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Heidi Firkus family, others speak out in new ‘Dateline’ program about her murder in St. Paul

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

“Dateline NBC” is airing a two-hour program Friday about the 2010 killing of Heidi Firkus in St. Paul.Jurors earlier this year found Firkus’ husband, Nicholas, guilty of premeditated murder. Nicholas Firkus, then 27, told police an intruder broke into their home in the Hamline-Midway area. He said he armed himself with a shotgun and, during a struggle with the unknown man, the gun went off and Heidi was shot in the back. The 25-year-old died in her home.Heidi Firkus (Courtesy of Erickson family)The Dateline program is called “65 Seconds,” a reference to the time between Heidi’s call to 911, which ended with the sound of a gunshot, and Nicholas’ call reporting the shooting.After several St. Paul police investigators worked on the case, Sgt. Niki Sipes took over in 2019. She and prosecutors built a case, presenting evidence at trial that Heidi Firkus was unaware their home had been foreclosed on and they were due to be evicted the next day. Bu...

Twins pitcher Sonny Gray named Most Valuable Player as team announces award winners

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

For a season in which he is sure to be listed on Cy Young Award ballots, starting pitcher Sonny Gray was named both the Most Valuable Twin and the Twins’ Pitcher of the Year.The Twins released the winners of their annual Diamond Awards on Thursday with Gray receiving two of the highest honors as voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.Gray finished his season with a 2.79 earned-run average and a 5.3 bWAR (Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference), which was two wins higher than any of his teammates.Shortstop Carlos Correa, who won five different Diamond Awards a season ago, was honored again as the Twins’ Defensive Player of the Year and with the Bob Allison Award for his leadership.Starting pitcher Pablo López was honored as the Media Good Guy for his friendly, insightful nature with the team’s reporters. He was also bestowed the Outstanding Community Service Award, for his efforts in the community both during spring training i...

Adults on autism spectrum invited to St. Paul job fair

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

To celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month, a St. Paul business advocate is hosting a job fair for adults with autism next week.Sheletta Brundidge, founder and CEO of the podcasting platform and production company ShelettaMakesMeLaugh, is inviting adults on the spectrum to attend a job fair Oct. 26 where they can get resume assistance, interview preparation and help finding a new job.Companies and organizations that sponsor Brundidge’s podcast network such as Bremer Bank, the Minneapolis Police Department and local schools will have booths set up, Brundidge said in an email.A business owner and a mother, Brundidge’s three children are on the spectrum. Brundidge has written children’s books and produces podcasts on the topic as well.In addition to being an autism advocate, Brundidge is also a small business advocate and works to uplift Black business owners. Last month, she spearheaded a letter-writing campaign for Black business owners to have their concerns heard in Washing...

Twins position breakdown: bullpen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

While the Twins’ bullpen wasn’t quite the strength the starting rotation was in 2023, there was plenty for the Twins to like from the group, particularly late in the season. The bullpen finished the season with a 3.95 earned-run average, 15th in the majors.And many of the main contributors are expected to be back next season, giving the Twins a solid bullpen core to build around as they enter the offseason.2023 RECAPJhoan Duran’s sophomore season in the big leagues further cemented the flame-throwing closer as one of the best relievers in baseball.Griffin Jax went through some bumps in his second season as a reliever — some of it fluky with the underlying metrics showing he pitched better than the results he got — but recovered well and was nearly unhittable in the postseason.Caleb Thielbar, the high-leverage lefty out of the ‘pen, missed much of the summer months with oblique strains that required two separate stints on the injured list. But when healthy, he pitched to a 3.23 earne...

Most loved team in Missouri? Viral post claims it's not the Cardinals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Show Me State is home to six professional sports teams, including one of baseball's most storied franchises in the St. Louis Cardinals. But not everyone seems to think that the Cardinals are the kings of Missouri sports. All Sports Culture, a sports-centric social media platform, shared a post that went viral on Instagram earlier this week, naming the "Most Loved Team" in every US state and Canadian province. Content creators behind the post claim to have done research, but didn't disclose much behind the methodology. Breaking down this year’s MLS playoffs format: What does it mean for St. Louis CITY SC? The "most loved teams" selections include a variety of teams from each of the Core 4 sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA) plus some colleges well known for their football teams. Among the omissions were the two MLB teams with the most World Series titles - the New York Yankees (27) and the St. Louis Cardinals (11). Neither was not deemed the most loved teams for th...

