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'Everyone deserves a dignified home': West Side company offers housing option for migrants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

CHICAGO — As the city struggles to find adequate housing for migrants, the founder of a West Side-based company says a home prototype could be part of the solution."Our fundamental belief at Inherent is that everyone deserves a dignified home," said Inherent L3C Founder and CEO Tim Swanson.After months of conversations, the microhome only took a few days to build before being transported to Monroe and Adams in the West Loop. Fewer migrants in police stations, more in shelters, data shows "This was actually produced in our K-town facility in North Lawndale with an amazing crew of 20 women men from the West and South sides of Chicago," Swanson said. "Some of which have trade experience, many of which have been building homes for the first time." Swanson said he and his 8-year-old daughter plan to spend the weekend living in the microhome."It’s 80-square-feet," Swanson said. "It has electricity, so it's heated and cooled. There's fresh air, so it's isolated but it doesn’t have plumb...

Hi Barbie! Mariah Carey has her own doll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

Hi Barbie!Award-winning singer and songwriter Mariah Carey has been Barbie-fied.Mattel unveiled the doll on Friday to ring in the holiday season. MattelThe Barbie is outfitted in a glittery red dress with a ruched overlay complete with a dramatic hem slit. Of course, the doll has red stilettos and sparkling accessories like a butterfly ring all accompanied by gorgeous curls. The List: Christmas songs that are worse than Mariah Carey’s, according to Larry Potash MattelFor Carey, the doll is a sweet sweet fantasy come true. “It's a once in a lifetime dream to have my own Barbie! If I could go back and tell my little girl self that one day, I would have a Barbie made in my likeness, I think she would flip out!" Mariah Carey said. "I hope all collectors and fans everywhere enjoy the holiday season and hopefully the Mariah Barbie will be a wonderful addition to it!”MattelThe Mariah Carey Barbie is available for purchase at Mattel Shop for $75.  Carey's Barbie is on sale...

'Rest easy brother, we'll take it from here.' Crowds, law enforcement honor fallen Austin Police Officer Jorge Pastore

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police Officer Jorge “George” Pastore, who died in the line of duty Nov. 11, was honored in Austin Friday.Law enforcement began setting up at 7 a.m., and Pastore’s final patrol began at 8 a.m. Hundreds of Austinites lined the route to show support for the family and honor the fallen officer. MAP: Funeral procession route for fallen Austin Police officer The bustling streets of Austin took the morning off as dozens of first responder vehicles traveled from north Austin to the Circuit of The Americas Amphitheatre, where the funeral was held. There, Austin officials, colleagues and friends of Pastore spoke through tears to a crowd of thousands. Austin Police officer salutes as Officer Jorge Pastore’s procession moves past Interstate 35 and St. Johns (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)All vehicles equipped with emergency lights and sirens were invited to join the funeral procession for Officer Jorge Pastore's final patrol. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Crowds gather to show...

Person identified as gunman arrested in connection to deadly southeast Austin shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man identified as the gunman in a deadly southeast Austin shooting that happened in September was arrested, according to an arrest warrant obtained by KXAN.That man was identified Dekatur Dalon Richey, 24, according to the warrant.Previously, 22-year-old Moses Wangobe Mohinga was charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 26 death of 40-year-old Keith Bedford.On Sept. 26, officials responded to the 2300 block of Greenfield Parkway and found Bedford on the ground with “multiple apparent gunshot wounds,” according to an affidavit. He was pronounced dead at the scene, court records said. Man accused of driving shooter to southeast Austin homicide faces murder charge At the scene, Austin police said officers found multiple spent bullet casings on the ground near Bedford.Police believe Mohinga picked up the suspected gunman, later identified as Richey, and drove him to the scene of the murder, murdered Bedford, and then left the scene before abandoning the susp...

With $150M shortfall looming, St. Paul schools and union contract proposals already have huge gap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

St. Paul Public Schools and the union representing its educators are negotiating a new contract as a pending $150 million budget shortfall looms in the upcoming school year.And while negotiations are still in early stages, one thing is certain — there’s already a huge gap between what the school district says it’s willing to spend and what the St. Paul Federation of Educators hopes to get out of the upcoming two-year contract, which will replace the last one that expired in June.Top objectives for the union — which represents around 4,000 teachers, educational assistants and community service professionals — include wage increases, adjustment to insurance, and more funding for student mental health support services.District spokeswoman Erica Wacker said school officials so far have tallied up about $106 million in additional spending in 23 of the 46 proposals put forth by the union during negotiations, and the school district has said it’s only willing to allocate $12.4 ...

