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Missouri Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven to resign in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven is resigning effective July 1, 2024. She informed State Board of Education members during their meeting this morning. Vandeven served as commissioner from 2015 to 2017, then returned to the position in 2019.Dr. Vandeven has over 30 years of experience, including seven years in Missouri's top educational position. That position comes with one of the highest salaries in the state. She oversees the state's approximately 900,000 public school students. DoorDash driver caught on doorbell camera swiping delivery The O'Fallon, Missouri, native has a bachelor's degree in education from Missouri State University, a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from Loyola University Maryland, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Saint Louis University. She has also been recognized as a distinguished alumna by both Missouri State University and St. Louis University.

Police: Man uses rod to bust windows of 10 cars near Lambert Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

BRIDGETON, Mo. - A Kansas City man is behind bars after he allegedly used a rod to smash the windows of 10 cars near Lambert Airport. Prosecutors have charged Robert Garrity, 46, with first-degree property damage in connection with the investigation. DoorDash driver caught on doorbell camera swiping delivery The incident happened on Oct. 12 in a parking lot in the 1500 block of Navaid Road in Bridgeton city limits. At an undisclosed time, a witness informed police that a man was damaging multiple parked vehicles. Police later found a man who matched the description nearby with a metal rod in his hand. Garrity was identified as the suspect. Police say he is accused of busting the windows of at least 10 vehicles, causing damages in excess of $750. Garrity has a criminal setting hearing scheduled for Nov. 22. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

California focuses on earthquake preparedness ahead of ShakeOut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

Earthquakes are a part of living in California, but everyone knows that one day, a truly enormous temblor will strike, causing incalculable death and destruction.The forthcoming tragedy can't be prevented, but this Thursday, the Great California ShakeOut will prepare the state's residents to be remain safe during the Big One.“California has long led the nation in innovative disaster preparedness efforts. During this year’s Great ShakeOut, we want to encourage every Californian to take action to keep themselves and their families safe,” said Nancy Ward, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, in a press release. This week, seven California cities will host a traveling shake simulator that can recreate the experience of being in a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, and "first responders will provide life-saving earthquake preparedness tips."The simulator is in Los Angeles Tuesday and will be in Riverside on Wednesday before moving to San Diego on Thursday.Previous s...

Pedestrian hospitalized after being struck outside Disneyland Resort

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

A man was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle while walking outside the Disneyland Resort Monday night.The incident occurred shortly before midnight near the Harbor Boulevard crosswalk next to the park's drop-off area. A pedestrian was struck outside Disneyland Resort in Anaheim on Oct. 16, 2023. (OnScene.TV)Video showed the victim down on the street but apparently talking to first responders while being attended to.The unidentified pedestrian was eventually transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with unknown injuries. Jack in the Box employee stabbed by transient in Winnetka: LAPD It was unclear if the pedestrian was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash. The driver did remain at the scene, stringer service OnScene.TV reported. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Leaving California: What’s the best state to move to in 2023?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

During the past two years, 1.6 million Californians left for other states.I figured they might want some help choosing a new place to live. So, I embarked on my “Leaving California” voyage — seven columns ranking the potential of other states for ex-Californian wannabes.My trusty spreadsheet examined stats on state economies, demographics, health, climate and politics to weigh appropriate landing spots. The 49 other states were graded for costs, wellness, jobs, fun, culture and safety. And just to make sure I didn’t goof, other “best state” rankings also were reviewed.What did I learn? When those seven scorecards were combined, the top state for an exiting Californian was New Hampshire. It scored three, top-five grades among the seven rankings.Next on my scorecard for a highly compatible California exit were Utah, Minnesota, Utah, Idaho, and Washington.At the other end of this spectrum, the top state to avoid was Mississippi. It had four grades in the bottom five. The next lowest we...

