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High school football: Saturday state quarterfinal predictions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Here are a couple of Saturday’s top high school football playoff games involving East Metro teams:CLASS 5ASt. Thomas Academy (8-2) vs. Owatonna (8-2), at Woodbury H.S., 12 p.m.This is the same round that the Cadets lost to Mahtomedi in overtime a year ago. Oh, and it’s on the same field. So St. Thomas Academy should lack no motivation to come out and score a little vengeance, even if it’s against an unfamiliar foe. Both programs breezed through their respective sections. Owatonna has a strong passing game, which will give St. Thomas Academy’s defense a chance to show it is a better unit than it showed during the regular season. OUR PICK: St. Thomas Academy 30, Owatonna 28Mahtomedi (6-4) vs. Chanhassen (10-0), at Apple Valley H.S., 1 p.m.Chanhassen sports one of the state’s top players in do-it-all star Maxwell Woods, who has run for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Storm cemented their current place as the top team in Class 5A with their thrilling vic...

Vikings preparing with veteran Sean Mannion as backup quarterback

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

Initially, veteran quarterback Sean Mannion was brought in last month to be a live arm for the Vikings in practice. At the time, fellow backup Nick Mullens was being placed on injured reserve, and rookie Jaren Hall was moving up the depth chart.Now, a month later, journeyman Josh Dobbs will be the starting quarterback for the Vikings when they host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, and Mannion will be his backup. Though he’s technically on the practice squad, Mannion will be elevated to the active roster at some point this weekend.It’s a strange time for Vikings quarterbacks as franchise player Kirk Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, Mullens is still on injured reserve with a back injury, and Hall is out with a concussion.The biggest reason Mannion was brought in last month was the fact that he had familiarity with the offense. He served as Cousins’ backup for a couple of seasons before being replaced. He’s back in that ro...

‘It wasn’t easy for us, but for some reason, I wasn’t afraid.’ On Veterans Day, a World War II veteran remembers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

100-year old World War II veteran Richard King talks about his experiences as a gunner on B-17 and later B-29 bombers at his Woodbury home on Friday, Nov., 10, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)100-year old World War II veteran Richard King in front a photo of him next to the B-17 he was a crew member on. King shared his experiences as a gunner on B-17 and later B-29 bombers. Photographed at his Woodbury home on Friday, Nov., 10, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)A group photo from 1945 of 100-year old World War II veteran Richard King’s B-17 crew while training at Ardmore Army Airfield in Oklahoma that hangs on the wall of his Woodbury home on Friday, Nov., 10, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)A biography of 100-year old World War II veteran Richard King created by his family on display at his Woodbury home on Friday, Nov., 10, 2023. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)100-year old World War II veteran Richard King talks about his experiences as a gunner on B-17 and later B-29 bombers at ...

Vikings left guard Dalton Risner prides himself on picking up his teammates. Literally.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

You would struggle to find a player in the Vikings locker room more upbeat than left guard Dalton Risner. He carries himself with a sense of joy everywhere he goes, and naturally, that follows him onto the field.There was a particular play last Sunday in Atlanta that served as a perfect example. After tight end T.J. Hockenson fought his way for extra yardage after catching a pass up the left sideline, Risner was the first player there to pick him up. He had sprinted down the field so he could be in position to do just that.“That’s who he is,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “It’s energy all the time. He’s just one of those guys. I knew when we brought him here that he would be a guy that would really thrive in this environment.”That’s exactly what Risner has done since signing as a free agent. After biding his time as a backup, Risner worked his way into the starting lineup last month when former starting left guard Ezra Cleveland suffered a foot...

State volleyball: New Life Academy falls to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in Class A semifinal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

The excitement that came with winning the third set quickly dissipated in the fourth for New Life Academy.Despite rallying in that set, it resulted in a 25-22, 25-15, 25-27, 25-17 Class A volleyball semifinal win by Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Friday at Xcel Energy Center.No doubt the loss stings, but the Eagles are focused on positives of the school’s fourth tournament appearance since 2017. One that isn’t over.“We’re just excited that this is the best New Life has done at the state tournament,” said coach Dede Lawson, whose squad rallied to beat West Central in a five-set quarterfinal thriller Thursday.New Life Academy (20-12) will face Mabel-Canton for third place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday; Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (29-6) will take on Mayer Lutheran in the 2:30 p.m. final.Makenna Lilly led New Life Academy Friday with 21 kills; Arianna Twomey had 10. Annika Haak had 39 assists and Rylee DaCosta had 18 digs.“I think we did a good job overall and I’m really proud of us,” said middle hitter Mak...

