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Widespread storm damage in Columbia, Illinois 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

COLUMBIA, Ill. - Storm damage left behind downed tree limbs and widespread power outages in Columbia, Illinois, on Friday.Jeff Barrett was visiting his girlfriend in the Columbia Lakes subdivision when the storm passed through. He said there was a round of hail, but then the skies turned sunny. He thought the worst was over."All of a sudden, it just got windy,” Barrett said. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway He said tree debris in the area was widespread.It was pretty scary,” said Tom Soltysiak, a neighborhood resident.“All the trees back here have got some kind of damage to them.”The Columbia Police Department reported that there is extensive damage in various locations, with power lines being down in numerous areas. It is advised that residents steer clear of those downed power lines and immediately report them to the authorities so that the necessary repairs can be carried out.

APA of Missouri warns of heat danger for pets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park in Maryland Heights had a few bicyclists, walkers, and joggers on the trail Friday afternoon. During the peak of the heat, there were no dog walkers in sight.Kelly Williams was walking the trail that wraps around the lake but left her dogs behind.“It’s too hot,” she said. “The pavement will burn their pads, so we stay in the house when it’s this hot. We don’t walk.”Kim Brown is the vice president and COO of the Animal Protection Association of Missouri. She encourages pet owners to be mindful of the toll extreme heat can take.“Excessive panting would be a sign of heat concern," Brown said. This St. Louis suburb named among Money.com’s ’50 best places’ to live Drooling, fatigue, nausea, or being unsteady on their feet are also indications, it’s time to seek cooler air.Brown said that even if the AC goes out at your home, there are other steps you can take to keep your pets cool. She suggests taking your pets to the basement or ...

Biden vows to pursue student debt relief with a different law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

Even as he denounced the Supreme Court ruling striking down his student debt forgiveness program and blamed Republicans for going after it, President Joe Biden said Friday that his administration would start a new effort to cancel college loans under a different law.The law Biden cited, the Higher Education Act of 1965, contains a provision — Section 1082 of Title 20 of the U.S. Code — that gives the secretary of education the authority to “compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand, however acquired, including any equity or any right of redemption.”Some proponents of student debt relief had proposed that the Biden administration invoke this law as the basis of the president’s original loan cancellation program. In February 2021, for example, a group of Democrats including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, introduced a resolution urging that step.But as the COVID-19 pandemic swelled, the Bide...

38 cats rescued, found hoarded in unsanitary trailer in Monrovia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

Pasadena Humane Society officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on Friday.The felines were discovered in cramped and unsanitary conditions inside a small space with no air conditioning, rescuers said.Some of the cats were found suffering from upper respiratory issues, but all were later listed in stable condition.Following removal from the stationary trailer, the cats were transported to a shelter, where they received medical exams before being placed into kennels with food, water, and fresh bedding.Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)Officials rescued 38 cats that were being hoarded in a Monrovia trailer on June 30, 2023. (Pasadena Humane Society)...

Orange County official warns beachgoers about aggressive sea animals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

As the holiday weekend approaches, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley is warning beachgoers about sea animals that may behave aggressively toward them.Distressed, sick sea animals have begun washing up on O.C. beaches due to the growth of toxic algae. “We ask beachgoers not to approach or touch stranded marine animals due to the potential risk of serious bodily harm,” said Supervisor Foley. “As we approach the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it is critical to keep both people and pets away from these distressed animals.”Supervisor Foley says that the Pacific Marine Mammal Center is helping to care for the increasing amount of washed-up animals. She warns beachgoers, “If you see a sick sea lion or dolphin on the beach, get a lifeguard and call the Pacific Marine Mammal Center Rescue Team.”

Alameda County claims Hayward city leaders misrepresented ‘isolated’ incidents at foster center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

Alameda County hit back Friday against allegations it allowed a foster center in Hayward to spiral out of control, alleging the city’s leaders misrepresented “isolated” incidents at the building and then stopped collaborating on efforts to address concerns about the site.The rebuttal, which was aired in a late Friday afternoon news release, came slightly more than a week after the city of Hayward filed a lawsuit against the county accusing it of “deliberate indifference” in its handling of the foster center on the city’s north side.City leaders claim the building — which is used as a receiving center for children entering, or changing placements within, the county’s foster system — recently devolved into a hotbed of child prostitution and drug use after sheriff’s deputies were inexplicably removed from the facility in mid-February. As a result, the city’s police department has become overrun with calls to the building — the majority of which...

A note to readers about article commenting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

Beginning July 1, 2023, we will no longer host comments on our websites.We understand that comments can be a good way to discuss and debate the news and to interact with other members of the community. However, open comments, because they are difficult to moderate, sometimes become forums for spam, or worse, abusive and hateful speech that is not in line with our desire to host a free exchange of ideas in a manner that is courteous and respectful. In addition, testing has shown that removing the comments will improve site load times, which means less waiting and a better user experience for our valued readers and subscribers.As always, we love to hear from our readers. If you want to reach us, our reporters’ email addresses are on staff stories that we post. You can also send your feedback on article commenting to us at [email protected] are also active on social media, and we would be delighted if you would follow us on Twitter or visit our Facebook page. And if you ...

‘Superstar-caliber stuff’: Patrick Bailey’s late homer, caught stealing clinch SF Giants’ comeback win over Mets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

NEW YORK — Considering the disparate directions the Giants’ and Mets’ seasons have taken so far, it should have come as no surprise.Before the ball had even found a landing spot, eventually settling on the batter’s eye in center field, the air had been sucked out of the 30,116 spectators at Citi Field, who braved smokey skies from Canadian wildfires to see something that’s become a regular occurrence this season.The Giants’ lineup woke up late to erase an early deficit.The Mets’ bullpen blew a late lead.And the big hit came from none other than rookie catcher Patrick Bailey, who hammered a hanging breaking ball from David Robertson 432 feet to center field for a three-run homer that completed San Francisco’s comeback in a 5-4 win in the opening game of its weekend series in New York.“That was as good as it gets,” manager Gabe Kapler said, breaking with his typically even-keeled nature to downplay expectations for a young player. “...

Hit-and-run suspect shoots himself in SF's Richmond District: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A hit-and-run suspect was injured due to a self-inflicted gunshot Friday afternoon in the Richmond District, the San Francisco Police Department confirmed to KRON4. The first incident was a hit-and-run that happened around noon in the area of 14th Avenue and Clement Street. A victim was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, per SFPD.The suspect vehicle was found shortly after near 15th Avenue and Geary Boulevard, but the car was abandoned, according to SFPD. Three individuals, including the hit-and-run suspect, were seen getting out of the car and running away. Woman reached for gun during South San Francisco traffic stop: police Around 12:13 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at 16th Avenue and Geary Boulevard. A man was seen suffering from at least one gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital for life-threatening injuries. SFPD determined the gunshot wound was self-inflicted, the department said. The man was one of the three peop...

Oakland RV fire visible from A's game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:51 GMT

(KRON) -- A two-alarm RV fire burned in Oakland on Friday evening. Smoke was visible in East Oakland, including from the Oakland Coliseum, where the A's were playing the Chicago White Sox. Oakland firefighters said the fire started at an RV and extended into a vacant warehouse. It was brought under control at 8:05 p.m., the Oakland Fire Department said. OFD said the address of the fire is 76th Avenue and Hawley Street. There have been no reports of injuries.