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'She’s looking down from heaven, smiling' - Family reflects on national honor for CVPA teacher killed in school shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Joe Kuczka calls his mother, Jean, a hero. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society agrees with him.The prestigious organization has posthumously recognized Jean Kuczka as the recipient of the 2023 Citizen Hero Award.Jean, 61, was a beloved teacher at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in south St. Louis. She earned national attention when it was learned that she selflessly shielded her students from a gunman on the morning of October 24, 2022. Jean and a student, Alexzandria Bell, were killed.The Kuczka family just returned from Washington, DC for the special awards program. Joe said he was taken aback by the praise for his mother’s actions. Top Stories: City of St. Louis suing Hyundai, Kia over surge in car thefts “We were sitting at a table with two Medal of Honor recipients,” he said. “And they said they were honored to be here for us, and humbled by what my mom did, and called her a hero. And I was at a loss for words. To have these two men, describe m...

FBI Internet Crime report highlights Missouri and Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new report out from the FBI shows Americans lost more than $10 billion to cyber criminals in 2022.“At the end of the day, all fraud boils down to this: it’s a lie to steal your money,” said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Springfield, Illinois Office.Nanz says fraud schemes are constantly evolving.“The fraud perpetrators are just growing their schemes,” he said. Top Stories: City of St. Louis suing Hyundai, Kia over surge in car thefts According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, Illinois had the fifth-most victims per state. Business Email Compromise scams, which target businesses and individuals performing transfers of funds, topped the list, with $83.3 million lost. Investment fraud losses totaled more than $75.6 million, and tech support scams accounted for $31.4 million lost.Missouri was the 22nd most victimized state, losing $49.1 million to BEC scams, $29.2 million to investment fraud, and $11.4 million in tech support scams.“...

Parkway school board candidates share why they want to fill 3 seats in April

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Seven candidates running for Parkway School District board positions shared their platforms and stances on the top issues facing the district at a public forum Monday night at the school’s welcome center.The League of Women Voters of St. Louis hosted a candidate forum so voters could get a better understanding of who they want to fill three board positions that are expiring on the April 4 election."We are going to have to be innovative in our thinking and how we educate our children," said Tiffany Mapp Franklin, a board member for the Parkway School District.The seven candidates, three of which are current board members, voiced their strategies for success."We are still in the top 10 to 20 percent in the state of Missouri, some of our scores," said Deborah A. Hopper, a board member for the Parkway School District. "But there are still work that needs to be done, could be done better." Top Stories: City of St. Louis suing Hyundai, Kia over surge in car theft...

Nikola Jokic bolsters MVP case with triple-double as Nuggets beat 76ers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

If the Nuggets wanted to stage their own dunk contest, at least half of the finishes from Monday night would qualify.On a Philadelphia defense that was missing its anchor, Joel Embiid, due to injury, the Nuggets hammered the rim and battered the scoreboard, knocking off the Sixers, 116-111, for their fourth win in a row.Jeff Green, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, Bruce Brown and Christian Braun were all among the assailants who floated through the air and pummeled the rim. Only part of the luster waned when Denver, up 20 points a few minutes into the fourth quarter, nearly squandered the lead with turnovers and poor shot selection down the stretch. What should’ve been a calm fourth quarter turned into a tense, ugly affair once the Sixers drew to within three points.While James Harden sat with injury, too — the Nuggets picked apart Philadelphia’s defense with 34 assists. Though he didn’t partake in the aerial acrobatics like the rest of his teammates, Nikola Jokic was at the heart ...

March Madness: South Carolina favored going into Final Four

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

By The Associated PressMarch Madness is down to the Women’s Final Four. Defending champion South Carolina remains on track to repeat and completing the 10th undefeated season in the women’s game after its 86-75 win over Maryland. Virginia Tech became the second top seed to make it to Dallas with its 84-74 victory over Ohio State to round out the regional finals. With the Hokies advancing, it is the seventh time in the last 10 years there will be a first-time participant in the Final Four. LSU and Iowa won on Sunday to break long droughts. Here is what to know:GAMES TO WATCHNo. 3 LSU (33-2) vs. No. 1 Virginia Tech (31-4), Friday, 7 p.m. EDT, ESPNLSU has completed its rapid rise with Kim Mulkey, reaching the Final Four in its second season under the former Baylor coach. The Tigers are in the Final Four for the first time in 15 years after beating Miami 54-42. The Hokies have won 15 straight games and are in the Final Four for the first time in school history. Elizabeth Kit...

