New Woodbury-Oakdale bridge over I-94 will open Monday

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

New Woodbury-Oakdale bridge over I-94 will open Monday A new bridge over Interstate 94 built for the METRO Gold Line bus rapid transit project is slated to open next week to vehicles and pedestrians.A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bielenberg Drive Bridge, connecting Woodbury and Oakdale, will be at 11:30 a.m.  Monday at the southern end of the bridge in Woodbury. The new bridge will have dedicated lanes for METRO Gold Line buses that will connect downtown St. Paul and Woodbury with bus rapid transit service in 2025.The 10-mile rapid transit line will run largely along the I-94 corridor and will make 16 stops between St. Paul and Woodbury, including in Maplewood, Landfall and Oakdale.It will be the state’s first bus rapid transit line that travels primarily on bus-only lanes, helping to avoid traffic congestion. The line will not just operate at peak times, but seven days a week with buses every 10 to 15 minutes.According to Metro Transit, the Gold Line also will offer pre-boarding fare payment for faster stops; access to park-and-ride...

Winter market planned at 21 Roots in Grant

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Winter market planned at 21 Roots in Grant Last year’s Winter Market at 21 Roots Farm in Grant was such a success that the nonprofit hobby farm that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is hosting another one the first weekend in December.The Winter Market, held Dec. 2-3, will feature products made by their farm participants. Among the items for sale: handmade soap, balms, lotions, dryer balls (made from alpaca fiber) and honey.Other farm-inspired products such as artwork, ornaments, pins, cards and hats will be on sale, as well as a wide array of donated items specifically made for 21 Roots by their local community, said Amy Peterson, co-founder of 21 Roots.Peterson and Brittany Wiitala started 21 Roots Farm in 2019 to engage people with developmental disabilities in nature- and agriculture-based programming designed to build confidence, life skills and employment opportunities.The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2-3; 21 Roots is located at 10361 110th St. in Grant. Food and drink wi...

Wild’s Freddy Gaudreau blames himself for Ryan Reaves hit that cost him 10 games

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Wild’s Freddy Gaudreau blames himself for Ryan Reaves hit that cost him 10 games The Wild got a big piece back last Sunday when forward Freddy Gaudreau returned from a core injury suffered on a hit from Toronto’s Ryan Reaves way back on Oct. 14.Gaudreau left the game for several minutes before returning to finish a 7-4 victory by the Maple Leafs and stayed in the lineup for four more games before huddling with team trainers.“Well, it’s kind of in our nature to just ignore stuff like that,” Gaudreau said this week. “But then it comes to a point where I’m not really helping anybody because I’m playing in my head — because I don’t really know what’s going on and it doesn’t seem to get better.”After missing 10 games, Gaudreau returned to play 15:04 in the Wild’s 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto in Stockholm, Sweden. His absence was a big hit for a team struggling to get its head above water. Asked Friday what Gaudreau does for his team, coach Dean Evason said, “Well, everything, right?”Gaudreau not only plays in all situations for Minnesota, he “can start left, right or...

Assemblyman Bendett spearheads holiday toy drive

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Assemblyman Bendett spearheads holiday toy drive CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Assemblyman Scott Bendett is spearheading a toy drive to spread holiday cheer this season. Recommended donations are new, unopened, and unwrapped board games, dolls, action figures, sports equipment, art supplies, and more. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “Donating toys to struggling friends, families, and neighbors over the holidays is a great way to give back,” said Bendett. “We want nothing but the best for our children, but unfortunately, the current financial climate our state and country are facing this year makes saving money for Christmas presents that much more difficult. My hope with this drive is to encourage our communities to come together and give from the heart so everyone can wake up to a wonderful Christmas morning.”The toy drive runs from November 27 to December 8. Donations can be dropped off at Assemblyman Bendett's office at: 1580 Columbia Turnpike Building 4, Suite 1AC...

Hamas and Israel carry out first swap of hostages and prisoners as Gaza cease-fire begins

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Hamas and Israel carry out first swap of hostages and prisoners as Gaza cease-fire begins RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages it held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire that offered a small glimmer of relief to both sides.Israel — wrenched by the abduction of nearly 240 people in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war — cheered as 13 Israeli women and children emerged free from Gaza. Most were in their 70s or 80s, and the youngest was a 2-year-old. Also released were 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines.In Gaza, the truce’s start Friday morning brought the first quiet for 2.3 million Palestinians reeling and desperate from relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and leveled residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.Increased supplies of food, water, medicine and fuel promised under the deal began to roll into Gaza, whe...

