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Kaiser Permanente workers ratify contract after strike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tens of thousands of health care workers have ratified a new four-year contract with industry giant Kaiser Permanente following a strike over wages and staffing levels, the parties announced Thursday.Of the 85,000 members in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, 98.5% voted in recent weeks to ratify the contract, the coalition said in a press release. It runs retroactively from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2027. Hospitalized Native American’s waist-length hair cut without permission The deal includes setting minimum hourly wages at $25 in California, where most of Kaiser’s facilities are located, and $23 in other states. Workers will also see a 21% wage increase over four years.The agreement also includes protective terms around subcontracting and outsourcing, as well as initiatives to invest in the current workforce and address the staffing crisis. The workers’ last contract was negotiated in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.The three-day strike last mon...

How much time does Colorado have to pass property tax relief?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Gov. Jared Polis is calling lawmakers back to the state Capitol next week to address rising property taxes after Colorado voters shot down Proposition HH. Republican lawmakers laid out a plan weeks ago, where they urged for a special session ahead of the election. Hospitalized Native American’s waist-length hair cut without permission Lawmakers are offering three alternatives to Prop HH, including tax exemption for seniors and veterans, lowering the residential property assessment rate and changing the way local governments are designated and backfilled for reductions in property tax revenue. A final bill would reduce the state income tax rate to 4%.Still, Democrats haven’t released their plan to lower property taxes.Lawmakers are on a tight deadline because tax bills go out in the mail in January. That means mill levies will need to be set by Dec. 15.How much property tax relief is possible?Because relief needs to pass soon, Senate Minority Whip Barbara Kirkmeyer ...

Former football coach at Carol City High arrested over alleged sexual conversations with students

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Police arrested a man who coached football at a high school in Miami Gardens over what they said was illicit contact with students.According to investigators, Jahvon Brown engaged in unlawfully sexual conversations with students at Miami Carol City High School.Police said the 25-year-old contacted two teens on social media and tried to send naked pictures to one of them, but she refused.Brown faces charges of offenses against students by authority figures and using a computer to engage a child in sexual conduct.The suspect also served as a security guard at the school. The district said he has been fired and is ineligible to be hired again.

50 become US citizens in 1st naturalization ceremony held at Opa-locka USCG station

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

A citizenship ceremony in Opa-locka welcomed new Americans in light of Veterans Day.Fifty people from 15 different countries became naturalized U.S. citizens at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Opa-locka, Thursday.People came from near and far, and some were full of emotion when describing what they had to overcome to reach this milestone.“It’s very emotional to me because we were lost at sea,” said Carlos Valdez as he broke down in tears. “The Coast Guard found us and saved our lives.”Thursday’s event marked the first time a naturalization ceremony has been held at the USCG station.

More than a dozen displaced after fire in Cambridge apartment building

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

More than a dozen people were displaced Thursday after a fire broke out in a residential building in Cambridge, officials said. Emergency crews responded to the scene on Gore Street Thursday afternoon. Video later shared with 7NEWS showed the fire at its strongest, with flames seem billowing from third-floor windows.While the fire had been largely knocked down as of around 5 p.m., crews remained on scene monitoring hotspots. By 6:30 p.m., emergency crews still on scene had largely shifted their efforts toward helping building residents impacted by this fire. “It’s just sad,” said Maureen Sullivan, a witness to the fire. “I feel really sad for them.” Area resident Rick Maher said he saw flames and smoke as the fire burned. Fellow area resident Darcy Delaney similarly said she looked out her front door and spotted “just a ton of fire trucks” racing to the scene.”“I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to stay or go because there was a lot of smoke outside,” said...

