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NAACP, parents demand change amid racism concerns in Wentzville schools

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. - The NAACP of St. Charles County and several parents have voiced concerns of racism and the treatment of minority students in the school district. The NAACP cites "the protection and wellbeing of our minority students within St. Charles Co. school districts" as a major concern. The organization also says one family in the school district allegedly "expressed outrage over their child being called racial slurs." The NAACP brought forth this call of action last week to the St. Charles County community ahead of a school board meeting last Thursday: "We are asking all who can to come out and stand with us as we demand better and stand with this family in the fight for fair and equitable treatment."The school board meeting lasted more than four hours and gave many parents an opportunity to voice concerns. Rigazzi’s sold to local ownership group Among those who spoke, Tamara King says she sent several emails and calls to the board about "issues plaguing [her] niece," th...

Man charged in Arnold armed robbery and carjacking

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

ARNOLD, Mo. - A man linked to an armed robbery and a violent carjacking over the weekend in Arnold is now behind bars. Jefferson County prosecutors have charged Charles D. Murphy, 46, of St. Louis, with first-degree robbery, vehicle hijacking and resisting arrest in the investigation. Investigators say Murphy first entered an Ace Hardware store armed with a firearm on Sunday and stole money from the cash register. After that, he allegedly forced a woman from her vehicle at gunpoint and took off in her car. Search for missing woman leads police to her family’s backyard A brief pursuit followed the carjacking, leading to Murphy's arrest near Interstate 55 and Butler Hill Road. Police say he initially fled from officers after the carjacking. Murphy is currently jailed in Jefferson County without bond.

Colorado leading nationwide lawsuit against Meta over alleged youth addiction to social media

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is leading a nationwide push to sue social media giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, over allegations of intentionally addicting youth to its platforms.Weiser is joined by 41 other attorneys general in elevating the issue to federal and state courts, arguing that Meta “knowingly designed and deployed harmful features” on its social media platforms that hook young users while assuaging the public about their safety.“Just like Big Tobacco and vaping companies have done in years past, Meta chose to maximize its profits at the expense of public health, specifically harming the health of the youngest among us,” Weiser said in an announcement.He and other officials said children’s and teenagers’ physical and mental health are under siege as a direct result of Meta’s business practices, with the technology company collecting their data. “It knew that young people who shouldn’t have been o...

After game-sealing interception vs. Packers, Broncos safety P.J. Locke’s time is now

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

P.J. Locke waited and waited.Finally, his chance arrived in the fourth quarter Sunday against Green Bay.He didn’t miss it.Locke, the fourth-year safety, played 15 snaps in relief of safety Kareem Jackson, who was ejected for a hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave, down the stretch of the Broncos’ 19-17 win.He didn’t just fill in, either. He made a game-sealing interception of Packers quarterback Jordan Love on a deep throw for receiver Samori Toure with 1 minute, 40 seconds remaining.“He threw it and I didn’t hesitate,” Locke said. “I saw the ball in the air and I was like, ‘It’s mine.’”Simmons ended up one-on-one with Toure, but had to turn and run in a trail position. Locke had responsibility on the opposite half of the field and covered a lot of ground to make the play.“I normally don’t do this, but they were in the perfect offensive play call for what we were running,” Simmons said. “For anyone that goes back and watches the film, that is a one-of-one-type of play that P.J. ma...

Colorado looks to re-establish passenger rail line into the mountains

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin exploring the possibility of re-establishing passenger rail from Denver to Craig utilizing funds from a federal transportation package, the agency announced Monday.The $5 million study will provide data and suggest service options for this corridor, CDOT said in a news release.The 191-mile rail line would operate along the existing Union Pacific route and would pass through the towns of Steamboat Springs and Hayden, among others. Union Pacific lines already serve Winter Park ski trains from January through March and Amtrak’s California Zephyr, but implementation of a line from Denver to Craig would mark the first time since 1968 that the route would include passenger rail.“We’ve always looked at that corridor as one that would be a potential for passenger rail,” said Timothy Hoover, CDOT communications manager for Front Range passenger rail and innovative mobility. “But it’s only been in the las...

