Minnesota Supreme Court voids MPCA’s water permits for PolyMet mining project

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Minnesota Supreme Court voids MPCA’s water permits for PolyMet mining project The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the state’s Pollution Control Agency improperly granted permits to a fiercely contested copper-nickel mine and concealed environmental concerns about the project, which critics say threatens to pollute Lake Superior and harm tribal lands.The proposed mining project, a 50-50 joint venture with PolyMet Mining and Teck Resources, was renamed NewRange Copper Nickel in February but is still widely known as PolyMet. It seeks to be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine, but it has long been stalled by court and regulatory setbacks.The Supreme Court’s 6-0 ruling against the MPCA once again derails the long-sought project, directing the state agency to reconsider the permits.Justices found that state regulators not only ignored concerns from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the northeastern Minnesota mine, but attempted to conceal EPA warnings from the public.The MPCA “and the EPA sought to avoid public scrutiny and...

Closer look at Saratoga Springs firearms amendment

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Closer look at Saratoga Springs firearms amendment SARATOGA SPRINGS N.Y. (NEWS10) – Saratoga Springs City Council passed an amendment to its firearms ordinance Tuesday night. However, not everyone is on board with the amendment as it is.The two main highlights make it illegal to possess a firearm while intoxicated in a public space and outlines penalties for each firearm discharge.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! It all stemmed from the November shootout on Broadway, near Caroline Street, that involved an off-duty Vermont deputy.Mayor Ron Kim says the shots fired during that incident were in the double-digits. Under the newly amended ordinance each shot would be subjected to a fine, that would range from $250 to $2,500. At the city council meeting, Department of Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub expressed concerns about enforcing the law. Saratoga Springs passes amendment to firearms ordinance “It is a near impossible exercise unless you want to violate peoples’ civ...

Wave of construction projects at St. Louis Airport

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Wave of construction projects at St. Louis Airport ST. LOUIS – It's being called the flight path for the future at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport. So if you head to the airport anytime soon, don’t forget to pack your patience.Passengers can see flight activity on the runway by looking north from Concourses A and C, and the terminal ticketing levels.Two major construction projects are about to wrap up at St. Louis Airport, and director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge is excited.“You should not be surprised. There is a lot of dirt and a lot of concrete. We hope to have that finished by the end of October, so it's gone really well,” she said. “Great partnership with the contractor.” Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW The work to reconstruct the airport’s most-used runways continues, with work...

Five Weeknight Dishes: Herby orzo with a bright topping

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Five Weeknight Dishes: Herby orzo with a bright topping By Emily Weinstein, The New York TimesIf you only master two cooking fundamentals this summer, let it be these: cooking meat, fish, tofu and vegetables in utterly simple ways and making an easy sauce to go with them. Yewande Komolafe’s steak recipe brings both skills together in one dish, giving you instructions for grilling the meat and blending up a sauce of scallions, garlic, parsley and chiles. Likewise, Ali Slagle’s baked BBQ chicken comes down to properly roasting bone-in chicken leg quarters in a sticky-sweet blanket of barbecue sauce. Melissa Clark’s new orzo recipe leans on golden brown sautéed zucchini and pesto for instantaneous flavor.These recipes and more are below, and there are thousands and thousands more at New York Times Cooking. (Subscribe for full access.) For a few more weeks, text a fruit or vegetable emoji to 361-COOK-NYT (361-266-5698) and get free recipes.1. One-Pan Zucchini-Pesto OrzoKeeping pesto on hand (store-bought or homemade and frozen) is one of the...

Man who escaped federal prison in Colorado is arrested in Florida

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Man who escaped federal prison in Colorado is arrested in Florida A fugitive who escaped from the Englewood Federal Correctional Institute nearly five years ago was arrested Tuesday in a $1.5 million home in Florida.Allen Todd May, 58, was serving a 20-year sentence, after being convicted of mail fraud, when on Dec. 21, 2018, he escaped from the federal prison at 9595 W. Quincy Ave., Littleton.May was arrested Tuesday night by federal and local authorities at a $1.5 million Fort Lauderdale residence within two miles of the Atlantic Ocean, according to a U.S. Marshals Service news release.In September 2022, the marshals service issued a statement offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to May’s capture.An anonymous tipster, on July 25, provided a photo, believed to be of May, published on the website of the Palm Beach Daily News, the release said. The same tipster said May used an alias, Jacob Turner, and they provided a LinkedIn profile that listed “mediation” as a business, something investigators knew about May from hi...

