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Missouri lawmakers unlikely to fund Rock Island Trail this year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

Discussion at a House Budget Committee meeting last week signaled another year of delay for the proposed Rock Island Trail.“We’re still hoping to hear conversations about it. But at this point we don’t see a clear path forward,” said Dan Haug, budget director from the Office of Administration for Budget and Planning. “We just didn’t feel comfortable putting it in this budget.”The Rock Island Trail is proposed to be 144 miles long, stretching across Missouri from Kansas City to the Ozarks, using a former rail bed obtained by the state in 2021.Last year, Gov. Mike Parson included $77 million in the budget for fiscal year 2023 to begin construction on over 70 miles of the trail, from Eugene to Beaufort. The funding was ultimately cut from the final budget by the Senate.Concerns over property rights and ease of access to land led to lobbying on behalf of landowners and businesses like Diamond Pet Food. The Missouri Farm Bureau also opposed the trail’s development.A decision from the U.S...

Sports wagering bill remains mired in Missouri Senate split over gambling expansion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

Ladbrokes, the London gambling house where bets can be placed on anything from badminton matches to whether Ron DeSantis will be elected vice president in 2024, isn’t offering odds on Missouri adopting sports betting.But the top Republican and Democrat in the state Senate agreed last week that the chances are slim with only five weeks remaining in this year’s session. That pessimistic assessment was made the morning after the chamber spent eight hours arguing about how and whether to expand gambling in the state.As in each year since state-regulated sports wagering became legal nationally, the Senate is fractured between those who want sports wagering, those convinced gambling shouldn’t be expanded without also legalizing video lottery machines and those who think both proposals are a bad idea.When the Senate voted on an amendment to sports wagering legislation last week that would have allowed video lottery terminals at truck stops, veterans and fraternal halls, the vote on both si...

Missouri House approves legislation seeking to boost minimum teacher salaries

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

A wide-ranging education bill cleared the Missouri House this week that includes a boost to minimum teacher salaries from $25,000 to $38,000. The bill also seeks to increase the amount the state can give school districts for each years’ operating budget.The bill now heads to the Missouri Senate. Missouri ranks 50th in average starting teacher salary, according to the National Education Association.Under the legislation passed by the House Tuesday, the state would pay for 70% of a teachers’ salary increase for four years. But because the bill places more money into the funding formula for schools, districts should be able to afford the full salary increase in the future, bill sponsor Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, said during debate on the proposal.The bill also seeks to establish scholarships for students who commit to teaching in hard-to-staff positions post-graduation, but this provision isn’t appropriated yet.Lewis said the scholarship funding is included in the budget appro...

Fight victim dies; Denver police seeking suspect

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

The victim of a fight northeast of downtown Denver has died, and police announced Monday they are investigating the incident as a homicide.Denver police investigators looking into the fight that happened before dawn Sunday in the 1100 block of 32nd Street were trying to find a suspect, according to a department tweet. They asked that anybody with information call an anonymous tipline at 720-913-7867.UPDATE: The victim in this incident has been pronounced deceased and this is now being investigated as a homicide. Investigators are working to develop suspect info. Anyone with information is asked to call @CrimeStoppersCO at 720-913-7867. #Denver— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) April 10, 2023Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | RTD train hits, kills pedestrian, Denver police say Crime and Public Safety | Denver police: Man unintentionally shoots, kills woman Crime and Public S...

Opinion: When this epic snowpack starts to melt, Colorado dams will feel the pressure

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

Reservoir manager Ken Beck says wryly that he has lots of water coming his way, “and I need a hole to put it in.”In southern Colorado, Beck is the superintendent of Pine River Irrigation District and Vallecito Reservoir, which catches water from the 13,000 and 14,000-foot-high peaks of the Weminuche Wilderness. It’s a place so wild and beautiful that Teddy Roosevelt protected it in 1905 by creating the 1.8-million-acre San Juan National Forest.The name Vallecito means “little valley” in Spanish, and the reservoir stores water for the town of Bayfield, population 2,838, as well as providing supplemental irrigation for 65,000 acres of Tribal and non-tribal land to the south.This winter, Beck has been faced with a near-record snowpack, now expected to turn into some 320,000 acre-feet of water. His 82-year-old reservoir, however, can only hold 125,000 acre-feet. What’s more, snow was still falling in early April.In late March, Beck saw moisture going up dramatically. Any reservoir manag...

