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St. Paul City Council proposes city enforcement of skyway litter, graffiti removal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

When a downtown St. Paul building owner fails to remove graffiti, pick up litter or fix a broken window in the skyway, city officials find they have precious few tools to force better property management.“Most of them are doing phenomenal jobs, and when that’s not happening, we need to be able to do more than send a letter,” said St. Paul Council Member Rebecca Noecker, in an interview Wednesday. “We can take them to criminal court, but that takes years to assemble the evidence, get into court and get a determination. It’s not an effective tool when we’re talking about stained carpet, graffiti, broken windows, litter. It just doesn’t make sense.”Noecker on Wednesday introduced an ordinance amendment that would give the city’s Department of Safety and Inspections the power to issue abatement orders, which are similar to what can happen when a homeowner neglects to clear their sidewalk of snow. DSI would have the authority to hire ...

St. Paul likely to reduce tobacco shop licenses, eliminate tobacco vending machines

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

The St. Paul City Council has proposed officially eliminating something that’s largely fallen by the wayside in the capital city — tobacco vending machines — while also reducing the number of available tobacco shop licenses.In addition, penalties for underage tobacco sales, sales of single cigarettes or sales of flavored tobacco other than specialty shops would switch to criminal misdemeanors, up from $500-$1,000 fines, license suspensions and revocations.The proposed ordinance amendment was introduced to the full council for its first official reading on Wednesday.The ordinance would eliminate tobacco vending machine licenses entirely, though the federal Food and Drug Administration has barred cigarette vending machines since 2010 in establishments open to patrons under the age of 18.Tobacco shop licenses would be reduced through attrition from 150 to 100, and tobacco product shop licenses for flavored tobacco and electronic delivery devices would drop from 25 to ...

High school football: For St. Thomas Academy, less has led to more

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

St. Thomas Academy enters Friday’s Class 5A state tournament semifinal game against Alexandria as perhaps the healthiest football team in the state. Sure, the Cadets have bumps and bruises, but injuries won’t hold a single player on the roster out of competition.Which, in mid-November, is remarkable.“It is kind of a little miracle that we’re all as healthy as we are,” senior linebacker Cade Caruso said.And there is certainly luck involved. Cadets assistant coach Chad Abbott noted there are certain plays that can happen on the football field that could cause injury, regardless of preparation or prevention methods.But it is also possible that one contributing factor to St. Thomas Academy’s health — knock on wood — is the Cadets’ practice approach this season.First-year head coach Travis Walch at one time served as special-teams coach at the University of St. Thomas. So he was accustomed to the college level’s three-day practice schedule. He was such a believer that he decided to bring...

Driver, victim identified in fatal Ballston Spa hit-and-run

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady man was arrested in connection to a fatal hit-and-run in Ballston Spa on Wednesday. Gary Lucas was charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police said Lucas, 37, was traveling on Route 50 in Ballston Spa when he struck Meredith Hamilton, 47, who was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Brookline Road. The Ballston Spa woman died at the scene.Police do not believe Lucas was impaired at the time of the crash. He was arraigned and sent to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or a $500,000 partially secured bond. 

Train service partially restored between Albany, NYC

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Amtrak has partially restored service between New York City and Albany as of Thursday, after structural issues shut down a track in Manhattan. An expert said when private property owners don’t maintain structures, Amtrak is limited in what it can do to limit disruptions to its service.“That’s a big problem for amtrak. it has some degree of ability to regulate and inspect things,” said Executive Director of the Empire State Passengers Association Steve Strauss. Questions remain over central warehouse development Commuters started to arrive at the Amtrak train station in Rensselaer on Thursday morning,  after service to one track was partially restored. This time at the center of the issue is the ability to regulate and inspect structures adjacent to tracks.A hole was spotted above the Amtrak Empire Service line in Manhattan, it’s one of the many structural issues found with the 747 Tenth Avenue parking garage located directly above that Amtrak line, nea...

