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Obituary: Former St. Paul City Council Member Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Megard remembered for ‘tireless’ community work

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

Family and former colleagues of a longtime St. Paul activist and former city council member are remembering her for community work and a strong belief in government’s ability to improve lives.Two-term Council Member Roberta “Bobbi” Megard died Nov. 16 at age 87. Megard represented northwestern St. Paul’s 4th Ward on the council after being elected in 1993, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1997 and 2001.One of her lasting marks is on downtown housing, said Ann Cieslak, who was a legislative aide to Megard for four years. Cieslak remembers Megard making early calls for more housing in the struggling downtown district, which has since seen significant residential development.Megard was an advocate for affordable housing as well as a critic of former Mayor Norm Coleman’s unwillingness to raise property taxes, something she said would only shift problems to future St. Paul residents, Cieslak said.Megard was a frequent foil to Coleman, who was elected in 1993 as a Democrat but became a...

Cody Schrader runs for 217 yards and a TD, No. 9 Missouri beats Arkansas 48-14

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Cody Schrader ran for 217 yards and a touchdown and No. 9 Missouri limited Arkansas to 87 yards in the first three quarters to help the Tigers win their regular-season finale, 48-14 on Friday.Missouri (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) had it best regular-season record since 2014 to likely secure a berth in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games.Schrader ran for 194 yards and a TD in the first half as the Tigers built a 20-0 lead against the overmatched Razorbacks (4-8, 1-7). Brady Cook had a 6-yard run in the half and threw two TD passes.Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson went down on the first play of the Razorbacks' second drive. Jefferson took off up the middle for a gain of 22 yards, but was twisted up when he was tackled and had to be helped off the field, nursing a lower-leg injury.Missouri took advantage of five Arkansas fumbles, including one on Jefferson’s injury, recovering four and turning them into 24 points. The last turnover came as Jacolby Cri...

Christmas past coming back to life in St. Charles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

ST CHARLES, Mo. -- Trees lining Old Main Street are trimmed, and holiday traditions are kicking off for the St. Charles Christmas Tradition’s 50th season.Pipers were piping as drummers were drumming, all as Santa's started strolling. Kicking off the tradition that’s been around for ages, the start of the season was clearer to see on Black Friday afternoon.“This is truly a tradition for many families, and we love the fact that we get to see the same people, new people, and people from all over the world. They to come to this event; it's heartwarming," said Debbie Ladd, the Managing Director of St. Charles Christmas Traditions.There are 33 Christmas actors along Old Main Street, and you can collect character cards during their skits. The event runs until December 24th. Learn more here.

Gov. Parson pardons more than any Missouri governor since the 1940's

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Governor Mike Parson has pardoned more than 600 people in the past three years. That's more than any Missouri governor since the 1940's.Parson is a former sheriff; he says he still believes in law and order and that criminals must be held accountable. But he adds, "It doesn't mean they've been criminal all their lives.""I think it's important to me that we set a standard so people know what happens when you commit a crime. There are going to be consequences. You've learned to accept that, and once you realize that, yeah, I made a mistake," said Gov. Mike Parson.So far, Gov. Parson has granted 613 pardons and commuted 20 sentences. He has also denied about 2,400 clemency requests.

Wonderlights returns to World Wide Technology Raceway

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

MADISON, Ill. -- For the fourth year in a row, World Wide Technology Raceway is hosting the Wonderlights Christmas Festival, a spectacular light show that dazzles those driving through the show. Emily Fleenor is the marketing director and says the holiday season is the highlight of the year for her family."This all started because our family loved to load up in the car and drive around our community and look at everyone's beautiful Christmas displays that they had on their homes," said Fleenor.The track has millions of individual lights that are set to go on and off to a wide variety of Christmas songs, from all-time classics to Christmas-themed versions of iconic songs. Another St. Louis resident loses property via Recorder of Deeds Office "You tune in your car radio to 89.5 FM, and as you drive through the lights, you're going to see the lights are actually dancing to the music all around you," said Fleenor.It took about six weeks to assemble the scene. Visitors will see dancing...

