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Lack of productivity in 2023 frustrates lawmakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - With lawmakers home for the holidays, there's a lingering sense of frustration in Washington. Many say Congress was chaotic and unproductive in 2023. "We saw a year marked by chaos, extremism and paralysis," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (R-N.Y.). "I'm not very happy with how productive the Senate has been this year," Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said.House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Republicans are to blame. He accuses them of wasting time with contentious battles over selecting a speaker, censures of fellow lawmakers, and an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. "We've seen repeated efforts by MAGA extremists to jam their right-wing ideology down the throats of the American people," Jeffries said. Congress failed to reach deals on several big priorities, leaving them with an agenda packed full of tough issues to tackle in 2024. "We go into next year with not only the challenges around the Ukraine, and border, and Israel, and hum...

2 accused of robbing Lance Armstrong's storage unit; over $100K in bikes stolen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Two Austin men are accused of stealing more than $100,000 of high-end bicycles and parts from the storage unit of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, according to arrest affidavits.Police allege Shaun Thompson, 36, and Ethan Harms, 33, burglarized Armstrong’s ExtraSpace Storage Unit sometime between Dec. 10 and 12 and took four Trek road racing bikes with clear markings identifying Armstrong as the owner. A silver and black Cannondale Super Six Evo racing bike and a Ventum GS-1 gravel racing bike were also taken, police said.Both men have been charged with theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000 – a third-degree felony, according to court records. Guy Fieri’s sons won’t inherit his empire unless they achieve 2 things Harms and Thompson are suspects in other storage units and apartment burglaries, according to the arrest affidavit. Police said they reviewed the storage unit’s surveillance footage and recognized the suspects from other incidents....

VP Harris announces future moon landing will include international astronaut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Vice President Kamala Harris announced the U.S. will send an international astronaut to the moon by the end of the decade. She made the announcement during a meeting of the National Space Council in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.The meeting focused on several topics, including strengthening international partnerships.“Our nation has led the world in the exploration and use of space, and in the coming years one of the primary ways we will continue to extend that leadership is by strengthening our international partnerships,” Vice President Harris said.The international astronaut will join American astronauts on a trip to the moon’s surface as part of NASA’s Artemis mission.  There is no word on who the international astronaut will be or what country they will be from.

US frees ally of Venezuela president in exchange for 10 Americans, fugitive contractor 'Fat Leonard'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The United States freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country and the extradition of a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who is at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal, the Biden administration announced Wednesday.The deal represents the U.S. government’s boldest bid to improve relations with the major oil-producing nation and extract concessions from the self-proclaimed socialist leader. The largest release of American prisoners in Venezuela's history comes weeks after the Biden administration agreed to suspend some sanctions, following a commitment by Maduro and an opposition faction to work toward free and fair conditions for the 2024 presidential election.The release of Alex Saab, a Maduro associate who was arrested on a U.S. warrant for money laundering in 2020 and long was regarded as a criminal trophy b...

6th Street shooting suspect fired at officers, refused to be pat down trying to enter bar, records show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Court documents obtained by KXAN reveal new details surrounding a shooting involving Austin Police Department officers on East Sixth Street over the weekend that left one person dead and three bystanders injured.The suspect, who has still not been identified, was shot and killed after he pointed his handgun at three Austin police officers and discharged "multiple projectiles" at them, according to a search warrant affidavit which cites a review of body camera video. The officers were not injured. Three innocent bystanders, however, were injured. On Sunday, one of the victims was listed in critical condition. The other two sustained "non-life-threatening" injuries, according to police. One killed, three injured in officer-involved shooting on 6th Street The incident happened at the Soho Lounge, located at 217 East Sixth St., according to the affidavit.The three uniformed Austin police officers responded to the bar around 10 minutes to midnight Saturday in response ...

