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St. Paul man sentenced for crash that injured 2 young passengers in Dakota County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

A St. Paul man who pleaded guilty to injuring two young passengers in a crash after he fled officers in Hastings last year has been sentenced to jail time and probation.Ko Ko, 31, had a warrant and a revoked driver’s license when he sped away from a traffic stop on May 30, 2022, according to charging documents. After leading police on a 5-mile chase, he crashed after an officer punctured his tires.In the crash, a 4-year-old boy suffered fractured vertebrae, fractures to his face and sternum and a dislocated shoulder. A 3-year-old girl suffered a broken arm, charging documents said.Ko’s girlfriend, who was also in the car, told police Ko didn’t want to stop because he had an arrest warrant after failing to meet the conditions of his release for an earlier drug charge and failing to appear for an April court hearing.After the crash, Ko was charged in Dakota County District Court with two counts of criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm with gross negligence ...

Intersection where St. Paul man and dog were killed had been darkened by copper wire thieves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

The way Laurel-Lee Wirtz sees it, she lost her husband of nearly 40 years, the love of her life, to copper wire thieves.It was just after 8 p.m. on Sunday — Christmas Eve — when Steve and Laurel-Lee Wirtz returned to their home in St. Paul’s North End after a night out with friends. She planned to cook crab legs and put on a Christmas movie. Steve, a former Rock-Tenn printer-pressman turned postal facility worker, took their nearly 2-year-old German Shepherd, Gunther, out of his kennel and told his wife he’d be right back after a walk.Steven Wirtz and Gunther. (Courtesy of Laurel-Lee Wirtz)Minutes later came a knock on the door. Laurel-Lee prepared to tease her husband, assuming he had locked himself out. Instead it was their neighbor, Jesus, telling her to come quickly. Steve had been run over in the unlit intersection of Maryland Avenue and Park Street, where he lay unrecognizable, a pool of blood beneath his head.“All I could do was yell, ‘They...

Streaking Wild not ready to check the standings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

The Wild have made remarkable progress in their effort to get back into the playoff race, two points away from the eighth and final Western Conference berth after winning 11 of 14 games.Not that Freddy Gaudreau knows.“I never really look at the standings,” the Wild forward said after an hour-long practice Thursday at TRIA Rink.Never?“No,” Gaudreau said. “Rarely. It will happen if I stumble on them, but I don’t really believe in it. My energy should not be about the standings, because every time I step on the ice, I want to win. The standings don’t matter; I want to win. That’s it.”That’s kind of the company line for a Wild team playing its best hockey of the season, by a long shot, and eager to keep it going.“We haven’t talked about the standings. We don’t,” coach John Hynes said. “We’re not posting them.”But there’s no getting past the fact that for the first time all season, looking for the Wild in the Western Conference standings is a reasonable thing to do. Onc...

Maryland Heights plans for extended hours, four-day employee workweeks next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - The City of Maryland Heights plans to extend its working hours next week and implement a four-day workweek for its civilian employees.City leaders say these changes are designed to enhance accessibility, convenience, and employee well-being. They also aim to make government services more readily available to residents and businesses."We are thrilled to start this journey, as our research indicates that Maryland Heights is the first municipality in Missouri to implement this new schedule, extending our service hours," said City Administrator Tracey Anderson. "What sets our municipality apart from the rest is our innovative approach to enhancing accessibility to services for our residents and businesses." Beginning on Jan. 2, 2024, the municipal government center will extend its hours of operations from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.The city will have two groups that stagger their hours during the week to cover the expanded hours.

Zach Allen on Broncos’ slim playoff hopes after Russell Wilson benching: “Everybody wants to write us off, but there’s still a chance”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

In the hours after it was announced quarterback Russell Wilson had been benched on Wednesday, the Centura Health and Training Center felt like a ghost town. The media viewing of practice was lifeless — the silence louder than Travis Scott’s “Escape Plan” blasting through the speakers — with the locker room taking on a somber tone.Thursday, however, arrived with a new energy. Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper vibed to the music during position drills, as if it was any other practice. While Wilson sat alone in his locker, scrolling through his phone and not talking to reporters, the rest of the players were back to joking and laughing with one another in the locker room.Defensive end Zach Allen praised the team for taking the week seriously and keeping the focus on Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers — the final home game of the season. He wasn’t about to throw in the towel on Denver’s slim postseason hopes, either, with backup Jarrett Stidham set to take Wi...

