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Blind Indiana veteran climbing world's tallest mountain

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

Dugger, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Climbing the world's tallest mountain is a steep goal, but climbing it when you are blind is an even rockier challenge."I'm a little nervous, but I'm truly trying to stay as emotionally neutral as I can," said Lonnie Bedwell, of Wabash Valley, Indiana. This adventurer is quite familiar with controlling his nerves. He has kayaked the rapids of the Colorado River. And even climbed Mount Denali, the highest peak in the U.S. Surfer fights off shark that took his foot: ‘I was trying to go for the eyes’ But even though Bedwell, who lost his sight in a hunting accident in 1997, likes to push his limits, climbing Mount Everest was never really on his radar."I truly didn't have a desire to do it to begin with," said Bedwell, laughing.Bedwell's climbing Mount Denali in June 2022. (Photo Courtesy Alex Johnson, Erin Johnston and "Sightless Summits" team)But then, he received two phone calls: One from another climber and the other from the Blind Veterans Association...

Surfer in Hawaii fights off shark that took his foot: 'I was trying to go for the eyes'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) – Mike Morita said he's grateful to be alive after losing his foot in a shark attack while surfing with friends in Honolulu.Morita, 58, was bitten by the shark just before 7 a.m. Sunday morning, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said. He had been surfing off the Kewalo Basin, an area said to be an unusual spot for shark attacks, according to marine life experts.Morita said he and his friends were catching small waves in the clear waters that morning. Just before he was attacked, he was lying on his board, waiting for the waves to come in."It wasn't really like a chomp. It was just pressure," Morita said. "I can feel the strength of it and right away I knew it was a shark." ‘It felt very surreal’: Florida surfer ‘having nightmares’ after shark attack Morita's friends told him the shark pulled him underwater, and was shaking him back and forth. The 58-year-old says he tried punching the shark, but didn't have much success. So he wound up wrapping his arms and legs ...

Authorities arrest man in connection to 'deliberate' Pentagon leak

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Days after leaked Pentagon documents became widespread on Twitter, authorities have taken one man into custody in connection with the leak.The Justice Department confirms a member of the U.S. Airforce National Guard was arrested.“Today the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal retention and transmission of classified national defense information," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said.While the Justice Department is leading the ongoing investigation, the Pentagon says it is taking the issue seriously and is reviewing who can access certain classified information.“It is important to understand that we do have stringent guidelines in place for safeguarding classified and sensitive information,” Pentagon Press Secretary Airforce Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.The Pentagon says the process includes the need to obtain security clearances and the signing of non-disclosure agreements.“A...

DFL weighs new tax bracket for top-earning Minnesotans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

As Minnesota lawmakers piece together a tax bill, a new higher tax bracket is on the table for the state’s highest earners.It’s a move supporters say will bring needed ongoing funding for state programs, but opponents argue it could hurt business growth and push high earners out of the state.The House Taxes Committee is considering a fifth new tax bracket that would create a 10.85% tax for individual filers making more than $600,000 a year. The earning level for joint filers would be $1 million. It would go into effect for the 2023 tax year.Bill sponsor Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, DFL-St. Paul, who has carried a similar proposal in the past, told the tax committee this week that while Minnesota has a historic $17.5 billion budget surplus, much of that is one-time cash and the new bracket would be necessary for creating ongoing revenue for the state.“From our farmers to our families in the city … in order for us to provide the resources they need to have good quality of life we do need to ...

South Carolina-based Zeus bringing 100 jobs to new Arden Hills catheter design, manufacturing plant

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

Zeus, a South Carolina-based polymer company intent on growing its medical technology division, is expanding to Arden Hills with a boost from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Job Creation Fund.The goal is to both invent and produce state-of-the-art vascular catheters in a redeveloped manufacturing facility slated to open its doors this summer. The Red Fox Road facility, custom-retrofit and spanning nearly 76,000 square feet, will include a research and design space and cleanroom aimed at designing, developing and testing new catheter prototypes.Over the course of several years, the site is expected to employ more than 100 engineers, project managers, technicians and product builders, according to Zeus officials.Founded 57 years ago, the company until now has been better known for its work with fiber optic cables, engineered plastics for the automotive industry and insulated wires used for the oil and energy industries. Zeus acquired CathX Medic...