Multiple violations found months before fatal fire at Arapahoe County apartment complex

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

Fire inspectors with South Metro Fire Rescue found multiple fire code violations at Ivy Crossing Apartments two months before Saturday’s deadly blaze, according to a fire inspection report obtained by Denver7 Sunday.During the Feb. 9, 2023 inspection, officials found that some buildings on the property, located at 2470 South Quebec Street in unincorporated Arapahoe County, lacked manual fire alarms and working fire extinguishers, including inside building No. 2380, where the fire broke out.The report pointed out that manual fire alarms were not present in any of the buildings aside from the townhomes, which is required for residential buildings more than three stories in height or with more than 16 units–both of which the property meets or exceeds.Inspectors also found the complex had fire doors that did not latch securely, “excessive combustible storage” and unverifiable boiler inspection forms. Additionally, inspectors noted other problems, including exposed electrical wires...

UCLA study finds sharp decline in violence at California schools

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

Despite mass shootings and other high-profile incidents nationwide, a new UCLA study has found that day-to-day violence at California’s middle and high schools is sharply lower than it was around the turn of the century.Researchers analyzed 18 years of data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, a confidential, anonymous questionnaire given to fifth, seventh, ninth and 11th graders each year.Results between 2001 and 2019 found a 56% reduction in school fights, a 70% reduction in reports of guns on campus, a 68% reduction in other weapons, such as knives, and a 59% reduction in students being threatened by weapons on school grounds.The study, which included responses from more than 6 million middle and high school students, also found larger declines among Black and Latino students compared to white students.“Each school shooting is a devastating act that terrorizes the nation, and there is a growing sense in the public that little has changed in two decades to make schools safe,” ...

Leopold Kalaitzidis Injured in Pedestrian Collision on Highway 65 [Porterville, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

32-Year-Old Bakersfield Man Hurt in Pedestrian Accident near Teapot Dome AvenuePORTERVILLE, CA (April 10, 2023) – Wednesday night, Leopold Kalaitzidis was injured in a pedestrian collision on Highway 65.Authorities responded to the scene around 10:00 p.m., near Teapot Dome Avenue.Per reports, a male pedestrian walked east into the No. 2 lane against a solid red light. As a result, a southbound truck swerved right in attempt to avoid striking the pedestrian. However, another vehicle traveling behind the truck struck the man and pushed him into the dirt median.Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and airlifted 32-year-old Leopold Kalaitzidis of Bakersfield to a hospital with serious injuries. Crews listed Kalaitzidis in stable condition.Those with further information about the pedestrian collision are encouraged to contact Sergeant Jay Starling at (559) 782-7400. Once available, further details will be provided.Whether you are a driver or a pedestrian, it is important to abi...

Jonathan Michael Gates Killed in Motorcycle Crash on South Alvernon Way [Tucson, AZ]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

32-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed in Vehicle Collision near East Valencia RoadTUCSON, AZ (April 10, 2023) – Thursday afternoon, a motorcycle crash on South Alveron Way claimed the life of Jonathan Michael Gates.The incident happened on March 30th, at around 2:15 p.m., near the intersection of South Alvernon Way and East Valencia Road.According to reports, Gates was riding his motorcycle in the southbound lanes of Alvernon Way. There, a Ford pickup, driven by a 59-year-old man attempted to make a left from northbound Alvernon Way. The Ford failed to yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle and the two vehicles collided.Emergency crews arrived to the site of the collision shortly after. Medics pronounced 32-year-old Jonathan Michael Gates dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford was not injured and showed no signs of impairment.Meanwhile, crews shut down the area surrounding the accident for cleanup and preliminary duties. At this time, an active investigation is underway.The tea...

Four People Suffered Injuries in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Madison Avenue [Carmichael, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:25 GMT

Hackberry Lane Four-Vehicle Collision Resulted in InjuriesCARMICHAEL, CA (April 10, 2023) – Thursday morning, at least four people were hurt in a multi-vehicle crash on Madison Avenue.The collision occurred around 8:05 a.m. at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Hackberry Lane.According to reports, at least four vehicles were involved in the scene, and one of the vehicles caught on fire.Emergency crews arrived at the scene and treated at least four patients. Two of them sustained critical injuries, while the other two suffered minor injuries. Paramedics transported three of the patients to a local hospital for further treatment.Following the crash, crews closed down the surrounding the accident for cleanup and preliminary duties. The California Highway Patrol North Sacramento continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Madison Avenue multi-vehicle crash.The local authorities are encouraging those with additional information about the incident to contact them ...