New efforts to combat Capital Region crime

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Governor’s Office recently released statistics saying crime was down overall, across the state. Combating crime in Capital Region hotspots is something community groups and police departments are working on tackling together. Veteran loses nearly everything, saves wife from burning home Raquel Jennings is a mother of four young children and told NEWS10 she feels relatively safe in her neighborhood. However, she and others don’t believe the crime picture is what the governor painted.“I don't watch the news too much. I don't watch TV. But, word of mouth, I don't think it's down as much as they say it is,” said Jennings.Bishop Avery Comithier with Pastors on Patrol, a community watch group in Albany, says he wants to reach those in the hotspot neighborhoods. He says his group is ready to do more to help people feel safer. “They want to walk out their doors knowing there is this presence. And so, Pastors on Patrol brings that presence when we go out t...

Questions loom for Burdett supporters after St. Peter’s forum

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Although St. Peter’s Health Partners maintains there will not be changes to services with the Burdett Birth Center closure, many are worried about the quality of care and how marginalized communities will have access to it. St. Peter’s held a virtual public forum Thursday to explain why it concluded that closing the Burdett Birth Center is necessary and laid out the plan to mitigate negative outcomes. St. Peter's has maintained it will continue to provide 100 percent of services to 100 percent of patients, the only change is the location of births. But the idea of moving what happens at Burdett to St. Peter’s is something that does not sit right with Midwife Tisha Graham, who said both places have two vastly different cultures. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “Midwives have a different model of care that relies more on normal physiological birthing processes, and supporting people through those processes, ...

SUV slams into north county home after driver flees traffic stop

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

FERGUSON, Mo. - An attempted traffic stop ends with a suspect’s car slamming into an SUV, which flew into a home in Ferguson, interrupting a child’s birthday celebration.FOX 2 crews were in north county for an unrelated story and saw it all unfold, including the moment the suspect was taken into custody.Investigators tell FOX 2 that a Calverton Park police officer stopped the driver of a Cadillac along North Florissant Avenue. Police said the Cadillac attempted to take off when it slammed into the SUV, and upon impact, the SUV slammed right into the house. No one was home at the time. Man killed in south St. Louis County road-rage shooting First responders arrived within minutes of the crash to assist the officer behind the traffic stop. The suspect avoiding the traffic stop appeared to have blood on his face.Lydia Hughes, the driver of the SUV, spoke to FOX 2 right after the encounter on what she recalled. "I was coming down Florissant Road, driving to take my daughter some cupca...

Police investigating shooting at Independence Center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Independence, Missouri, police are investigating a shooting at the Independence Center mall on Friday afternoon. Independence police initially said two people were shot, but later updated that four people were injured in the shooting. Police looking for suspect in Warrensburg shooting One victim, a woman who is pregnant, is in critical condition, and the others have serious or non-life threatening injuries. First responders took all four to the hospital, Independence police spokesman Jack Taylor said. Police said the situation is stable now, and there is no active shooter. Taylor confirmed the shooting happened inside the mall. Officials said they believe two groups of people were shooting at each other, but they are still trying to figure out the details. Taylor said he believes three people are in custody. He could not confirm their ages but believes they are all adults. The city of Independence issued the following statement...

Home Depot Foundation, Rebuilding Together team up to improve homes for St. Louis-area veterans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Volunteers from the Home Depot Foundation and Rebuilding Together St. Louis joined forces Friday to help out local veterans with home upgrades ahead of Veterans Day. More than 60 volunteers from both groups did some spruce-up work on five veterans' homes in the St. Louis area. With a little elbow grease and some fresh paint, the group worked several hours to express their gratitude for Henry Bickley. Volunteers helped him with new fans and new motion sensor lights, while also painting his porches. Taylor Swift’s heartfelt tribute to Lindenwood alumna during ‘Eras’ tour “All I can do is just thank you,” says Bickley, a United States Air Force veteran. "It’s a wonderful thing, helping seniors stay in their homes.”Volunteers from both sides of the Mississippi River came prepared. “We started outside and repainted his steps,” says Brittany Young, Team Depot Captain. “We've replaced two light fixtures on the exterior and new house numbers. We’ve replaced all the light bulb...