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Bill restricting electric car stores now law in Mississippi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

JACKSON, Miss (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Tuesday restricting electric car manufacturers from selling vehicles in person unless they open franchised dealerships.Defying calls from some fellow Republicans in the Legislature to veto the measure, Reeves enacted into law House Bill 401, introduced by Republican Rep. Trey Lamar of Senatobia. The law will force electric car companies such as Tesla and Rivian to sell vehicles through franchises rather than company-owned stores, which is how they currently operate. “Almost 200 small businesses in communities across our state are seeking assurances that big manufacturers can’t just destroy their businesses. That’s fair!” Reeves, a Republican, said in a statement posted to social media. “I also recognize that innovation in this industry is inevitable. And with innovation comes new companies with new business models. I am committed to find long-term solutions—in an ever changing market.” The bill does not restrict the sal...

Warrant issued in fatal shooting outside Indianapolis mall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for a 19-year-old Indianapolis man charging him with voluntary manslaughter and battery in a shooting at an Indianapolis shopping mall that killed another teen and injured a man.The warrant was issued by a Marion County court. The suspect was not in custody Tuesday evening.The Jan. 3 shooting outside Castleton Square Mall on the city’s far northeast side killed 16-year-old Michael Mason Jr.Court documents say Mason and the man who was injured were at the mall and walked to a car that looked like theirs and was parked in the same area. The man told police the suspect opened fire from the car’s back seat, killing Mason, then chased him as he ran from the car and shot him from about 10 feet (3 meters) away.The suspect told police he thought he was about to robbed and opened fire to protect himself.The shooting was the first of two this year at the mall. An 18-year-old man accidentally shot himself there on Feb. 17. The Asso...

Johnson, Vallas pick up endorsements, participate in public safety forum at UIC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Candidates for Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas each picked up endorsements Tuesday before participating in a mayoral forum at the University of Illinois-Chicago centered around public safety"I am here today to proudly announce my strong support for Brandon Johnson as the next mayor of the city of Chicago," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th Dist.).Schakowsky and members of the Personal PAC — an organization focused on protecting reproductive rights — announced their support for Johnson, while Alderwoman Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) threw her hat in the ring with Vallas, along with aldermen Felix Cardona Jr. (31st Ward) and Ariel Reboyras (30th Ward). In announcing her endorsement, Tabares took a shot at Johnson on the topic of public safety."Every Chicagoan who is concerned about rising crime should be aware of one thing," Tabares said. "Brandon Johnson will defund the police and Paul Vallas will put crime reduction and public safety first."Schakowsky, mea...

Teen, 2 stolen horses dead after car crashes into group in Dallas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - A teenager and two stolen horses are dead after a crash in Dallas on Tuesday. Dallas Police reported that a vehicle appeared to hit a trio of teenagers riding on horseback near Great Trinity Forest and Julius Schepps Freeway at around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. One of the riders, the 14-year-old, died at the scene, police confirmed. The two others, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, were taken to an area hospital in stable condition. Airline investigating after flight attendants allegedly fight over passenger’s request, refuse to work with each other Dallas Police also determined that the horses had been stolen. One horse died at the scene while another was euthanized by a veterinarian. Authorities say the third horse was injured but is expected to survive. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver involved in the crash, Dallas Police said. Additional details about the incident have yet to be released, and police described it as an "ongoing investigation."Lo...

With the Vikings agreeing to re-sign specialists Greg Joseph, Andrew DePaola, the ‘gang’s all back’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

For just the second time since the start of the 2015 season, the Vikings might begin 2023 with holdovers at kicker, punter and long snapper.The Vikings on Tuesday reached agreements to re-sign free-agent kicker Greg Joseph and long snapper Andrew DePaola. They are in line to join forces next season with punter Ryan Wright, who remains under contract.“I’m just excited to have a little bit of continuity from last year to this year,’’ DePaola said. “The gang’s back.”Since the start of 2015, the only time all three Minnesota specialists have returned was in 2020, although that actually did not go well. Long snapper Austin Cutting was waived midway through the season and kicker Dan Bailey struggled and hasn’t played in the NFL since.Agent Brett Tessler announced that Joseph would return, but contract terms were not immediately available. The Vikings announced they had agreed to terms with DePaola and he said it is a three-year, $4.025 million deal that includes $2.265 million guaranteed....

