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Biden huddles with top donors as 2024 effort kicks off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden thanked some of his top donors Friday night as he launches a reelection campaign that is expected to need to raise well over $1 billion to secure his second term. “It’s because of you, I’m standing here,” Biden said in the ballroom of a Washington hotel. “And it’s because of you, we’re going to win this time around.”The weekend summit is not a fundraiser and it was not clear how many of the attendees had yet cut checks to Biden’s campaign. Rather, it is billed as a strategy session for about 150 high-dollar donors and fundraisers who will tap their networks to help fund Biden’s campaign over the next 18 months. Also in attendance were some of the Democratic Party’s most high-profile governors — Gavin Newsom of California, Wes Moore of Maryland and Phil Murphy of New Jersey — and other lawmakers who are close with the president. “We’re still in a battle for the soul of this country,” Biden said, echoing his campaign messag...

History made: Austin Energy graduates first woman from climbing school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Cherie Agguire made history Friday. She graduated Austin Energy's climbing school, becoming the first woman to ever do so. Climbing school is a three-week training program and serves as the official start of a four-year apprenticeship. Agguire was one of nearly a dozen other trainees who graduated Friday. "You know, honestly it is a lot of hard work, you do have to be confident in yourself to not only keep up with the men, but just keep up in general with your own progress, you have to trust the progress," Agguire said. "You do have to be strong, you do have to take care of yourself, but don't be intimidated."Trainees celebrated graduation by climbing a 70-foot "confidence pole" to culminate their training, Austin Energy said.After passing climbing school, the apprentices will be assigned to a crew and continue their training on the job for about four years before becoming lineworkers. It's a combination of formal classroom and field training.

Forest Lake school bus driver strike averted as tentative agreement reached

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

School bus drivers and aides in Forest Lake and officials with the Forest Lake Area School District on Friday night reached a tentative contract agreement, averting a strike that was set to start Tuesday.The tentative agreement — which still must be approved by union members — raises starting wages for bus drivers from $18.60 an hour to $20.03 an hour; starting wages for special education aides went from $15.88 to $17.03, said Amy Perusse, negotiator and business agent for Teamsters Local 320.The tentative agreement also applies 29 cents to the top wage without previously proposed cuts to the 403(b) contribution from the district, Perusse said.Superintendent Steve Massey said district officials were “pleased to have been able to find common ground with our valuable bus drivers.”“We are grateful that we have avoided the disruption a strike would have caused to families, students, the community and the bus drivers and aides,” Massey wrote in a message to families.Officials with Teamst...

Skinker DeBaliviere residents say man who shot officer was agitated 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department rushed to the intersection of DeBaliviere Avenue and Kingsbury Place Friday afternoon after one of their own was wounded.  Investigators said a resident inside the Winter Garden Apartments had a gun in a pocket and shot the officer. The officer was conscious, breathing, and described as “stable” after being taken to an area hospital. A second officer suffered a hand injury and was expected to recover.  Top story: One officer hurt, one shot in St. Louis “It was an ugly scene,” said Angela Williams, a resident living inside the apartment. “It was like I was in a movie.” She lives on the second floor and believes the shooting occurred directly above her unit. She said it sounded like there was a scuffle before she witnessed the injured officers being taken to the hospital. “The one cop came out, he was walking, but he was bleeding,” Williams said. She said the wounded officer was...

Murder victim’s families unite for justice and healing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

FLORISSANT, Mo. - Moms from across the country united in north St. Louis County to stand up to violence.They’re families who have lost their children to homicide and are coming together in a group called Voices of Black Mothers United.“We also want to be a voice. We want to start bringing about solutions here in St. Louis," said Sylvia Bennett-Stone. "So this is the start of engagement, a movement, and us getting together and saying we’re going to make a difference.”She and Johnetta Doss are two mothers whose teenage daughters were murdered. Top story: One officer hurt, one shot in St. Louis “My days haven’t really been happy since I lost my daughter," Doss said. "So to know there is another mother out there—rooting for me, pushing me, speaking life into me. It means a lot.”They organized a Survivor’s Ball to lift up mothers grieving in ways that few can understand. They’re also working together to find solutions.“There’s not one answer to this madness. Our youth are killing our y...

