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Joe Soucheray: We don’t have the $100 million. Might as well add another $12 million?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

The Summit Avenue bicycle trail, lost trees and all, approved by the St. Paul City Council by a 6-1 vote on May 24, still has a bit of a problem. There is no money to pay for it.That little elephant has been in the room from the first day unelected bureaucrats dreamed of a bicycle freeway, magnificent architecture and history be damned.It was always meant to be a tagalong project, not an afterthought, more like a might-as-well. There is no money to pay for rebuilding Summit end to end. That was already in the cards at a price of about $100 million. The bike trail, the might-as-well, is another $12 million or so that also doesn’t exist.In other words, the $12 million that doesn’t exist is to be tacked onto the $100 million that doesn’t exist.So why build it?Because we have placed in positions of authority a majority of modern DFLers — not your father’s or Hubert Humphrey’s DFL — who have no idea of financial reality, no sense of disciplined budgeting and no intention of e...

Keenan Anderson, zapped with LAPD stun gun in Venice, died of cocaine use, enlarged heart, coroner says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

A man who died after police used a stun gun on him during his arrest in Venice was killed by an enlarged heart and cocaine use, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Friday.Keenan Darnell Anderson, 31, died on Jan. 3 after police responded to a traffic crash and found Anderson exhibiting what they described as "erratic behavior."Los Angeles Police Department officers used a stun gun on Anderson several times after they claim he was initially compliant, but then fled officers and resisted when he was captured.He went into cardiac arrest and died at a hospital, police said.While the coroner attributed the death of the father and high school teacher to cocaine use and an enlarged heart (also known as cardiomyopathy), officials noted that "the manner of death is undetermined."Anderson's death renewed criticism of the LAPD, and in the days following Anderson's death, his cousin, Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors, joined family and friends to prote...

Ashanti and JaRule headline 'I love RnB’ festival in Long Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

Ashanti and JaRule headlined the first I love RnB festival showcasing '90s R&B and hip-hop in Long Beach on Saturday. The sold-out mega concert took place at Queen Mary and featured performances from Keyshia Cole, Fabolous, Marques Houston, Nivea, Blaque, 702, Lil Flip and more. The event also featured two stages, I Love RnB and RnB is not dead," along with food trucks, photo booths and more for attendees to enjoy.Rap artist Lil Flip opened the festival performing several hits including “Sunshine” and “Game Over,” followed by performances by girl groups 702 and Blaque, as well as R&B singers Marques Houston and Ruff Endz. R&B singers Keyshia Cole, Nivea, Teiarra Mari and Truth Hurts captured the audience with their love and heartbreak-filled songs. Fans reminisced on '90s hip-hop as they rapped along to the lyrics and danced during rappers Fabolous and Chingy’s performances. I love RNB festival in Long Beach (Source: Dillon Nichols)The star-studded festival also brought ...

Summit League makes a splash with Maria Shriver at Montalvo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

We’ve had just a few days this spring when Santa Clara Valley’s spring weather matched its reputation, and Thursday was one of them. The sun was shining bright in Saratoga, creating a perfect scene for about 400 women — many decked out in floral dresses and spring hats — at the Summit League’s “A Day in the Garden With Friends” at the Montalvo Arts Center.The sight was enough to make NBC Bay Area’s Jessica Aguirre, who was about to introduce guest of honor Maria Shriver, exclaim they were “the best-looking group of fundraising people I’ve ever seen!”Maria Shriver and NBC Bay Area’s Jessica Aguirre talk on stage at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga on Thursday, June 1, 2023. The discussion took place during “A Day in the Garden With Friends,” a Summit League fundraiser to support the nonprofit Pursuit of Excellence. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) That definitely created a friendly audience ...

Auguste Rodin wins English Derby to give trainer O’Brien 9th victory in the classic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

EPSOM, England (AP) — Top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien won the English Derby for a record-extending ninth time when Auguste Rodin reeled in King Of Steel to win the 244th edition of Britain’s richest flat race on Saturday.With Ryan Moore in the saddle, Auguste Rodin won by a length and at odds of 9-2 at Epsom Downs.Auguste Rodin had a disappointing 12th-place finish when sent off as favorite for last month’s 2000 Guineas but bounced back in a longer race at the Derby.It looked as though 66-1 outsider King Of Steel had pushed into an unassailable lead coming into the final furlong but Auguste Rodin caught him up and ultimately won convincingly. White Birch ran on for third.Jockey Frankie Dettori, who is retiring this year, was looking to win the classic for the third time but his horse, Arrest, wasn’t in contention. Away from the race, a protester was detained by police after running onto the course.Nineteen activists were arrested ahead of the Derby based on intelligence receiv...

