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Vapor leak from unused pump caused Christmas Eve explosion and fire at Suncor refinery, OSHA finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

The Christmas Eve fire that injured two workers at Suncor Energy’s Commerce City refinery began when a vapor cloud leaked from an unused pump valve and exploded as the facility was being shut down after extreme cold caused equipment failures, according to a federal investigation.The vapor was released from a pump that was not functional and had not been used or properly inspected in seven years, according to the report detailing the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration‘s investigation into the accident. The fire burned for six hours.The report, obtained by The Denver Post through a federal Freedom of Information Act request, said the likelihood of injury had been higher because “employees were exposed to the hazards for nearly 7 years without the equipment being inspected properly.”Suncor was fined $15,625 — the maximum allowed — in June for a serious violation of federal safety standards in connection with the fire at Colorado’...

Cornerstar in Aurora one of four shopping centers bought in $100M deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

The Cornerstar shopping center in Aurora is one of four open-air shopping centers bought in a $100 million deal between DLC Management Corp., a New York-based private real estate company, and DRA Advisors, a real estate investment adviser.The 380,479-square-foot Cornerstar in south Aurora is anchored by Target, Marshalls, HomeGoods, 24 Hour Fitness, Nike and Ulta. DLC said it plans to add a specialty grocery to the anchor spot previously occupied by the grocer Sprouts Farmer Market.DLC bought Cornerstar from ShopCore Properties. The other shopping centers DLC acquired are in New Jersey, Arizona and Ohio. Cornerstar, the largest of the four, opened in 2008 along the intersection of Arapahoe and Parker roads.Adam Ifshin, DLC founder and CEO, said the company “saw a tremendous opportunity in this deal to expand our national presence through the acquisition of great assets.”Ifshin said the Cornerstar is in a great location. He said the shopping center will be 97% occupied wh...

Broncos Mailbag: When will Jerry Jeudy get more involved in Denver’s offense?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

Denver Post Broncos writer Parker Gabriel posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season and periodically during the offseason. Click here to submit a question.I personally am so happy for Russell Wilson after all the doubt he has received over the past year and a half. Do you think the Broncos keeping everything together and having success, despite the calls to tear it all down at 1-5, will influence other NFL teams in similar situations in the future to keep it all together as well?— Augustus Oswald, Miles City, Mont.Hey Augustus, thanks for writing in from Roosevelt territory to get us started. Spent a little time in Miles City back in the Montana days. Good eats and plenty of hydration options at Black Iron, if I remember correctly.Great question, too. Certainly, general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton look wise at this point for standing pat at the trade deadline. Was it done entirely out of conviction about this group? Eh, not entirely. They listened,...

Opinion: Colorado church says alcohol is fine but cannabis is “disastrous” in a deeply flawed pastoral letter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

The archbishop for the Archdiocese of Denver has some thoughts on cannabis legalization, and he dropped them Nov. 10 in the form of a 9,000-word open “pastoral letter.”In his message, Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, the highest-ranking Catholic official in the Mile High City, made a strong — and deeply flawed — critique of the plant’s use and its impact on Colorado communities calling it “disastrous to our society.”With respect and a shared concern for the well-being of our communities, I humbly write to offer a different perspective on cannabis legalization and use. It is vital to approach this complex topic with a blend of compassion, reason, and an understanding of historical context.In his letter, the archbishop conflates cannabis with drugs like fentanyl and connects it to societal problems like homelessness. Rather than presenting strong supporting evidence for his arguments, the archbishop appears to lean on the debunked “gateway drug” theory, and in doing s...

'City-block-sized' area of structures burning in South Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

Firefighters are responding to a massive fire burning multiple structures that were under construction in the Central-Alameda neighborhood of Los Angeles Tuesday morning. The fire erupted around 3:25 a.m. and involved a "city-block-sized area" of structures, according to an alert from the Los Angeles Fire Department. A fire burning in the Central-Alameda neighborhood is seen on Nov. 28, 2023. (Key News)Additional structures are threatened on all sides, the alert stated.Over 140 firefighters were assigned to the incident and are making good progress, the fire department stated at 4:30 a.m. Crews assisted residents who were asked to evacuate their homes during the firefight. Tragic Thanksgiving Day crash kills young mother and daughter There was no word on what may have caused the fire or if any injuries were reported. Check back for updates on this developing story.

