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Missouri House approves new round of income tax cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Just months after the General Assembly passed the largest tax cut in state history, the Missouri House approves another round of cuts. By a party-line vote, the lower chamber approved a proposal Thursday to reduce Missouri's income tax rate, cut the corporate income tax and eliminate the tax on social security. While some Republicans say it was a priority, Democrats warn this could hurt the state financially in the future. "It may be the largest, most irresponsible thing that we could possibly be doing at this moment," House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said after Thursday's vote. This tax cut package comes less than six months after the governor called a special session to lower the income tax rate. This session, it's priority for some GOP members to slash the rate again.  Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions "This legislation will bring with it new jobs, higher wages and overall growth to our st...

Police ask public's help to track down thieves in University City break-ins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. - Police are investigating two overnight break-ins that may be linked, and it was all caught on camera.Police asked for the public's help in tracking down the suspects.The surveillance video provided by the owner of Star Buds marijuana dispensary in Olive showed at least four suspects in hooded sweatshirts smashing their way through the front door to get inside. Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions Chris Chesley, the manager at Star Buds dispensary, was able to call the police when he saw what was happening on the video, and they were there within minutes.“Last night, just after 2 a.m., I got an alert on my phone saying that our alarm was triggered," Chesley said. "I got on the phone with University City police to let them know that there is a future break-in going on. They got here extremely quickly. They were able to see the individuals exiting the parking lot and gave chase."Investigators said that once the thieves forced ...

Willow, a Rocky Mountain goat, dies suddenly at the Denver Zoo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

Willow, a female Rocky Mountain goat, died suddenly Wednesday at the Denver Zoo.We're sad to announce that Willow, one of our female Rocky Mountain goats, passed away on the evening of March 22 after our animal care and health teams found her experiencing a medical emergency. pic.twitter.com/kK2806xXLF— Denver Zoo (@DenverZoo) March 24, 2023Animal care and health team members found Willow “experiencing a medical emergency” while she was miscarrying and she later died despite an hours-long effort to save her, the zoo said on Twitter.Related ArticlesColorado News | Denver Museum of Nature & Science ends COVID-era reservation policy for members Colorado News | 29-year-old giraffe born at the Denver Zoo euthanized due to failing health Willow, and two other mountain goats among the zoo’s band, were born in 2019 in Tacoma, Wash., according to the zoo. The trio from Washington was “rescued after being declared ‘nu...

Colorado attorney general warns of scams, fraud during busy tax season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

As the federal tax deadline approaches the Colorado Attorney General’s Office urges the public to be aware of scams and fraud related to taxes and tax filings.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Denver judge rejects plea deal for disbarred attorney Steve Bachar, calls it “a miscarriage of justice” Crime and Public Safety | 82-year-old Denver man charged with sale of fake Michael Jordan cards Crime and Public Safety | Consumers made 28% more complaints in Colorado last year, with retail problems on top again Crime and Public Safety | Disbarred Denver attorney Steve Bachar skips sentencing for felony theft, is now wanted on warrant “Whether you’ve already filed, you’re planning to file early, or you’re waiting until the deadline on April 18, Colorado taxpayers need to be on the lookout for scams at tax time,” Attorney General Phil Weiser stated in a news release. “Colorado usually sees an uptick in...

LAUSD negotiations continue as 3-day strike ends; no deal reached

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

More than 1,300 Los Angeles Unified School District campuses resumed classes on Friday following a three-day strike by union employees.After contract talks stalled and no agreements were reached, negotiations between the school district and the Service Employees International Union, Local 99, resumed at L.A. City Hall with Mayor Karen Bass mediating the talks. Local 99 represents around 30,000 teachers’ aides, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other support staff.An SEIU board member tells KTLA that district officials have agreed to a 30 percent wage increase, but are pulling back on some stipulations, so no deal has yet been reached.SEIU Local 99 is asking for a 30% wage increase and better working conditions. LAUSD has offered a 23% wage increase over the next five years. SEIU said its workers on average earn around $25,000 a year. "We’re making sure both sides can try and reach an agreement,” said John Lewis, an LAUSD bus driver and bargaining member. “[Bass] is work...

