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NYS Wallet App to shut down: What will happen to COVID-19 vaccine digital passes?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Excelsior Pass Plus and NYS Wallet Apps will be decommissioned by New York State on July 28. According to the New York State website, the app will no longer be available due to reduced demand for access to digital COVID-19 test and vaccine records. They add this is also due to the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11. The Excelsior Pass Plus provided a secure and digital copy of an individual's COVID-19 vaccination record — including type, and site and date of vaccination. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Once the app is decommissioned, NYS will no longer recommend its use, and it will be removed from app store. NYS says users can leave their pass in their phone should they need it in the future. They add should the app fail, no technical support will be available. NYS also says users can take a photo or screenshot of their pass to present as proof of vaccination.Access...

Biden plots new course to get relief for student loan borrowers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

President Biden on Friday announced new actions to offer student loan borrowers some forgiveness, reintroducing his forgiveness plan grounded in the Higher Education Act (HEA).Using the HEA to provide student debt relief has been pushed by student loan advocates and top Democrats for years. Under the HEA, advocates argue it allows the education secretary to “compromise, waive or release” student loans. This path will require a public comment and notice period before it could go into effect. “We need to find a new way, and we’re moving as fast as we can,” he said in Friday afternoon remarks at the White House.The administration had tied the student debt relief plan — struck down by the Supreme Court — to the national emergency established during the COVID-19 public health crisis, citing the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's majority opinion, issued Friday morning, that the HEROES Act does not gr...

Caught on camera: Man steals cash, exotic reptile from pet store in Lemay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

LEMAY, Mo. - St. Louis County police are searching for a man who was caught on camera stealing cash and an animal from a pet store in Lemay.The owner of Exotic Amphibian Reptile Center said a thief broke into the store around 4:30 a.m. Thursday."Somebody broke in through our back door of our building and took a large Argentine black and white tegu and a large cage and emptied out the cash register and also the tip jar we have up here for our employees," said James Brumley, the owner.Brumley said he's working with the St. Louis County Police Department in turning over surveillance video of the burglary. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway "He was armed and had what looked to be a semi-automatic pistol with a large clip," Brumley said.Sings posted inside the shop on the 300 block of Lemay Ferry Road stated that the theft of an animal is a felony in Missouri. The missing lizard is worth more than $300, about the same size as the tegu."They'...

Missouri receives historic investment to expand broadband access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state is set to receive $1.7 billion from the federal government to increase access to high-speed internet across Missouri. In January, the Department of Economic Development asked for Missourians help to receive more money from the federal government by telling the FCC who has access to broadband and who doesn't. Due to the participation from residents, Missouri is receiving a historic investment to help bridge the gap. "Missouri is going to see a huge change over the next five years," Director for the Missouri Office of Broadband Development BJ Tanksley said. The Show-Me State ranks low nationally for high-speed internet access, with more than 400,000 homes without access at all. "Population density and the difficulty of the terrain are the two main reasons and when you see both of those come together, like some of our more rural areas in northern and south central Missouri, you've got a really hard time," Tanksley said.  This St. Louis subur...

Ben Kowtica, Mike Westhoff determined to fix Broncos’ special teams woes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

When Mike Westhoff received a call from Sean Payton to become the New Orleans Saints’ special teams coach in November 2017, former quarterback Drew Brees was the only player he knew on the roster.But Payton needed help. Although the Saints were on a seven-game win streak, their special teams ranked 30th in punt return and 28th in kickoff return average, forcing Payton to ask Westhoff to come out of retirement and turn things around.“I didn’t know anybody,” Westhoff said. “Sean thought (the Saints) were really good, but he was disappointed in their special teams and wanted me to come in.”Six years later and enjoying retirement, Westhoff got a call from Payton again. This time, Payton wanted Westhoff to join him in Denver as an assistant head coach, teaming up with special teams coordinator Ben Kowtica and assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo to fix a unit that underperformed in 2022.“I just (have) so much respect for (Payton),” said Westhoff, who has 32 seasons of NF...