Colorado voter guide: Stories, explainers and endorsements for the 2023 election

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

The Denver Post’s voter guide rounds up our explainers, stories, candidate Q&As and endorsements for the 2023 election, along with coverage by our partner Chalkbeat Colorado. The guide will be updated with new stories up to Election Day, Nov. 7.Proposition HHExplainer What is Colorado’s Proposition HH, and how will it affect you as a homeowner or renter?Story Proposition HH debate features property taxes, TABOR refunds and dueling predictions of the futureStory Proposition HH supporters have cash to compete, but opposition hopes to fight off property tax measureStory Coloradans will have choice to cap property tax growth in 2024Municipal RacesSuburbsStory Voters in Denver’s suburbs face full ballots, will replace longtime elected leadersAuroraStory In Aurora, Mayor Mike Coffman faces a forceful challenge from the left by City Councilman Juan MarcanoSchool Board RacesDenver Public SchoolsStory Candidates, parents looking for Denver school board shake-up this fall in wake of infig...

Model's death in DTLA was accidental, not murder, medical examiner says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner has released the results of the autopsy of model Nichole Coats, and it appears to back up claims made by police that her death was unrelated to that of another model.Coats, 32, was found dead on Sept. 10 in her South Grand Avenue apartment, two days before 31-year-old model Maleesa Mooney was found in her South Figueroa Street apartment. Deaths of 2 models not related, LAPD says Mooney's death was deemed a possible homicide by the LAPD, but despite reports that Coats, who went by Nikki, was found amid a bloody scene at her home, authorities have determined her death was the result of an accidental overdose of cocaine and alcohol.About a week after the two deaths, police publicly stated that the incidents were not related, despite the women's similarities in profession and location.No arrest has been made in the killing of Mooney, who was two months pregnant at the time of her death.

Santa Barbara woman recorded harassing street vendor, again

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

Last month, a Santa Barbara woman went viral after a video showed her making racist statements towards a Latino construction worker. Now, more video has surfaced of the same woman going on a second racist rant to another Latino man. The footage from the first video – taken on Sept. 16 – sparked a local protest, the Los Angeles Times said, with hundreds of people flooding the streets of Santa Barbara in protest of what they deemed to be a “racist encounter.” In that incident, the woman – identified by the Times as Jeanne Umana – enters a home down the street from hers despite the construction worker who was recording telling her that it was a private construction site. “I live here. I’m American, you’re a Tijuanan,” Umana, 74, can be heard saying. “Thank you for being racist,” said the construction worker, identified by the Times as Luis Cervantes. Umana “apologized repeatedly” in an interview with the publication last month, saying that the ordeal began...

L.A. County residents robbed 10 pharmacies at gunpoint in 6-week span, DOJ says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

Three Los Angeles County residents are facing decades in prison after the U.S. Department of Justice charged them in connection with 10 pharmacy robberies this summer.Makai Yusef Sanders and Kenyatta Kamar Jones of Hawthorne and Diavion Deshawna Mouton of Carson, all 22 years old, were charged earlier this month with Hobbs Act robbery (indicating it affected interstate or foreign commerce) and using a firearm during a violent crime, the DOJ said in a news release.Federal authorities allege the trio targeted Rite Aid and Walgreens stores between Aug. 9 and Sept. 19, striking in Long Beach, Bellflower, South Los Angeles, Pasadena, Whittier, Lakewood, Monterey Park, Burbank and Glendale."Mouton allegedly served as the driver while Sanders and Jones allegedly robbed the stores," the release said.The robberies typically occurred about an hour before closing, and the robbers used guns while stealing cellphones and money from the stores' offices, authorities said, adding that in some cases...

'Taco Tuesday' trademark available to use nationwide after lone restaurant relinquishes claim

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

The legal fight over the “Taco Tuesday” trademark has ended after a restaurant in New Jersey parted ways with the term, allowing taco restaurants nationwide to use the phrase.The months-long effort to make the phrase available for restaurants nationwide ended on Tuesday after Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar in Somers Point, New Jersey, forfeited its “Taco Tuesday” trademark.The restaurant held the “Taco Tuesday” trademark in New Jersey for over 30 years. The restaurant’s decision to relinquish the claim comes after Taco John’s, a Wyoming-based “West-Mex” restaurant chain, relinquished its claim to the trademark in July. Taco Bell brings back Taco Lover’s Pass and debuts new breakfast taco Taco John held the trademark for over 40 years in the 49 other U.S. states.“When we set out to free Taco Tuesday, we did it for all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos,” Sean Tresvant, Taco Bell’s chief global brand and strategy officer and incoming CEO, said in a statement.“Taco Bell wants ever...