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Los Angeles to consider lifting COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian introduced a motion to the council Wednesday that would lift the city's requirement that city employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.The motion was introduced by Krekorian and fellow councilmember Traci Park, and was seconded by councilmembers Heather Hutt, Kevin De Leon, John Lee and Curren Price.If passed, the motion would repeal an article in the Los Angeles Administrative Code which required COVID-19 vaccination for all current and future employees. The requirement was put into place in December 2021, about a year after the first COVID-19 vaccines went to market.The mandate led to some protests and several dozen employees being docked pay over their refusal to get the vaccine. Krekorian said the motion continues a process that is already underway as part of negotiations between the City and the unions that represent its employees."A well-considered plan for lifting the mandate will be thoroughly discussed in Council, as it shou...

Nashville police chief’s son, wanted in shootings, found dead

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

By Travis Loller | Associated PressNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The estranged son of Nashville’s police chief, who was wanted in the shooting of two police officers, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading police on a chase in a stolen car, authorities said.Nashville Police Chief John Drake issued a statement on Wednesday thanking officers for working to locate his son after John Drake Jr., 38, was accused of shooting and wounding two officers in nearby La Vergne on Saturday.“It was my prayer that no harm would come to him or anyone else,” the elder Drake said. “I am heartbroken and saddened by the outcome. I appreciate the condolences and kind words of support as my family and I privately mourn our loss.”Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said in a news conference on Tuesday night that the younger Drake had stolen a car at gunpoint from a home southeast of downtown around 6 p.m. Drake asked a man and woman in front of a home for a ...

Horizon Air cockpit scare revives pilot mental health concerns

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot’s alleged midair sabotage attempt of a Horizon Air flight from Seattle to San Francisco on Sunday — and the pilot’s later admission that he had been depressed — highlights the major concerns that pilot mental health poses to the airline industry.It was an issue that came to international attention when a Germanwings copilot in 2015 locked the captain out of the cockpit midflight and deliberately dove their Airbus into the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard. At that time, the FAA reviewed and revised its mental health policies for flight crews. But experts say that seeking treatment can cost pilots their wings.“If you’re crazy enough to admit you have a mental problem, that’s basically the end of your career at an airline,” said Ross “Rusty” Aimer, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Aero Consulting Experts. “We as pilots hide anything that has to do with mental illness. It’s sad...

Police sources: At least 16 dead in Maine mass shooting incident

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

By David Sharp | Associated PressLEWISTON, Maine — CNN is reporting at least 16 people are dead in multiple shootings in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday night, according to multiple law enforcement sources.Fifty to 60 people are injured in the incidents, though it’s unclear how many are injured due to gunfire, the sources told CNN.A suspect remains at large, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook.“We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate,” the sheriff’s office said earlier Wednesday evening.Maine State Police ordered residents in the state’s second-largest city to shelter in place Wednesday night because of an active shooter situation in multiple locations.Lewiston Police said in a Facebook post that they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley.“Please stay off the roads to allow emergency responders access to the hospitals,” ...

Missing 15-year-old girl may be in Gilroy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

(KRON) -- A missing Central California girl may be in the Gilroy area, the Gilroy Police Department learned Wednesday. Adriana Deleon, 15, is from the Porterville area in Tulare County. She was last seen in Porterville on Oct 5, but her parents believe she might be in Gilroy. Deleon was described as a white/Hispanic female with blue/green eyes and blonde hair. She is roughly 5'3" and 135-140 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black romper. Anyone who sees her is asked to call (559) 310-2862 or their local police department.

Rand Paul Wants U.S. Troops Out of Niger

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Sen. Rand Paul is expected to call Thursday for a vote on a joint resolution that would require President Joe Biden to “remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Niger” within 30 days.“Since 2013, members of the United States Armed Forces have been introduced into hostilities with terrorist organizations and insurgent groups in the Republic of Niger, including through direct exchanges of fire with such groups,” reads the resolution. “Congress has not declared war against the Republic of Niger or any organization or group in Niger, nor has Congress provided a specific statutory authorization for the involvement of United States Armed Forces in the armed conflict or any hostilities in Niger.”The move follows the State Department’s October 10 declaration that a coup had taken place in Niger over the summer. For months following the overthrow of the democratically elected president by a military junta that includes at least five U.S.-...