Thornton man kidnapped girl, then bound, gagged, sexually assaulted her, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

Police in Thornton found a girl lying beside a truck, her hands and legs tied up and her mouth taped closed, and officers arrested a 44-year-old man suspected of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the girl.The girl was found about 4 a.m. June 21 in the 9400 block of Lillian Lane, according to an arrest affidavit. The girl led police to a nearby home, from which she “escaped” through a screen door while she was bound.Phillip Torres was arrested on investigation of multiple felonies, including second-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, false imprisonment and two counts of sexual assault on a child, according to the affidavit.The kidnapping unfolded June 20 when the girl, who is from out of state and was staying at a local hotel with her aunt, argued with her aunt and left the hotel. As she was walking around a man, later identified as Torres, in a white pickup truck pulled up. The girl got into the truck, expecting a ride back to the hotel, but was instead ...

Hesperia convenience store clerk gunned down during robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

A 16-year-old from Victorville is facing robbery and murder charges after he fatally shot a store clerk in Hesperia Thursday evening, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.The shooting occurred at a Mobil gas station on Main Street at about 6:20 p.m., the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. The clerk at a Mobil gas station in Hesperia, Calif. was killed during an apparent robbery. June 29, 2023. (OnScene.TV)After the robber fled the scene, deputies found the store clerk, 27-year-old Parveen Singh of Hesperia, unresponsive on the floor with a gunshot wound. He was declared dead at a local hospital.The teen, meanwhile, was arrested about a block away from the scene, police said. He was booked into the High Desert Juvenile Hall in Apple Valley. Anyone with information is asked to call 909-890-4904.  To remain anonymous, call the WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com.

Man accused of breaking into woman’s Reseda home, sexually assaulting her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

A man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into a woman’s home in Reseda and sexually assaulting her, police said Friday.The incident occurred around 9:55 p.m. Wednesday in the 19500 block of Saticoy Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Blessing Wainiwheh, allegedly entered the home through a window and sexually assaulted the victim before running away.Wainiwheh was eventually found hiding inside a home near the victim’s residence that he had also allegedly broken into, police said.Authorities released a booking photo of Wainiwheh and they believe he is responsible for additional sexual assaults.Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Wainiwheh, or has additional information about him, is asked to call Detective Joseph Hampton at 818-374-7717 or 818-374-7611. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 213-972-2971 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Those wishing to remain an...

Dodgers' Mookie Betts to compete in Home Run Derby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts will compete in the All-Star Home Run Derby in Seattle on July 10, joining Seattle's Julio Rodríguez and Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero in the eight-man competition.Elected to start in the All-Star Game for the National League, Betts leads the Dodgers with 20 home runs. Betts announced Friday he will make his first derby appearance.Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr., who topped all players in votes, said he will not participate for a third time. Thousands protest Dodgers’ Pride night event honoring LGBTQ+ ‘nun’ group “I think this year I’m going to take a break from it,” Acuña said through a translator. “I think there’s other players out there that deserve to be part of it and want to be showcased in it, but I think this year I’m going to take a break.”Juan Soto won last year's derby at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, edging Rodríguez 19-18 in the final round.The Dodgers have never had a derby winner. Joc Pederson reached the final round in 2015 at Cincin...

3 Dodgers, 3 Angels elected to All-Star Game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:26 GMT

Mike Trout will see a bunch of new faces surrounding him at this year's All-Star Game.The Los Angeles Angels center fielder was selected for his 11th appearance on Thursday, and four Texas Rangers were chosen by fans for the American League’s lineup for the July 11 game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.Nine first-time starters were picked by fans, including three Rangers: catcher Jonah Heim, shortstop Corey Seager and rookie third baseman Josh Jung. Arizona rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll, who's from Seattle, also was voted in, giving the starting lineups a pair of rookie position players for the third time after Rich Rollins and Tom Tresh in 1962, and Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukodome in 2008.“You always put it in your mind that I want to do that someday,” Jung said.Texas reached the season’s midpoint at 49-32, on track for its first winning season since 2016. The Rangers host next year’s All-Star Game.Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien was chosen for his second start.“We all strive to...