Letters: Time for a shake-up. These narcissistic two parties have lost their way

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Letters: Time for a shake-up. These narcissistic two parties have lost their way Time for a shake-upIf there ever was a time for a shake up in our political system it is now.The Republican Party is in complete disarray. First time in modern day history a Speaker of the House is voted out. The former president is under indictment yet leading in the polls.The Democratic Party supports a president who doesn’t seem to comprehend the disaster he created by his open border policy. His reckless pullout of our military in Afghanistan, leaving our elite military equipment to our enemies, was a catastrophe. Worse yet he abandoned our Afghan allies who supported us and are now being slaughtered.What is needed in our country is an American party that brings us back to sensibility and our great potential. Haven’t we seen enough of this two-party narcissistic system who have proven they have lost their way?G. Mertz, St. Paul Choices available to allA Bloomberg News article about a No Labels group mounting a third-party 2024 presidential ticket includes the Jo...

Trick-or-treat and more at the Saratoga Springs Fall Festival!

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Trick-or-treat and more at the Saratoga Springs Fall Festival! SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The annual Fall Festival is returning to downtown Saratoga Springs on October 21. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. with festivities on Caroline Street, extending out on Maple Ave and Putnam Streets. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Visitors are encouraged to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at participating businesses throughout downtown. The Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs will also hold a Pumpkin Roll on Caroline Street. Pumpkins for the activity were donated by Sunnyside Gardens.Other fun activities include face painting, balloon twisters, a petting zoo, and the Great Saratoga Pumpkin Hunt. The scavenger hunt runs from October 13 to 31. Participants will have to search for 10 pumpkins decorated with scenes of historic Saratoga landmarks.The pumpkins will be visible from the outside of participating stores. Scavenger hunt participants are asked to pick up a participation form at Impr...

Ice Castles replaced, more fun coming in Lake George

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Ice Castles replaced, more fun coming in Lake George LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The village of Lake George has had a storied few years for winter attractions. The long-running Lake George Winter Carnival has been joined in recent years by Ice Castles Lake George, as well as the COVID-spurred Lake George Winterfest. One existing attraction is changing its approach, and a new one is being added to the board. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! This winter, Ice Castles is reforming into "Winter Realms," a new spin on winter fun from the 35 million pounds of ice it's built at Charles R. Wood Park for the last two years. Winter Realms is billed as a "Wintertainment Destination," complete with ice skating, fancy lights, igloos, and a sculpture park. Kids can meet Santa Claus in Santa's Village. Meanwhile, Fort William Henry is setting up to host a new attraction up the hill. "Lake George Winter's Dream" was proposed earlier this year as a way to use projections and lights to transform th...

Missouri Capitol dome lights up in blue and white to support Israel

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Missouri Capitol dome lights up in blue and white to support Israel JEFFERSON CITY, Mo – Lieutenant Governor Mike Kohoe has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to be lit blue and white in honor of Israeli and American lives lost in Israel and to show support for the people of Israel as they fight back against Hamas terrorists. From Friday, October 13, at sunset, which is the start of the Jewish Sabbath, until Sunday, October 15, at sunrise, the Capitol dome will shine blue and white. In a joint statement, Governor Parson and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe said they are against the terrorist killings in Israel and stood with the people of Israel:   "The barbarism committed by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists has now claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people and 22 Americans, including one Missourian, in Israel. We mourn these innocent lives lost and pray for all those who have fallen victim to this merciless terror. This brutal, indiscriminate killing of civilian men and women, children, babies, and the elder...

'Adult Witches Night Out' Brings magic to St. Charles

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

'Adult Witches Night Out' Brings magic to St. Charles ST. CHARLES – It was a night of enchantment as the "Adult Witches Night Out" unfolded on October 7th, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. This event was exclusively for witches aged 21 and older. Witches of various traditions, from new age to woodland spirits, and the classic, green-faced witches, all gathered in an array of costumes, vying for prizes awarded to the best-dressed witch. The ticket purchase included discounts at participating shops along Historic Main Street in St. Charles. Additionally, they received a commemorative T-shirt and a swag bag. Guests also had the opportunity for special drink offers at select bars and restaurants, concluding the evening with free entry to the witches' after-party. Furthermore, this enchanting event featured a unique opportunity for attendees to give back and support the Historic Main Street of St. Charles. 

