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Telework crackdown: Lawmakers push federal workers to return to the office

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The days federal government employees can work remotely may be numbered.Lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the White House are pressuring federal workers to return to the office."We're coming after you," said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.Ernst says it's time for a telework crackdown within the federal government."I know they're still on the payroll," Ernst said. "Is COVID over? Are we able to come to work safely?"According to Ernst, taxpayer money is being wasted on empty offices.A Government Accountability Office report released in July found that it costs $7 billion to lease and manage agency headquarters — but most agencies are only using a fraction of their buildings. Of the 24 federal agencies reviewed in the report, 17 used 25% or less of their buildings' capacities during a three-week period in 2023."We’ve got to figure this out," Ernst said.Ernst is demanding answers from each agency. She also wants to stop federal workers from receiving Washington, D.C., wages ...

Man sentenced to life in prison for 2021 murder in Fredericksburg

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was convicted by a jury in March in connection with a May 2021 shooting in Fredericksburg that killed one man and critically injured a 10-year-old girl.According to Gillespie County court documents, Esteban Mansanares-Wences was sentenced to life in state prison for murder.Documents showed Mansanares-Wences would receive a jail credit of 647 toward his sentence.Mansanares-Wences pleaded not guilty ahead of his trial date, according to documents.

Vikings star Justin Jefferson downplays contract talks: ‘My focus is on playing football’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

It’s no secret that the Vikings are trying to sign star receiver Justin Jefferson to a historic deal.It seems as if there’s a chance something could get done ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.As of right now, however, contract talks are still ongoing, and Jefferson is letting his agent handle those hard conversations.“Of course I would want a contract to be done,” Jefferson said. “It is all up to them and what the ownership wants to do with that.”Now, things might have gotten a little more difficult for the Vikings over the past couple of days, with the San Francisco 49ers signing star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a 5-year, $170 million contract extension with $122.5 million guaranteed. The average salary of $34 million for Bosa is the most ever for a non-quarterback.Though it’s unclear if Jefferson’s contract extension would surpass that figure, it’s a good bet that he wants to at least become th...

Group of DFL legislators, parents and educators say ‘no’ to special legislative session over school resource officers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

More than 40 Democratic legislators, along with educators and parents, said Thursday they don’t support a special session to repeal a new law limiting use of physical holds on students in schools, which has led to some law enforcement agencies pausing school resource officer programs.It came a week after top Republican legislators called for a special session.Gov. Tim Walz, DFL, said Tuesday that “some (school) districts have worked it out and they believe the language is clarified” and others have not. “… I’m certainly open to anything that provides a solution to that, if that means the Legislature working it out to make sure we have it.”Educators and parents said at a press conference Thursday at the Minnesota Capitol that the new law provides important safeguards and shouldn’t be changed.“I want to send my children to school, in hopes that they ignite their love for learning, they want to grow, and I want them to make mistakes and not be harmed,” said Dani...

What went into Greg Harbaugh becoming the Gophers’ offensive play-caller?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

Greg Harbaugh will never forget it.The 28-year-old Raleigh, N.C., native was serving as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan in 2015. The Broncos had just finished winter conditioning drills one day when then-head coach P.J. Fleck caught Harbaugh off guard during a team meeting.Fleck said Harbaugh was going to be a “great” coach.“I hadn’t done anything,” Harbaugh recalled Wednesday. “I had coached Division III for six years and played Division III. Then I get that opportunity to work as a graduate assistant under (Fleck). He didn’t know who I was.”Eight years later, Fleck has promoted Harbaugh to be the Gophers’ co-offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and its play-caller, starting in Minnesota’s season-opening, 13-10 victory over Nebraska on Aug. 31.On the eve of the Cornhuskers game, Harbaugh received a letter written by Fleck. Both of them wanted to keep its contents to themselves, but Fleck shared why he sent it and Harbaugh what it meant to receive it.Fleck has been writ...

