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Austin Police Oversight: What you need to know heading into Election Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin will vote on two individual police oversight measures Saturday. The two measures, one backed by a political action committee that focuses on public safety and the other by the police association, have very similar language but oppose each other. The propositions are expected to be decided by less than 10 percent of voters, said Brian Smith, a professor of political sciences at St. Edward's. He also noted people in Leander that also fall within Austin city limits could impact the results. "They have a bond election that affects people's taxes, that affects how much they're paying, that affects their schools. So that part of the city has more incentive to come and vote because not only are they voting on police oversight, but on the future of their school district," Smith said. Breaking down the ballot measuresOne petition was put forth by the advocacy group Equity Action. It calls for, among other things, the Office of Police Oversight to have more access to c...

Missouri lawmakers pass $50B state budget, key step to expand Interstate 70

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Interstate 70 will be expanded to three lanes across the state as part of a roughly $50 billion state budget approved Friday by lawmakers.Republican lawmakers took up GOP Gov. Mike Parson's January call to pour money into I-70 this year, and they went even further than he initially requested.Instead of targeting only the most congested areas of the highway in urban areas as Parson proposed, the Legislature went big and set aside $2.8 billion to complete lane expansions from St. Louis to Kansas City. Trending: Kim Gardner supporters upset; some not surprised by her resignation “This represents the single greatest investment into our transportation network in the state's history,” Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith said.The governor appears likely to sign off on the highway plan. Parson's spokeswoman, Kelli Jones, in a Friday email said funding for the project is “well spent money.”The budget also prioritizes funding for pre-K...

Strawberry season starts strong for St. Louis-area farmers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - Early May is the start of the fruit crop seasons here at our local farms, many which are gearing up for people to pick their own strawberries as soon as this weekend. At Eckert’s Farm in Belleville, strawberry season offically kicks off Saturday. “It looks like a great crop, which I think then is a great indicator for the rest of the year," said Jill Tantillo, Vice President at Eckert’s. If the strawberries are good, then the rest of the year’s going to be great.”  Top Story: St. Louis circuit attorney resigns amid controversy Tantillo says that they love bringing families out to the farm, so they can see how strawberries are grown and of course do some sampling right off the bush. “You can’t get any better than that," said Tantillo. "The strawberries we buy the rest of the year in the store, they’re good. But there’s nothing better than right off the plant,” she said. Tantillo says they’ll be open this weekend, but their full season starts next weekend, along w...

Long Beach man drives to Utah to kill brother, set fire to his home before dying in police shootout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

A Long Beach man apparently drove 12 hours to Utah to kill his brother and set fire to his home before he died in a shootout with police, authorities said.The man was identified by the Weber County Attorney's Office as Jeffrey Roberts, 66. Investigators believe Roberts drove to North Ogden, Utah with the intention of killing his brother, Scott. Doorbell camera and police body camera footage show the moments leading up to the deadly shooting and the chaotic moments that followed.On April 27, around 7:10 p.m., Scott Roberts and his wife, Jodi, were eating dinner when Jeffrey arrived at their front door, authorities said.Jeffrey Roberts, 66, can be seen on the Ring camera of his brother Scott's home moments after Jeffrey opened fire and killed him on April 27, 2023. (Weber County Attorney's Office)In the video captured by Scott's Ring doorbell camera, a brief conversation between the two brothers ends in gunfire when Jeffrey pulls out a handgun and begins shooting. Both Scott and his w...

Supreme Court halts execution of Oklahoma convict Glossip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

By Tierney Sneed | CNNThe US Supreme Court on Friday put on hold the execution of Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma death row inmate whose capital conviction the state attorney general has said he could no longer support.The latest round of litigation was brought to the Supreme Court by Glossip, with the support of the Oklahoma Attorney’s General office, who asked for his May 18 execution to be set aside.The emergency hold on his execution will stay in place while the justices consider his request that they formally take up his case.There were no noted dissents from Friday’s order. Justice Neil Gorsuch did not participate in Friday’s ruling.Glossip has maintained his innocence, having been convicted in 1998 of capital murder for ordering the killing of his boss.A review launched by Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general found that prosecutors had failed to disclose evidence to Glossip that they were obligated to produce and that the evidence showed that the prosec...

