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Was a 'skunk-squirrel' spotted in Ohio?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

OLMSTED TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) — Sightings of a "rare" white or black squirrel are becoming more and more common. But in Northeast Ohio, an even more unusual variant was spotted. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! (WJW)The picture of a black squirrel with a white-tipped tail was shared by Olmsted Township resident Larry Pecsok. A Google search reveals that people captivated by the unique combination of black and white have cleverly dubbed the animals "squnks."Although not a technical term, it describes the unusually-colored squirrel pretty well. It's not possible for genetically dissimilar skunks and squirrels to breed, but many still call the critters squnks when they're spotted. Invasion of a white squirrel scurry Based on research, the squnk is likely descended from the pairing of an eastern gray squirrel and a fox squirrel. As Smithsonian Magazine explains, these "black" squirrels have gene variants passed from fox to gray th...

Woman charged with shooting coworker at Family Dollar

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A woman was charged Wednesday for allegedly shooting a coworker at their job following an argument.According to Sgt. Charles Wall, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting took place just before 4:10 p.m. at the Family Dollar on North Florissant Avenue near St. Louis Avenue, in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.The victim, a 30-year-old woman, suffered a gunshot wound to her face. She was rushed to the hospital and remains listed in critical condition.Police later identified Myah Blankinship as the shooter, Wall said. Blankinship surrendered to police at the Central Patrol Division.The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Blankinship, 22, with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She remains in custody. Bond information is unavailable.

Missouri adds the Hawken Rifle as a state symbol

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A new addition was made to Missouri's state symbols in August, the Hawken Rifle. This rifle has its origins in St. Louis, thanks to Jacob Hawken, who initially began his journey in Virginia in 1808 before eventually settling in St. Louis in 1825.Missouri officially designated the Hawken Rifle as its state rifle in 2023 through SB139. This recognition came after combining two separate bills (HB224 and HB530) into SB139, which was approved on July 6 and went into effect in August 2023.According to the NRA blog post, Hawken's career started in the East. He worked as an armorer at Harpers Ferry National Armory, part of Virginia, where records show that he was employed there until February 1818. Adam Wainwright says he has thrown his final pitch After leaving Hawken found himself in New Madrid, Missouri by 1818 and eventually established a shop in St. Louis by 1825. He founded the shop with his brother, Samuel Hawken. They initially crafted flintlock guns but tra...

No decisions Wednesday as Missouri Supreme Court weighs three cases

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A busy Wednesday leads the Missouri Supreme Court to hearing arguments on three cases, including one pushing to overturn a St. Louis police "bill of rights law." After several hours of hearings, the Missouri Supreme Court did not issue a ruling on any of the cases heard Wednesday. It could potentially take months before a decision is reached. Here's a closer look at what transpired on Wednesday: St. Louis police 'bill of rights'St. Louis City has filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri, claiming a bill passed in 2021 means that city police officers are given written notice if they’re being investigated for misconduct. City officials claim that providing advance notice could jeopardize an investigation.On Wednesday, lawyers argued that the process "illegally imposes new duties and expenses on local governments," according to the Missouri Independent. In addition to the city, one individual plaintiff (Deputy Director of Public Safety Heather Taylor) is list...

Meteorologist Haley Fitzpatrick returns to her hometown, St. Louis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Meteorologist Haley Fitzpatrick returns to the St. Louis area after nearly a decade away. Fitzpatrick's role is to work both in the studio and in the field, handling weather reporting.Her journey started as a fill-in meteorologist at WCBI-TV News in Columbus, Mississippi, while she continued her education.Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in geography and broadcasting from Northwest Missouri State University.She pursued her second bachelor's degree in Starkville, Mississippi, dedicating two years to her meteorological education.Fitzpatrick said, "I think it's always been something that I've wanted to do since I was like a kid, but I never really thought about it. I went to college, [but] I never really put meteorology at the forefront because, at a young age, I didn't realize that you could study the weather."She later started her full-time career in Waco, Texas, where she contributed her talents to FOX 2's sister station, KWKT. However, when the o...

