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Conservation group giving Christmas trees a second life

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

Christmas trees from across the region are finding a second life as one conservation group accepted hundreds on Saturday to be used in future projects.“People can upcycle their Christmas tree. They donate it to us and we’ll use it,” says Christine Bowen, Restoration Project Lead with Conservation Halton.It’s a program Conservation Halton runs at their headquarters in Burlington every year. Anyone can drop off their used tree on the first Saturday after the New Year where it will be stored and used as restoration work gets underway in the spring.According to Conservation Halton, each year roughly 1,000 trees are used to help mitigate erosion or to narrow creek beds that have become too wide, shallow and warm.“A lot of our fish species, they need clear water and cool water,” explains Bowen.The trees will be strategically bound together and held to the creek bed with wooden stakes. Over time the trees will collect sediment, both narrowing the creek and providing a new location to...

Protesters calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war block freeway in Seattle for several hours

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked northbound traffic on Interstate 5 in Seattle for several hours Saturday. Additional demonstrators on a nearby overpass cheered in support of the blockade, which began around 1:15 p.m., the Seattle Times reported. The state transportation department said on the social media platform X that traffic at one point was backed up more than 6 miles (9.7 kilometers), and the agency asked drivers to use alternate routes.Demonstrators chanted “Free, free Palestine” and “Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go.”Seattle police posted on social media at 3:40 p.m. that officers gave a dispersal order, though protesters disputed receiving any such orders. Stormy weather, including hail, moved through the area, and protesters left the freeway around 4:45 p.m., according to the Times.Trooper Rick Johnson with the Washington State Patrol said via X that while people had abandoned the freeway, 12 vehicles were left...

Northwest Side residents meet to discuss crime in the 14th District

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Northwest Side residents met on Saturday to discuss how to tackle crime in their neighborhoods.Those who led the meeting say there are two crime statistics in particular greatly impacting neighborhoods in the 14th District and they said it is crucial to get people involved in the conversation.About two dozen people attended the 12 p.m. meeting at the Logan Square branch of the Chicago Public Library, which was hosted by the 14th District Community Committee for Public Safety and Policing Initiatives Investigation underway after man fatally hit by car in Park City "We can't tell the police how to be police, but what we can do is collect community perspective," Adam Burck, Chairman of the 14th District Community Committee for Public Safety and Policing Initiatives, said.Numbers shared in the meeting show that crimes like homicides and shootings are down, but robberies and motor vehicle thefts have skyrocketed around several wards that make up the 14th District.“Motor vehic...

Minnesota wins PWHL home opener thanks to Zumwinkle hat trick

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

Team Minnesota winger Grace Zumwinkle was at Ridder Arena on Friday night in a supporting role, cheering on her former team — and sister Emily — in the Gophers’ win over Connecticut.Saturday afternoon at Xcel Energy Center, she was the star of the show in a record-setting 3-0 victory over Montreal.Before an announced crowd of 13,316, the largest ever for a women’s professional hockey game, Zumwinkle scored all three goals as Minnesota improved to 2-0. Her heroics came just three days after scoring the game-winner in Minnesota’s victory in Boston.The hat trick is the first in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).“I’m kind of at a loss for words right now,” the Excelsior native said. “A huge credit to the state of Minnesota for the huge turnout. It definitely made it a good, professional environment out there.“It’s such a special moment,” she added, “and to be able to have my parents in the stands makes it that much more meaningful.”Zumwinkle sat with her parents at Ridder on...

Thornton Topgolf shooter ambushed victim, fired 12 rounds before killing him, affidavit says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

The Topgolf employee Thornton police allege shot and killed a coworker in the business’s parking lot Dec. 23 clocked out early and waited in the parking lot for an hour before apparently ambushing the victim and firing 12 rounds at him, according to a probable cause affidavit.A witness also told officers Victor Salazar-Guarache, 26, appeared to laugh as he was leaving the scene after shooting Bryce Holden, 22, and shooting at another coworker.Salazar-Guarache is facing a first-degree murder charge and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting in Adams County District Court.Thornton police officers responded at 12:50 a.m. Dec. 23 to the Topgolf at 16011 Grant St. to a call of a man down on the ground after being shot, according to the affidavit, where they found Holden. Holden later died at a hospital.Investigators found both Salazar-Guarache and Holden were dishwashers at Topgolf, and Salazar-Guarache left work early at 11:42 p.m. The kitchen manager told inv...