Stolen vehicle suspect arrested after pursuit in downtown L.A.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

A stolen vehicle suspect was arrested after a pursuit through downtown Los Angeles Friday night. Los Angeles police officers tried to pull the suspect over after spotting the reported stolen vehicle. The driver refused to yield leading officers on a chase, police said.The pursuit wound through surface streets at relatively slow speeds, with the suspect driving on the wrong side of the road at times.A pit maneuver eventually disabled the vehicle, spinning it out near South Figueroa Street and Figueroa Drive. The male suspect then stepped out of the vehicle, laid down on the road and surrendered to officers.A crowd of onlookers could be seen gathered at the scene as a large police presence was seen blocking the roads.Full video of the pursuit can be seen in the video player above.

Suspicious death investigation underway after man's body found in water in Hermosa Beach 

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

Authorities are investigating a suspicious death after the body of a man was found in the water off the Strand in Hermosa Beach Friday morning. According to the Hermosa Beach Police Department, the man had been shot, although the circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.Authorities investigating a body found in the water near Hermosa Beach on Nov. 24, 2023. (South Bay Responders)Officers responded to the 2200 block of the waterline around 7 a.m., where they located and recovered the body of a man in the water. Woman dead after vehicle crashes into lake in Orange County The victim's identity has not been released, but police said he's estimated to be in his 40s. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is assisting in the investigation, which is ongoing.Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted online or by calling 800-222-8477.Luis Zuñiga contributed to this report.

Without Steph Curry, Davidson College no match for Saint Mary’s

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

MORAGA — Steph Curry was a no-show for the rematch 15 years later, but once again Davidson brought out the best in Saint Mary’s, which snapped a three-game losing streak with an overpowering 89-55 victory on Friday afternoon.This was the first meeting between the schools since 2009, when the Gaels ended the college career of the future Warriors star with an 80-68 victory in a second-round NIT game that was as good as the hype.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | The game that ended Steph Curry’s college career was right here Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett scheduled Friday’s game for a 1 p.m. tipoff with the hope that Curry — who had a 7 p.m. home game at the Chase Center — would make an appearance.Curry said this week he hoped to get to Moraga, but wasn’t sure about the logistics or if Warriors coach Steve Kerr could be convinced.“I heard he was supposed to come out, but I didn’t see him so I had to carry the torch for him,” said Gaels senior forward Alex Ducas, ...

Letters: Saved lives | Support compromise | Respect differences | Israelis are right

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Lockdowns likelysaved many livesRe: “School closures were failure of leadership” (Page A6, Nov. 22).People who criticize the COVID lockdown because of its effect on education should be reminded that it was instituted when nearly 1,200 people a day were dying of the disease. Imagine the number of additional lives lost — and the effect on the surviving children — if there were no lockdown.It’s too bad that some memories are so short.Karen Lee CohenWalnut CreekSupport is buildingfor compromise, peaceRe: “Palestinians have prolonged conflict” and “In Mideast war, experiences of both sides valid” (Page A6, Nov. 22).Ms. Spink overgeneralizes, claiming flatly Palestinians have “rejected the offer” of a state because “they cannot accept” a Jewish one.In fact, then-Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abb...

Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard enters the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:06:00 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard will be away from the team indefinitely while he receives care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.The league and union announced Girard’s status in a joint statement Friday before the Avalanche visited the Minnesota Wild.Girard, 25, had been away from the Avalanche for personal reasons and did not play in either of their past two games. He will continue to be paid while getting treatment and can return to the team when cleared for on-ice competition by program administrators. His father, Tony, said in a social media post earlier in the day that Girard was in good hands and asked others to respect his son’s privacy.“Just to reassure everyone, we can however tell you that we are staying in touch with him and your get well soon messages are touching him immensely,” Tony Girard posted. “Our man is a fighter, a great fighter and will always honor our region and all of Quebec. Hockey is still his big ...