Alpha Media Library WASHINGTON (AP) — Liam and Olivia have for the fifth year topped the list of top baby names for brand new boys and girls in the U.S., according to the Social Security Administration. And Mateo joins the top 10 baby names list for the first time. The agency annually tracks the names given to girls and boys in each state, with names dating back to 1880. The Social Security Administration’s latest data show that 3.58 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2023. That’s a light decrease from last year’s 3.66 million babies, representing an overall decline in the American birthr ..read more

"A Walk in the Woods," the first painting Bob Ross produced for hic iconic show “The Joy of Painting,” sits on display at the home of Modern Artifact owner Ryan Nelson, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Wayzata, Minn. Ross was known for his unpretentious approach to painting on his long-running show, “The Joy of Painting,” but now the painting he completed on his first show in 1983 is for sale for nearly $10 million. Minneapolis gallery owner Ryan Nelson calls it the "rookie card" for Ross. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave) (Associated Press) – When Bob Ross died of complications from cancer in 1995, he had ..read more

Steve Bannon accompanied by his attorney M. Evan Corcoran, speaks to the media as he departs the federal court in Washington, Thursday, July 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the criminal conviction of Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Friday rejected Bannon’s challenges to his contempt of Congress conviction. Bannon had been sentenced to four months in prison, but ..read more

Credit: MGN NEW YORK (AP) — Target confirmed that it won’t be carrying its LGBTQ+ merchandise for Pride month in June in some stores after the discount retailer received backlash last year for its assortment. Target, which operates roughly 2,000 stores, said Friday that the decision to offer Pride merchandise, including adult apparel, home products, food and beverage will be based on “guest insights and consumer research.” A Target spokeswoman declined to offer the number of stores that won’t stock the items. But a full range will be offered online, Target said. The moves, first reported by Bl ..read more

Credit: MGN WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer sentiment fell sharply in May to the lowest level in six months as Americans cited concerns about stubbornly high inflation and interest rates and fears that unemployment could rise. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, released Friday in a preliminary version, dropped to 67.4 this month from a final reading of 77.2 in April. That is still about 14% higher than a year ago. Consumers’ outlook has generally been gloomy since the pandemic and particularly after inflation first spiked in 2021 ..read more

Police car with emergency siren at night. 3D rendered illustration. A 72-year-old man was killed Thursday in a crash between New Prague and Montgomery. The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office responded just before 3 p.m. to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Co Rd 3, north of Co Rd 29 in Lanesburg Township. Investigators say a Hyundai sedan driven by Kyle Wayne Peterson, 35, of Bethel, was northbound on Co Rd 3 when it crossed over the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound Ford pickup driven by 30-year-old Adam Wacholz. A passenger in Peterson’s car, 72-year-old Ronald Alan Otter ..read more

New Ulm Fire Department Logo A trailer home near New Ulm was destroyed by fire early Friday morning. The New Ulm Fire Department responded to 20988 Highway 15, near the Highway 68 junction, at 2:12 a.m. Upon arrival, crews found the unoccupied trailer house fully engulfed in flames. The fire was under control within 20 minutes, according to Fire Chief Paul Macho, but crews remained on the scene for more than two hours. The home was a total loss.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. Hanska Fire Department assisted at the scene ..read more

North Mankato Police logo A Mankato woman is behind bars after she allegedly led police on a low-speed chase.  Yesterday morning shortly before 8 a.m., North Mankato police attempted to stop a vehicle near the intersection of Carlson Dr and Lookout Dr for a traffic violation.  Police say the driver, 55-year-old Ellen Koenigs, refused to stop.  Police followed Koenigs’s vehicle with lights and sirens activated as it traveled at speeds around 15 to 25 mph southbound on Lookout Dr and eventually onto several roads in the Commerce Dr area. Other officers arrived to assist and tried ..read more

Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal in New York, Friday, April 19, 2024. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP) NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s defense attorneys are grilling Stormy Daniels on the transaction at the center of the former president’s hush money trial. The defense pressed Daniels on Thursday about why she accepted a $130,000 payment to keep quiet about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump instead of going public. Daniels avoided eye contact with the former president as she walked into the Manhattan courtroom and made her way to the witness stand for a second d ..read more

Photo: MGN WASHINGTON (AP) — Hardline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for a vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, but lawmakers have quickly rejected it. Greene of Georgia pressed ahead with her long-shot effort despite pushback from Republicans at the highest levels who are tired of the political chaos. Donald Trump, his leader of the Republican National Committee and other Republicans have warned Greene off the effort. But Greene, who is one of Trump’s biggest supporters in Congress, wants to rebuke Johnson after the passage of a foreign aid package with funds for Ukraine as it fights Ru ..read more