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Pope Francis, back to Vatican routine post-surgery, says thanks to shouts of ‘Long live the pope!’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Two days after being discharged from the hospital, Pope Francis resumed his cherished Sunday custom of greeting the public in St. Peter’s Square, expressing thanks for the comfort he received after surgery and thanking the crowd shouting “Long live the pope!” Before launching into prepared remarks, Francis expressed gratitude for “affection, attention and friendship” and the assurance of “the support of prayer” during his hospitalization for June 7 abdominal surgery at a Rome hospital to repair a hernia and remove increasingly painful scarring around his intestines.“This human and spiritual closeness for me was a great help and comfort,” Francis told some 15,000 people in the square. ”Thanks to all, thanks to you, thanks from the heart.”The 86-year-old pontiff sounded a bit breathless and hoarse at times, but he gestured frequently with his hands for emphasis, adlibbed at times from the prepared speech, and clearly looked delighted to be b...

Ugandan border town prepares to bury victims of rebel massacre that left 42 dead, mostly students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A bereaved Ugandan border town on Sunday prepared to bury victims of a brutal attack by suspected extremist rebels on a school that left 42 dead, most of them students, as security forces stepped up patrols along the frontier with volatile eastern Congo. One of eight people wounded in Friday night’s attack, in which 38 students were killed, died overnight, said Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Mayor Selevest Mapoze. “Most of the relatives have come to take their bodies” from the morgue, he said. Some students were burned beyond recognition, and others were shot or hacked to death after militants armed with guns and machetes attacked Lhubiriha Secondary School, co-ed and privately owned, which is located about 2 kilometers (just over a mile) from the Congo border. Ugandan authorities believe at least six students were abducted, taken as porters back inside Congo. In addition to the 38 students, the victims include a school guard and three civilians.U.N. Secretary-Genera...

1 dead, 20 wounded in shooting in Unincorporated Willowbrook: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

UNINCOORPORATED WILLOWBROOK, Ill. -- DuPage County responded to a shooting in Unincorporated Willowbrook which sent 20 people to the hospital and left one person dead, police said. According to the Battalion Chief with the tri-state Fire protection district, at around 12:30 a.m. there was a shooting reported near Route 83 and Honeysuckle Rose Lane.The DuPage County Sherrif confirmed that 20 people were injured with gunshot wounds. Fire officials said two victims are in critical condition. Fire also said officers applied a handful of tourniquets at the scene to the people who were wounded. Multiple shot near Lincoln Park Zoo: Chicago Police Witnesses described the scene as chaotic with people running as gunfire erupted. A motive behind the shooting is still unclear.WGN is actively investigating the incident and will update as new information is released.

White Bear Lake tattoo shop owner talked about buying and selling body parts before indictment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

The owner of a White Bear Lake tattoo parlor charged this week in connection with a cross-country scheme to buy and sell stolen body parts was open about his collection in online posts before his indictment.Matthew R. Lampi, 52, of East Bethel, was indicted this week on charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods: human remains including brains, lungs and stillborn babies, according to court records.His attorney, Stephen Becker, said Friday night that his client has not pleaded in the case and he had no statement to make regarding the allegations.Matthew Lampi, the owner of a White Bear Lake tattoo parlor, was charged June 13, 2023, in connection with a cross-country scheme to buy and sell stolen body parts. (Kristi Miller / Pioneer Press)Lampi owned Get to the Point Tattoos. Although the business license is still active, Google now shows the studio, in the Wildwood Shopping Center at 927 Wildwood Road in White Bear Lake, as “permanently closed.”In a 2...

St. Paul has five new faces at the Capitol. Here’s what they worked on.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

St. Paul had five first-time lawmakers at the Minnesota Legislature this session, giving the city its most diverse delegation ever.It might be the groups’ first time holding elected office, but these are no political novices. All five have been working in politics most of their lives, some since they were kids.St. Paul’s newest lawmakers were in the thick of some of the most contentious and consequential issues of the legislative session that wrapped up in May.A lot of that was by design. These new lawmakers, who are all Democrats, say St. Paul’s voters want representatives that will push a progressive agenda.Historic sessionIt was a historic session by many measures. The new Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party trifecta in control of state government enacted a record $71.5 billion budget, which is a 38 percent increase, driven by a unprecedented $17.5 billion budget surplus.DFLers also passed big policy changes that had been stalled for years under divided government. Ad...

St. Paul’s reparations commission will convene this summer. What happens now?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

Four years ago, social justice advocate Trahern Crews and council member Jane Prince started talking about what racial reparations could look like in a city like St. Paul. As of January, St. Paul has a permanent Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission advising the city council and the mayor.More local governments across the country have been pursuing reparations initiatives in the past couple of years with the goal of generating wealth for American descendants of chattel slavery. Yet, St. Paul’s initiative is unique.Trahern Crews is the co-convener of the Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission in St. Paul. He is a member of the Minnesota Green Party and a leading voice for the Black Lives Matter movement. (Courtesy of Trahern Crews)“Being a permanent part of the government is what sets us apart from other reparation commissions popping up around America right now. It allows us to make short-term, medium-term and long-term suggestions,” said Crews, who is the...

Price, Hood: New Alzheimer’s drugs are costly and controversial. Are we going about this all wrong?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of new Alzheimer’s drugs sparked a flicker of hope for the millions affected by this devastating disease. But this progress casts a puzzling shadow.The drugs come at a high cost for relatively limited benefits, offering only a brief respite in the pace of cognitive decline. This reality raises a question: Are we fixated on such marginally effective treatments at the expense of more promising preventive measures?The pharmaceutical industry stands to profit substantially from these drugs, which promise to bring in billions. Eli Lilly’s stock price jumped 6.7% after it announced positive results from a trial of one new Alzheimer’s drug, increasing the company’s value by more than $25 billion that day. This isn’t surprising given that Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to be a $500-billion problem today and, due to our aging population, projected to double in cost by 2050.Despite the market and me...

10 juveniles injured in downtown shooting, 1 killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police are investigating a shooting that happened early Sunday morning. The shooting took place on Washington Avenue and 14th Street just after one 1:00 a.m. We're learning ten people under the age of 18 were shot.  10 juveniles injured in downtown shooting, 1 killed One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the shooting and severity of the other injuries has not been revealed.FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Widespread showers and storms expected Sunday afternoon, possible spot showers Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A dying complex of storms continues heading this way, but has weakened dramatically over the last hour. Showers and some storms will spread into the region Sunday. It will not be a washout, but both will become a bit more widespread Sunday afternoon. However, this still won't be the beneficial rain that we need. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here It will be mostly cloudy and highs in the low 80s. Severe weather is not anticipated. Showers and a few storms will linger into Sunday night, gradually shifting east. Overnight lows are set in the 60s. Juneteenth will be warmer with decreasing clouds but a few spot showers or storms may develop in the afternoon. Past this, it's expected to be very warm with highs near 90 each day and rain will be hard to come by.

Father's Day events and offers today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - More Father's Day events are going on Sunday.Dad's get in free at City Museum with a purchase of an additional ticket. They can also grab some beer and barbecue out there.Kids can make a special handmade gift in Art City. Innsbrook Resort is hosting a Father's Day brunch at the Clubhouse Bar and Grille as well. Video shows St. Louis security guard punch man lying on light rail platform Breakfast and dinner with a view is being served from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Prices for adults are $32. It's $15 for kids ages 6 to 12, and kids under five eat for free.Dad's can also ride on the St. Louis Wheel Sunday for free with paid admission from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.