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Illinois Treasurer’s office promoting ‘affordable’ private student loans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says far too many students are graduating from college with too much debt.It’s a nationwide issue Frerichs hopes to address. The treasurer’s office is partnering with the nonprofit ISL Education Lending to offer what they call “transparent and affordable private student loans.” Qualifying Illinois students and families can use the loans to attend nonprofit colleges or universities in the state of Illinois.“What we’re trying to do is partner with the private sector to offer lower interest rates. We’re not looking to compete with federally-guaranteed loans, but to supplement when there’s a funding gap,” Frerichs said.This loan program was born from the Student Investment Account Act. Passed in 2019, this legislation allows the treasurer to invest up to 5% of the state investment portfolio to provide affordable and responsible educational loan products to Illinois residents. Reported house explosion in St. Charles; 5 peopl...

St. Louis County EMS and fire dispatchers using computer-generated voice  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Central County Emergency 911 is one of three dispatch centers in St. Louis County, providing critical information to fire and EMS personnel.Jason Nettles, the agency’s executive director, said a new alert system currently being implemented in St. Louis County utilizes a computer-generated voice to help relay information.“You’re hearing the same consistent cadence, same voice, time after time,” Nettles said. Two St. Louis suburbs named among Top 50 ‘safest cities in the US’ “There’s no question about what the call is or what’s going on,” said Capt. Matt Coppin for the Metro West Fire Protection District.Nettles said that in addition to sharing a clear voice with first responders, the new system also allows dispatchers to notify multiple departments immediately.“If you have a first-alarm residential structure fire, for instance, it’s likely there will be units from maybe three or four different fire districts,” Nettles said.“If you’re dispatching 12, 15 truck...

Alleged rogue cop charged with kidnapping suspect, breaking his jaw

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - St. Louis County police say they’ve solved the mystery of the beaten and bloody man found in a Kinloch field on the Fourth of July.A witness reported seeing a police car near the injured man—a car from a different jurisdiction. That witness tip turned out to be the key to solving the case.Without that witness, who happened to be driving by a mostly abandoned part of Kinloch that evening, it’s impossible to know whether we’d ever know about this case of a cop who allegedly went rogue.It’s a case FOX 2 featured earlier this month. The witness posted her shocking discovery on Facebook and said she noticed the police car in question was from Northwoods. She thought it was strange because Northwoods is about five miles and several police jurisdictions away.Northwoods police confirmed an outside investigation into the case when FOX 2 spoke to police Chief Dennis Shireff on July 7. He said the St. Louis County police had been in touch with his department. Reported...

Cleanup continues in St. Louis County from weekend storm damage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Power problems are still an issue for thousands after intense storms over the weekend.South St. Louis County was one of the hardest hit areas to show the damage. A huge tree came crashing down on Kamper Drive after the intense storms. Meanwhile, Ameren crews are working nonstop to restore power.After several rounds of high winds and thunderstorms this weekend many customers were left in the dark. Crews have restored service to more than 83,000 customers affected by the recent storms. More than 1,350 crew members are working to restore power. Approximately 96,000 restored to date, and around 2,700 are currently out in St. Louis. Two St. Louis suburbs named among Top 50 ‘safest cities in the US’ “When Mother Nature calls, we are ready to go these last couple of storms, I would say the most challenging thing is falling trees, domino effect," said Tommie Bugett with Ameren. "Also broken poles and down wires, when we talk about replacing a pole that could take m...

Two “century plants” in bloom at CU Boulder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

Two agave plants are in rare bloom for the next couple of weeks after being planted nearly 30 years ago at the University of Colorado Boulder.The agave is also known as a “century plant” because of how rarely it blooms. CU Boulder Greenhouse Director John Clark said the plant takes anywhere from 20 to 40 years to mature, sometimes longer.An agave plant in the outdoor Western Native Garden is seen in bloom at the University of Colorado Boulder Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Greenhouse on Monday. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)“It’s one of those plants that if I were to seed today, I may not get to see it actually bloom. It may be something for future generations,” Clark said. “So it’s something that you get to enjoy when you get to see it bloom, but really what you do enjoy is the shape of the plant itself through the majority of its life.”The blooms last for about two weeks before they shrivel up and the plant dies. ...

