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Police identify man found shot to death, set on fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – Investigators with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis have identified a man who was found shot to death and set on fire last week in Cahokia Heights.Local police found the victim in the 5800 block of Pocket Road on Thursday, Aug. 24. Police requested help from the Major Case Squad shortly thereafter.The victim was identified as Miljavon Sawyer of Cahokia Heights. Sawyer was 21.Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact the Major Case Squad at 618-332-4260 or 618-332-4277. If you wish to remain anonymous or are interested in a cash reward, call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

Missouri, Illinois see 'substantial' spike in COVID hospitalizations, CDC says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The summer surge in COVID-19 spread could extend into fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said hospitalizations rose yet again last week by another 19%. Deaths from the virus also saw a large jump: 21% in one week. The spread of the virus appears to be a problem just about everywhere. Only a few states – Alaska, New Hampshire and North Dakota – saw COVID-related hospital admissions drop last week. The other 47 states saw hospitalizations remain stable or increase. More than half of states – 26 to be exact – experienced a "substantial increase" in people being admitted with COVID-19, the CDC said. That includes Missouri and Illinois. Is it time to bring back the COVID mask? We asked 3 doctors A "substantial" jump, shaded in dark orange on the CDC map below, occurs when new hospital admissions increase by more than 20% in a single week. Twenty-six states had a 20% or larger increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations week over week, the CDC said on August 28, ...

What you should know about Missouri's senior tax freeze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri’s senior homeowners would be spared from rate hikes on property taxes under a bill that went into effect Monday. It will be up to the counties to approve the property tax breaks. The freeze on property tax rates would only apply to the primary residences of people age 65 and older.Will Missouri counties approve a tax freeze? St. Louis County will reconsider a plan to give senior-citizen homeowners a property tax break after rejecting it last month.  Four of the seven council members rejected the bill last month. Councilman Dennis Hancock says some of the council members who voted “no” in the last session could have been swayed with a more pointed conversation.St. Charles and Jefferson Counties are considering the tax breaks, but there are still some issues to work out. There are questions about whether the tax freeze applies to all taxing districts in a county. “Our seniors need that safety to know that when they’re paying into that system, they sh...

Fans who invaded Coors Field seeking selfies with Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. charged with trespassing, disturbing peace

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

Two fans who charged onto Coors Field seeking photos with Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., leading to Acuna falling to the ground, have been charged with trespassing and disturbing the peace, Denver Police officials said on Tuesday.Both men — Jefferson Gonzales-Merida, 23, and Carlos Rivelo Paiz, 21 — were arrested and jailed following the incident Monday night as the Braves played the Rockies. Nobody was injured and the men, from Denver, have been released pending appearances in court next month, according to police documents. Trespassing and disturbing the peace typically are treated as petty offenses but carry fines.A juvenile male also briefly went onto the field without permission and then turned back to the stands, where he, too, was caught by Coors Field staffers and cited for trespassing, police said.“Further charges will not be pursued in this matter,” police said in a statement emailed to the Denver Post.It was the second time in five months tha...

Slain DPS teacher Shayna Johnson remembered as a “protector”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

A 43-year-old Denver Public Schools teacher who was fatally shot this month was a protector both inside and outside the classroom, her family said.Shayna Johnson died after taking a chance on the man accused of killing her — trying to help him get his own life back on track, said her sister Jessica Johnson. She said the two were dating.“She was just a good person with a great heart,” Jessica Johnson said. Shayna Johnson, who lived in Aurora, was found in the driver’s seat of a crashed SUV the morning of Aug. 2 in the 3100 block of West Ohio Avenue, Denver police said. A witness reported hearing gunshots and then seeing the vehicle crash into other cars on the block, according to a probable cause statement.The statement says Donte Ellis, 36, was standing in the street with a pistol in his hand when officers arrived. He surrendered and was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. Johnson died of a gunshot wound to the head, but the probable cause statement does not sa...

