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Austin firefighter labor contract negotiations end without reaching agreement

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the City of Austin said it did not reach an agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) and Austin firefighters regarding labor contract negotiations, according to a city memo.The city said management had been working with the AFA for several months to achieve a mutually agreeable labor contract for the city’s firefighters.“Within the past week the parties had arrived at mutually agreeable language for all of the contract articles, which included a wage package that would keep our firefighters the overall best paid fire department in Texas by a significant margin, a reduction in scheduled work hours that directly addresses the AFA’s request, and other enhancements to the firefighters’ working conditions,” said Austin interim assistant city manager Bruce Mills in a memo.Mills said after agreeing on the contract language, management asked the AFA leadership to recommend the contract terms to its members; however, on Wednesday, AFA told the cit...

Moms group names the '10 best family-friendly activities' in St. Louis

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Whether you're visiting St. Louis or a homegrown resident looking for your next adventure, the Gateway City offers a variety of attractions for people of just about any age. An online moms advocacy group known as Momtastic is looking to help families plan their next big St. Louis excursion. Earlier this month, Momtastic released a list naming the "10 best family-friendly activities" in St. Louis. Strong storms likely overnight into Saturday morning "Family adventures are waiting to unfold around every corner," said the recent Momtastic report. "With its rich history, vibrant culture, and an array of attractions designed for all ages, St. Louis promises an unforgettable vacation full of fun and discovery."There are undoubtedly some considerations to keep in mind when planning an activity. Will it be a good choice for the size of your family? Will the weather be good enough to plan something outdoors? Can you visit multiple St. Louis sweetspots in a day? Once you've mad...

Longtime Branson entertainer dies at age 79

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. — Branson entertainers are mourning the death of a fellow artist.Shoji Tabuchi, a beloved Branson fiddler and showrunner, has passed away at age 79 on August 11.Tabuchi was best known for The Shoji Tabuchi Show, a family variety show featuring Tabuchi, his wife Dorothy and his daughter Christina.He began playing violin at age seven, according to an article by Explore Branson, and fell in love with bluegrass music.His show expanded over its 30-year run to include dancers, love ballads, 50s and 60s music, gospel music, and much more. In 2020, Tabuchi was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. The City of Branson would go on to declare August 31, 2021 as Shoji, Dorothy and Christina Tabuchi Day. A Facebook post from the city says in part, "Prayers from people all throughout our City, and beyond, go to the family of one of Branson's all-time greatest gems."

One person injured, hospitalized in Northglenn residential fire

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

A residential fire in Northglenn on Saturday morning injured a resident and damaged two homes.The fire started around 9:45 a.m. at the corner of Lou Drive and Fred Street near an unattached garage, according to an 11:09 a.m. tweet by North Metro Fire Rescue District. Propane tanks caught fire and exploded, flames and black smoke filled the air.(1/3) North Metro Fire responded to a structure fire at 9:45 am at the corner of Lou Dr. and Fred St. in Northglenn. The fire began outside near the unattached garage. Nearby propane tanks caught on fire causing explosion sounds. #northglenn pic.twitter.com/g0Mz7oQTgQ— North Metro Fire (@NMFirePIO) August 12, 2023The fire damaged two residences and two people were medically treated and cleared at the scene, North Metro Fire said. One person was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. Nearby fire departments aided North Metro in putting out the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Sediment pours into Butte Creek, threatening salmon

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

CHICO — Brown and orange colored sediment polluted salmon-bearing and crop-irrigating waters of Butte Creek beginning Thursday morning, caused by a breach along the Butte Canal near Lovelock.Around 7 a.m. Thursday, a breach towards the bottom side of the Butte Canal — which carries water to the De Sabla Powerhouse — led water to go downhill which brought sediment into Butte Creek, according to Paul Moreno, marketing and communications principal for PG&E.Moreno said PG&E confirmed turbid water in Butte Creek by helicopter patrol, stopped flows into the damaged section of the Butte Canal by opening a side spill gate, and notified state and federal agencies.Sediment polluted water runs through Butte Creek seen around 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 near Helltown, California. (Allen Harthorn/Contibuted) “The turbidity was caused by the beach where water came out and it ran down the hillside,” Moreno said. “The spill gates are located at natural drainages … rocky drainages — an...

