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With tight labor market in mind, Walz eliminates college-degree requirement for most state jobs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order this week eliminating the need for applicants for most state government jobs to have a four-year college degree.The executive order dropped the degree requirements for about 75 percent of the government jobs in Minnesota to help the state recruit and retain a “talented and diverse workforce,” wrote Walz, a Democrat.With 38,000 employees serving in 1,800 different job classes, Minnesota is the largest employer in the state, he said.By dropping the requirement for a bachelor’s degree for the majority of state jobs, the governor hopes to encourage more people to apply and help hiring managers find suitable candidates over the next few years. The 2024 and 2025 state budget will require state agencies to recruit and hire more employees in an already tight labor market, he said.The Monday order also calls for ways in which the state can clarify and streamline the application process.One of the barriers to recruiting state...

High school football playoffs: Lakeville North passes through Forest Lake

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

Nursing a 14-7 lead with less than minute to go in the first half at its own 32, Lakeville North was not content.Quarterback Riley Grossman threw back across to Sam Ripplinger for a 23-yard gain into Forest Lake territory, and then rolled left on the ensuing play and fired a tight spiral to Lane Johnson for a 45-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown.It was one of three first-half Lakeville North scores that were at least 39 yards. Five of their six touchdowns in the game were at least that far, including a 57-yard pick-six by Quinn Power midway through the final quarter, his second interception return for a score this season.It all added up to a 42-21 win Friday over Forest Lake in a Class 6A playoff matchup.Up next for the 9-1 Panthers is top-ranked Eden Prairie in a state quarterfinal Nov. 10 at Spring Lake Park High School. The Eagles dominated Eagan 42-14 Friday.“We’re peaking at the right time. (Forest Lake) is a very physical team. We know we have a really good opponent next week; ...

High school football: Alec Mahoney helps Mahtomedi top Cretin-Derham Hall, advance to state

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

Alec Mahoney did a little bit of everything Friday night. As a result, Mahtomedi is headed back to the state tournament.The senior running back/safety rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown and picked off three passes — including one that set up another score — as his team rolled past Cretin-Derham Hall 19-7 in the Class 5A, Section 4 championship game at Mahtomedi’s George Smith Field.“This was definitely my best game of the season,” a smiling Mahoney said afterward. “Probably my career. It was big.”The top-seeded Zephyrs (6-4) advance to face Section 2 champ Chanhassen (which scored a late touchdown to edge Mankato West 37-36 in that section final Friday) in the Class 5A state quarterfinals. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Nov. 11 at Apple Valley High School.Mahtomedi has now advanced to state in six of the past seven seasons there has been a tournament (there was no state tournament in 2020 as a result of COVID-19). The third-seeded Raiders finished their season 5...

Lawmakers want daylight saving time permanent

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Daylight saving time is over on November 5, putting the clocks back an hour and gaining sleep in the fall with standard time. Some state lawmakers are looking to do away with the seasonal time change.According to Kathryn Kosto of the Albany County Historic Association, time was not always tracked as frequently and accurately as today. One train accident in 1853 helped lead to more consistent tracking."Two trains were on the same track running headlong. After that, New Englanders decided they were going to go to a New England-based central time system," stated Kosto. Albany County reveals ARPA awards The historian says economics played a large factor in getting up early. Most jobs and the cost of lighting meant daylight was valuable. "People really did get up with the chickens. Staying up late at night was an expensive luxury due to burning candles and whale oil lamps," described Kosto.In 1966, the Uniform Time Act welcomed daylight saving time and the changi...

Food drive honors fallen St. Louis County officer Blake Snyder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

ALTON, Ill. - Family and friends gathered Friday for a food drive in honor of Blake Snyder, a St. Louis County officer killed in the line of duty seven years ago. Snyder would have turned 41 years old on Nov. 7. The food drive is one of several ways that family members honor his life.  Housing authority scandal rocks East St. Louis; whistleblower faces backlash "Last year, we honored him by giving away ice cream sundaes. Sometimes we do gas giveaways," said Tina Bennett. This year, they're honoring his life through canned goods and cereal boxes. "In memory of Blake's birthday, we wanted to help with the local food pantries and with the Boys and Girls Club because they have a food panty and serve a lot of the homeless," said Peggy Snyder, Blake's mom. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

Red Cross, St. Louis firefighters to install 1,000 smoke alarms for families in need

