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California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership post

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The leader of the California Senate said Monday she will step down from her leadership post, ending an historic run as the first woman and first openly gay person to lead the upper legislative chamber of the nation’s most populous state.Toni Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego, said she will step down next year. Sen. Mike McGuire, a Democrat from the state’s North Coast region, will replace Atkins as the Senate’s president pro tempore.Atkins made the announcement at a news conference with McGuire and most of the Senate Democratic Caucus standing behind her. The display of unity was in stark contrast to the leadership battle that embroiled the state Assembly last year, when new speaker Robert Rivas replaced former speaker Anthony Rendon.Atkins cannot seek re-election because of term limits and must leave the Senate at the end of next year. She said the caucus chose to announce the transition now because “a long, drawn-out successor campaign w...

Thousands take to Colombia’s streets to protest 50% increase in gasoline prices

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Thousands of protesters on cars and motorbikes took to the streets of Colombia’s main cities on Monday to reject recent hikes in gasoline prices that have drastically increased the price of fuel in the South American country. Protesters say that the monthly price hikes set by Colombia’s first leftist government are making it harder for small businesses to operate, and could push up the price of food. But the government of President Gustavo Petro says the gasoline subsidies cost about $11 billion a year. It says it must eliminate the subsidies to pay debts to the national oil company Ecopetrol, which produces most of the country’s fuel, and to free up more funds for social programs.The protest comes as discontent grows with Petro’s administration a year after he took office promising to reduce poverty and make peace with the nation’s remaining rebel groups.Petro’s administration has struggled to stop violence in rural parts of the country, and to boost C...

'I'm really devastated': Several homes damaged after fire in Chicago Lawn

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A family is picking up the pieces after a fire damaged several homes in the city's Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Monday afternoon."I'm really devastated like my emotions are everywhere right now," said Denise Swift-Jones, a homeowner whose house near 69th and Rockwell was damaged when the fire spread from a nearby vacant home.Swift-Jones said two of her children were inside the house at the time the blaze spread."I was feeling scared because I didn't know I was going to die or not," said Blessing Lee, who escaped the blaze. 30 years later: A look at the last shooting at Sox Park Blessing, who was inside at the time, says she is still shaken up. She said when she saw the flames, she ran from the house and asked a neighbor for help.“For her to act the way that she did and not shut down, she didn't panic, that's a proud moment, Swift-Jones said.Given the extensive damaged to the home, the Swift-Jones family says they believe most of their belongings were destroyed.There was ...

Over 50 CPD officers promoted to detective

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

On Monday morning, Mayor Johnson, and his choice to lead the Chicago police, Larry Snelling, attended a department graduation and promotion ceremony. At the ceremony, the department promoted more than 50 detectives, a step forward in Mayor Johnson’s goal to promote 200 more officers to the position.Department staffing has been under the microscope recently. During the last mayoral campaign, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara predicted an exodus of officers if Brandon Johnson was elected, but it has not happened, in fact, CPD has seen an increase in officers year over year. Over 250 CPD officers sworn in graduation and promotion ceremony According to the Chicago Inspector General, CPD currently has 11,722 sworn officers. Last August, there were 111 fewer officers. But CPD still has 1,600 fewer officers than it did in January 2019. The department continues to face recruitment challenges and one city official wants police to change their strategy."We need more [p...

Airline launches ‘only adult’ section for international flight

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

(The Hill) — A Turkish-Dutch airline is looking to remove the disruption of children's noises by offering an “only adult zone” for flights and people traveling without kids between Amsterdam and Curaçao.  Turkish-Dutch Corendon Airlines said it is introducing “only adult zones” for flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao starting Nov. 3. “This zone on the plane is intended for travelers traveling without children and for business travelers who want to work in a quiet environment,” a translated version of the airline’s press release said. The airline argued these zones will also positively impact parents, who can “worry less about possible reactions from fellow passengers when their child is a bit busier or crying.”  Are you an unruly passenger? How to know The only adult zones will be in the front section of the plane with nine extra-large seats with additional legroom and 93 standard seats, the airline said. The zone will be “physically separated” from the ...

EMS closer to contract agreement with City of Austin

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The bargaining team with the Austin-Travis County EMS Association agreed to a deal with the city about a four-year contract, according to union president Selena Xie."It's been a long two-year process getting to this point, and it's a step closer to pay parity that we've been asking for," she said. PREVIOUS: ‘We are worth more than 14 cents’: Austin medics comment on raise offer She said regarding next steps, union members will vote on the contract, and from there - it will go to the city council for a final vote."I am thrilled to announce [the association and the city] agreed to a four-year contract that will give well-deserved raises to medics and position us to recruit the best people to serve our community," Council Member Alison Alter said in a social media post.KXAN has reached out to the City of Austin for comment, and expect to receive a response Tuesday morning. Check back for updates.

Rookies lead the way in Twins’ win over second-place Guardians

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

The kids are alright.For the second straight game, Royce Lewis hit a grand slam — something no other Twins hitter has accomplished, ever. Kody Funderburk, called up on Monday, debuted with two perfect innings. He struck out three and picked up his first career win in the process. Matt Wallner crushed his 10th home run of the season and Edouard Julien, atop the Twins’ lineup, singled, walked and scored a run.The Twins’ rookies played an outsized role in the first game of the series against the second-place Cleveland Guardians, helping propel the team to a 10-6 win on Monday night at Target Field.It was an impressive response from the Twins after a marathon 13-inning game a day before and on a day where it was clear starter Kenta Maeda was not at his best. Maeda was hit hard in his four innings, allowing six runs — after not giving up more than three in any start since coming off the injured list on June 23.Four of those came in the second inning, putting his team in a deep hole. But ...

Spreading awareness on addiction and ending stigmas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Ken Provost’s son Dan was only 23 years old when he lost his life to addiction.“He was a wonderful child,” he said. “We’re a very middle-class family… Very close family… He was into sports…into animals.”Dan’s mother, Maureen Provost, said the issues started when he was prescribed Oxycodone after his wisdom teeth were removed.“From there, it just went into more drugs, more drinking, and so from something very innocuous to a lifetime of changes,” she said. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Capt. Dan Morley, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, says addiction has no boundaries.“It’s very easy to look at the dots on a map and lose sight of the fact that it’s somebody’s kid, or somebody’s husband, somebody’s wife. Removing the stigma is absolutely huge. Stigma is what kills people.”That is why Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, MD, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), ...

Watervliet PD searching for vulnerable adult

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Watervliet Police Department is searching for a missing vulnerable adult.Mariann Werner was last seen around 2 p.m. Monday in the area of 7th Street and 8th Avenue in the city of Watervliet. The 57-year-old has dementia and is known to frequent the area of Schuyler Flats. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Werner is described as 5'3" and 102 lbs. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a royal blue T-shirt, blue jeans, blue sneakers, and a light blue baseball cap. Anyone with information or who has seen her is asked to call 911.

US Military Academy opens nearly 200-year-old time capsule

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:52:00 GMT

WEST POINT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Officials at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point opened a 195-year-old time capsule on Monday after it was found inside the base of a monument. The container was discovered in May during a statue restoration project. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The box didn't meet expectations, however. Historians only found a layer of silt they think settled at the bottom because moisture entered the container. But officials said they aren't done investigating the mystery."We don't want to think they went through all this trouble to not put anything in it, so what we are gonna do is we will take the silt, put it through a fine mesh screen, and find any remains and determine what if anything was in here," West Point archeologist Paul Hudson said. "Potentially, it was something small and organic that may have come apart over time, but we are just not certain." Military veteran goes on one last hot air ball...