‘Particularly disturbing’ case leads to animal cruelty charges for 3 Loudoun County residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

A picture from Loudoun County Animal Services shows the animals crated up in one of the residences. (Courtesy Loudoun County Animal Rescue)(Courtesy Loudoun County Animal Rescue) A picture from Loudoun County Animal Services shows the animals crated up in one of the residences. (Courtesy Loudoun County Animal Rescue)(Courtesy Loudoun County Animal Rescue) This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.Three people have been charged with animal cruelty crimes following a months-long investigation into an animal rescue organization, Luck of the Irish Animal Rescue, in western Loudoun County.The investigation b...

Gauff rallies to beat Andreeva in all-teen showdown at French Open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

PARIS (AP) — American Coco Gauff rallied from a tough opening set to beat Mirra Andreeva of Russia in an all-teen showdown in the third round of the French Open on Saturday.Experience eventually told as the 19-year-old Gauff, who was the runner-up at Roland Garros last year, prevailed 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1, sealing the result with a cross-court backhand winner.That ended an impressive Grand Slam debut for the 16-year-old Andreeva, who earlier this week became the the youngest player to win a match in the women’s main draw at the French Open since 2005.Last year’s men’s finalist Casper Ruud also had to recover from losing the opening set to beat Zhang Zhizhen, ending a strong run by the Chinese player.The fourth-seeded Ruud, who lost to Rafael Nadal in last year’s final, won 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.“I’m very happy with being through the first three matches. It’s tough,” Ruud said. “It’s been much more pressure, obviously, playing this year compared to last year. “Last year, I...

Man City’s Gundogan scores inside 13 seconds for quickest goal in an FA Cup final

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Ilkay Gundogan has scored the quickest goal in FA Cup final history, giving Manchester City the lead against Manchester United inside 13 seconds on Saturday.Gundogan sent a dipping volley from the edge of the area past United goalkeeper David De Gea at Wembley Stadium.The previous fastest goal in a final was by Louis Saha for Everton in the 2009 final against Chelsea. That was 25 seconds.It is the 142nd FA Cup final.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Senior UAE official defends Big Oil’s role at UN climate summit that Gulf nation will host

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A senior United Arab Emirates official says the Gulf nation wants the U.N. climate summit it’s hosting later this year to deliver “game-changing results” for international efforts to curb global warming, but doing so will require having the fossil fuel industry at the table.Environmental campaigners have slammed the presence of oil and gas lobbyists at previous rounds of talks, warning that their interests are opposed to the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions — caused to a large degree by the burning of fossil fuels. Last month scores of U.S. and European lawmakers called for the summit’s designated chair, Sultan al-Jaber, to be replaced over his links to the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.The issue complicates already-delicate negotiations ahead of the Nov. 30 – Dec. 12 meeting in Dubai, known as COP28. Preliminary talks starting next week in Bonn, Germany, will show whether the incoming UAE presidency can overcome skepticism among ...

F1 drivers split over possibility that Madrid could grab Spanish GP from Barcelona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:49 GMT

MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — The Spanish Grand Prix has been held near Barcelona for more than three decades. Now city rival Madrid wants to snatch the event from its longstanding rival, sparking mixed reactions from F1 drivers.Barcelona’s contract with Formula One runs out after the 2026 race, and the possibility that Madrid could host the prestigious race has divided opinion this weekend at Montmelo, where the Grand Prix has been run since 1991.The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the city, is well known to drivers thanks to all the races as well as the preseason testing that until this year was conducted here in the winter.Lewis Hamilton opposes any move. He has won the race a record six times and called it a “classic” circuit.“I don’t think I would want to lose Barcelona,” the Mercedes driver said. “I do think it’s really important we keep some of the classic circuits, at least the ones that provide great racing. Budapest is spectacular. Silverst...