Body-worn footage shows fatal police shooting in Orange County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

On Monday, authorities with the Fullerton Police Department released officer-worn camera footage of a fatal shooting of an unarmed suspect that occurred last month.  The deadly incident unfolded on Feb. 10, just after 1 a.m. when officers spotted a vehicle in the area of Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue that police say was wanted in connection with an armed robbery out of San Bernardino County.  When authorities attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the suspect, identified as Austin Heiselman, led officers on a pursuit through Fullerton and La Habra, according to a news release from Fullerton PD.  During the pursuit, police said the suspect waved a handgun out of the window.  At the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Imperial Avenue, in La Habra, the suspect ran a red light at a high rate of speed and struck another vehicle, causing his car to flip and catch on fire. Police say Heiselman then exited his overturned vehicle and fled the scene on foot, running into a ...

Sergio Romo bids farewell to SF Giants fans with one final outing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO – Sergio Romo gave the ball to Hunter Pence, got a hug from his former San Francisco Giants teammate, then slowly walked off the mound.Romo — as was his custom for 15 MLB seasons — didn’t step on the third base line as he left. And before he entered the Giants dugout, he removed his cap and saluted the adoring crowd of over 30,000 at Oracle Park.Then, one final curtain call, as Romo removed his cap to yet another standing ovation.Romo’s final game appearance in a Giants uniform Monday wasn’t the stuff of legend. He walked Conner Capel, allowed a single to Ryan Noda, and another single to Carlos Perez, before he was removed.But that was hardly the point of his appearance Monday, as the organization simply wanted to give fans a chance to say goodbye to Romo — and give him a chance to do the same.A moment that will never be forgotten pic.twitter.com/fOggzTofLH— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) March 28, 2023Romo received a standin...

Student cited for bringing weapon to Palo Alto school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

PALO ALTO – Police last week cited a 15-year-old girl for bringing a weapon to Palo Alto High School.On Friday, school administrators reported that a student had posted pictures of her holding a handgun on Instagram and possibly brought the weapon onto the campus in the past, according to the Palo Alto Police Department.An investigation confirmed that the teen had uploaded two images, one of them in December 2022, police said in a statement Monday, adding that both pictures were later deleted.Based on interviews with the student and others, investigators concluded that the weapon may have been an Airsoft gun that belonged to a relative and that the images may have been digitally altered to remove the orange tip or that the tip was removed, police said.Police said they also received information that the teen had brought the weapon onto the campus about two months ago and let a classmate hold it while in a restroom.Officers cited the student for possession of a weapon at a school and ...

The 10 most expensive homes that reported sold in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton the week of March 20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

A house in Pleasanton that sold for $3.9 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton in the past week.In total, 20 real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.8 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $740.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of March 20 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.4 million, single-family home in the 300 block of Abbie StreetThe 2,147 square-foot detached house in the 300 block of Abbie Street, Pleasanton, has now been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in February and the total purchase price was $1,375,000, $640 per square foot. The house was built in 1944. The house features 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.Abbie Street9. $1.4 million, detached house in the 4700 block of Black AvenueThe property in the 4700 block of Black Avenue in Pleasanton has ...

Booker, bench lead Suns past skidding Jazz as Ayton returns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:00 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Booker scored 24 points and Phoenix reserves sparked the decisive run for the Suns in a 117-103 win over the fading Utah Jazz on Monday night.Deandre Ayton had 14 points after missing four games with a bruised hip. But a trio off the bench was pivotal for Phoenix: Terrence Ross had 13 points, Cameron Payne added 12 and Bismack Biyombo scored 11.The Suns (40-35) had lost four in a row on the road. But with this victory they sit more securely in the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race — which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for Utah but shot 6 for 22. Walker Kessler had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz (35-40), who have lost four straight. Kessler also matched a career high with seven blocks.To get the still-injured Kevin Durant in a midseason trade, the Suns sacrificed some of their depth and have struggled at times, especially on defense, when their starters sit. But this ga...