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Police search for more child victims in sex predator case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Webster Groves police are searching for what could be hundreds of child sex abuse victims.It comes after Aaron Pratt, 37, was recently charged with sexually abusing a girl. That investigation led to the discovery of more than 132,000 explicit videos and photos found on electronic devices at Pratt’s home, in the 800 block of Cornell Avenue in Webster Groves.During the investigation, Lt. Jillian McCoy said investigators not only learned of the suspect’s interest in pedophilia but also his grooming techniques.“The main tactic that he used – was with tickling. Also, making that child feel special or indebted to him," she said. "Making the child feel as though they owed him something. And then bribing the child. We saw that quite often, where he would bribe a child. ‘If you do this, I’ll buy you that.’” Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois Webster Groves police are asking parents to recall whether their families have met Pratt through mutual friends,...

Metro adding new security gates at MetroLink stations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. - FOX 2 has the first look at the dramatic changes to every St. Louis area MetroLink stop. Eight to nine months from now, the first four MetroLink stations will have a dramatic security makeover. Ticketed riders will only be allowed through the new, eight-foot-high electronic gates and platform fencing. There will be no more “open” platforms. “You’ll bring your ticket up. The security guard will look at your ticket. If you have valid fare, they’ll use a proxy card to scan you through the gating system,” said Kevin Scott, general manager of security for Bi-State Development. He said most of the stops will eventually have ticketing integrated with the gate system. Riders will be able to get through the gates by swiping their valid tickets or via a phone app.  Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois The Washington Park station and three others in Illinois will be the first to get the security upgrades. Six more stations, ...

Expired tags 'nightmare': Woman gets car back as neighbor's truck gets towed away

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

CALVERTON PARK, Mo. – A Calverton Park mother whose car got towed from her driveway for having expired tags got her car back, but as she retrieved her car, the neighbor's truck got seized.Calverton Park officials say vehicles with expired tags are a safety hazard.Christina Reice watched her new car get towed from her driveway in May because the temporary tags had expired two months ago. She was able to retrieve it last week."I came here to pick up my car and they finally released it," Reice said.When the car originally got seized, she felt like she was losing everything. Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois "I just don't know how they can come into my driveway and take my car," Reice said at the time.Calverton Park Police and Code Enforcement Lt. Sean Gibbons said they sent Reice a letter warning her she's in violation of the city's code because she did not have a current license plate. The city considers it a nuisance violation that affects public health.A...

St. Louis County police engage public on active shooter preparedness 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The Affton High School auditorium was where the Affton Southwest Precinct of the St. Louis County Police Department invited the public to join them in a discussion about being prepared for an active shooter situation.Fire chiefs from the Mehlville and Affton fire departments also joined the discussion.“We have training every year for our officers,” said Lt. Shawn McGuire for the St. Louis County Police Department. “The more we can be prepared for that, the better we’re going to serve our community.” Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois McGuire said being prepared for an active shooting scenario can help individuals stay calm and make swift decisions under pressure. He added there is not a one-size-fits-all approach for how individuals should respond during an active shooter scenario, but says the phrase run, hide, fight is worth remembering.The idea is to run to safety if possible. If running away is not an option, hide somewhere saf...

LSU wins first College World Series title since 2009, beating Florida 18-4 one day after 20-run loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. — A day after it gave up the most runs ever in a College World Series game, LSU cranked up its offense and won its first national title since 2009 with an 18-4 victory over Florida on Monday night in the third and deciding game of the finals.LSU (54-17) staved off elimination three times in bracket play and bounced back from the humiliating 24-4 loss in Game 2 to claim its seventh championship, second to Southern California’s 12.“Right people, right place, right time,” Tigers coach Jay Johnson said. “This is the way it was supposed to go.”The Tigers wiped out an early 2-0 deficit with a six-run second inning against Jac Caglianone (7-4). The runs kept coming until they finished with the most in a title game since USC’s 21-14 win over Arizona State in 1998. The 14-run margin was the largest ever in a final. Their 24 hits were most in a CWS game.“It wasn’t our day, all the way around,” Gators catcher BT Riopelle s...