Rockies suffer painful, 11-1 loss to Padres at Coors Field

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Rockies suffer painful, 11-1 loss to Padres at Coors Field As the Rockies take baby steps toward a youth movement, growing pains are to be expected. But their 11-1 loss to the Padres on Wednesday afternoon was agonizing.Playing on their home turf, the Rockies managed just four hits against five San Diego pitchers, struck out 15 times and hit 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.Lefty Kyle Freeland continues to be haunted by a shocking lack of offensive support. Freeland wasn’t great Wednesday, mostly because he served up three home runs, but his lack of run support has been maddening.This season, he’s averaged just 2.95 runs of support per start, the lowest in the majors. Over his last 12 starts, he’s 0-8 with a 2.04 run-support average.That’s not to say that Freeland has been sharp. Over those last 11 starts, he has a 6.28 ERA with 12 homers given up. Wednesday, he was charged with four runs on seven hits, with six strikeouts and one walk over six innings.The game began in ominous fashion for Colorado. Ha-Seong...

Actress Leah Remini files lawsuit against Church of Scientology, leader David Miscavige

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Actress Leah Remini files lawsuit against Church of Scientology, leader David Miscavige Leah Remini has stepped up her years-long battle against the Church of Scientology. The actress filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in a Los Angeles superior court against the church and its current leader, David Miscavige. Remini made the announcement in a statement on Substack."After 17 years of harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation, I am filing a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige," she wrote. The point of the lawsuit is to require the church "and any entity it controls and funds, to cease and desist its alleged practice of harassment, defamation an other unlawful conduct against anyone who Scientology has labeled as an 'enemy.'"She's also seeking compensation for what she claims "Scientology has inflicted on her and her career."Leah Remini arrives at night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)The former "King of Queens" star further explained in her statement that spe...

Small plane crashes at Van Nuys Airport; 2 killed

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

Small plane crashes at Van Nuys Airport; 2 killed A small plane crashed and burst into flames at the Van Nuys Airport Wednesday morning, killing two people aboard the aircraft.The crash was reported at 10:37 a.m., and shortly after responders arrived at the scene in the 16300 block of Waterman Drive, they put out the blaze, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department."Fire crews quickly extinguished the flames, but, sadly, both occupants on board were found to be deceased," the LAFD added.Footage shared to the Citizen app showed a dark plume of smoke rising from the area.Aerial footage captured by Sky5 showed a large amount of fire retardant around the scorched aircraft.Firefighters extinguished a plane fire in Van Nuys on Aug. 2, 2023. (KTLA)The victims have not been identified and the cause of the crash is unknown, but the Federal Aviation Administration said preliminary information indicates the craft was a single-engine CSA SportCruiser.The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.Nancy Fontan contributed...

All National Parks will be free to enter on Friday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

All National Parks will be free to enter on Friday Entrance fees at all of America's national parks will be waived on Friday, in honor of the anniversary of the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act.The Great American Outdoors Act passed in 2020, clearing the way for increased funding, expanded recreation and infrastructure improvements in the National Park system and other public lands.Friday is one of five days this year designated by the National Park Service as a fee-free day. This week's fee-free day is the first since April 22, which celebrated the first day of National Park Week.Entrance to the parks is free, but does not cover amenities inside the park, including camping, boat launches and tours.Bear Gulch Reservoir in Pinnacles National Park. (Getty Images)There are more than 400 park sites that are available to visit every day, including 63 that are officially designated National Parks. Many parks, recreation areas and historical sites are free to enter daily, but many, including most National Parks, charge an entranc...

FBI finds 200 sex trafficking victims, including 59 missing children

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:14:42 GMT

FBI finds 200 sex trafficking victims, including 59 missing children The FBI announced Tuesday it found more than 200 sex trafficking victims and more than 125 suspects during a two-week child exploitation operation in July.During "Operation Cross Country," the FBI also located 59 victims of child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation and 59 missing children. The operation was in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.The FBI teamed with other federal agencies and state and local police to identify or arrest 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking and 68 suspected traffickers.“Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights that preys on the most vulnerable members of our society,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The FBI’s actions against this threat never waver, as we continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated.” Nearly 140 arrested in Southern California child sex abuse raids "About 300,000 children are trafficked every year ac...