In-N-Out Burger employees barred from wearing masks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

The iconic fast-food chain In-N-Out Burger has informed employees in five states that they will no longer be allowed to wear medical masks unless they have a note from their doctor, according to a company memo leaked on Twitter earlier this month.  “We are introducing new mask guidelines that emphasizes the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates’ smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals,” the memo reads.  The new rule goes into effect on August 14, according to the memo, and is aimed at workers in Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. Workers in California and Oregon who would like to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other illnesses by wearing a medical mask will still be allowed to, the L.A. Times reported.  In-N-Out employees who have a “specific medical condition or health concern that requires them to wear a mask” will have to provide a “valid medical note” to their store sup...

Man and woman injured after crash causes car to run into restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

A man and a woman were injured after a two-car crash in Van Nuys on Monday. The collision resulted in one of the cars crashing into a nearby restaurant. Los Angeles police responded to reports of a traffic collision at 6800 North Kester Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Video footage shows the aftermath of the crash where fire crews are on scene. A red vehicle remains in the middle of the road with airbags deployed, while the other white vehicle involved in the crash appears to be fully submerged in the restaurant with only its tail end hanging out.A red vehicle remains in the middle of the road with airbags deployed after a crash in Van Nuys (Source: Citizen)A red vehicle remains in the middle of the road with airbags deployed after a crash in Van Nuys (Source: Citizen)A white vehicle involved in a crash appears to be fully submerged in the restaurant with only its tail end hanging out. (Source: Citizen)Car crash in Van Nuys (Source: Citizen)A 40-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman were bo...

San Jose business owner arraigned on insurance fraud charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

SAN JOSE – The proprietor of a San Jose roofing company is facing allegations he falsified information for his employees to avoid insurance premiums, according to prosecutors.Charlie Duong, the 64-year-old owner of CD All Roofing, was arraigned Monday on insurance fraud charges, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. He faces jail time if convicted.Reached by phone following the hearing, Duong said he had no comment on the case.The alleged $460,000 scheme came to light after Duong’s second-in-command died in a traffic collision while returning from a job on June 19, 2020, according to prosecutors.Duong reportedly asked an employee who survived the collision to falsely tell investigators the victim had just started working for the company and was only part-time, the district attorney’s office said. The survivor refused and told investigators the victim was in fact an eight-year employee who worked six days a week.In addition, Duong also allegedly tr...

Rain forces suspension of Giants-Reds with game tied at 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Rain forced suspension of Monday’s series-opener between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds with the score tied at 2 and one out in the top of the eighth inning after a one-hour, 55-minute delay.The game is scheduled to be resumed at 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday before the scheduled 7:10 p.m. game. The Giants, who’ve won five straight and six of seven, have runners on second and third.San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler declined to reveal his pitching plan.Reds manager David Bell, trying to inject life into an offense that had scored three runs during a four-game losing streak that cost them first place in the NL Central, slightly shook up his batting order. Electrifying rookie Elly De La Cruz, 0-for-12 since the All-Star Game, led off after batting cleanup over his first 33 starts and was 0-for-3. TJ Friedl dropped from leadoff to second while highly regarded prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand was promoted from Triple-A Louisville and started as the designated ...

Mobley’s double-double leads Cavaliers to 99-78 win over Rockets for the Summer League title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:51 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Isaiah Mobley had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers captured the NBA Summer League championship with a 99-78 victory Monday over the Houston Rockets.This was the Cavaliers’ first title since the Summer League went to a tournament format in 2013. Mobley was voted game MVP, more than making up for not being selected to the all-tournament team.“I try to not worry about stuff I can’t control,” Mobley said. “Do I agree with it? No, but it is what it is. I’ll take the championship all over it all day.”Sam Merrill scored 27 points, making 6 of 12 3-pointers, and Emoni Bates added 19 points for the Cavaliers (6-0).Nate Hinton led Houston (5-1) with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Three other Rockets also scored in double figures: Cam Whitmore (14), Trevor Hudgins (13) and Fletcher Magee (10). Whitmore was chosen tournament MVP.Mobley, a second-round pick in 2022, finished strong in Summer League. He put the Cavaliers in the title game by scoring 23 poi...