Connor McDavid wins third NHL MVP, falls one vote short of unanimous selection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

By Jim Diamond, The Associated PressNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Connor McDavid won his third Hart Trophy as NHL MVP on Monday night, falling one vote short of unanimous selection after the highest-scoring season by a player in more than a quarter-century.McDavid also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player as voted by his peers. The Edmonton Oilers’ captain led the league with 64 goals, 89 assists and 153 points. That’s the most points since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.McDavid previously won the Hart in 2017 and 2021 and the Lindsay in 2017, 2018 and 2021. Universally recognized as the best hockey player in the world, McDavid is still searching for his first Stanley Cup title after Edmonton lost in the second round of the playoffs to eventual champion Vegas.One voter out of 196 picked Boston’s David Pastrnak as MVP. The Bruins had a big night at the league’s awards ceremony after setting the record for the most wins and points in a regular season, records made possi...

Barbie's Dream House comes to life ahead of Margot Robbie film; how to book your stay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

"Come on Barbie, let's go party!"A real-life Barbie Dream House in Malibu is sure to turn heads this summer as the highly anticipated film of the beloved Mattel doll premieres in the coming weeks.The multi-story home in Malibu is painted hot pink and decked out with a dance floor, disco ball, water slide and the letters "KEN" floating in the pool.It appears to be the same house Mattel outfitted in 2019 to celebrate Barbie's 60th anniversary. And despite Barbie's reputation for her love of pink, the home apparently belongs to her longtime boyfriend Ken, according to a story posted by Deadline. Barbiecore is coming to home decor. Are you ready for it? Mattel confirmed to Deadline that the home was renovated and will be available for overnight stays as a promotional event ahead of the the new film, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and is set to premiere on July 21.Barbie and Ken's DreamHouse in Malibu is shown in this undated promotional image from Mattel and Airbnb. Two gu...

Single family residence sells for $2.8 million in Los Gatos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

350 Bella Vista Avenue – Google Street ViewA house located in the 300 block of Bella Vista Avenue in Los Gatos has new owners. The 1,842-square-foot property, built in 1930, was sold on June 6, 2023. The $2,750,000 purchase price works out to $1,493 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage, as well as a pool in the backyard and one parking space. The unit sits on a 7,752-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:A 1,962-square-foot home on the 100 block of Whitney Avenue in Los Gatos sold in April 2023, for $2,650,000, a price per square foot of $1,351. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Los Gatos Boulevard, Los Gatos, in May 2023, a 2,122-square-foot home was sold for $3,150,000, a price per square foot of $1,484. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In May 2023, a 1,747-square-foot home on Creekside Village Drive in Los Gatos sold for $2,220,000, a price per square foot of $1,271. The home has 3 bedro...

Letters: Bidirectional EVs | Trump’s grip | ‘Sweetheart deal’ | Jury’s say | Targeting TB | Bad for Starbucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.State shouldn’t forcebidirectional EVsRe: “State should require EVs to power homes, businesses” (Page A6, June 14).Now that state Sen. Nancy Skinner and the politicians in Sacramento have given us about the highest prices in the country for inadequate and unreliable electricity, she wants to jack up the price of EVs to make up for the state’s crummy electric system.She fails to mention the huge cost to modify building wiring to do this, and that an EV can’t power a whole house without draining the EV. This will only make sense for a tiny handful of relatively wealthy people.Rather than politicians dictating how to build EVs, let EV manufacturers decide if there is enough demand to warrant bidirectional charging on every vehicle and if not, then those who want it can pay for the option.And the answer to Skinner’s flimsy excuses for our unreliable grid is to fix the grid, not force people...

Mets fall season-high 8 games under .500 as Wiemer’s 2-run homer gives Brewers 2-1 win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:06 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Buck Showalter’s solution for his struggling New York Mets seems simple enough.“Win,” the manager said. “It’s not complicated.”So far, not much has worked out. The Mets fell a season-worst eight games under .500 after Joey Wiemer hit a go-ahead, two-run homer to straightaway centerfield in the sixth inning that lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-1 victory on Monday night.New York, which won 101 games and shared the NL East title last year in Showalter’s first season, is 35-43 despite entering the season with a major league record $355 million payroll. The Mets have lost seven of nine and are 6-15 since completing a three-game sweep of Philadelphia on June 1 — their most recent series win.“It’s always about now and the heck with what happened last year or or last week or tonight,” Showalter said. “You’ve got to get it fixed.”Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth for the Mets, who trail NL East-leading Atlanta by 16 games and are 8 1/2 games back of...