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Holiday season expected to be busiest for travel in U.S. history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — With the holiday season just around the corner, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Americans will see the busiest travel days in U.S. history."This year we are seeing more people flying than ever with fewer cancellations than we've seen in years and we're investing to make sure it stays that way long term," he said.Buttigieg said 2023 had the lowest fight cancellation rate in the last five years, "which translates to millions more people getting home getting to work or getting to their loved ones as expected."Winter weather may present a challenge in the coming weeks, but the Transportation Department has new travel protections in place, such as guaranteed hotel and meal accommodations and free re-bookings due to delays or cancellations.The FAA is preparing for the worst, as it's provided $50 million to airports across the country for de-icing equipment.  Administrator Michael Whitaker said around 50,000 flights are expected the day before Thanksgivi...

FTC will hold competition to curb AI phone scams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — As Congress scrambles to push forward regulations for artificial intelligence, the Federal Trade Commission is taking matters into its own hands.The FTC announced last week that it would host a competition challenging private citizens to find solutions to protect people from AI-generated phone scams.The scams can use AI to clone a loved one's voice, making it sound like they're in trouble and tricking unsuspecting people into coughing up big bucks."Anyone can be … hit by these kind of scams," said Will Maxson, the assistant director of the FTC's Division of Marketing Practices. "It's going to be very hard for the consumer, who thinks they're talking to their grandson, to their child, to know whether it's a real person."The FTC is offering a $25,000 reward to anyone who can innovate a solution, essentially leveraging the same AI technology to protect consumers, Maxson said. Applications will open in January. The agency previously held similar crowdsourcing comp...

Man fatally shot 9 times as he exited vehicle on Chicago's Southwest Side, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are looking for a gunman who shot and killed a man on the city's Southwest Side. According to police, the 24-year-old victim was getting out of a car when a shooter in a black SUV opened fire in the 2300 block of W. 18th Place just after 1 a.m. Tuesday. Damage ‘extensive’ at Calumet Fisheries after fire The victim was shot nine times and later died at a hospital, police added.No one is in custody and there's no word on a motive. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Automated motor vehicle license tab renewals now available at 8 Cub Foods in Minnesota

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

If you need new license plate tabs for your vehicle, you might consider swinging by Cub Foods. The Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicles Services, or DVS, has opened six more automated, stand-alone kiosks dedicated to vehicle tabs in Cub Foods stores.Tabs and related documents can be printed on-site using scanning and touchscreen technology. The department rolled out its first self-serve “DVS Now” vehicle registration kiosks last December at the South St. Paul and Rochester Crossroads deputy registrars’ offices. In July, the two ATM-like kiosks were moved to Cub Foods locations in West St. Paul and Rochester.The eight kiosks — operating as of Nov. 16 — are located at the Cub Foods at 15350 Cedar Ave. in Apple Valley, 8150 Wedgewood Lane in Maple Grove, 250 57th Ave. NE in Fridley, 1177 Clarence St. in St. Paul, 5301 36th Ave. N. in Crystal, 3930 Silver Lake Road in St. Anthony, 2001 S. Robert St. in West St. Paul, and 1021 15th Ave. SE in Roch...

Fairview tells University of Minnesota it won’t continue to partner on hospitals and clinics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

Fairview Health Services has notified the University of Minnesota that it does not plan to extend its current partnership.The two organizations have partnered as M Health Fairview since 2018. It’s a large joint operator of hospitals and clinics — and a major source of funding for the university’s medical school.The partnership will run through the end of 2026. It was set to automatically renew for another decade; both parties had until Dec. 31 of this year to notify the other if they did not want that renewal to go forward.According to a statement from the U, Monday’s notification did not come as a surprise.“We have previously said, as has Fairview, that our current agreement would have to change for the future. Fairview’s announcement today simply reaffirms those statements,” the university said.The partnership has been facing uncertainty for several months, since Fairview’s proposed merger with Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health drew criticism from some university ...

