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Marijuana becomes Missouri's new billion-dollar industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri surpasses $1 billion in legal marijuana sales less that three years after medical marijuana became legal.The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulations says dispensaries have sold more than $350 million in just the past three months. Recreational use marijuana became legal in Missouri on Feb. 3, 2023.Of that $350 million, more than $256 million is for recreational use purposes while $94 million is for people with medical conditions.Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulations points to the fact that many cities and counties will soon see the benefits of the tax money from marijuana sales. Northeast Middle School stabbing victim’s family angry after suspect takes plea deal Last month, hundreds of Missouri cities and counties approved adding taxes to marijuana sales. Each community will decide how to use the tax funds, but many plan to start with road and infrastructure improvements.Along with legalizing recreational marijuana, Missouri began to automatica...

Charges filed after body found wrapped in plastic in Old North St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Two weeks after St. Louis police discovered a body wrapped in plastic in a north city neighborhood, a 25-year-old man is facing murder charges.According to Evita Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the body of Michael Finocchiaro was found on the morning of April 24.Officers were summoned to the 1500 block of North 10th Street just before 7:50 a.m. They found Finocchiaro had been killed and wrapped in plastic. He was 62. Prosecutors rethink working in St. Louis while trial crises remain The St. Louis Medical Examiner's Office determined Finocchiaro died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.Homicide detectives eventually arrested Antonio Mosley in connection with Fonocchiaro's death. Police did not provide a possible motive or additional details about the crime.The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Mosley with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse. Mosley remains jailed without bond.

Blues miss No. 1 pick by one lottery number; Instead, it goes to Blackhawks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - If you play Powerball frequently, you might have encountered a situation similar to what the St. Louis Blues experienced Monday as part of the 2023 NHL Draft process. Picture a scenario in which you match several early numbers and need just one more to go your way for the big prize. Unfortunately, the final ball is not the number you needed. You might still get a prize, but it's quite a bit smaller than you expected. The Blues needed to match four numbers in the NHL Draft lottery to win the first pick of this year's draft, one expected to be used on 17-year-old Canadian prospect Connor Bedard, considered a generational talent by many NHL scouts. RELATED - Contreras committed to catching again soon, thrives in return to Wrigley After the NHL regular season ended, the league assigned teams to various lottery numbers and chances based on their finish in the standings. The Blues, missing playoffs for just the second time in 12 years, but finishing better than many non-pla...

Sewer backup costs O'Fallon family nearly $50,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - When a family from O'Fallon in St. Charles County returned home to find their entire basement swamped with raw sewage and human waste, it was a nightmare.It was because of a backup in the city’s main sewer, which had apparently become clogged with tree roots and other materials.The struggle for the family is that they can’t get much help. Their house was declared a biohazard. They had to relocate to a hotel for three weeks with two children, one of whom is a four-year-old with special needs. The cleanup cost $10,000, and another $7,000 was needed to replace floors and walls. The cost kept rising.It’s been heartbreaking for Rylee Rooneo and her husband, Jason."Now, the city is telling us that they’re not liable even though they’ve had our lateral scoped, and it’s 100 percent not on us," she said. "They agree with us that there’s nothing that we could have done to prevent this. They’re saying that it’s deemed an act of God because we have to prove that they knew about ...

St. Clair, Missouri contractor accused of fraud by attorney general's office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

ST. CLAIR, Mo. - A Franklin County contractor is facing prosecution by the Missouri Attorney General's Office over allegations of consumer fraud.Daniel Carbone, who runs Concrete Impressions, is accused of defrauding five customers of more than $50,000 in total losses.The Better Business Bureau's St. Louis office issued a consumer warning about Concrete Impressions in December 2022 after receiving several complaints that the company failed to start or finish projects, did not issue refunds after taking up-front payments, provided poor customers service, or wouldn't contact consumers about projects.State prosecutors have charged Carbone with eight counts of deceptive business practices, eight counts of stealing - $750 or more, and four counts of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person.Carbone is scheduled to appear in St. Louis County Circuit Court on May 30.

