St. Peters puts brakes on panhandling with new ordinance 

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

St. Peters puts brakes on panhandling with new ordinance  ST. PETERS, Mo. - Some St. Peters residents have raised concerns about what they call an increase in aggressive panhandling. On Thursday, the city’s board of aldermen passed an ordinance taking aim at those concerns.  City attorney John Young said the new ordinance was crafted following feedback from residents. He said, “They were concerned about the safety of pedestrians and motorists.” The new ordinance prohibits a panhandler or solicitor from approaching a vehicle, while in a right-of-way. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick “It’s just intended to make sure that the police department has an enforceable mechanism for making sure people are safe in the intersection and in the city’s right of way,” said Young.  FOX 2 recently reported on a similar ordinance in Chesterfield.  The action led to that city denying a request by the Incarnate Word Knights of Columbus to continue its annual Tootsie Roll drive on several street corners. St. Pete...

Concerns mount over possible Catholic school closures in St. Louis

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Concerns mount over possible Catholic school closures in St. Louis ST. LOUIS - Recent church closures and mergers within the Archdiocese of St. Louis has some parents wondering if we could soon see some Catholic school closures. Just months after finalizing Phase I of its "All Things New" plan, the Archdiocese of St. Louis said they are now looking to meet with catholic schools. The "All Things New" website said more than 80 catholic schools are seeing less than 65% enrollment. It said many factors are being considered as the consultation process with a third of the elementary schools begins. Among those factors include building maintenance, declining enrollment, and the cost of operations. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick "The Archdiocese of St. Louis has said that up to one-third of catholic grade schools could close next year," said former Missouri State Sen. Bob Onder (R-St. Charles County). "That would be 25 out of the 80 grade schools in the area. Of course this would have devastating consequences ...

Well-traveled bear on the run near San Bernardino

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Well-traveled bear on the run near San Bernardino A bear from east Los Angeles County led Fish and Wildlife officials on a chase near San Bernardino, just days after she was captured in Rancho Cucamonga and released into the mountains.The bear was spotted Thursday in a tree at Mary and Darby streets in Muscoy, an area north of San Bernardino. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the female bear is between three and four years old, weighing between 250 and 300 pounds, and was originally from the Sierra Madre area. She was captured Sunday in Rancho Cucamonga and released in the San Gabriel Mountains, officials said.A black bear from east L.A. County showed up in Muscoy on Sept. 28, 2023. (OnScene.TV)The bear has ear tags and Fish and Wildlife plan to put a GPS collar on her if and when they are able to recapture her.Officials said the bear got into the tree because she was scared, and they expect she will come down when it gets dark. Fish and Wildlife officials say they will not be able to use a tranquilizer g...

Dog taken during robbery in North Hollywood returned

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Dog taken during robbery in North Hollywood returned An 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake, was safely returned to its owner on Thursday after it was taken during a robbery on Tuesday in North Hollywood, Los Angeles authorities confirmed.According to police, a victim entered a business in the 11000 block of Burbank Boulevard just after 12:45 a.m. with her dog on a leash and shortly after, two suspects entered the business and, seemingly unprovoked, attacked the victim and used bodily force to steal the dog. North Hollywood robbery detectives located Drake and safely returned him to his owner with the help of multiple tips from the community and additional information from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The suspects have been described as a Black female wearing a black shirt and ripped black jeans with black shoes and a Hispanic man wearing a black and white sweater with blue jeans and white shoes. (LAPD)The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. (LAPD)T...

Ex-boyfriend convicted of murdering Hollywood Hills sex therapist

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Ex-boyfriend convicted of murdering Hollywood Hills sex therapist A man was convicted Thursday of murdering a prominent Hollywood sex therapist by throwing her over a balcony in the Hollywood Hills in 2020.Gareth Pursehouse, 41, was found guilty by a jury of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Amie Harwick, 38, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.On Feb. 15, 2020, Harwick was found below a third-floor balcony at her Hollywood Hills home.Harwick had "expressed fear" about Pursehouse before the fatal attack, police said. She had applied for two orders of protection against him at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times.A longtime friend of the victim, Eric Breslow, told KTLA that Harwick had dated Pursehouse about seven or eight years ago at the time and that Pursehouse had become "obsessed" with her.“This was a constant thing that she talked about,” Breslow said. “That she was afraid of this particular guy and it was always something that kind of followed her. It scared her enough to tell friends that, ‘I think I should get...

