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Back-to-school vaccinations encouraged as Minnesota’s immunization rate declines

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

When a child starts a new school year, they’re exposed to a lot of new people and a lot of new germs.That’s one reason why Andrea Singh, a pediatrician at HealthPartners Park Nicollet, said it’s important for kids to be up to date with their immunizations. But according to data from the Minnesota Department of Health, about one in three 6-year-olds are not up to date on their vaccinations, like measles, polio and chickenpox.“As a health care clinician, it’s a scary time,” Singh said. “As we see these immunizations declining, we are fortunate that we live in a generation where we haven’t seen some of these scary illnesses take over. Childhood illnesses take over communities, even COVID. We were lucky because it didn’t hit kids disproportionally.”But with vaccinations declining and distrust of the medical community increasing, Singh thinks there could be a resurgence in illnesses like polio and measles.Those vaccination rates have steadily declined since 2019 in Minn...

‘It didn’t seem real’: Friends reflect on loss of teens in fatal crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. – Twelve hours after a crash took the lives of three Ladue Horton Watkins High School students, mourners staged a vigil just feet from the scene."You never think that it will happen to you or people you know until it does happen," said Nylah Sannold, who had been friends with two of the three victims for years.The crash occurred just after 7:15 a.m. Wednesday in the 1000 block of Groby Road at Mulberry Lane, located near Kaufman Park.Police found a 2016 Hyundai Accent embedded in the side of a vacant home. Corporal Dallas Thompson, Missouri State Highway Patrol, said the three 15-year-olds were found dead inside the vehicle. Only the driver had been wearing a seat belt.Sannold remained in shock Wednesday evening, joining several others in paying tribute to a group she said could fill a room with light. Three teens die after car crashes into a University City home "It didn’t seem real that it happened,” she said. "We lived in the same neighborhood; we rode the ...

Another hidden chamber found under downtown St. Louis sidewalk

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Recent downtown St. Louis construction has exposed an issue one citizen has been trying to raise the alarm about for years. It exposed a hidden room under a public sidewalk, something that’s more common than most people know.The latest discovery is on Olive and Jefferson, in front of the old Sam Light building. A construction crew just uncovered the hidden room.Patrick Welsh, superintendent at Gershenson Construction, said a crewman who’d just been operating a track hoe to break up the old sidewalk made the discovery.“Lo and behold, we got this huge hole that goes all the way out to the curb, which nobody knew about,” Welsh said. “It goes all the way into the basement. It was an old coal shoot, or who knows, it might have been Prohibition stuff.”It brings back a frightening memory for Derrick Langeneckert, who fell into a similar hole in a sidewalk in 2017. Three teens die after car crashes into a University City home “It’s been six years since my accident, almost to t...

Police chiefs address safety concerns for west St. Louis County residents

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Residents in west St. Louis County met with police chiefs from several jurisdictions Wednesday evening during a neighborhood safety briefing.Around 100 people from Ballwin, Chesterfield, Des Peres, Ellisville, Eureka, Manchester, and Wildwood showed up to the meeting to hear a wide range of topics involving drugs, mall safety, and crime stats.“A couple of things we’ve added. We talked about flock license plate readers. Our city invested and now there are five cameras on the mall property and that’s been a big deterrent," said Des Peres Police Chief Eric Hall.Residents also heard more about the first responder shortage happening across the region.“We have the Route 66 Explorer Program between us Ellisville and Manchester. We partnered up together for that,” Ballwin Chief Doug Schaeffler said. “We will take people age 14 through 21 and make them police explorers. Get them involved in law enforcement. They work with us, they do things for us, get them exposed.”P...

Toy Scout scours America to buy, restore old playthings for collectors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – You might want to check those closets and basements for old toys that are not being used anymore; they may be worth money.“I found my G.I. Joe lunchbox at a flea market in Sioux City, Iowa, one time and I didn’t even want to be there,” said Joel Magee, the Toy Scout. “But it took me back to my elementary school and all of those memories. It’s really like a Rolodex file of pictures of memories in your brain. And that’s what it’s about—bringing us to happier times.”Magee scours the country for retro bits of fun, buying toys to restore and sell back to another collector. He’s set up shop in a conference room inside the Holiday Inn Express off Watson Road.But for some, the room might as well be a time machine. Bonne Terre mother nearly loses child to lead poisoning “Unloading some toys that have been in the basement for years and figured to make a few bucks from it,” Charles Rathmell said. “Grandkids are all teenagers now, so I figure I might as well unload it ...

