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Minnesota Senate set to pass paid family and medical leave

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

By STEVE KARNOWSKI (Associated Press)ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate was poised Monday to approve a plan to entitle workers across the state to paid leave when they’re sick or caring for relatives who are ill.While Senate Democrats hold only a one-seat majority, paid family and medical leave has been a priority of the party for several years, and a series of preliminary votes showed they were all firmly on board. The proposal passed the House last week on a 68-64 vote, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the final version that emerges from a House-Senate conference committee.The legislation would create an insurance-like system to allow workers to collect up to 12 weeks of partial wages when they take medical leave, including for pregnancy, and up to 12 weeks to take care of family members, starting in 2025. Replacement wages would range from 55% to 90%, averaging 66%. The benefits would be funded by a 0.7% payroll tax. Employers could charge hal...

Stillwater Lift Bridge to resume operation on Monday; Loop Trail to open May 19

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

Good news for walkers and bikers and boaters.On May 15, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will resume the seasonal operation of the Lift Bridge for marine traffic. Four days later, the Loop Trail is expected to reopen to walkers and bikers.As the floodwaters recede, crews expect to have removed the temporary levee along the river in downtown Stillwater by May 19, allowing walkers and bikers to once again cross the St. Croix River via the Stillwater Lift Bridge. The historic bridge is a key part of the Loop Trail, a 4.7-mile interstate trail between Houlton, Wis., and Stillwater, that also crosses the new St Croix River bridge south of Stillwater.Boaters, take note: The bridge will lift every half hour between 8 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week, if marine traffic is present. The lift schedule will be in effect until about Oct. 15.The bridge tender will respond to special requests for openings after midnight and before 8 a.m. if given a two-hour notice; requests are to be...

Acemoglu, Johnson: The writers’ strike is partly about AI. They’re right to worry

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers agree on one thing: Artificial intelligence is coming. At the same time, they disagree fundamentally on an issue that we will all soon struggle with.Can the owners of capital assets (the studios) use A.I. to substantially replace workers (the writers) and tilt the balance of power in their favor? Or is there a way to address the entirely reasonable demand from writers that this increasingly capable software remain a tool under the control of workers?Silicon Valley has long been infatuated with “machine intelligence,” the goal of creating software that can mimic what humans do. The technology arms race to create human-like abilities has recently become a dangerous obsession, threatening to destroy millions of good jobs. But attempting to stop the development of these algorithms is not the right solution.We need, instead, a pivot on the part of inventors, entrepreneurs and policymakers...

Protesters arrested at One Fair Wage Rally

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--On Monday, Actress Susan Sarandon was among several rallyers who were intentionally arrested and cited by state police in the North Concourse Legislative Lobby.They we’re calling on the state legislature to pass a bill that would allow restaurant workers to get paid full minimum wage along with tips. Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage, said many in the restaurant industry are women."This would allow them the ability to feed their children, this would allow them the stability of a wage than having to say sometimes it’s a lot, sometimes it’s a little depending on the shift. So they’d be able to pay their rent, feed their children, and most importantly contribute to the NYS economy."Susan Sarandon said she happy to help support working and single mothers."I, myself, am a mother. I’ve been a single mother. I have worked in a restaurant for tips and I know how difficult it is," explained Sarandon. "They are very, very, important and need to be treated with ...

Jury hears opening statements in Schoharie limo trial

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The criminal trial of Nauman Hussain is now officially underway with opening statements and the first witness testimony now on the record.Hussain was the owner of the limo company involved in the Schoharie limo crash that killed 20 people in 2018. He is charged with 20 counts of manslaughter and 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide.Opening statements from both Special District Attorney Fred Rench and Defense Attorney Lee Kindlon focused on who should be responsible for the crash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The prosecution said this is a case about personal responsibility: what Nauman Hussain was supposed to do to take care of his business, his vehicles and a pattern of disregard for rules and regulations related to limo safety.The defense argued Hussain was thrown into his father's business with little to no guidance; and misled by the auto-repair company to believe the limo was safe ...

