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With the Vikings agreeing to re-sign specialists Greg Joseph, Andrew DePaola, the ‘gang’s all back’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

For just the second time since the start of the 2015 season, the Vikings might begin 2023 with holdovers at kicker, punter and long snapper.The Vikings on Tuesday reached agreements to re-sign free-agent kicker Greg Joseph and long snapper Andrew DePaola. They are in line to join forces next season with punter Ryan Wright, who remains under contract.“I’m just excited to have a little bit of continuity from last year to this year,’’ DePaola said. “The gang’s back.”Since the start of 2015, the only time all three Minnesota specialists have returned was in 2020, although that actually did not go well. Long snapper Austin Cutting was waived midway through the season and kicker Dan Bailey struggled and hasn’t played in the NFL since.Agent Brett Tessler announced that Joseph would return, but contract terms were not immediately available. The Vikings announced they had agreed to terms with DePaola and he said it is a three-year, $4.025 million deal that includes $2.265 million guaranteed....

Minnesota Senate majority leader says she is recovering from cancer surgery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic announced Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with cancer and had a cancerous tumor removed Monday.Kari Dziedzic. (Courtesy of the Minnesota Senate)“Life is full of surprises, including unwelcome challenges,” the Minneapolis Democrat said in a statement released Tuesday evening.Dziedzic said she had an “abnormal pap smear” in December and a series of tests in January that discovered the cancerous tumor. Her doctors decided Friday she should have surgery to have the tumor removed on Monday.“The surgery was a success; and I am grateful to my doctors, nurses, and all the support staff at the University of Minnesota for the care I received,” her statement said.Dziedzic added that she was following her doctor’s advice and hoped to return to the Capitol soon. The fifth-term senator said she continues to work and lead the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Senate caucus remotely.Democrats have an ambitious legisl...

Deceased suspect identified in recent triple homicide in Chisago County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

Authorities in Chisago County have identified the likely perpetrator of the recent triple homicide in Fish Lake Township.According to the Chisago County sheriff’s office, the suspect was identified Tuesday as Kenneth George Koslowski, 39. On March 4, Koslowski was found dead at an unspecified location in rural Dakota County of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.He was a relative to the homicide victims and lived in North Branch. The gun used in his apparent suicide was forensically linked to the homicide scene, and investigators also determined that Koslowski was in the area at the time of the killings.Deputies discovered the bodies of 73-year-old Darrell James Mattson, 68-year-old Denise Lillian Mattson and 47-year-old Kirk Patrick Mattson in their Brunswick Road home on March 5.The investigation into a possible motive and whether any other persons may have been involved continues.The sheriff’s office is being assisted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.Related ...

‘Death of democracy?’ Bill criticized for making it tougher to be considered a major political party

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

Legislation to increase the percentage of the statewide vote needed to be considered a major political party got a sharp rebuke from Minnesota’s former Independence Party Gov. Jesse Ventura on Tuesday.The actor and wrestler who was elected Minnesota governor in 1998 said a proposed bill to increase the threshold to 10 percent of the statewide vote to be considered a major political party would result in nothing less than the “death of democracy” in the state. Currently, at least one of a party’s statewide candidates must get 5 percent of the vote to be considered a major party.“I’m here today because this is very disturbing. I’m here in total opposition to this,” Venture told the Senate Elections Committee, noting that had the rules been in place when he ran for governor he wouldn’t have won. “The people of Minnesota won’t be able to shock the world again.”Ventura added that he wasn’t surprised the Democra...

Russia's downing of US drone sparks fears of escalation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

Russia’s apparent attack of a U.S. drone in international airspace on Tuesday quickly sparked concerns, spurring anxiety in Washington and drumming up fear across the nation of a wider escalation between the two countries.The Biden administration and lawmakers have blasted Russia for what they called an unprofessional and unsafe maneuver in which two Russian jets damaged a U.S. MQ-9, forcing it to crash land in the Black Sea Tuesday.Top American defense officials and experts quickly pointed out the unusual nature of the incident.“This is extremely unusual, I’m not aware of an incident like this that's occurred over the last year of conflict over there,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told The Hill.Intercepts between U.S. and Russian aircraft are not uncommon, with several cases happening near Alaskan airspace so far this year. But the drone incident “is uncommon and unfortunate and unsafe,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon.While it’s un...