Los Angeles among cities cracking down on homeless encampments. Advocates say it's not an answer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

(AP) — Tossing tent poles, blankets and a duffel bag into a shopping cart and three wagons, Will Taylor spent a summer morning helping friends tear down what had been their home and that of about a dozen others. It wasn't the first time and wouldn't be the last.Contractors from the city of Portland had arrived to break down the stretch of tents and tarps on a side street behind a busy intersection. People had an hour to vacate the encampment, one of more than a dozen cleared that July day, according to city data.Whatever they couldn't take with them was placed in clear plastic bags, tagged with the date and location of the removal and sent to an 11,000-square-foot (1,020 square meter) warehouse storing thousands like them.A woman gathers possessions to take before a homeless encampment was cleaned up in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Cities across the U.S. are struggling with and cracking down on tent encampments as the number of homeless people grows, largely due to a lack ...

Santa Cruz bridge crash, dramatic leap leaves two injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — A 61-year-old Soquel man was facing allegations of felony DUI after crashing into two pedestrians on the Murray Street bridge last week.The driver, Barry Belcher, was traveling across the bridge around 2:20 p.m. Friday when he apparently became unconscious after suffering a drug-related medical emergency, said Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Jon Bush. His vehicle drove up onto the bridge’s sidewalk, where a man and woman were crossing. The woman was struck by the car while the man lept over the side of the bridge toward the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor to avoid the vehicle, Bush said. The man, however, first landed on a cement planter box below and then fell into the water. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital while the man was airlifted to an out-of-county trauma center.Santa Cruz Fire, Central Fire Protection District, American Medical Response and Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol responded to the crash. Good Samaritan Dara Gray Tynefield said she and her family were amon...

Recipes: This holiday season, give gifts you made in the kitchen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

My hankering for homemade holiday treats started with my Aunt Lillian’s peanut brittle. Throughout my childhood, every year her nut-laden gift of candy arrived a few days before Christmas. Packed loosey-goosey in a pristine coffee can, Lillian’s crunchy confections disappeared far too quickly.Those jagged brittle bits fueled my appreciation for delicious gifts from the home kitchen.Here are some gift ideas designed to be both easy to prepare and tasty:A dry concoction for making hot chocolate goes together quickly. The recipient combines a portion of the mix with milk in a saucepan; on the heat, the mixture is whisked while the good stuff simmers. Marshmallows or whipped cream are optional.There’s so much to love about Bourbon Balls. Yes, they are easy to prepare, plus and they can be made a week in advance and stored airtight in the fridge. The adult appeal of their unmistakable bourbon flavor doesn’t hurt either.Chef-restauranteur Zov Karamardian has a signature jumble cookie that...

32,000 hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs recalled over potential fire risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

Stellantis on Wednesday announced a recall of more than 32,000 of its hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs because they pose a potential fire risk.As part of what the company described as a routine review of customer information, Stellantis determined that eight of the hybrid Wranglers had caught fire while they were turned off and parked. Six of the vehicles were being charged when the fires started. The company said it doesn’t believe anyone was hurt in the fires.The recall covers 2021-2024 models of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe SUVs. All other Wrangler models have been deemed safe by Stellantis, which maintains its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.The SUVs affected by the recall can still be driven until they are fixed, but Stellantis is recommending they be parked away from buildings and not be charged until they can be repaired. The fixes involve either resetting or updating the software, or replacing the vehicle’s battery pack.Stellantis plans to contact the owners of the SUVs that n...

Ex-Marine Corps Reservist from California sentenced for lying to FBI during terrorism investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:37 GMT

A former U.S. Marine Corps reservist from Irvine was sentenced on Monday, Mov. 27, to three years and 10 months in prison for lying to the FBI about communicating with someone who had expressed interest in joining a foreign terrorist organization in an online chat group.Jason Fong, now 27, was initially accused of trying to help two foreign terrorist organizations, including by allegedly providing information on how to make chemical weapons and bombs.Federal prosecutors, at the time of Fong’s indictment in early 2022, accused him of compiling and providing tactical, combat and weapons-training materials, along with information on how to make chemical weapons, booby traps and improvised-explosive devices, to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist organization in Syria.He was also accused of trying to provide support — in the form of fundraising and money — to the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.Fong was accused of communicating with a minor who wanted to join Hay’at Tahrir al-Sh...