New Milpitas park honors Filipino farmworkers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

A new city park in Milpitas named after Filipino farmworkers had its grand opening on  Oct. 14, in the middle of Filipino American History Month.Mayor Carmen Montano welcomed attendees to Delano Manongs Park, located at 1650 McCandless Drive. In her comments, Montano noted that Filipino-Americans are the second largest Asian American group in the United States.Filipino American History Month commemorates the first Filipino presence in the continental United States, which occurred on Oct. 18, 1587, when mariners called “Luzones Indios” came ashore and landed in what is now Morro Bay, CA.Related ArticlesLocal News | Photos: Mountain View’s Shoreline Park celebrates 40th anniversary Local News | Historic Big Sur property, once owned by William Randolph Hearst, to get new owners, including tribe Local News | How a fight over 1,000 feet of Bay Area road led to lawsuits and allegations of corruption Local News | California S...

Northern California mother, two sons plead guilty in $600 million nationwide catalytic converter theft scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

SACRAMENTO — Three members of a California family pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy for their role in a ring that shipped $600 million worth of stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.Brothers Tou Sue Vang, 32, and Andrew Vang, 28, along with their mother, Monica Moua, 58, were part of “a national network of thieves, dealers, and processors” who provided the stolen auto anti-smog devices to a metal refinery for more than $600 million, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.Twenty-one people from California and New Jersey have been charged in the case, prosecutors said. The three Sacramento family members pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport the devices in return for more than $38 million.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Letters: More flexibility | Theft not so bad | Advancing diversity | Corporations not covered | U.S. support Crime and Public Safety | Here’s how San Jose&#...

Thousands of dollars in merchandise taken in separate grand thefts in Campbell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

Oct. 9200 block of East Latimer Avenue: Someone tried to steal a 1999 GMC truck by damaging the ignition.3:16 p.m. at Camden Avenue and Erin Way: A man was driving a black Chevy Colorado that had a warrant out of San Jose. Meth and pipes were located in the car.2:01 a.m. at San Tomas Expressway and Campbell Avenue: A man, 32, was stopped for a traffic violation. He refused to exit his vehicle and delayed the officers. He had an outstanding warrant and was found in possession of cocaine. He was found to be driving while under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.1700 block of South Bascom Avenue: Two suspects stole cosmetics.Oct. 10Overnight in the 2500 block of South Winchester Boulevard: A white 2005 Chevy Silverado truck was stolen.8:35 a.m. at Hamilton Avenue and Almarida Drive: Someone riding a motorcycle punched the victim’s rear sideview mirror, causing it to fall off.3:57 p.m. in the 300 block of Budd Avenue: A man, 29, was contacted in the park passed out and found to...

Too long and too expensing: PG&E’s plan to bury power lines and prevent wildfires faces opposition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

By ADAM BEAM | Associated PressVACAVILLE — Pacific Gas & Electric — one of the nation’s largest utilities whose equipment has sparked some of California’s deadliest wildfires — wants to bury power lines in some of its most at-risk areas to prevent destructive blazes like the 2018 Paradise fire that killed 85 people.But state regulators are balking at the utility’s plan because it would take too long and cost $5.9 billion. The company’s customers — who already have some of the highest rates in the country — would have to pay for it.Regulators want PG&E to put a protective cover over many of its overhead power lines instead of burying them. The cover approach is cheaper, but riskier. PG&E says burying a power line reduces the chance it will start a wildfire by 99% because it can’t be blown down by wind storms. The protective cover, which would better insulate the power line should it fall to the ground, would reduce that chance by 62%.“We’re not going to live with 35% risk...

2 people accused of helping Holyoke shooting suspect arrested as mother whose baby died recovers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:46 GMT

HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP) — Two more people have been charged in connection with a shooting investigation in Holyoke, Massachusetts, during which a pregnant woman on a bus was hit by gunfire and delivered a baby that later died. On Monday, Jay Marie Rosado-Rosario, 29, was arraigned on a charge of accessory after the fact — murder, and her bail was set at $5,000, the Hampden County District Attorney’s office said in a news release. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 17.Jose Galarza, 31, was scheduled to be arraigned on the same charge Tuesday.Attorney information was not immediately available for them, according to online court records.Rosado-Rosario and Galarza are accused of helping Kermith Alvarez, 28, of Holyoke, who was named as a suspect last week and has not been found.Meanwhile, the woman who was shot is still in the hospital recovering.“I don’t think it’s fair,” Selena Santana told WWLP-TV. “I wasn’t doing anything. I wasn’t running in the streets, I was with my family, ru...