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Who is behind Flannery Associates, the mystery California land buyers?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

(NewsNation) — After five years of investigating who is behind Flannery Associates, the big secret has been revealed. Flannery Associates is comprised of a group of ultra-wealthy Silicon Valley investors acquiring vast parcels of land northeast of San Francisco with the mission to build a new California city “from scratch.”The group has invested more than $800 million on almost 54,000 acres of agriculture-zoned land surrounding the Travis Air Force base in Solano County, California, since 2018, public records revealed. Airfare is finally cheaper, but you may want to book soon Despite early speculation that China was behind the purchases, and as companies with ties to China have been ramping up efforts to buy American farmland, legal representation for Flannery has maintained the group is controlled by U.S. citizens, with 97% of its capital coming from U.S.-based investors.Among some of the group's investors are LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, prominent Silicon Valley investor M...

Monster Jam trucks damaged in California highway fire

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

(KTXL) — Two of the beloved monster trucks featured in the Monster Jam motorsports event were damaged Tuesday morning when the semi-trailer they were being transported in became engulfed in flames. The tractor-trailer caught fire on Highway 50 in Sacramento around 8:30 a.m., according to the Sacramento Fire Department. A Sacramento driver spotted the fire from an overpass, capturing video, seen in the player above, of flames rising from the trailer as the truck traveled down the highway. Black smoke billowed from the trailer, casting the traffic behind the truck in a dark shadow. Dairy Queen celebrating fall with 85-cent Blizzards Fire officials said the driver was able to release the tractor from the trailer before it could be involved in the fire.Unfortunately, the trailer and its cargo weren't entirely saved from the fire. Two monster trucks — Megalodon and Scooby-Doo — were damaged. Both trucks appear during Monster Jam events held throughout the U.S. and worldwide.Megalodon i...

APD searching for criminal trespassing suspect who entered north Austin home

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect allegedly involved in a north Austin criminal trespassing case.APD said the man allegedly entered a north Austin couple's home in the 4400 block of Whispering Valley Drive Saturday morning. That's located just north of Duval Road and west of MoPac Expressway.Police said the couple saw the man standing in their bedroom when they woke up, and he ran away shortly after.Anyone who recognizes him may submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.

Twins’ offense stuck in first gear in loss to Cleveland

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

The Twins’ offense, so potent over the past week, never woke up in a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday in front of an announced crowd of 23,433 at Target Field.After averaging 7.2 runs a game in its previous six games, and going 4-2 in the process, the Twins got virtually nothing going against a handful of Cleveland pitchers, their only runs coming on solo home runs by Royce Lewis in the fourth and Michael A. Taylor in the ninth.That pulled the Twins to within 3-1, but it was as close as they’d get against their closest rival in the American League Central.The Guardians opened a 1-0 lead on Bo Naylor’s second-inning, solo home run off Twins starter Pablo Lopez, went up 2-0 when Jose Ramirez singled and scored on a wild pitch, and 3-0 after No. 9 hitter Gabriel Arias drew a one-out walk in the fourth and scored on Kole Calhoun’s weak groundout to first.Lewis then opened the Twins’ half of the inning with his ninth home run, hitting a 93.5 mph fastball from reliever Hunte...

4-year-old boy dies after being pulled from Fridley pond

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

A 4-year-old boy died Tuesday after being found unresponsive in a pond in Fridley, authorities said.Fridley police around 1:30 p.m. were sent to a report of a child who had left a home and was missing near the 1600 block of Rice Creek Road Northeast, the Anoka County sheriff’s office said.Shortly after arriving, officers located the unresponsive boy in a nearby pond. Fridley firefighters and Allina paramedics arrived at the scene and administered lifesaving measures. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.The incident is under investigation by Fridley police, the sheriff’s office and Hennepin County medical examiner’s office.On Monday, a boy was hospitalized after being found face-down in a stormwater retention pond in the 4200 block of Radio Drive in  Woodbury. The boy’s condition wasn’t immediately clear, and there was no further update Tuesday.Related ArticlesLocal News | Wrongful-death lawsuit alleges Ramsey County Jail ...

Lead found in more water samples in Troy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- More homes have tested positive for lead in the water in the city of Troy. City officials said 60 more homes and buildings were tested for lead. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! In some of the samples, an elevated level of lead was found in the water. They said the city's source of water is free from lead, and it may be from lead water service lines or interior lead plumbing.The city is continuing to try to remove all lead service lines and interior plumbing to help keep residents safe.

Jennings mayor sues majority of his city council

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. – The mayor of Jennings is suing five members of his city council.Mayor Gary Johnson filed the lawsuit Tuesday, a day after the members protested a regularly scheduled meeting because they claimed multiple meeting agendas were being circulated, and it would be improper to attend.In the lawsuit filed with the 21st Judicial Circuit, Johnson claims council members Terri Wilson, Allan Stichnote, Nadia Quinn, Jane Brown, and Jeannine Roberts held an improper emergency city council meeting on Aug. 18 because there was no clerk available for the meeting.“The City Clerk, whose resignation became effective at 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2023, unilaterally decided to remain on premises without authority or permission and discharge the duties of the City Clerk for the August 18, 2023, meeting,” the lawsuit reads.The emergency city council meeting was called in an attempt to reverse personnel decisions that were made during an Aug. 9 meeting.The lawsuit has asked the 21st Judicial Cir...

St. Charles County Executive says residents taking unfair advantage of flood buyout program

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – The head of St. Charles County government says there’s a flaw in the federal flood program, and it’s wasting your tax dollars.St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann says people are turning down flood buyouts but still having taxpayers pay to repair their houses time after time.“The issue with the flood buyout, I believe, is people who were offered the buyout and then don’t accept it. That’s fine; it’s a free country,” he said. “But if you turn down the buyout, you shouldn’t be able to continue to collect money on your house after every single flood.”St. Charles County is getting $17 million to purchase homes and other properties lost in the 2019 flood. But many homeowners are opting to rebuild rather than be bought out. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News ...

Process server fears new fee could have chilling effect on local court cases

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A new Missouri law could potentially mean millions or hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra fees. It could also impact the cost of your next lawyer.“That’s $5,000 out of my pocket that I don’t want to pass onto my client because it’s a competitive business,” said one process server, who did not want to be identified.He pointed out that the newly signed public safety bill, SB 186, adds a $10 fee to every paper filed. That money will go into a retirement fund for sheriff's departments across Missouri.“This $10 extra fee is not our fault they don’t have the money to fund this retirement,” the process server said.What does that mean in St. Louis? More than 13,000 Associate Circuit Court cases were filed just last year in St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Circuit Clerk’s Office. The additional fee would generate a total of more than $130,000. That does not count small claims court filings and subpoenas. Search for gunman after Ferguson police chief’s niece killed Th...

Wentzville parents among Gold Star families at Congressional hearing over deadly Afghanistan withdrawal

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:11:58 GMT

WASHINGTON – Mark and Jaclyn Schmitz were not holding back."As you can probably tell by now, I'm done biting my tongue," the Gold Star father from Wentzville said to members of Congress. "I identify as a father, a husband, a p----- off, fed-up American patriot, and now, thanks to this Administration, a Gold Star dad."The Schmitzes were among the 13 Gold Star families speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday afternoon. The mission: to get answers and accountability following the August 2021 Abbey Gate suicide bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz was one of the 13 service members who died in the attack.The families and lawmakers present insist the deaths could have been avoided. The latest revelation was that families said they learned a sniper was in position to take out the suicide bomber Aug. 26, 2021, but that superiors gave instructions not to engage. Search for gunman after Ferguson police chief’s niece...