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National Grid worker Roderick Jackson’s family seeking justice in hit-and-run that killed their ‘everything’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

Tucked inside a law office conference room, Roderick “Kito” Jackson’s family remembered their beloved son and brother’s love for Christmas, his favorite holiday, and how he always got the best gifts for them, expecting nothing in return.This Christmas, the family will be spending their holiday seeking justice and answers. They will be laying Kito to rest Saturday.Jackson, a gas technician for National Grid, a company the 36-year-old Cambridge resident had worked for since 2021, died on the job Dec. 6 when suspect Peter Simon allegedly crashed into him at a construction detail in Waltham.Jackson died alongside Waltham police officer Paul Tracey.Jackson’s family for the past week, living what his mother Norma Asprilla called a “horrific nightmare that I cannot wake up from,” has been considering filing a civil lawsuit against Simon, a New Hampshire man who had a lengthy criminal record before he took away their “everything.”“Why does this happen to our family? We are good to peo...

Fire engulfs University City home; five displaced

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Fire-Rescue crews battled a fire that engulfed a two-story University City home Friday afternoon. Five adults who lived in the home were displaced.The two-alarm fire was reported by a motorist along northbound Interstate 5, near the interchange with State Route 52 shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol logs. The motorist said they were able to see smoke from the freeway.SkyFOX was over the two-story home, which is located in the 5400 block of Bloch Street, before 4 p.m. Flames appeared to entirely engulf the home with a heavy plume of smoke coming from all sides.Around 4:30 p.m., crews knocked down the main body of the fire and are performing "overhaul operations to search for hidden fire inside the home."Five adults who have been displaced as a result of the blaze are being assisted by Red Cross, SDFD said. No injuries were reported.No additional details were immediately available about what caused the fire or the extent of damage to t...

Eglinton Crosstown LRT could open in September 2024: TTC budget

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

After months of speculation about when the Eglinton Crosstown LRT will be operational amid continued refusals to release a projected opening date, TTC staff are hinting the 13th year of construction could be the final one.TTC staff released their 2024 operating and capital budgets Friday afternoon ahead of a board meeting on Wednesday. Contained in the documents are references to opening the Line 5 Eglinton Crosstown and Line 6 Finch West light rail transit lines.“The TTC is planning for (the) opening of Lines 5 and 6 in September 2024, but this may change,” a budget report said while referencing upcoming operational costs.CityNews contacted Metrolinx Friday evening to ask for comment on the projection contained in the TTC report, but a spokesperson wasn’t immediately available. This article will be updated if a response is received.The timeframe is noteworthy as the head of Metrolinx, the provincial transportation agency, declined to provide information on when th...

Mayim Bialik says she’s out as a host of TV quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mayim Bialik won’t be giving answers as a host of “Jeopardy!” anymore.“The Big Bang Theory” actor posted news of her departure on Instagram on Friday.“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!” Bialik wrote. “I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family.”Former show champion Ken Jennings has been hosting season 40 of the syndicated show by himself.Bialik and Jennings had split hosting duties on “Jeopardy!,” but Bialik was the solo host for season 1 of “Celebrity Jeopardy!” In May, Bialik declared her support for the Hollywood writers’ strike and declined to appear on the game show.The Associated Press

Police investigate after 3 robbed at gunpoint in Hyde Park

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are offering a warning to the public after three people were robbed at gunpoint on the city's South Side on Tuesday night. Police say all three armed robberies happened in Hyde Park and unfolded within about an hour of each other. Tips from Chicago crime experts on how to avoid robberies, minimize harm According to police, during each robbery, a man wearing dark-colored clothing approached the victims as they were walking along the sidewalk and displayed a pistol while demanding property from the victims. After robbing the victims, the man then fled the scene on foot. Chicago police provided the following timeline of the armed robberies that took place on Tuesday night:5100 block of South Greenwood Avenue, in Hyde Park, around 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12.5000 block of South Cornell Avenue, in Hyde Park, around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12.5200 block of South Cornell Avenue, in Hyde Park, around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12.Officers say the man responsib...