Austin LGBTQ+ group wants to build multiple community centers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin-based nonprofit plans to build five LGBTQ+ community centers over the next few years in order to overcome what it calls "major barriers" to the city's LGBTQ+ community. According to QWELL Community Foundation, results from its "LGBTQIA+ Wellbeing Survey of Greater Austin" show that local members of the LGBTQ+ community report feelings of isolation and a sense of disconnection from community. That study, conducted annually, surveys LGBTQ+ residents in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Hays and Caldwell counties.The group said that despite "a strong system of LGBTQIA+ organizations," a lack of community infrastructure limits the in-person capabilities of those organizations."We have the nation’s third-largest LGBTQIA+ population (5.9%) – only San Francisco and Portland have more LGBTQIA+ people per capita. Multiple LGBTQIA+ community centers around the Austin area will make sure that every LGBTQIA+ resident has convenient access to services, resources, guidance a...

Gophers men’s basketball benefitting from Parker Fox’s savvy, spark off the bench

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

Like one of those confetti cannons, Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson is trying to bottle up Parker Fox and uncork him in the right moments.Fox has come off the bench in all 11 games this season and will likely do so again Thursday when Minnesota (8-3) plays host to Ball State (8-3) at 7 p.m. at Williams Arena.Johnson likes the spark and savvy Fox has provided for the U in his 12 minutes per game.“I love whenever you can bring experience off the bench and you know exactly what they are bringing,” Johnson said. “I know with Parker, if things are dull, at least you’ve got a guy who is going to bring juice, that’s going to bring an older presence and bring some grit off the bench, and you can rely off that.”Johnson also has to gauge when Fox, a sixth-year player, will benefit from a lighter load in practices due to two consecutive season-ending knee injuries.“There are times, without a doubt, I know it’s bothering him,” Johnson said.Johnson said Fox’s situation is better than ...

Pimento Jamaican Kitchen now open downtown — till 2 a.m. on weekends

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

Pimento Jamaican Kitchen opened its long-awaited downtown St. Paul location this week.In addition to classic Jamaican food, the restaurant also includes a rum bar, stages for live music and DJs and a self-serve beer wall. And with a 2 a.m. closing time on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s one of just a handful of such late-night hotspots downtown.The local Caribbean restaurant has been growing quickly in recent years: In addition to its original Eat Street restaurant and rum bar, Pimento is also located at Keg and Case Market in St. Paul and in the new lakeside pavilion at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis.The downtown location had been initially scheduled to open in spring 2023 with a rooftop patio, but plans were delayed. The restaurant is connected to the Victory Ramp, where Pimento customers can park free; the location was formerly home to restaurants including Taco Libre and American Burger Bar.Pimento Jamaican Kitchen to open new downtown St. Paul location this spring — with a rooft...

Kirill Kaprizov finds scoring touch as still-hot Wild split two-game trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

Anyone who has really been paying attention to the Wild this season knows that Kirill Kaprizov has been playing good hockey — moving his feet, backchecking, causing turnovers and creating scoring chances.He just wasn’t scoring a ton of goals, eight through 29 games before Tuesday night’s game against the Bruins in Boston. It’s one of the reasons the Wild’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Atlantic Division leaders seems so auspicious.Kaprizov, the Wild’s leading scorer since he joined the team for the abridged 2020 season, scored the tying goal in the third period and the winning goal in overtime for the team’s best win of the season.“I’m really happy for him,” coach John Hynes said. “Sometimes when elite players, or guys that are point-producers, don’t get what they can get rewarded for, sometimes their game falters. I feel like he just stayed with it, continued to compete and play the right way, and tonight he was a huge difference-maker for us.”Kaprizov was at the foot of the right ...

Who is the missing man linked to the submerged car found in Camden County?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:42 GMT

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. – Last weekend, a submerged car was retrieved from a pond on private property in the southern part of Camden County. The vehicle has been linked to a missing person, Donnie Erwin.Erwin was last seen on the morning of December 29, 2013, driving a silver Hyundai Elantra with Missouri license plate MK6-E3P.In an interview on December 29, 2022, Sergeant Scott Hines from the Camden County Police Department stated that Erwin left his house early in the morning, around 6 a.m., on the day he went missing.“He went to get cigarettes and never came back,” Hines said. “He did not have his wallet, glasses, or wheelchair. This was concerning as Mr. Erwin was an amputee, missing one leg due to health problems.”Hines mentioned in the interview that being an amputee affected Erwin’s mood. "He was on several different medications, and that was another concern for us. When he left that morning to go get cigarettes, he didn’t have any of his medication. He needed to have regular dose...