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The American Red Cross and the St. Louis Fire Department will partner together to install 1,000 free smoke alarms for local families this weekend, as it's almost time to set the clocks back an hour. This effort is part of the American Red Cross's national "Sound the Alarm" campaign. Each time you change the clocks, it's a reminder to also check your smoke alarms. Housing authority scandal rocks East St. Louis; whistleblower faces backlash "If you have a working smoke alarm in your home, your chances of survival are 55 percent greater than not having a working smoke alarm," said Capt. Garon Mosby with the St. Louis Fire Department. This year, the Red Cross has responded to nearly 1,4000 house fires and assisted nearly 4,700 people in Missouri."Fires are one of the most reoccurring disasters in the country, and we've partnered with the Red Cross to go door to door throughout the entire city of St. Louis," said Mosby. "We will check your smoke alarms. If you don't have s...

After slow start, Denver dominates CC to take command in Gold Pan series

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

The Denver Pioneers looked like a team with some rivalry-induced nerves and execution issues in the first period Friday night at Magness Arena.They looked like a national championship contender in the final two periods.A dominant effort in all three phases propelled the Pioneers to a 6-1 win in the first meeting with Colorado College in front of 7,021 fans — a record for hockey at this arena. Denver can lock up a fifth consecutive Gold Pan with a win Saturday night in Colorado Springs.The Pioneers (5-1-1) bombarded Colorado College goalie Kaidan Mbereko with 23 shots on goal in the middle period. After a choppy first 20 minutes that had more post-whistle scrums than scoring chances, the second was a lot of one-way traffic in the Pioneers’ favor.It didn’t get much better in the final period. Denver outshot Colorado College 48-20 for the game, and had 39 of the 52 shots on net in the final 40 minutes.Shai Buium found Denver’s first goal at 4:56 of the second ne...

Denver East football notches first fall playoff win in 15 years thanks to dominant defense, beating Mullen 23-7

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

On Friday at All-City Stadium, Denver East delivered the type of win that can change the fortunes of a city program, beating Mullen 23-7 for the Angels’ first fall playoff victory in 15 years.The Angels’ defense owned the night, with two interceptions that led to 10 points, a pair of fourth-down stops in the redzone and the decisive second-half scoop-and-score that changed the complexion of the game for good.Denver East junior edge rusher DJ Crowe was an unblockable one-man wrecking crew. His dominance, which included five sacks, a bunch of tackles for loss and a safety, set the tone for Denver East’s victory. The Angels won a playoff game during the spring 2020 COVID season, but before that, their last playoff win came in 2008.“People have got to stop sleeping on the inner-city and Denver East football,” DJ Crowe said. “We got a lot of dawgs here, a lot of kids who stayed home and went to Denver East to make this rebuild happen. We went to work, ...

PHOTOS: Colorado State vs. Wyoming in annual Border War game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

Colorado State University took the University of Wyoming in the annual Border War game at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyo. on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Wyoming defeated Colorado State 24 – 13 in the rivalry game and claimed the coveted Bronze Boot.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | CSU Rams vs. Wyoming football: How to watch, storylines and staff predictions College Sports | Welcome to Denver’s Rivalry Weekend: Bronze Boot, Gold Pan, Commander in Chief trophies all up for grabs College Sports | No. 19 Air Force rides second-half surge to win at CSU Rams, 8-0 start to season College Sports | CSU Rams vs. Air Force Falcons football: How to watch, storylines and staff predictions College Sports | CSU Rams vs. UNLV football: How to watch, storylines and staff predictions

El Paso County teen missing since October

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:24:44 GMT

El Paso County investigators are searching for a 17-year-old girl missing since Oct. 13.Nadya Hayes was last seen the evening of Oct. 12 at her home on Jasper Drive wearing a white t-shirt and green pajama pants, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.Related ArticlesColorado News | Missing Falcon teen found safe Colorado News | Missing El Paso County girl found safe Colorado News | Four children missing from Centennial since June found safe in Louisiana Colorado News | 3-year-old boy from Fountain found Colorado News | Missing Indigenous teen girl found safe Nadya spoke to her aunt by phone on Oct. 18 but would not share her location, according to the agency.Nadya Hayes has been missing from her home in El Paso County since Oct. 13. (Courtesy El Paso County Sheriff’s Office)She is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 130 pounds with dark brown hair and brown eyes.Nadya has ties to the ...