Boulder County governments file lawsuit against Xcel Energy for Marshall Fire injuries and damages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

Boulder County governments have filed a lawsuit against Xcel Energy for injuries and damages that occurred as a result of the Marshall Fire on Dec. 30, 2021, according to the complaint obtained by Denver7 Wednesday.This came ahead of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family Nadine Turnbull, who was 91 years old when she died in the fire.The plaintiffs in the county lawsuit include the Boulder Board of County Commissioners, the Town of Superior, the City of Louisville, Boulder County Public Health, Superior Metropolitan District No. 1 and the Boulder Valley School District. They’re citing six things or “cause of action” to sue Xcel.Inverse condemnation is a legal cause of action used by property owners when a governmental entity takes an action which damages or decreases the value of private property, according to Cornell University.Read more at Denver7.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.Related ArticlesColorad...

One killed, three injured in I-76 Frontage Road crash in Brighton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

One person was killed and three injured in a single-vehicle crash that closed the eastbound Interstate 76 Frontage Road in Brighton on Thursday afternoon.The crash was reported by Brighton police at approximately 2:15 p.m. on X. I-76 Frontage Road was closed between 160th and 168th avenues until approximately 5:15 p.m., according to the department.The vehicle had four adult occupants, spokesperson Kylynn McTague said. The condition of the three people taken to the hospital was not immediately available, and it has not been determined if drugs, alcohol or speed were factors in the crash.This is a developing story.Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.

Child found in Pasadena reunited with family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

Authorities successfully located the loved ones of a child found in Pasadena on Thursday.The boy was initially found near the area of Los Robles Avenue and Villa Street, according to Pasadena police. The "found child was reunited with his family," police said. "Thank you for your assistance."No identifying information was present with him at the time. No further details surrounding his discovery and reunion with loved ones were released.Police need help identifying a male child found in Pasadena on Dec. 28, 2023. (Pasadena Police Department)

Perla Vasquez Killed, Saul Sigala Jr. and Donovan Sigala Injured in Hit-and-Run Crash on Interstate 10 East [El Paso, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

38-Year-Old Female Driver Pronounced Dead after Hit-and-Run Collision on Interstate 10EL PASO, TX (December 28, 2023) – Perla Vasquez died Saturday night, and Saul Sigala Jr., and Donovan Sigala sustained injuries in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 10.On December 16th, officers were dispatched to the location in response to multiple calls. According to reports, a Dodge Charger had pulled over in the center median to address a flat tire. Subsequently, the driver of a 2015 Ford Mustang swerved left to avoid colliding with a 2010 Acura that had slowed down to alert other drivers about the incident.The Ford ended up colliding with the Dodge and three pedestrians nearby before returning to the lanes and striking a Volkswagen Jetta. The Ford and the Volkswagen became disabled at the Porfirio Diaz overpass. The driver of the Ford fled the scene on foot, and as of now, no information about the suspect is available.Authorities later pronounced 38-year-old Vasquez deceased at the scen...

UK warship heads to Guyana as territorial dispute heats up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:26 GMT

By Manuel Rueda | Associated PressBOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Nicolás Maduro ordered Venezuela’s armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the United Kingdom sent a warship toward Guyana’s territorial waters as the South American neighbors dispute a large border region.In a nationally televised address on Thursday, Maduro said that 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will conduct joint operations off the nation’s eastern coast — near the border with Guyana.Maduro described the impending arrival of British ship HMS Trent to Guyana’s shores as a “threat” to his country. He argued the ship’s deployment violates a recent agreement between the South American nations.“We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue and in peace, but no one is going to threaten Venezuela,” Maduro said in a room where he was accompanied by a dozen military commanders. “This is an unacceptable t...