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House passes debt ceiling bill in big win for McCarthy: Five takeaways

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

The House’s passage of a debt limit deal Wednesday night marks the end of a pivotal chapter for the new House GOP majority, putting Congress on a path to avoid a default and securing a huge victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — even as it’s infuriated conservatives in his own conference.The vote followed months of jockeying between McCarthy and President Biden over the appropriateness of negotiating future spending as part of the effort to extend the government’s borrowing authority — a fight McCarthy won handily, by forcing Biden reluctantly to the table.But the final agreement also excluded most of the spending cuts and other favored provisions in the partisan debt ceiling package Republicans passed last month, highlighting the political realities — and potential pitfalls — of shepherding big ideas through a divided Washington.With a final vote of 314-117, the bill overwhelmingly passed, and McCarthy garnered a "yes" vote from about two-thirds of the Republican...

Capital Region provides resources for asylum seekers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y (NEWS10)- Since the first bus arrived over the weekend, many have been wondering what’s next for the dozens of asylum seekers now in the Capital Region.  Now that the asylum seekers are here, officials say they are all ready to be a part of the community. But in order to do that- they need to wait 180 days to complete their asylum paperwork. The New York Immigration Coalition is one of the organizations providing resources to connect each person with English classes, finding a job, and housing. “But again, what I heard from all of them is the willingness to be a part of the community. A lot of them came up to Albany for that reason in particular. Wanting to become something bigger than themselves,” said Angela Castrillo Vilches, manager of Organizing and Strategy for the Capital Region NY Immigration Coalition.  The organization says most already started the application process before arriving in Albany. Immigration attorney at Harris Beach Law F...

Last Missouri Exit mural near Busch Stadium

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Something big is on the rise at Missouri’s iconic last stop for drivers headed east through Downtown St. Louis.It’s a roughly 25’ by 100’ mural at the “Last Missouri Exit” from eastbound Interstate 64, the 6th Street exit adjacent to Busch Stadium. “Last Missouri Exit” signage adorns the exit ramp and sticks in the minds of nearly everyone who is at all familiar with downtown.“The last Missouri exit being so familiar, (the mural is) kind of broken into linear segments so that as you pass by, it sort of reveals itself kind of rhythmically,” said artist William Lachance of Webster Groves.“Somebody turns a corner, in this case an exit ramp, and it’s like, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ That alone enlivens people. Whatever mood they were in before: instant change,” said painter Robert Fishbone, who, along with Lachance, makes up the two-member team working on the “Last Exit” mural. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

Bride scrambling after thieves smash post office blue box

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

ST. ANN, Mo. – A bride-to-be isn’t letting anyone rain on her big day, even after thieves stole her wedding invitations from the post office."The wedding is in August. It's last-minute stuff and one of the last things was to send the invitations out," Ashley Boiles said.Boiles said her big day hit a snag after she dropped off wedding invites in the big blue box at the St. Ann Post Office off St. Charles Rock Road."It was like a week later, and they still weren't delivered, even to anyone locally," Boiles said. "The mailboxes had been broken into." Victim in fatal St. Louis Kitchen shooting identified The drop boxes are still taped up and not in use as of Thursday.Boiles said she's out hundreds of dollars."The invitations were about $275 and then I had another insert in there that was another $25, so about $300," she said.Boiles said the break-in happened hours after she dropped everything off. She filed a report online but said the post office is unable to reimburse her for the mo...

Months of mysterious ceiling spots has left apartment resident’s fearful and frustrated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

OVERLAND, Mo. – At the Woodson Park Apartments, one long-time resident has been dealing with an ongoing issue for months. Despite no clear answers from management, Nichelle Vanhook has concerns for her family.“What is this – is it water? Is it mold?” Vanhook said.The ceiling stains first appeared in January in Vanhook’s apartment. In her nine years living at the complex, Vanhook said she’s never seen anything like this.It’s something that’s been a problem for her and her family for the past few months.Vanhook’s concerns are rooted in where the stains are located – in the same room where her children, ages 8, 3, and 1, sleep.With months going by, she’s left with questions concerning their safety. Victim in fatal St. Louis Kitchen shooting identified “What are they breathing in? Ya know, like, what is this?” she said.Vanhook said she reported the spots to management previously.“They came and they painted over it and everything,” she said. “But yet here we are. The spots are back aga...

