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Walz signs bill aimed at curbing catalytic converter thefts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

It will soon be illegal in Minnesota to possess a used catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle unless it has the vehicle’s identification number written on it.That’s the thrust of a bill signed Thursday by Gov. Tim Walz that aims to curb the dramatic rise in catalytic converter thefts. Thieves can strip the pollution control devices from vehicles in minutes, leaving owners with an average bill of $2,600 to replace it.Catalytic converters are a sought after because they contain rare earth metals that are more valuable than gold. The legislation also creates new rules for scrap yards where the devices are often sold.“Catalytic converter theft has hit thousands Minnesotans, costing them thousands of dollars — and substantial time — to replace,” Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, said in a statement. “Enactment of this new law will help reverse the explosion in thefts.”Theft of the devices has skyrocketed over the last few ...

Damar Hamlin 'has every intention to play' this season, Bills GM says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Bills safety Damar Hamlin is "dialed in" and intends to play this coming season, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Thursday, two and a half months since Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin said around the time of the Super Bowl that he would like to return to football "eventually." Beane's comments were the strongest to date indicating Hamlin could suit up for the Bills in 2023."Had a great visit with him a couple days ago and he's in great spirits," Beane said. "He's off the 'world tour' that he and I laughed about with all the sporting events [Hamlin was invited to] and everything else. He's dialed in. He definitely has every intention to play." 26 Shirts raises record-breaking amount for Hamlin design Hamlin was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing during the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. The game was canceled. Hamlin was held in intensi...

Mishandled evidence leads to murder case dismissal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Defendant Levi Henning is no longer charged with the first-degree murder of former Parkway student Carieal Doss.FOX 2 asked the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office on March 14 why the case is not in court records. We found out the reason Thursday when we showed up to court.We originally reported on the murder behind a Baptist church in 2020. Doss was found shot in the head on a Franklin Avenue sidewalk in April of that year. The 18-year-old student was about to graduate from Parkway West High School. FOX 2 has now learned the murder charges against the accused were dropped after allegations the Circuit Attorney’s Office failed to turn over evidence. Third teenage boy arrested in killing of Lake St. Louis girl “There’s only two ways that can happen; one is gross negligence," said W. David Mueller, Henning's attorney. "It’s willful denial of my client’s constitutional rights.”Mueller was in court with the intention of arguing his motion to dismiss until the case was drop...

Iron County sheriff, deputies charged in criminal conspiracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

POTOSI, Mo. - Iron County Sheriff Jeffery Burkett has been charged in a criminal conspiracy involving a kidnapping plot. Two of Burkett's deputies and an Iron County resident were also charged. The Washington County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is handling the case. IBurkett and deputies Chase Bresnahan and Matthew Cozard are accused of aiding Donald Gaston to allegedly kidnap his children from their mother.The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control arrested the four men on Thursday. Third teenage boy arrested in killing of Lake St. Louis girl Burkett, 46, was charged with knowingly participating in criminal street gang activities, conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felonies or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years, first-degree attempted kidnapping - facilitating a felony - inflicting injury - terrorizing, first-degree accessory to stalking, second-degree stalking, obtaining criminal history record information under false pretense, misusing 911, and ma...

March Madness: Previewing NCAA Tournament games at Ball Arena in Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

A look at the NCAA Tournament matchups set for Friday at Ball Arena in downtown Denver.No. 3 Baylor (22-10) vs No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (27-7)Time/TV: 11:30 a.m., TNTBaylorUC Santa BarbaraKenpom ranking14103Adjusted off. efficiency (rank)121.8 (2)111.2 (71)Adjusted def. efficiency (rank)101.8 (105)104.8 (168)Schedule strength12.84 (5)-2.65 (225)Players to watch: Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, sr. — Freshman Keyonte George might be the NBA Lottery pick, but Flagler is the steady hand for the Bears. A dead-eye shooter from 3-point range (40.3%) and perimeter playmaker (4.7 apg), the all-Big 12 pick could be a second-round steal. Ajay Mitchell, UCSB, 6-4, so. — The Belgium national was named Big West player of the year after averaging 16.4 points and 5.1 assists on a hyper-efficient 50.9% shooting from the field. His 3-point stroke is average, but his decision-making, ball control and finishing ability are exceptional.About Baylor: Two years removed from winning a national title in th...

