Jury finds Oakdale man guilty in Woodbury grad party shooting that killed Maplewood boy

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Jury finds Oakdale man guilty in Woodbury grad party shooting that killed Maplewood boy A jury on Friday convicted one of two shooters charged in the murder of 14-year-old Demaris Hobbs-Ekdahl, who was shot in a car outside a Woodbury graduation party in 2021 shortly after his stepfather fired his gun.Xavier Le’Drew Hudson, 20, of Oakdale, was found guilty of all 10 charges against him, including aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder and eight counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, in connection with the June 5, 2021, shootout.The jury of nine men and three women deliberated about seven hours Thursday and Friday before reaching the verdict, which followed a nine-day trial. Prosecutors presented forensic evidence that showed Hudson fired a volley of shots, although not the one that struck and killed Hobbs-Ekdahl.Xaivier L. Hudson (Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office)Hudson, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, remains jailed ahead of a sentencing date yet to be determined.“While no outcome can ever fully heal the ...

Royce Lewis lands on injured list with hamstring strain; postseason availability in question

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Royce Lewis lands on injured list with hamstring strain; postseason availability in question Royce Lewis will miss the rest of the regular season. Now, it’s a question of if the rookie’s left hamstring can heal in time for him to be included on the roster for the first round of the postseason.The Twins put Lewis on the injured list on Friday, calling up Jordan Luplow to fill his spot on the roster. While he would be eligible to return during the last weekend of the regular season, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said that won’t be their priority.“We’re not going to focus on that one day. We’re going to focus on how we evaluate it after that,” Falvey said. “I would anticipate him getting treatment all the way through and then get live work and off-the-field work.”As for when they might know if the first round of the postseason — if the standings hold, the Twins would host a wild-card series beginning on Oct. 3 — is realistic, Falvey said it’s possible that they won’t know that until the day before.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a strain, which manager Rocc...

Rainy weekend on tap as Twin Cities descend into ‘extreme drought’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Rainy weekend on tap as Twin Cities descend into ‘extreme drought’ A slow-moving wet-weather system is expected to bring cooler temperatures, much-needed rain and possible thunderstorms to the Twin Cities this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.The expected rainfall Saturday and Sunday would be welcome after this week’s report in the U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that much of the metro area is facing “extreme drought” conditions for the first time this year. The Twin Cities are facing an annual precipitation deficit of 7.65 inches as of Friday.Showers and thunderstorms are likely Saturday, with a low of 55 and a high of 80. On Sunday, rain chances continue into the evening. Temperatures cool, with a low of 50 and a high of 70.The rain is expected to move out of the region by Monday.Although it may be a wet weekend, fall colors are beginning to pop in Minnesota.According to an updated fall color report from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, foliage is changing a bit faster than  last year so don’...

One dead, several hurt after five-vehicle crash in north St. Louis

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

One dead, several hurt after five-vehicle crash in north St. Louis ST. LOUIS - An investigation is underway after five vehicles were involved in a rush-hour crash Friday in north St. Louis. One woman has died and several other people involved in the collision are dealing with injuries. The St. Louis Fire Department is assisting with the crash response. The department reports at least one person was removed from their vehicle via extrication. Two victims from the crash are also in critical condition, two are in serious condition, and three suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the fire department. Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital The crash happened near the intersection of Humboldt Avenue and North Broadway in the North Riverfront neighborhood. Police have blocked off a stretch of Broadway with tape to assist with the situation. Additional details are limited at this time. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Illinois police pursuit nets arrest, sparks review of new no-cash bail system

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Illinois police pursuit nets arrest, sparks review of new no-cash bail system DUPO, Ill. - Multiple investigations are underway after two people led police on a long-standing pursuit that ended Friday morning near Dupo, Illinois. Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX captured the moments the driver of the stolen 2015 Nissan Altima surrendered to police on Friday morning, following a 25-minute police chase from one end of Monroe County to the other. But it didn’t start there. Officers no longer employed in aftermath of inmate escape from Mercy Hospital Police say the pursuit stemmed from a strong-armed robbery of a vehicle in Normandy, Missouri, on Thursday evening. "We've had this individual that you know obviously has committed several violent crimes, including robbery, aggravating fleeing and alluding, and possibly armed violence," said Monroe County Sheriff Neil Rohlfing. After three sets of spike strips, the car kept going for some time. Rattling on its rims, it suddenly lit up like a firework. Around milemarker 11 on Interstate 255 is where the culprits c...