California communities with the best public schools in 2023: Report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

When it comes to buying a home, the quality of the area's public schools can play a major role in the planning decision — even if you don't have young children, proximity to quality districts can affect home values.Niche, a data site that specializes in education rankings, weighed a number of factors, including academic performance, diversity, parent/student surveys, sports, clubs and more to determine which communities in California have the best public schools in 2023.When it comes to the top 20 places in California, the greater San Diego area swept the top three spots, Niche found:PlaceMetro areaState2023 ranking2022 ranking2021 rankingRancho Santa FeSan Diego AreaCalifornia111Fairbanks RanchSan Diego AreaCalifornia222Del MarSan Diego AreaCalifornia333Los Altos HillsSan Francisco Bay AreaCalifornia465Solana BeachSan Diego AreaCalifornia544La Cañada FlintridgeLos Angeles AreaCalifornia657Palos Verdes EstatesLos Angeles AreaCalifornia799EncinitasSan Diego AreaCalifornia8712MoragaSa...

US, Canada close immigration border loophole

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

By Wilson Ring | Associated PressST. JOHNSBURY, Vermont — U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a plan to close a loophole to an immigration agreement that has allowed thousands of asylum-seeking immigrants to move between the two countries along a back road linking New York state to the Canadian province of Quebec.So many migrants since early 2017 have walked into Canada on Roxham Road outside Champlain, New York, that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police staffed a reception center to process them, less than five miles from the official border crossing.Mounties have warned the migrants at the end of a narrow two-lane road bordered by forests and farm fields that they would be arrested if they crossed the border. But once on Canadian soil, they have been allowed to stay and pursue asylum cases that can take years to resolve.The new policy says that asylum seekers without U.S. or Canadian citizenship who are caught within 14 days of cros...

Letters: Protect oceans | Alternative plans | Permanent ban | Agriculture economy | SVB collapse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Marine protected areaswill preserve oceansCalifornia’s oceans are extremely important to the people of California on both an environmental and cultural basis.Our oceans still account for a majority of the oxygen that we breathe, our literal source of life. Our oceans also serve as a major food source for many people. They have sustained human life along its coasts for thousands of years, and while the state’s original inhabitants have been limited in their ability to continue their traditional ways of life, many indigenous communities continue to rely on the oceans for sustenance.The oil and fishing industries’ destructive practices are causing great harm to our oceans. Fortunately, a solution lies ahead in marine protected areas, which provide marine life with areas where they can live undisturbed by humans. If you support protecting our oceans, take action now and tell Gov. Newsom to triple marin...

Bay Area serial bank robber sentenced to federal prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

OAKLAND — A Bay Area man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for robbing four banks on the same day, just a few months after he was released from custody in a prior bank robbery case.As the defense sees it, the “genuinely sad and somewhat pathetic nature” of defendant Phillip Leblanc’s current situation came to a head on Aug. 30, 2022, when he robbed or attempted to rob banks in Dublin, Berkeley, and two in Walnut Creek, all within the span of a few hours. Leblanc was quickly identified, arrested and indicted in federal court.His attorney now argues his unaddressed mental illness is the root cause behind the “haphazard and seemingly nonsensical series of robberies.”“Prior to this second federal case, Mr. LeBlanc was willing to recognize that he had mental health challenges, but believed he could handle them on his own,” Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Falk said in a sentencing memo. “As a first-hand witness t...

Letters: Natural gas ban | Book miscue | Labor for shelter | Iraq tragedy | Aiding the living

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:43 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Gas appliance ban willcost customers dearlyUnless I’ve missed it, why haven’t you reported anything about the March 15 decision by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to only allow the sale/installation of electric water heaters (starting in 2027), and electric furnaces (2029).This will have huge implications and costs to existing homeowners who are now mandated to (eventually) retrofit their homes. You can’t just plug these appliances into regular wall outlets. You might need to upgrade an electrical panel and have in-home wiring work done to support these appliances. Then there’s the issue of whether you even have enough electricity coming into your house to support this additional load.And if you have to replace a gas water heater come 2027, you can’t wait until that happens to decide whether you need to retrofit your house. You will have to do this retr...