Kiszla: We need to see Gonzaga hoops in Colorado on the regular, as member of Pac-12 Conference

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

With the cool kids in California bolting the Pac-12 Conference, the CU Buffs need a new buddy to keep the conference relevant and solvent.Enter Gonzaga. Please. The Pac-12 needs to make the Zags a membership offer they can’t refuse.During a time of crazy upheaval in college athletics, where it’s all about the Benjamins and brand names rule, why hasn’t the ailing Pac-12 scooped up the Gonzaga hoops program to restore luster to a conference that has seen better days?“That’s a question for them, not for me,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said Thursday when I asked about the possibility of the Zags moving on from the West Coast Conference to a league desperately in need of an injection of a big-name brand after losing UCLA and USC to the Big Ten.OK, consider this a direct plea to Commissioner George Kliavkoff and self-righteous presidents of the universities remaining in a league formerly known as the conference of champions:Are you too good academically for Gonzaga? Are the Huskies and Cougar...

No. 15 seed Princeton uses late run to stun 2 seed Arizona

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

By The Associated PressSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Langborg lifted Princeton to its first lead with 2:03 to play and the Tigers used a late-game run to earn their first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, topping No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 on Thursday.The 15th-seeded Tigers (22-9) scored the final nine points, holding the Pac-12 Tournament champion scoreless over the final 4:43.Tosan Evbuomwan scored 15 points in Princeton’s first tournament victory since beating UNLV in 1998 when current coach Mitch Henderson was a player for the Tigers.Princeton advanced to play seventh-seeded Missouri in the second round of the South Region.Azuolas Tubelis scored 21 points for the Wildcats (28-7), who haven’t won a tournament game in consecutive years since 2014-15.It marked the third straight year and 11th time overall that a No. 15 seed won a first-round game. Arizona is the only school to be on the wrong end of one of those upsets twice, also losing to Steve Nash and Santa Clar...

Broncos re-sign safety, special teams stalwart P.J. Locke after brief free agency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

Denver is bringing another familiar face back from its 2022 defense.The Broncos on Thursday announced they re-signed safety P.J. Locke after declining to tender him as a restricted free agent before the new league year began a day earlier. Locke, 26, will return for a fourth season in Denver after briefly hitting the free-agent market Wednesday afternoon. Locke has appeared in 47 career games over his first three NFL seasons and last year served mainly as a special teams player and “dime” defensive back. He also served as one of Denver’s core special teams players.Locke was originally a restricted free agent, meaning Denver needed to guarantee at least $2.627 million in order to have the right to match another team’s offer. The Broncos didn’t tender any of its restricted free agents at that level but got Locke back a day later anyway. Terms of the contract were not immediately available.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Kiszla: Broncos have be...

PHOTOS: NCAA Tournament practice sessions begin at Ball Arena as March Madness comes to Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

College basketball teams and fans began to descend on Denver Thursday as Ball Arena prepares to host first and second-round NCAA Tournament games on Friday and Sunday. Teams participating in the first-round games in downtown Denver held practices and press conferences on Thursday ahead of the tournament.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | Princeton stuns Arizona 59-55 in March Madness College Sports | March Madness: NCAA Tournament practice sessions open Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver College Sports | Want tickets to NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena? Some face-value seats may become available Thursday. College Sports | Back to work: CU Buffs women’s basketball begins NCAA Tournament prep College Sports | Coors Light debuts beer-flavored popsicles for March Madness

Innocent driver hurt when L.A. police chase ends in crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:56:43 GMT

An innocent driver suffered minor injuries when a police pursuit ended with a dramatic crash in L.A.’s Jefferson Park neighborhood Thursday afternoon.According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the chase started around 2:25 p.m. somewhere on Figuroa Street when officers tried to stop a driver in a stolen black sedan.The chase continued until the suspect slammed into another vehicle at the Arlington Avenue entrance to the 10 Freeway. Sky5 video showed the innocent driver's car on its side next to an embankment. An innocent driver was injured when a police pursuit ended with a dramatic crash in L.A.’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. March 16, 2023. (KTLA)The driver was treated at the scene for her injuries.Sky5 reporters Gil Leyvas says several people got out of the stolen vehicle and ran away. One person was taken into custody and officers were searching for two others as of 3:00 p.m., Leyvas said.