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR) — Extreme winds and a nearby wildfire upended concertgoers' plans for a night at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Friday.A wildfire sparked along the hogback south of Interstate 70 in Jefferson County, near the concert venue. Pre-evacuations were issued throughout the area, with smoke visible along the highway and several acres on fire. Wildfire burning off I-70 in Jeffco, pre-evacuations issued Dabin was scheduled to headline, with supporting acts Ray Volpe, JVNA, Grabbitz and MYRNE on the bill."Morrison is under pre-evacuation fire warning so please get to safety. we tried everything we could to keep it going tonight. I'm so sorry guys," Dabin posted on Twitter.Red Rocks first closed the park to visitors and delayed the start time for Friday night's show before postponing it all together. The artist said they're working to reschedule, with refunds available for attendees."i’m so sorry i know a lot of you spent a lot of money to be here and my guilt and sadness ri...

Lakewood's new police chief starts work on Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — Lakewood's new police chief begins work on Monday, according to the city.Philip Smith has been the police chief in Roswell, New Mexico, for the last nine years, according to a release from Lakewood. He's also taught at the university level on cultural diversity, law enforcement ethics and police administration."I am honored to have been selected as Lakewood's police chief and look forward to working with the community and the Police Department to build a safer, stronger and more connected community," Smith said in a statement.The city said Smith has more than 37 years of law enforcement experience and described him as "dedicated to transparent policing" and improving police-community safety and relationships. They say he created "an innovative program" that enhanced public trust and safety in Roswell. Over a dozen SROs bound for Denver high schools, including East City Manager Kathy Hodgson hired Smith, as the city charter requires. Smith made the cut thro...

Rock musician who suffered heart attack thanks 911 dispatcher, surgeon who helped save his life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

A South Florida musician expressed his gratitude toward the 911 dispatcher and Broward Health surgeon who helped save his life after he suffered a heart attack.Rock ‘n’ roll guitarist Sal Italiano jams his bass on stage. His musical career has taken him around the world. But on Friday, there was a much quieter moment at Broward Health Medical Center.Italiano and his wife Christine thanked the people who kept his heavy metal heart beating after his medical emergency back in December.“I woke up and my husband wasn’t breathing, and I grabbed my phone and I called 911,” Christine said.Dispatcher Jason Savitt would answer that call, and what he did over the next several minutes saved Italiano’s life.“When she said he wasn’t breathing, I knew I had to get right into the CPR and help him out,” Savitt said.A new Florida law mandates that dispatchers are able to walk callers through CPR.Italiano’s surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Herskowitz, said it was the difference...

Local artist restores Worcester mural to fallen police officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

The Worcester Police Department is thanking a local artist for restoring a recently vandalized mural to fallen Officer Manny Familia, who died trying to rescue a teen from a pond in 2021.Artist Ferdinand Nazario returned to the mural on Friday to restore it after it was vandalized last week.“Mr. Nazario know how much we appreciate your talent and kindness! Thank you,” the department wrote in a release.https://twitter.com/WorcesterPD/status/1641515209050185744

Owners of big cat refuge from ‘Tiger King’ selling property

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The owners of a Florida-based sanctuary made famous by the Netflix docuseries, “ Tiger King, ” say they plan to move most of their big cats to an Arkansas facility and eventually sell their 67-acre (27-hectare) property.Howard Baskin wrote in a post on Big Cat Rescue’s website that he and his wife, Carole Baskin, had entered into an agreement with Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge to move most of their big cats to the accredited sanctuary in Arkansas.“”We have always said that our goal was to ‘put ourselves out of business,’ meaning that there would be no big cats in need of rescue and no need for the sanctuary to exist,” Howard Baskin wrote earlier this week in the post.Because recently passed federal law and a change in industry practices had reduced the size of the “cub petting” industry at roadside zoos and circuses, there were fewer big cats in need of caring, Baskin said.The cost per big cat of running t...

Remarkable Reunion: Medford dog found in NH nearly a year after going missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:14 GMT

It was a heartwarming reunion in Medford after a 5-year-old Hound/Pit mix named Bo was returned home to his owners nearly a year after going missing. “I was doing some yard work, my wife was in and out of the house, Bo was just relaxing on the patio, I went away for a little bit and he was gone,” recalled his owner, Ross Morrow, who said he and his wife had walked about 50 miles searching for their best friend.Now, 10 months later, Bo is back home after he was found wandering the streets of Pelham, New Hampshire, some 30 miles away from where he first went missing.He was brought home after investigators scanned his microchip.After Bo went missing, his family added a puppy sister to the family that he will now get to spend his time with.