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Sonny Gray named Cy Young Award finalist; Twins extend veteran a qualifying offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

Sonny Gray was honored as one of the top three pitchers in the American League this season, named a Cy Young Award finalist on Monday for the second time in his career.Thirty members of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted on the award — two from each AL market — before the postseason began, and the winner will be announced on MLB Network during a show that begins at 5 p.m. CST on Nov. 15.Toronto starter Kevin Gausman and New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, the front-runner for the award, were also named finalists.Gray, whom the Twins extended a qualifying offer to on Monday, was recognized for a season in which he did not miss a start, posting a 2.79 earned-run average across 184 innings. The starter was remarkably consistent, limiting opponents to three or fewer runs in all but three games.He finished with a 5.3 bWAR (Wins Above Replacement per Baseball Reference) and was named the Twins’ Most Valuable Player. Gray is the first Twins pitcher since Kenta Maeda was the Cy...

Dean Phillips’ congressional seat could be up for grabs next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips’ announcement that he would challenge President Joe Biden opens the field for other prospective candidates looking to get to Congress.It wasn’t that long ago that the 3rd Congressional District was a reliable seat for Republicans. But Phillips broke the hold in 2018 and, aided somewhat by reshaped boundaries through redistricting, he has been sent back to Washington twice with plenty of breathing room.The 3rd District encompasses a crescent of western Twin Cities suburbs with Coon Rapids and Rogers at the north and Bloomington in the south. Down the ballot, Democrats have also performed well, snatching up most of the legislative seats that had once been in Republican hands.Since entering the presidential race, Phillips has largely sidestepped questions about whether he would forgo a reelection campaign in his district. He’s given himself until early next year to break through in his presidential bid.“I’ll be clear — if my campaign is not viab...

Bird flu confirmed on Wright County egg farm, with nearly 1M chickens set to be destroyed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

Nearly 1 million chickens on a Minnesota egg farm will be slaughtered to help limit the spread of the highly contagious bird flu after it was confirmed there, officials said Monday.The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the virus was found at a farm in Wright County, as well as in three smaller flocks in South Dakota and Iowa. Whenever the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is detected on a farm, the entire flock is killed to keep it from spreading to other farms.In addition to the Minnesota case, the USDA said some 26,800 turkeys will be killed on a farm in McPherson County in South Dakota and nearly 17,000 birds will be slaughtered on two farms in Iowa’s Clay County.The egg and poultry industry has been dealing with a bird flu outbreak since last year. In 2022, nearly 58 million birds — mostly chicken and turkeys — were slaughtered to deal with the virus, contributing significantly higher egg and turkey prices. The Minnesota farm is the first egg-laying operation w...

Family-owned Hastings golf club adds event space, simulators as next generation tees off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

In 1998, the story goes that Tom Furlong looked across his farmland near Hastings, considered the crop prices, and thought maybe he’d rather mow greens and fairways than plow cornfields.Twenty-five years later, his adult children have taken another step in that original vision, bringing a 26,000-square-foot event venue, restaurant and golf simulator space onto the scene at Emerald Greens Golf Course.“We went big,” said family member Carl Dabruzzi, referring to Emerald Greens Golf Course’s new Wexford room, a 6,000-square-foot event venue space as part of a recent 26,000-square-foot expansion. They hope to attract weddings and corporate events with the expansion. (Courtesy of Kelly Birch)The more than $5 million expansion boasts the Wexford, a 6,000-square-foot space with seating for 400 people. The facility has a south-facing window wall overlooking the golf course, bordered with slide-open door panels to be utilized during the warmer months. The space is surrounde...

Minnesotans can share negative impact of social media at online site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

Minnesotans who have personally seen the negative effects of social media on kids and teens have an opportunity to share their experiences.The office of Attorney General Keith Ellison has launched an online form for sharing personal stories about mental and physical health problems tied to platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.The move comes as Ellison takes part in a multi-state lawsuit alleging Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta use features aimed at addicting children. In October, Ellison announced he would join a coalition of more than 40 other states in the action.“By sharing your stories, you will help us understand the harm these platforms are causing so we can better stop that bad behavior moving forward,” Ellison said in a statement Monday.Social media has come under increased scrutiny from health experts and government officials in recent decades for its addictiveness and potential threat to children’s mental health.In 2021, a group of state attorneys gene...

Future of childcare funding uncertain as Congress considers Biden administration request

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A lapse in federal funding has the childcare industry in freefall according to advocates. Now the Biden administration is asking Congress to pass $16 billion in funding to help childcare providers keep their staff paid and their doors open. Hopkins House is a Virginia child care center that's been educating young kids for decades. But the president of Hopkins House, J. Glenn Hopkins, says right now his industry is in trouble.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "The childcare industry right now is in freefall. And unless something happens we're going to crash," Hopkins said. In October, billions of dollars in federal funding for childcare expired. That forced Hopkins House to raise their tuition. Mom Kayla Obst says child care is already a major expense for her family. If prices increase much further, she fears they could push her out of her job. "To think I'd have to quit working to keep...

5 memorable moments from Trump’s chaotic testimony in NY fraud trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

NEW YORK — The highly anticipated testimony of former President Trump in his New York civil fraud trial Monday heaved chaotically between defending his business practices and decrying those involved in the case as politically motivated “Trump haters.”Months of bubbling tensions between Trump and New York Judge Arthur Engoron reached a boiling point in the courtroom almost as soon as the real estate mogul took the witness stand, with the judge at one point asking Trump’s lawyer to control his client. Trump on numerous occasions used his day in court to attack Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), often drawing the judge’s ire and admonition.Before the trial even began last month, Engoron found Trump, the Trump Organization and other defendants, including some of his adult children, liable for fraud. Engoron ruled that James had proved the crux of her case that claims the Trumps falsely inflated and deflated the value of the business’ assets to receive lower ta...

Stolen car slams into an East St. Louis home, suspect runs off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- A stolen vehicle crashes into an East St. Louis home, and it was all caught on video. The driver ran off, apparently uninjured. The family talks about the horrifying ordeal caught on cameraThe incident happened here in the 3200 block of Ohio. The stolen vehicle crashed into the home, leaving a large holeGloria Campbell is counting her blessings after investigators say a person driving a stolen Kia crashed into her family's home Monday at around 8 a.m. and took off running. Former Missouri teacher speaks out on OnlyFans account, made nearly $1 million The East St. Louis police say the incident is disturbing, and they want the person held accountable. Campbell says this is not the first time something like this has happened.A stolen vehicle crashed into the home a few years ago.An official from the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force says the Kia was stolen from St. Louis. It is unclear when it was stolen.Campbell is glad no one was injured."My neighbors did att...

Lawsuit filed by Jennings mayor against city council tossed out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. -- A lawsuit filed by Jennings' mayor against five of his council members has been tossed out. St. Louis County Judge Mondonna Ghasedi granted the motion to dismiss earlier today.The five city council members had called an emergency meeting in August, but Mayor Gary Johnson claimed it was invalid. The judge ruled it was a properly held quorum.The moments before that emergency meeting got heated with the mayor trying to close city hall and prevent the public from going in.

St. Louis short-term rental owners now need permits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Mayor Tishaura Jones signs a bill regulating short-term rentals like AirBnBs. The Board of Aldermen gave final approval to the measures on Friday.Owners will now need permits to operate short-term rentals. They must also have a contact person available 24 hours a day in case of an emergency. Violators could have their permits revoked and face a $500 fine.The move comes after several problem parties, and even deadly interactions involving teens in downtown rental properties.Jones went on to say that short-term rentals are vital to the revenue and economy of the city and they are welcome in St. Louis.