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House GOP gives Mike Johnson Speaker nod after whirlwind Emmer dropout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

House Republicans nominated Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) for Speaker Tuesday evening, a source familiar confirmed to The Hill, making him the fourth GOP lawmaker to win the conference’s nod — and its second nominee within a day after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) dropped out of the running amid GOP opposition.Johnson’s nomination capped off the end of a whirlwind day.The House GOP is becoming increasingly desperate in its quest to find a Republican who can win the Speaker’s gavel on the House floor, after passing the three-week mark since eight Republicans joined with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).Earlier in the day, Johnson came in second to Emmer in a nominating vote that spanned five ballots.But hours later, Emmer dropped out as he faced opposition from more than two dozen House Republicans who asserted he was not conservative enough — and former President Trump, who dubbed Emmer a “Globalist RINO.”Lawmakers then came back to start the process ...

Dallas couple allegedly tries to bring ‘fake’ child, Mexican girl into US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two Dallas residents are facing alien smuggling charges for allegedly using their son’s and their granddaughter’s birth certificates to bring two unauthorized Mexican nationals into the United States.Jorge and Maria de Jesus Mendez on Monday morning attempted to drive from Mexico to the U.S. over the Colombia Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, Texas, with two passengers in the back seat. The woman identified herself as an American citizen and her husband as a legal permanent resident, both from Dallas.According to a federal court filing, Maria de Jesus Mendez handed a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer two Texas birth certificates on behalf of whom she said was her son and her granddaughter. The officer turned to 13-year-old Jorge Mendez III to ask routine questions in English, which he did not appear to understand. He then turned to the younger female child only identified in documents as A.V., asked her name and allegedly got an answer that did n...

Rock star Bret Michaels adopts hero rescue dog named after him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

(WJW) -- Poison frontman Bret Michaels has adopted a 6-year-old husky named...Bret Michaels.The canine was recently hailed as a hero in a story that truly gives us something to believe in.On Oct. 16, staff members at the Nebraska Humane Society were treating three 1-month-old kittens that were brought in as strays, the organization said in a Facebook post.While two of the kittens were doing well, the third suffered from flea anemia, meaning he needed blood and needed it fast. Courtesy of Nebraska Humane SocietyAgents at the humane society had recently done bloodwork on a 6-year-old husky at the shelter, named Bret Michaels, and knew he would be a perfect match for a blood transfusion. Submarine lost in WWII found after 83 years The transfusion was a success and the kitten is on the road to recovery, the humane society says, but the story doesn't end there.The humane society posted the pooch's photo on their Facebook page, stating that he needed to find his forever home. Courtesy ...

3M shares rise on upbeat forecast, earnings boost

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

Maplewood-based 3M Co. boosted its full-year adjusted profit and cash flow targets as it reported third-quarter results that easily topped Wall Street estimates, lifted by sweeping cost cuts and efforts to combat an ongoing sales slump.Adjusted earnings in 2023 will be $8.95 to $9.15 per share, 3M said in a statement Tuesday. That compares with its earlier forecast of $8.60 to $9.10, and an average of $8.88 based on analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.The company, which makes ubiquitous consumer products such as Scotch tape and Post-it Notes, as well as myriad industrial products, also expects its adjusted operating cash flow will be from $6.5 billion to $6.9 billion, up from a range of $5.9 billion to $6.3 billion.“We are building momentum through strong operational execution,” 3M Chief Executive Officer Mike Roman said in a statement. The results “position us for a solid close to 2023.”3M shares rose 4.5% to $90.12 in trading Tuesday.The higher targets reflect deep cost cuts, ...

