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Lime relaunches e-scooters in St. Paul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

Lime relaunched its e-scooters on St. Paul streets Thursday morning for the sixth year running.The San Francisco-based company, which first scooted into St. Paul with e-scooters in 2018, debuted what it dubbed its “industry-leading” Gen4 model a year ago. The swept-back handlebars and dual hand-brake system are supposed to imitate bike handles for a more comfortable grip, and they rolled out alongside a two-legged kickstand, lowered baseboard, enhanced suspension and larger wheels.The Gen4 model also includes a swappable battery.The scooter fleet upgrade followed Equity Zone Pricing in 2021 that offers 30% off rides originating in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods, specifically Frogtown, Payne-Phalen, the North End, Dayton’s Bluff and the West Side. It also offers “Lime Access,” a discount program for low-income users who can show eligibility for city, state or federal benefits.Lime operates in more than 250 cities, nearly 30 countries and five co...

Amanda Parsons: It’s a miracle most Americans pay their taxes. Crypto could upend that norm.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

One of the many questions raised by cryptocurrency is how to tax this new world of digital assets. It poses real tax evasion concerns.Crypto was explicitly developed to allow people to transfer currency to one another directly, circumventing the oversight of financial institutions. The Internal Revenue Service relies on information shared by these financial institutions to ensure tax compliance — a system cryptocurrency defies. The crypto space has well-documented anarchist roots, and it has largely been averse to government regulation.Cryptocurrency and blockchain — complex and novel technologies — were not designed with tax returns in mind.The IRS has made some things clear about crypto taxes. As of now, individual taxpayers must answer a question about whether they have participated in digital asset transactions. If I buy a token, it doubles in value and then I sell it, I must pay capital gains tax. Last month, the IRS issued a reminder that income from digital ...

Jonathan Bernstein: Trump isn’t Republicans’ only headache

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

Republicans have a big problem. No, not the guy who got indicted. At least not directly.The most significant election of 2023 went to the Democrats on Tuesday, as liberal Wisconsin judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated her conservative rival Dan Kelly to flip the 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court.The outcome was a big achievement for Democrats, who rallied supporters and raised money across the country for what would normally be a little-noticed (and officially nonpartisan) contest. Protasiewicz made abortion rights a centerpiece of her campaign, and with her victory the court is now expected to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion ban rooted in a 19th century statute.Protasiewicz’s win continues a pattern of Democratic successes in the midterms and in other contests that we have seen ever since Donald Trump captured the White House in 2016. The results are especially remarkable given President Joe Biden’s unpopularity nationally.In particular, the Wisconsin contest mar...

Florissant man charged in Home Depot thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A Florissant man is accused of stealing tools and equipment from two Home Depot stores in St. Louis County.According to Sgt. Tracy Panus, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis County Police Department, the first theft occurred on March 17, 2022, at a store in the 7400 block of South Lindbergh Boulevard. Police claim Andre Walker Jr. entered the store, grabbed a cart, and filled it with a power saw, drill, and hammer drill. He then left through the garden area without paying for the merchandise, and drove off in a Chevy Impala.The second theft happened on June 9, 2022, in the 10800 block of Sunset Hills Plaza. Top Story: Five people in one trailer died when a tornado sucked it away Police claim Walker entered the store with another man and loaded shopping carts with lawn equipment totaling more than $1,100. The two men then left the store without paying for equipment, loaded it into a dark-colored SUV, and drove off. The theft was recorded via store security camer...

Suspect who fired rifle at three people in Aurora is killed by return gunfire, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

Gunfire erupted in Aurora on Wednesday night and a man who allegedly fired a rifle at people inside a car died after return shots hit him, police said.At 10:53 p.m. police responded to a shooting in the 1600 block of South Havana Street, police said in a news release. Three people, two males and a female, were inside a Kia Forte in front of a Grocery store when a Chevrolet Impala pulled up and the driver of the Chevy exited the car and fired a rifle at the Forte. A male in the front seat of Forte was shot.The driver of the Kia and the male passenger got out of the car, brandished firearms and shot back, hitting the Impala driver, police said. A female who was in the back of the Forte ran into the nearby grocery store.The driver of the Impala “limped” back to his vehicle, sped away and was dropped off at a hospital, where he died.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man who allegedly tried to rob an Arapahoe County pawn shop fatally shot Crime and Pub...

