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With his first veto ever, Walz nixes Uber/Lyft driver pay-raise bill, citing cost and service concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have mandated higher pay and job security for Lyft and Uber drivers in Minnesota, saying the legislation wasn’t ready to become law.“Rideshare drivers deserve fair wages and safe working conditions,” Walz said in a statement announcing his first veto ever in his five-plus years as governor. “I am committed to finding solutions that balance the interests of all parties, including drivers and riders. This is not the right bill to achieve these goals.”Uber threatened to offer only premium-priced service in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and cut off service altogether in the rest of Minnesota if Walz signed the legislation.“This bill could make Minnesota one of the most expensive states in the country for rideshare, potentially putting us on par with the cost of rides in New York City and Seattle — cities with dramatically higher costs of living than Minnesota,” the Democratic governor said in a letter to legislat...

Walz names new commissioner of Department of Employment and Economic Development

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

Matt Varilek, president of the Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation, will lead the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.Matt Varilek, president of the Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation, will lead the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday, May 22, 2023. (Forum News Service)Gov. Tim Walz announced Varilek’s appointment Thursday.Varilek will succeed Steve Grove, who announced his departure in February when he was named publisher and CEO of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.The Department of Employment and Economic Development is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade, and community development.The Initiative Foundation fosters economic development in a 14-county area of central Minnesota. It’s one of six such foundations started in the 1980s to serve greater Minnesota.“From streng...

Tulsa businessman the victim of a jewelry heist in downtown St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A Tulsa businessman tells FOX 2 that he’s the victim of a St. Louis high-dollar jewelry heist.Detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed more than $400,000 worth of watches were stolen from the man’s hotel room at the Embassy Suites near America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.“I’m going to be honest with you. I believe this was planned,” Rion Woodiest said. “I really believe this was some kind of jewelry heist.”Woodiest grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, until his family relocated to Tulsa when he was in high school. After serving seven years in the Army, he went into business four years ago. St. Louis firefighter accused of stealing wallet from teen crash victim He sells high-end jewelry, including gold, platinum, and diamond watches.The five stolen watches were Cartier, Rolex, and Audemar Piquet models.The Embassy Suites hotel was like a second home, he said.Woodiest has stayed there more than 600 nights in recent years as he travels for...

Missouri sheriff warns of significant traffic as people travel to see exhumed nun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

GOWER, Mo. -- A Missouri sheriff's office says residents should expect a significant increase in traffic as hundreds travel to see a nun's exhumed, "incorrupt" body. Catholic faithfuls from across the country are making the pilgrimage to the small town of Gower, Missouri, to witness what they describe as a miracle.Four years after her burial, the Benedictine monastery recently exhumed the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who was the African American foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. St. Louis firefighter accused of stealing wallet from teen crash victim The sisters told the Catholic News Agency that after her death she was buried but not embalmed. They had plans to move her body to a final resting place inside their monastery chapel. They expected to find bones in her cracked wooden coffin, but instead found no real signs of decay after four years. In the words of the sisters, it is “incorrupt.” The word incorrupt lends sp...

Man charged with vehicular homicide DUI in hit-and-run that killed Adams County teen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

A 38-year-old man is charged with vehicular homicide-DUI for a hit-and-run incident involving a teenage victim in Adams County.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | El Paso County sheriff’s deputy arrested on investigation of menacing Crime and Public Safety | Northbound Wadsworth reopens after crash in Arvada involving Denver police vehicle Crime and Public Safety | Suspect in fatal shooting in NE Denver is arrested in Dallas Crime and Public Safety | South Adams County fire chief on leave, an interim chief is named Crime and Public Safety | Colorado man building white supremacist community in the mountains, had automatic weapons, FBI says Brandon Monroe also is charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and vehicular homicide-reckless driving, according to an Adams County district attorney’s news release.Kara Kincaid, 16, died in the April 11 incident at the intersectio...

