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St. Paul City Council votes 4-3 to restrict marijuana smoke from parks, commercial buildings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

Concerned about second-hand smoke from recreational marijuana, a divided St. Paul City Council voted 4-3 to approve new rules limiting where pot smokers can light up.The new rules, heavily amended after multiple hearings that drew emotional voices on all sides, effectively merge restrictions on marijuana and tobacco smoke, barring smokers of all kinds from city parks unless there’s a designated area, marked by signage and approved by the director of St. Paul Parks and Recreation.The ordinance also bars smoking within 25 feet of entrances, exits, windows and ventilation intakes of public places and places of employment in the city. Building owners can, however, designate a smoking area in their structure with the appropriate signage.Traditional Native American practices and lawfully recognized religious and cultural ceremonies are exempt from the parks ban, which city officials hope to enforce with non-criminal administrative fines.Previously, tobacco use had been allowed in pa...

Mary McNamara: 60 isn’t the new 40 and that’s fine by me

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

I just turned 60, which seems, in equal measure, simply impossible and no big deal.No matter how you look at it, 60 is a big number — 10 more push-ups than anyone should ever be asked to do — situated inarguably on the back end of even the modern female lifespan. I could continue to call myself middle-aged, but even if it were possible, do I want to live to be 120? No, I do not.But honestly, how can I be 60 when I still don’t know how to apply foundation or fold a fitted sheet? When my idea of a perfect meal is graham crackers and peanut butter, and my notion of “tidying” is putting the books that cover every surface of my home into a stack and calling it a day?I am grateful to be alive, especially after a pandemic, but I certainly don’t feel wiser, calmer, more at ease with myself or any of the other wonderful feelings others have documented as they enter their seventh decade.Nor do I feel lonely, more afraid of death or out of touch with popular...

Other voices: U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez should resign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

New Jersey’s Robert Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence (again). But after his latest federal indictment on bribery charges, he should not be entitled to continue to serve in the United States Senate.Menendez should resign.The cloud hanging over the Garden State’s senior senator will inevitably distract from his ability to put his constituents first. He should step down and focus his energy on mounting a credible defense.However, Menendez said he is not going anywhere. During a news conference on Monday, he recounted his many accomplishments championing worthy causes and standing up for New Jersey residents, and declared he would be “exonerated.”But any good works are overshadowed by the disturbing picture of corruption alleged in the 39-page indictment. Prosecutors accused Menendez of abusing his power to benefit the government of Egypt and business associates in New Jersey in return for bribes that included hundreds of thousands of dollars ...

Sarah Green Carmichael: The child care ‘cliff’ is upon us. Look out below

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

Pandemic-era subsidies propping up U.S. childcare providers expire on Sept. 30. About three million children could lose their spots, leading some to call this a “child care cliff.” Women’s participation in the labor force, which as at an all-time high, may fall right off with it.Instead of a sharp, sudden drop, it’s more likely to be a protracted slide that extends the pain. So rather than an immediate economic disruption of the kind that demands policy action, here’s how my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Kathryn Edwards describes the coming fallout: “Families will internalize the cost of child care the way they have for years: by having fewer children and working less.” For employers, the “working less” part of the equation should ring an alarm bell.Although there are plenty of policies the government could offer to shore up the U.S. child care system, employers shouldn’t expect the cavalry to come to their rescue. Yes, the U...

Harbour Point Gardens to pay $7,000 in fines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – 182 Delaware LLC pleaded guilty to seven code violations at the Harbour Point Gardens apartment complex on Wednesday and each will cost the company $1,000. More than 50 units were evacuated in June over multiple code violations.The company pleaded guilty to seven property maintenance code violations all related to the exterior walls, the reason why the city evacuated people from the apartment.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Each violation carries a $1,000 penalty, the max judgement, totaling $7,000. A city spokesperson says that money will go toward the city’s general fund, which funds the Code Enforcement Department among other things. A statement from Harbour Point Gardens read: “Today’s hearing marked another milestone to the end of this unfortunate incident. We are pleased that our residents have all been able to return to Harbour Point. Our commitment to enhancing and renovating the proper...

