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Austin city manager sits down to talk leadership changes, new work from home policy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After significant pushback from City of Austin employees earlier this year, Interim City Manager Jesús Garza recently announced a new work-from-home policy that he believes is a compromise. KXAN sat down with Garza to talk about the process for getting to that policy, and about recent high-level staffing changes at the City of Austin. Work-from-home policyCity employees will be allowed to split their time 50-50, in the office and at home. Previously, Garza was asking employees in non-management positions to return to the office at least three days a week, which garnered pushback. "I think it's fair. It's basically...a little different than where I started but it's one where I think most of the workforce will accept it," Garza said. Employees in management roles will still be required to show up to the office full-time. City of Austin rolls out new telework policy, helping city meet climate goals The city manager also said not everyone can work from home on the sam...

Man shot by St. Paul officer during exchange of gunfire has died, BCA says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

The man shot by a St. Paul police officer during an exchange of gunfire died early Friday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced.Brandon Daleshaun Keys, 24, of Maplewood, was taken to Regions Hospital after the Thursday afternoon shooting.Officer Michael Tschida was shot in the leg during the incident. He was treated at Regions and released from the hospital Thursday.St. Paul police responded to a report of a violation of an order for protection, the BCA said of its preliminary investigation. A woman reported she was driving with a man in her passenger seat when Keys pulled behind her and starting hitting her vehicle with his. She also told police that Keys had a gun.The woman stopped at Cretin and Marshall avenues, and Keys got out of his car and approached the woman’s vehicle, the BCA said.Tschida arrived, exited his squad and ordered Keys to get on the ground.“The two exchanged gunfire, during which Keys was struck in the head and Tschida was struck ...

Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. sure doesn’t play like an undrafted rookie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. started to turn heads as soon as he stepped foot onto the practice field at TCO Performance Center in the spring. Never mind that he was an undrafted rookie out of the University of Cincinnati at the time. The 22-year-old was hellbent on proving he belonged with the Vikings.After impressing enough people to make the team out of training camp, Pace continued to stack days on top of each other, eventually carving out a role for himself on defense. Meanwhile, head coach Kevin O’Connell remembers waiting for Pace to hit that rookie wall“You’re just kind of waiting for, ‘When’s that drop-off going to be? When are those times where he’s going to look like a rookie?’ ” O’Connell said. “It just never really happened.”That’s good news for the Vikings considering Pace has stepped into an important role on defense in the absence of injured veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks.Now every time Pace...

Gov. Hochul announces new customer protection law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a new state law protecting credit card holders from losing earned credit card rewards will go into effect on December 10. The law dictates that credit card companies must now take additional steps to protect their customers from losing accrued rewards points when programs are modified or discontinued. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Credit card issuers will now have 45 days to notify customers when any account or rewards program is cancelled, closed or modified in any way that is less favorable to the consumer, including changes that eliminate or reduce the value of points and diminish the value of the program. Upon card issuers notifying their customers, cardholders will then have 90 days to redeem their points or rewards following the program’s original terms. “Protecting New Yorker's wallets is a top priority and we’re helping families save money this holiday season,” said...

Blues trade veteran defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to Islanders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Robert Bortuzzo's run as the longest-tenured skater on the St. Louis Blues comes to an end. The St. Louis Blues announced Friday via Twitter that they have traded Robert Bortuzzo to the New York Islanders in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick. One of few players the Blues still retained from the 2019 Stanley Cup team entering this season, Bortuzzo now departs after spending parts of 10 seasons in St. Louis. The Blues acquired him in 2015 in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bortuzzo was a consistent presence on defense for several years and was well known for his leadership and physicality. However, with the Blues investing big money into several defensemen in recent years and also trying to give opportunities to youngsters, his playing time has plummeted over the last two years. Bortuzzo had only dressed in four games this season prior to the move. Bortuzzo is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season's end. The Blues will presumably shed a lit...

