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Lakeville Amazon shooting: Man pleads guilty to murdering woman pregnant with his child

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

A St. Louis Park man will be sentenced to 47 years in prison as part of a plea agreement in the Lakeville shooting death of a woman who was nine months pregnant with his child and the mother of his 2-year-old daughter.Donte Rapheal McCray, 33, pleaded guilty Monday in Dakota County District Court to two counts of second-degree murder by drive-by shooting — one each for the deaths of 31-year-old Kyla Bianca O’Neal and Messiah Edward O’Neal, who was born by cesarean section the night of the shooting and died nine days later.Donte Rapheal McCray (Courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)The shooting happened about 7 p.m. Jan. 8 in the parking lot of the Amazon Fulfillment Center, where McCray worked.The two counts were added as part of the plea agreement, which was reached two days before prosecutors were to present the case to a grand jury for consideration of first-degree murder charges. A conviction would have carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison.McCray a...

Avian influenza found in Minnesota turkey flock, as the disease makes autumn return

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

Highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed Wednesday in Minnesota for the first time this fall.The bird flu was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Meeker County, in west-central Minnesota.A lab of the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed positive samples from the flock of around 140,000 birds, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The site is quarantined and turkeys were slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease.“Unfortunately, HPAI seems to keep popping up during the seasonal (bird) migrations in Minnesota,” State Veterinarian Brian Hoefs said in a statement. “Before today’s detection our most recent cases were in the spring of this year. Anyone who has poultry should take this detection as a clear sign to keep a close eye on their flock and initiate your strongest biosecurity practices.”The Board of Animal Health says poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact their veterinarian if they see symptoms in their flocks, which include:...

Walz orders flags at half-staff to mourn, honor victims of terrorist attacks on Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

Gov. Tim Walz has ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state facilities until sunset on Saturday, Oct. 14, to “remember, mourn, and honor the victims of the attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists,” the governor’s office said.“Minnesota joins the nation in condemning the horrific acts of violence against Israeli civilians by Hamas,” Walz said in the statement. “The United States and Israel are united by a shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity, and regional security. We will continue to stand in solidarity with Minnesota’s Jewish and Israeli community and work with the State Department to ensure the safety of Minnesotans at home and abroad.”Individuals, businesses and other organizations are also encouraged to join in lowering their flags.On Wednesday night, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will light the Interstate 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis. The bridge will remain illuminated through Friday night in blue and white, the color...

Vikings’ Kirk Cousins says ‘ignorance is bliss’ when it comes to trade rumors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

Kirk Cousins insists he doesn’t hear the outside noise. He has made it a point to insulate himself pretty much since he got to the NFL. He remembers hearing early in his career that former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck had a flip phone rather than a smart phone.“That was by design,” Cousins said. “I thought, ‘That’s pretty good.’ ”Though he doesn’t actually have a flip phone himself — Cousins said he actually tried one out a few years ago before switching back — he stays off his smart phone as much as he can when he’s at home. No social media. No push notifications. No constant scrolling.As a result, Cousins is able to filter the amount of content he consumes on a daily basis. That’s probably a good thing for him right now with how much his name has come up in NFL trade rumors. Naturally, he claims he hasn’t heard any of the discourse that has popped up as of late.“You know, ignorance is bliss, and I’m ju...

Second former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice advises Republicans against impeachment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — A second conservative former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice asked to investigate taking the unprecedented step of impeaching a liberal justice on Wednesday came out against it.Former Justice Jon Wilcox told the Associated Press that there was nothing to justify impeaching Justice Janet Protasiewicz, as some Republican lawmakers have floated because of comments she made during the campaign about redistricting and donations she accepted from the Wisconsin Democratic Party.“I do not favor impeachment,” Wilcox told AP in a telephone interview. “Impeachment is something people have been throwing around all the time. But I think it’s for very serious things.”The Wisconsin Constitution reserves impeachment for “corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors.”Wilcox, along with former justices David Prosser and Patience Roggensack, were tapped by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to look into possible impeachment.Prosser advised against impeachment in a...

Election 2023: South Washington School Board (Elect 3)

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDOn Nov, 7 voters in the South Washington County School District will elect three board members from a field of 11 candidates.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Jaime KokaiselJaime Kokaisel of Woodbury, candidate for District 833 South Washington County School Board in the November 2023 election. (Courtesy of the candidate)Age: 46What qualifies you to hold this position? As a mother of two school-aged children attending SoWashCo Schools for 10 years and non-public for three, I bring experience, perspective, and vision to see the big picture. I am a college graduate, a former manager, a current small busin...

No injuries reported after early morning shooting in Rensselaer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A suspect has been arrested after a shooting early Wednesday morning at a public housing property. The Rensselaer Police Department said no injuries were reported when the bullet was shot from one apartment through another. It happened at the complex. The resident  who woke up to a bullet in her bedroom wall did not want to talk to NEWS10 on camera but said she just moved in with her two kids after they had been homeless for a year. Mom and son were about to call it a night when the shot was fired. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “At 2:56 this morning we received a call from a neighbor who stated that she heard what sounded like a loud pop,” said Rensselaer Police Department Detective Sergeant Michael Deso.She said when they walked out of their bedrooms they found their hallway filled with smoke and debris.Joseph Gonzalez is the resident who lives in the apartment where that shot was fired from...

Football coach shot in front of players at practice, St. Louis community shocked

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Grief on the gridiron. Community leaders say a well-known youth football coach was shot several times Tuesday during practice in front of his players. The preliminary investigation from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department revealed that a 30-year-old coach ended up in an altercation with a 43-year-old suspect moments before he was shot. The shooting happened at Sherman Park around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Police have not disclosed if the suspect had been known to the coach. Monthly $500 payments coming soon for some St. Louis families Many residents, in addition to players and parents, are shocked by the shooting. “I can’t imagine how horrific it is for the players, and they have to go home, and the parents are now trying to come up with answers as to why," said James Clark with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.  "I can’t imagine what that scene was like, and how it's playing again and again in the minds of those young boys," said St. Louis resident Kayla Wi...

McDonald's reopens O'Fallon location, honoring owner's ALS battle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - One McDonald's location in O'Fallon, Missouri, celebrated its grand reopening on Wednesday while also recognizing the owner's battle with ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Monthly $500 payments coming soon for some St. Louis families The newly-reopened restaurant is owned and operated by Dave Giarla. He has owned a McDonald's franchise for nearly 30 years. Giarla has also been diagnosed with ALS. As part of the grand reopening, Dave's son donated $5,000 to the ALS Association of St. Louis. O'Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy has also declared Oct. 11 as David Giarla Day. The reopened McDonald's location is at 1011 North Main Street.

St. Margaret of Scotland unveils revamped playground

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:06:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A refurbished addition to the St. Margaret of Scotland playground has opened in south St. Louis. The new playground surface was funded by a $40,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Monthly $500 payments coming soon for some St. Louis families Patrick Holley, Principal at St. Margaret of Scotland, says this is a big upgrade to the previous flooring. “The material before were individual little squares, and in the sun, what they would do is curl up,” he said. The brand-new playground flooring is made of 25,000 pounds of used, recycled tires. It’s much more efficient and resilient than before. The recycled materials were refurbished from the state of Missouri itself, which fit into the teachings of St. Margaret of Scotland by being good stewards of the Earth. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...