Broomfield man convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to more than 20 years in prison

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

A 24-year-old Broomfield man was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 24 years in prison for the shooting death of 71-year-old Michael Lewis, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced today.Joseph Maestas-Sanchez was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal trespass after he shot Lewis on Aug. 25, 2021 during a string of car break-ins in the 2200 block of Sunridge Circle in Broomfield.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | DA clears Aurora police officers in killing of 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson Crime and Public Safety | Man shot by Colorado Springs police in August dies at hospital Crime and Public Safety | Bennett man charged with attempted murder in park shooting Crime and Public Safety | Woman dies after overnight shooting in north Denver Crime and Public Safety | Fired McAuliffe principal Kurt Dennis sues DPS, alleging di...

High school teacher arrested for sex with underage girl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

A 38-year-old high school teacher from Altadena has been arrested and is facing several charges related to sexual conduct with a 16-year-old girl, authorities announced on Wednesday. Chad Miller, who teaches at Canyon Oaks High School in Monrovia, is accused of meeting the underage victim on a social media app and corresponding with her from April to August of this year, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.  “Miller also met the victim in person and engaged in several illicit acts with her,” authorities said. On Sept. 6, the 38-year-old was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center where he faces charges of contact with a minor with intent to commit sex offenses, sexual penetration of a minor and oral copulation with a minor. His bail was set at $100,000 and is due to appear in court on Sept. 8.  Chad Miller, 38, a teacher at Canyon Oaks H.S. in Monrovia, was arrested on Sept. 6, 2023, for sexual conduct with an und...

Ventura County man faces life in prison for 1993 double murder

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

A Ventura County man was sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of his estranged wife and her boyfriend in 1993.Everardo Meza Alamillo, 54, from Santa Paula, was found guilty by a jury on May 2, 2023, of two first-degree murder counts for victims Adriana Meza, and her boyfriend, Armando Cauich Jr.He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole plus 10 years in prison, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.On Oct. 13, 1993, Alamillo went to visit his 2-year-old daughter at Meza’s home. She allowed the visit because she wanted Alamillo to be a part of their daughter’s life, officials said.Alamillo left and returned to her home later that night. He parked his car nearby while waiting with a loaded .22-caliber rifle. He then entered the home through a back door and walked into Meza’s bedroom.Everardo Meza Alamillo as seen in an undated photo. (Ventura County DA)Everardo Meza Alamillo, 54, was sentenced to life in prison...

Hall of Famer Steve Young has ‘full circle’ moment helping coach his daughters’ girls flag football team at Menlo School

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

ATHERTON — This isn’t the first time Steve Young has coached at Menlo School in Atherton.But it’s definitely the most meaningful.Young is coaching under John Paye, his former teammate with the 49ers, to help start the school’s girls flag football program.It’s a gig that means even more to Young because both of his daughters — senior Summer and freshman Laila — are on the team.“It’s been a little emotional because the game has meant so much to me,” Steve Young said. “It teaches incredible values and a sense of teamwork and togetherness. There’s not many games like it. Football runs America in a way, and in that way, they’re now included. I can see that sense of inclusion being so meaningful.“It really has been emotional for me watching them get the opportunity to play the game. There’s a joy that they have about it.”Girls flag football got approval to become an official California Interscholastic Federation sport in February, and schools around the Bay Area have quickly thrown things...

Sale closed in Pleasanton: $2.4 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:21 GMT

805 Gray Fox Circle – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 800 block of Gray Fox Circle in Pleasanton was sold on July 21, 2023 for $2,440,000, or $859 per square foot. The house, built in 1988, has an interior space of 2,840 square feet. This single-story home boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and three baths. On the exterior, the home features tiles on the roof. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. Additionally, the home features a garage. The property’s backyard also boasts a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:A 4,257-square-foot home on the 800 block of Gray Fox Circle in Pleasanton sold in October 2022, for $3,800,000, a price per square foot of $893. The home has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.On Gray Fox Circle, Pleasanton, in July 2023, a 3,320-square-foot home was sold for $2,950,000, a price per square foot of $889. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bat...