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NFL draft: Gophers center John Michael Schmitz picked by Giants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

Gophers center John Michael Schmitz was selected by the New York Giants with the 57th pick in the NFL Draft on Friday.The 6-foot-3, 300-pound sixth-year player  from Floosmoor, Ill., was an All-American selection and finalist for the Rimington Award for the best player at the position in college football.Schmitz is the highest Gophers lineman taken since Brian Williams, who also went to the Giants with the 18th pick in 1989. The Giants sent offensive line coach Bobby Johnson to the U’s Pro Day in March.Schmitz received the highest grade in the nation among centers (92.4) in 2022, per Pro Football Focus, but lost the Rimington Award to Michigan’s Olusegun OluwatimiNFL.com gave Schmitz a grade of 6.41 and the label of “starter within two years.”Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said Schmitz was one of the toughest players he has had.“A kid who plays for his teammates, loves culture, connectivity,” Fleck said at the Gopher Pro dDay in March. “Great locker-room guy. He is just dirty and nas...

Red Wing woman sentenced to 27 years for abandoning newborn in Mississippi River in 2003

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

RED WING, Minn. — A 51-year-old Red Wing woman, the mother of two newborns found dead in the Mississippi River some two decades ago, was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison Friday for the murder of one of the infants.Jennifer Lynn Matter pleaded guilty to felony second-degree murder with intent but not premeditated earlier this year in a plea deal that dismissed a second felony charge, second-degree murder without intent and not premeditated.She was identified as the mother of a newborn boy found dead in Lake Pepin in Frontenac in 2003 and a newborn girl found dead in the Mississippi near Red Wing in 1999.She was charged with murder in May 2022 after investigators used DNA to link her to the children.Authorities announced May 9, 2022, that Jennifer Matter, 50, of Red Wing, Minn., was charged with second-degree murder in the 2003 death of a newborn boy whose body was found in Frontenac on the shore of the Mississippi River. According to court documents, Matter also told investi...

Albany PD swears in 14 new officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department swore in 14 new officers on Friday. A ceremony was held at Albany City Hall to welcome the new recruits to the city and the department.Police Chief Eric Hawkins said the department has about 60 open positions and hopes the new officers will help with ongoing recruitment efforts. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "This will give us an opportunity to get closer to full staff, put more cops on the street, and to really give this police department a chance to connect with our community in an even more impactful way," he said.The new officers will begin training at the Albany Police Academy next week.

Unity House highlights voices of abuse survivors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Unity House in Troy is working to ensure survivors feel supported and heard during Crime Victims Rights Week. The organization, which supports domestic violence survivors, hosted its second annual Survivor Voices Awareness event.The event gives people who have suffered from abuse the chance to talk about their experiences. Organizers said it's important to hear from them to learn how to support them. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "But we're not hearing from the survivors themselves, what their needs are, what they've faced," Unity House of Troy Asst. Dir. Julie Keegan said. "Obviously, the goal of Crime Victims Week this year is to elevate those survivors' voices. But it's important all throughout the year, it's important every year, that we highlight them."Organizers hope other survivors will feel more comfortable coming forward in order to get the help they need.

Big crowds flock to local nurseries for spring planting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - With last weekend’s freeze concerns, many stayed away from the garden. But thankfully, we don’t have any concerns about freezing temperatures this weekend.The crowds at local nurseries are already picking up ahead of this nice weekend.“We pretty much had full parking lot since 10 o’clock this morning. We all embrace being a pinball this time of year," said Ethan Wise, a horticulturist at Greenscape Gardens in Manchester. "You just bounce from person to person, trying to answer as many questions as you can."Wise said you can go full steam ahead with your planting, and hopefully, the cold weather is done, but know that you may have to protect some things if those freezing temperatures return. Trending -- Students and teacher rally around fired Webster Groves teacher Greenscape Gardens is fully stocked, and they continue to get multiple trucks weekly.With the comfortably cool weather in the forecast, they are preparing for a very busy weekend, but do not let t...

