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Man sentenced for making online rape threats against Town and Country woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A man sentenced earlier in the month in federal court for repeatedly cyberstalking, harassing, and threatening to rape multiple women in the area and elsewhere in the country appeared in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Thursday to plead guilty in a separate case.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Robert Merkle, 54, pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment. However, because of prior convictions, the judge increased Merkle's sentence from four to seven years in prison.Merkle admitted to harassing a Town and Country woman while he was on parole for similar crimes with different victims. Police: DWI, hit-and-run suspect caught by his own Tesla cameras In January 2022, the victim told the Town and Country Police Department that Merkle, whom she’d met on a dating site more than seven years earlier, sent a series of suspicious text messages. The messages hinted that he had made a copy of her house key and was planning to break into her home...

Judge rules man will stand trial for shooting teen who went to wrong house

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge ruled Thursday that the 84-year-old white homeowner who shot a Black teenager after he mistakenly went to the man’s house must stand trial.Clay County Judge Louis Angles issued the ruling after hearing from several witnesses at a preliminary hearing, including Ralph Yarl, the teenager who was shot by Andrew Lester on April 13 when Yarl went to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers.Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He previously pleaded not guilty in the shooting that shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in America. His next court date is an arraignment, scheduled for Sept. 20.Lester’s attorney, Steve Salmon, said in closing arguments that Lester was acting in self-defense, terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed for the night.“With his age and physical infirmity, he is unable to d...

Donate to Goodwill, get a free Lion's Choice sandwich for a limited time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Goodwill is teaming up with Lion's Choice, Union Station and the St. Louis Cardinals to offer donors some intriguing perks through October. Starting Friday, anyone who donates to Goodwill will receive a coupon for a free Lion's Choice sandwich while supplies last. Police: DWI, hit-and-run suspect caught by his own Tesla cameras Anyone who donates to a MERS Goodwill Metro store in the St. Louis area is eligible for a free sandwich coupon. The offer can be redeemed at any Lion’s Choice location in the St. Louis region."We are thrilled to partner with MERS Goodwill and support their mission to change lives through the power of work," said Fred Burmer, CEO of Lion’s Choice. "This collaboration is our way of acknowledging the generous donors who make a difference in our community and allow us to give back to so many that have also supported our growth in locations over the years. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

Man sentenced in deadly shootout that followed St. Louis car crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A man was sentenced Thursday in connection with a deadly shootout that followed a St. Louis car crash several years ago. Marlon E. Hampton, 26, was sentenced to 13 years in the death of Staveion Durham. He was fatally shot on Oct. 12, 2020, in the North Pointe neighborhood. Police: DWI, hit-and-run suspect caught by his own Tesla cameras Hampton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other criminal charges in Durham's death last month. According to his plea agreement, Hampton and others started arguing after a car crash near Switzer Avenue and Riverview Boulevard. At some point, Hampton grabbed a pistol from another man's waistband and opened fire. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW Investigators say the man whose gun was ...

Stock market today: Wall Street ends lower, closes out first losing month since February

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

By DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA (AP Business Writers)A late-afternoon fade left stocks modestly lower Thursday as Wall Street closed out its first losing month since February.The S&P 500 gave up an early gain to close 0.2% lower. The benchmark index ended August down 1.8%, though a four-day winning streak going back to last week helped chip away at the severity of the monthly decline.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite eked out a 0.1% gain.Market jitters over the possibility that the Federal Reserve might have to keep interest rates higher for longer following reports showing the U.S. economy remains remarkably resilient led to the market’s pullback in August after what had been a banner year. This week, reports on job openings, consumer confidence and inflation stoked hopes on Wall Street that the Fed may hold rates steady at its next policy meeting in September. That helped limit the market’s losses for August. The S&P 50...