Sonoma County seeks public advice on new park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

By Bay City NewsSonoma County officials are seeking public advice on a development plan for the county’s newest park.The Sonoma County Administrator’s Office announced in a statement Friday that with public recommendations, park officials will draft a blueprint that would guide and spur the development of the Calabazas Creek Regional Park and Open Space Preserve.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | BART, East Bay parks police investigating separate homicides in Oakland California News | Biden designates new national monument around Grand Canyon California News | Opinion: Lake Cunningham: A local resource drowning in neglect California News | New sculpture adds to history of Japantown’s Heinlenville Park California News | Danger signs in the Oakland hills as wildfire risks intensify, homeowners lose insurance The future park is set on a 1,290-acre area in the Mayacamas Mountains in eastern ...

Marin woman found shot dead inside vehicle in Oakland

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

OAKLAND — A 30-year-old San Rafael woman was found shot dead Friday morning inside a vehicle in East Oakland, authorities said.Her name has not yet been released.She was found shot about 10:06 a.m. Friday in the 900 block of 22nd Avenue, a mixture of businesses and residences not far from the Estuary. She was pronounced dead at the scene.A man associated with the victim was arrested later Friday. Police have not identified him or said what led investigators to arrest him. What happened just prior to the shooting remains unclear.The death is the 67th homicide investigated by Oakland police this year, with two other killings in the city under investigation by BART police and East Bay Regional Park District police. Last year at this time, city police had investigated 74 homicides.

'This is like Gotham City': Burglar hits popular San Francisco burger restaurant

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – A San Francisco burger spot is out thousands of dollars after an early morning burglary. Security video captured the crime happening in the city’s Richmond district.Security video from Uncle Boy’s captures what owner John Espejo says was a costly crime. The burglar took $2,000 in cash from the register and left another $1,500 dollars in damage. “I’m not gonna sugarcoat it,” he said. “It’s tough out there. There’s a lot of things going on that make you think, ‘Man, this is like Gotham City out there.’” American Canyon burglary suspect arrested after stealing luggage out of a car: police Espejo says the crime was peculiar and done by what appears to be a professional. Instead of smashing the glass to get in, the burglar removed it.“I don’t know how to explain it. I’m not in that profession, but the glass is perfectly preserved. It wasn’t broken or nothing. There was no shattering, nothing,” Espejo said.Running Uncle Boy’s has been Espejo’s American dream....

Police looking for owners of dog found in South San Francisco

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

(KRON) -- A dog was found all alone Friday night in South San Francisco, the South San Francisco Police Department tweeted. It was found in the area of El Camino Real and McLellan Drive. Police are now looking for the dog's owner. SSFPD posted a picture of the dog below. (South San Francisco Police Department)If this is your dog, police say to contact the Peninsula Humane Society. El Camino Real and McLellan Drive is next to the Trader Joe's located near the South San Francisco BART station.

A U.N. Plan to Stop Corporate Tax Abuse

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:48:57 GMT

Hey, let’s debate international tax policy! The United Nations has released an advance version of a report from Secretary-General António Guterres titled “Promotion of Inclusive and Effective International Tax Cooperation at the United Nations,” which explicitly criticizes the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s proposed base erosion and profit shifting 2.0 reforms, which in turn obviously means that zzxzxvcaspppmmmdzzzzzzzzzz.This is the problem with talking about taxes, especially taxes on international corporations. In a famous essay 100 years ago, H.L. Mencken argued that the subject of taxation should be “eternally lively; it concerns nine-tenths of us more directly than either smallpox or golf, and has just as much drama in it.” After all, with the possible exception of sex, there’s nothing that mesmerizes human beings more than money and who’s getting how much.Yet somehow, as Mencken said, taxation and related topics remain “swathed in dullness.” It’s har...