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Hitman in New Jersey murder-for-hire gets 16-year sentence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A career criminal whose rap sheet includes bank robberies and a murder conspiracy was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years in prison for killing a New Jersey political consultant in exchange for money in 2014.George Bratsenis, 74, pleaded guilty a year ago to a charge that he and another man accepted thousands of dollars from another political consultant, Sean Caddle, in exchange for killing Michael Galdieri. Galdieri was stabbed to death in his Jersey City apartment, which was then set on fire.U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez imposed the 16-year sentence plus five years of supervised release on Wednesday in federal court in Newark.A man who served time in a New Jersey prison with Bratsenis in the early 2000s, Bomani Africa, also pleaded guilty in the killing and was sentenced last month to 20 years. He named Bratsenis as the accomplice who helped kill Galdieri.Revelations about Galdieri’s killing jolted political circles in a state infamous for dozens of poli...

Protesters try to drown out the I-35 North construction groundbreaking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Transportation broke ground on its I-35 Capital Express North project. It's a $606 million project that would add one non-tolled, high-occupancy vehicle lane in each direction along the interstate between SH 45 North and Hwy 290 in north central Austin.I-35 Capital Express North would also reconstruct six bridges, construct a diverging diamond interchange at Wells Branch Parkway, reconstruct entrance and exit ramps, and create shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists.But not everyone is on board to see the expansion. Rethink 35 protesters were on site doing their best to drown out the speakers at the groundbreaking presentation. Rethink35 is pushing for a study of alternatives, including rerouting non-local traffic and completely replacing the highway with a boulevard.That's something TxDOT Austin District Engineer, Tucker Ferguson said is not a realistic option, "The projects we put together for Capital Express North, South and Central a...

Vic Rosenthal, longtime leader of Jewish Community Action in St. Paul, dies at 68

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

David Snyder recalled how Vic Rosenthal hired him to lead a statewide initiative on responsible banking investments. A meeting with Black leaders in North Minneapolis convinced both men to pivot instead toward an emerging crisis in predatory lending forcing a growing number of Black homeowners into foreclosure.It was just before the Great Recession of 2008, and little did either man realize that the Twin Cities was on the cusp of making national headlines for home losses. Through St. Paul-based Jewish Community Action, they recruited volunteers to comb through Hennepin County property records to find vulnerable homeowners with sub-prime, adjustable-rate mortgages. On some North Minneapolis streets, that described a fourth of homeowners.“We went out, knocked on doors and referred people to foreclosure prevention counselors,” said Snyder, deputy director of Jewish Community Action, on Wednesday. “Vic taught me a model of organizing where you genuinely listen to your ...

Anti-abortion Wisconsin lawmakers now eye Medicaid expansion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — Low-income Wisconsin mothers could stay on Medicaid longer after giving birth and with less paperwork under a bill that has gained bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Legislature.Nearly half of the state’s lawmakers have co-sponsored the bill that came before the Senate insurance committee for a hearing on Wednesday. Currently, Wisconsinites can enroll in the state-supported and federally-funded healthcare program if they are pregnant and qualify as low-income, but have to recertify for the program 60 days after giving birth. Under the proposal, they could keep coverage for a year, even if their household income increases.Democrats have long supported Medicare expansion in Wisconsin and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is likely to support the measure, which is similar Medicaid expansion in his budget proposal last month. In areas of disagreement with Republican lawmakers, Evers has used issued a record number of vetoes.A similar bill failed to pass the Wiscons...

Dangerous storms, tornadoes may target Midwest, South

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

A seemingly relentless series of severe storms, likely with deadly tornadoes, are forecast to rip across parts of America’s Midwest and South over the next couple weeks, especially Friday, meteorologists said.An unusual weather pattern has set in, last week triggering the devastating tornado that hit Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and meteorologists fear this Friday will be one of the worst days, with much more to come. The National Weather Service said 16.8 million people live in the highest risk zone, and more than 66 million people overall should be on alert Friday.“It’s pretty darn clear that somebody is going to take it on the nose on Friday,” said Northern Illinois meteorology professor and tornado expert and chaser Victor Gensini. “It’s just a matter of where and exactly when.”The weather service is cautioning a large area of the country – including parts of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma...

FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan. Here’s what it means.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved selling the leading version of naloxone without a prescription, setting the overdose-reversing drug on course to become the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter.It’s a move that some advocates have long sought as a way to improve access to a life-saving drug, though the exact impact will not be clear immediately.Here’s a look at the issues involved.WHAT IS NARCAN?The approved nasal spray from Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Emergent BioSolutions is the best-known form of naloxone.It can reverse overdoses of opioids, including street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl and prescription versions including oxycodone.Making naloxone available more widely is seen as a key strategy to control the nationwide overdose crisis, which has been linked to more than 100,000 U.S. deaths a year. The majority of those deaths are tied to opioids, primarily potent synthetic versions such as fentanyl that can take multiple doses ...

Warmer weather means ticks are back: How to prevent getting bit this spring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

(WSYR) — As warmer spring temperatures arrive, you might want to jump right into hiking, walking, or biking. However, before you go anywhere, know that the blood-sucking insects are back. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This spring, especially after our warmer winter, more ticks than ever will be active and out looking for hosts—people, pets and wildlife—to attach to. During Tick Bite Prevention Week from March 24 through the 30—and beyond—be on guard to prevent getting bitten.“Ticks can be active year-round when temperatures are above 45 degrees,” said Oswego County Public Health Director Vera Dunsmoor. “As the weather gets warmer, the chances of finding a tick on you, your family members or pets increase, so be sure to do ‘tick-checks’ when coming in from working or playing in the yard or from being out in the woods or brush.” “Anything That Floats” event looks to make a splash this weekend To add to the severity of ti...

Café Con Mel moving into Guilderland Public Library

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Café Con Mel, a coffee shop located at 133 Remsen Street in Cohoes, is moving into the Guilderland Public Library. The Cohoes location has already closed in preparation for the move. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "After years of calling Cohoes home, from catering to the coffee shop, it’s time to start our next chapter," said co-owner Mel in a Facebook post. "Joy and I have a very special place in our hearts for Cohoes and as much as we wanted to stay, opportunities kept knocking us into a different direction."Although the official opening date hasn't been announced yet, Café con Mel at Guilderland Public Library will be opening this spring. "After almost two years of searching for a suitable vendor and completing renovations, we are almost ready to unveil this final piece of our construction project," said Guilderland Public Library. Sperry’s in Saratoga Springs closed until further notice ...

City of Albany receives $75K grant to plant 120 new trees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City of Albany has received a $75,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation to plant 120 new trees in the West Hill and Arbor Hill neighborhoods. To kick off the initiative, a Bald Cypress tree was planted at the entrance to Swinburne Park near the largest Bald Cypress tree remaining in New York State. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In 2020, Mayor Kathy Sheehan launched the 2025 Tree Planting Initiative. The goal is to have 2,025 trees planted by 2025. At the end of 2022, 1,753 had already been planted."The City of Albany estimates that more than 1,000 street trees have been lost to various factors since 2008," said Mayor Sheehan. "That is why it is so important that we are receiving this grant to help enhance our tree cover to both combat climate change and create more shade for our residents to reverse the impacts of heat island effect."

Albany man arraigned for attempted murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Albany County Districit Attorney's office announced that an indictment against Brian Moses, 20, of Albany was unsealed on Wednesday. It was handed up on March 21 and accuses Moses of trying to kill someone on July 7, 2022. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The DA said that Moses faced two charges classed as violent felonies: second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They said that he pleaded not guilty before Albany County Court Judge Andra Ackerman late Tuesday afternoon.Moses allegedly attempted to "cause the death of another person" near 843 Madison Avenue in Albany. He also allegedly had an illegal, loaded firearm there on that July day. His next court appearance is set for April 17.