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St. Louis police make notable change to non-emergency phone line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will soon make a notable change to its non-emergency phone line, one which police say will better serve the city. SLMPD will switch to a fully-automated non-emergency phone line Thursday. Police say the hotline number (314-231-1212) will serve as a routing system to forward callers to specific agencies within the city or police units. As legal battles mount, Kim Gardner takes nursing classes According to SLMPD, the change happens to alleviate the city's 911 communications center from non-urgent calls that could interfere with calls for emergencies, like shootings, robberies and other critical situations. “Our dispatchers work hard every day handling a high volume of 911 calls to our Communications Center,” said Lt. Adam Koeln, Commander of the Communications Division. “With the new automated non-emergency hotline, our goal is to provide better, more efficient services and response times to both emergency and non-emergency m...

Educators ‘outraged’ after attorneys argue 1st-grade teacher shot in school is ‘workplace injury’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

NEWPORT NEWS — The Newport News Education Association President condemned the premise of the school division’s motion to dismiss Abigail Zwerner’s pending $40 million lawsuit.The motion was filed last week by attorneys representing the School Board and argues that Zwerner, who was shot in her classroom at Richneck Elementary in January by a 6-year-old student, is only entitled to file a worker’s compensation claim because the injury she sustained from the shooting is a “workplace injury,” and that the shooting was a hazard of the job.James Graves, the president of the Newport News teachers union, says that argument is “ridiculous.”“This is not military, this is not the police department. This is an education system,” Graves said in an interview Wednesday.In a Facebook statement posted Tuesday, Graves said, “These lawyers have started a significant hurricane in our district by saying that being shot is part of what teachers signed up for.”Such statements, he said, are “a slap i...

Judge rejects lawsuit seeking to block Bonnie Brae’s first pot shop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

A Denver judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by eight people who live near Bonnie Brae, clearing the way for that neighborhood’s first dispensary to open next month.District Court Judge Christopher Baumann ruled April 28 that the residents’ Dec. 12 lawsuit was filed one week too late and therefore outside a 28-day statute of limitations.“This court is not in receipt of any competent evidence to justify an alternative finding,” he wrote.The judge’s order is a win for Silver Stem Fine Cannabis, which asked the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses last March to let it transfer one of its existing retail and medical licenses to 2331 E. Ohio Ave., just around the corner from Bonnie Brae Ice Cream.Public hearings were held over two days in June, after which a hearing officer recommended that Excise and Licenses approve the application. On Nov. 7, it was approved.“We are looking forward to opening our Silver Stem store in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood next month,” said Stan Zislis, chi...

California state senator arrested for drunk driving in Sacramento

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

California State Senator Dave Min (D-Orange County) faces a misdemeanor DUI charge after he was pulled over for driving without headlights on and running through a red light in Sacramento, officials said.According to a statement from the Capitol Protection Section of the California Highway Patrol, CHP officers noticed Min’s silver Toyota Camry traveling southbound on 9th Street near S. Street, just blocks from the State Capitol, without headlights around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday.“The officers followed the vehicle to 9th St. at Broadway where they observed the vehicle stop at a red light momentarily but then proceed into the intersection while the light remained red,” the agency said in a statement.Officers pulled over Min and noticed “signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.” He was placed under arrest after officers determined that he was over the legal limit, CHP said.It was unclear if he was administered a breathalyzer test.Min was cited for misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence w...

Expecting a raise? Don't hold your breath

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

The inflation rate is currently running at about 5% -- more than double what the Fed would like to see -- so it's not unreasonable for many workers to be expecting a little salary bump to help make ends meet.A recent survey by payroll processor ADP found that most U.S. workers are expecting a raise this year, with the average anticipated increase running between 6% and 7%.But the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that economic uncertainty and the likelihood of a recession are prompting many employers to be more cautious when it comes to compensation.If you do get a raise, it will probably be closer to 4%, the Journal reported. If so, that would lag the inflation rate and keep many households living paycheck to paycheck."We’re seeing a lot more prudence into how those compensation increases are delivered," the paper quoted one expert as saying.These are frustrating times for many employees, not least because executive pay seems to keep soaring while layoffs and cutbacks overshad...