Family of skateboarder shot execution-style pleads for gunman to come forward

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police identified the skateboarder murdered at Kiener Plaza in an execution-style shooting Thursday afternoon. Police continue to search for the shooter as the victim's loved ones make an emotional plea for the gunman to come forward. The shooting happened near 7th and Market. The victim is identified as 30-year-old Darrius Mullins. He was a well-known skateboarder in St. Louis.Committeewoman Yolanda Yancie said Mullins was her godson."He had a smile; everybody called him smiley. So he would light up a room wherever he went," she said. "He was always pleasant; he was always fun. That was Darrius; Darrius was free-spirited." Top Story: Three officers hurt, one shot in St. Louis “This has been a very tragic thing that has happened for our family. Darrius life was not tragic, but this incident was tragic," said Pastor Torri Anthony, Mullins' godfather.Investigators said Mullins had been skateboarding and was sitting on a bench, taking a break. The shooter approached him, ...

Baby found dead in South El Monte area; police search for mother

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

Homicide detectives are investigating the death of an infant whose body was discovered in the South El Monte area Friday morning.The incident was reported around 8 a.m. in the 1200 block of Lerma Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.A man fulfilling community service hours was taking out trash when he made the gruesome discovery on the grass in the sprawling Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.Authorities respond to the South El Monte area after an infant was found dead on April 28, 2023. (KTLA) Authorities respond to the South El Monte area after an infant was found dead on April 28, 2023. (KTLA) The age and gender of the infant have not been released. It is also unknown how long he or she had been at the location. Investigators said they were no scratches or cuts on the baby’s body. The cause of death will be determined by the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.Aerial video from Sky5 showed a trash can covered with an umbrella as authorities searc...

Police identify homeless man accused of biting off LAPD officer’s finger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

A man who allegedly bit off a portion of an LAPD officer’s finger during an encounter at a Metro Red Line station Thursday has been identified.Ephraim Okorie, 36, described as being homeless, was booked on suspicion of mayhem, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The incident unfolded around 10:15 a.m. at the subway station in East Hollywood. Homeless man bites off LAPD officer’s finger at Metro subway station Officers assigned to the Red Line were patrolling when they saw a man board the train while in possession of narcotic paraphernalia, police said. The officers approached the man and escorted him off the train.That’s when Okorie “became violent and fought with the officers,” resulting in the officers using force, police said.At some point Okorie allegedly bit a part of a sergeant’s pinky finger, police said.A portion of an Los Angeles police sergeant's pinky finger was bitten off by a homeless man during an arrest at the Metro Red Line subway station on April 27, 20...

L.A. hospital needs help identifying 2 patients

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

Hospital officials in Los Angeles are asking for help identifying two patients whose conditions left them unable to communicate and who have no documentation - including a hit-and-run victim.On March 23, an unidentified Hispanic male was found near McArthur Park and taken to a hospital in downtown L.A., a public relations representative said. A photo released by the hospital shows the unconscious man connected to a breathing tube. He is believed to be 50-60 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs 170 lbs.On March 23, an unidentified Hispanic male was found near McArthur Park and taken to a hospital in downtown L.A., a public relations representative said. April 2023 (ANG Public Relations & Marketing)The second patient, also a Hispanic man, was struck by a vehicle at 6th and Washington Boulevard on Tuesday, March 28, a spokesperson said. He was also taken to a hospital in downtown L.A. He is believed to be 30-40 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighs 150 lbs.The victim was s...

Crews rescuing horses trapped in Palos Verdes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:45 GMT

Crews are working to rescue two horses trapped under heavy brush in Palos Verdes on Friday.The horses are stuck in a ravine near the 27100 block of Sunnyridge Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.Firefighters received calls about the trapped horses around 2:41 p.m. Crews reached their location after about an hour of traveling on foot.Video from Sky5 shows two people monitoring a brown and a black horse standing together with their heads buried under brush as they await further help. The horses are located about 75 feet down a ridgeline with track homes nearby. It’s unknown how the horses became trapped in the first place, officials said.Crews working to rescue two horses trapped under heavy brush in Palos Verdes on April 28, 2023. (KTLA)Crews working to rescue two horses trapped under heavy brush in Palos Verdes on April 28, 2023. (KTLA)Crews working to rescue two horses trapped under heavy brush in Palos Verdes on April 28, 2023. (KTLA)Crews working to rescue t...