Senior Biden leaders, Pentagon officials unaware for days that defense secretary was hospitalized

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

By LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior Biden administration leaders, top Pentagon officials and members of Congress were unaware for days that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized since Monday, U.S. officials said Saturday, as questions swirled about his condition and the secrecy surrounding it. The Pentagon did not inform the White House National Security Council or top adviser Jake Sullivan of Austin’s hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, until Thursday, according to two administration officials. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.The Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security cri...

Serial burglar targeting Orange County homes remains at large

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

A serial burglar continuing to target and ransack homes across Orange County remains on the loose.The male suspect has broken into homes in Anaheim and Westminster so far. His image was caught on surveillance cameras during multiple break-ins.On Dec. 22, the suspect entered a home on the 2800 block of East Hampstead Street in Anaheim, police said. He ransacked the home and escaped with several thousands of dollars. Several days later on Dec. 26, he allegedly burglarized a home on the 16000 block of Jenner Street in Westminster at around 9 p.m. On Dec. 29, a Westminster victim, Christopher Tran, said his aunt was resting in her upstairs bedroom that night with her door locked. Suddenly, she heard the doorknob rattling, with someone trying to enter the room.When she opened the door, she expected to find her husband there, but instead, came face-to-face with the suspect.Police are searching for a serial burglar wanted for targeting homes across Orange County in December 2023. (Tran Fam...

Photos: Three Kings Day celebrated in Bay Area, around the world

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

Families throughout the world brought the Christmas season to a close on Saturday, Jan. 6, with celebrations known variously as Three Kings Day (Dia de Los Reyes), Little Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany.In Oakland, at the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park’s annual fiesta, the festivities included live music, traditional holiday cake Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread) and Mexican hot chocolate. Children made and decorated crowns and were also treated to a free toy.In San Jose, the Children’s Discovery Museum held its 25th annual event. Activities for children included making and decorating crowns. A trio took on the role of the three kings, visiting guests and handing out gifts of chocolate coins.In Venezuela, there were traditional go-kart races known as carruchas. In the Bronx, children lined up for gifts of toys and clothing. In Lithuania, people paraded through the streets. And in Hartford, Connecticut, the procession included celebrants dressed as the Three Wise Men...

2 dead, 9 injured in 35-vehicle pile up along I-5 west of Bakersfield

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Two people were killed and nine others were hospitalized after a 35-vehicle pile up Saturday morning on a foggy portion of Interstate 5 west of Bakersfield, Kern County fire officials said. A closure remains in place Saturday afternoon on southbound Interstate 5 between Millux Road and Old River Road, according to Caltrans. Southbound traffic was being diverted to eastbound Highway 223.Emergency responders were called to southbound I-5 near Millux Road for a collision at around 7:30 a.m. Caltrans said the pileup occurred during foggy conditions. Jim Calhoun with the Kern County Fire Department told media visibility was down to about 10 feet when fire crews arrived to the "chaotic" scene.Calhoun said the crash involved 35 vehicles -- 17 passenger vehicles and 18 big rigs. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, nine others were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries.The crash site was spread out about a half mile and fire responders treated th...

San Ramon driver stopped after going over 100 mph on city streets

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

(KRON) -- A driver was cited after speeding on city streets, the San Ramon Police Department announced on social media Saturday. The driver in a white sedan was traveling 103 mph in what appears to be a residential neighborhood. SRPD did not say where the sedan was speeding. No collision or injuries were reported. Moraga murder-suicide victim identified Police warn that "the single biggest factor in collisions is unsafe speed." They remind drivers that a speeding citation can lead to their license being suspended, increased insurance rates or a costly fine.KRON4 reached out to SRPD for more information about the citation. We have not heard back.