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Catalytic converter thefts dropping, State Farm says
There has been a 74% drop in catalytic converter theft claims in the U.S. for the first half of 2024, compared to the first half of 2023, State Farm said.
MINNESOTA, USA — New data from State Farm shows catalytic converter thefts may be on the decline in the U.S., and in Minnesota.
According to the insurance company, the first half of 2024 saw a 74% drop in catalytic converter theft claims, compared to the same time period in 2023.
In Minnesota, State Farm said there were 68 claims during the first six months of this year, compared to 400 claims made in 2023.
Catalytic converters are part of a car’s exhaust system. According to JD Power, converter scraps are stolen and sold for their precious metals.
But in 2023, new legislation in Minnesota made it illegal to possess a detached catalytic converter that doesn’t contain the VIN of the matching car. The law also requires scrap metal dealers to enter sales into a BCA database.
State Farm said the 74% drop nationally is especially good news when compared to when theft claims peaked in 2022.
The North Star State has the ninth most claims in the U.S. so far this year. California saw more than 2,000 claims in the first half of 2024, State Farm said in the news release, with Illinois in second with 540 claims.
The insurance company gave some tips to prevent theft, like engraving your VIN into the car’s converter and having a security camera pointing at your usual parking spot.
“Always be mindful of your vehicle and exercise precaution when necessary,” JD Power says on its website. “If you find that your car is too loud and something seems off, it is possible you have become a victim of theft. In this case, you should call your insurance company and check if catalytic converters are covered in your policy.”
The story went viral on the internet and now, thanks to a vigilant following, Gracie Langham’s dog “Mav” has been found and was returned to home.
METAIRIE, La. — A community came together through social media to help a Metairie woman find her emotional support dog who ran off following a car crash.
The story went viral on the internet and now, thanks to a vigilant following, Gracie Langham’s dog “Mav” has been found and returned home.
Langham tells WWL Louisiana’s Meg Farris that Mav was spotted with someone in Pensacola Florida.
On Saturday Langham met with the person in Florida who happily reunited Mav with his owner who had been desperately searching for him since the car crash on Halloween over a week ago.
“Last night at 9:17pm we received a tip that Mav was potentially with a family in Pensacola, FL. This information proved to be accurate, and this morning Mav was happily and safely reunited with his owners in Pensacola!!!! We will not be disclosing the name of the tipster until they give us permission to do so. THANKS BE TO GOD! We are so thankful and appreciative to all who have given their time, efforts, and resources in our search to find Mav. This would not have been possible without you. We are forever grateful for the power of this community and the kind hearts of many. Thank you!!!!!,” said an update on the search in a social media post on a Facebook page dedicated to finding the lost dog.
“We’d like to express our extreme gratitude to the doctors and staff at Clearview Vet Hospital, Excel Signs and Graphics, and the many other businesses and community members who donated to helping get the word out about Mav being missing!”
Now that Mav has been found, we need some time to rest and recharge. For this reason, we will not be providing any additional information or addressing any comments at this time so that we can focus on doing what we need to do for ourselves. Thank you for understanding this and respecting what we need. Thank you.”
IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD AND THE POWER OF PRAYER, TODAY SHOULD BE YOUR PROOF!!!
Posted by Find Mav – Metairie, La on Saturday, November 9, 2024
On Halloween, it had rained, and the streets were wet and slick. Langham told WWL she was driving with her adolescent golden retriever, Mav when she made a turn in Metairie at Clearview and Utica and skidded out.
“All of the airbags deployed, and Mav was very scared, and I was very scared, and I had to kick the door out. He sprinted away from me, and I was screaming his name, and running as fast as I could behind him, but I lost him,” she said.
Startled by the commotion after the crash Mav ran off and after Langham launched a plea on social media, the public search began.
Mav is an emotional support animal offering emotional support to Langham, an LSU dental student, who helps her cope after she lost both of her grandparents recently.
Mav’s family with the Humane Society of Louisiana offered a $5,750 reward for the golden retriever.
Mav has a microchip implant to identify him which may have helped with the search.
Langham says she is so happy that Mav was found safe and being checked out by a veterinarian.
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Meet Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and the Dark Lord of the Sith, Emperor Palpatine!
MINNEAPOLIS — Get ready for a weekend celebration of comics and pop culture, including TV, film, cosplay, gaming, and anime.
The fourth annual Twin Cities Con returns to the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Fans of all ages are invited to join the fun and meet dozens of internationally known TV and movie actors, wrestlers, anime voice actors, comic creators, and other entertainers.
Some of the celebrities include Star Wars legends Ian McDiarmid and Hayden Christensen; Grant Gustin from The Flash; La Bamba star Lou Diamond Phillips; The voice of Spongebob Squarepants, Tom Kenny; Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong from Boy Meets World; Brooklyn 99’s Stephanie Beatriz; Hall of Fame wrestler Sting; Diane Guerrero from Orange Is the New Black and Doom Patrol.
WHERE: Minneapolis Convention Center
TICKETS: Weekend Pass – $70
INFO: For a complete list of celebrities, events, exhibitors, and more, please visit twincitiescon.com.
FashionFest is a night to sip, shop and support M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital.
MINNEAPOLIS — This year’s annual fundraiser for the M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, FashionFest, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15 at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel – The Depot.
The walk-around wine and food-tasting event includes shopping from curated boutiques and enjoying an exceptional fashion show featuring Twin Cities celebrities.
In the past 11 years, FashionFest has raised over $3.5 million to help provide pediatric services, programming and activities for young patients and their families.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Masonic Children’s Hospital among the top children’s hospitals in the U.S. for the 15th year in a row.