Centers of attention: Avalanche need Ryan Johansen, Ross Colton to fill critical roles behind Nathan MacKinnon

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Centers of attention: Avalanche need Ryan Johansen, Ross Colton to fill critical roles behind Nathan MacKinnon Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best centers in the world, but the entire depth chart behind him could be different this season.For a Colorado Avalanche team with the highest expectations possible, finding the right players to fill those spots could be the difference between another disappointing postseason exit and one that ends with a parade. The Avalanche traded for two players this offseason, Ryan Johansen and Ross Colton, with clear designs to slot them behind MacKinnon as the second- and third-line centers.They are coming from different situations, with different but equally enticing resumes. If they both succeed, it will be a master stroke of roster building by general manager Chris MacFarland. It’s an interesting spot for both, being the guys earmarked to ease arguably the biggest concern on an otherwise loaded roster.“In terms of pressure and stuff like that, I don’t think we want to focus too much on that,” Colton said. “They brought us in to just play our game. I think the...

Video of Elijah McClain’s stop by police shown as Aurora officers stand trial

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Video of Elijah McClain’s stop by police shown as Aurora officers stand trial Elijah McClain is pictured in this undated photograph. (Photo provided by family of Elijah McClain)Elijah McClain’s mother left the courtroom in tears Friday after prosecutors showed video footage of the 23-year-old Black man pinned down by police officers during a fatal 2019 confrontation, which rose to prominence during nationwide protests over racial discrimination and excessive force in policing.Aurora police officer Randy Roedema, 41, and former officer Jason Rosenblatt, 34, are on trial for manslaughter and other felony charges. The episode was captured by police body cameras, and prosecutors are leaning heavily on that footage to convince jurors that excessive force contributed to McClain’s death.On the night he was stopped, McClain was walking home from a convenience store wearing a runner’s mask. The officers were responding to a report of a “sketchy” person in the neighborhood. McClain wore the mask because anemia made him cold, relatives later said.The encounter quickly e...

More than 1 million L.A. County residents living with food insecurity, USC study shows

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

More than 1 million L.A. County residents living with food insecurity, USC study shows More than 1 million residents of Los Angeles County are struggling to stay fed, according to a new study from the University of Southern California.The study from USC Dornsife found that 30% of Los Angeles County residents are faced with food insecurity — up six percentage points from the previous year.That staggering number accounts for more than 1 million households, the study shows.According to Feeding America, food insecurity is defined by the USDA as a "lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."Among the most affected by the lack of food access are low-income residents. In 2022, 37% of low-income L.A. County residents were facing food insecurity; that number is now as high as 44% as of July 2023. Food insecurity is also affecting people of color significantly harder than their white counterparts. The USC study showed that Black and Latino residents were more than twice as likely (38%) to experience food insecurity ...

Video: Man subdued by deputies after approaching LASD vehicle with metal vent 

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Video: Man subdued by deputies after approaching LASD vehicle with metal vent  A man was detained after an altercation with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies in La Puente earlier this week and it was caught on video.The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in a parking lot in the 900 block of North Hacienda Boulevard, Sgt. Barajas told KTLA.Deputies responded to a disturbance in the area when a distraught man holding a metal vent cover approached a deputy inside a sheriff’s vehicle. Video posted on X by LaPuente626sgv shows the deputy opening the driver’s side door as the man approaches and the two get into a scuffle.A man allegedly armed with a metal vent cover approaches a sheriff's vehicle in La Puente on Sept. 20, 2023. (LaPuente626sgv via X) A man who was allegedly armed with a metal vent cover is subdued by deputies in La Puente on Sept. 20, 2023. (LaPuente626sgv, via X)The deputy appears to push the man. That's when several other deputies get involved, pull the man to the ground and start punching him into submission, the video sh...

Man shot by deputies after leading them on pursuit, ramming patrol car, SBSD says

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15:32 GMT

Man shot by deputies after leading them on pursuit, ramming patrol car, SBSD says Deputies shot and injured a man who allegedly led them on a chase and rammed a patrol vehicle in Montclair earlier this week, officials said Friday.The incident unfolded around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, when San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence assault in the 7800 block of Haven Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga.As deputies arrived, the suspect, identified as Dennis Flowers, drove off in a Chevrolet Equinox.Deputies began chasing Flowers, who at one point ditched the Equinox and got into BMW sedan.He kept evading deputies toward Montclair, where deputies discontinued the chase.Flowers was later spotted at a gas station on Central Avenue and San Bernardino Street, and when deputies arrived, he allegedly rammed into a responding patrol vehicle, officials said.At least one deputy fired a gun and Flowers was struck by gunfire.He was taken to a hospital for treatment and was released to the custody of the Montclair Police Department.A probation officer who was wi...