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Barge season opens a week early, with a home opener of sorts through Lake Pepin and into St. Paul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Two tow boats pulling 12 barges between them — each barge loaded with some 1,500 to 1,600 tons of cement — broke through the frozen waters of Lake Pepin on Sunday, crossing from Wisconsin, on through Hastings and into St. Paul. In 17 frigid hours, they together delivered what in warm temperatures might take a single towboat three or four hours.Their stop-and-go journey into the capital city marked the first official barge traffic of the season on the Upper Mississippi River, a home opener of sorts for river shipping.“We’ve had no barges since the end of November,” said Lee Nelson, president of Upper River Services, the private company that serves as the harbor operator for the Twin Cities. “This marks the beginning of the season.”The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brought the Motor Vessel Phillip M. Pfeffer and Motor Vessel Neil N. Diehl on Sunday through Lock and Dam No. 2 in Hastings, the last major barrier for vessels reaching the head of t...

Minnesota lawmaker injured in weekend snowmobile crash near Alexandria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — State Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Alexandria, is recovering from injuries suffered in a weekend snowmobile crash near Alexandria.The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 3 p.m. Sunday reporting a snowmobile accident on the north end of Lake Ida.Deputies and first responders arrived at the scene and found Westrom about 200 yards from shore.A 13-year-old boy had been operating the 2009 Arctic Cat snowmobile. Westrom, 49, was the passenger.The snowmobile struck a packed snowdrift on the lake, causing Westrom to be thrown clear of the snowmobile, according to the sheriff’s office.Westrom was complaining of upper body pain at the scene. The boy, whose name was not released, wasn’t injured.Westrom was transported by snowmobile rescue sled to a nearby public access and transported to the Alexandria hospital. Minnesota Public Radio reported that he was admitted for observation and that the snowmobile’s operator was a family member.Wes...

Eagan parents sue Florida university, running coach after daughter died by suicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Parents of a former Rosemount High School graduate who died by suicide are taking legal action against the Florida university their daughter attended and her cross-country coach at the time. In a lawsuit, they say the coach bullied her about her weight and learning disabilities.The case was filed by Ray and Lynne Pernsteiner in Florida state court in February and then moved to U.S. District Court in Florida. Julia Pernsteiner died in her Jacksonville University dorm room on Nov. 8, 2021 at age 23.The lawsuit alleges that Pernsteiner’s constitutional rights were violated under both Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act.Calls from the Pioneer Press to attorneys for the former coach Ronald E. Grigg Jr., 52, and Jacksonville University for comment on the lawsuit were not returned Monday.Jacksonville University did release this statement to KSTP television: “The students, faculty, and staff of Jacksonville University continue to mourn Julia’s tragic death and we sympathize wit...

CB Patrick Peterson agrees to sign with Pittsburgh after being unable to reach deal with Vikings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Cornerback Patrick Peterson’s first choice in free agency was to re-sign with the Vikings. But it didn’t work out.Peterson, who played the past two seasons for Minnesota and is bound one day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said on his “All Things Covered” podcast Monday that he will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers after teams Wednesday can begin signing outside free agents.“No doubt about it, I definitely wanted to go back to Minnesota,’’ Peterson said on the podcast he co-hosts with Bryant McFadden, his cousin and a former Steelers cornerback. “I even before I made the decision to … plan on signing with Pittsburgh, (said), ‘Are you sure?’ I wanted to come back. We just can’t make it happen.”The Vikings have salary-cap issues. And while Peterson, who played last season under a one-year, $4 million deal, didn’t address any monetary specifics on the podcast, he did say it came down to business in his dealings with the Vikings“It was all clean, good, adult, men business,” Peterson...

3/13/23: Major Winter Storm Arrives Overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Latest Forecast Update from Meteorologists Steve Caporizzo & Rob Lindenmuth:Major winter storm is headed to the Capital Region overnight tonight. This may begin as rain for the valley, but as cooler air begins to get worked in, temperatures will fall close to freezing and we will all transition to snow between 10pm and midnight. Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the entire area for the heavy wet snow expected.Storm system right now is located just off the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Very strong upper level energy is dropping out of the Great Lakes and will continue to track to the east. At the same time, the coastal storm will be moving northward and will begin to interact with the upper level energy late tonight and Tuesday morning. This will allow the storm to strengthen and with plenty of moisture available, another "juiced" storm, we do expect high snowfall totals with a high liquid content, making this a very heavy wet snow.Major impacts are expected through Tuesday evenin...

