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Finding solutions for unregulated short-term rental market in St. Louis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis is facing a population crisis, becoming one of the fastest-shrinking cities in America. There's growing agreement among city officials that short-term rentals are making it worse.They say there are now more than 4,000 unregulated short-term rental units in the city.But the fight to reach a solution is getting heated. Issues like chaotic fighting, reckless driving, gunfire, and more tied to parties at short-term rentals in downtown condos and apartments came to light during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have persisted and spread.With the lack of regulation, it isn’t just a downtown problem anymore. Right now, anyone can buy a house anywhere in the city and start renting it short-term.Business interests drawn by the lack of regulation are buying up properties for short-term rentals, according to city officials, sparking a shortage in affordable housing and adding to the population drain.“Out of 798 municipalities in the United States with 50,000 people or more, we ...

Lifelong residents reflect on downfall of Jamestown Mall as demolition begins

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Teardown of the Jamestown Mall started in earnest on Tuesday. The shopping center sat vacant for nearly a decade as local leaders sought to find a new use for the property and, eventually, funding for its demolition.For those who live just down the street, it’s something they’ve long anticipated."Cars parading around, driving around, everybody wants to see what’s going on,” Mike Wyrozynski said. “The locals are concerned on what's going on."Wyrozynski has lived across the street nearly his whole life. Over the last decade, he’s watched the Jamestown Mall in north St. Louis County deteriorate. But Tuesday brought new excitement on the future of the property. Centene to cut 3% of workforce; St. Louis impact unknown Another lifelong resident, Damian Simpson, has had to deal with the sights of busted out windows and a rundown building since 2014."I have lived here most of my life," he said. "They built it so many years ago. And it was a big thing back then.”The...

Keeler: Where’s Cormani McClain? Stuck in Deion Sanders’ doghouse. There’s only one way out. “It’s time to grow up.”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

BOULDER — Deion Sanders dunked on Cormani McClain so hard, Samari Rolle flinched. In Florida.“I know what’s going on. And having been around Cormani, I think he’s got all types of God-given ability.” Rolle, the former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback and McClain mentor told me Tuesday, cutting straight to the chase. “And I think it can be frustrating when you’re coaching him, and he’s not putting it all together.”Four weeks in, CU Buffs fans are frustrated. McClain, presumably, feels frustrated. Coach Prime? Sanders passed “frustrated” about five exits ago.After McClain’s cameo — three snaps, two tackles — against Oregon late last Saturday afternoon, I asked Prime Tuesday if his young cornerback, with a bunch of bad, fast dudes coming to town this weekend when CU hosts No. 8 USC, had finally turned a corner himself.I mean, did you see the tire tracks Brenden Rice rolled up on the backs of Arizona State’s D la...

3 L.A. County residents stole over $2.5 million in Target gift cards

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

Three L.A. County residents were found guilty of laundering over $2.5 million in Target gift cards.The trio was identified as:- Blade Bai, 35, of El Monte- Bowen Hu, 28, of Hacienda Heights- Tairan Shi, 29, of Diamond BarAfter a 10-day trial, all three were found guilty Tuesday of scamming victims into buying gift cards under the false pretense of resolving various financial problems, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.Between June 2019 and Nov. 2020, prosecutors estimate over $2.5 million worth of gift cards were laundered.The scheme involved overseas scammers calling victims and persuading them to buy one or more Target gift cards to rectify nonexistent issues.Some victims received calls from the suspects posing as law enforcement officers or government employees claiming the victims’ identities had been stolen or warrants were issued for their arrest. Others were sent fake tech support emails claiming issues with the victims’ financial accounts. In order to resolve these pro...

Oakland A’s lose franchise-record 109th game of season, but Esteury Ruiz’s pursuit of stolen base mark on the horizon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — The A’s set an Oakland franchise record on Tuesday night by losing their 109th game of the season, but with five games remaining there’s still one record chase that can help the team head into the winter on a positive note.Outfielder Esteury Ruiz is on the brink of tying Kenny Lofton’s American League single-season record for stolen bases by a rookie.Ruiz remained at 65 stolen bases after grounding into a double play, striking out and fouling out in the A’s 11-3 loss to the Twins on a rainy night at Target Field.The entire A’s offense had a rough night against Twins starter Bailey Ober and three relievers. Former Twin Brent Rooker and Nick Allen had two hits each for the A’s, who were held to eight hits and struck out 15 times. Every A’s starter except Allen struck out as the A’s fell to 22-54 on the road and 48-109 overall. They entered the game tied with the 1979 team for the most losses in a season since the franchise ...

