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They're back! Sunflowers blooming at Columbia Bottoms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

SPANISH LAKE, Mo. - Get your cameras ready. The sunflowers at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area will be in full bloom by the end of the week. The Missouri Department of Conservation plants fields of sunflowers each year at the Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area, a 4,300-acre conservation area located just north north of Interstate 270 on Strodtman Road. Admission is free, and the best time to see the sunflowers in top form is between July and August. Two lives lost: Did 911 fail during St. Louis storm? The Missouri Department of Conservation plants sunflowers each year as part of their dove management program. The sunflowers, which can grow up to 6 feet tall, also supply seeds that entice the birds and offer a variety of benefits for pollinators.Conservationists say that drought conditions presented challenges in getting the sunflowers ready this year, though they're blooming close to schedule compared to previous years. "MDC staff believe we’ll still see a good amount of bloomin...

Man arrested, victim ID'd in deadly July 4th shooting in Jennings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. - Authorities arrested a man accused in a deadly shooting in Jennings on the Fourth of July. The shooting happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Jendale Court. The St. Louis County Police Department reports that Peter Cooper, 35, of Florissant, died in the shooting. Another woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Two lives lost: Did 911 fail during St. Louis storm? Police have not yet disclosed the suspect's identity or any potential charges. Based on preliminary findings, police believe the suspect was agitated at social activity near his home. Both victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment, though Cooper later died from his injuries. Police say the suspect reportedly barricaded himself inside his home. He was later taken into custody without incident. The St. Louis County Police Department is handling the investigation.

Denver weather: Severe thunderstorms expected, bringing heavy rain, hail and possible tornadoes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Thunderstorms were rolling across north metro Denver and the weather Thursday will be severe, bringing intense rain, bursts of wind, and possibly large hail with tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.Shortly after sunrise, a cluster of storms northeast of Denver International Airport was moving eastward toward Colorado’s high plains. Weather service meteorologists warned that severe weather is likely throughout the day, anticipating possible large hail up to the size of tennis balls, damaging winds at speeds up to 70 miles per hour, localized flooding during heavy rain, and maybe a couple of tornadoes. They issued a dense fog advisory covering metro Denver and Colorado’s northern Front Range urban corridor along Interstate 25 early Thursday.The greatest threats were expected southeast of Denver across the Palmer Divide between Denver and Colorado Springs and on the plains in Lincoln County, forecasters said.A special weather statement has been issued for L...

New details in violent head-on crash that killed child, grandmother in Van Nuys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Family members are mourning the loss of a 5-year-old boy and his grandmother who were killed by a wrong-way driver in Van Nuys last week.The crash occurred around 9 p.m. on June 29 when authorities say a white Honda Accord headed northbound on Woodley Avenue veered into the southbound lanes and crashed head-on into a gray Honda Civic.Four members of the Cordova family were in the Civic and headed to dinner when the crash happened, family members said. A 5-year-old boy and his grandmother who were killed in a crash in Van Nuys are seen in a GoFundMe image. In the backseat were 5-year-old Yoshua and his grandmother Aura De La Cruz Calderon de Tobar. Both were killed in the crash. Yoshua's step-sister and her boyfriend were in the front seats of the Civic and survived with minor injuries. A child and a woman were killed in a head-on crash in Van Nuys on June 29, 2023. (KTLA)A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with the costs of planning funerals for both Yoshua and his g...

Crosses set on fire in front of Sylmar church; hate crime suspected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Arson and hate crime investigations are underway Thursday after three crosses were burned in front of the Sylmar Christian Fellowship Church in Sylmar.A rubbish fire was reported in front of the church around 4:40 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed.The flames were already out when crews arrived at the scene. Apparently, a neighbor saw the fire and came over to help put it out. Three crosses were set on fire at a church in Sylmar on July 6, 2023. (KTLA)Video showed three crosses that stood in front of the church had burn damage. One of the crosses had fallen to the ground. "Probably an accelerant was used but we’re not sure at this time," LAFD Capt. Phillips said.The Los Angeles Police Department along with the LAFD are working to determine if the incident was a hate crime, as the church's membership is predominantly Black.Three crosses were set on fire at a church in Sylmar on July 6, 2023. (KTLA)"The four agencies will pool their resources and try to figure out if it w...

