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Court documents suggest reason for the police raid of Kansas newspaper

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

(AP) - The police chief who led the raid of a Kansas newspaper alleged in previously unreleased court documents that a reporter either impersonated someone else or lied about her intentions when she obtained the driving records of a local business owner.But reporter Phyllis Zorn, Marion County Record Editor and Publisher Eric Meyer and the newspaper's attorney said Sunday that no laws were broken when Zorn accessed a public state website for information on restaurant operator Kari Newell.The raid carried out Aug. 11 and led by Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody brought international attention to the small central Kansas town that now finds itself at the center of a debate over press freedoms. Police seized computers, personal cellphones and a router from the newspaper, but all items were released Wednesday after the county prosecutor concluded there wasn't enough evidence to justify the action.Late Saturday, the Record's attorney, Bernie Rhodes, provided copies of t...

Want to retain employees? Try a shorter workweek

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

(NerdWallet) - The four-day workweek is the latest buzzy workplace trend, with experiments and surveys touting improved employee morale, retention and productivity.In one study of 41 businesses across the U.S. and Canada — the majority with 25 or fewer employees — 40% of employees surveyed said they were less stressed after trying out a shorter workweek. In addition, 60% of employees reported a better work-life balance and 32% said they were less likely to quit, according to a July 2023 report by 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit that promotes shorter workweeks.ThredUp has seen this play out in-house over the past two years. The online clothing reseller shifted to a four-day week for corporate employees in 2021. Voluntary turnover among that group dropped 55% compared with 2019, and hiring got a boost. Most new hires cited the company’s shorter week as a deciding factor in employment, Natalie Breece, chief people and diversity officer at ThredUp, said by email.Can a shorter workweek do...

Austin included in list of US cities where wildfires threaten the most homes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The Maui fires are a terrifying reminder of the destruction that wildfires can cause. It's a threat many Western U.S. residents are unfortunately familiar with. A new report from CoreLogic analyzed how many homes and apartments in 14 Western states are at a high risk of fires. They looked at areas' slope, drought conditions, wildfire fuel, wind and other factors to determine places with the most at-risk residences. The West's largest state, California, unsurprisingly had the most number of homes facing wildfire risk. The Golden State also had the highest estimated cost for rebuilding after a devastating fire. While fires can occur anywhere, areas with lots of homes butted up against nature are at a higher risk. For example, in the Los Angeles metro area, residences "face an elevated risk due to their proximity to forested or undeveloped areas," the CoreLogic report said. "This geographic placement can pose challenges for firefighting and evacuation efforts in case of a w...

Man sentenced in shooting death of bystander outside Austin strip club

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in state prison in connection with the death of a man who was shot in the head outside a strip club in northeast Austin in May 2021.According to Travis County court documents, 22-year-old Perkins Clayton Sexton received his sentence after negotiating a plea deal and pleading guilty to the murder of 22-year-old Alejandro Martinez. RELATED: Suspect arrested in shooting death of bystander outside Austin strip club According to past KXAN coverage, Martinez was a bystander who was shot when a shootout between two groups occurred near the  9700 block of Reservoir Court on May 23, 2021. Martinez died at the hospital three days later, according to the Austin Police Department.Court documents showed Sexton had a jail credit of 805 days toward his sentence.As of Sunday, Sexton remained booked into the Travis County Jail.

The good and bad from Vikings safety Lewis Cine’s preseason so far

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

Lewis Cine is probably the most physically gifted player the Vikings have at the safety position. He boasts a 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and can run the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds. No other safety on the Vikings roster — not Harrison Smith, not Cam Bynum, not Josh Metellus — can compete with those type of measurables.No matter. As of right now, Cine sits behind Smith, Bynum and Metellus on the depth chart, and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. He’s still very much learning his role under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores, searching for the level of consistency it takes to be a starter in the NFL.That’s why the preseason games against the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans have been so important this summer. After missing most of his rookie season with a compound fracture in his left leg, Cine desperately needs experience when the lights get bright. There’s only so much that can be simulated during practice at TCO Performance Center.“...

Schenectady man arrested on gun charge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schenectady man has been arrested following a firearm investigation, according to the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Raki Johnson, 25, faces multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On August 20 at 12 a.m., an officer on foot patrol in the area of Caroline Street encountered Johnson in a parked car with an expired registration. Upon further investigation, the officer noticed a 9mm semi-automatic Taurus handgun in plain view in the vehicle's rear passenger compartment. Johnson was then taken into custody. The firearm was recovered from the car with nine rounds of ammunition, and police discovered that the gun had been reported as stolen to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Police investigating crash involving bicyclist in Moreau Johnson was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property....

Power outage in Ballwin during the heatwave

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

BALLWIN, Mo. – Approximately 2,500 people are affected by the power outage that began at 2 p.m. today, according to Ameren. The cause is not yet known, and there is no estimate for restoration. Fox2 will provide updates as information becomes available.

Gateway Dragon Boat Festival, paddling for health and community

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

CREVE COEUR LAKE -- The echoes of oars cutting through the water, the resounding cheers of the crowd, and the palpable excitement in the air—all these elements came together in a display of athleticism and community support at the recently concluded 2023 Gateway Dragon Boat Festival.Held on August 19th, this marked the 17th event of its kind and served as a rallying point for the importance of an active lifestyle, offering a platform to raise funds for critical healthcare needs. Against the backdrop of Creve Coeur Lake, the Dragon Boat Races showcased the true spirit of competition and unity. Hedge apples: Can we eat them? But beyond the excitement, the festival held a deeper purpose—to support Operation Family Help, an initiative of the Signature Healthcare Foundation. Families facing financial challenges due to healthcare costs were the true beneficiaries of the day's efforts.

Broncos WR Jalen Virgil injured meniscus vs. 49ers, seeking second opinion, sources say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

Jalen Virgil is likely miss substantial time due to a meniscus injury to his knee, sources confirmed to The Post on Sunday afternoon.Virgil, a source said, is seeking a second opinion on surgical options before finalizing his course forward. Depending on the exact severity of the injury, Virgil could miss anywhere from several weeks to four months.Virgil, the second-year Broncos wide receiver, was injured late in the first half Saturday against San Francisco after hauling in a 50-yard reception from quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Virgil was tackled near the goal line and popped up after the play, only to grab at his knee following the play.After Denver was ruled to have run out of time trying to spike the ball, Virgil was taken to the locker room at halftime via a cart.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Broncos RB Javonte Williams feels 100 percent after first game since ACL tear Denver Broncos | It might be just preseason, but referees drew Broncos coach Sean...

Digging deeper: Homebuilders are adding basements under the garage to maximize space

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:16 GMT

For homeowners building new homes in neighborhoods with limited square footage, the space under the garage is blank canvas for fun uses — but it doesn’t come cheaply.Jeff Englund, president and owner of Denver-based builder Larsen, said a basement under garage differs from a typical basement because it requires structural support and waterproofing designed to withstand vehicle weights.“We do a typical exterior foundation and waterproofing on the foundation walls but integrate steel support beams and a metal decking system to disperse the loading,” Englund said. “On top of the metal decking is a 4-inch layer of concrete with a waterproofing membrane applied on top, wrapping all perimeter walls and then an additional 4-inch layer of concrete.”Depending on the size, including a basement under garage could cost $50,000 to $100,000 for the structural components, Englund said. Finishing the space could cost another $50,000 to $250,000, depending on the planned use.The company has be...