Sportime in Schenectady is getting back to business

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Sportime is making strides to get back into action after a fire destroyed part of the complex. News10 takes you on a tour to show you just how the renovation is shaping up and to take a look at what is next. Inside look at drug recognition expert school Nearly a month after a fire shut down Sportime more and more services are coming back online May, 8. Two fan favorites are now back to operating regularly scheduled business hours.“Things are coming back and available to our members in our community and we're making pretty quick progress, all things considered. Today, our bubble, our two tennis courts and four pickleball courts are officially open and available for play. And, our Fitness Center and gym are back open,” said Sportime General Manager, Sarah Sharpe.“So, now we just toured the bubble, and you showed me the fitness center is open, what's next?” asked NEWS10 reporter James De La Fuente.“Our daycare can officially reopen, tomorrow. So, we're so...

First responders called to horrific north St. Louis collision

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- First responders are in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood for a multi-vehicle crash that has likely injured several people. The collision happened at Page Boulevard & Hamilton Avenue Monday afternoon. The crash involves a Tesla, a truck, and a sedan. One person was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. A witness tells FOX 2 reporter Mallory Thomas that he saw two cars racing just before the crash.Bommarito Automotive SkyFOX Helicopter is over the scene. People are surrounding the intersection. Several ambulances, firetrucks, and police cars are parked in the roadway. They are blocking traffic until the wreckage can be cleared. Cherokee Street shooting: Police release images of suspects Officers and EMS workers are working to clear the scene. This is a developing story. More details will be posted here as they come into the FOX 2 Newsroom. Refresh this page for the latest update.

Residents ask judge to block repairs to Ivy Crossing apartments after fatal fire to protect “crucial evidence” of code violations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

Residents of an Arapahoe County apartment complex that burned in a fatal arson last month say they’re being barred from the building and will lose the chance to potentially collect “crucial evidence of fire code violations” if repairs are allowed to proceed.Five people who live at the Ivy Crossing Apartments filed a motion Friday seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent “any changes to the building” and to stop anyone from entering their units.Tanya Larby, Rachel and Abigal Jones, Anthony Vargas and Gloriluz Lebron said they have “a reasonable fear that vital evidence will be lost if repairs to the building are conducted before they… have been able to enter the premises,” according to the motion filed in Denver District Court.“Denying plaintiffs the ability to retrieve belongings and document evidence of their property loss will make it exponentially harder to realize their claims for renters’ insurance and to prove...

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic fined $25K, won’t face suspension for contact with Suns owner Mat Ishbia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

Nikola Jokic will not be suspended, the NBA announced Monday, as a result of his physical contact with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia during the Nuggets’ Game 4 loss Sunday night in Phoenix. The Western Conference semifinals is tied 2-2.However, Jokic will be fined $25,000 for “making improper contact with a spectator sitting courtside,” according to a news release from the league.The contact in question took place with 2:36 to go until halftime of Phoenix’s 129-124 victory.With the Nuggets leading 55-54, Jokic blocked the shot of Phoenix center Deandre Ayton, sending the ball out of bounds toward the baseline corner left of the basket. The carom landed in the arms of Ishbia, who purchased the Suns earlier this year. When Jokic raced to Ishbia’s seat to demand the ball, the owner appeared to clutch it tighter in defiance of Jokic’s haste. The Nuggets center would say later that he had wanted to inbound the ball quickly to take advantage of a 5-on-4 opportunity.Instead, te...

ViewHouse owner pays $3M for RiNo property

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:36 GMT

Francois Safieddine has pushed into RiNo.The restaurateur behind ViewHouse and My Neighbor Felix paid $3 million last week for 3454-3458 Walnut St., according to public records.The 3458 parcel has a 5,100-square-foot brick single-story building on it that has been used as office space. The adjacent parcel is undeveloped. The combined site is 0.29 acres, and is on the same block as Paradigm, the eight-story office building being developed by Denver-based Jordon Perlmutter & Co. and New York-based Rockefeller Group.Safieddine and representatives of his company Lotus Concepts Management did not respond to requests for comment Friday.The property was sold by 3463 Walnut Street LLC, which purchased it in June 2011 for $890,000, records show. Michael Mayberry signed sales paperwork on behalf of the entity; his company Ronin Motorworks once operated at the site.The lots are zoned I-MX-5 and were touted in marketing materials as a “prime redevelopment opportunity,” with the potential fo...