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Residents pick through the rubble of lost homes and scattered belongings in Hurricane Idalia’s wake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

HORSESHOE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida and Georgia residents living along Hurricane Idalia’s path of destruction on Thursday picked through piles of rubble where homes once stood, threw tarps over ripped-apart roofs and gingerly navigated streets left underwater or clogged with fallen trees and dangerous electric wires. “My plan today is to go around and find anything that’s in the debris that is salvageable and clean out my storage shed,” said Aimee Firestine of Cedar Key, an island located in the remote Big Bend area where Idalia roared ashore with 125 mph (201 kph) winds Wednesday. Firestine rode out Idalia about 40 minutes inland. When she drove back onto the island hours after the storm passed, her heart sank. The gas station was gone. Trees were toppled. Power lines were on the ground. An entire building belonging to the 12-unit Faraway Inn her family owns had been wiped away. Another building lost a wall.“It was a little heart-wrenching and depressing,” Firestine sa...

Judge blocks changes in teacher evaluations prompted by Texas’ takeover of Houston school district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A judge on Thursday granted a request by a teachers union in Texas’ largest school district to temporarily block a new system to evaluate educators that’s being implemented following a state takeover. The order comes days after the Houston school district began its first school year under a contentious takeover that replaced its superintendent and board of trustees. It also follows rare public comments on the takeover by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath since he announced it in March. One of the changes being put in place by new superintendent Mike Miles is a new teacher evaluation system that will pay educators based largely on standardized test scores and their classroom performance.In its lawsuit, filed Wednesday in state district court, the Houston Federation of Teachers alleges the new system was approved without input from teachers and school committees, a violation of state law. The union says the new evaluation system will pit teachers agai...

Auto workers leader slams companies for slow bargaining, files labor complaint with government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says it has filed unfair labor practice complaints against Stellantis and General Motors for failing to make counteroffers to the union’s economic demands.Ford was the only company of the Detroit Three to make a counteroffer, but it rejected most of the union’s proposals, President Shawn Fain told workers Thursday in a Facebook Live meeting.Contracts between 146,000 auto workers and the Detroit companies expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14, and Fain is once again threatening to strike.He told members that the companies have been warned not to wait until the last minute to get serious about bargaining.“The Big Three are either not listening or they are not taking us seriously,” Fain said, calling the refusal to respond “insulting and counterproductive,” and also illegal. He said the union filed the complaints with the National Labor Relations Board on Thursday.Messages were left Thursday evening seeking comment from the companies.The...

Chicago police investigate 2 armed robberies at West Town bars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are investigating a pair of armed robberies early Thursday morning in West Town.Detectives are working to determine if the two incidents, which happened about 20 minutes and a mile apart, involved the same people. Jerry Reinsdorf: ‘Virtually no possibility’ shot came from inside Sox park The first armed robbery happened just after 1 a.m. at The California Clipper Lounge in the 1000 block of North California Avenue.A pair of gunmen walked into the popular neighborhood bar, pulled their weapons and robbed workers and customers, according to police.They left the area without firing a shot.Josie Davis, a patron of the bar who wasn't there when the robbery happened, said she knows people there. Man charged after attempting to kidnap 2 Chicago firefighters "Horrific to think that happened to the people it happened to," Davis said, "and I'm sorry that it's happening in our neighborhood."The second happened around 1:20 a.m. at Rite Liquors & Cocktail Lounge ...

2 dead, 1 injured after shooting at The Arboretum in northwest Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Two people died and one person was injured after a shooting Thursday at a business in The Arboretum shopping center in northwest Austin.Austin-Travis County EMS said two adults were pronounced dead at the scene, one adult was taken to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries. Two other adults were being evaluated for minor injuries that happened after the initial incident.No one has been detained, the Austin Police Department said."All APD resources are working to stabilize the scene. At this time we do not have any information to believe there’s a threat to the public," APD said on social media.Shortly after 5 p.m., APD, ATCEMS and the Austin Fire Department responded to the 10000 block of Research Boulevard. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers were also seen in the area.The scene remained active as of 6:50 p.m. Thursday.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Woman sentenced to probation for ‘sleight of hand’ thefts at metro-area stores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