'Wall Street Whiz Kid' charged with defrauding victims out of nearly $250K in L.A. County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

A man once known as the “Wall Street Whiz Kid” has been charged with stealing nearly a quarter of a million dollars as part of an investment scam in Los Angeles County, officials announced Tuesday.David Bloom, 59, faces nine counts of securities fraud and nine counts of grand theft with special allegations of two or more prior felony convictions, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He is accused of committing multiple counts of theft by convincing people to give him money in exchange for investments and other financial opportunities. Prosecutors allege that Bloom never delivered on the investments and failed to return the bulk of the money given to him by victims in the case. The alleged fraud occurred between 2021 and 2023 and involved nine victims and nearly $250,000, according to the DA’s office. Bloom was arrested Monday and was set to be arraigned Tuesday. He was being held on a $500,000 bond. District Attorney George Gascón ...

Impact of Hollywood strikes felt outside the entertainment industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

The company had struggled for years, tossed around by pandemic-induced production shutdowns that began in March 2020. Last year, though, business for Valentino’s Costume Group had finally picked back up.Hoping to capitalize on that good fortune, the shop moved in January to a North Hollywood space twice the size of its old building.Then Hollywood's screenwriters and actors went on strike. Now, says co-owner Shon LeBlanc, Valentino’s can no longer afford to pay its rent.“My chest is tightening because the money is so tight,” says LeBlanc, bemoaning the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ apparent lack of urgency to try to reach an agreement with the unions. “When is the mayor going to step in and say, ‘I’m ordering you guys to figure something out because you’re about to collapse the economy in Los Angeles?’”Shon LeBlanc, co-owner of costume rental service Valentino's Costume Group, poses for a portrait amongst racks of themed clothing at his store, Friday, May 26, 2...

Man arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot LAPD officers in San Pedro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

A man was arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot officers in San Pedro Monday morning.The incident unfolded around 7 a.m. when Los Angeles police officers responded to the 600 block of 12th Street of a man threatening violence.The caller told authorities the man suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and was having homicidal and suicidal ideations, police said. The man had also apparently threatened to shoot any officers that responded to the scene.When officers arrived, the man, who is in his 60s, exited his apartment while holding a large kitchen knife and allegedly threatened to stab, shoot and kill officers if they approach him, police said.The man then got back inside his apartment and refused to come out.Police had contacted the man before and were aware that he is a military veteran who had previously been placed on a mental evaluation hold at a local hospital. They also learned he had violated his parole and had an active warrant out for his arrest, police said.O...

49ers reveal 53-man roster: Who makes cut on Super Bowl-caliber roster?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

Here is how the initial 53-man roster looks (with player-by-player analysis in 49 characters or less):QUARTERBACK (3)Brock PurdyReady for encore after eight wins, elbow repair.Sam DarnoldFrom Jets to Panthers to Niners’ QB2 bullpen.Brandon AllenTrey Lance’s trade to Dallas opened QB3 job.* * *RUNNING BACK (5)Christian McCaffreyAgain capable of 1K/1K-yard rushing/receiving.Kyle Juszczyk (FB)So begins his eighth straight Pro Bowl season.Elijah MitchellTalented enough for 49ers to tolerate injuries.Jordan MasonFoot sprain in preseason puts Week 1 in question.Ty Davis-PriceAdds power dimension after redshirting as rookie.OUT: Jeremy McNichols, Brian Hill, Jack Colletto (FB).* * *WIDE RECEIVER (6)Brandon AiyukMatured into 1K receiver who runs elite routs.Deebo SamuelReady to rebound after self-dubbed ‘awful’ 2022.Jauan Jennings“Third-And-Jauan” must score more TDs (1 in ’22).Ray-Ray McCloudWill he rush back from wrist surgery for Week 1?Ronnie BellMay be this year’s relevant,...

What is this big thing perched at Valley Medical Center?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:21 GMT

Anyone visiting or passing by Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on Bascom Avenue the past few days may have done a double-take and wondered just what that thing is atop one of the county hospital’s buildings. It looks like a robot from a sci-fi movie or maybe an escapee from an intergalactic zoo. Don’t worry; it’s art.The 30-foot-tall kinetic sculpture perched on the Susanne B. Wilson Women and Children’s Center is called “Sentia,” created by German-born artist Christian Moeller. He specializes in large-scale installations — he’s the artist behind the “Hands” installation at San Jose Mineta airport — and many of them are curvy and colorful like “Sentia.”“Sentia,” a 30-foot-tall freestanding motion sculpture is seen in the reflection of windows at the Women and Children’s Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on Aug. 28, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. The art installation, which was created by artist Chris...