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9-year-old who vanished from New York state park found safe and man linked to ransom note arrested

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — A 9-year-old girl who vanished during a family camping trip in upstate New York was “safe and in good health” Monday after a massive two-day search ended with her rescue and the arrest of a person suspected in her abduction, police said.Charlotte Sena disappeared while riding her bike early Saturday evening at Moreau Lake State Park, a heavily wooded area some 35 miles (60 kilometers) north of Albany. Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday night during a news conference that investigators were able to identify a fingerprint from a ransom note allegedly left by the suspect she identified as Craig Nelson Ross Jr., 47.“What happened was extraordinary,” she said. She said while the rest of Charlotte’s family remained at the campground where she had gone missing, police watching their home saw someone drop a note in their mailbox at 4:20 a.m. Monday. State police pulled fingerprints off the note and the second one matched Ross, who was in a database from a 1999 DWI case,...

US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas carjacked by three armed attackers about a mile from Capitol

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, was carjacked Monday night by three armed attackers, his office said.Cuellar’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg released a statement saying: “As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.”The Washington Post reported that the robbery happened at 9:30 p.m. at New Jersey Avenue and K Street SE in Washington’s Navy Yard area, about a mile from the U.S. Capitol.The Associated Press

Malaysians urged not to panic-buy local rice after import prices rise substantially

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s government has reassured the country that enough rice is available and urged people not to hoard locally produced rice after recent panic-buying led to empty shelves in supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said Monday the government will increase distribution to rural areas to address a supply issue sparked by a hike in the price of imported rice. Malaysia and many countries are grappling with rising rice prices and low supplies after India’s curb on rice sales cut global supplies by a fifth.Mohamad said locally produced rice is capped at 2.60 ringgit ($0.55) per kilogram (2.2 pounds), the cheapest in the region. So when sole importer Padiberas Nasional Berhad raised the price of imported white rice by 36% on Sept. 1, it prompted many Malaysians to switch from imported rice to cheaper local rice. He said the higher price of imported rice cannot be helped after India and 18 ...

Numbers drawn for $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot but it is unknown if there is a winner

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) — The numbers were drawn Monday night for a $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot, but it should be a couple hours before it’s clear if there is a winner.The winning numbers announced were: 12, 26, 27, 43, 47 and the Powerball 5.It takes some time to determine if anyone won the jackpot because lotteries around the country must report if there is a big winner in their states.The prize is the world’s ninth-largest lottery prize behind earlier drawings of Powerball and Mega Millions, the other nearly nationwide lottery game. The jackpot is the fourth-largest in the history of Powerball.The prize has grown so massive because there have been 32 consecutive drawings since someone matched all five white balls and the Powerball to win the jackpot, dating back to July 19.That losing streak reflects the stunningly long odds of winning the jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million.The $1.04 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to receive the winnings through an annuity...

Jarring temperature pullback in Chicago's future second half of this week; jet stream shift to produce showery shift from summer warmth to an autumn chill

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

WGN WEATHER HEADLINESDRIEST MONSOON SEASON ON RECORDPhoenix, AZ baked by the greatest number of 110+ degree days on record—54 of them—has closed the books on its DRIEST MONSOON SEASON on record. The just completed summer saw half the next driest monsoon season which occurred nearly a century ago in 1924—0.15" versus 0.36." This came after welcome rains and snows swept California and the Southwest last winter—a development which was welcomed as its reservoirs, critical to the regions tens of millions residents, fell to worrisome record low levels. Last winter's precipitation brought at least temporary relief but will the rains and snows keep coming in the cooler seasons to come?Monsoons are big deals in the Southwest. They typically deliver 40 to 75% of the region's annual precipitation.Tropical Storm Hilary brought needed rains—but also flooding—to California, Nevada and extreme western Arizona north into Utah, Idaho and Montana.The summer season's monsoon was disappointingly farthe...