'Ice-cold bandits' wanted in St. Louis County business break-in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis County Police Department is looking for two suspects in connection with a recent business break-in. Police refer to the suspects as "ice-cold bandits."The two suspects, believed to be one man and one woman, broke into a business building in the 13500 block of Big Bend Road. It happened just before 4 a.m. Friday. Centene to cut 3% of workforce; St. Louis impact unknown Police say the suspects made two shaved ices for themselves before escaping. They reportedly caused around $1,500 in damages. County police released multiple surveillance photos of the suspects in a Facebook post on Wednesday. If you have any information relevant to the investigation, contact county police at 314-615-4169 or 636-529-8210.

Big plans for Grand Motel, new owner says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - After a St. Louis motel was forced to shut down due to being a nuisance for decades, the property has a new owner with big plans.Just last month, the city ordered the motel to close until it addressed “all code violations and met all standards.”New owner Monique Buchanan says things are about to change.She plans on turning the motel into the Eagles Nest Domestic Violence Center, complete with 24-hour security.“My mother had four children at the age of 20. My biological father was a heroin addict, so I'm dedicated to helping people … I'm passionate about helping others,” she said. Centene to cut 3% of workforce; St. Louis impact unknown Buchanan is determined to provide a safe, single-room facility. She will partner with Doorways, a St. Louis nonprofit that has provided housing to people with HIV for decadesShe says the building will function as transition housing and a safe haven for people with HIV and AIDS, chronic illness, and victims of domestic violence.But due to...

Invasive bug spotted in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) - The Illinois Department of Agriculture has detected an invasive species of bug in Illinois.According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, officials with local, state and federal agencies have located a moderately populated area of spotted lantern flies. A mature adult lantern fly was found on Sept. 16, and 10 days later, the identification was confirmed. The insect poses no health harm to humans or animals, the agriculture department said. See this pattern on leaves? It could be an invasive insect “If there is a silver lining associated with spotted lantern fly in Illinois, it is that we have no reason to believe that widespread plant or tree death will result from its presence,” said Scott Schirmer, the department's section manager for its nursery and northern field office. "This is likely going to be a nuisance pest that interferes with our ability to enjoy outdoor spaces and may have some impact on the agritourism industry, including orchards, p...

Central Illinois cities rank among highest in the country for real estate taxes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - A 2023 study conducted by SmartAsset to determine the highest real estate taxes in America showed some surprising results for Central Illinois.The study shows that while real estate taxes can be over $10,000 for homes in California, the taxes paid in Illinois are significantly higher when compared to median home values. Hispanic Heritage Month: Café Santa Rosa plans big future in new location Of the top 20, seven are located in Illinois, the highest of any other state. Rockford is ranked first for homeowners paying an average of 3.04% of their home's value in real estate taxes.Other cities in Central Illinois include Springfield and Peoria.A full list can be found below:RankCityMedian RealEstate TaxesMedianHome ValuePercent ofHome Value1Rockford, IL$3,283$107,9003.04%2Waterbury, CT$5,324$193,3002.75%3Bridgeport, CT$6,130$229,9002.67%4Aurora, IL$6,128$235,8002.60%5Elgin, IL$6,194$244,9002.53%6Rochester, NY$2,806$112,0002.51%7Syracuse, NY$3,026$125,6002.41%8Peo...

After eight years abroad, Brandon Kozun felt a tryout with Avalanche was “time to take a shot”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:26:52 GMT

The Colorado Avalanche invited a pretty interesting group of players to training camp on tryout contracts this season.Joel Kiviranta had the biggest night of his NHL career at the Avs’ expense in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs with Dallas. Peter Holland was retired last season, and has already had an eventual, life-changing experience during camp.Then there is Brandon Kozun, who can match Holland for the most interesting journey to this point of the bunch.Kozun, who was born in Los Angeles and lives in Calgary in the offseason, has not played for a team on North American soil since 2014-15, when he and Holland were teammates in the Toronto organization.He has spent most of the past eight seasons playing in the KHL, including stops in Helsinki, Yaroslavl, Magnitogorsk and Minsk.“It’s obviously been a while since I’ve been at one of these,” the 33-year-old Kozun said. “I just felt like at this point in my career, it was time to take a shot.”A sixth-round pick by Los Angeles in 2009, Ko...