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Colorado House reaches deal to settle open-meetings lawsuit filed by two Democratic lawmakers

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

The Colorado House of Representatives has moved to settle an open-meetings lawsuit filed by two of its members, agreeing to provide more transparency into legislative strategy meetings and private messages between legislators.The settlement, filed in court Thursday, awaits the approval of the Denver judge overseeing the litigation. But its terms have been agreed upon by the two Democratic lawmakers who filed the suit — Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Bob Marshall — and the institutions they sued: the House, their own House Democratic caucus, its Republican counterpart and the chamber’s three leaders.Under the terms of the deal, the House’s leaders — Speaker Julie McCluskie, Democratic Majority Leader Monica Duran and Republican Minority Leader Mike Lynch — agreed not to hold meetings involving a majority of legislators or meetings at which formal action may occur unless the public receives advance notice. It’s been common practice for members of on...

Victim of Fontana ‘bank jugging’ speaks out

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

As authorities warn of a rise in an alarming crime trend called “bank jugging,” a recent victim of the follow-robbery style incident spoke out about the ordeal.The term is used to describe culprits targeting and following people who withdraw large amounts of cash from a bank or an ATM.The Fontana Police Department described such an incident that occurred on July 22. Authorities in Fontana warning residents of increased incidents of ‘bank jugging’ The victim, who only wanted to be identified as Joe, said he remains shaken up by the incident.He had withdrawn just over $1,000 from a Chase branch and walked to his truck with an envelope filled with cash.He then drove to a nearby Walgreens to run an errand.“While in there, unfortunately, they broke my driver door glass window, went into the truck, they took the envelope of cash that I had put in the center console, and that’s how I found my car,” Joe told KTLA.Though his sense of security being out in public now feels compromised, J...

Panera Bread testing smaller menu selection at select locations nationwide

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

Panera Bread is testing a smaller menu selection at select café locations nationwide as the company continues to improve its guest experience. The smaller menu is being tested at less than 3% of all Panera Bread locations nationwide. This is America’s favorite fast food place, according to a new study About 50 items, including all kids’ menu items and flatbread pizzas, along with select sandwiches, salads, and dessert options, have been cut from the menus, according to a Reddit post.The company declined to comment on which items have been removed or where they are testing the smaller menus but did tell KTLA that the drastic change is all a part of a test.“As part of our effort to continually improve our guest experience, we routinely test different menu options in a small number of Panera bakery cafes with the goal of providing a faster and more convenient guest experience while also simplifying operations for our associates,” a Panera Bread spokesperson said in a statement to KTL...

Diarrhea disaster forces Delta flight to make a U-turn

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

An international Delta Air Lines flight, flying from Atlanta, Georgia, to Barcelona, Spain, was forced to turn around two hours into its journey following a reported "biohazard issue" on board Friday. In an alleged audio clip from the flight deck, posted to X by an aviation enthusiast, the pilot said the flight was affected by a "biohazard issue" concerning a passenger who had "diarrhea all the way through the airplane." The audio clip was taken from LiveATC.com, the enthusiast said.The plane was two hours into the eight-hour flight when it had to make a U-turn, according to data from Flightradar24. American Airlines flight interrupted by sounds of moaning, groaning PA system When asked to confirm the veracity of the audio shared to X, a spokesperson for Delta told Nexstar that the plane returned to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia because a passenger had a "medical issue" on board.“Delta flight 194 on Sept. 1 from Atlanta to Barcelona returned...

Jury seated for Navarro’s contempt of Congress trial

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

By Tierney Sneed and Devan Cole | CNNA jury was seated Tuesday in former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro’s criminal contempt of Congress trial, marking the start of what’s expected to be a speedy trial for the one-time aide to former President Donald Trump.Over the course of more than seven hours, dozens of prospective jurors were peppered with questions by US District Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the case, as well as prosecutors and an attorney for Navarro.The chosen jury is comprised of a diverse set of people in Washington, DC, including government consultants, a contractor for NASA, someone who works in mental health services and a few retirees. Many of them said they were vaguely aware of the House January 6, 2021, committee’s work but that they didn’t think it would impact their ability to serve objectively.Both sides are expected to give their opening statements Wednesday morning, and the trial will likely be a quick one. Prosecutors said they plan to call just...