Former Prince George’s Co. teacher says her account was hacked after security breach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Stephani Cherkaoui, who was a former social studies teacher at the CMIT Academy Middle School in Laurel, Maryland, during the 2017-2018 school year, got an email from her credit monitoring service saying her account was compromised.“I go online, and I check it out and it says that my name and email address and Social Security number has been found on the dark web and the email associated with it was my Prince George’s County teacher email address,” Cherkaoui said. “There’s nothing I can do. I just sort of have to wait around and hope nobody tries to steal my identity.”She said she had no idea nor did she receive any notification of a security breach from Prince George’s County public schools.“Your information is just out there and then you just wait until something happens,” Cherkaoui said. “I’m sure most of the time they’re not catching these cybercriminals that are out there stealing people’s identities ...

Justin Herbert’s struggles in the past 2 Chargers games bring more attention to his broken finger

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert would like to not answer questions about his broken middle finger. However, his recent play has not made them go away.The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback spent nearly four minutes following Wednesday’s practice discussing the broken middle finger on his left, non-throwing hand. “I think every day it’s getting better. We’re coming up on four weeks, so just doing everything I can to limit the pain and make sure I’m out here being safe,” Herbert said.Herbert suffered the injury late in the third quarter during a 24-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 1. He had a big completion to Josh Palmer after the two-minute warning to put the game away, but has struggled in losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.In the nine quarters since being injured, Herbert has completed only 58.6% of his passes and a sub-par 79.5 passer rating. Both are below his career numbers of a 66.9% completion rate and 96.3 rating.Herbert has been pl...

Vikings safety Cam Bynum’s wife hasn’t seen a game in person. She needs a visa from the Philippines

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Camryn Bynum correctly read the routes that came into his zone and, with spot-on instinct, braced for Brock Purdy to try to throw the ball over him with 25 seconds left.The third-year safety leaped high to snag his second interception of the final 5½ minutes of the game and secure a victory for the Minnesota Vikings over San Francisco.Bynum’s timing was perfect, and so was his performance Monday against the 49ers that ultimately earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. With a standout game on the prime-time stage, Bynum realized his larger-than-normal place in the spotlight and seized the opportunity to spread the word about his quest to reunite with his wife, Lalaine.She lives in the Philippines, where his mother is from and where he spends most of his offseason. Because of their unusual situation, her tourist visa application has twice been denied. Now the Bynums, with help from their legal team and both of Minnesota’s senators, are fo...

Acusan a cuatro residentes de Utah de un secuestro que inició en Arizona y culminó en Nuevo México

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Un jurado investigador federal en Albuquerque, Nuevo México, emitió una acusación formal contra cuatro personas de Utah, todos miembros inscritos de la Nación Navajo, por secuestro y conspiración para cometer secuestro, según informó el Departamento de Justicia el miércoles mediante un comunicado de prensa.Los acusados son Seraphine Warren-Begay, de 42 años, su esposo Orlando Begay, de 36, la hermana de él, Josephine Bekay, de 46, y el esposo de ésta, Nelton Alex Bekay, de 48.“Según la acusación, el 29 de marzo de 2021, Warren-Begay utilizó Facebook para investigar y localizar a la víctima, John Doe, antes de que el grupo se dirigiera a la residencia de John Doe en Arizona. Allí, el grupo entró en la residencia de John Doe y lo golpeó en la parte superior de la cabeza con un objeto contundente y le disparó con pistolas de ‘paintball’ antes de esposarlo y colocarlo en la parte trasera de uno de sus vehículos”, se indicó por escrito.“Luego, el grupo trans...