Time revealed for 2023 Mizzou-KU Border War

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The 2023 edition of the Border War has been officially set. Kansas will host Missouri in the third game of the men's basketball rivalry series since it was revived in 2021 after conference realignment delayed the yearly matchup for almost a decade. This season's HyVee Hoops Border Showdown will be on Saturday, December 9 at 4:15 p.m. CT on ESPN. KU has won the last two games easily, winning 95-67 in Columbia last season and 102-65 in 2021 in Lawrence. Before the Jayhawks can focus on the Tigers, they take their annual early-season trip to Honolulu for the Maui Invitational, starting with Chaminade on November 20th at 8 p.m. and come home to host the defending national champion Connecticut Huskies in the Big EAST/Big 12 Challenge on December 1 at 8 p.m.After the Border War, KU hits the road to face Indiana the next Saturday before rounding out nonconference play with Yale and Wichita State before beginning Big 12 play. The Tigers' biggest nonconference opponents befo...

Hunter’s rescue highlights how “invaluable” Classic Air Medical crews are in remote Routt County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

By Trevor Ballantyne, Steamboat Pilot & TodayA Classic Air Medical crew extracted a hunter in the area of Sugar Loaf Mountain on Saturday after the individual accidentally shot himself in the leg.Related ArticlesColorado News | Search suspended for Greeley man missing near Larimer County trail Colorado News | Driver who got pickup stuck on Colorado 14er is hit with hefty tow bill Colorado News | Experienced rafter dies after falling into the Colorado River in Gore Canyon West Routt Fire Chief Trevor Guire said his department responded to the call but quickly dispatched a Classic Air Medical helicopter due to the remote nature of the region and urgent nature of the call.“We are using them more and more all the time as people are recreating farther from roads and access,” Guire said. “Just the logistics of getting people out of those places, having search and rescue and Classic Air as well as the other flight companies as partners is...

Colorado snags another defense-related company: Infinity Labs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

A company specializing in cybersecurity and advanced research and development has chosen Colorado Springs as its new home and plans to add 61 new jobs.Infinity Labs, currently based in Dayton, Ohio, plans to increase modeling and simulation support for the Department of Defense, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, OEDIT, said in a statement Wednesday.The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $691,288 in tax credits over eight years for Infinity Labs, referred to as Project Verge during the state review process. The tax credits are contingent on meeting the job-creation and salary requirements.The company, which employs 65 people, expects to add 61 new jobs with an average annual wage of $130,253, which is 216% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. The positions will include software developers and analysts.“We see tremendous opportunity with the growth of the defense and commercial aerospace industries as well as the h...

Men followed woman home from O.C. mall, stole $200K in property, police say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

Two men are being sought in connection with a follow-home burglary in Irvine earlier this month.The men allegedly followed a woman home from South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa Sept. 10 after she made “expensive purchases,” according to Irvine police.The woman left her home later in the day, and that’s when the men allegedly broke into her home and stole more than $200,000 in property.The suspects drove an older white Mazda CX9 and a 2014 silver Mazda CX-5, police said.Vehicles allegedly used in a follow-home burglary are seen in photos released by the Irvine Police Department on Sept. 27, 2023. Authorities provided images of the men and the vehicles involved in the case in hopes of identifying and arresting them. “We just need people to be aware of their surroundings. If you’re noticing that the same three vehicles, or the same vehicles are behind you the entire way, that’s suspicious,” Kyle Oldoerp of the Irvine Police Department said. “Do a little counter surveillance … maybe go to a...

California official submits proposal to have new national monument near Joshua Tree National Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:59:00 GMT

A plan to create a massive national monument adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park received a formal proposal this week, with advocates hoping that the official designation would preserve habitats for endangered species and important tribal cultural sites on the land.U.S. Rep Raul Raiz, a Democrat representing California’s 25th congressional district, submitted the formal proposal, which was first announced by a coalition of environmental groups last year, Desert Sun reported. For Emmett Till’s family, national monument proclamation cements his inclusion in the American story California’s 25th congressional district includes Imperial County, the Eastern Coachella Valley, and the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Hemet, Needles, and San Jacinto.The site would span about 660,000 acres and sit alongside the southern border of Joshua Tree National Park. The proposed plan would include land in both Riverside and Imperial counties.The proposed site for the monument, known as Chuckwa...