CU Buffs eyeing future, but aiming to finish on high note

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

CU Buffs eyeing future, but aiming to finish on high note BOULDER,CO October 13:Colorado’s Deion Sanders comes out for the Stanford game during the Pac-12 football game with Stanford and Colorado on October 13, 2023. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)Game at a GlanceMatchup: Colorado Buffaloes at Utah UtesKickoff:  1 p.m. MTWhere: Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake CityCapacity: 51,444. Playing surface: FieldTurf.TV: Pac-12 NetworkRadio: KOA (850 AM)Odds: Utah by 20.5Series: Utah leads 34-32-3It would be easy for the Colorado football team to shut down mentally this week.At 4-7, the Buffaloes can’t finish with a winning record and won’t be playing in a bowl game. They’re also riding a five-game losing streak as they head into Saturday’s finale at Utah.Oh, and they might be without their most important player, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is hurting and may not play in Salt Lake City.Related Articles Mines football opens Division II playoffs eyeing another run to the national championship game: “We have an extra ch...

L.A. teen seeking treatment for disease that causes constant excruciating pain

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

L.A. teen seeking treatment for disease that causes constant excruciating pain A simple injury playing sports has derailed the life of Michael Lopez, activating a debilitating condition that has filled his everyday life with excruciating pain.Michael was in the eighth grade and playing football when he injured his knee, which triggered this disease.It’s a rare disease that affects 200,000 people each year, and there is no cure, but there is treatment; however, that’s expensive.“So my son has CRPS, that’s complex regional pain syndrome, and basically the brain is looping and sending pain signals throughout my son's body continuously,” said Michael's dad, Michael Lopez Jr.Over the last 14 months, the Lopez family has experienced intense pain. Michael, suffering from the debilitating illness, faces both emotional exhaustion and severe physical pain to the point where he cannot be touched or hugged.“We’ve gone through times where his spine feels like it’s been ripped out of his back. We’ve lost many days of him crying in pain and saying things that a parent doesn’...

Monrovia family barely avoids unwanted Thanksgiving guest 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Monrovia family barely avoids unwanted Thanksgiving guest  Some residents of SoCal's foothill communities love the bears that roam the area, but not enough to allow them in their house. But for one Monrovia family, a four-legged guest nearly crashed their Thanksgiving Day gathering. Even better, the whole incident was caught on camera.Video shows the bear casually strolling around the home's backyard on Thursday before strolling all the way up to the home's sliding glass doors, almost as if it was invited in for Thanksgiving dinner. Why plumbers call it ‘Brown Friday,’ and it’s not why you think A man quickly shut the door before the bear could join in on the feast, and it then trudged away upon realizing that it was not on the guest list. A family managed to capture video of a bear casually strolling around their backyard on Thanksgiving Day in Monrovia, CA. A family managed to capture video of a bear casually strolling around their backyard on Thanksgiving Day in Monrovia, CA. A family managed to capture video of a bear casual...

Man's body found in water in Hermosa Beach 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Man's body found in water in Hermosa Beach  Authorities are investigating after a body was found in the water off the Strand in Hermosa Beach on Friday morning. According to the Hermosa Beach Police Department, officers responded to the 2200 block of the waterline around 7 a.m.Upon arriving, they located the body of a man in the water and recovered it. He had suffered a gunshot wound, HBPD said.Authorities investigating a body found in the water near Hermosa Beach on Nov. 24, 2023. (South Bay Responders)The victim's identity has not been released. Woman dead after vehicle crashes into lake in Orange County Police are asking the public to keep clear of the immediate area until further notice.Luis Zuñiga contributed to this report.

Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce begins with swap of hostages and prisoners; more expected Saturday

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:57:15 GMT

Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce begins with swap of hostages and prisoners; more expected Saturday A four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began Friday in Gaza as part of an agreement that Qatar helped broker. Twenty-four hostages were freed, including 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, Qatar said. Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners later in the day.With the truce deal comes increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza — though still only enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, according to aid groups. Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of fuel a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian needs for the duration of the truce. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a dayslong pause in its casualty report, which it attributed to the health system's collapse in northern Gaza making it impossible to provide a detailed count.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...