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Literary pick for week of May 14

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

Merwin and Louise, sibling Sycamore seeds living 100 million years in the Cretaceous period, long to put down roots and grow into big trees. But when a fire forces them to leave their mother tree prematurely, they find themselves catapulted into the unknown, far from home.Brian SelznickThat’s the essence of Caldecott medalist Brian Selznick’s new book “Big Tree,” which he will introduce with a reading at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at the University of St. Thomas O’Shaughnessy Education Center, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, in partnership with St. Paul’s Red Balloon Bookshop.“Big Tree” (Scholastic), began as a planned collaboration between Selznick and producer/director Steven Spielberg for a film project that never got off the ground. But both men agreed it would make a terrific book, and it lives up to that prediction with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal and The Horn Book. It is enlivened with nearly 300...

How was the Heidi Firkus case closed after more than a decade? Meet the trio who pushed for justice.

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

For the first time since Heidi Firkus was killed 13 years ago in St. Paul, some of her parents’ sadness this year was replaced by a sense of relief on the recent anniversary of her killing.Less than two weeks earlier, Firkus’ husband had been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of premeditated murder in February. After years of waiting for answers and justice, Linda and John Erickson said they “are filled with gratitude for the many people who worked and prayed for truth and justice on behalf of Heidi and everyone who loved her.”At the center of the case is a trio of women who investigated and prosecuted Nicholas Firkus — St. Paul police Sgt. Niki Sipes, and prosecutors Elizabeth Lamin and Rachel Kraker. It was the most high-profile case of their careers, and the two prosecutors said they’ve never brought a homicide to trial so long after it happened.Though it was unusual in those regards, Lamin and Kraker said there are less...

‘Love, kindness and giving back’ inspires sock design competition, Woodbury elementary students — and a former ‘Bachelorette’

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

Students from Woodbury to Los Angeles designed their own socks for a competition focused on paying it forward. Led by a local sock company, the competition was judged by a former “Bachelorette.”More than 100 students from across the country submitted their sock designs in March in an effort to help youth who are experiencing homelessness, said Michael Mader, founder and CEO of Minneapolis-based Hippy Feet, which donates half its proceeds.Michelle Young, a former Twin Cities elementary teacher and star of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” with the three winning designs for the sock competition in May 2023. Half of the proceeds from the sock sales will be donated to help youth experiencing homelessness. (Courtesy of Michelle Young)The idea for the competition came about when Mader reached out to a former classmate of his, Michelle Young, who graduated from Woodbury High School and taught elementary school in the metro area before starring as “The Bachelorette” on ...

Ask Amy: “Big C” survivor struggles with new identity

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

Dear Amy: Six years ago, I developed a difficult cancer with a life expectancy of three to six months.After many months of chemo, I received a donor bone marrow transplant from a specialty hospital where I was for several more months.The transplant was “successful” and the probability of reoccurrence is low.I worked very hard at recovery. Now I am trying to accept a new normal.I have post-transplant complications including fatigue, graft versus host disease, organ damage, emotional trauma, food constraints, and am immune compromised.I try to present myself well, but it’s hard to keep up the act, and sooner or later something comes up that highlights my inabilities.I get tired of blaming “the Big C” but often it comes out; for example, I get extremely fatigued and have to leave after a few hours, or people resent the fact that I am still careful and masking, so I mumble something to explain myself.I have not been able to come up with a way to present myself that works well (I make jo...

Violations of rule of law grow in Moldova

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

The situation in Moldova is getting into strong tension. The persecution of the Shor Party and its members by the authorities led by President Maia Sandou, Under different accusations without concrete proof, is taking leads that violate the rule of law.Following the imprisonment of a member of Parliament, Marina Tauber, the Shor Party sees the current persecution as a way to impeach the electoral campaign currently in place in ATU Gaugazia., being hold today, Sunday, May 14. Therefore, they have been addressing the Council of Europe, the International observers for the elections of the Council of Europe, the Congress of local public authorities and the OCDE/ODHIR in order to have these international organisations discussing the issue urgently.The Republic of Moldova has been condemned and criticised by International organisations for the violation of the rule of law. Despite the situation being extremely tense, it is clear that for democracy the rule is imperative and its violation ...

Word Game: May 14, 2023

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

TODAY’S WORD — EMOLLIENT (EMOLLIENT: ih-MAHL-yent: Softening or soothing, especially to the skin.)Average mark 50 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 65 or more words in EMOLLIENT?TODAY’S WORD — EMOLLIENT elite emit emote entoil meet melon melt melton mete mien mile mill millet mine mint mite moil mole moll molt molten monte mote motel motile oilmen ollie omelet omen omit onetime lemon lent lentil lien lilt lime limn limo line lint lintel lion lite loin lone inlet into item nite noel note teem teen tell tile till time tine toil toile tole toll tome toneTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” an...

Bridge: May 14, 2023

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

A reader sent me today’s deal from a team-of-four match. It furnished support for my opinion (which I cherish against almost universal opposition) that the modern, dominant “game-forcing two-over-one” bidding style has its shortcomings.At one table, North-South stopped safely at four spades. North’s bid of two diamonds suggested to South that the hands fit together poorly, so South took a conservative view.West led the ten of diamonds: king, ace, ruff. South then cashed the A-K of trumps.When West threw a diamond, South had to be careful. He led a heart to dummy’s king and returned a heart. East couldn’t gain by ruffing a loser; he discarded, and South’s ace won. South then led a club to the king, threw a club on the queen of diamonds and led a third heart. East had to discard again, and South won and ruffed his last heart in dummy with dummy’s last trump. He lost two trumps and one club. Well played!In the replay, North-South were usi...

Claude Garrett Was Wrongfully Imprisoned for Decades. He Died After Five Months of Freedom.

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

Just over a year ago, on May 10, Claude Garrett walked out of the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee, and into the arms of his daughter, Deana. Exonerated after 30 years for a murder he always swore he did not commit, Claude had fought tirelessly for his freedom. After two trials, decades of appeals, and an unsuccessful parole hearing in 2018, it ultimately took an admission from the same office that convicted him that the case was bogus for him to finally be released.Waiting for him outside the prison alongside his daughter were lawyers with the Tennessee Innocence Project as well as Claude’s most devoted advocates: his pen pal-turned-mentor, Denny Griswold, and his loyal friend and staunch supporter, veteran fire investigator Stuart Bayne. There were hugs and handshakes and some brief words for the press. Then he got into Deana’s car and rode away.Claude spent the next few months making up for lost time. He swam in the ocean on Father’s Day and played b...

Ukrainian president says counteroffensive is intended to liberate occupied areas, not attack Russian territory

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

BERLIN (AP) — Ukrainian president says counteroffensive is intended to liberate occupied areas, not attack Russian territory.Source

Life sentences for 4 in slaying of Md. man held for $7,000 ransom

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

Four men from D.C. and Maryland have been sentenced to life in prison for murder and other charges related to the 2018 kidnapping and killing of a Bowie, Maryland, man.Darin Moore, Jr. 29, of Bowie, and the three other defendants from D.C. — Gabriel Brown, 33; John Sweeney, 29; and James Taylor, 33 — were all involved in the kidnapping of 28-year-old Andre Simmons Jr., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C.Officials said the group held Simmons for ransom before killing him.On June 19, 2018, Simmons was abducted at gunpoint, bound with zip ties and forced into a vehicle by Moore and Sweeney in Maryland, according to the investigation conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.The investigation found that several ransom calls were made from Taylor’s phone to the victim’s family over the next few hours. Simmons’ family delivered $7,000 in cash to a drop location, as instructed by the kidnappers, and Brown picke...