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Atlanta project decried as 'Cop City’ gets funding approval from City Council

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta City Council early Tuesday approved funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center, rejecting the pleas of hundreds of activists who packed City Hall and spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project they decry as “Cop City.”The 11-4 vote just after 5 a.m. is a significant victory for Mayor Andre Dickens, who has made the $90 million project a large part of his first term in office, despite pushback to the effort. The City Council also passed a resolution requesting two seats on the Atlanta Police Foundation’s board. In a statement, Dickens said the passage of the budget resolution “marks a major milestone for better preparing our fire, police and emergency responders to protect and serve our communities.”“Atlanta will be a national model for police reform with the most progressive training and curriculum in the country,” he said.The decentralized “Stop Cop City” movement has galvanized protesters from across the co...

Canadian smoke triggers air quality alert for St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- It's another hazy day in St. Louis with temperatures returning to the 80s to near 90 today. Wildfire smoke from eastern Canada is being drawn southwest into our region. Some people have also reported smelling the smoke in the air.There is an orange air quality alert for the St. Louis area. People with heart or lung disease, elderly people, and children should limit time outdoors.Canadian wildfire smoke in MissouriThese fires are in eastern Canada. A blocking pattern in the atmosphere is sending the smoke as far west as Kansas City. The smoke is heaviest along the east coast of the United States.The smoke looks like a milky haze to the skies, despite the blue sky breaking through. The smoke appears to be thinner than Monday.A weak front will drift across the region from northeast to southwest Wednesday with a couple of showers or spot storms possible. Moisture is very limited, so coverage is going to be very sparse and of little help in easing dry conditions.The odds f...

Top 5 St. Louis area breweries ranked by the Wednesday Beer Club

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Since the Wednesday Beer Club members know that there are a lot of great craft breweries in the St. Louis area, they have made it a monthly practice to rank the best places for beer, food, and atmosphere.Marie and John Eash have been friends with Jim and Ruthie Martin for over 40 years. They met them when they both worked at McDonnell Douglas. In February 2019, Jim reached out to them and asked them to join him at Civil Life Brewery for a chill evening.“We made it a point to meet at 3 p.m., so it was not overly crowded. Since it was February, we were limited to the inside tasting area, which is set up nicely with large picnic style tables,” said John Eash. “We had all been there before and knew the beers were good – their brown ale is a favorite. We also enjoyed a few games of ring toss while there. We wanted to try other brewery beers, so we decided we would pick a different place each month.” They decided to get together on Wednesday because it worked out well. A...

Wyatt Aamodt re-signs with Avalanche for 1-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

The Avalanche on Tuesday re-signed defenseman Wyatt Aamodt to a one-year contract.Last season, the 25-year-old blueliner played 52 games for the Colorado Eagles, the Avs’ AHL affiliate, and tallied three goals and 15 assists.The 6-foot, 204-pound Aamodt signed with Colorado as a free agent in April 2022, following his final game as a senior at Minnesota State — a 5-1 loss to the University of Denver in the NCAA championship game. From Hermantown, Minn., he finished his four-year college career with 29 points (10 goals) in 123 games.Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.

Department of Transportation officer injured in downtown L.A. hit-and-run crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

An officer with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation suffered minor injuries last month when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver in downtown, police said Tuesday amid the ongoing investigation.The incident occurred around 7 p.m. May 12 as the officer was conducting traffic control at the intersection of Flower Street and Olympic Boulevard.The DOT officer had stopped the female driver of a newer-model Mercedes Benz C-Class with a Texas plate that was heading west on Olympic, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The Mercedes Benz driver then allegedly disregarded the officer’s direction to remain stopped and drove forward instead, striking the officer. She failed to stop and help the officer and fled west toward Figueroa, police said.The suspect vehicle is shown in images shared by the Los Angeles Police Department on June 6, 2023. The officer suffered minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital.The driver is described as Black and between 20 and 30 years old.P...