Settlement nearly reached in OCM lawsuit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A settlement in principle has been reached in a lawsuit that halted the further openings of retail cannabis shops across the state.  It has been nearly four months since the New York Supreme Court ordered an injunction to stop the application process for those looking to open a pot shop. Attorney General’s office interviews asylees in Albany “We can only go for so long. You know a couple more months and you know we're going to be really down and out. I don't know what we're going to do,” said Tony Marcellino, Chief Operating Officer of Amsterdam Cannabis.   The Marcellino brothers, owners of Amsterdam Cannabis, say they have lost over $30,000 and that they stand to lose thousands more if not opened by the end of the month. “National Grid bill is $100 a month, $100 for the internet bill. Staff training was like 2500, rent is $4,000 a month or $32,000 more in the hole then we should have been. December 1st is right around the corner, and I have t...

Officials announce new funds to fight food insecurity

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Local officials announced that $250,000 will be awarded to two organizations to combat food insecurity. Officials cited data that suggests one in ten people in Albany County are considered food insecure and one in seven children are going to school hungry. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The funding will be split between the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and its community agency partners and the United Way of the Greater Capital Region. The funding is made available via a new initiative to combat food insecurity in the Albany County budget for the fiscal year 2024. “No man, woman, or child should go hungry and we are taking the action needed to have an impact. Demand in Albany County for help has gone up 30% since last year and we need to invest in programs that will make a difference,” said County Executive McCoy. “Strong partnerships will help reduce the meal gap this year from 26% to 18...

Teen shot in north St. Louis County, crash follows in response to gunfire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - One teenager was shot Wednesday in north St. Louis County, and the gunfire caused one driver to crash nearby, police said. The shooting happened around 3 p.m. Wednesday near the area of Larimore Road and Oak Parkway Lane. Police first responded to a ShotSpotter alert from the scene. When officers arrived, they found a 17-year-old boy who suffered a gunshot wound. The victim was rushed to a hospital for treatment, but his injuries are considered non-life-threatening. Mayor resigns, hired weeks later in new job making 6x more While investigating, police learned of a crash near the scene of the shooting. Investigators say one driver involved in the crash reacted to the gunfire and was trying to avoid the shooting. That driver was also taken to a hospital with what police believe to be non-life-threatening injuries. Police have not yet disclosed any suspect information. The St. Louis County Police Department is investigating the matter. There could be some tra...

St. Louis County man sentenced in drug conspiracy, one of five charged

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis County man, one of five people linked to a criminal enterprise, was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for his role in a drug conspiracy. A judge has ordered Marvel Sherell, 23, to 11 years behind bars, plus four years of supervised release after completing his term. The Drug Enforcement Administration says that Sherell was selling meth and fentanyl and used a confidential source to purchase drugs. Sherell admitted to selling methamphetamine and fentanyl to the DEA unknowingly. Mayor resigns, hired weeks later in new job making 6x more According to his plea agreement, Sherell admitted engaging in a drug conspiracy with others, including Nicholas L. Nixon, 24; Jacquez T. Love, 25; Turhan Robinson Jr., 23; and Arion D. Strickland, 29. During one encounter involving authorities on May 5, 2022, Sherell admitted to fleeing from St. Louis police officers. Police spotted Sherell driving recklessly that night and tried to stop his car.Investigators say Sherell ...

Assist MDC in locating poacher of elk in Shannon County, $20,000 reward offered

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:15:54 GMT

SHANNON COUNTY, Mo – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is reaching out to the public for help in identifying a poacher who illegally shot and killed a bull elk near Klepzi Mill in Shannon County over the past weekend. A local deer hunter made the discovery and told MDC of the incident.Shannon County Conservation Agent Brad Hadley located the adult elk, which had been shot and left in the vicinity of Klepzig Mill during Missouri’s firearms deer season opening weekend on Nov. 11 and 12. The entire carcass was abandoned in the field and later transported to MDC’s Central Regional Office and Conservation Research Center in Columbia for necropsy.Missouri’s Operation Game Thief (OGT) is offering $20,000 as a reward for any information leading to the conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the elk's shooting.Conservation agents are asking anyone with information to contact the Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-392-1111. Callers have the option to remain anonymous, and...