Santos calls for presidents' cognitive ability to be tested annually

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) introduced a bill on Monday that would require the sitting president to undergo an annual cognitive evaluation, after GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley called for “mental competency tests” for politicians older than 75.The measure is the second piece of legislation the embattled congressman has spearheaded since coming to Congress in January.“Regardless of political affiliation, this should be a common sense and bipartisan agreement that when a man or a woman becomes President, they submit to an annual cognitive evaluation,” Santos wrote in a statement.If the commander in chief were to ignore the requirement, Santos is proposing that the White House does not receive federal funds for official travel.“Physical examination results are publicly released throughout their time in office, and a thorough cognitive assessment should also be included, and failure to comply will result in no federal funds being obligated or expended for official travel,” the c...

Family files suit accusing Montclair police of beating man inside his home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

A man is on life support at a hospital in Montclair as his family demands justice for what they believe was an unjust use of force. The family of Tony Ibanez has filed a lawsuit alleging that Montclair Police Department officers entered his bedroom on March 4, tased him, and severely beat him until he suffered cardiac arrest.Family members say Ibanez, 42, has been declared brain dead.His family and the attorneys representing them held a press conference on Monday to formally announce the lawsuit and demand the release of body-worn camera footage from the officers involved.Family of Tony Ibanez and their attorneys held a news conference on March 13, 2023, to call for justice and the release of police body camera footage. (KTLA)According to the Montclair Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call at a mobile home park on the 4100 block of Mission Boulevard. Police allege that Ibanez was “armed with an object, threatening the female victim caller who lived at the same location...

Leslie Jordan, Anne Heche, Paul Sorvino, Barbara Walters left out of Oscars' In Memoriam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

It is typically the most somber part of the Academy Awards ceremony: the In Memoriam tribute to notable entertainers who have died over the past year.On Sunday night, John Travolta was visibly choked up as he walked on stage to the song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton-John, Travolta's "Grease" co-star who died of cancer in August 2022. "Since tonight is a celebration of the work and the accomplishments of our community in this past year, it is only fitting then that we celebrate those we’ve lost, who’ve dedicated their lives to their craft, both in front of and behind the camera, through their immeasurable contributions," a visibly emotional Travolta said. "Each of them left an individual and indelible mark, that shared and informed us, they’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and became dear friends, who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to.” Photos from the 2023 Oscars: red carpet, ceremony, and more The spotlight then shined on Lenny Kravitz who pl...

Yosemite National Park extends closure as another winter storm heads toward California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Yosemite National Park will remain closed as another atmospheric river moves into California.“Yosemite will remain closed through Thursday, March 16—possibly longer. A partial reopening on March 17 is a best-case scenario,” park officials said on Twitter.Yosemite National Park has been closed since the last winter storm in early March, which dumped up to 15 feet of snow on park grounds. Park crews worked to clear the snow and restore critical services before allowing guests back inside. California’s winter storm closed these national parks Many California residents will wake up to heavy rain showers Tuesday morning. The rain is expected to last until Wednesday.For Southern California, the National Weather Service is forecasting rainfall totals to be within the two- to four-inches range for the coastal areas and valley areas, and up to six inches in the foothill communities. Yet another storm headed for Southern California; 2-4 inches of rain expected in Los Angeles Some areas, l...

Teresa Beardsley, Entertainment Industry Consultant, Explains How To Maintain Mental Health In The Dark World of Hollywood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:06 GMT

Credit Teresa BeardsleyThe maltreatment of workers in Hollywood is shocking: Runway models eat cotton balls soaked in juice to fill their stomachs without food, reality TV stars stop their medication so they can drink on set, and crew members being verbally abused by producers. Teresa Beardsley has been working in the entertainment industry for enough years to see the grim reality of Hollywood. Her past work in fitness modeling and reality TV have given her numerous examples of the traumatic experiences entertainment professionals go through daily.Some of her memories include; actors being coerced to drink excessive alcohol, starting fights because of excessive stress, and physically harming themselves. The modeling industry is known for shattering the self-esteem of talent every day. Teresa was aware of modeling managers pressuring models and actors to modify their bodies to fit mold. She also had awkward conversations with bosses who asked what drugs she liked taking, and witnesse...