Governor Hochul keeps pushing for federal support for asylum seekers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

ALBANY,N.Y. (NEWS10)---As the asylum seeker issue continues, Governor Kathy Hochul said she’s speaking with the White House Chief of Staff about the situation today."The answer falls with Washington," said Hochul. "With resources, change in work authorization, helping us with housing vouchers, helping us with more money for education…"While Republican state lawmakers primarily blame this situation on the federal government, earlier this week they urged Hochul to call a special session to further address the crisis. https://www.news10.com/news/republican-state-lawmakers-push-for-extraordinary-session/#:~:text=Assembly%20minority%20members%20on%20Tuesday,legislature%20needs%20to%20take%20action."We ought to be addressing some of these problems the best way we can in the state," said Assembly Minority Leader, Will Barclay, on Tuesday. "We can’t wait until January when the legislature comes back into session. We gotta do it right away."It’s something the governor hasn’t ruled out."With ...

SCCC faculty and staff honored with Chancellor’s Awards

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schenectady County Community College announced that five members of their faculty and staff have been presented with 2023 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. The Chancellor’s Awards were created more than 45 years ago to honor the extraordinary performance of SUNY’s teaching faculty, librarians, and membersof the professional and classified services. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The recipients receive cast bronze medallions to commemorate the occasion. The five honorees for this year's Chancellor’s Awards are listed below: SCCC's 2023 Chancellor’s Awards Honorees Catia Laird de Polanco, Associate Professor in the Division of Liberal ArtsExcellence in TeachingJohn L. O’Connell, Associate Professor in the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and TourismExcellence in Faculty ServiceDawn Jones, Assistant Director of Career ServicesExcellence in Professional ServiceKimberly Kirker, Executive Secretary II, Stu...

St. Louis-area siblings sentenced, misused PPP loans to open 'Wing Strip' restaurant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A federal judge has sentenced two St. Louis-area siblings over pandemic fraud charges, which stemmed from the couple misusing PPP loans to open a wing restaurant. Irvin Coats, 44, of Florissant, and Pamela Hubbard, 46, of St. Louis, were each sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. They were also to pay back around half a million dollars in pandemic loans they illegally obtained.Coats and Hubbard both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud earlier this year. ‘It didn’t seem real’: Friends reflect on loss of teens in fatal crash According to their plea agreements, Coats and Hubbard applied for and received Paycheck Protection Program loans that were intended to help struggling small businesses and save jobs. Rather than using the money for intended purposes, the two used it to open a “Wing Strip” restaurant in Florissant.“While all those people were struggling, the defendant and his co-defendant found an opportunity," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bate...

Reward offered for info on woman who left cat stuck in carrier for over 6 hours

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

Denver Animal Protection and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers are searching for any information on a woman who abandoned a cat in a carrier with no food or water.The woman at about 10:30 a.m. Aug. 17 left the cat in an alley near 1390 N. Emerson St. next to some apartment complex dumpsters, where it was stuck in its carrier for more than six hours until trash collectors discovered it just before 5 p.m., according to a bulletin shared by Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.Help! This lady left an innocent cat to suffer in Denver. Help us identify them and bring them to justice. #StopCOCrime#CrimeStoppers #MDCS #MetroDenver #stopanimalabuse #Denver pic.twitter.com/qqdZ7N9ew8— MetroDenverCrimeStop (@CrimeStoppersCO) September 5, 2023The cat’s microchip identified her as eight-year-old Rose, who has since found a home after being rescued.Metro Denver Crime Stoppers said they are offering a reward of up to $2,000 to tipsters who can provide information on the woman.Anyone who may have inf...

Palisade orchard claims to have grown world’s heaviest peach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:44 GMT

Palisade has long been known for producing some of the tastiest peaches in the country, but now appears to also grow the largest — with one orchard claiming to have produced the world’s heaviest peach.Related ArticlesColorado News | “Not a peachy drive”: Truck carrying load of Palisade peaches crashes on I-70 east near Morrison Colorado News | 15,000-square-foot chicken-and-waffles palace opens in RiNo Colorado News | Here’s how chefs at one of Denver’s best restaurants shop at the farmers market Colorado News | Hidden gems of Colorado’s Western Slope include sandstone arches, James Beard-quality dining Black Bear Orchards in Palisade is claiming the unofficial title for the heaviest peach after weighing a monster 2.03-pound peach on Monday, orchard owner Brian Cox said. That would shatter the previous record of 1.8 pounds set in 2018 by a Georgia-grown peach.“Yesterday (Monday) at 1:...