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25 schools, 9 Jewish facilities ‘swatted’ with threats about bombings, shootings, says MN law enforcement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

At least 25 public schools and nine Jewish facilities received threats about bombings and shootings on Wednesday, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.None of the “swatting” incidents have turned out to be real, the agency said.Swatting involves making a prank threat in an attempt to bring a large law enforcement response to a particular address, and Wednesday’s threats arrived by email.Wednesday’s threats were reported in Aitkin, Anoka, Bemidji, Brainerd, Champlin, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Crosby, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Frazee-Vergas, Fridley, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Rochester, Spring Lake Park, St. Francis and Anoka County, according to the BCA.Local law enforcement has been responding, and the BCA’s Minnesota Fusion Center is tracking the reports.“The language in each threat is almost identical,” the BCA said in a statement. “Investigators have determined that an individual and address ...

Fire department warns of lithium-ion battery hazards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

RAVENA, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Officials warn the public about the potential dangers of devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. They said if not handled properly the batteries could cause fatalities.An explosion in the middle of a quiet street in Ravena was caught on surveillance video. The video shows a man running away from that fire that was caused by a lithium-ion battery. That man is Ryan Fritz. Saint Rose students protest college closure, demand answers “Oh my goodness, from the spark to when it ignited it was only 5 seconds, I mean there was no time to react,” said Fritz.Wednesday is his birthday and the electric bike that went up in flames was an early birthday gift from his dad.It happened on Monday night on Pulver Avenue. Fritz said he was riding the bike for the first time and was on it for less than a minute when he heard a noise.“It sounded like a sparkler actually, like a firework, and so I stopped the bike. I went to get off and as I got off it ignited,” said Fritz. “Fla...

Route 50 Diner to reopen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) - We told you Tuesday night about the Route 50 Diner in Ballston Spa closing and being seized by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance from unpaid taxes.  There is new hope that the diner that's fallen behind on tax payments can reopen. NEWS10 has the latest on the efforts to resolve the issue. Saint Rose students protest college closure, demand answers “We are closed. I'm sorry, it was seized by the government." That was what diner manger Ashley Livingstone said to her customers when telling them of the bad news. "I’m so sorry he was such a great guy for the community, for the vets, for everything this guy did," responded the customer who had tears in her eyes.When asked what the hardest part of the diner closing was for her Livingstone, she said it was telling her staff and, “not having work three weeks before Christmas, I mean, come on.” She went on to relive the moment she had to hand everything over to the state.  “There were a...

Rural Missouri man sentenced for producing child pornography

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A man from Audrain County, Missouri, appeared in federal court on Wednesday to be sentenced on multiple child pornography charges.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said William Dahl, 39, photographed himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl and later emailed those images to others. He also received a video of a 16-year-old girl and a pornographic image of a 7-year-old.In September, Dahl was found guilty of one count of producing child porn and two counts of receiving child porn.Prosecutors said Dahl met the first victim when she was 13 and he was nearly 23. Dahl took photographs of the girl in a Moberly cemetery in 2007 and later sent images of his genitals to her. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW ...

Robbers ask St. Louis man for help then mug him for $20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A sixty-six-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of $20 after he declined to assist two people who asked for his help. The mugging happened Tuesday at around 5:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Hampton.The victim reported that two suspects approached him while he was walking southbound in the 1100 block of Hampton. When he refused, the suspects resorted to violence, punching him and hitting him with a gun before making off with $20. The police say that the investigation into this incident is currently ongoing.

Front Range Passenger Rail receives starter money from feds — with the promise of much more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

The federal government will provide $500,000 in seed money to help kick-start construction of Colorado’s Front Range Passenger Rail project between Fort Collins and Pueblo — a decision that brings the prospect of millions more in future funding.The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration are set to announce that the rail project will be included in the Corridor Identification and Development Program, according to a news release issued Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Lafayette. The program is a major component of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that aims to facilitate the development of intercity passenger rail corridors across the nation.Front Range rail’s inclusion could mean significant money from the federal government over the coming years as the project moves closer to reality. Among its chief boosters is Gov. Jared Polis.“This corridor stretches across more than 160 miles, connecting 13 of the most p...

Opinion: Colorado’s fire districts called 911 about property taxes and lawmakers answered

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that without the Colorado legislature voting to fully backfill the state’s more than 250 fire protection districts, communities throughout this state wouldn’t be adequately protected in times of emergencies.More than 70% of Colorado fire departments are fire protection districts, which means they are almost completely funded by property taxes.Since the Great Recession, when assessed property evaluations plummeted, fire districts have struggled to rebound from significant revenue losses. In the last decade, our revenues remained flat despite population increases and skyrocketing call volumes. Many fire districts were forced to go to voters multiple times to seek approval for revenue stabilization measures in an attempt to return to where they were a decade earlier. It was never enough.The only way fire districts can meet ever-increasing day-to-day demands is by planning, training personnel, working out mutual aid agreements with neighbors, maintaining ...

Suspect dead after multiple people shot at UNLV

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

A suspect was found dead after police responded to reports of a shooting on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas with "multiple victims" on Wednesday. The university issued a social media alert to "RUN-HIDE-FIGHT" just before noon local time when shots rang out at Beam Hall, home to UNLV's Lee Business School and the Harrah College of Hotel Administration. Officers also responded to a report of additional shots fired at the student union."The suspect has been located and is deceased,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department posted on X, formerly Twitter, at about 12:30 p.m. “This is an active investigation. Please continue to avoid the area and watch for responding emergency units.”Police and crime scene tape are seen on the campus of UNLV. Dec. 6, 2023. (AP)At a news conference, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill said "a number" of victims were transported to area hospitals. Their conditions were unknown.University officials were still urging students and faculty to shel...

In-N-Out Burger nears milestone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

Southern California-based In-N-Out Burger plans to open its 399th location Thursday morning in San Juan Capistrano, the company has announced.The restaurant is at 31791 Del Obispo St. and will feature one drive-thru lane, indoor seating for 84 customers and covered patio seating for 28 guests.“The restaurant will employ approximately 80 In-N-Out Burger Associates with a starting wage of $19.00 per hour,” the company said in a news release.The very first In-N-Out burger opened in 1948 at a tiny stand at Francisquito and Garvey avenues in Baldwin Park, a suburb of Los Angeles. Harry and Esther Snyder are credited with inventing the world’s first drive-thru with a two-way speaker box that same year. (Photo courtesy: In-N-Out Burger)The original In-N-Out in Baldwin Park, California. (Courtesy: In-N-Out Burger)Cars line up in the drive thru at an In-n-Out restaurant on October 28, 2021 in Pleasant Hill, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)A menu is displayed in the drive t...

Suspected internet predator arrested following multi-agency sting; police seeking more victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:29 GMT

Local and federal officials have arrested a man after he sexually exploited multiple juveniles online, authorities said. According to an Instagram post by the Fontana Police Department, officials were first informed of the suspect by the FBI’s Inland Regional Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force on Nov. 16. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Ryan VanDeCar, had allegedly been using “multiple different online chatting platforms” to contact both juveniles and adults and attempt to receive “a large number of illicit photos and videos of child sexual abuse material,” Fontana police said.  Investigators seek additional victims of Apple Valley man alleged to possess, distribute child porn Due to the severity and prolific nature of the investigation, the Fontana Police Department conducted a joint operation with the FBI, the Orange County Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory and the District Attorney’s office, law enforcement officials said. Ryan Va...