A woman who is believed to be a member of a traveling crime ring that pulls off “sleight of hand” distraction thefts has pleaded guilty to theft by swindle and been given three years of probation.Baronita Rostas (Courtesy of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)Baronita Rostas, 24, was arrested in late July in St. Louis Park and charged in Hennepin County District County with the one felony theft by swindle count. However, the criminal complaint accused her of bilking more than $6,200 from several metro-area stores by employing the “quick change” scheme.Hennepin County prosecutors say Rostas is part of a Romanian organized crime group that has committed the distraction thefts at retail stores across the United States, including several in the Twin Cities over the course of several months this year.The same charge was filed last month against a 25-year-old New York man who prosecutors say also is a member of the crime group. He was arrested in Edina shor...

St. Paul, Ramsey County ask lawmakers to boost 25 major construction projects, including a juvenile detention facility

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

Standing with his back to an outdoor athletic field comprised of weathered astro-turf, Andy Rodriguez put the most flattering spin he could muster on the dated baseball and softball facility mostly known as the home of the Rice and Arlington batting cages.City officials admit that, with the exception of a handful of adult softball teams, plenty of St. Paul athletes opt instead to drive to the suburbs to play ball.St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, left, and Sen. Karin Housley, R-Stillwater. talk as they disembark from the Padelford Riverboats’ Anson Northrup excursion boat following a tour of the Mississippi River on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. St. Paul and Ramsey County lawmakers are asking state lawmakers for major funding for 26 capital investment projects as lawmakers gear up for the next legislative session. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)“This is a very well-loved space,” said Rodriguez, a lifelong city parks and rec user recently appointed director of the department, pointing...

St. Charles County Police get calming kits for autism support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a group of conditions that are characterized by issues with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. When first responders are sent to a scene where a child with autism needs help, this can be hard for them to deal with. This is where The Synapsory, a non-profit group, comes in to help. Calming kits are being given to the St. Charles Police Department.The Synapsory is an area nonprofit that serves children who are struggling with autism-related behavioral issues. They are donating 100 calming kits to St. Charles County Police."The reason we started these calming kits is that I was pulled over for speeding, and when I was pulled over, my daughter, who has autism and cerebral palsy, went into a meltdown," said Terrie Desloge, founder of The Synapsory. "I realized we needed help in situations that she doesn't encounter every day."Sometimes, when children with autism are in situat...

How Sean Payton’s out-of-the-blue phone call convinced Chris Banjo to give coaching a chance: “Am I in trouble?”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

Chris Banjo doesn’t remember the exact date in February, but he knows his phone rang at 9:41 p.m. on a Saturday.On a double date with his wife, best friend and best friend’s wife, Banjo may well have ignored the incoming call but for the name that popped up.Sean Payton.“This will kind of tell you a bit about Sean himself,” Banjo told The Post. “We’ve texted a bit here and there over the years, but the fact that I got a call from him, the first thing that went through my mind is, ‘Damn, am I in trouble? What did I do?’”No trouble this time, but the longtime NFL player still couldn’t have guessed what his former head coach in New Orleans had on his mind.“I answered the call and he goes, ‘I’m in Denver right now building my coaching staff and you’re one of the guys that comes to mind in terms of me wanting to build this thing going forward.’“I was kind of in shock. Coaching was nothing that ever crossed my mind at the time.”Banjo didn’t know for sure whether he was going to...

Loved ones remember Westlake High football player who died after asthma attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:17:16 GMT

Family and friends of a 17-year-old varsity football player who died after a severe asthma attack earlier this week are remembering him as an amazing athlete and a caring and compassionate person. Julius Poppinga was the son of former linebacker and Super Bowl champion Brady Poppinga, who played six of his eight NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers.The Westlake High School junior had been hospitalized after a severe asthma attack last week and apparently suffered a collapsed lung during his stay in the hospital. He never recovered and died Wednesday, according to the Ventura County Star. Westlake football player Julius Poppinga and his sister Jasmine Poppinga are seen in an image posted to the football team's Facebook page.“He was just the kindest, sweetest soul,” his sister, Jasmine Poppinga, said.The two were only 18 months apart in age. And while Julius excelled in football and lacrosse, Jasmine cheered alongside him as part of the cheerleading squad.“It was great seeing every...