Centura hospitals in Colorado hit by ransomware attack that exposed patient information

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

The Centura Health hospitals in Colorado were among the victims of a large cyberattack that exposed some patients’ information.The ransomware attack happened at some point between Sept. 16 and Oct. 3, according to CommonSpirit Health, which owns the Catholic hospitals in the Centura partnership. The Adventist hospitals are owned by AdventHealth. While the two announced in February that they intend to split, they currently share much of their administration through Centura.CommonSpirit reported it took until Feb. 21 to confirm exactly what information the hackers had accessed, and that it started sending letters Thursday to patients whose information was exposed.Related ArticlesHealth | Colorado hospital leaders see continuing financial challenges in 2023: “We’re not out of the woods” Health | Majority of Colorado hospital systems lost money in 2022 as costs surged, stock market tanked The compromised information includes names;...

Man who allegedly tried to rob an Arapahoe County pawn shop fatally shot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

A man who allegedly tried to rob a pawn shop in Arapahoe County was shot to death, the sheriff’s office said.At 11:17 am, Deputies responded to the 8000 Block of E Mississippi Ave after receiving a 911 call asking for an ambulance and the police. The caller said a male who allegedly tried to rob the pawn shop had been shot. Deputies arrived on the scene and found a person deceased.… pic.twitter.com/B9eVYkDCFI— Arapahoe Sheriff (@ArapahoeSO) April 6, 2023Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Suspect who fired rifle at three people in Aurora is killed by return gunfire, police say Crime and Public Safety | Bulletproof glass riddled with bullets at elementary school north of Denver Crime and Public Safety | Lakewood shooting leaves two dead, one hospitalized Crime and Public Safety | Domestic violence shooting suspect, Adams County Sheriff deputies exchange gunfire Crime and Public Safety | El Pa...

Coolio's death caused by accidental fentanyl overdose, L.A. County coroner says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

The cause of rapper Coolio's death has been revealed by the Los Angeles County coroner.Coolio, whose real name was Artis Ivey Jr., died on Sept. 28, 2022.The cause of his death is tied to the "effects of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine," the coroner's report revealed through its online database.The manner of the death has been ruled as "accidental."The report also reveals "cardiomyopathy, unspecified asthma and phencyclidine use" as "other specific conditions."Cardiomyopathy is referred to as "a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure," according to the Mayo Clinic.Phencyclidine is known as PCP, according to the Department of Justice.The hip-hop star died at the Los Angeles home of a friend.He was 59 years old.Coolio grew up in Compton. His early career success came at a time when Southern California rappers dominated the Billboard charts.His first two albums, “It Takes a Thie...

California has lowest rate of home ownership in America: study

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

Only about 7 million of California's roughly 40 million residents own their homes, the lowest rate of home ownership in the United States, according to a new study. The study, conducted by Ruby Home Luxury Real Estate, analyzed U.S. Census data to determine the rate of home ownership across the country. Residents in Maine have the highest rate of home ownership at 32.71%, while California is on the opposite end of the spectrum at only 18.35%.For California residents struggling to make ends meet, the news is probably not particularly shocking.The Golden State has some of the most expensive cost of living in the nation, and a lack of inventory on the real estate market, in conjunction with rising costs from soaring interest rates and the lasting effects of the coronavirus pandemic, has left the dream of home ownership just that: a dream. Is it cheaper to build or buy a home in California? California has a lower rate of home ownership than Hawaii and New York, two other states with f...

'Pretty F’d up': Starbucks rolls out olive oil brews

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:24 GMT

Starbucks has been slowly introducing a new line of olive oil-infused coffee drinks that it calls its Oleato brand.And now those who have sampled the oily brews are taking to social media to share their thoughts.Brace yourself."Half the team tried it yesterday and a few ended up ... needing to use the restroom, if ya know what I mean," one Reddit user reported, according to a roundup of responses from CNBC."I’m honestly scared to try it because I already have stomach/bowel problems," she said.Not exactly a ringing endorsement.The Reddit user went on to say that the manager of her local Starbucks "doesn’t want us sharing this info with customers," which she said is "pretty F’d up."Another Redditor noted that "caffeine is a stimulant for your bowels and oil a relaxant.""So yeah wonderful idea by Starbucks."Yet another chimed in: "Person with stomach/bowel problems thanking you for the heads up."And still another Oleato sampler commented that "after drinking them honestly they just fel...