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Mexican official fired for ordering rays’ stingers removed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Officials in northern Mexico said Tuesday they have filed complaints against a local employee who ordered fishermen to rip the stingers off live rays to protect tourists during Easter week. The governor of the northern state of Sonora, Alfonso Durazo, called it an act of “caveman logic to protect tourists” in the town of Huatabampo. “Who could think of such a thing? What world do they live in?” Durazo said, adding he had reported the offense to the Attorney General for Environmental Protection. People were shocked when videos of the mutilations began to circulate this week. Some of the fishermen were shown ripping out the spiny stinger with gloved hands, and tossing the sting rays back into the Pacific. While some claimed the rays could survive and re-grow their stingers, it was unclear if that was true, or how many would survive the brutal treatment. The creatures involved were a smaller species related to the larger, better-known manta rays. It was unclear exact...

Search underway for missing person in Niles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

NILES, Ill. — A heavy police presence was seen in a Cook County forest preserve Tuesday.According to Forest Preserves of Cook County Police, law enforcement searched a forest preserve near the 6700 block of North Milwaukee Ave in Niles, along the North Branch Trail near the Chicago River.Forest Preserve officials said the heavy police presence in the area was a part of a missing person's investigation in which law enforcement searched around the river and surrounding preserves for most of Tuesday afternoon and evening.While Forest Preserves police began the investigation, the Chicago Police Department has taken over as the leading investigative agency and will provide updates moving forward.No other information is available at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Velázquez hits grand slam as Cubs rally past Mariners 14-9

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Nelson Velázquez hit his first career grand slam in Chicago's eight-run third inning, and the Cubs rallied for a 14-9 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.Dansby Swanson went 4 for 4 and Trey Mancini homered as the Cubs won for the fifth time in six games. Mancini had three RBIs, and Nico Hoerner had two hits and drove in two runs.Velázquez had three hits and scored three times in his first start since he was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Monday.Swanson posted his fifth career four-hit game before departing in the sixth with tightness on his left side. He is batting .400 (16 for 40) in his first 10 games with his new team.Eugenio Suárez and Jarred Kelenic homered for Seattle in its third consecutive loss. Suárez drove in three runs, and Ty France finished with three hits and two RBIs.The Mariners made the most of errors by Swanson and Mancini in the second, scoring five unearned runs on their way to a 7-0 lead.But the Cubs responded in the third, sendin...

Where DPS is patrolling in Austin and why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Stabbings and shootings have decreased in Austin since the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) upped patrols in Austin, according to the Austin Police Department (APD)."If there's a perception that there's more police in the area, you're going to be less likely to commit that crime," said Asst. Chief Jeff Greenwalt. "And conversely, if you haven't seen a cop in a while, and there's a perception there's not enough cops on the street - they're going to feel more emboldened and more powered to commit those crimes." How many arrests has DPS made since it began its partnership with Austin Police? The increased DPS patrols began March 30, as a response to staffing challenges faced by APD. Greenwalt said APD asked DPS to help primarily with the below three efforts:Traffic stops for things like speeding to prevent deadly accidentsResponding to crashes so drivers can get help more quicklyPatrolling violent crime "hot spot" areasRegarding the crime "hot spots," Greenwal...

St. Cloud airport awarded $495,000 in federal infrastructure funding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

Nearly a half-million dollars in federal funding will be used to replace outdated infrastructure, among other projects, at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced the funding during a Monday event at the airport.“It’s not just one county — you all rely on this for your constituents and for commerce,” Klobuchar said. “It (the funding) is going to make sure the radio tower equipment is up to date and able to support communication between all the people that have to coordinate to help planes take off and arrive safely.”“It’s a good deal for taxpayers, communities and military readiness for national security,” she said.Smith called St. Cloud “an important economic and cultural hub for the state.”The $495,000 in funding came from the Federal Aviation Administration through competitive bids.Smith told reporters that St. Cloud had the advantage of having a regional airport authority.“You d...

