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Duluth’s Essentia Health, Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic break off merger talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. — A potential merger between two large health care systems has been called off.In a joint news release Friday, Duluth-based Essentia Health and Marshfield, Wis.-based Marshfield Clinic Health System said they were ending merger talks. The two had signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2022 as they mulled a potential merger and then entered a merger agreement in July 2023.In a separate statement, Essentia said Marshfield’s financial situation “was the primary factor in our decision to end discussions.”“To be clear, Essentia’s finances are strong, and it is imperative we maintain that stability so we can continue investing in and enhancing care for our patients,” Essentia said.“Essentia Health and MCHS have engaged in meaningful discussion over the last two years about how our organizations could combine our unique strengths. We have decided that a combination at this time is not the right path forward for our respective organ...

Timberwolves respond to first losing skid in resounding fashion in win over Rockets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

Minnesota hit its first bump in the road this week. Every NBA team will incur those — it’s the nature of an 82-game season in which the games come fast and furious. No team can always be at its best.But these are the moments Timberwolves guard Mike Conley noted in training camp define championship-caliber teams. One trait all great squads have in common, he said, is resiliency.How well do you bounce back when the chips are down?This week — in which the Wolves lost consecutive games for the first time all season after seemingly losing their edge — marked the first adversity the current top team in the Western Conference had stumbled upon all season.“It’s the ability to go on a two- or three-game losing streak, snap out of it and have team meetings, talk to each other. The media is tackling you and trying to split you apart, and you band together and have moments in the season that become those signature moments that you can look back at and say, ‘Hey, this is when they be...

Minnesota law enforcement debut pilot program to test motorists for cannabis impairment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

Minnesota law enforcement is trying out a new tool to test for drivers using legal cannabis, hoping that it could help save lives lost to impaired driving.In August, cannabis became legal for adults 21 and older to use and possess in Minnesota. But it still can’t be used while behind the wheel of a car or boat.A pilot project that began this month involves training law enforcement on how to perform a roadside test for cannabis, according to the State Patrol.The instrument, the SoToxa Oral Fluid Mobile Analyzer, can detect the presence of cannabis or other drugs in a driver. The project will be testing how effective, efficient and accurate the tests are. Another instrument, the Dräger DrugTest 5000, will be tested at a later date.The roadside tests will be like preliminary breath tests that law enforcement officers use to detect drunken driving.The pilot project is voluntary for drivers, so the results won’t be admissible in court, and they will not be used to establish probable caus...

From alleged jailbreak attempt to ankle monitor violations, defendant gets one more chance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A felon accused of shooting his wife reportedly violated his ankle monitor as soon as it was installed. FOX 2 was the only media in the courtroom Friday when the judge threatened to send the suspect back to jail, but gave him another shot at freedom before trial.Authorities say 53-year-old Pierre Kirkwood shot his wife in May 2022. Later, he was accused of attempting a jail break. On Friday, he was in court for violating his ankle monitor.We caught up with Kirkwood after he was allowed to leave court, remaining on his ankle bracelet. How much snow will St. Louis get on Friday or next week? Kirkwood told us the judge, "did his job, you know what I’m saying. I had a bumpy ride coming out the door, but I straightened it out.”Prosecutors allege Kirkwood laughed when his ankle monitor was installed this past November, as he reportedly said, “You might as well take this off me.” The prosecutor said he was then “gone the next three days” from Nov. 28-30. The prosecutor claime...

Frozen funds for some St. Louis County nonprofits amid council-executive clash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Some members of the St. Louis County Council are in a battle with County Executive Sam Page and the head of local nonprofits, including one that helps women in domestic violence situations.Organizations like Journey Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (JADASA) got a letter on Sept. 20, 2023 telling them they were supposed to get $25,000 in federal ARPA funds from St. Louis County. But then in December, they got another letter telling them they were out of luck and the funds were being frozen. Cynthia Bennett, the head of JADASA, says it’s hard to believe.“It’s disappointing, very disappointing," said Bennett. "I didn’t see it coming, but regardless of what happens, we still have to find creative ways to work with the woman to find resources to get them out of abusive situations." How much snow will St. Louis get on Friday or next week? They’re not alone. About $1.1 million intended for five different organizations has been frozen. Groups like JADASA say losin...