St. Louis woman admits to stealing from 96-year-old great-grandmother

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS – On October 18, a St. Louis woman admitted to stealing money from her 96-year-old great-grandmother and pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark to felony bank fraud. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 19.The woman, Alexis Butler, 35, confessed that at some point before December 2, 2022, she used her great-grandmother's personal information to access her St. Louis Community Credit Union account. Sex offender banned from rec centers after FOX 2 tip On December 2, 2022, she transferred $2,000 to another person. The following day, she opened an account for herself at the credit union and began moving her great-grandmother's funds into her own account. As part of her guilty plea, Butler acknowledged that between December 2, 2022, and January 19, 2023, she fraudulently withdrew $26,700 from her great-grandmother's account. However, she re-deposited $7,500 into the account on January 6.Both parties have agreed to recommend a three-year prison sente...

O'Fallon, Illinois community trick or treat event

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

O’Fallon, Ill. -- Halloween is around the corner, and the O'Fallon community is hosting a trick-or-treat event on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.For those handing out candy, please remember the "Porch Light Code":If you welcome trick-or-treaters at your door, leave your porch light or driveway light on.If you prefer not to have trick-or-treaters visit your home, please keep your porch light or driveway light off on Halloween.Trick-or-treaters should only approach well-lit homes and avoid visiting houses without lights. The O’Fallon Fire Department will distribute candy at O’Fallon Fire Station #1, located at 106 E. Washington, from 6 to 9 p.m. Teen and young woman shot while in car downtown, police investigating The O’Fallon Police Department offers some safety tips:A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children.If your older children are going out alone, plan and review an approved route and agree on a specific return time.Instruct your children to travel only in...

Brittish Williams - From 'Basketball Wives' to guilty plea

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A former Basketball Wives reality TV star and St. Louis radio personality, Brittish "Cierrah" Williams, is set to be sentenced.Williams, 33, originally from St. Louis, gained recognition for her appearances on the reality television show "Basketball Wives LA." She made her debut in season three, which aired on February 17, 2014. She also appeared in the most recent season, which aired earlier this year. Teen and young woman shot while in car downtown, police investigating She was previously engaged to Lorenzo Gordon, but their relationship ended due to his cheating. The couple even sought help on "Marriage Boot Camp" in an attempt to mend their issues, but they have since separated. They share a five-year-old daughter named Dash.Williams is currently facing sentencing for fraud charges after pleading guilty in May to 15 felony charges stemming from various fraud schemes. They include five counts of misuse of a Social Security number, four counts of bank fraud, three co...

Aurora police investigating murder-suicide after finding dismembered remains of woman

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

Aurora police are investigating a homicide and suicide in the Tollgate Overlook neighborhood after a woman was reported missing from an apartment complex where she was working a housekeeping job.Officers responded to a missing person report at approximately 11:15 p.m. Wednesday at an apartment complex in the 18300 block of East Kepner Place after a caller reported his mother was scheduled for a 7 a.m. housekeeping job at the complex and didn’t show up for other appointments later that day.Police found the missing woman’s car still at the apartment complex. Officers tried unsuccessfully to contact the resident whose apartment was booked for the housekeeping job, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department.Officers then decided to enter the apartment and heard a single gunshot. They found a 30-year-old Aurora man dead in the apartment with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the department.Officers found the dismembered remains of what they believe...

A-list actors offer $150M to end SAG strike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:48 GMT

As the actors' strike approaches its 100th day, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Some big stars are putting their money where their mouth is. Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, like George Clooney, Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johansson, are offering to give SAG-AFTRA over $150 million to help end the strike. Deadline reported that the actors met with SAG members, which included President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.Their solution is to remove the cap of SAG-AFTRA dues to help fund the areas of the union that need some help. Striking actors picket outside Paramount studios in Los Angeles on Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)Clooney himself spoke to the outlet to explain their plan. "A lot of the top earners want to be part of the solution,” he said. “We’ve offered to remove the cap on dues, which would bring over $50 million to the union annually. Well over $150 million over the ne...