Former St. Louis daycare worker convicted of child sex crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A jury has convicted a former St. Louis daycare worker of several felonies in a child sex crimes case.Tony Brown, 67, was found guilty of two counts of second-degree child molestation and first-degree statutory sodomy. Investigators say Brown targeted three young girls while employed at a daycare from 2019 to 2020. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office says Brown worked at the House of Montessori Education during the time of the reported crimes. That daycare center has since closed doors. Prosecutors first charged Brown in June 2020. Missouri’s top educator warns of ‘domino effect’ with four-day school weeks “Children who are the victims of molestation may carry emotional damage with them all theirlives,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “I am grateful for the diligence of our team in workingwith these young victims and their families to bring this man to justice.”Per the circuit attorney's office, the jury agreed on a 12-year sentence for Brown for the sodomy charg...

US vetoes UN resolution backed by many nations demanding immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

By EDITH M. LEDERER and ELLEN KNICKMEYER (Associated Press)UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution Friday backed by the vast majority of Security Council members and many other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1 with the United Kingdom abstaining.U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood criticized the council after the vote for its failure to condemn Hamas’ attacks in Israel and to acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself. He declared that halting military action would allow Hamas to continue to rule and “only plant the seeds for the next war.”THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief and many Security Council members demanded an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza on Friday, but the United States reiterated its opposition despite a direct appeal from Arab diplomats...

‘It really touches our hearts:’ Lost dog reunited with owner happy, healthy and thriving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

Animal Services personnel don’t always see the resolutions of their cases, and when they do, they’re not always positive.The Cañon City Police Department, however, is overjoyed that a lost dog they helped reunite with its owner is happy, healthy and thriving.When CCPD’s Community Services personnel located a lost 15-month-old pitbull Shar Pei mix, Lil Bit, they didn’t think she would be able to recover from being lost for nearly a month.A happy reunion: Cañon City resident reunited with missing pitbullShe jumped out of a friend’s car window on July 20 near Mackenzie and U.S. 50. When she was located Aug. 15, she had lost almost 20 pounds and she was significantly emaciated, dehydrated, weak and depressed.But Nov. 12, Community Services Officer Ethan Davis got a special visit – and some licks – from Lil Bit when her owner, Carrie Schaefer, met them at the CCPD for a reunification.The last time he saw Lil Bit, Davis sincerely thought it would be the...

Michigan teen gets life for killing 4 in school attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

By Ed White and Corey Williams | Associated PressPONTIAC, Mich. — A teenager was sentenced to life in prison Friday for killing four students, wounding more and terrorizing Michigan’s Oxford High School in 2021.A judge rejected pleas for a shorter sentence and ensured that Ethan Crumbley, 17, will not get an opportunity for parole.Life sentences for teenagers are rare in Michigan since the U.S. Supreme Court and the state’s highest court said the violent acts of minors must be viewed differently than the crimes of adults.Judge Kwame Rowe’s decision followed anguished remarks by families of the deceased and survivors who spoke about how the tragedy has affected them.“Your statements,” Rowe said, “do not fall on deaf ears.”Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism.“We are miserable. We miss Tate,” said Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre. “Our fa...

No Christmas crab: California’s commercial Dungeness season delayed again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

Local Dungeness crab is off the Christmas menu. And probably the New Year’s one also.California Fish and Wildlife officials have again delayed the start of the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishing season.The risk of whales becoming tangled in crab fishing gear remains high for most of the coastal waters from the Mendocino County line south to the Mexican border, director Charlton H. Bonham announced Thursday night. In addition, the state reported a recent confirmed entanglement of a leatherback sea turtle in commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear lost in a previous season.The decision was made in consultation with representatives of the fishing industry, environmental organizations and scientists.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Two Bay Area fishermen push low-tech redesign of crab pot to protect whales — and revitalize a threatened industry “Delaying the opening of the coming crab season is the right thing to do protect our wildli...