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Letters: Little Free Libraries affect the lives of real people in St. Paul

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

Amend and adaptRegarding the news report “Little Free Library may close its door on Selby”:It may be “little” and its books may be “free,” but these words in no way diminish the influence and rich treasures a Little Free Library offers. As they have been “planted” and their numbers have increased in St. Paul from over a decade ago, Little Free Libraries have captured the hearts of most people, and the ire of a few. Occasionally a complaint is presented to our City Council objecting to the placement of an LFL; usually when it is on a public boulevard instead of private property.Case in point is a Selby Avenue LFL on a pedestrian-unfriendly street with heavy vehicle traffic. LFL steward and property owner Greg Trentman appeared before the City Council last week to argue the placement of registered LFL #96307 (that’s 96,307 registered LFLs world-wide, as of our COVID years). According to the March 22 Pioneer Press article, Greg has until ...

South St. Paul school district not liable for teacher Babbitt’s sex abuse, judges find

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

South St. Paul Public Schools is not liable for the sexual abuse of a former student by teacher Aric Babbitt and his husband, according to a panel of appellate court judges.An Illinois man sued anonymously in October 2020, accusing the school district of multiple counts of negligence related to sexual abuse he says Babbitt committed in May 2016, a few years after the man was a student in Babbitt’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes at Lincoln Center Elementary.Dakota County District Judge David L. Knutson last fall granted the district’s motion for summary judgment, writing that until the plaintiff and his parents reported the abuse to police in August 2016, “the District had no knowledge that Babbitt posed a risk to children.”Aric Babbitt (courtesy photo)Knutson also found the district wasn’t liable because Babbitt was acting outside the scope of his employment when he assaulted the plaintiff and the assault was “not foreseeable to the District.”On Monday, a three-judge panel from the ...

Here’s a look at the 26 players the Twins plan to take north

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. — And then there were 26.After a month and a half in Southwest Florida, the Twins finally have settled on the 26 players they’ll begin the season with. There are few surprises with the group; this year’s camp didn’t feature many roster battles, though a couple of injuries did open doors for players who otherwise might have started the year in Triple-A.Here’s a look at the 26 players the Twins are planning on opening the season with and how they’ll be utilized:Pitching rotationPablo López, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle, Kenta MaedaThe Twins had six major-league starters for five spots — good news for the team, bad news for Bailey Ober, who will begin his season at Triple-A awaiting a call up. Ober was optioned to St. Paul on Sunday, one of the last cuts of camp.After a 2022 season in which Twins starters pitched five innings or fewer innings in 110 of their 162 games, most in the majors, Gray expressed his higher hopes for the rotation this season.“I don’t ...

Elizabeth Shackelford: As the Iraq War showed, the allure of consensus in foreign policy can be dangerous

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

With the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Iraq War, I’m reminded of the remarkable consensus behind that decision, which passed with strong bipartisan support. Experts, journalists and well-known media personalities joined the bandwagon too.Often, consensus is good. It clears away opposition and helps make things happen. But too often, quick agreement on hard problems is a sign of dangerous groupthink instead.This wide support has not aged well. It launched a bloody war, at a cost of $2 trillion and an estimated 300,000 lives. It led to a violent insurgency and the creation of the Islamic State militant group. Generations of Iraqis will continue to suffer the consequences.And so will America. Although the material suffering in Iraq dwarfs our own, I’m not sure America will ever escape the long tail of distrust that has understandably followed us since then.The original sin was the decision to go to war on a dishonest pretext. That foundation gave rise to our use of ...

Final push for tax the rich before budget deadline

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- According to a recent Siena poll, most New Yorkers are in favor of raising income taxes for those earning more. While this is not part of the Governor’s budget proposal, it is part of the Assembly and Senates. Push for min wage of $21.25/hour "I think modest rate increases on the richest individuals and corporations are things they can absorb," said Michael Kink, Executive Director of the Strong Economy For All Coalition. Kink said New York has 21% more millionaires since taxes were raised on the wealthiest in 2021.  The Siena poll shows around 75% of New Yorkers are in favor of the increase. The one house budget proposals would increase income taxes for those making over $5 million from 10.3% to 10.8%. And for those earning over $25 million, a shift from 10.9% to 11.4%. Advocates said this would help with a slew of issues like a minimum wage increase and health care for all. "That's money into the pockets of people that will spend it on their everyday need...