Vikings officially list receiver Justin Jefferson as questionable on injury report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

The mystery surrounding star receiver Justin Jefferson will continue for a little bit longer. After being a limited participant in practice, Jefferson is officially being listed as questionable for the Vikings heading into Sunday night’s game against the Broncos in Denver.Though head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Jefferson has started to ramp it up as he recovers from his hamstring injury, it’s notable that he still hasn’t been a full participant in practice. It’s unclear if that would need to happen before the Vikings feel comfortable putting him back on the field.“He had another really good week,” O’Connell said. “We will get together and make sure we’re making the best decision for him when the time time is right, with, as Justin stated, his full input, as well.”Mattison participates in fullAfter clearing concussion protocol on Friday, running back Alexander Mattison was a full participant in practice. He is offic...

Minneapolis man receives 34-year prison sentence for fatal shooting on St. Paul’s West Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

A Minneapolis man has been given a 34-year prison sentence for taking part in last year’s fatal shooting of Casanova Carter, who authorities say was playing a video game in front of a window of a West Side St. Paul home when a flurry of bullets fired from outside struck him in the chest, back, face and neck.Kendall Dvontae Pruitt of Minneapolis (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Kendall Dvontae Pruitt, 26, and three other men were charged in Carter’s Feb. 1, 2022, murder. Pruitt, who was on supervised release for a federal conviction at the time of the murder, was sentenced Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder.Carter was a member of the Latin Kings gang, according to police. The criminal complaints say Carter and Pruitt began “beefing” after Carter called him a “snitch” in a social media post. Carter also was being blamed by some for not stopping a murder that occurred in West St. P...

Docs: Accused Clayton killer pointed gun at cops in March, released on bond 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - An 18-year-old accused of murdering a Clayton man was out on bond and violating his GPS ankle monitor at the time shots were fired, according to police.Trenell Johnson, 18, is facing second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges. He'll remain in custody until a bond hearing that's been scheduled for December 1.Missouri court records reveal Johnson took St. Louis County officers on a high-speed pursuit in March before crashing into a Metro bus near Ferguson and St. Charles Rock Road.St. Louis County Police say during a foot pursuit, Johnson pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at detectives. Stolen, found, sold: Auto tow lot auction shock St. Louis County Prosecutors charged Johnson with tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapon, and leaving the scene of an accident.St. Louis County Judge Jeffrey Melder authorized a $30,000 bond, but Johnson only needed to come up with $3,000 to get out and would need t...

Winterfest kicks off Saturday in Downtown St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A holiday season tradition kicks off this weekend in Downtown St. Louis as Winterfest returns to Kiener Plaza. Organizers expect the celebrations will bring tens of thousands to St. Louis over the course of several weeks. Nearly 40,000 people attended Winterfest in 2022, a 40% increase from 2021. Starting this Saturday through New Year's Eve, people can enjoy ice skating, private igloo rentals, s'mores stations and more. “Over the past eight years we’ve seen wedding proposals, first skating experiences, first timers playing hockey, and countless family memories made,” says Ryan McClure with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.  Stolen, found, sold: Auto tow lot auction shock This year’s Winterfest will showcase small businesses like food trucks and vendors. “Not many companies really get to have the great fortune of having a national park in their front yard,” says Katie Fisher with the Bank of America. “We’re very lucky in that regard. It brings us together and connects ...

Missouri Botanical Garden's Garden Glow returns with twinkling lights and snowy delights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Another favorite holiday tradition is back, and this time with snow. Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden returns this Saturday. The walk through the garden is an immersive experience with more than two million lights. “Our first year in 2013, we had just 500,000 lights, which is still a lot of lights, but we have really grown. We've added new installations and many lights over the many years,” said Catherine Martin, a spokesperson for the Missouri Botanical Garden.  Stolen, found, sold: Auto tow lot auction shock The new feature this year is a snow machine to add to the wintry ambiance.“Every night you’ll exit Garden Glow through these red doors here, and we guarantee snow every night, Martin said. “It does add that touch of holiday magic to the experience.”Over the last decade, the glow has become an event families don’t want to miss.“It’s really neat that we have families that come back every year. And they’ve been coming since our first glow 11 years ago. A...