Minnesota Senate majority leader says she is recovering from cancer surgery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic announced Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with cancer and had a cancerous tumor removed Monday.Kari Dziedzic. (Courtesy of the Minnesota Senate)“Life is full of surprises, including unwelcome challenges,” the Minneapolis Democrat said in a statement released Tuesday evening.Dziedzic said she had an “abnormal pap smear” in December and a series of tests in January that discovered the cancerous tumor. Her doctors decided Friday she should have surgery to have the tumor removed on Monday.“The surgery was a success; and I am grateful to my doctors, nurses, and all the support staff at the University of Minnesota for the care I received,” her statement said.Dziedzic added that she was following her doctor’s advice and hoped to return to the Capitol soon. The fifth-term senator said she continues to work and lead the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Senate caucus remotely.Democrats have an ambitious legisl...

Deceased suspect identified in recent triple homicide in Chisago County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

Authorities in Chisago County have identified the likely perpetrator of the recent triple homicide in Fish Lake Township.According to the Chisago County sheriff’s office, the suspect was identified Tuesday as Kenneth George Koslowski, 39. On March 4, Koslowski was found dead at an unspecified location in rural Dakota County of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.He was a relative to the homicide victims and lived in North Branch. The gun used in his apparent suicide was forensically linked to the homicide scene, and investigators also determined that Koslowski was in the area at the time of the killings.Deputies discovered the bodies of 73-year-old Darrell James Mattson, 68-year-old Denise Lillian Mattson and 47-year-old Kirk Patrick Mattson in their Brunswick Road home on March 5.The investigation into a possible motive and whether any other persons may have been involved continues.The sheriff’s office is being assisted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.Related ...

‘Death of democracy?’ Bill criticized for making it tougher to be considered a major political party

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

Legislation to increase the percentage of the statewide vote needed to be considered a major political party got a sharp rebuke from Minnesota’s former Independence Party Gov. Jesse Ventura on Tuesday.The actor and wrestler who was elected Minnesota governor in 1998 said a proposed bill to increase the threshold to 10 percent of the statewide vote to be considered a major political party would result in nothing less than the “death of democracy” in the state. Currently, at least one of a party’s statewide candidates must get 5 percent of the vote to be considered a major party.“I’m here today because this is very disturbing. I’m here in total opposition to this,” Venture told the Senate Elections Committee, noting that had the rules been in place when he ran for governor he wouldn’t have won. “The people of Minnesota won’t be able to shock the world again.”Ventura added that he wasn’t surprised the Democra...

Russia's downing of US drone sparks fears of escalation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

Russia’s apparent attack of a U.S. drone in international airspace on Tuesday quickly sparked concerns, spurring anxiety in Washington and drumming up fear across the nation of a wider escalation between the two countries.The Biden administration and lawmakers have blasted Russia for what they called an unprofessional and unsafe maneuver in which two Russian jets damaged a U.S. MQ-9, forcing it to crash land in the Black Sea Tuesday.Top American defense officials and experts quickly pointed out the unusual nature of the incident.“This is extremely unusual, I’m not aware of an incident like this that's occurred over the last year of conflict over there,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told The Hill.Intercepts between U.S. and Russian aircraft are not uncommon, with several cases happening near Alaskan airspace so far this year. But the drone incident “is uncommon and unfortunate and unsafe,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon.While it’s un...

Man charged for shooting officers, leaving 1 dead, 1 injured

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:10 GMT

HERMANN, Mo. - A community is in mourning after one Hermann, Missouri, police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty and an officer from another department was critically injured.The community is coming together to honor the fallen officer. Flags have been lowered to half-staff through the town of Rosebud, where Hermann Detective Sgt. Mason Griffin used to be a police chief.The Gasconade County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged 35-year-old Kenneth Lee Simpson with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of armed action. Top story: Deadline for Kim Gardner to respond to ousting effort today Simpson surrendered after a long police standoff at a home on East 11th and Market.The SWAT team and officers from several different departments negotiated a peaceful surrender with Simpson. According to court records, he has a criminal history.Residents are still in shock following the deadly shooting Sunday around 9 p.m. Griffith...