Woman gets maximum sentence in fatal St. Peters DUI crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Woman gets maximum sentence in fatal St. Peters DUI crash ST. PETERS – A woman responsible for a fatal April 2022 wreck has been sentenced. Madeline Christian, 27, has received the recommended maximum 15-year sentence to be served at the Missouri Department of Corrections. Christian pleaded guilty on July 13, 2023, to several charges related to driving under the influence (DUI) and causing the death of another person. Solar eclipse 2023: What it is and will we be able to see it? According to court documents, the accident occurred on April 25, 2022, on Veteran's Memorial Parkway, just east of Spencer Loop South. Christian was driving a 2014 Jeep Compass in the westbound lanes of "when her vehicle drifted across the center line into oncoming traffic." Her Jeep collided with another person's vehicle, killing the driver. Two passengers were also injured. The investigation revealed that Christian had a blood alcohol content of 0.222% and was driving with a revoked driver's license.

Exclusive: Commission to face European court over tobacco law overreach

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Exclusive: Commission to face European court over tobacco law overreach The European Commission faces a major challenge over allegations that it has exceeded its powers by issuing a directive that attempts to make a law, rather than implement one passed by the EU’s co-legislators, the Council and the Parliament. The Irish High Court will refer to the European Court of Justice the Commission’s attempt to restrict the sale of heated tobacco products that offer cigarette smokers the chance to switch to a safer alternative, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.The court case was brought by two companies involved in the sale and marketing of heated tobacco products in Ireland, PJ Carroll & Company and Nicoventures Trading. They challenged the Irish State for transposing into law a directive from the European Commission, on the grounds that the Commission had exceeded the powers delegated to it under Tobacco Products legislation approved by the EU’s law-making bodies, the Council and the Parliament.It is now certain that the Dublin court will refer the cas...

Average delay per flight in the EU soars by over 400% as Europe’s airspace capacity struggles to keep up with demand

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Average delay per flight in the EU soars by over 400% as Europe’s airspace capacity struggles to keep up with demand Brussels, 11 October - The gap between airline demand and the capacity of Europe’s airspace is in danger of never closing as EU member states again failed to provide adequate airspace capacity in 2022. The latest annual report of the Single European Sky’s Performance Review Body (PRB) shows that delays “significantly exceeded the target” and there was a 400% increase in the average delay per flight.The report documents a continued failure of member states to meet agreed performance plans for European airspace. The situation is unlikely to get better any time soon as the PRB repeats a recommendation from last year that member states need to step up and take action now to avoid future capacity gaps. Combined with strong traffic numbers and robust passenger demand, there is a perfect storm that will continue to impact airline operations and needlessly inconvenience millions of passengers. This could easily be avoided if member states used all means available to them to improve systems ...

Man charged after climbing Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Man charged after climbing Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier A man who scaled the famous Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier last week has been charged, officials said Wednesday.Juan Gonzalez, 37, of Garden Grove, faces charges of making criminal threats, resisting arrest, making a false bomb threat and misdemeanor resisting arrest, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.The incident unfolded around 2:35 p.m. Oct. 9 at Pacific Park. Santa Monica Pier evacuated after man scales Ferris wheel Witnesses told police Gonzalez claimed to have a bomb in his backpack.Responding officers found Gonzalez around two-thirds of the way up the Ferris wheel in the steel supports.Police evacuated the Santa Monica Pier after a man scaled the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on Oct. 9, 2023. (KTLA)The wheel had to be stopped while 10 people were still on the ride, police said. The pier was evacuated during the incident.About an hour later, Gonzalez climbed down and was tackled by officers on the ground and he was taken into custody.Gonzalez was not in p...

Price increases force design changes for LACMA, architect tells NYT

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:20:13 GMT

Price increases force design changes for LACMA, architect tells NYT The divisive new building under construction for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art might be a bit different from what was publicized when it was approved a few years ago.Earlier this month, architect Peter Zumthor told the New York Times that construction issues with the project in Mid-Wilshire forced some alterations to his design.One of the larger issues mentioned in the piece relates to the challenges of building on a site adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits. “They had to double [the foundation] in some areas, because this was so soft, the tar in the earth," Zumthor said.LACMA Director Michael Govan told the Times the foundation and other issues have increased the price of the project from about $650 million to $715 million, a 10% increase.With more money going toward the foundation, cuts had to be made, meaning the Wilshire Boulevard-spanning David Geffen Galleries structure "has been simplified and stripped down," as story author and architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne de...