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House passes measure overturning Biden's student debt forgiveness program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

House Republicans passed a resolution on Wednesday that overturns President Biden’s student debt relief plan that would give up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness to borrowers. In a 218-203 vote, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) succeeded in his measure to terminate the pandemic-era student loan payment pause and cancel the potential relief for 40 million borrowers. The Biden proposal, which is also currently at the mercy of the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, is estimated to cost around $400 billion. Two Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the move.The measure against the program, which the White House has threatened to veto, was brought under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to suspend executive actions taken by the president. This move was only recently put on the table after the Government Accountability Office said Biden’s plan was subject to the act. While a victory for Republicans, it would be an uphill battle to get this measure through th...

Former 'Basketball Wives' star from St. Louis admits multiple frauds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A former cast member on the reality TV shows "Basketball Wives LA" and "Marriage Boot Camp" appeared in St. Louis federal court on Wednesday and admitted committing 15 felonies from several fraud schemes.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Brittish "Cierrah" Williams, 33, pleaded guilty to five counts of misuse of a Social Security number, four counts of bank fraud, three counts of making false statements to the IRS, and three counts of wire fraud. Williams was indicted in September 2021.According to a plea agreement, Williams was under-reporting her income on tax returns from 2017 to 2019 and falsely claimed her niece and nephew as dependents. As a result, she fraudulently avoided paying more than $29,000 in taxes. Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen Williams used Social Security numbers that were not hers to open accounts with banks and credit card companies, and then failed to pay those ...

Tina Turner, 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' whose triumphant career made her world-famous, dies at 83

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ‘70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping "What's Love Got to Do With It," has died at 83.Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, according to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago. Few stars traveled so far — she was born Anna Mae Bullock in a segregated Tennessee hospital and spent her latter years on a 260,000 square foot estate on Lake Zurich — and overcame so much. Physically battered, emotionally devastated and financially ruined by her 20-year relationship with Ike Turner, she became a superstar on her own in her 40s, at a time when most of her peers were on their way down, and remained a top concert draw for years after."How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means...

Missouri ex-House speaker fined $47K for alleged campaign finance violations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A disgraced former Missouri House speaker has been fined $47,000 for allegedly breaking campaign finance laws, according to records released Tuesday.The Missouri Ethics Commission, which handles ethics violations by politicians, said it uncovered the alleged misconduct during an audit of Republican John Diehl's campaign last year.Voters elected Diehl to the state House in 2008 to represent suburban St. Louis, and he briefly served as the powerful House speaker in 2015. He resigned in May 2015 after admitting to sending sexually explicit messages to a House intern.The Ethics Commission found that Diehl opened a bank account in July 2015 where he kept unreported campaign money. The audit discovered that Diehl had roughly $52,000 more in campaign funds than what he had reported. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

MetroLink routes reopen after barge strikes Eads Bridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A barge in the Mississippi River struck Eads Bridge late Wednesday morning, according to MetroLink officials. The collision happened just before the noon hour. Crews spent several hours inspecting the bridge Wednesday for any potential damages. Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen As of 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, inspections are complete and the Metrolink service has reopened. Routes involving the bridge had been on hold for nearly five hours. As routes reopen, there could still be some delays in MetroLink routes throughout Wednesday evening. No injuries have been reported from the situation. It's unclear what led up to the barge striking the bridge.Eads Bridge connects travelers across state lines from Downtown St. Louis to East St. Louis. Operating since the 1870s, the bridge is used for vehicle traffic and trains. This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Missouri AG urges Kansas City police to enforce transgender care restrictions law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Wednesday vowed to take “any legal action necessary” against Kansas City if its police department does not enforce a law banning transgender transition procedures for minors.Bailey, a Republican, said in a letter to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners that the board has a constitutional duty to enforce the law, which was passed by the Missouri Legislature this month. Republican Gov. Mike Parson has not yet signed the bill but is expected to do so. Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen The letter comes after the Kansas City Council on May 11 approved a resolution designating the city as an LGBTQ+ sanctuary city. The resolution said the city will not prosecute or fine any person or organization that seeks, provides, receives or helps someone receive gender-affirming care such as as puberty blockers, hormones or surgery.The city also said if the state passes a law imposing crimina...

Wellston man accused of fentanyl, crack cocaine possession

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A federal grand jury indicted a previously convicted felon from Wellston, Missouri, for allegedly possessing a large amount of fentanyl and crack cocaine.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Devion Gordon, 28, was arrested on May 9 following a joint investigation by the FBI and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.Law enforcement received a warrant to search Gordon's home that day. They discovered a loaded pistol, drug paraphernalia, approximately 965 grams of fentanyl, about 700 grams of crack cocaine, and about $18,000 in cash.Gordon was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.If convicted, Gordon faces a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence on the fentanyl charge. The other charges each carry a mandatory 5-year minimum.

Lightning strikes Wheat Ridge home, causing extensive damage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

Lightning struck a Wheat Ridge home Wednesday afternoon, blowing a hole through the roof and causing other damage in the residence.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Storm system drops 18% of annual average precipitation on Denver Crime and Public Safety | PHOTOS: Spring storm brings rain, hail and flooding to Front Range Crime and Public Safety | 417 flights and counting delayed at Denver International Airport amid stormy weather Crime and Public Safety | Colorado weather: Flood watch in effect, heavy rain with lightning and possible damaging hail Crime and Public Safety | Impressive NE Colorado storm system unleashes hail, tornadoes, heavy rains Lightning hit from afternoon storm damaged house in the 3800 blk. Everett St. in Wheat Ridge. Hole in roof, holes in ceiling, & force blew plugs out of electrical outlet, charring wall. Wiring is compromised, family will have to stay elsewhere until ...

‘Mother Nature has no mercy’: Man gets stuck waist-deep in Alaska mud flats, drowns as tide comes in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

By MARK THIESSEN (Associated Press)ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A man who was walking on tidal mud flats with friends in an Alaska estuary got stuck up to his waist in the quicksand-like silt and drowned as the tide came in before frantic rescuers could extract him, authorities said.Zachary Porter, 20, of Lake Bluff, Illinois, was submerged Sunday evening as the tide came in, and his body was recovered Monday morning, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel told The Associated Press. A member of Porter’s group called 911 when they couldn’t get him out, but it was too late, authorities said.The accident was the latest tragedy at Turnagain Arm, a 48-mile-long (77-kilometer-long) estuary carved out long ago by glaciers that travels southeast from the Anchorage area and parallels a major highway. At low tide, the estuary is known for its dangerous mud flats made of silt created by glacier-pulverized rocks. At least three other people have gotten stuck and drowne...

RTD maintenance to suspend L line, close several central Denver stations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:45:34 GMT

Maintenance on RTD light rails in Downtown Denver on Thursday and Friday will affect two lines and suspend another completely. Several central Denver stations also will be closed amid the project.Crews will repair a section of the rail at the intersection of 17th and Stout streets that is 28 years old. The rail was originally built for the D Line, the oldest operating RTD line, but the tracks now also carry the H Line and the L Line.Because of this work, the intersection of 17th and Stout will be closed both days, and each roadway will have two lanes closed to vehicle traffic.The resulting service disruptions on the D, H and L lines are the latest challenge to light rail commuters: Power line replacements that also impact the D and H lines, among others, are ongoing. The L Line will suspend operations both days. Riders can use bus Route 43 as an alternative.D Line trains will detour to Union Station via Auraria West, Empower Field at Mile High and Ball Arena-Elitch Gardens stations....