Family of man killed by stolen Amazon truck in South Los Angeles sues online retailer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

The family of a man who was struck and killed by a stolen Amazon delivery truck in South Los Angeles last year has announced a lawsuit against the company.Street vendor Jose Rangel, 57, was killed on Feb. 17, 2022, when Cristian Ramos Sanchez, 38, of Los Angeles, lost control of the truck he had stolen.Sanchez got into the unlocked truck in the 4100 block of Woodlawn Avenue and drove away before crashing the vehicle near the intersection of Main Street and 47th Place.He hit Rangel, who died at the scene, and two others, who were injured but survived.Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and grand theft of an automobile. He received a sentence of nine years and four months in prison after agreeing to a plea deal, according to City News Service.While Sanchez has been punished, Rangel's family thinks Amazon bears some blame as well.Sam Dordulian, the family's attorney, said the truck "full of packages" being unlocked was "just inviting...

AMC Theaters will offer $3 and $5 movie tickets during the summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

After a four-year hiatus, AMC Theaters will once again offer its summer movie camp program, where customers can see select movies at participating theaters for $3 or $5 during the summer season.Guests can see a movie for $3 plus tax on Wednesdays and $5 plus tax on Saturdays from May to August. Orange County hosting free summer events at local parks Fourteen movies will rotate through the program throughout the summer, including recent and future releases such as “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “Trolls World Tour.”The program will be available at approximately 400 AMC locations throughout the U.S., including every AMC Classic location in the circuit, officials said.The full list of movie titles and when they will be in theaters is as follows:June 7: “DC League of Super Pets”June 10 and June 14: “Minions: The Rise of Gru”June 17 and June 21: “Paw Patrol: The Movie”June 24/ June 28: “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish”June 30 and July 5: “Kung Fu Panda”July 8 and July 12: “Trolls: Worl...

Former NJ Gov. Christie files to run for president in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

By Jill Colvin and Holly Ramer | Associated PressMANCHESTER, N.H. — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie filed paperwork Tuesday formally launching his bid for the Republican nomination for president after casting himself as the only candidate willing to directly take on former President Donald Trump.Christie, who also ran for president in 2016, was set to announce his campaign later Tuesday at a town hall in the early voting state of New Hampshire. After losing the nomination to Trump seven years ago, the former governor and federal prosecutor went on to become a close off-and-on adviser before breaking with the former president over his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.Christie enters a growing primary field that already includes Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence will be formally launching his own campaign in Iowa on Wednesday.Christie, who du...

Tech companies jettison hundreds more Bay Area jobs as layoffs widen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

Tech companies have revealed plans to jettison hundreds more Bay Area jobs in a disquieting indicator that the tech industry’s layoffs have yet to run their course, new official state government filings show.The latest staffing reductions for the tech sector are slated to eliminate at least 277 more jobs in the Bay Area, according to several WARN letters filed with the state Employment Development Department.Here are the details on the most recent layoffs affecting Bay Area workers that tech companies have revealed:Coherent, 196 job cuts in Fremont. The layoffs affect a Fremont location at 41762 C50 Christy Street where Coherent-owned subsidiary Finisar operates. Finisar makes optical communications components.Unity Technologies, 50 layoffs in San Francisco. Unity is a video game software developer.Flex, 31 staffing cutbacks in Milpitas. Flex is an electronics manufacturer.With the latest cutbacks, tech companies have disclosed plans to eliminate more than 25,200 jobs in the B...

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches opens in Brentwood with two new sandwiches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:48 GMT

Like sandwiches? Be one of the first 50 people in line at the June 16 grand opening of Ike’s Love & Sandwiches in Brentwood, and you get a chance to win a free sandwich – or, for one lucky person, free sandwiches for an entire year. (Please consult your doctor before taking up that offer.)The most recent Ike’s location in the Bay Area-based sandwich empire, which is now in six states, is already open and serving at 5411 Lone Tree Way #120, in Lone Tree Plaza. Founder Ike Shehadeh will be on hand to sign T-shirts at the grand opening and oversee the distribution of free ‘wiches.As Ike’s often does when debuting a new spot, the Brentwood location is celebrating by unveiling new sandwiches. (The chain already has more than 800 on its roster.) The Dirty D is a roast-beef sandwich with mango-honey barbecue sauce, purple slaw and pepper jack. And the Elizabeth Imbrie is a vegetarian version of that made with vegan turkey and apparently named for the photographer in t...