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Starbucks leader grilled by Senate over anti-union actions

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

Longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz insisted the coffee chain hasn’t broken labor laws and is willing to bargain with unionized workers during an often testy, two-hour appearance before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.But he also was firm in his stance that the Seattle coffee giant already provides good wages and benefits and doesn’t need a union. And he pointed out that only around 1% of Starbucks’ 250,000 U.S. employees have elected to join a union.“We’ve done everything that we possibly can to respect the right under the law of our partners’ ability to join a union,” Schultz said. “But conversely, we have consistently laid out our preference, without breaking any law, of communicating to our people what we believe is our vision for the company.”At least 293 of Starbucks’ 9,000 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late 2021, according to the National Labor Relations Board. Starbucks Workers United, th...

7 California officers charged in death of man in custody

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors charged seven California Highway Patrol officers and a nurse with involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday in connection with the 2020 death of a man who screamed “I can’t breathe” while multiple officers restrained him as they tried to take a blood sample.Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges in the death of Edward Bronstein, which the LA County coroner said was caused by “acute methamphetamine intoxication during restraint by law enforcement.” “The officers had a legal duty to Mr. Bronstein,” Gascón said during a news conference. “He was in their custody. We believe that they failed their duty and their failure was criminally negligent, causing his death.”In a statement, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee extended condolences to Bronstein’s family and said the agency’s mission is to prioritize all Californians’ safety. “I am saddened that Mr. Bronstein died while in our custody and care. Any death in custod...

Canadian supporters of missing Chinese human-rights defender want more information

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian supporters of Dong Guangping, a missing Chinese human-rights defender, are disappointed with what they call a disingenuous response from Vietnamese officials to the United Nations.There has been no word of Dong’s fate since he was arrested Aug. 24 by Vietnamese police.In mid-December, UN human-rights experts wrote to the Vietnamese government seeking answers about his whereabouts and well-being.In a recent reply to the UN, the government said it had no information concerning Dong’s presence in Vietnam.Dong’s daughter Katherine, who lives in Toronto with her mother, said in November she feared her father had been handed over to Chinese authorities.Katherine Dong now questions whether the Vietnamese government is accountable to anyone concerning human rights.“Vietnam ignored our family and ignored the Canadian government, but we were holding onto hope that they would take the United Nations seriously and finally disclose what has happened to m...

Slight severe weather threat heading towards Chicagoland area Friday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

CHICAGO -- Sunshine emerged after the morning snow showers as expected and we're on our way to another night with favorable viewing conditions for the 5 planet line-up which is of interest to skywatchers. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars line up near the moon tonight and cloud coverage (the % of the sky cloud covered) is predicted as follows over Chicago: 7pm CDT 4%; 1am CDT Thu 3% and 7am CDT Thu 29%. Look up! 5-planet palooza could be visible in the night sky THE WEATHER LOOKS GOOD FOR THE CUBS HOME OPENER THURSDAY AT WRIGLEY FIELD—thought a southeast winds will be blowing into the ball park off Lake Michigan. This means that while temps warm to the mid 50s inland; only mid 40s are likely for Thursday's game at Wrigley. Sunshine will plentiful Thursday though clouds will be on the increase in the afternoon and an overcast is likely to be in place after the game at sunset Thursday. What to know about Cubs’ 2023 Opening Day at Wrigley Field SEVERE WEATHER CONCERNS REMAIN...

9-year-old girl inspires father to organize fire truck and ambulance donations to Ukraine

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

SCHILLER PARK, Ill. — "Hey dad, is there anything we can do to help?"That was the question Chris Manson's 9-year-old daughter, Lilly, asked this time last year that got his brain humming, leading to the creation of U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine."It’s really nice to know that we’re helping people and saving lots of lives," Lilly said.In the 12-plus months since that fateful day, Manson has built partnerships with Chicago's Consulate General of Ukraine, UA Resistance and several other medical organizations, leading to what will be their eighth shipment of ambulances and fire engines to Ukraine, set to depart from Valparaiso Thursday."We’ll be shipping them out of the East Coast on a ship and eventually get them into the Germany and up to Poland," Manson said. "Then we’ll send a team of Americans to drive them into Ukraine and deliver them into military units, hospitals or fire departments." Ukraine’s Zelenskyy: Any Russian victory could be perilous Manson spent Wednesday walking throu...

