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Jury trial set for man accused of killing Hermann officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. - A man linked to the shooting death of a Hermann officer earlier this year could potentially face a death penalty sentence. His jury trial was officially scheduled Tuesday. Kenneth Simpson, 35, is accused of shooting two officers in the line of duty, including one fatally, last March in Hermann, Missouri. The officers were at Casey’s gas station when they tried to take Simpson into custody on outstanding warrants. Results: November 7 Missouri Special Election According to Missouri court records, a jury trial is scheduled from Jan. 20-Feb. 6, 2026, in Franklin County with Craig Hellmann listed as the judge. Although the shooting happened in Gasconade County, the case was transferred to Franklin County on Oct. 12 after a change of venue motion was granted. Simpson is currently jailed on charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and more. Recent court documents claim the murder “was outrageously or wantonly vile, ho...

This is the ultimate chocolate cake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

By Claire Saffitz, The New York TimesI once read an interview with French chef Alain Ducasse, in which he said, “Sugar is the enemy of chocolate.” Ducasse owns his own chocolate company, which makes extraordinary bars and truffles, so I’d be inclined to take his word for it, even if all of my experience as a baker didn’t back up his statement. Undoubtedly, excessive sugar dulls and masks chocolate’s singular flavor.Yet at the same time, sugar, in just the right quantity, brings chocolate to life, tempering its bitterness and bringing subtler flavors to the forefront. So when I set out to develop my ideal chocolate layer cake, my goal was to add just enough sugar to produce both a cake and a frosting that were flavorful but not noticeably sweet. The final cake had to be moist, but not heavy, and pack considerable chocolate flavor without being overpowering.For that, I skipped melted chocolate in favor of cocoa powder. Melted chocolate tends to dry out cake batter, and unless you’re u...

I-70 westbound closed at Vail Pass Summit due to crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

Interstate 70 westbound has closed at Vail Pass Summit due to a crash.#I70 westbound: Road closed due to a crash at Exit 190 – Vail Pass Summit. https://t.co/x9uxFQNOqV— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) November 8, 2023Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Eastbound I-70 reopens at Floyd Hill after sun glare closure Crime and Public Safety | I-70 in Aurora reopened after man seen in median “with a gun” taken into custody Crime and Public Safety | Potential for Floyd Hill sun glare closures on eastbound I-70 resumes Crime and Public Safety | I-70 eastbound reopens in Wheat Ridge after late-night crash Crime and Public Safety | I-70 westbound reopened at Eisenhower Tunnel The Colorado Department of Transportation reported the crash at 8:03 a.m.CDOT advised drivers to expect delays.

Democrats won big on abortion rights Tuesday. Here's what the results say for the U.S. going into 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year elections and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights and painting his opponent as extremist. A Democrat won an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after campaigning on his pledge to uphold abortion rights. And Democrats took full control of the Virginia statehouse, blocking Republicans from being able to pass new abortion restrictions and delivering a defeat to Gov. Glenn Youngkin that may douse any buzz about a late entry into the GOP presidential primary.The victories won't be enough to make Democrats feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election. The off-year elections have major implications in all of those states and provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big...

General Motors recalls Cruise cars for software update after dragging a pedestrian in SF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle unit is recalling all 950 of its cars to update software after one of them dragged a pedestrian to the side of a San Francisco street in early October.The company said in documents posted by U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday that with the updated software, Cruise vehicles will remain stationary should a similar incident occur in the future.The Oct. 2 crash prompted Cruise to suspend driverless operations nationwide after California regulators found that its cars posed a danger to public safety. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the license for Cruise, which was transporting passengers without human drivers throughout San Francisco.In the crash, another vehicle with a person behind the wheel struck a pedestrian, sending the person into the path of a Cruise autonomous vehicle. The Cruise initially stopped but still hit the person. But it then pulled to the right to get out of traffic, pulling the person about 20...