Man charged for shooting officers, leaving 1 dead, 1 injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

HERMANN, Mo. - A community is in mourning after one Hermann, Missouri, police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty and an officer from another department was critically injured.The community is coming together to honor the fallen officer. Flags have been lowered to half-staff through the town of Rosebud, where Hermann Detective Sgt. Mason Griffin used to be a police chief.The Gasconade County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged 35-year-old Kenneth Lee Simpson with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of armed action. Top story: Deadline for Kim Gardner to respond to ousting effort today Simpson surrendered after a long police standoff at a home on East 11th and Market.The SWAT team and officers from several different departments negotiated a peaceful surrender with Simpson. According to court records, he has a criminal history.Residents are still in shock following the deadly shooting Sunday around 9 p.m. Griffith...

Rockies spring training report: Ezequiel Tovar strutting his stuff, despite quiet bat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

Compared to last year, 21-year-old shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is having a quiet spring training, but that doesn’t mean manager Bud Black has been unimpressed.“We saw some good things from him last year and the thing that stood out for us was his self-assurance and self-confidence,” Black told reporters in Scottsdale, Ariz. “He’s comfortable in his own skin as a young player and he’s not trying to do too much.“He’s playing the game with a level of poise that is beyond his years. The talent is there. On a skill level, I think he’s going to be able to make every play at shortstop. He can go in the hole, he can make the play up the middle, he can charge the ball and he’s got a strong arm. His instincts are fine. In the field, I think he will only get better as time goes on.”Tovar, who will be a starter this season, entered Tuesday night’s Cactus League game against the Cubs hitting .250 (6-for-24) with one home run, o...

Man killed by dogs in Jurupa Valley leaves behind wife, 5 kids in Guatemala 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

A man who was mauled to death by four dogs in Jurupa Valley last week has been identified by family members as Mateo Lucas Salvador, 42, a native of Guatemala. Authorities say Salvador was working at a residential property that had been converted into a business at Bellegrave Avenue and Martin Street on March 7 when four dogs, three Belgian Malinois and a Cane Corso, attacked him. The man who was mauled to death by four dogs last week has been identified by his family members as 42-year-old Mateo Lucas Salvador, a native of Guatemala. (Lily Schwimmer, GoFundMe) According to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, Salvador had worked for the owner prior to the attack and he had visited the property before without incident. The property owner, who was not present during the attack, eventually surrendered his dogs to be euthanized, Animal Services said. A GoFundMe has been established to help Salvador's wife and five children, who still live in Guatemala...

Clerks at Ventura County shops cited, allegedly sold alcohol to minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

Three clerks at Ventura County supermarkets and liquor stores were cited for allegedly selling alcohol to minors.The decoy operation took place on March 9 and targeted ten businesses in Camarillo, according to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).The operation involved a minor who, under the direct supervision of law enforcement, attempted to purchase alcohol from the businesses.The undercover minor was able to purchase alcohol at three locations — Village Green Market, La Bodega, and Smart and Final, authorities said.The clerks who allegedly sold the alcohol were cited and face a minimum fine of $250 along with 24-32 hours of community service for a first violation, officials said.Additional administrative actions may be taken against the businesses involved including a fine, suspension or the permanent revocation of a license, according to the ABC. More than 130 cited for allegedly buying alcohol for minors in California One of the businesses involved fa...

Los Angeles Chargers sign former UCLA star Eric Kendricks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:48 GMT

The Los Angeles Chargers will have a new man in the middle of their defensive when next season kicks off, and he's a familiar face to longtime L.A. football fans.The team announced Tuesday that it had agreed to a contract with former Minnesota Vikings All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks.Kendricks, 31, was drafted by Minnesota out of UCLA in the second-round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He's totaled more than 100 tackles each of the last seven seasons in the NFL and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2019.His greatest accolade, however, may be his durability. Since being drafted, the Fresno County native has started 113 of a possible 117 regular season games and has started all six of his career postseasons appearances.Kendricks starred at UCLA and led the nation in tackles his senior year en route to being named the first Bruin to win the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation's best linebacker.He announced his plans to sign with the Chargers in an Instagram post which featured highl...