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Trial opens in child sex trafficking trial of Republican political operative Tony Lazzaro

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

A young woman told a federal jury in Minneapolis on Wednesday that she had just turned 15 in mid-2020 when she first met Anton “Tony” Lazzaro.The teen said she didn’t fit in at her exurban high school, though she met regularly with a group of friends from another school. She also said that Gisela Castro Medina, now 21, had befriended her on Instagram and Snapchat.The woman, now 18 and identified in court documents as “Victim C,” testified that Castro Medina urged her to meet “a rich friend” who liked to “have fun,” and that in early August 2020, Lazzaro, now 32, sent an Uber driver to take her and three other girls, then ages 14 and 15, from a slumber party to his luxury apartment at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis.Attorneys and U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz addressed the alleged victim by her first name in court, but Minnesota Public Radio News is not naming her to protect her privacy.Anton LazzaroThe teen testified that she did not have sex with Lazzaro during that ini...

Wisconsin high court candidate welcomes campaign ally despite presence at U.S. Capitol insurrection

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court said Thursday that he had no problem with someone who was on the U.S. Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection campaigning for him across the state in the waning days of the high stakes race, calling his work “invaluable.”Dan Kelly on Wednesday posted a video on Twitter of himself standing side-by-side with conservative activist Scott Presler and thanking him for his work. Presler, a Virginia native, planned several “stop the steal” rallies in addition to being on the Capitol grounds the day of the insurrection. Presler also described the siege on the Capitol as “the largest civil rights protest in American history.”When asked Thursday about Presler’s attendance at the insurrection, Kelly said he was “not really familiar with his background.”“But what I can say, I appreciate a great deal the work that he’s doing here in Wisconsin,” Kelly said. “I think it is invaluable.”Majority cont...

Minnesota pollution control, health officials press need for legislation on ‘forever chemicals’ cleanup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

Minnesota pollution and health officials made the case at the state Capitol on Thursday for legislation to restrict nonessential uses of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, and for the $45.6 million that Gov. Tim Walz has requested in his budget to prevent, manage and clean up the ubiquitous compounds.State agencies launched a drive two years ago to protect communities from PFAS, which don’t break down in the environment but accumulate in human bodies. They’ve already tested water supplies for 98% of the state’s population, pioneered new cleanup technologies and started statewide monitoring.“PFAS is an urgent public health and environmental issue facing Minnesota and the nation,” Katrina Kessler, commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said at a briefing for reporters.PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated substances, are widespread and expensive to remove from water. They’ve been linked to a broad range of health problems, including low birthweight...

Capital Region concert roundup: March 24-30

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- This is your weekly roundup of concerts happening around the Capital Region from March 24 to March 30. From tribute bands to regional and local favorites, here are the upcoming concerts for the weekend and the following week.March 24: Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 7 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Troy Music Hall website.March 24: Haley Reinhart, Cohoes Music Hall, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Cohoes Music Hall website.March 24: Under the Paige, Rivers Casino, 8 p.m.March 24: Gianna Robustiano at 5 p.m., Skeeter Creek at 8:30 p.m., at Frog Alley Brewing in SchenectadyMarch 24: Beppe Gambetta, Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Eventbrite website.March 24: Seth Warden and Doug Moody of Warden and Co., The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, 7:30 p.m.March 24: The Wheel: Deadheads Choice, Lark Hall in Albany, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Eventbrite website.March 25: Hootenanny At The Hall, C...

Rensselaer County opens new, full-service DMV

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles opened a new office in Rensselaer County Thursday. The new, full-service DMV is at the county office building in East Greenbush.It combines the two previous offices in the Schodack and East Greenbush town halls. Officials said the new location will offer more services. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "A lot of DMVs are limited service," Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola said. "Some only do residents that live in that district. We're open to everyone, so we're looking for business to come."The new office will eventually offer real and enhanced ID upgrades but is still waiting for the state to install the system.