Millbrae man convicted of helping 'Boogaloo' murder officer in Oakland

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

(KRON) -- A Millbrae man who had a "bloodlust for police" and joined a right-wing extremist group known as "Boogaloo" is facing a life prison sentence, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. A jury convicted Robert Alvin Justus, Jr., 33, of aiding and abetting the murder of Protective Services Officer Dave Patrick Underwood during a drive-by shooting in Oakland. Underwood was murdered on May 29, 2020 while he was guarding the Ronald V. Dellums U.S. Courthouse.The verdict follows a two-week trial before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.The evidence at trial established that Justus was the driver of the vehicle from which Steven Carrillo, 35, of Santa Cruz, fired the gunshots that killed Underwood and wounded a second officer.The trial evidence demonstrated that Justus parked a white Ford Econoline van directly across the street from the federal courthouse on Jefferson Street. Officer Underwood and his partner that evening stood guard to protect the building. The passenger-side sliding door op...

Driver dies after crashing into tomato harvester east of Gilroy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

(BCN) -- A 78-year-old Santa Clara man died Tuesday morning after the car he was driving collided with a tomato harvester that was trying to cross state Highway 152 east of Gilroy, according to the California Highway Patrol. The man, whose name wasn't released, was driving east in a 2021 Toyota RAV4 east of Canada Road at about 7:30 a.m. when he collided with the front of the harvester and then came to a stop in a nearby field, according to the CHP. Alameda Sheriff’s Office confirms report of kidnapping is unfounded A good Samaritan stopped to help and call 911 but the man was declared dead at the scene after emergency medical personnel arrived.His passenger, a 76-year-old Santa Clara woman, was taken to Natividad Medical Center with major injuries, CHP officials said. The 22-year-old Coalinga man driving the harvester wasn't hurt in the crash. No arrests were made and CHP officials said it didn't appear as if drug or alcohol impairment were factors in the collision.Copyright © 20...

An Abe Lincoln photo made during his 1858 ascendancy has been donated to his museum in Springfield

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — During his momentous U.S. Senate campaign against Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln sat for a photograph after politicking in western Illinois and presented one of the copies to a man severely injured while testing a cannon for Lincoln’s campaign rally. As a small measure of compassion, Lincoln presented one version of the image to the injured man, Charles Lame, who overcame a deadly infection in an arm torn up by the blast with the help of flesh-eating maggots. The tale provides an unlikely, ghastly background to the original 1858 ambrotype created during the future nation-saving Civil War president’s ascendancy, an image which the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has added to its collection, officials said Tuesday. “Original images of Abraham Lincoln are extraordinarily rare, and images with a fascinating back story like this are even more rare,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the library and museum. “Lincoln...

Kyle Bradish goes 8 innings and Gunnar Henderson homers to lead Orioles past Nationals 1-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Gunnar Henderson homered, Kyle Bradish had another dominant start and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Washington Nationals 1-0 on Tuesday night, hours after the team announced that Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson died.“I think a lot of guys tonight played with a heavy heart,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s an icon in this game and an icon in this city. There’s not many of those.”Entering the night, Baltimore held a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the AL East. The Orioles have five games remaining and hold the tiebreaker over the Rays.Bradish (12-7) allowed three hits, struck out four batters and had a pair of walks over a season-high eight innings. He has thrown at least six inning innings in his last eight starts and is 6-1 since Aug. 1.Washington was shut out by Baltimore for the third consecutive time this season.“I felt good,” Bradish said. “Being able to complete that eighth was big. The bullpen is beat up. ...

Philadelphia Phillies clinch NL wild-card berth, head to postseason for second straight year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The National League champion Philadelphia Phillies clinched a wild-card berth, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday night on Johan Rojas’ RBI single that set off a wild celebration in the outfield.Rojas’ single off Pirates reliever David Bednar (3-3) scored pinch-runner Cristian Pache and sent the crowd of more than 30,000 fans into a frenzy. “Phillies CLINCHED Wild Card” flashed on the scoreboard and the Phillies mobbed each other in celebration.Jeff Hoffman (5-2) tossed a scoreless 10th for the win.The Phillies were set for another wild clubhouse bash after clinching series victories in the NL Division Series and NLCS at home last season. They lost the World Series to Houston in six games last year and carried the weight of unfinished business into this year.Step 1, complete.Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds hit a solo shot in the seventh and Henry Davis hit one off All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel that tied the game at 2 in the eighth...