Ex-SF fire commissioner being investigated for bear spray attacks on homeless people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Former San Francisco fire commissioner Don Carmignani is now under investigation for a string of bear spray attacks on unhoused people. San Francisco police commissioners had some questions for Police Chief Bill Scott regarding that development and why the public wasn't made aware of these attacks sooner. No plea deals for alleged Jasper Wu killers, Alameda County DA says At a recent San Francisco Police Commission meeting, Scott faced questions about the eight bear spray attacks, which date back to November 2021. Scott says information reported that the suspect description in each case is the same is not accurateAccording to San Francisco police investigators, the suspect is described predominantly as male. In one incident, the suspect is reported to be female. Race has been described as white or Hispanic, age between 30 to 50, and weight from as low as 160 up to 300 pounds.These bear spray attacks came to light during a recent criminal proceeding at the H...

Slingsby, Aussies go for SailGP 3-peat and another $1M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

Sometime late Sunday afternoon on San Francisco Bay, with the Golden Gate Bridge looming in the background, one of the world’s best sailing crews will spray each other with Champagne and be handed a check for $1 million as the champion of SailGP’s third season.Odds favor it being Tom Slingsby and his deeply experienced Team Australia, who will be going for a three-peat in tech tycoon Larry Ellison’s global league aboard their foiling 50-foot catamaran nicknamed the Flying Roo for the big yellow kangaroo on the wingsail. They are the only crew to have clinched a spot in the three-boat Grand Final going into the San Francisco regatta.The other two spots will be determined by three fleet races Saturday and two more Sunday. Slingsby’s rival from across the Tasman Sea, Peter Burling of New Zealand, who is the two-time reigning America’s Cup champion helmsman, is sitting comfortably in second place in the season standings and must finish no worse than fifth i...

Correction: Atlanta Shooting story

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — In a story published May 3, 2023, about shootings at an Atlanta medical practice, The Associated Press erroneously reported, based on a statement from Atlanta Police Chief Darrin Schierbaum, that a woman named Amy St. Pierre who was killed was 39. She was 38.Source

Man arrested for deadly shooting and fire in Prince George’s Co.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

The Prince George’s County Police Department charged a man Friday in connection with a deadly shooting and apartment fire in Hyattsville, Maryland.Police arrived at the 6100 block of 42nd Avenue at around 2:05 p.m. Wednesday to assist county firefighters that were battling a kitchen fire inside a 3-story garden apartment building.Roger Neal, 56, of Hyattsville, was found by firefighters and pronounced dead at the scene. He had been shot, according to police.In a statement, police said 40-year-old Lanham resident Marcel Billups shot Neal during an argument before starting the fire in the residence. Billups and Neal knew each other before the alleged murder took place, officials said.Police charged Billups with first and second degree murder, arson and related charges. He is in custody in Washington, D.C., and awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County.Anyone with additional information relevant to this investigation is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512. ...

Harper gets extended ovation in return to Philly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:47 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper was saluted with a 25-second standing ovation prior to his first at-bat in Friday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox.Harper was playing his first game in Philadelphia since he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in the offseason.Under baseball’s new rules, players need to be in the batter’s box and ready to hit with eight seconds remaining on the pitch clock or they will be charged with a strike. Exceptions to the rule must be granted by Major League Baseball, and the Phillies requested extra time for Harper’s return.Phillies fans gave Harper a loud ovation and chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” before Harper’s at-bat. He went on to strike out swinging against Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale.Harper was playing his third game since returning from surgery. He last played in Philadelphia on Nov. 3, when Philadelphia lost 3-2 to Houston in Game 5 of the World Series. Two nights later, the Astros won the series in Houston.The ...