Michigan appeals court rules Trump can stay on 2024 primary ballot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

The Michigan Court of Appeals decided Thursday that former President Trump can remain on the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot, blocking a series of challenges to his candidacy related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.The appeals court upheld two lower court decisions without deciding whether Trump should be disqualified under the 14th Amendment, which bars those who previously took an oath to uphold the Constitution but later “engaged in insurrection” from holding office again.The court determined that the former president’s spot on the general election ballot was not ripe for consideration. “It would be improper to decide whether to grant a declaration that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President of the United States at this time,” the 3-0 opinion reads. “At the moment, the only event about to occur is the presidential primary election.”Regarding his spot on Michigan’s primary ballot, the secretary of state has “no discretion” to decide not to place...

Mail-theft ring tied to USPS robberies busted in Austin

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Federal authorities busted a mail-theft ring in Austin and recovered a cache of weapons and stolen checks linked to the robberies of at least two US Postal Service mail carriers, and the attempted robbery of a third less than a week ago, according to newly filed federal court records obtained by KXAN."Protecting USPS employees is part of the core mission" of the US Postal Inspection Service, US Postal Inspector and public information officer Silvia Torres said in a statement. "When a robbery does occur, it receives the highest level of response and attention.  Postal Inspectors worked tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, including the Austin Police Department (APD), and used every investigative tool at our disposal to identify and arrest the individuals responsible for these criminal acts."Federal investigators accuse Camren Hamilton, Christian Mosquera, Cody Smith, Jonathan Rangel and other unnamed "conspirators" of being part of a criminal mail-theft...

Russian musician helps to energize the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s ‘Messiah’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

The many talents of Dmitry Sinkovsky come into play as he not only conducts but also plays violin and sings in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s presentation of the “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel. Bounding with talent and oozing charisma, the Russian musician even adds a bit of percussion as he stamps his foot guiding the orchestra as well as the 43 vocalists in the Minnesota choral group The Singers.SPCO’s “Messiah” presentation opened at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis for two nights, and will finish its run this weekend at the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul. The basilica’s cavernous acoustics lent themselves well to Handel’s popular oratorio.After the orchestra plays the opening overture, led by Sinkovsky on the violin, tenor David Portillo sets a reverent tone for the rest of the evening. From his velvety performance of the high noted “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people” recitative to the weightier “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted” air, Portillo distinguishes himself as...

MLS teams opt out of U.S. Open Cup

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

When Minnesota United, and its previous iterations, were in the lower levels of soccer, the U.S. Open Cup provided an opportunity to knock off higher-level MLS teams in a national tournament.MLS has now taken away that chance for aspiring underdogs.The league said Friday its Board of Governors has voted for each club’s lower-level MLS Next Pro teams to represent them in the Open Cup in 2024, removing the chance for stirring “Cupsets.”USL, the second tier in U.S. soccer, called the MLS change a “surprise,” per a statement from USL President Paul McDonough. He added: “We will speak with U.S. Soccer, and with our owners, before making any further public comments about MLS’s position.”Longer-term supporters of Minnesota’s pro soccer teams have memories of when their smaller club knocked off MLS teams, including a win over Real Salt Lake in 2012.In 2005, Minnesota Thunder took down Colorado Rapids and RSL. In 2004, the Thunder knocked off the L.A. Galaxy in the Metrodome.Now in MLS, MNUF...

Commission selects a final concept for the redesigned Minnesota state flag

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:29:55 GMT

After months of hearings, the panel tasked with creating new symbols for Minnesota has settled on a flag concept, but more work lies ahead as they hone the final details.Members of the State Emblems Redesign Commission on Friday voted in support of a design inspired by a submission from 24-year-old Luverne resident Andrew Prekker, though many tweaks are already in the works.In original form, it’s a flag with white, green and light blue horizontal stripes and a navy blue section on the left that mimics the shape of Minnesota. In that section is an eight-point white star meant to symbolize the state’s motto “Star of the North” as well as unity in a diverse land.The white stripe symbolizes snow, the green stripe represents nature and agriculture, and the light blue stripe represents the state’s waters — from its more than 10,000 lakes to the Mississippi River. Prekker says the “swallow tail” design is unique among flags of the world, and that he wanted to keep it as simple as pos...