Attempted kidnapping of 10-year-old girl caught on camera in Riverside County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

Surveillance cameras captured an attempted kidnapping of a 10-year-girl while she was in the front yard of her Murrieta home, and while the alleged kidnapper is still on the loose, the young girl’s father is speaking out.  Michael Angodung said just before the incident happened, it had been a completely normal Sunday evening for his family.  “I let my guard down pretty much,” he said. “It was just unexpected on a Sunday night. My daughter loves playing volleyball. So, she asked me, ‘Dad, can we play outside?’ and (I said), ‘Sure. I’ll give you 10 minutes because I’ve got to back and do some chores.'”  Angodung said he played in the front yard with his daughter, Kassidy, before heading into the house to get a drink. That’s when he caught a glimpse of a man walking down the street.  “You couldn’t mistake his walk. He had a funny walk. I thought not much of it,” he told KTLA.  Not even a minute after he entered his home, he said his daughter came running for him. &n...

Southern California man drowns in Colorado River

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

A Southern California man was found dead after drowning in the Colorado River on Wednesday.The victim was identified as Robert L. Gardella, 69, from Phelan, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.Boating deputies received reports of a drowning in the river, located about 2.5 miles north of Lake Havasu around 3:30 p.m. According to witnesses, Gardella jumped from an anchored vessel to retrieve a fishing pole that had fallen into the river.He began "struggling in the water for an unknown reason, went under the water and never resurfaced," authorities said.Divers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff, Mohave County Sheriff and Lake Havasu City Police were dispatched to the scene to search for Gardella. L.A. tech CEO found dead under mysterious circumstances, family seeking answers Authorities conducted remote-operated vehicle sonar scans along with rescue dives to locate the missing man. A helicopter from the Arizona Department of Public Safety also conduct...

2 California hotels ranked among the 'best' in the U.S. by Tripadvisor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

Comfortable beds, dining options and plenty of amenities are all factors to consider when searching for the perfect hotel for an upcoming trip.Luckily, for those planning a summer vacation, or staycation, in the Golden State, two hotels were named among the “best” hotels in the U.S. in the latest ranking from TripAdvisor. The list was compiled based on TripAdvisor user reviews and ratings over 12 months. The newest California theme park attractions to check out this summer Montage Laguna BeachThe hotel also offers kid-friendly activities such as, painting and scavenger hunts. (TripAdvisor) Located in Laguna Beach, the luxury seaside resort ranked seventh on the list. At the hotel, guests can enjoy a relaxing trip to the hotel spa, lay out by the pool during sunset, or shop at the nearby boutiques. (Tripadvisor) Located in Laguna Beach, the luxury seaside resort ranked seventh on the list. At the hotel,  guests can enjoy a relaxing trip to the hotel spa, lay out by the pool d...

CCS baseball playoffs: Branham wins classic pitcher’s duel, advances to D-III final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Nolan Rodriguez broke up a classic pitcher’s duel when he doubled to right field in the bottom of the seventh to score Keaton Cooper from first base. The knock gave Branham a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart Prep in a Central Coast Section Division III semifinal game at Mission College.Branham (22-7) advances to play Carmel on Saturday for the CCS championship in a 4 p.m. start at Excite Ballpark.“I went up there just trying to go up the middle to get on base,” said Rodriguez, who also tripled and scored Branham’s first run in the third inning. “All that changed when I got a strike on a check swing and then looked at one down the middle. I didn’t like that. So then I swung and I was a little late, but it landed fair for a double. I was so lucky. And my boy Keaton was on base already and he made the best read I’ve ever seen in my life.”Branham’s Nolan Rodriguez (20) celebrates his triple against Sacred Heart Prep in t...

SF Giants’ bullpen steps up big time to blank Brewers, improve to .500

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:38:15 GMT

MILWAUKEE — The Giants said they planned to quickly flush their stinker of a series finale in Minnesota, and they kept their word Thursday, earning a 5-0 win in their first of four games against the Brewers.Winning for the eighth time in their past 10 games, it should come as no surprise that the bullpen played a major part. Wait, you say, that bullpen, the one that was third-worst in the majors over the first month of the season and had blown 12 leads this season? The Giants looked to them to take down a full game for the second time this week and, continuing a string of strong performance, did it immaculately.Even the best bullpen games can resemble a puzzle missing some of its pieces, but the Giants (25-25) put together a stained glass masterpiece to even their record back to .500. Manager Gabe Kapler mixed and matched six arms, who combined to blank the Brewers for nine innings — San Francisco’s fourth shutout of the season.Scott Alexander opened with a 1-2-3 first, and Gi...