4 Minnesota men charged in $21 million catalytic converter theft ring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

Two St. Paulites were among four Minnesota men charged last week with running a multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft ring.Justin Tyme Johnson, 32, of St. Paul; Soe Nye Moo, 31, of St. Paul; John Charles Kotten, 41, of Hutchinson; and James Dillon Jensen, 34, of Minneapolis, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, according to charging documents filed in U.S. District Court.Johnson and Kotten were also charged with eight counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, one count of money laundering and 10 counts of using the proceeds of unlawful activity in monetary transactions.Moo was also charged with possessing a machine gun.All four defendants made their initial appearances Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.Johnson and Kotten, who were the ringleaders of the scheme, acquired catalytic converters directly from thieves or through intermediaries, including Moo and Jensen, according to the indictment.Johnson ...

Ribbon cutting held for Albany rock music school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local business that helps kids pursue their dreams of becoming a rock star celebrated its official opening with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. Albany Rock Pit opened its doors in August.The owners want to create a community where the children can come together and learn to express themselves. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Albany Rock Pit is a place for kids to come and be themselves," co-owner Tess Collins said. "From all walks of life. We have kids from five years old all the way up to 17, and they play together. It's a whole different environment for these kids."For those interested, a free open mic night is hosted the first Friday of each month to give people a chance to see what they have to offer.

Castleton Elementary School celebrates 100 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

CASTLETON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Castleton Elementary School celebrated its 100th birthday on Tuesday. To help celebrate, students performed songs and presented projects looking back on the last 100 years. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "As we look back on the past century, we can't help but be inspired by the thousands of lives that have been touched and shaped by Castleton Elementary School."School administrators were also presented with a special proclamation from the New York State Senate that commemorated the special day.

Federal jury convicts man for St. Louis murder, drug trafficking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A man whom federal prosecutors described as "an enforcer for a large drug conspiracy" was convicted Tuesday on drug conspiracy charges that included a 2019 murder.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Freeman Whitfield IV, 29, was part of a criminal trafficking enterprise that moved drugs from Houston and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the St. Louis area.The Drug Enforcement Agency launched an investigation into the enterprise in 2018, resulting in the seizure of $1.5 million in drug payouts as well as 25 kilograms of cocaine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 10 kilograms of heroin, luxury vehicles, watches, and guns.Antonio Boyd, who ran drugs for Whitefield's supplier, Guy Goolsby, was arrested on March 21, 2018. Whitfield heard Boyd might be cooperating with federal investigators and, according to prosecutors, "decided to kill him for it." ‘Basketball Wives’ star Brittish Cierrah Williams sentenced to prison Boyd was gunned down...

Top Missouri lawmaker repays travel reimbursements wrongly taken from state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's House speaker has repaid more than $3,300 in taxpayer dollars that he inappropriately received as reimbursements for travel and other expenses dating back to 2018.Speaker Dean Plocher so far has repaid the state House $3,379, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday.The Missouri Independent on Monday first reported years of expenses that Plocher received state reimbursement for, even though he paid for the expenses out of his campaign fund and not out of his own pocket.Missouri law allows elected officials to use money from their political campaigns for some government-related expenses. But it's unlawful to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse campaigns or for political expenses.In a Monday email to fellow Republican House members, Plocher wrote that his campaign treasurer, his wife, early last week told him he “had received reimbursement from the House for an extra hotel night during a conference I attended that I should not have been reimburs...

Metro Denver letter carriers rally as assaults, robberies increase five times this year over 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:53 GMT

U.S. Postal Service letter carriers from across Metro Denver rallied at the Aurora Main Post Office on Tuesday to raise awareness for increasing assaults and robberies and to call for more federal prosecution of the crimes.About 30 letter carriers stood outside the post office Tuesday night, listening to state and national union leaders and chanting “Enough is enough!”The Colorado State Association of Letter Carriers has tracked 10 assaults and robberies on metro-area letter carriers in 2023, President Richard Byrne said Tuesday, up from two cases reported to the group in 2022.Byrne, a letter carrier in Greeley, said people who commit crimes against federal employees should face federal charges.“We need the Postal Service and (U.S.) Postal Inspection Service to work with federal prosecutors,” Byrne said. “Maybe we need some legislation with some teeth in it to hold these suspects accountable.”Denver letter carrier Ken Deuel worked for the Postal Service for 30 years befo...