Cost to renovate Minnesota Governor’s Residence jumps to $12.8 million

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

Anticipated costs for renovating the Minnesota Governor’s Residence have ballooned because key components were in worse condition than anticipated and due to extra security upgrades, according to state officials in charge of the St. Paul project.The work, which has already begun, would reach an estimated $12.8 million if the project moves forward as planned. That’s up from $7.1 million when the inside-and-out rehabilitation began in June.In a letter Friday to top lawmakers, the Department of Administration attributed the jump primarily to higher-than-expected bids received to replace heating, air conditioning, ventilation, electrical and plumbing systems. The entire boiler and piping system is facing replacement, and much of the building’s wiring dates back to the initial construction completed in 1912.“This work to meet current code and life-safety requirements is necessary to complete if the facility is going to remain in use,” interim Commissioner Stacie Christensen wrote to DFL ...

More than 12,000 people attend Legacy Cup, a celebration of cannabis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

On an unseasonably warm and sunny September afternoon, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura sweated it out on a tiny stage in a tent, flanked by a nurse and a former police officer.A few dozen people had gathered, sitting in folding chairs, phones ready to record the upcoming presentation — espousing the benefits of cannabis.Ventura, long an advocate for legal weed, gave his cartoon-character-surreal speech at the fourth annual Legacy Cup, a Sept. 30 event at Surly’s Festival Field celebrating cannabis in all its forms. This year was by far the most well-attended for the event, and it was also the first year that adult-use cannabis, in all its forms, was fully legal in Minnesota.“I tried marijuana for the first time … and my response to it was, ‘Wow! This is way better — I don’t even want to drink anymore,’” Ventura told the crowd, who responded with enthusiastic “yeahs.”Ventura went on to discuss his use of cannabis for pain management. Many other wrestlers f...

Missing 9-year-old girl found alive, suspect in custody

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The 9-year-old girl who was reported missing from Moreau Lake State Park Saturday evening has been found alive. New York State Police said Charlotte Sena is safe and in good health. A suspect is also in custody in relation to the investigation. On scene at Moreau Lake State Park Monday evening, Charlotte's family gathered near the entrance to let out a huge cheer. They briefly thanked law enforcement and volunteers for their tireless efforts. The focus is now on caring for Charlotte. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Gov. Kathy Hochul held a press conference with several law enforcement partners late Monday night. She said the case began to break at 4:20 a.m. Monday when a ransom note was placed in the Sena family's mailbox. A fingerprint match came in at 2:30 p.m.The fingerprint was a match to Craig Nelson Ross, Jr. Hochul said the 47-year-old's fingerprint was in the New York State database after a DWI ...

Homeless encampment outside St. Louis City Hall disbanded

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A rapidly-growing homeless camp outside St. Louis City Hall was dismantled Monday evening.Nick Dunne, a spokesperson for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, confirmed to FOX 2 that the city is clearing the encampment. Dozens of tents went up outside city hall over the past several weeks, some beneath Mayor Jones' window.The homeless were removed as the city enforced the park curfew. According to Dunne, city leadership made the decision as a result of dozens of police calls for service between Aug. 14 and Sept. 28 for overdoses, seizures, and other medical emergencies, as well as fighting among the tenants of the encampment and others who approached. Additionally, there have been reports of regular harassment of city employees by those living in the encampment.Dunne said drug paraphernalia was found in the encampment.According to the city, the Department of Human Services made several attempts with members of the encampment to connect them with housing, shelter, or other supp...

Garage fire in Dupo destroys decades of memories

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:05:00 GMT

DUPO, Ill. - Ameren Illinois and Spectrum utility workers restored power and internet to homes in Dupo after flames spread from a garage fire to a power pole."We had hoverboards, a lot of electric stuff, and there was a bunch of wooden cabinets in there," Taytum Chisolm said.Taytum's mother, Beth Chisolm, said multiple sentimental items were destroyed in the fire."My grandpa built an arbor for our wedding, and it was made of wood, so obviously it's gone. And the kids had made me some flower pots with their fingerprints on it," she said.Beth said her grandfather helped her handpick the wood for her wedding arbor. It stood above the refrigerator that burned in the fire. The arbor, her wedding bouquet, and childhood VHS tapes are gone."We had your sister's bike and the popcorn machine," Beth said.Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire. Lt. Jeremy Simmons said firefighters quickly got the fire out before it spread to the homes. Beth is thankful no one was hurt."Definitely...