L.A. County inspectors check for price gouging at gas stations

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

L.A. County inspectors check for price gouging at gas stations Gas prices in Southern California continue to climb and now Los Angeles County inspectors are checking to make sure that customers are actually receiving what they're paying for at the pump. Gas prices jumped 12 cents overnight and the average price in L.A. County as of Thursday is $6.28. This is the 22nd time in 24 days that the average price for a gallon of gas has risen. Compared to the national average of $3.83 for a gallon of gas, California is paving the way for some of the highest rates to date. Many residents are discouraged and frustrated by the fluctuating gas prices. “Because of the gas prices, I’m actually not going to do my next two stops and I’d rather do calls,” said Long Beach resident Emma Haines. Haines works in sales and drives all over L.A. County. She said she fills up her tank every day with $20, hoping that the high prices will eventually drop. On Thursday, she decided to shorten her route due to the high gas prices. Another Long Beach resident Jeffr...

Nobody Jethro Tulls Like Jethro Tull

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Nobody Jethro Tulls Like Jethro Tull Nobody Jethro Tulls Like Jethro Tull: You might notice that the photo at the top of this story is a publicity shot, rather than a photo from Jethro Tull‘s concert at the Greek Theatre on Wednesday evening. This is because photography was not allowed at the show — not professional photos taken from the front, and not photos or videos taken with a phone (at least, not until the last song). Frontman and sole remaining original member Ian Anderson announced that very thing just before taking to the stage, and then he enforced it throughout the show by pointing out and chastising people who were ignoring the instructions. Honestly, while he has the right to set the rules, it started to feel a bit silly. But hey, Anderson’s gonna Anderson.Jethro Tull is, and has always been, an odd beast. A proggy, folky, unapologetically weird band  that has plowed their own field (almost literally, with the song “Heavy Horses”) since the This Was debut album in 1968. There ...

Oakland man charged with murdering mother in Berkeley Hills stabbing spree

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Oakland man charged with murdering mother in Berkeley Hills stabbing spree BERKELEY HILLS, Calif. (KRON) -- A 36-year-old Oakland man who allegedly carried out a murderous stabbing spree in the Berkeley Hills over the weekend was identified Thursday.Jonah Jeremiah Roper was charged with murder, attempted murder, residential burglary, commercial burglary, and evading police.According to the Oakland Police Department, on September 23, Roper stabbed his mother several times at her home on Overlook Drive in the Berkeley Hills. "When his mother’s fiancée tried to intervene, Roper also attacked him with the knife. The injured fiancée went to a neighbor’s house and tried to hide" the Alameda County District Attorney's Office wrote. Police say Roper then broke into that home, stabbed one of the women who had helped hide the fiancée, stole car keys, sped away in a stolen car. He led police on a chase until he crashed and was apprehended. If convicted on all charges, Roper could face 44 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.

Santa Rosa high school student robbed while walking home from school, believed to be gang-related: police

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

Santa Rosa high school student robbed while walking home from school, believed to be gang-related: police (BCN) -- Police in Santa Rosa are investigating a suspected gang-related robbery after a high school student was mugged while walking home from school on Wednesday. The 15-year-old Montgomery High student was walking in the neighborhood just east of the campus when he was approached by two other juvenile suspects not believed to be associated with the school, according to police. 12-year-old arrested for bringing knife to Santa Rosa middle school The suspects reportedly kicked and assaulted the student, knocking him to the ground before taking his shoes, police said. The suspects fled and were not located. The victim, who sustained minor injuries during the assault, returned home without notifying police or the school. Several anonymous tips, however, alerted police the next morning, saying that several unknown students were planning to come to the campus today with weapons and guns to assault another student. The student who was targeted was reluctant to provide any further inf...

12-year-old arrested for bringing knife to Santa Rosa middle school

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:47:51 GMT

12-year-old arrested for bringing knife to Santa Rosa middle school (KRON) -- A 12-year-old student was arrested for bringing in a knife to Slater Middle School on Thursday, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced on Facebook. Around 11:30 a.m., police responded to a report of the boy being detained for having a switchblade knife on campus. Police: Santa Rosa high school student robbed while walking home from school, believed to be gang-related An investigation revealed the student was involved in an argument with another group of students in a classroom, SRPD said. The altercation ended, but the student was taken to the school's front office. School staff went through the student's belongings and discovered the knife. The student was arrested and later released on a citation to his parents for "possession of a dangerous weapon onto school grounds."No injuries were reported from the incident, according to police. The student's identity was not released because he is a minor. That same morning in Santa Rosa, a Montgomery High School student was ...