Wild loss to Jets overshadowed by ‘cheap shot’ to Marcus Johansson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

The lonely Northwest Division banner that hangs in the rafters at Xcel Energy Center will officially go another year without any company.Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov, top left, defenseman Jake Middleton, top middle, and right wing Ryan Hartman, top right, fight with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo, bottom left and Winnipeg Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)After flirting with the Central Division title for a few weeks, the Wild officially cannot finish in the No. 1 spot.That much was decided on Tuesday night at when the Wild suffered a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The result means the Wild will play either the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars in the first round of the NHL playoffs.That said, the Wild lost more than the game on this particular night, as Marcus Johansson went down after taking a cross check directly to the ribs.It went down as a five-mi...

Two people shot and killed in a Hazelwood home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

HAZELWOOD, Mo. - Two people were shot and killed during a disturbance at a Hazelwood home Tuesday night.Chief Tim Burger for the Hazelwood Police Department said officers responded to shots being fired at a home on Latty Avenue and Berkridge Road around 7:30 p.m.When officers arrived on the scene, Burger said a man was in the street holding a gun. It's unknown if shots were exchanged between the man and the officers. Burger said the witness claimed the man's gun had discharged, and he had shot himself in the head. The man was taken to a nearby hospital. Officers later found two people shot inside the home. They were pronounced dead on the scene. Top story: “Easter Miracle” for Lake St. Louis officer critically injured by suspected drunk driver Burger believed the victims and the man were related and lived together.Police have not disclosed the identities of the victims. What led up to the shooting is also unknown at this time.There were around 17 bullet casings on the scene. The i...

Police officer’s gun and body armor stolen from his car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A St. Louis County police officer may have been targeted when he was attending an Easter Sunday service at a south St. Louis County church.An incident report said it was only the officer’s car that was broken into in the church parking lot. It was the officer’s personal car. A rear window was smashed between 10:40 a.m. and 12:21 p.m., and the officer’s service belt, which contained his gun and taser, was stolen. His body armor and uniform pants were also reported stolen.“It is frustrating,” said Sgt. Tracy Panus with the St. Louis County Police Department. “We’re human, and we do people things, and unfortunately, this is the kind of stuff that can happen if we leave our guns or any of our police equipment in our vehicles.” Top story: “Easter Miracle” for Lake St. Louis officer critically injured by suspected drunk driver Panus addressed head-on the fact that police have been warning the public about criminals who often break into cars looking for one thing....

Honoring fallen soldiers including Korean War vet from Centralia  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The family of a U.S. Army veteran who has been missing in action for decades is now preparing for his funeral in Centralia, Illinois. Marva Bledsoe, a niece of Master Sergeant Merritt Leroy Wynn, said it was cooperation from North Korea following a summit with President Donald Trump that led to the return of her uncle’s remains.Bledsoe said DNA samples taken from relatives confirmed his identity. She said Wynn was killed in action during the Korean War. His remains were returned to his hometown of Centralia on Tuesday.“It closes a chapter in our family history,” Bledsoe said. “He’s been identified, and he’s being laid to rest.”His funeral will be on Saturday, April 15. Residents are encouraged to line the streets near the funeral home before the service. Top story: “Easter Miracle” for Lake St. Louis officer critically injured by suspected drunk driver There are also funeral services planned for two soldiers from Missouri. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary Esparza, of Ja...

Missouri House advances limits on health care, sports participation for transgender minors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:23 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri House on Tuesday gave initial approval to bills that would ban certain medical procedures for transgender minors and prohibit transgender athletes from competing in school sports according to their gender identity.The legislation is similar to a pair of Senate bills that chamber approved last month.  A House committee held a public hearing on those Senate bills Tuesday night. The ban on gender-affirming care brought the most discussion, and two Republicans broke from their party to vote “no,” resulting in a 106-45 vote. Republican Rep. Chris Sander of Lone Jack, who is openly gay, voted “no” along with House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, who is a doctor.Benton Republican Rep. Jamie Burger’s bill delineating sports participation by sex as assigned at birth was approved on a 107-41 vote. Sander once again voted “no,” along with Republican Rep. Tony Lovasco of O’Fallon. Rep. Alan Gray of Florissant was the only Democrat to v...