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U.S. Capitol Police to open Texas field office, citing rising threats against members of Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- In response to increasing threats against members of Congress, the U.S. Capitol Police plans to open regional field offices across the country, including in Texas.Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger announced the plans at a joint oversight hearing of the Capitol Police Board, describing a 300% increase in threats to members of Congress over the past seven years.In addition to an office in Texas, the agency plans to open field offices in Milwaukee and Boston, Manger told the committee Wednesday. A Texas location has not yet been determined, a department spokesperson said.The Capitol Police department, which is responsible for protecting Congress and its members, opened its first field offices in Florida and California after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The offices have helped his officers respond to threats more quickly and efficiently, Manger said.“Due to the increased threat environment, o...

Witt’s walk-off grand slam sends Twins to crushing loss in K.C.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

After the way he had tormented them all day, there was no one the Twins would have wanted to see at the plate less than Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr with the game on the line Friday night in Kansas City, Mo.KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JULY 28: Pitcher Brady Singer #51 of the Kansas City Royals steps on first base before runner Matt Wallner #38 of the Minnesota Twins for an out during the 6th inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)He proved exactly why.The Twins were one out from a loss in the ninth inning. They were three outs from a win in the 10th.And then Witt took over. The Royals’ shortstop hit a walk-off grand slam off Twins closer Jhoan Duran in the 10th inning, sending them to a crushing 8-5 loss in the series opener at Kauffman Stadium.That was part of a 4-for-5 night for the shortstop, who drove in six of the Royals’ eight runs. Witt’s grand slam capped off ...

St. Paul man gets 12-year federal prison sentence for fentanyl trafficking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fentanyl trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Keonee Nasier Shaffer-Frazier, 23, was part of a drug trafficking ring between 2021 and 2022 that distributed “M30” or “MBox” fentanyl pills across the metro area, selling as many as 1,000 at a time, according to the criminal complaint.During a seizure in March 2022 that led to his arrest, law enforcement officials confiscated from Shaffer-Frazier and his associates some 57,000 fentanyl pills, $83,000 cash, body armor and firearms. In addition, they found two loaded semiautomatic handguns in his Audi vehicle. He was charged and released on bail.In September 2022, he was arrested again after a short foot chase, and authorities found more than $7,000 cash on him. During a search of his new vehicle, an Audi Q7, they found a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol loaded with an extended magazine.Because of a prior felony, Shaffer-F...

Inmate stricken at Anoka County jail is later pronounced dead at hospital, investigation underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

Authorities say they are trying to determine how a man in custody at the Anoka County jail died last week.At about 8 p.m. July 21, an inmate who was receiving medical attention from a detention deputy and jail medical staff became unresponsive. Despite lifesaving efforts by paramedics called to the jail to help, the man was later pronounced dead at a hospital.The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, at the request of its Anoka County counterpart, and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating.The inmate wasn’t immediately identified, and no further information was available Friday night.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Burnsville man sentenced in 2021 Eagan gas station shooting death Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul man shot 30-year-old who assaulted woman at bus stop, murder charges say Crime & Public Safety | Man who killed 1 Fargo officer, hurt 2, was interviewed about guns in 2021 after ti...

Uber driver urges riders to make sure license plates match on app

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An Uber driver says she is concerned for women's safety if they don't make sure license plates match what shows in the Uber app.FOX 2 spoke with Sara, the driver from our previous story, who denied picking up a woman and dropping her off at a gas station instead of her intended destination, which was her home.Sara sent FOX 2 a 'Life 360' app that shows where she drove Friday night in Belleville, Illinois.Sara said she went to pick up Kristina Caruso but didn't find Caruso waiting for a ride. So she said she canceled the ride and moved on.That Life 360 app revealed she never drove anywhere near Alorton, where Caruso claimed she was dropped off and told her payment had failed. She says an Uber stranded her, then things really got weird According to Sara, Uber verifies payment before the passenger enters the car. She also explained that in cases where a driver cancels a ride, another driver can pick it up, which is why a second driver may have shown up for the pickup.What...