Substitute teacher shortages forces Brockton High School students to spend class time in cafeteria

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Some students at Brockton High School have recently been spending class time in their school’s cafeteria as the public school district deals with a shortage of substitute teachers. On any given day, school officials said, there are between 17 and 29 teachers absent. Without enough substitutes, students have been left with no place to go, leaving parents frustrated. One such parent, Mary Lacivita, said her 16-year-old son is also frustrated after spending hours each school week without a teacher. So far this school year, Lacivita said, one of her son’s AP class teachers has been absent for nearly 30% of classes. District officials told 7NEWS students without a teacher or a substitute on a given day are asked to go to the cafeteria where Lacivita’s son said there is little to no supervision.“There’s a fight every day, at some point, whether it’s during lunch or whether it’s the group of students in the cafeteria because their teachers are absent,” Lacivita said.“Th...

Suspicious letters with white powder sent to election offices in several states

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

(CNN) — Federal law enforcement officials are investigating reports of suspicious letters sent to election offices, a Justice Department spokesperson said Thursday.“We are aware of the reports and the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter,” the department spokesperson said in response to an inquiry from CNN. The official said the DOJ would not comment further.Election officials in Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington state reported receiving suspicious mail.In a statement Thursday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Fulton County, Georgia – which includes large swaths of Atlanta – had been among the election offices in multiple states targeted with suspicious letters.Officials in Georgia said the letter received by Fulton County was suspected to contain fentanyl.“We’re working with our state and federal partners to determine if any additional Georgia officials are being targeted,” Raffensperger said. “Domestic terrori...

Charlie Coyle hat trick lifts Bruins over Islanders, 5-2

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

The winning formula for the Bruins this season has been simple. If they give up two or fewer goals, they’ll manage to get at least one more than that.That’s what happened on Thursday night at the Garden, when they tangled with their bad penny of an opponent in the New York Islanders and managed to pull away in the end. They coughed up a one-goal lead early in the third but then popped in three more to survive the Islanders, 5-2, to improve to 11-1-1. They have not allowed more than two goals in any of their wins.Charlie Coyle notched his first career hat trick and added an assist for a monster night.The Bruins came out with some jump and tested Ilya Sorokin early. He was equal to the task. He made a nice toe save on a Jake DeBrusk misdirection shot and then stuffed Trent Frederic on a good chance through the slot.But it was Frederic who broke the ice at 14:05 of the first. Coyle won a puck in the corner and fed James van Riemsdyk behind the Islander net. Van Riemsdyk had...

Boston City Council president claim prompts backlash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Two days after topping the ticket in the election, Ruthzee Louijeune announced that she has the votes to become the Boston City Council’s next president, but didn’t tell at least five of her colleagues first, leaving at least two questioning her professionalism.Louijeune, an attorney who worked as senior counsel for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, would assume her new role in January if her colleagues’ vote ultimately swings in her favor, in just her second term as an at-large councilor.  She needs seven votes from the 13-member body.“I am humbled that my colleagues believe in me to lead the Boston City Council in the next term,” Louijeune said in a Thursday statement. “We have a lot of work to do when it comes to meeting the basic needs of residents and it’s clear that is what our communities want us to focus on.“I look forward to strengthening relationships and building relationships with my colleagues joining in January,” she added.District 4 Councilor Brian Worre...

Montgomery Steppe declares victory in District 4 Supervisor race

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Monica Montgomery Steppe has declared victory in the special election for the District 4 seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.Montgomery Steppe, a San Diego city councilmember, received 62% of the votes -- 50% was needed to win outright. Founder of “Reopen San Diego” Amy Reichert received 38%, according to early results from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters."Tonight, we made history. We elected the first Black Woman Supervisor in San Diego County.We took a grassroots movement to yet another hall of power. We brought a model of governance that puts the People first. Words are not enough to thank you for showing up for our County," Montgomery Steppe said in a statement Tuesday. Results: Nov. 7 Special Election Montgomery Steppe continued, saying "As your Supervisor, I look forward to teaming up with you to tackle homelessness, promote holistic public safety, and invest in our County. Together, we can move the People's County forward."Reichert thank...