San Francisco man sentenced to 5 years in prison for sexting with teens while he was a teacher

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — A former schoolteacher has been sentenced to federal prison for receiving explicit selfies from minors, crimes that were only discovered when the defendant’s significant other was investigated for similar conduct.U.S. District Judge Susan Illston last month sentenced Charles Barrett, of San Francisco, to five years in prison and three years supervised release. Barrett’s sentencing came weeks after a different judge sentenced Marc Nunez, Barrett’s husband, to one year behind bars.Prosecutors said in a sentencing memo that the crimes dated back to 2013 and 2014, when Barrett allegedly encouraged teen boys to send him explicit images of themselves. Authorities say he received nine images from one boy who stated he was 16, and at least one image from another 16-year-old boy. Barrett also sent the second boy explicit images of himself, prosecutors said.At the beginning of the prosecution, in 2022, prosecutors said one of the victims told police tha...

61 indicted on charges related to ‘Stop Cop City’ in Ga.

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

By R.J. Rico | Associated PressATLANTA — Sixty-one people have been indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges following a long-running state investigation into protests against a planned police and firefighter training facility in the Atlanta area that critics call “Cop City.”In the sweeping indictment released Tuesday, Republican Attorney General Chris Carr alleged the defendants are “militant anarchists” who supported a violent movement that prosecutors trace to the widespread 2020 racial justice protests.The Aug. 29 indictment is the latest application of the state’s anti-racketeering law, also known as a RICO law, and comes just weeks after the Fulton County prosecutor used the statute to charge former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants.The “Stop Cop City” effort has gone on for more than two years and at times veered into vandalism and violence. Opponents fear the training center will lead to greater militarization of the ...

Woman pulled into car outside Concord 7-11, suspect arrested: police

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

(KRON) -- A woman was kidnapped outside of a Concord 7-11 on Aug. 19, the Concord Police Department confirmed to KRON4. A suspect in the kidnapping was arrested the next day.The incident happened at about 2 a.m. outside the 7-11 located at 2995 Monument Boulevard, near Oakmead Drive. Police said the victim was standing near the store when a man drove up to her and started talking to her. While he was at his passenger-side door, he grabbed her and pulled her inside the car, CPD said. The man drove away, and the woman was able to call 911 using her cell phone. She eventually opened the door and jumped out of the car as it was moving. She told police she was sexually assaulted while in the car.Patrol officers chased the suspect, but he got away. The next day, CPD arrested the suspect and identified him as Edgar Mendoza-Uribe. Mendoza-Uribe was charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office with kidnapping and assault with the intent to commit rape. He is being held in co...

SF to get $267M in opioid settlement from companies that allegedly fueled epidemic

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

(BCN) -- In a landmark settlement agreement, two major pharmaceutical companies and a retailer will pay San Francisco over $267 million in the next 15 years to resolve allegations of their complicity in fueling the city's opioid crisis. On Tuesday, the city's Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a settlement agreement between the City and County of San Francisco and Walgreens Co., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Allergan Finance, LLC. The three companies have agreed to pay a collected $267 million in settlement fees for a 2018 lawsuit, with Walgreens taking the largest share at a whopping $229,610,002. The lawsuit alleged these companies violated the unfair competition law by falsely and misleadingly marketing opioids as safer than they actually were, and distributed large quantities of opioids in the city "despite knowledge of the growing epidemic," reads the ordinance. ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ streams suddenly skyrocket — thanks to Filipinos Each of th...

Canadian man accused of running over and killing a Muslim family pleads not guilty

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:18 GMT

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) — A Canadian man accused of deliberately running over and killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, as jury selection for his trial started. Nathaniel Veltman is accused of deliberately hitting the Afzaal family members with his truck as they were out for a walk on the evening of June 6, 2021. He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Standing next to the accused as the court registrar read the charges, defense lawyer Christopher Hicks entered not guilty pleas on Veltman’s behalf.Veltman, who wore a long-sleeve white shirt and black pants in court, was sitting quietly between his defense lawyers Hicks and Peter Ketcheson during the jury selection process.Jury selection was set to continue on Wednesday for the trial that is expected to last 12 weeks.Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance ruled last year that a change of venue is warranted in the case, moving the ...