Residents evacuated after Pleasant Hill car crash leads to 'significant' gas leak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. (KRON) -- A number of people have been evacuated due to a "significant" gas leak Friday evening, the Pleasant Hill Police Department said. The gas leak resulted from a vehicle collision at a home near Susan Lane and Doris Drive.The residents were evacuated as a precaution, police said. Fire crews are also at the scene assisting in PHPD's response. PHPD posted photos of the scene (below). Images show at least two cars were involved in the collision. Adidas store at San Francisco Centre set to close (Pleasant Hill Police Department)(Pleasant Hill Police Department)PHPD posted about the gas leak at 6:44 p.m. on X. No other details were immediately available. KRON4 has sent a crew to the scene. Stay tuned for updates as KRON4 learns more.

Connor Bedard departs after big hit as Chicago Blackhawks lose 4-2 to New Jersey Devils

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard departed after he was leveled in the first period of a 4-2 loss to Simon Nemec and the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.Bedard was hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith after the 18-year-old center carried the puck into Chicago’s offensive zone. Bedard then skated to the bench holding his face as Nick Foligno, Brett Seney and several teammates ignited a skirmish behind the Devils net.Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson had no update on Bedard after the loss. He said he will be evaluated on Saturday when the team is back in Chicago.After the All-Star departed, there was a series of skirmishes before New Jersey rallied for its fifth win in six games.Nemec and Alexander Holtz each had a goal and an assist as the Devils improved to 13-5-1 in their last 19 games. Michael McLeod snapped a tie in the third period, and Tyler Toffoli added an empty-netter for his 16th goal of the season.New Jersey goaltender Vitek Vanecek made ...

Left-hander Martín Pérez and Pirates finalize $8 million, 1-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Martín Pérez and the Pittsburgh Pirates finalized their $8 million, one-year contract on Friday.The 32-year-old left-hander, who won the World Series with Texas in November, agreed to the deal in mid-December subject to a successful physical.Right-hander Max Kranick was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.Pérez went 10-4 for the Rangers last season with a 4.45 ERA in 35 games, 20 of them starts. He moved from the rotation to the bullpen in August and made three relief appearances in the playoffs — all in mop-up duty — as Texas won its first World Series title. His salary is less than half the $19.65 million he earned last year after accepting the Rangers’ qualifying offer.The Pirates are trying to build rotation depth in the minors but it remains a work in progress, one of the reasons they have looked outside the organization for help at the big league level. Pérez is 85-81 with a 4.44 ERA in 12 major league seasons with Texas (2012-18, ’22-23), Minneso...

Nets open 32-point lead, beat Thunder 124-115 to end 5-game losing streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Spencer Dinwiddie and Nic Claxton each scored 23 points and the Brooklyn Nets snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-115 on Friday night. Cam Thomas broke out of a 0-for-20 shooting slump with 19 points, including 16 in the Nets’ most dominant first half of the season. They led 75-47 at the break and by 32 in the third quarter before a late push by the Thunder made it close.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Thunder, who have dropped two straight after a five-game winning streak. Jalen Williams added 20 points and Chet Holmgren had 17. The Nets’ skid started with a 144-122 home loss to Milwaukee on Dec. 27, when they rested three starters and didn’t play Thomas — a starter at the time — or Mikal Bridges after the first quarter. They were fined $100,000 on Thursday, the first team penalized for violating the league’s player participation policy that went into effect this se...

New year, same Scottie Scheffler. He has 64 to build a 1-shot lead at The Sentry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:09 GMT

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — A new year, the same old Scottie Scheffler. The world’s No. 1 player had eight birdies and an eagle Friday for a 9-under 64 at The Sentry, giving him a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the PGA Tour’s season opener.Low scoring on the Plantation course at Kapalua has come to be expected. Even with the Kona wind out of the opposite direction, it hasn’t been strong enough to keep the 59-player field from attacking at will.Scheffler was at 16-under 130, still only good for a one-shot lead over jet-lagged Tyrrell Hatton of England, Brendon Todd and Sungjae Im.“It’s one of those places if you go out there and play well, you’re going to get rewarded,” Scheffler said. “If you start not hitting it in the right spots, you can get in trouble. Just got to keep the pedal down.”That’s what Hatton did, no matter how tired he feels. He said it took him just over 25 hours to get from London to Maui, in part due to a mechanical delay on...