After teen's leg severed in hit-and-run, officials work to improve pedestrian safety in Boyle Heights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Los Angeles has a reputation as a dangerous place for pedestrians, but local officials are working to change that in a neighborhood known as a hotspot for car-versus-pedestrian accidents.In Boyle Heights on Thursday, City Councilmember Kevin de León and officials from the L.A. Bureau of Engineering will unveil improvements to intersections along Olympic Boulevard.One of the targeted intersections is Olympic and Orme Avenue, where a Los Angeles Times study of collisions between 2002 and 2013 found 10 pedestrian incidents, including one that was fatal. At nearby Olympic and Soto Street, there were 15 collisions, including one fatality.That's not to say the danger is limited to those specific intersections, however. Joshua Mora recovering in the hospital in a photo provided by family.Joshua Mora, an eighth grader at Hollenbeck Middle School, lost his leg in a collision at Orme and Whittier Boulevard in March. He was in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a motorcyclist who then fl...

Powerball jackpot nearing record size again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Another near-record Powerball jackpot is growing after no ticket matched the numbers picked Wednesday night. Numbers drawn were 17, 24, 48, 62, 68, and Powerball 23, and the multiplier was 2X. Three tickets — one each in Florida, New York and Ohio — missed the jackpot after failing to match the red Powerball number. Still, each ticket was worth $1 million. Now, the estimated jackpot has reached $590 million, Powerball officials said Thursday. Because jackpots can grow between drawings (here's how they calculate the jackpots), it's possible the grand prize will become the 10th largest — a $590.5 million prize won in Florida more than 10 years ago — ahead of the next drawing. Here are the 10 largest Powerball jackpots in history:$2.04 billion: Nov. 7, 2022 (California)$1.586 billion: Jan. 13, 2016 (California, Florida, Tennessee)$768.4 million: March 27, 2019 (Wisconsin)$758.7 million: Aug. 23, 2017 (Massachusetts)$754.6 million: Feb. 6, 2023 (Washington)$731.1 million: Jan. 20, 2021 ...

Plenty of blockbuster potential left this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

The summer movie season goes into high-gear in July, with the arrival of the seventh “Mission: Impossible” movie followed by the “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” showdown on July 21.Not that you have to choose one or the other — as Tom Cruise said on Twitter, “I love a double feature, and it doesn't get more explosive (or more pink) than the one with Oppenheimer and Barbie.”August also promises a new take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and introduces a new DC superhero, Blue Beetle.Here's a month-by-month guide of this summer's new movies. Keep scrolling for more info and review links for May and June's releases.July 7” Insidious: The Red Door " (Sony, theaters): Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne are back to scare everyone in the fifth edition.“ Joy Ride ” (Lionsgate, theaters): Adele Lim directs this raucous comedy about a friends trip to China to find someone's birth mother, starring Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu.“ The Lesson&...

Leading the Charge: 10 Trailblazing Digital Entrepreneurs You Need to Know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving digital landscape, a new breed of entrepreneurs is making waves and rewriting the rules of success. These visionary individuals have embraced the endless possibilities offered by technology and have harnessed its power to build thriving businesses. They are the trailblazers who have shattered the barriers of traditional entrepreneurship, proving that anyone with a dream and determination can make it big in the digital world. From innovative startups to disruptive ventures, these 10 exceptional digital entrepreneurs have not only achieved remarkable success but have also become catalysts for change in their respective industries. Through their grit, creativity, and unwavering spirit, they have redefined what it means to be an entrepreneur in the digital age. Get ready to be inspired and embark on a journey to discover the stories and strategies behind these remarkable individuals who are leading the charge and paving the way for a new era of digita...

Death Valley tourist found dead, apparently from extreme heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

A tourist was found dead Monday in his car in Death Valley National Park, and investigators believe he was overcome by heat.The body was found around 10 a.m. by a National Park Service maintenance worker who went to check on a car that was about 30 yards off North Highway, the road to Scotty’s Castle.The victim was a 65-year-old man from the San Diego area, a park news release said.Tire tracks indicate the car ran along the road’s shoulder and the berm before veering onto the rocky desert flats. It didn’t crash but had two flat tires when it stopped.“The initial investigation suggests that heat-related illness may have caused the driver to run off road,” the park report said.Sunday’s high temperature was 126, and the overnight low was 98. The driver’s window was down, and the car’s air conditioning was found to be non-functional.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Police: Toxic gas leak in South Africa kills at least 16 ...