Heidi Firkus murder: Evidence from husband’s trial made public

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

When Nicholas Firkus went on trial this year for the 2010 killing of his wife in St. Paul, jurors and people in the courtroom saw and heard evidence that had never before been made public.That included audio of the couple’s 911 calls, video of the only time Nicholas Firkus talked to an investigator and testing that police did at the Firkus home.A jury convicted Firkus in February of premediated murder in the shooting of Heidi Firkus, 25. He told police an intruder broke into their home, he armed himself with a shotgun, and he and the stranger struggled. He said the shotgun went off twice, fatally shooting Heidi in the back and grazing him in the thigh.RELATED: Nicholas Firkus gets life sentence for wife Heidi’s murder he blamed on intruder. ALSO: How Nicholas Firkus jurors decided in hours that he killed Heidi.Prosecutors told jurors that Firkus staged the break-in because he hadn’t told Heidi their home had been foreclosed on and there were going to be evicted the next ...

Black bear cubs rescued near train tracks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

PAWLING, N.Y. (NEWS10) - On March 31, Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Franz received reports of two bear cubs stranded and motherless next to the Metro-North Railroad in Pawling. Officer Franz followed a rail employee about a half mile down the tracks before finding the cubs. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! He found the cubs in a bushy area and was able to get control of the animals using a hooded sweatshirt. Wildlife rehabilitators from Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center met with the rail worker and ECO Franz and took in the cubs. After an assessment, the cubs were determined to be in good condition and expected to recover.

Structure fire closes down parts of Columbia Turnpike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A structure fire has broken out in an area of Columbia Turnpike. The East Greenbush Police say Columbia Turnpike from Discovery Drive to Sherwood Avenue is closed in all directions. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Drivers should avoid the area and expect heavy traffic delays. An East Greenbush officer tells NEWS10 the structure was fully involved and no injuries have been reported at this time. The officer also says the fire seems to be under control at this point.We will provide updates as more information is released.

Pizzeria owner sets sights on cannabis for Whitehall, Glens Falls

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

WHITEHALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Joe Kelley has run businesses around Whitehall since the 1990s, when he first opened Joe's Pizza on Broadway. He still remembers the date: September 24, 1998. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In the decades since, Kelley has expanded to different corners of the northern Washington County town. First came the introduction of Bigfoot Wine & Liquor on the same property, followed by a move across the bridge over the Champlain Canal, where he operates an ice cream parlor and BBQ business. After a flood in 2020 ruined the foundation of the original pizzeria, and an electrical fire tore the building down in 2022, Kelley has been rebuilding his starting point - while selling pizza out of the BBQ business. He's doing it while keeping one eye on the future - thanks to a retail cannabis license he was approved for just a few weeks ago."The way it ended up rolling around, if you had a marijuana conviction ...

Experts discuss bail and possible changes to discovery law

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:18:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Public safety has been one of the major hold ups in the state's now 12-day late budget. The Governor is pushing for some reform surrounding the least restrictive means standard and possibly discovery laws. But what exactly are discovery laws in the criminal context? Steve Coffey, partner at O’Connell and Aronowitz said in 2019, the changes to discovery forced the DA to disclose to the Defense Attorney their file, that includes all statements from witnesses, grand jury testimonies, photos, internal documents, anything pertaining to the case within 15 days.  Drag storytime postponed following backlash in Lake Luzerne "It's a big advantage to the defense because now they have a right to see exactly what the DA is seeing. In effect, they’re looking at the same records as both sides," said Coffey. While it’s unclear what changes are being proposed for discovery, some are saying there could be rollbacks. In a statement the Legal Aid Society said in part, “Now, Gov...