Injured St. Louis officers in stable condition after engaging with subject

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It was a tense scene outside the trauma center in the Central West End as police officers waited to hear how their colleagues were doing.Eventually, good news came as two officers were dealing with injuries sustained in a behavioral health incident in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood.One officer, a 15-year veteran, was shot multiple times in the arm and shoulders. That officer is conscious and alert. One more officer dealing with cuts to their hands while subduing the 71-year-old subject who was "not compliant with his medication," according to Chief Robert Tracy for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department."Thankfully, this was not a lot worse because it could have been,” Tracy said outside the level one trauma center. Trending -- Students and teacher rally around fired Webster Groves teacher The officers drove themselves about a mile and a half to the trauma center instead of waiting for EMS.“I think they made the call or an audible,” Tracy said.Tracy said th...

How to claim Facebook privacy settlement money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - You may have seen an alert on your Facebook page recently saying you’re entitled to payment from the settlement of a lawsuit. It is a legitimate offer, and it’s all tied to the $725 million privacy settlement, Facebook’s parent company Meta, has agreed to pay to those affected.The case alleges Cambridge Analytica, a firm with ties to former President Donald Trump’s political strategist Steve Bannon, paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million Facebook users. Trending -- Students and teacher rally around fired Webster Groves teacher That data was used to target U.S. voters during the 2016 campaign. Anyone in the U.S. who’s had a Facebook account at any time from May 24, 2007, to December 2022, can apply for a share of the settlement money. All you have to do is file a claim online. You can also print the form, fill it out, and mail it.It's not clear how much money individual users will receive. The more people who submit a c...

St. Louis condemns apartment after FOX 2 report of horrible conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The City of St. Louis condemned a government-subsidized apartment that was home to a mother of four, Torreese Valentine, that FOX 2's You Paid For It team spotlighted earlier this week.After we reported on the horrible conditions at the unit, building inspectors and health department inspectors descended on the unit in north St. Louis."We recognize that there were all kinds of problems in this particular case," said Frank Oswald, St. Louis building commissioner. "We've done a condemnation on the property at this point."The inspectors found many serious problems. Besides the flood, there was sewage coming out of pipes and exposed wiring, a faulty kitchen sink where there was mold, and the list of problems went on and on. Top story: One officer hurt, one shot in St. Louis The building commissioner found so many issues that officials decided condemning the apartment was best for the mother.Now the property owner has 10 days to correct the problems. If they do not fix it p...

Missouri History Museum closes St. Louis 1904 World Fair exhibit for renovation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - After nearly two decades, the Missouri History Museum is closing the iconic 1904 World’s Fair exhibit. The fabulous fair attracted people from around the world to St. Louis to see athletes compete in the first-ever Olympic Games. Many were also drawn to see new products and technologies that changed the world, including sewing machines, fax machines, x-rays, and even ice cream cones. When the new 1904 World’s Fair exhibit reopens in the spring of next year, Adam Kloppe, a public historian, said it will be mind-blowing.  Trending -- Students and teacher rally around fired Webster Groves teacher “It's going to show every building. Every pathway on those fairgrounds," he said. "It's going to be surrounded by touch-screen computers, so you can go on walking tours of the fair."The Missouri History Museum is hosting several events to commemorate the display. On Saturday, April 29, spectators can watch a screening of the classic film "Meet Me in St. Louis." On Sunda...

City SC and Purina creating pet-friendly spaces at CITYPARK

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - You can now take your pooch with you to watch a soccer match. St. Louis City SC and Purina announced Friday that they are creating the first designated pet-friendly area inside CITYPARK stadium.“This is where Purina, as our partner, has been very intimately involved in the design of the space and the location of the space and bringing Purina’s experts,” said Matt Sebek, Chief Experience Officer for City SC. “We’re not experts. Bringing their experts into the fold to help us design the materials and acoustics of it, so that’s been really helpful as we bring pets and their owners into it that it’s a safe and enjoyable experience.”The Purina Club features four loges and space to accommodate four soccer fans and their furry friends at all home matches. The premium space is located at midfield on the lower level of the east side of the stadium. Trending -- Students and teacher rally around fired Webster Groves teacher Each section is completely protected from the elements a...