Chicago woman supports, inspires female restaurant owners

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

CHICAGO -- Vermillion Restaurant has a loyal following for both it's creative cuisine and trendy vibe. But, it's owner, Rohini Dey, is undoubtedly the secret sauce."When I entered restaurants, it stunned me how few women actually owned their own businesses and I strongly believe that power comes from that ownership," Dey said.Dey, who has been uplifting and inspiring women in Chicago for years, set out during the pandemic to find more women in the restaurant business and let them know they weren't alone."She pulled about 20 of us together to say hey, we need to stand up for ourselves, there's strengths in numbers and we can make it through this," Restaurant Owner Julia Shell said.20 soon became 30, and then 40 women started meeting to discuss ideas and band together as women restaurateurs."It proved to be such a magical moment for us," Dey said. "Not just the catharsis of it but the whole alchemy of being related on a very different level and that's when I realized I stumbled on som...

Popeyes adds new dessert item, brings back fan-favorite item

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

(KTLA) - Popeyes has a new menu item that takes a sweet twist on the restaurant's iconic biscuits.On Monday, the fast-food company rollout its new Strawberry Biscuits, a limited-time menu item available at participating restaurants nationwide. Taco Bell of the future: New restaurant opens with 4-lane drive-thru system (Popeyes) “We are thrilled to introduce the latest culinary creation to our dessert menu, the irresistible Strawberry Biscuits,” Amy Alarcon, the vice president of culinary innovation, said in a statement. “The perfect combination of our classic, buttery biscuits and the flavor of ripe, fruity strawberries, Strawberry Biscuits offer a delicious touch of sweetness to any meal.”The biscuits retail for $1.79 for one, $2.99 for two, and $5.39 for a pack of four.The Strawberry Biscuits aren’t the only new menu item coming to Popeyes: the company is also rolling out a new family meal option and a fan-favorite food item that will be available on menus at participating resta...

Florida man hides from deputies in insulation pile: authorities

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man accused of burglary found himself in an "itchy situation" after authorities said he tried to hide from deputies by burying himself under a pile of insulation.According to a Facebook post from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a home burglary in progress in North Fort Myers on Sunday. WATCH: Florida police officers wrangle 9-foot alligator in street There, deputies learned that a man entered the home but never left. As deputies searched the home, they heard footsteps coming from the attic. Near the attic access, deputies said they found a five-gallon bucket and insulation debris that had fallen to the floor.After several failed attempts to order the man down, deputies used non-lethal gas to force him out."However, the suspect made a rash decision and refused to come down," the sheriff's office said in the post.When that didn't work, a K-9 unit was sent into the attic where deputies found the man, identified as 44-year-old Br...

White Sox give a positive update on Liam Hendriks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

HOUSTON — As promised earlier in the winter, the White Sox general manager had an update on the team's closer who has been fighting cancer for the last three months. Ahead of their opener against the Astros on Thursday in Houston, Rick Hahn said that Liam Hendriks is making "very good" progress as he continues treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Because of that, the White Sox didn't put the pitcher on the 60-day injured list, opening up a possibility of a return much earlier than people might have thought. Hendriks revealed his diagnosis on Instagram on January 8 and began treatments the next day. How Liam Hendriks & family have helped the Lymphoma Research Foundation The closer has yet to speak publically since the diagnosis outside of social media, but he was working out at Camelback Ranch as the White Sox held spring training in February and March. "I’m just trying to take it day by day and stay positive… and make a few jokes inbetween," said Hendriks on an Instagram post...

Texas Democracy Foundation votes to keep the Texas Observer open

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:26:44 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 29, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the Texas Democracy Foundation voted to keep the Texas Observer up and running as a nonprofit publication.The Texas Democracy Foundation previously told its staff Monday it was laying off employees, including journalists and editors, and stopping publication Friday, March 31, according to the Texas Observer website.The layoffs were rescinded by the board Wednesday afternoon.Additionally, a GoFundMe was created, so readers and supporters of the Observer could "give a lifeline to staff and journalists," the website said. As of Wednesday, the fundraiser raised $278,654 of a $300,000 goal.The Observer said shutting the publication down would affect staff who need to pay their rent, bills and take care of their families. "It would cause journalists to lose credibility with those who have supported stories already published or in progress, including their recent series on...