Minnesota Republicans, Carnahan settle litigation over ex-chairwoman’s ouster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

Former Minnesota Republican Party chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan and state party leaders have settled their dispute over the former GOP leader’s ouster.Following mediation, Carnahan agreed to drop her civil lawsuit against the GOP and the party will end a counter lawsuit.Carnahan sued the party last year alleging that leaders made public remarks about her that kept her from getting a new job. She sought at least $50,000 in damages. The party immediately lodged a case against her, alleging mismanagement by her that had been detrimental to the GOP.The cases had been moving toward a trial early next year, with a deadline for each side to turn over documents approaching in a few weeks.Last week, Carnahan told MPR News that she opted to drop the civil case because she wanted to move on.“I’ve moved forward to a much more positive and better place in my life. It didn’t serve anyone well, myself or the party,” Carnahan said. “And Republicans need to get out there and win next year...

Charge: Man killed girlfriend in downtown St. Paul apartment, later stepped in front of Green Line train

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

Two minutes after a man told a childhood friend, “My girlfriend is gone — she is dead,” he walked in front of a light-rail train and was struck in St. Paul, according to a criminal charge filed Tuesday.Kelvin Maurice Perry, 54, has been hospitalized since, and the Ramsey County attorney’s office charged him with the murder of Shaqita M. Thomas, 39.The property manager of the Press House apartment building in downtown St. Paul responded to a request on Friday to check on Thomas, a resident.An air mattress concealed Thomas’ body when paramedics entered a bedroom. She was face-down underneath, and had small cuts on her forearms, back and shoulders; fake fingernails on both her hands “were all bent backwards as if she had been scratching at something during a struggle,” according to the criminal complaint.There were signs of trauma to Thomas’ head, a small amount of blood on the carpet near her head, a small bloodstain on a wall in the bed...

Police investigate break-ins at Soulard tavern, auto parts store

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis police are investigating a pair of business overnight break-ins in south city. One incident was caught on camera, with the brazen thieves moving fast.The most recent break-in happened at Hammerstone’s, located at South 9th Street and Russell Boulevard. Business owners are hoping that the police catch the people.Surveillance video shows four people exiting a silver SUV with a big rock. One of the individuals hurls the rock through the front door. They then jumped over the bar and stole two cash drawers.Hammerstone’s staff cleaned the glass and was able to open on time Tuesday morning.Tim Ayers, who owns Tim’s Barber and Beauty Shop across the street, said the break-in is cause for alarm. FOX 2 reporter, photographer victims of pellet gun drive-by "I think it's a terrible thing when they break in over here in the businesses. It's not getting any better; it’s getting worse, and I don't know what to do about it,” he said. “I'm going to keep an eye out and make su...

Human remains found at San Fernando Valley home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

Los Angeles police have launched a homicide investigation after human remains were discovered on a property in the San Fernando Valley Tuesday morning.Sky5 footage showed crime scene tape surrounding an area along Woodley Avenue adjacent to a home on Community Court, which appeared to be the focus of the investigation. L.A. city fire Department crews were assisting police.Homicide detectives and L.A. city fire crews at the crime scene on Community Court in North Hills, California. Nov. 21, 2023. Homicide detectives and L.A. city fire crews at the crime scene on Community Court in North Hills, California. Nov. 21, 2023. Homicide detectives and L.A. city fire crews at the crime scene on Community Court in North Hills, California. Nov. 21, 2023. No other details were immediately available.This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.

Tree trimmer electrocuted in Cheviot Hills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:49 GMT

A tree trimmer died after getting electrocuted in Cheviot Hills Tuesday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The trimmer, only identified as a man about 30 years old, was about 20 or 25 feet up a tree or hedges when responders arrived at the scene in the 10300 block of West Glenbarr Avenue at about 1:20 p.m.The L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP) de-energized the power lines and firefighters used a ladder to get to the man, but he was "beyond medical help" and declared dead at the scene, officials said.He "appears to have been electrocuted," according to the initial LAFD alert."Firefighters will conduct a body recovery to bring the patient to ground level," officials said.His name was not immediately released.