Concerns over short-term rentals grow after teen shot in St. Louis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Concerns over short-term rentals have extended from Downtown St. Louis and westward, after a 14-year-old was shot after reportedly not being allowed in a house party early Wednesday morning.St. Louis police said the shooting happened around 2 a.m. on Delmar Boulevard.A group of teens, ranging from 14 to 19 years of age, were reportedly denied entry to a party. Police claim the teens lingered in the parking lot. As they were about to leave, two people accused of them of "clutching" and "acting like they were armed."Although the teens started driving away, the two people displayed guns of their own, and shot at them. A 14-year-old boy was struck in the shoulder. He was later taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries."That's scary,” said DeBaliviere resident Dave Scotz. “It does shock me, because I didn't realize that this area was zoned for Airbnb or people would want really want to.""The young population is bringing much drama to the area and, as a resident, this...

Added security coming to MetroLink platforms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Efforts continue to make St. Louis residents and visitors safe and confident in the local transit system.The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners is spending $52 million on its Secure Platform Plan, adding gates, fencing, and new security cameras at all MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois.The security upgrades come after a reported attempted rape at one of the downtown stations, causing a lot of concern for riders.Riders will also notice metal detectors at some of the stations, along with police officers at the metal detector check points.The first phase includes the installation of the gates and fencing at four MetroLink stations in East St. Louis and the eastern edge of Belleville.The new security upgrades are also planned for the new MetroLink station planned at MidAmerica Airport.All the security upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Irvine woman charged with animal abuse, accused of taping shut snouts of several dogs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

An Irvine woman was arrested and now faces multiple felony charges for animal abuse after officers searched her property and found several dogs with their snouts taped shut.On Saturday, the Irvine Police Department received a tip from a concerned resident regarding several dogs who were heard whimpering on the patio of the home of 21-year-old Gabriela Barrera.The resident told police that there were also multiple dogs whose mouths were taped closed.Officers responded to the home and observed one dog with heavy duty masking tape wrapped around its snout on the outside patio. They also reported hearing whimpering in the same area.As they investigated, Barrera arrived home, at which point she admitted to taping the dogs' snouts to keep them from barking or biting at other dogs.She agreed to let officers search her home, where they found a total of seven dogs — three female adult dogs, two male adult dogs, a female puppy and a male puppy.Gabriela Barrera, 21, of Irvine, is shown in this...

Mountain View man sentenced to 12½ years in prison on child pornography charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

MOUNTAIN VIEW – A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a 37-year-old Mountain View man to 12½ years in prison for possessing child pornography and enticing underage girls to engage in the production of pornography, prosecutors said.A grand jury indicted Christopher Raymond Campbell last August, charging him with one count each of coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.In January, Campbell pleaded guilty to the coercion and enticement of a minor and the possession of child pornography charges. U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria dismissed the receipt of child pornography charge at his sentencing Wednesday.According to his plea agreement, Campbell admitted that he used his iPhone and other electronic devices to communicate with multiple underage girls between March 2021 and March 2022, prosecutors said. Campbell used screen names and aliases to trick his victims into taki...

Maryland governor gets firsthand look at Wheaton pedestrian safety concerns

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:24:43 GMT

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore walked alongside two busy state-run streets in Wheaton, Wednesday afternoon and heard from leaders about the pedestrian and traffic safety concerns in the area.Moore came to Montgomery County after being invited to walk the area by council member Natali Fani-González.During the walk, Fani-González pointed out the narrow sidewalks and the lack of bike lanes. The council member said she’d like to see Georgia Avenue re-imagined as a boulevard that offers those safety features.“That means making sure that you have protected bike lanes, making sure that you have BRT, which is bus rapid transit, making sure that you have enough bus shelters, making sure that you have enough bike racks so people can leave their bike safely, making sure that you have more density near the Metro,” Fani-González said.“We want people to know that we’re prioritizing this,” Moore said about the concerns.According to the county, between 2015 and 2022, five pedestrians were killed in ...