Preliminary hearing for former police captain accused of stalking fellow officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. - FOX 2 was the only news station in court Friday where a former police captain was accused of stalking a fellow officer. How it all ties back to a decade, an old murder case, and a woman named Pam Hupp.  No one is more interested in this case than Russ Faria. He watched as former Lincoln County Captain Mike Merkel walked into a preliminary hearing over charges he stalked a fellow officer."Little bit surreal – kind of a good feeling to be sitting in the audience," Faria said.Faria had been wrongfully imprisoned for more than three years for the murder of his wife Betsy in 2011. Hupp is now charged with Betsy's murder, but while Faria was in jail, Merkel was one of the officers who supported Hupp's changing stories to keep Faria imprisoned.  She says an Uber stranded her, then things really got weird Following Faria's acquittal, a new sheriff put Chief Deputy Randy Lambert in charge of investigating what happened. Lambert testified in court on Friday that a...

Family of PFC Lavena Johnson asks her date of death to be changed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Army ruled the 2005 death of PFC Lavena Lynn Johnson a suicide. Her family’s own investigation led them to conclude she was beaten, raped, and murdered.Johnson was 19 when she died. She was a third-generation service member.On Friday, Johnson’s family gathered outside their north St. Louis County home. She would have turned 38 years old this week.“It is really painful,” said John Johnson, Lavena's father.The family shared what they say is a military document indicating Lavena’s date of death was not the date the family was originally given. Her tombstone is etched with the date of July 19, 2005. Her family wants the date changed on the gravestone to July 17, 2005.“To look at the cobblestone and see the wrong date is just awful, awful,” John said. “It’s just insulting.” She says an Uber stranded her, then things really got weird The Johnsons have support from state Senator Angela Walton Mosley, D-Florissant. She joined the family outside their home for prayer a...

City of St. Louis charged Edwardsville resident earnings tax despite not living or working in the city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - An Edwardsville resident claims it is unjust that the City of St. Louis charged him a 1% earnings tax even though he does not live or work in the city. City workers are responsible for paying the earnings tax.German Rivera was required to work virtually and remotely for his job with the federal government, which resulted in him working from his home in Edwardsville for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022.Regardless, the St. Louis Collector of Revenue deducted $1,000 from his check in 2021 and another thousand in 2022."I filed a return with the City of St. Louis to claim the nonresident portion of the earnings taxes collected while I was working from home, and the city denied it," Rivera said. "This is simply a case where we are going to allow the city or any taxing authority to retain money that were deducted from your pay where you are a nonresident who worked outside of the city.” She says an Uber stranded her, then things really got weird "Anybody who works in t...

Rockies, worst team in National League, lose to A’s, worst team in the AL

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

The Oakland Athletics took Game 1 of the anti-World Series Friday night at Coors Field.The A’s, owners of the worst record in the American League, hung on to beat the Rockies, owners of the worst record in the NL. The final: Oakland 8, Colorado 5 in front of 37,262 fans on a perfect summer night.Oakland (29-76) is on pace to finish the season 45-117. The Rockies (40-63) are on pace to go 63-99.Credit the Rockies for at least getting up off the mat. They scored three runs in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5. The big hits were a pinch-hit, RBI single by Michael Toglia and a two-run double by Jurickson Profar.Oakland, however, bought some breathing room in the ninth on Ramon Laureano’s leadoff homer off Matt Koch.The Rockies played an ugly game, committing three errors in the first four innings, two by second baseman Alan Trejo, who bobbled two grounders, and one by third baseman Ryan McMahon, who let loose with a high throw to first in Oakland’s three-run second. Mc...

Santa Anita to install artificial training track as part of $31 million in renovations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:37 GMT

By BETH HARRIS (AP Racing Writer)ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Santa Anita will replace its dirt training track with a synthetic surface as part of nearly $32 million in improvements planned as the venerable racetrack absorbs an influx of horses, trainers and jockeys from Northern California’s Golden Gate Fields after it closes later this year.The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita in Arcadia and Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco Bay area, said Friday it will spend over $1 million to support the relocation of horses and people from the north, with an additional $500,000 going to bolster the state’s breeding program.TSG has budgeted $4.5 million for installing a Tapeta training track, the same surface that is used on the main racing track at Golden Gate. The project is expected to begin after Santa Anita hosts the Breeders’ Cup in early November and be finished by the start of the winter-spring meet on Dec. 26.“We think this will be hugely beneficial ...