California's ranking drops in 'Best States' annual report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

California was considered the country's 33rd “best” state, according to the latest Best State Ranking from U.S. News and World Report.The annual study used survey data to measure how well the 50 states serve its residents. Researchers analyzed more than 70 metrics across eight categories, including health care, education and economy. One California location named among the ‘most beautiful’ places in the world Here is where the Golden State ranked in the following categories: 6th: HealthCare20th: Education:23rd: Crime and Corrections:29th : Economy30th: Natural Environment:34th: Infrastructure39th: Fiscal Stability50th: OpportunityThe Golden State’s overall 33rd ranking for the “best” state is a decline from its placement in 2021 when it was considered the 24th “best” state.  Researchers found that the top 10 best states were:UtahWashingtonIdahoNebraskaMinnesotaNew HampshireIowaWisconsinVermontFloridaUtah took the top spot from Washington, which held the position for two ...

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" filmmakers join WGA protestors in Hollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert created a lot of buzz this past awards season for their Oscar-winning film "Everything Everywhere All at Once."However, earning the coveted award did not prevent them from standing in solidarity with their peers who were protesting outside of Netflix's Hollywood lot on Sunset Boulevard as part of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.Both men are a part of the Guild. "We're striking man," Scheinert told KTLA 5 News. "We're members of the Writers Guild, proud members, and it didn't lead to a fair deal and we're hoping it does soon.""The Daniels" as they're known, stood by the many protestors as they entered Day 2 of the demonstration. While there is some concern as to how long the demonstration will last, Kwan said he planned to protest no matter how long it takes. "In the greater context, this is a story that's happening all around the country. Every single state. Every single city. The story goes: corporate profits are soaring, and wages and sal...

Formerly homeless California woman wins $5 million from lottery scratcher

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

One of California's newest millionaires was homeless just six years ago. KTLA sister station KRON reports, Lucia Forseth recently bought a California 2023 Scratchers ticket at a Walmart in Contra Costa County while getting an oil change when she scratched the top prize, lottery officials announced Wednesday."I only bought one ticket,” Forseth told the California Lottery. “I closed my eyes and picked that one, and it won! I first thought I’d won a free ticket, but I checked, and it said I won $5 million!” California Lottery players win a total of $6 million from scratchers tickets Back in 2017, Forseth said she was homeless. This year she said she plans to get married and her associate degree. She also said she plans to buy a house and then invest the rest of her winnings."You never think you have a chance to win it. It is just random. Being homeless just six years ago, I never thought it would happen to someone like me,” Forseth said.

Bolsonaro home searched in fake vaccine card probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

By Carla Bridi and David Biller | Associated PressBRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s Federal Police searched former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home and seized his phone Wednesday in what they said was an investigation into alleged falsification of COVID-19 vaccine cards. Several other locations also were searched and a half dozen people faced arrest, police said.The former president confirmed the search of his residence while speaking with reporters, as did his wife, Michelle, on her Instagram account.A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, said Bolsonaro would be questioned at Federal Police headquarters and confirmed that one of his closest allies, Mauro Cid, was arrested.Asked about the search of Bolsonaro’s home, the Federal Police’s press office provided a statement saying officers were carrying out 16 searches and six arrests in Rio de Janeiro related to the introduction of fraudulent...

Former Cal swimmers file suit against UC regents after alleged bullying by coach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:46 GMT

After representing New Zealand at the 2010 and 2011 World Championships, Sophia Batchelor was pursued by several top U.S. college programs including Cal.In 2012 Batchelor and her mother took a recruiting trip to Berkeley. The Golden Bears had just won back-to-back NCAA championships under Teri McKeever, their third national team title in four years. That same year McKeever became the first–and still only–woman to serve as head coach of the U.S. Olympic swim team.Cal put Batchelor and her mother up in the historic Fairmont Claremont Hotel & Spa at the foot of the Berkeley Hills. Later on a tour of campus, McKeever showed the pair a board that lists Cal swimmers who have competed in the Olympic Games, the coach pointing specifically to Lauren Boyle, a Golden Bear swimmer who had participated in three Olympics for New Zealand.“I make Olympians,” McKeever told the women, according to Batchelor.Shortly thereafter Batchelor accepted an athletic scholarship offer from Cal, ...