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Firkus jurors speak out: How they decided in hours that husband killed Heidi

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

Finding Nicholas Firkus guilty of murdering his wife in St. Paul came quickly for jurors because, when two weeks of testimony ended, about half of them said they’d heard enough to not believe his account of a stranger intruding in their home.The other half of the jurors were leaning toward a guilty verdict and they wanted more time to review the testimony and evidence, according to three jurors interviewed by the Pioneer Press. Deliberations lasted between two and three hours, they estimated.Nicholas James Firkus. (Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Corrections)They said they were confident in Firkus’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — the legal standard they had to meet — but it carried an emotional toll.“There weren’t ever feelings of, ‘Did I do the right thing?'” said Pete Grabowski, the jury’s foreman. “The feeling was, ‘We just convicted a guy of a crime and every family and friend tied to that case is now im...

One person dead, two hospitalized in Arapahoe County apartment complex fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

One person died and two others are hospitalized after an early morning fire in an Arapahoe County apartment complex Saturday.The fire broke out in Woodhaven Apartments, the 2300 block of S. Quebec Street, South Metro Fire Rescue said in a 4:10 a.m. tweet. When firefighters arrived, there was an active fire in a hallway and several people were trapped in the building.Update: firefighters are still working to control the fire. please stay clear of the area. pic.twitter.com/bdWFRttLs6— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO) April 8, 2023Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Denver weather: Warm, blue skies through the weekend — with highs in the 80s next week Crime and Public Safety | Colorado legislature poised to create “last resort” property insurance plan as crisis looms Crime and Public Safety | Marshall fire victims with lower incomes, less insurance lag in rebuilding, study finds Crime and Public Safet...

Instant videos could represent the next leap in AI technology

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

Ian Sansavera, a software architect at a New York startup called Runway AI, typed a short description of what he wanted to see in a video. “A tranquil river in the forest,” he wrote.Less than two minutes later, an experimental internet service generated a short video of a tranquil river in a forest. The river’s running water glistened in the sun as it cut between trees and ferns, turned a corner and splashed gently over rocks.Runway, which plans to open its service to a small group of testers this week, is one of several companies building artificial intelligence technology that will soon let people generate videos simply by typing several words into a box on a computer screen.They represent the next stage in an industry race — one that includes giants like Microsoft and Google as well as much smaller startups — to create new kinds of artificial intelligence systems that some believe could be the next big thing in technology, as important as web browsers or the iPhone.The new ...

Rapids Notebook: Robin Fraser to reach milestone in Burgundy; Open Cup date confirmed vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

After a period of immense turmoil under previous management, Saturday night’s kickoff will represent a milestone of stability for Colorado Rapids head coach Robin Fraser.When the Rapids (0-3-3, 3 points) play in “Blue Hell” against Sporting Kansas City at 6:30 p.m. MST at Children’s Mercy Park on Apple TV, it will mark Fraser’s 100th regular-season game in charge of Colorado.Fraser (41-31-27, 150 points in Colorado), has called the Mile High City home since the 1990s when he first played for the Foxes. Since returning to Denver, given the resources, few coaches have accomplished more with less, which has resulted in a step up in stature.A player-first manager, he’ll back his team’s ability to get points no matter how overmatched they may seem on paper with the right tactical ingenuity and a favorite “Fraserism” — consistency.“I’ve enjoyed playing under Robin so much, and he’s obviously a very experienced p...

LAPD says puppy OK after being tossed from moving car during hours-long pursuit, identifies 3 arrested at chase's end

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday identified the attempted murder suspect at the center of Friday's hours-long pursuit that ended in West Carson after traveling through multiple cities in Los Angeles County.Police also named two women accused of helping the suspect in his getaway attempt and provided an update on the puppy that was tossed from a moving vehicle during the chase.Gustavo Alvarez, a 27-year-old man from Los Angeles, was the initial suspect wanted for an attempted murder and carjacking at 101st and San Pedro streets on March 26, police said on Twitter. Lynette Moreno, a 26-year-old woman from Los Angeles, was arrested for setting up the second getaway vehicle used by Alvarez, and 25-year-old Michelle Zamudio of Santa Monica was the driver of the second vehicle, police said. Attempted murder suspect who led police on wild chase taken into custody in West Carson Alvarez is being held without bail on a charge of attempted murder, Moreno is being held in lieu o...

Man shot to death in Del Aire: LASD

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

A man in his mid-to-late 50s was shot to death in Del Aire Friday evening.The unidentified man, believed to be between 55 and 60 years old, was found suffering from a gunshot to his upper torso just after 6:45 p.m. in the 5100 block of West 141st Street, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and no information about the shooter has been released.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Ex-49ers star Aldon Smith sentenced to a year in jail for DUI

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

Former 49ers football star Aldon Smith was sentenced Friday to a year in jail for driving under the influence after he rear-ended a Recology truck in Redwood City in 2021 and allegedly offered the driver $1,000 not to alert police.Smith, the 49ers’ single-season sack record holder, will serve his time in San Mateo County jail, according to San Mateo County Superior Court records.The former pass rusher was arrested in December 2021 after the collision on an Interstate 280 off-ramp. The driver of the truck he hit suffered minor injuries.Smith, 33, initially pleaded not guilty to driving-under-the-influence but changed his plea to no contest in January after Judge Kevin Dunleavy offered a sentence of no more than 16 months in prison for the troubled former NFL player.Dunleavy in his order Friday went beyond the three years’ probation required by law and ordered five years of probation for Smith after he is released, court records show.California Highway Patrol officers had been c...

Delicious Easter brunch ideas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Leslie Dabney, The Vineyard Mom, joins KRON4 Anchor Stephanie Lin to share brunch ideas to make for your Easter celebration!

Court backs teacher firing over transgender students’ names

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An Indiana school district did not violate a former music teacher’s rights by pushing him to resign after the man refused to use transgender students’ names and gender pronouns, a federal appeals court said in an order released Friday. The decision from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a prior ruling in the case by a federal judge. According to court records, John Kluge was hired in 2014 as the music and orchestra teacher for Brownsburg High School about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis. In 2017, district officials began requiring the high school’s teachers to use the names and pronouns listed in the school’s official student database, where changes were permitted with letters from a student’s parent and a doctor. Kluge told the school’s principal, Bret Daghe, on the first day of classes for the 2017 school year that he had a religious objection to using transgender students’ names and pronouns. D...

Newcastle beats Brentford after Toney’s rare penalty failure

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Alexander Isak kept Newcastle’s Champions League charge on track with the winner in a 2-1 victory at Brentford in the English Premier League on Saturday.The Sweden striker hit his eighth goal in 13 league appearances as the Magpies came from a goal down to make it five wins in a row and stay in third place.A high-tempo match in west London also featured a collector’s item in the shape of a failure from the penalty spot by Ivan Toney. The England striker also slotted a spot kick and had a goal disallowed in an eventful first half.Newcastle stayed in third place, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference and three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, which has played a game more than its two rivals.Toney thought he fired Brentford ahead in the seventh minute after Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope clawed out a header from Pontus Jansson. Toney snaffled the rebound but a VAR check showed he was just offside when Jansson headed the ball.The penalty saga began when Kevi...