RTD’s two-month Zero Fare for Better Air program ending, but youth still can ride free

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

The Regional Transportation District is wrapping up the final day of its two-month Zero Fare for Better Air initiative, while a one-year pilot program that allows youth ages 19 and younger to ride all RTD services at no cost is about to start.RTD allowed free rides for passengers in July and August in an effort to cut down on poor air quality in the region while attracting new riders.“A final report that includes ridership numbers, customer survey data, and other metrics related to the zero-fare initiative is currently being compiled, and RTD plans to publicly release the information in October,” according to a news release.Related ArticlesTransportation | Letters : Denver sidewalk fees — Voters sold a perpetual bill of goods Transportation | RTD L Line reduced to 30-minute frequency through Friday Transportation | Letters: Fighting delays on the way to Denver airport via Peña Boulevard Transportation | A-L...

Missing people in the Denver area: Indigenous woman with cognitive issues missing in Adams County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Aug. 28, about noon — Eleanor MaldonadoA Missing Indigenous Person Alert was issued by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for Eleanor Maldonado, a 56-year-old Indigenous woman who has a cognitive disorder that affects her memory.Eleanor Maldonado, 56, 5'04"/140 lbs with white hair and brown eyes, last seen Aug. 28. She suffers from a cognitive disorder that affects her memory. Last seen wearing black tank top, black shorts, and black tennis shoes. If seen, please call ACSO at 303-288-1535. pic.twitter.com/ayx3G6W5Ec— CBI (@CBI_Colorado) August 31, 2023She was last seen Aug. 28 wearing a black tank top, black shorts and black tennis shoes.She is a 5-foot-4-inch, 140-pound woman with white hair and brown eyes.Anyone who may have seen Maldonado is asked to call the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at 303-288-1535.This story will be updated as more information becomes available on missing-person cases. Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox ea...

White House asks Congress to pass short-term funding bill to keep government operating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

By JOSH BOAK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Thursday that Congress should pass a short-term funding measure to ensure the government keeps operating after the current budget year ends Sept. 30.An official with the Office of Management and Budget said lawmakers would very likely need to pass a temporary spending measure in September to prevent a potential partial shutdown. The official was not authorized to discuss the administration’s plans and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Without such congressional approval, parts of the federal government could shut down when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. That would jeopardize federal programs on which millions of U.S. households and businesses rely. The shutdown is a risk because of disagreements on the annual spending bills to be passed by the Republican-led House and and Democratic-majority Senate. Neither side wants a shutdown despite their differences.House Republicans are...

L.A. City Council seeks lawsuit over bussing of migrants from Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Los Angeles City Council leaders filed two separate motions on Wednesday pushing for legal action against Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott over the busing of migrants to the region. A total of 11 buses carrying asylum seekers have arrived in L.A. since June, with the latest getting to Union Station on Wednesday. The last bus carried 35 asylum seekers from Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Venezuela and even Russia.The council members voted unanimously on both motions, with one calling for a probe investigating whether Abbott’s actions violated any criminal laws, like kidnapping and human trafficking. Some council leaders argue many families traveled on lengthy bus rides with little or no food and water."The message is clear that the city of Los Angeles will not accept this kind of behavior," Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez said. "The governors are doing this for political points and that’s unacceptable. You cannot be playing with people’s lives in that way, and so if they did something unlawful, w...

Universal Studios Hollywood to debut new shows during Halloween season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Universal Studios Hollywood is adding two new live entertainment shows to its Halloween Horror Nights lineup, which kicks off on Sept. 7.In partnership with horror production company Blumhouse, known for films like “M3GAN,” “The Black Phone” and “The First Purge,” live shows based on the studio’s horror films will be coming to the theme park this Halloween season. New ‘Fast and Furious’-themed roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood One of the new shows, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters,” will be based on the Purge horror films and follow the story of a politician and his entourage who escape to an island to avoid the purge only to find out that their “safe haven” has purgers on it, a news release said. The show will take place at the WaterWorld venue inside the theme park and feature stunts, spectacular lighting, laser effects and more.On the other hand, “Blumhouse: Behind the Screams” will take horror fans behind the scenes of horror movie selection at the production co...