Ivanka Trump takes witness stand in the civil fraud trial that’s scrutinizing the family business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

FILE - In this image from video released by the House Select Committee, an exhibit shows Ivanka Trump, during a video interview with the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol at the hearing Thursday, June 16, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. It's Ivanka Trump's turn to take the witness stand in the civil fraud trial that is publicly probing into former President Donald Trump's family business. (House Select Committee via AP) FILE - In this image from video released by the House Select Committee, an exhibit shows Ivanka Trump, during a video interview with the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol at the hearing Thursday, June 16, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. It's Ivanka Trump's t...

Two residents of the tiny Caribbean island of Barbuda fight the government, seeking to protect land

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — When Hurricane Irma slammed into the tiny Caribbean island of Barbuda as a Category 5 storm in 2017, the government temporarily evacuated the entire population of some 1,600.Even before many people returned, U.S. developers were allowed in and given permission to build an airport and luxury resort, a project that has angered islanders while the U.N. warns of danger to wetland and other fragile environments.Barbudans have waged largely unsuccessful legal fights against the project. But two islanders appeared Wednesday before the London-based Privy Council, hoping to win a ruling that will lead to communities having the right to protect pristine lands coveted by foreign investors amid the climate crisis.The Privy Council, final court of appeal for the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, is being asked whether Jacklyn Frank, former member of Barbuda’s governing council, and scientist John Mussington have standing to challenge decisions by the g...

Nextdoor lays off 25% of its full-time staff as neighborhood social network works to cut costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Nextdoor is laying off 25% of its full-time staff as the neighborhood-focused social network company cuts costs with its losses widening. The job eliminations are part of a larger cost reduction plan that aims to slash Nextdoor’s current personnel expenses by up to $60 million annually, the company said in a third-quarter financial report published Tuesday.At the end of 2022, Nextdoor had 704 employees, according to an annual securities filing. A spokesperson for the San Francisco company confirmed to The Associated Press that almost 200 employees will be impacted by the job cuts announced Tuesday.“This reduction in our team is the hardest decision we have had to make at Nextdoor” CEO Sarah Friar said in a prepared statement. “While our opportunity and belief in the transformative power of community remains unwavering, and our business is financially strong with a healthy balance sheet, we must follow through on our commitment to our shareholders. This means ri...

Wins in mayoral races will temporarily disrupt Michigan Democrats’ full control of state government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats who have controlled the governor’s office and slim majorities in both chambers of the Legislature will at least temporarily lose their full control after two state representatives won mayoral races Tuesday, which will soon put the state House in a deadlock.Democrats have been able to push through a number of key pieces of legislation in Michigan since they flipped both chambers in the Legislature while holding onto the governor’s office in last year’s midterms, giving them full control for the first time in 40 years.Two Democratic state representatives, Lori Stone and Kevin Coleman, won mayoral races Tuesday in their own districts in suburban Detroit. The wins will eliminate Democrat’s two-seat majority in the state House and put the chamber in a 54-54 deadlock until special elections can be held for the seats. Democrats will still control the agenda, but they will no longer hold a voting advantage.It’s not yet clear when special ...

The NFL’s youth movement at quarterback reaches a new milestone

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:00 GMT

Inside the Numbers dives into NFL statistics, streaks and trends each week. For more Inside the Numbers, head here.___The generational shift at quarterback in the NFL reached a new milestone last week.For the first time ever, every player who threw a pass in the NFL in Week 9 was born in 1990 or later, with 15 of the 28 starting quarterbacks last week age 25 or younger.The run of quarterbacks born in the 1970s ended with Tom Brady’s retirement after last season. Injuries to Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins and Ryan Tannehill, and a bye week for Russell Wilson, kept the QBs born in the 1980s off the field last week. This was the first time since Week 6 of the 2002 season that no quarterback born in the 1980s took the field.There were seven rookie starters last week — one shy of the non-replacement player record set in Week 16 of the 2019 season — with Arizona’s Clayton Tune and Minnesota’s Jaren Hall getting their first career starts. That raised the to...