Pacific animal shelter takes in 27 Shih Tzus from local breeder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

PACIFIC, Mo. - An animal shelter in Pacific, Missouri, is in need of foster volunteers after taking in more than two Shih Tzus from a local breeder.Home 2 Home Canine Orphanage posted on its Facebook page Monday morning that this is a sudden rescue and foster scenario, because the breeder is being evicted.There's no word on the condition of the dogs.Anyone interested in fostering one of the dogs can fill out an online application.

Megabus partnership adds service for 48 Midwestern cities

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- One of the largest bus companies in North America is expanding operations in the Midwest. Megabus is adding service options for 48 cities through a partnership with Burlington Trailways. This includes eleven destinations from St. Louis.“This partnership will offer robust expansion opportunities in the Midwest,” states Colin Emberson, VP Commercial for Megabus. “Creating the opportunity for customers to travel as far west as Denver is particularly exciting. We’re proud to be able to offer customers new convenient travel options.”Megabus offers bus service between cities in North America. Since it started in 2006, Megabus has helped more than 50 million people in over 280 cities.Trips were also added between Chicago and 12 cities, Denver and 22 cities, Des Moines and 33 cities, Iowa City and 20 cities, and Indianapolis and 22 cities.Destinations from St. Louis now include:Bowling Green, MissouriBurlington, IowaCanton, MissouriCedar Rapids, Iowa,Fort Madison, IowaHannibal,...

Armed robbery suspect, Lakewood police agent injured after exchanging gunfire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

A Lakewood police agent was injured Monday afternoon after exchanging gunfire with a woman suspected of robbing a mail carrier.The mail carrier called police Monday after two women allegedly robbed the individual at gunpoint in the 400 block of South Oak Street, Lakewood police spokesperson John Romero said.We are currently on scene of an agent involved shooting near the corner of Alameda and Owens. Both a suspect and agent were shot. Both were taken to the hospital. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/qPWc2RE6mt— Lakewood Police Dept. (@LakewoodPDCO) March 27, 2023Police encountered one of the suspects at a Grease Monkey near South Owens and West Alameda Avenue. The suspect, who has not been identified, then allegedly opened fire at the police agents, Romero said. Multiple agents returned fire, hitting and injuring the woman, police said.The woman was taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries.The agent was also transported to the hospital with injuries that are not e...

Non-attorneys will be able to practice limited family law in Colorado under new program

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

The Colorado Supreme Court has approved a new paraprofessional program that will allow some non-attorneys to practice limited family law, the state Judicial Department announced Monday.The justices agreed to create a licensed legal paraprofessional program that will allow licensed non-attorneys to represent clients in some divorce and child custody cases. The move makes Colorado one of just a handful states with such programs.Proponents say the paraprofessional program will offer litigants a more affordable option than traditional representation by an attorney and will decrease the number of people in the family law court system who appear without any representation. Opponents worry the paraprofessionals will be ill-equipped to handle legal matters.Under the newly-approved plan, candidates will be required to pass a written exam and meet certain educational requirements in order to become licensed legal paraprofessionals. Candidates must have completed at least 1,500 hours of “...

Colorado Springs police searching for 11-year-old boy who went missing last week

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:11 GMT

Colorado Springs police are searching for an 11-year-old boy who went missing last week.Nalias Welch Tafoya was last seen at 6:30 p.m. March 20 while leaving the 1700 block of Farragut Avenue in Colorado Springs, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said in a news release Monday announcing the Missing Indigenous alert.Our partners at @CSPDPIO requested a Missing Indigenous Person Alert for 11-year-old Nalias Welch Tafoya. Please call 911 if you have information. pic.twitter.com/kLPtDTQjLV— CBI (@CBI_Colorado) March 27, 2023Nalias, who has brown eyes and hair and stands 5-foot-5, was wearing a brown hoodie with the “Horseman” logo, dark sweatpants and dark-colored sneakers.Anyone with information about the boy’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 or Colorado Springs police at 719-444-7000.According to the alert, Nalias is affiliated with the Apache tribe.Related ArticlesColorado News | 5-year-old girl missing from Houston may be in southern Colorado w...