Carbon Café and Habit Doughnut Dispensary closes on Platte Street

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Carbon Café & Bar has fizzled out.After nine years, the café, bar and part-time donut shop dubbed Habit Doughnut Dispensary, at 1553 Platte St., has permanently closed as of Monday, May 8, according to Carbon’s website.Owner Lisa Ruskaup first opened Carbon and Habit as two separate businesses with a pass-through window and shared kitchen in 2015. But she later combined the two with a doorway, so customers could enjoy their CBD cold brew, Wake & Bake breakfast bowls, crispy tots, doughnuts injected with booze or even a morning cocktail in the edgy watering hole.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Casa Bonita has the green light to open from city, county and state, but when will it? Restaurants, Food and Drink | Boston Market ordered to pay $590K to Golden HQ landlord Restaurants, Food and Drink | Explicit Streetwear shop owner bringing bakery chain to Aurora, Colorado Springs Restaurants, Food and Drink | V...

Road rage may have led to fatal Edgewater charging station shooting, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Road rage between two men driving Tesla sedans may have led to the fight that escalated and turned into a fatal shooting last week at an electric vehicle charging station in Edgewater, police homicide investigators have determined.The police on Tuesday appealed for public help by providing possible neighborhood porch or dashboard video-camera footage showing jockeying between the two Teslas prior to the shooting.  Adam Michael Fresquez, 33, a father of two young children, was shot to death. The 38-year-old man who shot him was detained and questioned, then released, as investigators piece together what happened. No charges have been filed.Both men were driving Teslas – one red, one silver — and they went to the Edgewater Public Market to charge their cars, Edgewater Police Chief Eric Sonstegard said.“Those cars were pretty noticeable. We really want to know if anybody saw two Teslas. It could have been a road rage incident,” Sonstegard said.“We’re looking to ...

Sawtelle apartment complex to evict residents of hundreds of units for sprinkler retrofit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Hundreds of Angelenos will soon have to find a new place to live after a Sawtelle complex announced the eviction of all residents due to a costly renovation project.Barrington Plaza, located at 11740 Wilshire Blvd., suffered dramatic and destructive fires in 2013 and 2020, partly because it does not have fire sprinklers. One person died and 13 people were hurt in the second blaze.Because it was built in the early 1960s, it is exempt from laws requiring fire sprinklers, though as part of approving repairs after the 2020 fire, city officials demanded safety upgrades, according to the Los Angeles Times. Man Injured in Brentwood High-Rise Apartment Building Fire Dies The $300 million project will take years, and under a state law known as the Ellis Act, the owners of the Barrington Plaza are providing residents relocation fees and financial assistance — up to as much as $22,000, according to the Times — so they can take units, including those that are rent stabilized, off the rental m...

Incredible videos show blue whale off SoCal coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Blue whale season started off with a bang in SoCal, as passengers traveling with Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Davey's Locker & Newport Coastal Adventure Whale Watching got a special treat. Passengers were able to catch a glimpse of the largest animal on Earth as it traveled from San Clemente up to Newport Beach.Dana Wharf passengers saw the blue whale Sunday morning. The whale was spotted swimming between the San Clemente Pier and the Dana Point Headlands as it circled around while feeding. At times, it came within a mile of the shoreline. Dana Wharf Captain Tommy White said, “When you think that the blue whale is the largest animal to live on the planet, bigger than a dinosaur or a megalodon, that is amazing!”  Drone video taken by Photographer Mark Girardeau for @NewportCoastalAdventure The owner of Dana Wharf Whale Watching, Donna Kalez, said, "Seeing the largest animal on the planet takes your breath away and reminds you how truly lu...

1st reactions of Disney's live-action 'The Little Mermaid'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:12 GMT

Disney's highly anticipated live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" was screened for the first time on Monday night. The big world premiere of the film took place in Hollywood and a press screening was hosted in Burbank. KTLA 5's Sam Rubin attended the screening and was immediately impressed by Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel. Disney releases new poster for live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ movie "After the opening number ('Part of Your World'), the crowd in Burbank applauds in the theater," Sam exclaimed. "Halle can really, really sing!"Sam wasn't the only person impressed. While formal reviews aren't out yet, people took to social media to share their reactions. Singer Kelly Rowland was over the moon. "The Little Mermaid is truly AN EPIC WATCH!!! The music in this movie!" she tweeted after attending the premiere. "FREAKINGGGGGGGWOWWWWW!! You laugh, you cry, you sing along!! I know I’m gonna be singing these songs For weeks to come!!!!!!" Disney releases new ‘Little Mermaid’...