Missouri Senate OKs limits on transgender treatments, sports

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri youths no longer could receive gender-affirming treatments under a bill passed Thursday by the state Senate.The bill, which now heads to the GOP-led House for consideration, would prohibit doctors from providing puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries to minors for the next four years. Minors already receiving treatment and intersex youths would be exempt from the ban.The bill also would ban the federal low-income health care program Medicaid from paying for gender-affirming treatments for adults and prohibit gender-affirming surgeries for Missouri prisoners and inmates.“Children need love, compassion and counseling, not a doctor’s prescription to cut off their breasts or genitals," Sen. Denny Hoskins said before he joined 23 other Republicans in voting for the measure. Eight Democrats voted against it.Under clinical guidelines, children diagnosed with gender dysphoria and who receive counseling and guidance about transgender medical tr...

Maryland Heights juveniles reported missing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Maryland Heights police are asking for the public's help in locating two juveniles who went missing Thursday morning.According to a police spokesperson, Kylie Crockett, 14, and Zuri Crockett, 12, were last seen at 10 a.m. in the 11800 block of Lackland Road.Police said both girls require daily medication. Top story: St. Louis car wash customers upset over monthly bills Kylie was last seen wearing a brown jacket, grey bra, and ripped blue jeans.Zuri was last seen wearing a denim jacket, burgundy leggings, white platform boots, and white/black checkered backpack.Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Maryland Heights Police Department at 314-298-8700 (ext. 1).

St. Louis County considers ban of smoking marijuana at public parks

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The St. Louis County Council is considering some revisions to its "Clean Air Code" that would prevent people from smoking marijuana at county parks. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced Wednesday that the county council is expected to hold a special meeting in the upcoming weeks to discuss changes over the "clean air code. "Clean Air Code." Changes would potentially ban smoking marijuana, but not edibles, at many outdoor facilities of county-run parks, such as shelters, playgrounds, ball fields, trails. Trending: Major St. Louis hotel sits empty for nearly a decade Right now, St. Louis County' ordinances's "Clean Air Code" only bans smoking tobacco at such locations and doesn't address cannabis smoke. Page says the county council is considering a change to prevent second-hand marijuana smoke risks at large public-gathering places like parks. "While it's legal now for adults who smoke marijuana, we must think about those who do not," said Page duri...

Trump arrested? Putin jailed? Fake AI images spread online

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

By ARIJETA LAJKA and PHILIP MARCELONEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump getting gang-tackled by riot-gear-clad New York City police officers. Russian President Vladimir Putin in prison grays behind the bars of a dimly lit concrete cell.The highly detailed, sensational images have inundated Twitter and other platforms in recent days, amid news that Trump faces possible criminal charges and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin.But neither visual is remotely real. The images — and scores of variations littering social media — were produced using increasingly sophisticated and widely accessible image generators powered by artificial intelligence.Misinformation experts warn the images are harbingers of a new reality: waves of fake photos and videos flooding social media after major news events and further muddying fact and fiction at crucial times for society. “It does add noise during crisis events. It also increases th...

“When can we just be kids again?” Students confront Colorado lawmakers after another East High School shooting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:45 GMT

Hundreds of students from at least five Denver high schools, reeling from another school shooting, filled lawmakers’ offices and surrounded them in the hallways of the Capitol on Thursday to demand safer schools.The rally was in response to the second shooting at East High School in as many weeks, but violence at any school affects every school, students said. They chanted slogans like “protect schools, not guns” from the Capitol steps.“This should have stopped with Luis,” Jasmine Brown, a junior at West High School, said. “This should have stopped with Columbine.”Luis Garcia, a junior and varsity soccer player at East High School, was shot last month while sitting in his car outside of school. He died of his injuries.On Wednesday, two administrators at the school were shot by a student, according to law enforcement. The student suspected of shooting the administrators was found dead by suicide hours later in Park County.“I’m numb to it,” East High School sophomore...